Demands for Canadian Workers to Submit to U.S. War Economy
Picket outside the U.S. Embassy denounces visit of war
president Biden to Canada, March 23, 2023.
When he travelled to Canada, U.S. President Biden told Canadians they do not have to manufacture much of anything, just package semiconductors and mine the resources that abound and send them to the United States. Some people seem to agree and believe that submitting to this U.S. dictate will result in what they call "good unionized jobs" and a "green economy."
The Trudeau government and a few others endorse what Biden is saying, doing and demanding. With their submission comes an understanding that goes beyond trade and what they call "good unionized jobs" and a "green economy." Acquiescence to the U.S. line of march suggests Canada is safe and comfortable within the U.S./NATO/NORAD aggressive military alliance and that China and Russia are enemies.
To say the least, it was shocking to hear leaders of Canadian national trade unions calling for Canada to be "a partner in President Biden's plans" within the anti-everyone else Inflation Reduction Act, swearing allegiance to the Biden administration, and being "a running mate" of the U.S. in its "damn good economic race" and wars against competitors.
No alternative is even
entertained, let alone discussed amongst the workers. How to
cope with the conditions the Canadian government is acquiescing
to in its submission to the Biden Administration is not
discussed. On the contrary, the outlook is that Canadians must
genuflect and be grateful to the U.S. imperialists' inclusion of
Canada into the U.S. supply chain, cooperate and not rock the
boat. If they do not act like slaves, then they are to blame for
losing jobs to competitors, not only those in Russia and China
but in the United States itself![1]
The workers' movement is faced with the issue of how to address what certain union leaders have said and pledged. The movement cannot remain silent in the face of Canada's appeasement of the U.S. in its warmongering and attempts to put Canada's entire natural and human resources at the disposal of its oligopolies and war preparations. Canadians want Canada to be a Zone for Peace, not part of a military and economic block under the thumb of the U.S. empire builders.
Appeasement of the U.S. imperialists has not benefited Canadian workers or their communities in the past, to the extent that Canada has once again been reduced to a hewer of wood and a drawer of water, a conduit for oligopolies to make windfall profits.
Every day examples emerge of U.S. cartels using their power and privilege to violate workers' rights and eliminate their unions. What is happening at Windsor Salt in Ontario and Nova Scotia, where a California holding company has come into Canada to destroy workers' rights, unions and standard of living is not a one-off. The workers' movement across Canada has plenty of experience with U.S. company hooliganism that cannot be swept under the carpet with hugs and kisses for Biden.
Furthermore, Canadian and U.S. workers are united cheek by jowl in a common cause. Canadian and U.S. workers want a new direction for the economy to solve their problems and to humanize the social and natural conditions.
Windsor and District Labour Council delegation joins striking Windsor Salt workers on their picket line,
April 11, 2023
Note
1. On March 28, a press release from the National Office for Canada of the United Steelworkers provided comments from the National Director:
"'With his Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), President Biden committed hundreds of billions of dollars to fight climate change, invest in infrastructure and explicitly create good unionized jobs. The President knows that Canadian workers and the products we mine and manufacture are critical to making sure he meets his climate and economic goals. The Prime Minister and members of his cabinet have told workers they understand that too. This budget is their chance to deliver.'
"Along with Canadian aluminum, steel, cement and wood, critical minerals such as nickel, steel-making coal, cobalt, copper, lithium, indium and tellurium are mined and produced in Canada – with far-lower carbon impacts and by workers often supported by good unionized jobs.
"In addition to calling for improved access to employment insurance and investments to expand health care -- including dental and pharma care, ... investments in a sustainable jobs plan and a commitment to showcasing Canada's lower-carbon products are crucial, if the government is serious about supporting Canadian workers and earning more exemptions to the U.S. 'Buy America' rules.
"'From promising anti-scab legislation to investing in so-called "just transition" this government has done a lot of talking about supporting Canadian workers, but President Biden has shown us what real action looks like.
"'To make sure that high-quality, family-supporting unionized jobs stay in Canada and that both our countries meet our goals of a lower-carbon economy, workers need the Canadian government to take this chance to earn our continued place as a partner in President Biden's plans.'"
On March 27, the National President of Unifor Lana Payne said the following in an address to the United Auto Workers in the United States:
"Just last week I attended an official dinner, welcoming your President, Joe Biden, to Canada. Well me and a few hundred other Canadians.
"President Biden not only brought a message of shared opportunity and unity, he brought a message of solidarity. I don't think the word "union" was mentioned so many times, in such a positive light, in the history of our House of Commons. It filled me with pride. [...]
"I will say that, from our vantage point, what the U.S. is doing – and the Biden Administration specifically – on economic and industrial policy, is quite impressive. I've not seen this level of ambition to on-shore critical manufactured goods, invest in domestic value chains and promote clean tech – from any government, in my lifetime."
"If this is the economic race the U.S. has started, it's a damn good one. And it's one that Canada and the U.S., like most things, will win as running mates. A race that will be won by securing good jobs, with collective agreements, for all.
"A race that will be defined by its worker-centred policies. Our members were incredibly relieved to see that the Inflation Reduction Act set a special carve-in for Canada, on EV consumer rebates."
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 5 - May 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/M5300510.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca