$2 | No 617 | June

Revolution in Sudan Page 3 Abortion Canadian rights under attack page 4-5

Green genocide party is not so green page 2

Justice for Foodora Workers Page 6

Booksmart: Smarter than Superbad page 7

Photo: Glassghost, CC-BY-NC 2.0

fter almost three years of hearings, actions detailed within this report. The national people as lazy freeloaders. When challenged from the settler population. the National Inquiry into Missing inquiry’s findings support characterizing these she refused to remove the letters, calling them There’s a long way to go. The latest stats and Murdered Indigenous Women acts, including violence against Indigenous “edgy and opinionated” rather than racist. It show that 60% of Indigenous children on re- Aand Girls has issued its final report. It women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people, as took months for the Senate to censure her, a slap serves live in poverty. Indigenous youth counted concludes that the thousands of deaths and dis- genocide.” on the wrist in the form of a brief suspension. for 46% of young people admitted to youth cor- appearances are part of a “Canadian genocide” rectional services (2016-17) while accounting fueled by “state actions and inactions rooted in Police obstruction Trudeau words ring hollow for only 8% of the population. Governments colonialism and colonial ideologies.” The authors acknowledge that they cannot accu- Justin Trudeau supported the Inquiry verbally, refuse to acknowledge environmental racism, Some politicians are more upset about the use rately count the victims largely because police but refused to acknowledge the word “geno- like the mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows. of the term genocide than the systemic violence. forces–especially the RCMP–refused to coop- cide”. As long as he is bent on forcing oil pipe- And reports of racist abuse of Indigenous sexual Bernard Valcourt, a Minister of Aboriginal Af- erate. Of almost 300 documents and reports re- lines through Indigenous territories his words assault victims at the hands of police continue fairs during Stephen Harper’s Conservative quested by the Inquiry, the RCMP has delivered ring hollow. to surface. regime, dismissed the report as “propagandist”. only 107. And many of those were so heavily The Report, entitled Reclaiming Power and The MMIWG Inquiry and labeling Canada’s “I take offence to Canada being accused of redacted and edited as to be useless. Place, is over 1200 pages and contains more colonial past and present “genocide” is an im- genocide. My comprehension of genocide is The obstruction by the state police is evidence than 200 recommendations. There are chapters portant step forward. But the lack of implemen- measured by what genocide really is.” that genocidal practices are not a thing of the on confronting oppression, the Right to Culture, tation of the Truth and Reconciliation Report The use of “genocide” is in line with research past, but bred in the bone of the colonial Ca- the Right to Health, the Right to Security, and recommendations is a warning that the Canadian co-authored by Bernie Farber, past CEO of the nadian state. Witness Senator Lynn Beyak, who the Right to Justice. state will not change its ways without struggle. Canadian Jewish Congress. “Genocide is the posted racist letters to her website defending the As well as challenging federal and provincial sum of the social practices, assumptions, and residential schools, and portraying Indigenous governments the Report calls for more solidarity •For full coverage socialist.ca/node/3872 Greens profit from climate A grayer shade of movement in by-election Green by Brian Champ for the transition. To achieve this we need a massive, The Green party is on a roll. And the united movement for urgent climate climate crisis is a key election issue. action that must attempt to address After forming the official opposition historical grievances, including racist in PEI in April, in May they won their oppression of first nations who have second federal seat in the Nanaimo- stood up against the degradation of Ladysmith by-election. their lands, waters, skies and bodies. Paul Manly captured 37.3% of the The scale of the crisis and the failure The recent surprise by-election win vote, rising 17.5% over his share of of our rulers to reform the system in Nanaimo gave the greens two seats the vote when he ran in 2015. The has made revolutionary change seem in parliament. In the PEI election NDP and Liberal vote both dropped more and more realistic. they came from nowhere to become by over 10%. the official opposition. The party The NDP lost the seat and came in Green New Deal and is consistently polling above 11 % third due to their terrible environmental student strikes heading toward a national election. record. In government, they approved Good news is that many are not Pundits are gushing that perhaps this the Site C dam and rammed through waiting for electoral politics. The is a breakthrough moment for Green the Liberals’ failed Liquid Natural The streets help Greens at the ballot box Julia Hawkins CC BY 2.0 fantastic student climate strikes that leader Elizabeth May. Gas terminal. The federal NDP has are happening every Friday, mobilized The Greens are the beneficiaries supported the same oil interests as the climate crisis concerns with talk about systems are organized, and food, 1.6 million students on March 15 of growing concern about climate two main parties, and are unable to “bold solutions to the challenges energy and materials are consumed”. demanding real action to reduce carbon change. Their popularity bump was consistently oppose pipeline projects. we face”; that we need to “stop In this system the key decisions are emissions. This happened alongside the result of voters dismayed over A new, more radical environmental subsidizing fossil fuels and invest in made by an unelected elite that ensure the direct action group Extinction Trudeau’s bailout of the K-M pipe- platform has been rolled out, but too green jobs”; and that politicians need it is an exploitative, oppressive and Rebellion (XR) that clogged 5 major line project and the NDP equivoca- late to affect the by-election. to “plan beyond a four year election environmentally destructive system London thoroughfares for 11 days and tion over fossil fuels. The BC Greens hold the balance cycle and ensure a secure future for so the profits are maximized. And forced the UK parliament to declare a The glimpse of power, however of power in BC, and could have our children.” He also called for a the development of capitalism is climate emergency. dim and distant, must have been too threatened to bring down the national moratorium on fracking. intertwined with the development and The Green New Deal (GND) that much for May. She chose this exact government on these issues, and The Green party doesn’t see itself exploitation of fossil fuels. has shaken up US politics is a plan to moment to remind everyone that her possibly swayed the NDP, but they as ‘right’ or ‘left’. But this means they Sending signals to the market, tax the rich’s profits to pay for the just party is Green in name only. Her call did not. accept the logic of capitalism, and with a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade transition to an environmentally sus- for a ban on “foreign” oil, coupled All political parties have failed claim that profits can be made while emissions scheme is not enough. A tainable economy, while addressing with greater support for the Alberta on this issue. The latest reports from transitioning to the carbon neutral credible plan would invest massively economic and racial inequality. It’s tar sands caused a national outbreak the IPCC show that there are only 11 economy. in renewable energy jobs, jobs popular because it speaks to the hopes of jaw-dropping and spit-takes. years left to reduce emissions enough But the climate science is clear that improving energy efficiency and of millions who are concerned about “As long as we are using fossil to prevent runaway global warming to avoid the worst ravages “would jobs in the public services to which the future, but are also not satisfied fuels we should be using our fossil that would devastate the earth’s require large-scale transformations of workers in dirty industries could with the status quo. fuels,” May explained. And with ecosystems and make life very hard the global energy–agriculture–land- transition. Instead of a regressive tax The future of the GND is not guar- that her environmental policies indeed for those who survive. economy system, affecting the way in on the consumption of dirty energy, anteed but there is a movement mobi- aligned with Andrew Scheer’s Con- Paul Manly was able to voice which energy is produced, agricultural the profits of corporations should pay lizing to build it. servatives, and even oil industry shill Ezra “Ethical Oil” Levant. The business press – the same folks who endorse the Tories in every election – responded with equal parts ap- Mark Norman, Big Business proval and confusion. People who have scrutinized the Greens’ platform are less per- plexed. May’s party has always endorsed “market solutions”. For and military excess instance, subsidies and handouts to petro-corporations are a problem by Kim McAuley tember of 2014, to Davie Shipbuilding, chaotic, inefficient and suffering from Crown alleging it didn’t have enough because they interfere with “free” its lobbyists and the media. Vice Ad- delay. evidence to convict him. markets. May is not opposed to the While Grassy Narrows endures end- miral Mark Norman was charged with Trudeau’s new government ulti- On May 14, Scheer asked Trudeau K-M pipeline in principle, because less suffering waiting for a treatment Breach of Trust in relation to these mately finalized the contract with to apologize to Mark Norman. Jason it violates Indigenous sovereignty centre, funding and clean-up of their allegations. Davie in 2015. And the fact that Irving Kenney pledged his undying love of or threatens to pollute the environ- community, the Conservatives and On October 19, 2015 – the day Harp- even got a pause on Davie in the first Norman as a Canadian hero. The To- ment; she just prefers pipelines car- Liberals instead focus their energy on ronto Sun ran a front page comparing rying bitumen sludge that has been finger pointing and playing politics the “hardship”endured by Norman to refined in Alberta first. over Big Capital (SNC Lavalin and the allegedly soft treatment of Omar To be clear, May is not even call- shipbuilding companies Irving, Davie Khadr. ing for nationalizing energy devel- and Seaspan.) These scandals reek of Trudeau instead raised the fact opment. When she says “our fossil vote swaying in the lead up to the fall that Harper was the one who initially fuels” she means corporations prof- election. It’s a disgusting ploy and a awarded the contract to Davie. iting from Alberta’s tar sands and long-ago exhausted scene. Soon after he announced $15.7 BC’s fracking megaprojects. This The last weeks of May provided a billion to re-build the Canadian Navy ignores evidence that shows that tar strong example of the injurious and (contracts awarded to Seaspan and sands energy projects are far dirti- insulting nonsense our two main com- Irving) and another $351.3 million er than conventional sources. The peting parties serve up as leadership. to “enhance the capacity of the coast amount of energy required to extract Lets look back to the Fall of 2015: guard, strengthen management and energy from the tar sands makes In 2015, Vice Admiral Mark Nor- er lost his throne to Trudeau – Harper’s place speaks volumes about the power oversight and promote a greener way them equal parts environmental di- man, under the Harper Government, government awarded a contract to of vote swaying Capital that Irving and of doing business”. saster and economic sinkhole. was authorized to negotiate and award North Vancouver shipyard Seaspan. their ilk has. The Irving operations are While the Tories proclaim them- May’s pronouncement is less a contract to Davie Shipbuilding in Seaspan had promised it would pre- a virtual monolith in New Brunswick, selves the defender of the people, in about addressing the climate emer- Quebec to build an interim supply ship pare its shipyard for the work, at no are the largest private sector employer this case it seems they were in bed gency and more about grasping for the Canadian Navy. That contract cost to Canada, as had Davie. in the province, and have a monopo- with big business just as much as for a shred of electoral power. No was worth $668 million. It had a can- Later in October 2015, Scott Brison ly on the media there. They own and Trudeau. Both parties reek from this. amount of tinkering can resolve cellation clause worth $89 million, in as the newly appointed President of operate Irving oil and gas, as well as So while tens of millions in gov- the destructive contradiction at the the event it wasn’t signed by Novem- the Treasury Board under the Trudeau lumber, pulp & paper and construction ernment funds are thrown around and heart of capitalism. People looking ber 30, 2015. (Almost exactly the same Liberals asked Cabinet to consider an companies, and have business interests sometimes just thrown out to try to for serious action on climate change amount – $88.7 million – promised to unsolicited proposal from New Bruns- in real estate. curry favour with the bosses and buy would do well to ignore May’s gray Grassy Narrows) . wick’s Irving Shipyard to build the The Trial of Vice-Admiral Norman a few votes, the people of the coun- Green Party. Far better to back the Court filings reveal that RCMP in- interim supply ship instead. was scheduled for August, 2019. But try – most notably Indigenous groups rising international youth protests, vestigators believed two government In December, 2015, a confidential on March 28 Mark Norman’s defence like those of Grassy Narrows – have or Green New Deal town-halls that officials, not acting together, leaked report for the Liberal government team presented new evidence and on to wait for basic life saving services are drawing full houses across the government “secrets” regarding ship- – obtained by the CBC – noted the May 8 the Breach of Trust charge while trying to stay alive on their poi- country to debate the way forward. building negotiations, starting in Sep- program by Seaspan was ill-managed, against Norman was stayed – with the soned lands.

2 Socialist Worker June 2019 INTERNATIONAL Sudan shows working class power

As we go to press, the Sudanese very poor. But we will see. People military has launched a deadly are always suprising us, especially assault on a peaceful sit-in, killing in revolutions. We can’t predict what at least 30 and wounding many people will do in a revolution. hundreds. The movement has called for an unlimited strike until What role do young people play? the military regime falls. In late On May 29th, a youth march was May, Socialist Worker spoke with blocked by police on Nile Street Ibrahim, an Egyptian socialist, as they were trying to walk to the about the events unfolding in square. This is a very strategic street. Sudan. The military killed people on this street because if the protesters oc- What about the situation in Sudan cupy it, they occupy the capital. It’s is similar and different from the like a war. There is no media. They Egyptian revolution of 2011? shut down the Al Jazeera office May The most important thing in the 30th. The journalists for Reuters are Arab world today is the idea that Sudanese, and they are afraid. You revolution is dead. Now, no one can can’t tell the truth. In Egypt they talk about this. Now, all people have killed journalists, so they know the seen revolution on TV in Algeria and consequences. Sudan and remember the Egyptian In the general strike, workers in revolution. Answers to difficult ques- the electricity sector struck because tions come very easily now. What No to military rule: Sudanese revolution demands a civilian government the military arrested many in the is the role of the military? They are sector. Workers threatened to cut the enemy of the people, they are not front of the military headquarters [in to Tahrir square, factory by factory, The question of Sudan does not electricity to the generals’ building. one hand with the people. In 2011, Khartoum]. one by one. But a general strike like belong only to the Sudanese people, Can you imagine? The military re- we chanted “Army and people: one The Gulf States, the military, Sudan, we did not see this in 2011. it belongs to all the regimes in the leased all of them. This shows what hand!” Now in Sudan, “the Army is the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood The Sudan general strike was very Middle East, especially the Gulf we are talking about, working class the enemy of people!” call this revolution a ‘communist successful, we can say 80%. After States. The Sudanese military played people’s power. revolution’. The situation in Sudan the general strike, people are talking a bloody role in the war in Yemen. If the Egyptian revolution did only What is the state of the left in Sudan? is different than Egypt – they learned about “power to the people”. It is not The second in command, General this, it is good, you know? Because The situation of the left in Sudan from the Egyptian revolution. The only small groups or organizations Hemeti, was a leader of massacres the people in the region learned is much better than in Egypt. There Egyptian Revolution is very useful on the left in Sudan talking about in Darfur, and led Sudanese forces about difficult questions. You is the Sudanese Communist Party, for them. In Sudan, Islamists are taking complete power from the mil- in Yemen. They have an alliance remember the Russian revolution of and we have an Egyptian Commu- anti-revolution from the beginning itary. Before the general strike, we with Saudi Arabia and the United 1917 – after February, the situation nist Party. While both are Stalinist, and try to crush the general strike. heard this idea, but only whispered: Emirates. These countries, and Egypt was very clear. Because the ordinary the Sudanese CP is a fighting party. Now it is very clear: revolution is “We need all the power”. After the of course, their intelligence meets people know the answer of the ques- They have strong contact with trade left. If you want to make a social general strike, where the military every day to consider the situation tion without any complicated debate. unions and with peasants in villages. revolution, you have to go left. wants seven seats in the Sovereign and how to face it. So the Sudanese A sign of great revolutions is that When they held their first confer- Council and three for civilians, now people don’t face only the Sudanese answers to difficult questions come ence after the overthrow of Gaafar How significant was the May civilians are talking about having military. Counterrevolution is not easily: who is an enemy, who is a Nimeiry, they filled a stadium with 28-29 general strike? How does all ten – “We don’t need any for just the military and capitalists in friend. And lies are not as useful as tens of thousands of people! The Su- it compare to strikes during the the military, all of them belong to Sudan, but all the regimes. before in Sudan. The military lied, danese CP is in the heart of this rev- Egyptian revolution? Bashir”. When [Lt-General] Abdel Fattah and people say “We heard this before olution, because they are in all mid- In Egypt in 2011, we had great We are now in a moment where al-Burhan visited Egypt, he saluted in Egypt”. Some in Sudan say “It’s dle-class trade unions like doctors or worker movements – especially in we will see repression. The military Al-Sisi – as if he was an officer in like we watch the Egyptian revolu- engineers. But now we are beginning the beginning, from February 5th to shot and killed people May 30th, his army! This is a sign. This shows tion – every day, the same tactics. to see some radical organizations, 9th – over four days, we saw a lot of one of them a pregnant woman, the role of Egyptian intelligence But we don’t have the answer”. We more radical than the Sudanese CP. workers’ strikes. But we did not have and two young people in the sit-in. in what happens in Sudan now. I don’t know what will happen. But Their strategy and tactics have been a general strike in the form of a po- They threatened to crush the sit-in don’t know what will happen in the until now, this is inspiring all people inspiring young people to sit in in litical strike. We saw workers come by force. coming days. Sudan as a country is in the region. European elections: collapse of the centre The European union elections on The Greens did very well in ministers of Tsipras can blame their May 26 showed, once again, that the Germany, coming second with responsibilities on the “rightward traditional parties are collapsing as over 20 percent of the vote as the looking electorate”. Those who people are looking for a new politi- Labour-type SPD plummeted. indeed turned provocatively to the cal direction. And Greens also had succeses in right are the government officials of The far right made gains in some Ireland, Portugal and France. SYRIZA. countries and the Greens, riding a Much wider awareness of climate Even in the area of the treatment wave of increased concern about chaos and the mobilisations around of refugees, the government of Alexis the environment, also grew. Below it played a part in that advance. Tsipras has managed to betray the is a round-up of coverage including – from Socialist Worker UK great solidarity movement that has a report from Greece where the welcomed the refugee wave. Cooper- elections have deepened the political Greece ation with the EU-Fortress, Frontex, crisis for the ruling Syriza party. The Sunday May 26th election the drownings at sea, shameful deten- Racist Farage gets covered in banana caramel milkshake results brought a hard defeat for tion camps in the islands, murderous United Kingdom SYRIZA and Alexis Tsipras person- “repatriation” in Evros. The European election results have “The campaign run by Stand Up The AfD in Germany advanced, ally. The numbers are relentless. The The common denominator of these underlined the political crisis in To Racism showed that we can pull but not strongly. In the Spanish state gap with New Democracy reached failures is the political cowardice of Britain and the wholesale collapse people together regardless of how Vox took seats for the first time but close to 10 points. Candidates of the reformism in the face of challenges of the Tories. they voted in the EU referendum. won a lower percentage than in the governing left Syriza in the local and its willingness to search for Anti-racists were celebrating “However, we cannot be compla- recent general election. elections record a drop everywhere. “realistic” solutions in the context of in North West England as, after a cent.” The far right Sweden Democrats But beyond the numbers, there is “real correlations”. campaign by Stand Up To Racism, The main gainer across Britain made further gains. Meanwhile the the political admittance of defeat by One hundred years after the fascist Tommy Robinson failed to be was Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. It racist Lega party topped the polls Tsipras who said he would ask the inauguration of the Comintern, all of elected. He took just 2 percent of the won almost a third of the vote, far in Italy. President of the Republic for the im- today’s battles are embedded in the vote and lost his deposit. more than the Tories and Labour But the Freedom Party in Austria mediate announcement of parliamen- same great prospect of overthrowing Nahella Ashraf, from Manchester combined. was down on 2014’s result and tary elections. this system that is not reformable Stand Up To Racism said, “We have The far right across Europe had Golden Dawn in Greece saw its vote The responsibilities for this de- but can only by shattered by the shown that there is no place in main- mixed results. reduced sharply. velopment are beyond any doubt the activity of everyday people of the stream politics for a fascist. I’d like In France fascist Marine Le Pen’s In the Netherlands the far- disastrous adaptation of the SYRIZA working class. Forward and all to thank the hundreds of activists National Rally was the largest party, right Freedom party, led by Geert government to the political choices together in the common struggle. that came out across the North West profiting from the unpopularity of Wilders, collapsed and didn’t win of the ruling class and to the needs – from Statement of SEK to make this happen. president Emmanuel Macron. a seat. of Greek capitalism. None of the in Greece

June 2019 Socialist Worker 3 How abortion

We must maintain a broad-based movement to defend gains rights were won The fight for reproductive justice With renewed attacks on access to abortion in the United States, Carolyn Egan takes a look back at the fight that led to a historic victory in Canada, and the lessons for the struggle is a fight for us all for reproductive justice today. by Carolyn Egan decision, the Hyde Amendment was passed which denied the he horror of what is use of Medicaid funding for happening in the United abortions. The first who died n historic battle took place from Quebec and we modeled our required to continue a pregnancy. against extra billing by doctors. AIDS the movement risking exposure and movement which fought together This was a huge breakthrough for clinics rejecting the argument that it States to women and all was Rosie Jimenez, a young in this country in the late campaign after theirs. The strategy activists spoke at our rallies outlining arrest, but they continued to come. for women’s reproductive freedom. women without status. should be left to the police to protect Tthose seeking control Latina woman from Texas, who twentieth century between was the combination of a doctor Expanding the definition of the pressures on HIV positive women Safe houses were established in the The full message was often lost in the facilities. over their bodies and their lives went to an illegal abortionist Athe women’s movement, willing to challenge the law and a ‘choice’ to have abortions and tubal ligations. neighbourhood, and volunteer escorts the media presentations where most Attempts to recriminalize Because of the strong mobilization is causing a reaction worldwide. and developed septicemia. its allies and the Canadian state. A broad and representative movement We were aware of the limits of the We worked very closely with the accompanied women to the clinic attention was given to the single issue abortion fail and community support, “Operation Although it represents a A chant that was often used major victory was won when the willing to fight for the necessary notion of “choice”. Full access to free Midwives Collective fighting to have protecting them from anti-choice of overturning the federal abortion law. It did not take long before the Rescue” was stopped. This speaks to minority of the population, in Canada was, “Campaign Life Supreme Court of Canada overturned changes. abortion, as significant an advance as their services paid for by the state and harassment. There were many debates about Conservative government in Ottawa the strength of the movement building the anti-choice movement is Your Name’s a Lie, You Don’t the federal abortion law in 1988. At that would be, does not guarantee that available to all. It did not take long before the the best way forward. Strategic began the process of introducing new strategy and the active alliances of the extremely well funded and has Care If Women Die”. That is the time the campaign was situated in A mass action, United Front all women have choices over their We believed that the choice to facility was raided by the police complexities and dilemmas were not legislation recriminalizing abortion. united front. been putting pressure on state the reality. The most recent the broader context of reproductive approach lives or having children. have a child can never be free in a and Drs Morgentaler, Scott and legislatures to pass bills taking statistics show that 47,000 freedom. Abortion rights was seen as OCAC was a grass-roots, activist OCAC stated that for all women to society where many women earn so Smoling were arrested and the Success and the ongoing away the most basic rights of deaths occur worldwide each one of a number of demands that the organization; a united front. The have real choices in our society they much less than men, in which quality medical equipment seized. This was struggle for full access those seeking abortions. year due to illegal abortions. women’s movement was struggling immediate objectives were to require safe and effective birth control childcare and affordable housing are not unexpected and OCAC had been There are now over thirty freestanding As countries like Ireland, The reproductive justice for in the fight for reproductive rights. overturn the federal law and to services in their own languages not available, where inequity and building broad support. We knew clinics providing funded abortions that had been dominated by movement in this country has Before the law was struck down legalize freestanding clinics providing and their own communities, decent discrimination are systemic. we were going to be in a long drawn across the country. Access is much the Catholic Church, break made it clear in its organizing there was access to abortion, but it medically insured abortions. jobs, paid parental leave, childcare, We found this reproductive out campaign. We had to change the wider than when the campaign began free through strong campaigns that to have real choices we was a very privileged access. In 1969 OCAC took a mass action approach. the right to live freely and openly rights perspective to be vital to the balance of power in the country, and in the early eighties and sexual health overturning restrictive anti- must have childcare, decent legislation had been passed which We did not leave the campaign regardless of their sexuality, an end success of our organizing because it while the issue had to be in the courts services are more widely available, abortion laws, people are jobs, affordable housing, birth allowed abortions to be performed to lawyers or to the lobbying of to forced or coerced sterilization, reflected the reality of women’s lives, because of the arrests, the critical task but the fight for reproductive justice horrified by the steps backward control available in our own if they took place in an approved or politicians. We believed that tens was mobilizing the strong support is far from over. by states in the US. The communities and our own accredited hospital with the consent of thousands of women and men that we knew was there for women’s There is no national childcare contempt for women and all languages, an end to forced or of a therapeutic abortion committee. would come into the streets across reproductive rights. Judges do not sit program. Equal pay for work of those who have been struggling coerced sterilization, an end to The committee was made up of three the country to fight for women’s in isolation and we had to show that equal value is still a dream for many. against oppression in this racial and gender harassment, doctors whose role was to determine reproductive freedom. the law was unenforceable and make Employment equity has not been exploitative system is obvious. and of course full access to whether the continuation of a Groups took up the cause in every sure that a jury would not convict the implemented. Systemic racist and The anger of progressive free abortion. pregnancy would impact the physical province and the Canadian Abortion doctors. sexist discrimination still exists and peoples everywhere has shown The trade union movement or mental health of the woman. Rights Action League fought side In linking struggles OCAC was many of the other services necessary itself in demonstrations around has historically worked along In practice it resulted in very by side with us. Members and allies able to build a wide campaign through for women to have real choices in their the globe. side the women’s movement inequitable access. Women with spoke to labour unions, to community demonstrations, marches and rallies lives are not in place. Private members Where there is a Republican to fight for reproductive justice economic resources who could afford organizations, on campuses and to in which thousands participated. bills are regularly being introduced majority, there is a clear and it must come out strongly a private gynecologist or travel to the faith communities. Through our organizing we were in the House of Commons to create strategy by anti-choice forces in the United States against US or Montreal could get an abortion. At the very start we won a able to broaden the participation barriers for women. To date all have to have state after state enact these retrogressive steps Many racialized women, Indigenous resolution at the Ontario Federation of trade unionists, students, AIDS been defeated. anti-abortion laws in the hope attempting to roll back all the women, working class, rural and of Labour convention supporting activists, people of colour, and Support for reproductive justice is of eventually overturning gains that we have made. young women did not have access. the campaign and individual unions immigrant women’s organizations still very strong across the country. Roe versus Wade at the These measures are racist In spite of the claims that Canada had followed suit. Women Working with in the campaign. We understood Protesting anti-choice bigots in Toronto, May 2019 While the overall strategic situation Supreme Court. The Trump and class biased, and must be universal health care, there was a two- Immigrant Women, a coalition of that without active participation and has changed, the lessons of the administration is enabling this stopped. tiered system. immigrant and racialized women’s the support of thousands no change campaign that was waged still remain with its racist, anti-woman, We also have to do all we In Toronto, workers from the organizations, helped to organize would occur. made easier in a movement that was Because of the strong roots that had relevant. Islamphobic, anti-immigrant can to protect reproductive Immigrant Women’s Health Centre, meetings and active support in diverse After the raid we were caught constantly under direct attack from been developed a major campaign The principles and tactics that were policies that have impacted freedom in this country. An the Birth Control and VD Information communities. More and more groups Dr. Henry Morgentaler celebrates victory on January 28, 1988 in the courts for almost a year on a the state and the conservative right. against a new law was launched. used created a broad united front for millions. anti-choice premier, Jason Centre and Hassle Free Clinic and individuals joined the struggle. constitutional challenge through When the Supreme Court finally “Women are not Criminals” was the reproductive rights. This overturned Alabama is the third-poorest Kenney, has been elected in decided that they had to challenge a We set out to win full access to employment equity, and of course, broadened the base of the movement, which the state tried to demobilize overturned the existing abortion law slogan. the federal abortion law and created state in the union and has Alberta. New Brunswick will not system that was denying abortions to free abortion for all women. OCAC full access to free abortion. All were and explicitly dealt with issues of the movement. An Ontario Supreme it was through the strength of a broad There were national days of action a network of clinics making abortion only three abortion clinics. pay for abortions at the only many of those using their services. made clear in its organizing that it required for reproductive freedom. class and race. Court Justice ruled that the federal and representative movement. and large numbers came out into the much more accessible for women The director of one of them, clinic in the province. Hospital They felt strongly that the federal should be a fundamental right for OCAC tried to ensure that the abortion law was constitutional. There was a spontaneous streets. Tragically during this period who were previously denied, initial a Black woman obstetrician/ amalgamations and reduction law was fundamentally flawed in that all women to make the decision to demand for abortion access was Defending the Morgentaler He stated that the Charter of Rights demonstration of thousands of a young woman, Yvonne Jurewicz, and partial victories for sure, but still gynecologist, spoke to in service all affect access. it took the decision out of the hands terminate a pregnancy and that fully never seen in isolation but as one of clinic in Toronto and Freedoms protects only those supporters outside the Morgentaler died in Toronto of a self-induced major gains for women’s reproductive Democracy Now saying that Attacks on public health will cut of women and was racist and class funded facilities must be in place to a number of interdependent struggles. OCAC worked with Dr. Henry rights that are spelled out in law or Clinic when the decision of the abortion because she believed a legal freedom. vulnerable women will be the funding to sexual health clinics biased in its application. They and allow them to do so. It also felt that We tried to make this concrete by Morgentaler and in 1983 he opened “rooted deeply in our traditions”. Supreme Court was announced. procedure was not available. We continue to fight for reforms, most affected. Black women that provide both birth control others formed the Ontario Coalition the movement needed an analysis challenging the coerced sterilization a clinic challenging the federal law. Well abortion is certainly rooted in Women and men were dancing in the During the campaign against the and the longer-term goal of women’s and poor white women don’t and abortion referrals without for Abortion Clinics (OCAC) in 1982. that went much further. The group that First Nations women, Black The clinic became a symbol of women’s traditions. In the actual trial street! Similar rallies erupted across new law and for increased access, liberation for all will only occur with have the resources to travel out requiring a health card. Our The group thought long and believed that women must also women and women with disabilities women’s resistance. the jury unanimously rejected this the country. Freestanding clinics were anti-choice forces began another an end to capitalism and the creation of state and they will be forced gains are fragile as well and we hard about how best to change an have the right to bear the children were facing. Women were making appointments by finding the doctors innocent. The legalized in Ontario fully covered by assault. “Operation Rescue”, as they of a society where exploitation and to carry to term a pregnancy or must maintain a broad-based increasingly desperate situation for they choose to bear. This was a We heard from healthcare workers for abortions at the clinic knowing government appealed the acquittal but the healthcare system and clinics began called it, started in Toronto in the fall oppression are things of the past. seek an illegal abortion, putting movement to protect what we so many women. We looked at the perspective that activists from the who said that therapeutic abortion full well that the government the clinic reopened and the movement to open in other parts of the country as of 1988 and attempted to blockade themselves at risk of dying or have, and go on to win greatly circumstance in the province of Immigrant Women’s Health Centre committees sometimes refused viewed it to be “illegal”. They faced gained a tremendous momentum. well. There were a number of facilities the entrance to the Morgentaler • Reprinted from Abortion and having severe complications. needed improvements so that Quebec where clinics were providing had put forward in earlier campaigns abortions unless a woman agreed to police surveillance and anti-choice in Ontario that were able to provide Clinic. They physically and verbally the struggle for reproductive In the late 1970s, after the everyone has full access to the abortions to women in their own to remove barriers to abortion, sexual be sterilized. We fought for child care harassment. Building a mass movement abortions to women without health harassed women seeking abortions. justice, a Resistance Press Rowe v. Wade Supreme Court all services they require. communities. A lesson was learned health and the support services as a woman’s right and campaigned They were the true heroines of The goal was to build a visible, mass cards as a result of our organizing. OCAC organized defense of the pamphlet (June 2014)

4 Socialist Worker June 2019 June 2019 Socialist Worker 5 NATO at 70 – Part 2 Foodsters Becoming the global cop united by Tom Leonard of a NATO member state, and an air battle in Also in 1999, NATO formally added new February 1994 marked the first time NATO members Hungary, Poland and the Czech Second in a three-part series, on the 70th anni- forces engaged in active combat. NATO Republic, all of which were previously versary of NATO. The previous installment further intervened in the Bosnian War in members of the Warsaw Pact. This was looked at the founding of the alliance, and August 1995 with Operation Deliberate Force, described by former Soviet leader Mikhail its history through the Cold War. It exposed a sustained campaign of airstrikes in Bosnia- Gorbachev as “definitely a violation of the NATO’s stated goal – defending freedom and Herzegovina, the first explicitly combat spirit of the statements and assurances made democracy – as a hollow boast. But deprived mission undertaken by the alliance, and a to us in 1990,” alluding to remarks made of its main “evil empire” opponent, how could decisive intervention into the affairs of a non- that year by U.S. Secretary of State James NATO powers continue to justify massive arms member state. Baker that if a reunified Germany were to by Pam Johnson spending? By doing so, NATO had established the join NATO “not an inch of NATO’s present clue to this question can be found in precedent of being willing to engage in “out military jurisdiction will spread in an eastern “Gig economy same old crap, ex- the basic structure of NATO. Overall of area” operations, that is, military action direction.” ploitation in an app!” was the chant of command of all NATO forces rests outside the boundaries of its own territory. In 2004, NATO added a further seven over two hundred Foodora bicycle and Awith the Supreme Allied Commander This precedent was reinforced and amplified former members of the Warsaw Pact, including car couriers and supporters as they Europe (SACEUR), who has always been a in 1999 with Operation Allied Force, a the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and marched through downtown Toronto. The U.S. general. The SACEUR Lithuania (previously part march was organized by the Canadian is appointed by the U.S. of the USSR), which border Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) who are President and confirmed by directly on Russia. hosting a convention in town. CUPW is the U.S. Senate before being So NATO’s response supporting the Foodora workers’ drive to approved by the North Atlantic to the demise of its main form a union. Council, NATO’s highest adversary in the early The organizing campaign, Justice for decision-making body. The 1990s was not to retreat or Foodora Couriers, is calling for better SACEUR is concurrently head dissolve, but the reverse. wages, including compensation for of U.S. European Command, NATO used the historic dangerous work, time to recover if they the U.S. military organization collapse of the USSR are injured or sick, and an intimidation responsible for U.S. military and the Stalinist bloc to free workplace. Foodora, like Uber, calls forces and operations within establish a more aggressive its workers ‘independent contractors’ to the European region (including and interventionist military avoid employment standards and labour Russia and Greenland). policy targeting other law. The pay-per-order model means This means he not only countries, and to grow. that during slow periods workers receive commands NATO forces in wages lower than minimum wage. This is Europe, but all U.S. forces as Expansionism after each courier has sunk hundreds or well. The SACUER is therefore NATO is committed to thousands of dollars keeping their bike, directly responsible to the a policy of enlargement, car or scooter in good working order. U.S. President, not just the stating explicitly that One courier told Socialist.ca, “This is NATO Secretary General. This membership is open to the second time that we have tried to or- structure clearly demonstrates “any other European state ganize. We have momentum now, it is a that U.S. preponderance is built in a position to further the bigger movement. It is not just Canada, right into the basic functioning principles of this Treaty and it is global. People are pissed off, they of the alliance. to contribute to the security want to see change.” of the North Atlantic area.” Former CUPW president, Jean-Claude A Decisive Shift – As noted, NATO Parrot whose sign quotes the song 1990s membership has grown solidarity forever, “not a single wheel A further clue can be found from an initial twelve can turn” in the history of NATO since to a present 29 states, Also marching was former CUPW the collapse of the Soviet with two others – Bosnia president, Jean-Claude Parrot, who was Union and its satellites from & Herzegovina and famously jailed for defying back-to-work 1989 through 1991. With that North Macedonia – legislation in 1980. “I’m 82 but I’m here collapse the principal target currently participating today supporting these workers. Organiz- of NATO’s force posture, and in Membership Action ing today is very important, you have to the first part of Lord Ismay’s Plans aimed at preparing be determined.” troika, (“to keep the Russians them for membership, and out, the Americans in, and the both Ukraine and Georgia • To get information or show your Germans down.”) disappeared. openly discussing the support for these workers: Justice for In July 1990 a second aspect possibility of joining. Foodora Couriers foodstersunited.ca of Ismay’s troika likewise The alliance now directly disappeared when West touches Russia’s borders in Territorial acknowledgment Germany, a NATO member the Baltic, and if Ukraine since 1955, reunified with East and Georgia were to join, As settlers, we acknowledge our Germany. NATO appeared to would add thousands of occupation of lands that are the have run out of opponents but the world had 78-day bombing campaign over Serbia and kilometres of shared border in Russia’s west Indigenous territories of Turtle Island. not yet run out of NATO. Kosovo which NATO conducted entirely in and south. This at a time when the Russian Furthermore, we support all struggles In April 1993 NATO members launched its own name, without the authorization of state probably controls less territory than for Indigenous sovereignty in whatever Operation Deny Flight, the enforcement the UN. The air strikes destroyed substantial at any point in history since the reign of of a United Nations-mandated no-fly zone infrastructure within Serbia, including the Catherine the Great. forms they take by the hundreds of over Bosnia-Herzegovina, part of the former headquarters of Serb Radio and Television in As has been noted elsewhere, NATO First Nations and Inuit communities Yugoslavia and at that time engulfed in a the capital Belgrade, as well as seven bridges has now achieved what neither Hitler nor that have resided here for many major war. that had no military function, and killed an Napoleon were able to – the encirclement thousands of years, and by Métis This was the first time that NATO forces estimated 500 civilians, according to Human of a territorially reduced Russia by a hostile communities that have developed in had conducted operations outside the territory Rights Watch. military alliance. the last hundreds of years.

WHERE WE STAND socialist.ca/ourstand social, economic and the people of Quebec. political equality for women. We support the struggles Never miss an issue. The capitalist system concept of “just transition” production and distribution We are for an end to all for self-determination of Join the Socialists Yearly subscription $30 is based on violence, for affected workers. to satisfy human needs, forms of discrimination Quebec and Indigenous oppression and brutal not corporate profits—to and homophobia against peoples up to and including Institutions, 1st Class & U.S. $50 international: $60 exploitation. It creates Workers’ power respect the environment, lesbians, gays, bisexuals the right to independence. Name: hunger beside plenty, it Any alternative to not pollute and destroy it. and transgender people. In particular, we recognize threatens our sustenance capitalism must involve We oppose Indigenous peoples’ Name: through unsafe and replacing the system from Oppression environmental racism. We original and primary right Address: unsustainable farming, and the bottom up through Within capitalist society oppose discrimination on to decide their fate and kills the earth itself with radical collective action. different groups suffer the basis of religion, ability that of their lands, heritage, Address: pollution and unsustainable Central to that struggle from specific forms of and age. and traditions. Socialists Phone: extraction of oil, minerals, is the workplace, where oppression. Attacks on in Quebec, and in all animals, trees, and capitalism reaps its profits oppressed groups are Canada, Quebec, oppressed nations, work E-mail: Phone: water. Capitalism leads off our backs. used to divide workers Indigenous Peoples to give the struggle against to imperialism and war. Capitalist monopolies and weaken solidarity. Canada is not a “colony” national oppression an E-mail: Saving ourselves and the control the earth’s We oppose racism and of the United States, but internationalist and working planet depends on finding resources, but workers imperialism. We oppose an imperialist country in its class content. an alternative. everywhere actually create all immigration controls. own right that participates Mail to: PO Box 339, Station E, Capitalism cannot the wealth. A new socialist We support the right of in the exploitation of much Read the full Fill in the form and send to International Toronto, ON Canada, M6H 4E3 regulate the catastrophic society can only be people of colour and of the world. The Canadian statement at: effects of climate change. constructed when workers other oppressed groups state was founded Socialists, PO Box 339 Station Phone: 416.972.6391 / E-mail: [email protected] We stand for climate collectively seize control to organize in their own through the repression of socialist.ca/ E Toronto ON M6H 4E3 justice, including the of that wealth and plan its defence. We are for real, Indigenous peoples and ourstand 416.972.6391 / [email protected]

6 Socialist Worker June 2019 Solidarity REVIEWS march with Planned economics under capitalism: locked-out The People’s republic of Walmart

Québec by Ryan Schebek ble. Nor is there a real need to. It is true, Walmart and Amazon are marvels What can socialists learn from compa- of the 21st century. They can efficiently move workers nies like Amazon and Walmart? A lot! product from a warehouse on one side of the and a socialist future might depend on it. world to the front step of someone’s house on Leigh Philips and Michal Rozworski’s new the other in within days. However this book by Carolyn Egan book, The People’s Republic of Walmart, makes it very clear to the reader this does not explores the logistical wonders that are mean they endorse the companies’ horrible Over 6,000 primarily industrial workers from all Walmart and Amazon in order contradict working conditions. This makes for a rounder over Quebec traveled to Trois-Rivières on Sat- arguments against socialism. critique and points out what we can learn from urday, May 25th to show solidarity with locked These arguments fall under what is com- Walmart to make the world a better place. out Steelworkers at ABI, a smelter owned by monly referred to as the economic calculation Imagine using the advanced algorithms or ALCOA. problem or the socialist calculation debate immense profit of Amazon for the betterment Members of USW Local 9700 have been on which began in the 1920s. The debate centres of society and not just for making Jeff Bezos the picket line since January 2018, through two around a number of arguments attempting to more money. If big firms like these are ever to long winters, standing up to corporate greed and find the best way to plan an economy. Whether be expropriated an understanding of how they attempts to take away hard won union rights. that is through centralized planning or free can be used is critical. The most recent agreement was rejected by market logic. The book also includes an eco- maxims: socialism does not work in theory but As well, understanding how capitalism and 93% of the workers, showing their courage and nomic history of planned economies stretching only in practice. the free market generate immense inequality determination. from Stalinist Russia to Allende’s Chile to Before you brand this statement heretical, and suffering but maintaining an understanding They say that they are fighting not just for present day firms. hear me out. The book argues socialism cannot of how one can use capitalism against itself is themselves but for the working class of Quebec People’s Republic of Walmart explores the be planned out because socialism requires con- a tradition that goes back to Marx’s critique and all of Canada. The members feel that if they idea that Walmart and Amazon are not the epit- stant feedback from workers’ councils in order of capital and Lenin’s theory of state. For give in to concessions it will be a slippery slope, omes of capitalism one might think they are. In to operate democratically and efficiently. There example, Lenin, in The State and Revolution, and workplace after workplace will be subject to fact their day to day operations look more like is no way to plan this out ahead of time. As describes capitalism as creating the prerequi- the same demands. a planned economy of an authoritarian state. It soon as socialism stops taking information and sites of its own transition to communism. Capi- It is worth noting that a full bus of Steelwork- is from this point the book frames the socialist decisions from the bottom up it no longer is talism concentrates workers into one place and ers from Toronto made the nine-hour trip back calculation debate. Economists have argued socialism but a top down, authoritarian system. intensifies their struggle. Lenin argues these and forth to show their solidarity. Four van loads that socialism cannot work because the econo- The book cites examples of Stalinist Russia in struggles teach us how to come together to came from Local 1005 in Hamilton as well. my is too complex to plan out rationally from a which information from collectivized farms fight the system and gives workers insight into These very diverse, English speaking members centralized point of view. The book argues that was suppressed or censored. If any information how to run the system themselves. Potentially were greeted with great enthusiasm by the al- not only does socialism not imply centralized did not fit top down goals it was altered in fear we can use capitalism’s tools of oppression most all white, Francophone Metallos. Very planning but the same centralized planning of prosecution. This repression and terror is against it in the struggle to overthrow it. few could speak each other’s language but there that right wing economists argue is impossible clearly not socialism. For socialism to work we So to be clear, Walmart and Amazon are hor- was a real camaraderie. There were also Unifor is happening right under our noses with the need democratic feedback. When it comes to rible and both they and capitalism can go away logistics behind big corporations. planning an economy it is impossible to plan forever. However studying Walmart occupies a Of course, the heart of socialism is not out the decisions that will be made by workers’ unique space in the history of economics. The centralized planning but radical worker democ- councils as they operate in real time and adjust question is how do we use this understanding racy. This leads us to one of the books central their needs in the most democratic way possi- to move forward. Smart, funny and feminist

by Faline Bobier The jocks are not just jocks, the ‘nerds’ are years but you haven’t kissed a girl yet.” not just nerds. This is a movie that allows high A lot of the action involves following Molly “The young generation are like: ‘You’ve put school students to be their own quirky and in- and Amy around Los Angeles as they try and us in a fucked-up political situation, the Earth dividual selves to hilarious and touching effect. track down the ‘A+’ party being held at Nick’s is dying, there are maniacs in power, you’ve But the real revelation and heart of the mov- aunt’s place, in the process meeting up with created this binary way of thinking about gen- ie is the friendship between Molly and Amy. their high school principal (working as a Lyft der and sexuality, which we don’t accept. We’d driver to supplement a bad teacher’s salary), a actually like to shift this paradigm – you’re potential serial killer and one of their favourite members as well as workers from United Food done!’” high school teachers who provides them with and Commercial Workers, and the Machinists. This is a quote from director Olivia Wilde sufficiently sparkly clothes to wear to the party. The smelter, situated on the St. Lawrence about her new movie Booksmart. Run don’t This is Wilde’s first foray as a director and River, is a major part of the ALCOA empire and walk to see this film. It’s a story about two it’s a wonder. Not only is her casting of all the company has lost over $200 million since young girls and best friends, about to graduate the parts spot on but there are some amazing locking out the workers. There have been strong from high school: Molly (Beanie Feldstein) sequences – a hilarious stop motion bit where strike votes by Steelworker locals at ALCOA and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever). On the last day the two girls feel the effects of the drug-coated facilities in the US. The hope is that with alu- before their graduation ceremony Molly inad- strawberries they innocently ingested and a minum tariffs being lifted, the possibility of fur- vertently learns what the other kids think of beautiful underwater sequence where Amy, ther work actions, and the resolve of the Quebec them – nerds who care only about studying and mermaid-like, searches for the girl she has a workers, a win could be had. have no life outside of their books. crush on, amidst a crush of swarming teenagers The event was meant to show the owners that When Molly learns that those kids she in the swimming pool at Nick’s aunt’s. these workers were not about to back down and disdained because they were out partying and Compared to the usual bloated superhero that they had strong support beyond themselves fooling around have also made it into Ivy movies and bad romantic comedies that are and their families. Unifor has been the largest League colleges she decides that she and Amy summer’s usual movie fare, Booksmart is a contributor to the strike fund, which shows the need to change their reputations. They have to gem of a movie. It’s funny and smart and fem- cross-union solidarity in tough times. spend their last night before the high school inist with two amazing actors – Feldstein and The march wound through the streets of the graduation ceremony proving how much they Dever – at its heart. small city and there was clear enthusiasm from can party with the best of them. It’s also a bit of a cautionary tale. Molly the residents, even Ursuline nuns were waving. Some have called Booksmart a female com- has her future mapped out, or so she thinks. Quebec Solidaire was the only political party panion piece to Superbad, a movie about male It includes becoming the youngest female invited to speak, which is very significant be- high school friendship starring Jonah Hill. justice on the Supreme Court. Given the cause of the progressive policies it espouses and In some ways it is that. It’s certainly just as current trajectory of American politics where the battle it is waging against the public ban on side-splittingly funny. But this movie is about a disgusting misogynist like Brett Kavanagh religious symbols. a different era, one in which gender norms has ascended to the Supreme Court and where These types of actions are critical to winning are being challenged on all sides in the midst a woman’s right to choose is in danger in against employers and giving confidence to the of attempts by Trump-like politicians to push They both have crushes on other people – several states across the US, the millennials workers that they should stay the course. Work- millennials, and particularly young women, Molly on the high school jock, Nick, who has portrayed in Wilde’s film have their work ing class solidarity is key, particularly across back into rigid gender roles. also been the totally ineffectual vice president cut out for them if they want to live as free racial, gender and language lines. This was a One of the refreshing things about for her tenure as class president – and Amy on human beings, not shackled by sexist and ho- very important action and hopefully will bring Booksmart is that it doesn’t play to the stereo- a young woman who she’s not even sure is gay. mophobic outmoded constructions of gender the workers closer to a victory over ALCOA. types often seen in movies about high school. As Molly says to her, “You’ve been out for two and sexual orientation.

June 2019 Socialist Worker 7 $2 | No 617 | June 2019 | socialist.ca To beat Scheer, fight Ford by John Bell fractured and disorganized. The blame for this scattering of resources s the fall federal election looms, the and anger has to be laid at the door of the strategic voting rhetoric is coming to leadership of the trade unions (although it a boil. Not surprisingly, most of the must be noted that some unions, like the Atalk originates with the Liberals who Canadian Union of Public Employees and are anxious to erode Andrew Scheer’s lead in teachers, have a better record than others). the polls. Calls for action from the rank and file have The Tories have been able to attack been met with half-hearted measures at best, Trudeau on two fronts: from the hard right, and outright betrayal at worst. Just ask the by portraying him as soft on “illegal immi- Oshawa GM workers. gration”, and by playing up the SNC-Lavalin We don’t have to wait for the next election scandal as evidence of Liberal corporate to beat Ford, and we don’t need to back the corruption. slightly less vicious cuts of Liberal austerity Of the two claims, the only one Trudeau to save us from Andrew Scheer. could legitimately refute is the first one. In The Ontario Federation of Labour has put the spring omnibus budget bill the Liberals out a call for a Day of Action on June 7 to included an attack on refugee claimants that mark one year of Ford’s government. The call pandered to the Conservatives’ base. is too timid by far, but it would be a mistake As far as corporate corruption goes, the to just sit on the sidelines and pooh-pooh it. truth – that the Liberals and Tories are alike Rank and file activists have to grab op- as two profiteering peas in a pod – is side- portunity and resources that are there, make stepped. Trudeau supporters show an uncanny the most of them, and use that platform to ability to strap on the blinkers and say: “Bad demand bigger and better action. And we can as we are, the Tories are worse.” Scheer may want to hide these pictures before the election already see the snowball of Ford opposition Scheer’s support is declining. But even growing as it rolls down the hill. mainstream observers attribute this to the cuts. Given Ford’s track record, and ideologi- energy into electoral campaigns instead. This At the recent CUPE Ontario convention, meteoric collapse of support for Doug Ford’s cal commitment for attacking public services will include falling into the trap of supporting delegates voted unanimously to defy any Ontario Conservative government. and organized workers, that retreat is not the Liberals as a lesser evil. back-to-work legislation that may be intro- Ford’s cuts and attacks on public services likely to last past the federal election. duced in the education sector. That motion have been so violent and swift that even other And the worst of the cuts, like the cuts to Go on the offensive will now be sent to the Ontario Federation of right-wing politicians, from Toronto’s Mayor education and health care, remain in place. When the cracks in the Tory façade appear is Labour convention. John Tory to Scheer himself, have distanced It would be a huge mistake to ease up on precisely the time to increase the offensive, That shows where the mobilizations can themselves from him. the fight against Ford now, when opposition is not back off. Protests and demonstrations lead and should be supported. But the fight In just a year the tide has turned so deci- widening and deepening. against Ford’s policies have been a weekly, needs to grow. Failure to do so will mean a sively on Ford that the politician who made The pressure will be on to back off from almost daily, occurrence for the past year. The lost opportunity to fight Ford, set back Scheer his reputation for never backing down has, at the protests and demonstrations that have problem hasn’t been a lack of will to fight and turn on Trudeau. Now is the time to ex- least temporarily, retreated from some of his fueled opposition to Ford’s cuts so far, to put back; it has been that the fightback has been pose the austerity agenda they all represent. Vancouver Tenants Union Two years of fighting the landlords for bans on renovictions. Other times that meant by Ryan Schebek taking to the street. Throughout the year the VTU has mobilized arlier this year, the Vancouver Tenants renters at the grassroots level. It has done this Union (VTU) celebrated its second by tabling on street coroners and organizing en- anniversary. Members gathered at the tire neighbourhoods by going door to door and ECarnegie Community Centre to share building by building. success stories of the past year, organize further Their efforts have been successful as the action and (most importantly) eat cake! VTU has seen a rapid growth in neighbour- The past year has been a battle for renters in hood chapters. This year has seen the begin- Vancouver. The cost of living continues to rise nings of a number of neighbourhood chapters and landlords continue to exploit vulnerable including the West End, Mount Pleasant, tenants to make a profit at the expense of their Hasting’s Sunrise and Kensington-Cedar tenant’s health and safety. Cottage. It has been six months since the elevators During the birthday celebration members broke at the eighty-six unit Solheim apartment worked together, democratically, to create building leaving many of the disabled and elder- action plans for how the VTU will move ly tenants feeling trapped. forward. The building is run by a B.C. social service There is plenty of work to be done as specific organization called S.U.C.C.E.S.S which told actions and directions identified by members in tenants they would have to wait another elev- small break out groups. Despite the amount of en months before the elevator could be fully work ahead the general atmosphere was that of repaired. energy and excitement. Tenants received no compensation or alterna- Capitalism will only intensify the point tive living arrangements until the repairs could Fighting high rents in Vancouver of struggle between those seeking hous- be finished. No accommodations were made ing and those looking to make profit off of for the tenants despite S.U.C.C.E.S.S. running compensation for suffering. The ongoing battle between Solheim and exploitation. a $1.5 million profit from revenues between Some tenants have had to leave their wheel S.U.C.C.E.S.S is only one of many VTU It is comforting to know the VTU is growing 2017-2018. chairs and climb, step by step, to their floor. campaigns. in its second year and continues to give voice to VTU helped organize Solheim building res- The organized demands of the building’s ten- Since its inception the VTU has done every- those in need. idents to demand that not only the elevator be ants have been heard and those that require thing it can to protect renters and reaffirm that fixed in a timely manner (which is law under an elevator are now being accommodated and housing is a human right. Sometimes that battle • To get involved: B.C. Safety Standards Act) but also to receive compensated. takes them to city hall where the VTU fought www.vancouvertenantsunion.ca