Where is our defiance? Are we that ignorant to consider ourselves exempt from the worsening working conditions in other countries? Why do we blame workers in other countries such as China and Mexico for stealing jobs?
Around the globe workers are resisting with work stoppages, strikes, blockades, worker councils, as well as factory takeovers and self-management. Unfortunately most of these activities are impeded by both the lack of vision of what they are fighting for in the long-term, not just attempting to get their immediate demands; as well as being stifled by the intervention of the union officials. The unions by their nature must work within the capitalist legal framework through a hierarchical bureaucracy that develops and negotiates contracts, and sways rank and file union members to accept its ever-increasing concessions. While in our brief lifetime memory we have not known union wins for the workers, it is important to emphasize that the union has NEVER been the container for a true working class struggle.
What is this really achieving? Well the workers apparently according to their current reality do not have other alternatives so they agree to deals and contracts that cut their wages, claw back benefits, reduce vacation time and other employer-friendly compromises. These concessions are seen time and time again. For example:
- The Toronto Transit Commission workers in Toronto went on a brief two-day strike when they disagreed with the deal that their union had negotiated; and following this, they fell back into the agenda of the Amalgamated Transport Union.
- Autoworkers have lost significant gains such as the right to strike at Magna, lost vacation and benefits at Ford and yesterday GM workers just received word that thousands of workers will be losing their jobs. Their union the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) has been successful in persuading the workers to actually accept abhorrent contracts as well as in showing their true colours as the friends of management. And do we really think it is possible that the CAW leadership would encourage factory take-overs and self-management? This is what needs to be done but the union is not the answer, it is the rank and file that must determine their own fates.
- Frontier airlines in Denver, Colorado, cut wages and benefits (temporarily supposedly) because the airline was filing for bankruptcy protection. The workers accepted this proposal.
- Union leaders for Mexican autoworkers stated that they had agreed to wage cuts that are one half of current hires; this agreement was to convince Ford to move one of its plants to Mexico. It has been commented that their wages are near that of Chinese workers. The tyranny does not end there.
- In 2006 government workers in Germany had their work week increased at same pay through a deal between their union and government. The strikes that they had undertaken were not successful.
GM workers are currently blockading their corporate offices in response to the recent announcement to cut 2,600 jobs – the reason for the cuts are that the demand for pick-up trucks has declined significantly due to the rising gas and oil prices as well as the high Canadian dollar. As one worker has stated that is unsure about his nine-year-old son’s future and said “"I don't know," he said jokingly, “Get a paper route?" Another worker stated that they have to put all their faith in the Union – “BUT CAN THEY REALLY??” – Clearly not. Economic troubles for the manufacturing sector in this part of Canada are nothing new for this region or even for other parts of the globe.
These examples elucidate the obvious – the bourgeois fight for profits is global therefore the worker’s fight must be global. One company moves plants and factories to other countries in order to increase revenues without a thought for the people that are producing for them – they are expendable because it is well-known that there are many more workers across the world in a country with very cheap labour costs and other economic woes that are more than willing to be hired. Again this demonstrates the absolute need for an international working class movement. Workers in all industries especially key industries must understand and appreciate their links with workers across the globe. Workers everyday are losing their jobs, having wages reduced, benefits cut in order to keep their jobs which are constantly being threatened by the ability of a company to move far away and higher cheaper labour. Workers on both sides of this scenario must fight back simultaneously for the same cause – emancipation and the end to wage-slavery. The union is not the answer, in fact, the union and all social democrats stifle the nature of the workers, the people, to be aware of the reality and to struggle for a decent life.
Above are small but significant examples of many others amidst the current state of affairs with workers. The members of the bourgeoisie including corporate and government bosses write the laws and it is with these laws that the unions are using to negotiate. So it should not be surprising that the tactics by the Trade Unions have not worked, do not work and never will work to promote the working class struggle.
The workers in key industries have a duty, a responsibility to fight for gains that have been fought generations before. The history of worker resistance must not be forgotten but it seems that it has disappeared from our memories. And our children and grandchildren will be ashamed of our stagnation and our deficiency in battling the system. The union cannot provide a formidable front against employers and even less against the capitalist system in general.
Where is our defiance? Are we that ignorant to consider ourselves exempt from the worsening working conditions in other countries? Why do we blame workers in other countries such as China and Mexico for stealing jobs? Shame on us and our stupidity! Workers in other regions and countries are faced with the same ugly reality, that we must sell our labour to management. So maybe our wages permit us to be consumers and to afford to buy a few toys beyond the basic subsistence items; well if we lose our jobs when a company decides to relocate south where labour costs are much lower, then are we really that different? It is this highly complex global system that manages to manipulate and destroy lives in order to churn out profits. Consciousness of our ability as workers to bring this system to a halt is noticeably absent from our current deteriorating situations. Consciousness of capitalism and its deleterious effects on humanity must be grasped by all humans who wage-labour for a boss.
The workers in key industries such as transport, auto, electrical etcetera, must understand the ultimate importance of their resistance and responsibility to other workers who are more vulnerable to greater exploitation. It is time that we understood the absolute and immediate need to defy the bosses and the unions and to fight a fight both for ourselves, for other current workers in other countries and most importantly for future generations of wage-slavers; but also with a long-term goal that adheres to a truth and existence that dwells outside of the capitalist structure. Right now and right here the union is useless; it is nothing more than a sales agent for employers wherein it contradicts itself through identifying itself as the representative for the workers. The time is now to wake up and fight back, leaving both the union and the capitalists in the dust.
