|
Author
|
Topic: May Day statements by unions and others
|
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
|
posted 05 May 2006 08:15 AM
Sorry for getting this on babble so late - I didn't have internet at home on May Day since I just moved, and was using an internet cafe to do basic moderating and fire-putting-outing on babble. But I think these statements are important even if they're a few days late, so I'm posting them now. quote:
On May 1, 1886, a general strike was called in the United States at a time when the right to organize and strike did not exist. One hundred and twenty years later, workers are fighting to protect their hard-won rights to organize, to bargain collectively and to strike. Recently, there has been a concerted effort by the labour movement to protect the right to bargain by pressuring Members of Parliament to adopt federal anti-scab legislation and first contract arbitration.
PSAC quote:
May Day is a time of celebration and reflection of our collective struggle. It is a day to celebrate all the gains that the trade union movement has made. And it is a day to celebrate our role in the larger movement – from our gains at the bargaining table to our struggles for equality. This May Day we ask you to think about workers throughout the world, their struggles, their victories and the solidarity we have with them.
CUPE
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
N.Beltov
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4140
|
posted 05 May 2006 09:26 AM
The commies have an interesting Statement this May Day. They're arguing for the building of a strategy that is aimed to bring "the threads of resistance" together.
quote:
...it would be naive to expect that the parliamentary opposition can lead this struggle, for several reasons. First, these parties are still recovering organizationally and politically from the last election. The Liberal Party will not even choose another leader until the end of this year. And none of these parties is anxious to provoke another early election for fear that they might be held responsible by an irritated "public".
Second, there exist obvious partisan differences between these parties which make mutual cooperation and unity in an "anti-Harper" coalition or united parliamentary front unlikely.
Third, there also exist clear policy differences between these parties, and even among their respective caucus members, on a number of critical issues - divisions that the Tories are already moving to exploit. The sad reality is that, despite declarations to the contrary, many of the "members opposite" privately sympathize with and in some cases (e.g., Afghanistan, "free trade"/harmonization, so-called "law and order" measures, privatization, etc.) openly support Tory policies.
Their conclusion? quote:
...the epicentre of the struggle to stop the Tory steam-roller will be located outside of Parliament, in our workplaces and communities, and on the streets.
Unite against the Tory Menace says Reds It's not a bad read. But, of course, they're commies so they must be wrong. [ 05 May 2006: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]
From: Vancouver Island | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Email this thread to someone!
