trade unionism from below
By Ben Sichel What gives unions their power? On the surface, the answer is simple: strength in numbers. A single worker has little power to negotiate wages or resolve conflict with an employer, but a united group of workers does. This is the union movement’s foundational and most important principle. But often, it can feel Continue readingBuilding an organizing union
“We’re not in this together” By Ritch Whyman and Lee Gilchrist The new “automated” warehouse opened by Sobeys in Terrebonne, Quebec is shut down for three months by 190 striking workers. They win an immediate wage increase of up to 28%, and an additional 12% wage increase over three years. The contract is ratified by Continue readingThe Pandemic and the Return of Class Struggle
By Doug Nesbitt Coal miner, trade unionist and socialist Albert “Ginger” Goodwin died July 27 1918 after being gunned down by Dan Campbell, a special constable for the Dominion Police. Goodwin’s murder led to the 1918 Vancouver General Strike a week later on August 2, 1918. Yorkshire – Cape Breton – Vancouver Island Goodwin was Continue readingOur History: Albert “Ginger” Goodwin
These are the documents released to the Unifor membership in July 2022 relating to an investigation into a complaint about (former) Unifor National President Jerry Dias’s alleged breach of the union’s Code of Ethics. We have also included a 29-page copy of the Investigation Report which we were able to access a few days after Continue readingUnifor docs: Investigation Report & NEB minutes
Editor’s Note: This is a revised version of an earlier article. We’d like to make clear that Scott Doherty, Naureen Rizvi, and Lana Payne are not implicated in the kickback scandal and were not investigated for a breach of Unifor’s Code of Ethics. Unifor documents are available for download here. By Lee Gilchrist On July Continue readingReleased Unifor docs still keeps Dias Scandal under wraps
