The Mayworks Festival of Working People & the Arts commemorates the strength, struggle and imagination of communities seeking labour justice, land sovereignty and dignified life by offering a month-long schedule of films, theatre, art installations, walking tours, and more. The 40th anniversary of the festival kicked off on May 2nd with a performance and panel discussion on “Who’s afraid of Labour Justice?”; focusing on the systems that deter the social justice movement.
Pamela Arancibia, a labour organizer and the coordinator of the GTA chapter of Labour for Palestine, opened the discussion by asking the panelists: what are we afraid of in the pursuit of justice for all workers?
Rise of conservative influence in the labour movement
The panel discussion began with longtime labour studies author and professor Larry Savage highlighting the recent shift in the political landscape within the labour movement has seen conservative political elements gaining strength, presenting a substantial obstacle to achieving labour justice. For the first time in recent history, both the Ontario and federal Conservative Parties have declared themselves to be union-friendly, positioning themselves as champions of the working class. This shift is not merely rhetorical; it is backed by unions receiving concrete benefits, such as funds for training centers, infrastructure investments, or public policy commitments, in exchange for endorsements.
Many blue-collar union members feel disillusioned with social democratic politics, believing that the NDP has traded class politics for identity politics. They face an affordability crisis and do not see social democracy offering concrete solutions to their economic problems. Conservatives have tapped into these concerns, exploiting cultural flashpoints and laying blame on immigrants or a fictitious ‘bloated’ public sector rather than addressing the systemic issues of capitalism.
In the recent federal election, support for the Conservatives outpaced the Liberals by 44% among 18 to 34 year olds, according to the Nanos poll, a reversal from 2015 when the youth voted in record numbers, to bring Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau to power. Younger Canadians, particularly young men, rallied behind the Conservatives as the party discussed critical issues like housing and the cost of living crisis. Just like the transactional endorsements by unions, one must question not only the solutions provided by the Conservatives but also the lack of response from the Liberal or any current party to address these critical issues. The unfortunate reality in the current political landscape is that no party actively seeks out the interests of the working class.
Union consciousness vs class consciousness
It is essential to distinguish between union consciousness and class consciousness. Union consciousness can devolve into relegating unions to the status of special interest groups, whereas class consciousness involves working across the labour movement to advance a broader left project. Union members can be militant trade unionists and still align with conservative politics if their loyalty is to their union rather than the working class. When loyalty rests with the working class, union members would never accept wage restraint for public sector workers or deep spending cuts that only benefit their union’s priorities. They would recognize the role of unions in political debates about racial and gender justice that affect all working-class people in Canada and abroad.
The challenge is to build a movement that champions worker justice, encouraging union members to see beyond the confines of a collective agreement. Labour justice should be more than securing a good contract for union members; it should be something all workers can enjoy. To achieve labour justice, we must understand and embrace the fact that labour justice encompasses social justice issues.
Labour justice beyond borders: Palestine
Hassan Husseini, a trade unionist who sits on the Steering Committee of Labour for Palestine-Canada, provided a broader perspective to class consciousness, recognizing the shared struggles of the working class across different sectors and borders. The Palestinian struggle for liberation is a poignant example of how class consciousness can drive international solidarity. Many unions, particularly in the public sector, have taken commendable positions but have stopped short of concrete actions to support BDS resolutions, primarily due to fears of being labeled anti-Semitic. Whereas, several international solidarity actions such as the dockworkers at the Port of Piraeus in Greece who refused to load ammunition shipments to Israel as a direct response to Israel’s war on Gaza aimed to inject a working class perspective into the human rights discourse. Here, Hassan explains how business unionism, that focuses on immediate workplace issues rather than systemic struggles, has weakened the labour movement’s solidarity with international solidarity and undermines class consciousness.
To move forward, we must challenge business unionism within the labour movement at both national and international levels. It recognizes that our struggle for labour justice is a global one, and that our enemies are common. By supporting the Palestinian cause, labour unions can demonstrate their commitment to global justice and strengthen their own movements. Building solidarity with Palestine is not just a moral imperative; it is a fight against oppression and exploitation, issues that resonate with the working class worldwide.
Is Amazon afraid of labour justice? Yes!
A long-time organizer at Amazon who sat on the panel described the various tactics used for union busting at their workplace. Amazon, a major avoider of union contracts, exemplifies the disconnect between what should be social democracy and what workers identify with as empowering and agency-giving. Amazon uses a variety of tactics to undermine worker power—dividing and conquering employees, misleading workers about the benefits of unionization, and leveraging its vast resources to fight against union efforts.
Class consciousness is essential for recognizing the interconnected struggles of the working class across different sectors and borders. Amazon’s fear of labour justice underscores the importance of class consciousness and class struggle unionism. By adopting a broader perspective that recognizes the interconnected struggles of the working class, unions can effectively challenge powerful companies like Amazon.
What can we do?
Union members should fight for social justice because labour justice and social justice are intertwined. The growing influence of conservative politics within the labour movement presents a significant obstacle to achieving labour justice.
To bring real change, we need to look beyond the current political parties and work towards building a ‘left project’ that addresses both economic and social dimensions, within and beyond our borders, so that union members can work towards a more equitable and just society for all workers. And within that mandate is supporting the Palestinian struggle for liberation, demonstrating a commitment to global justice and strengthening the labour movement beyond our individual collective agreements.
One way to achieve this is to organize and join a socialist network, which can amplify our collective power and help broaden our work towards systemic change by deepening and strengthening our politics and understanding of class. By uniting under the banner of class consciousness, we can challenge powerful entities like Amazon and support international movements such as the Palestinian struggle for liberation.
Together, we can build a movement that champions labour justice and social justice for all. Let’s stand in solidarity and fight for a future where every worker’s rights are respected and upheld.
Mayworks Festival of Working People & the Arts annually presents new works by a diverse range of artists who are both workers and activists. Check out their exhibits until the end of May!
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