We All Have Common Cause with the ABI Workers
- André Jacob, Director, Education
and Organization, Canadian Union of
Postal Workers, Quebec Region -
Locked-out ABI workers rally at Quebec National Assembly March 27, 2019.
The struggle of the ABI workers must be supported
because the unions are being attacked by the political class and the
people in power who run the economy. For example, with regard to CUPW,
we are continuously under special legislation. The unions are left with
their hands tied, where they can no longer manoeuvre because their
rights are
denied through legislative provisions. That is what we are experiencing.
In the case of ABI, you have an employer who can take a
position because the main, economic cost of that position is borne by
the Quebec government. It is us Quebeckers who are footing the bill for
ABI's electricity contract. When I went to the demonstration in front
of the National Assembly with the workers of ABI, that was the issue at
hand and Premier Legault is clearly not willing to take up his
responsibility. In addition, Alcoa is a global empire, so it can have
its aluminum produced elsewhere while we pay it to continue the lockout.
 As for CUPW, we are under
special legislation, which prevents us from undertaking pressure
tactics, and our ongoing arbitration is constantly being postponed. It
is May now and we have just learned that it has been postponed until
December. We began our job actions in October 2018; then in November
the government passed back-to-work legislation preventing us from
waging job actions. As soon as a CUPW member would undertake a job
action against Canada Post that affected mail delivery, we were hit
with a fine of $50,000 a day, per member. We no longer have the right
to undertake pressure tactics; our issues have been dragging on over
time. That is where it becomes important to have other unions come out
and assist and undertake job actions, as was the case with us.
As for the ABI workers, they have been locked out for
sixteen months. In such a long fight, the financial aspect becomes very
important. We gave them money and often had the union president come to
our locals to explain where the conflict was at. Our locals participate
in their picket lines. It is important, as there is no limit to the
support
we can provide them.
We must reinforce our union strength and fight for each
other.
This article was published in
Number 19 - May 23, 2019
Article Link:
We All Have Common Cause with the ABI Workers >
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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