Things got a bit better for workers in Canada last week, just as the Canadian Labour Congress celebrated its 50th anniversary, and just days after an historic vote in Parliament to support Bill C-257 — a bill to ban replacement workers — passed second reading.
A “who’s who” of the Canadian Labour movement celebrated 50 years of CLC struggle for workers rights, justice and equality on Friday night at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. President Ken Georgetti evoked the memorable words of J.S. Woodsworth, himself a trade unionist, when he said, “What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all.”
Styling MCs Jian Ghomeshi and Michelle Champagne led the 700 plus labour leaders and activists in an upbeat evening of history, entertainment and solidarity. A riveting video chronicling historic moments of labour and CLC struggles, such as the million strong march against wage controls, the Westray mine disaster that killed 26 miners, and the Solidarity Coalition in British Columbia, showed a labour movement in action over many decades.
Jean Claude Parrot (Canadian Union of Postal Workers), Bob White (Canadian Auto Workers and CLC) and other heroes of Canadian workers and leaders and activists from across the country — including Canada’s newest labour leader, CEP President David Coles — as well as progressive political leaders, including NDP leader Jack Layton, brought a sense of solidarity and continuity to the celebration.
In the face of the most Conservative government ever in Ottawa, and amidst massive federal cuts to equality seeking groups, including politically motivated regressive changes to the Status of Women’s Department, and the axing of the Court Challenges Program, the evening carried the energy of a sweet victory with the passage of the anti-scab bill brought forward by the Bloc Québécois, passing with a strong margin of 167 to 101.
While the Bill still needs to make it through a Standing Committee review and then a vote at third reading, it was no doubt the lobbying efforts of the more than 100 union activists who spent three days last week on Parliament Hill that won the strong support for the bill. Once enacted, the legislation will protect workers under federal jurisdiction from scab labour during a labour dispute.
The importance of organized labour, for the betterment of all Canadian workers, is a fundamental value of a democratic and just society. Without it, labour rights would not exist, and workers would not have a voice to demand a safe work environment and decent wages.
Congratulations to the CLC and its more than three million members!
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