Over the last few months, if not years, we have seen an increase in the militancy of employees in the transport sector. At the beginning of the year, it was RMT union members in the UK who walked out. In May, French CGT railway workers also went on strike.
These social struggles, which combine better pay and working conditions with a categorical refusal to dismantle the public transportation monopoly, are taking place at a time when the COVID19 pandemic has served as a reminder of how vital this sector is to national and global economies. On the one hand, the corporate monopolies have seized on this opportunity to guarantee their profits by stepping up privatization and competition between the various players in the industry, and on the other by squeezing workers through longer, more arduous working days and lower real wages, given the prevailing inflation. These anti-grassroots measures are often endorsed by the public authorities. On the other hand, workers have regained their bargaining power and refuse to be sold a bill of goods.
It is in this overall context that we need to understand the possible strike by Air Canada airline pilots in the near future, the protests by flight attendants in recent months – who are estimated to work 35 hours without pay each month – and, more recently, the strike vote by some 9,300 Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN) railway workers.
The Communist Party of Canada salutes their fight against management’s attempts to worsen their working conditions by imposing longer working hours and greater flexibility.
We strongly denounce the binding arbitration order, the prelude to bludgeoning back-to-work legislation that will set a precedent for future labour disputes. The message is clear: the monopolies can impose their conditions on workers without even negotiating, under the auspices of the government. This is heard from both the Prime Minister and Steven McKinnon, who does not hesitate to use his discretionary powers to circumvent federal labour law.
We also denounce the blackmail orchestrated by the monopolies who, through the media in their pay, have led people to believe that the strike, rather than capitalist profits, were responsible for an economic slowdown. On the contrary, it is the power of the monopolies that is preventing the development of our economy and unravelling our industrial fabric.
It’s no coincidence that on Thursday, August 29th a common front of longshore unions met in Montreal to denounce the use of Section 107 of the federal Labour Code. Their aim was none other than to highlight the importance of working conditions in the transport sector, particularly at a time when one of the biggest lock-outs is taking place at the Port of Quebec. Negotiating down working conditions in this area cannot be tolerated, which would have a negative impact on all employees in the industry.
The railway workers may have agreed to return to work subject to legal action. However, the fact remains that the struggle in the transport sector is not over. The workers are seeking to use the balance of power, including strike action and braving potential lock-outs, to protect themselves against the will of the employers.
Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada