Labour law reform discussions continue about how to help build workplace representation for the newly identified 'precariat' – the social class of precarious workers. During these discussions, it is important for socialists to examine the structural reforms needed within unions to prioritize organizing this group.
In Canada, there is a two step process for most workers to form a union. There is a card signing process which acts as a poll asking workers if they want democracy in their workplace. Then, if enough of them do, there is a vote asking those same workers if they want workplace democracy through a union.
This week focuses on organizing the precariat, what we need for labour law reform, a new argument for card check, a win against privatization, prescription drugs, VW scandal and UAW victories in the South.
In this week's edition, part two of our back-to-school special on privatization 'Losing control of the university: Corporatization'. Also, a call for a thorough reflection when reforming labour law; misogyny surfaces as students return to campuses countrywide; open source program takes on the most proprietary system known; and we ask if a leadership change bring change in broader values.
Three things need to be remembered when discussing organizing precarious workers and the labour law reforms needed to support that organizing.
Turning public services into things that can be bought and sold has been one of the most defining and also destructive processes of neoliberalism.
Once a university is run as a private corporation, the other processes of privatisation are easier to implement. The resulting silos compartmentalise research, teaching and knowledge transfer from the university's broader social missions. This undermines the delicate ecosystem that allows for knowledge generation. This is why the struggle to sustain and rebuild a functional university system must always include the struggle against corporate restructuring.
Once a university is run as a private corporation, the other processes of privatisation are easier to implement. The resulting silos compartmentalise research, teaching and knowledge transfer from the university's broader social missions. This undermines the delicate ecosystem that allows for knowledge generation. This is why the struggle to sustain and rebuild a functional university system must always include the struggle against corporate restructuring.
The election of Jeremy Corbyn to leader of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom marks a significant and positive reversal of the party's trajectory over the past 25 years. A trajectory that saw the jettisoning of the social movements in the hopes of enticing financial power.
In Canada, universities are widely considered to be public institutions. They should be public, but for years Canadian provincial and federal governments and university administrations have acted to undermine the public aspects of higher education and the academy more generally.
