New Workers’ Solidarity Coalition Founded in Toronto

by Sean Cain

On Oct. 16, about 40 labour and anti-poverty activists gathered to create a new alliance that will fight for genuine union democracy, defeat labour concessions and social cutbacks, and mobilize support for strikes and progressive struggles.

When it comes to fighting back against attacks on the rights of unionized workers, many labour bureaucrats just aren’t up to the task. That was the message emerging from a conference held at OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) in Toronto in October, where participants set out to create a new organization—the Workers’ Solidarity and Union Democracy Coalition—whose ambitious goal is “to build a rank-and-file rebellion against the labour bureaucracy.”

Activists from a variety of unions and organizations were present at the coalition’s founding conference. Taking part were members of Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canadian Autoworkers' Union (CAW), United Steelworkers of America, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union (UNITE HERE), Ontario Nurses Association, United Food and Commercial Workers' Union, and Service Employees' International Union (SEIU).

Also participating were supporters of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), Metropolitan Hotel Workers’ Committee, Toronto Substitute Teachers’ Action Caucus, New Democratic Party’s Socialist Caucus, Global Community (a multi-ethnic community-based organization) Northeastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists, Socialist Action, and Socialist Alternative.*

A major discussion point of the new coalition was its Basis of Unity Statement. Presented by Jason Baines, it argued for workers to resist recent sell-out deals approved by union officials.

“A very disturbing pattern of union concessions to the bosses’ agenda is taking hold of the labour movement across Canada. Even unions with a ‘progressive’ reputation have recently reached contract settlements that erode or utterly abandon job security, wage protection, health benefits and severance pay,” says the document. “… that is why we need Workers’ Solidarity more than ever.”

Among the chief goals of the coalition are these: to resist labour cutbacks, support struggles for union democracy, and turn the unions into fighting organizations against corporate power.

The new coalition's Action Plan was co-written and presented by OCAP organizer John Clarke. It states clearly that the coalition rejects the tired model of the so-called “loyal opposition,” and boldly declares that it will “encourage independent action by the rank and file to challenge inadequate or treacherous leaderships.”

The Action Plan also includes efforts to mobilize support for local union struggles, build a common front with other workers’ action caucuses—such as the B.C. Workers’ Fight Back Caucus—and prepare a coordinated intervention at upcoming conventions of the Canadian Labour Congress (June 2005 in Montreal) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (November 2005 in Toronto).

Following minor amendments, participants unanimously adopted both the Basis of Unity Statement and the Action Plan.

The conference keynote speaker was Bryan Palmer, professor of history at Trent University, who looked back at more than 100 years of militant unionism in Canada. It may surprise some younger people to learn that, not too long ago, unions were illegal and encountered tremendous oppression and violence from private employers and the government. By the 1930s, the radicalization of the working class across Canada was strongly influenced by union-organizing efforts, which benefited significantly from the participation of Marxists and other anti-capitalist activists. “Trade unions,” said Palmer, “were the last line of defence against capital and the state.” That is, until many unions became increasingly integrated into the state itself.

Yet during the Cold War hysteria of the late 1940s and ’50s, many of these activists, by various means, were expelled from the union movement. Palmer added that working people, whether organized or not, would later “pay a huge price” for their absence.

This bring us to today, where Palmer explained the need for a mass movement of rank-and-file workers to struggle for internal democracy and militant unionism: “I am convinced that the current labour bureaucracy will go nowhere unless there is pressure from organized caucuses of the Left.”

A prominent segment of the conference agenda was a panel of labour activists who discussed the challenges faced by union members today from both employers and union bureaucrats.

Most startling was the workers’ struggle taking place at the Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto. Hotel Workers' Committee member Carlos Barbosa discussed the appalling treatment of workers at the hands of hotel managers and owners, including labour rights abuses, harassment of injured workers, racism, multiple breaches of their collective agreement, and even violence.

A former employee of the hotel, Pedro Vanegas, discussed his own battles. He was harassed for simply speaking his native Spanish on the job, and he reported once seeing a worker being slapped by a manager in front of other employees. Vanegas was later injured on the job, but since his recovery the employer has ignored a judicial order to accommodate him and let him return to work.

Just as shocking was the lack of support and action from the leadership of the hotel workers’ union, HERE Local 75. In response, a Workers’ Committee was launched by rank-and-file employees to take action against unfair treatment by their employer, as well as demanding that their union leadership begin to represent them in an effective manner. (The website of the Workers’ Committee is located at www. metropolitanhotelsworkers.org .)

Wendy Forrest, past president of OPSEU Local 512 and current member of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, discussed the lack of class-consciousness in unions today. She is currently running for president of her local, campaigning on a platform “to rebuild militancy.” Other important elements of her program include full-time union officials being paid the wage of the average worker and instituting the right of members to recall and replace leaders.

Jeff Shantz, a York University educator and member of CUPE 3903 and its solidarity picket flying squad, mentioned the importance of building networks and coalitions in the community with anti-poverty, anti-racist and antiwar groups.

Kelly O’Sullivan, president of CUPE Local 4308/3896, discussed empowering working people to take on their respective union leaders. Unless militants stick to principles and organize collectively, “the labour bureaucracy,” warned O’Sullivan, “will chew you up and spit you out.”

Finally, Barry Weisleder, past president of the Toronto Substitute Teachers, spoke about his members' battles with the leadership of the OSSTF, a union that substitute teachers, organized by OPSEU, were legislated into joining by the Ontario Conservative regime in 1997.

Starting in 2002, OSSTF officials (who favour dissolving the bargaining units of part-time employees into the larger and more privileged full-time teacher units) initiated a purge of local militants, seized the union funds, and took total control of the substitute teachers' unit, then proceeded to gut its collective agreement and replace its democratic local constitution.

“Two decades of gains were destroyed in less than a year,” stated Weisleder. Angry members formed an Action Caucus, which today leads the struggle to restore job security, union democracy, and local autonomy. It publishes monthly bulletins, and now provides an informative website, located at www. angelfire.com/un/torontosubstitutes.

The discussion at the conference was lively and the participants were teeming with innovative ideas. The coalition is now setting out to mobilize for action, create occupational and issue-oriented working groups, launch a new logo and web site, build networks and conduct monthly meetings. The next gathering is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m., at OISE room 2-227, 252 Bloor Street West (St. George subway station), in Toronto.

Some of the most important movements of the last 200 years started with fairly small groups of people. The Workers’ Solidarity and Union Democracy Coalition hopes to take the ideas and energies from the conference and create a mass movement of working people dedicated to militant activism, union democracy, and the making of a better world.

* All organizations listed for identification purposes only.

The article above first appeared in the November 2004 issue of Socialist Action newspaper.