All out September 30
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UNITE TO BC FIGHTS Interview with FIGHT THE FOR $15 LINDA RIGHT PAGES 4&5 PAGE 2 SARSOUR PAGE 3 $2 | No 596 | September 2017 socialist.ca MASS ACTION CAN BEAT THE NAZIS All out September 30 Charlottesville has drawn a line in the sand against racism and fascism THE HORRIFIC racist rally in Charlottesville, fine” people at the Nazi rally. This has further shut down a planned racist event before it could regroup. We need to build a mass movement that Virginia has drawn a line in the sand. Either you emboldened the bigots. His statements have even start. Thousands of people clogged the will confront them everywhere they go. We need are with Trump and his Nazi backers or you are shocked the world. streets in front of city hall and forced the bigots to smash their confidence. for peace and unity. But people are responding. Across the US, to flee. Our tactical choices matter as we try to build Heather Heyer, an anti-racist activist, was anti-racist mobilizations have been massive. The scene has been the same around the this movement. We need people from all walks killed when a bigot drive his car into the crowd. In the first major post-Charlottesville rally in world. In Barcelona, Berlin, Warsaw, San of life to feel confident that they can participate. Many more were injured by attacks throughout Boston, bigots planned to march through the city Francisco, and in Ottawa, Toronto, London, and The best way to ensure that is to build as broadly the weekend as gun-toting fascists terrorized but were confronted by more than 40,000 people. Quebec City, thousands have joined massive as possible and with tight organization. the community. They attacked poor housing The racists were humiliated by the show of unity demonstrations to stop the hate. This is how we The rallies since Charlottesville have shown projects, threatened clergy standing up against and strength and had to scuttle away under police are going to defeat the racists: by showing them that the mood is there to stop the hate. It is up to hate and surrounded the local synagogue protection. Across the US, more than 50 planned that they are few and we are many. all of us to mobilize in our schools, workplaces chanting Nazi slogans. racist rallies were subsequently canceled. But they are not finished. They may have and communities to push the racists back into Trump told the media that there were “many A rally in Vancouver on the same weekend been forced into a retreat, but they are trying to the sewers where they belong. Interview: Guy Caron on BC NDP’s crawl to running for NDP leader $15 minimum wage by Kevin Taghabon by David Bush ness owners, NDP Labour Minister Bains said the government would Editor’s note: We have reached out The new BC NDP government consider it. But placating the busi- to all NDP leadership candidates to has announced it is raising the ness lobby will not work. The tepid conduct and publish interviews. A province’s minimum wage to $15 rollout by the BC NDP will simply longer version of this interview is an hour by 2021, making British embolden the forces lining up available at socialist.ca. Columbia the third province to against the minimum wage hike. bring in a $15 minimum wage. The business lobby can already At one point the [polls in the This is undoubtedly a win for the smell blood. Green Party leader 2015 election] had the NDP as larger Fight for $15 movement in Andrew Weaver helped to quash [high] as 40%. The election did Canada and the United States. the NDP following through on their not turn out the way that the However, the four-year phase-in campaign promise of card check NDP wanted. What lessons do to $15 is the longest pathway so union certification. And Weaver is you draw from that? far in Canada. The Alberta NDP, sending mixed signals about the We were just too cautious. We the first to bring in a plan for $15, $15 minimum wage, saying he were too policy conservative in our is doing it within 24 months. The while he welcomes it, he opposes approach. We had a very uninspiring Ontario Liberals are aiming to do it the government’s timetable of platform. That, in the end, I would say in 18 months, with the bulk of the 2021 preferring the Fair Wages was a major hindrance in our strategy. raise coming within six months. Commission to be allowed to im- Elements such as having a balanced The BC NDP’s extremely slow roll- partially determine the phase in. budget every single year hurt us. It out of the minimum wage increase Weaver supports consultation with demobilized our base and did nothing leaves much to be desired. There small business and stated, “mini- to attract new voters. has been no outline of sched- mum wage is just one way we can Federal NDP MP and leadership candidate Guy Caron (right) uled increases to $15, simply an move towards all British Columbi- Your opponents in the leadership announcement that a “Fair Wages ans having a livable income.” race have talked about economy, for transit, for higher speed biggest labour union came out Commission” would consult “stake- This is not exactly a ringing nationalizing, bringing more rail, for a green retrofit. saying basic income is not holders” about a timeline. They are endorsement of a $15 minimum things into the public sphere. the solution. It disincentivizes also planning on keeping the liquor wage by the Green Party. Given Is this something that aligns What’s your position on the Leap employers from providing a server exemption to the minimum the NDP’s reliance on the Greens with the things you want to do Manifesto? livable wage. Rent seekers in wage. It currently stands at $9.60, to be able to hang on to govern- moving forward? The Leap Manifesto is composed the economy – food producers, but will be raised by 50 cents to ment this is a wedge that can I’m not opposed to nationalization of 15 articles. There’s about eight or landlords, internet providers $10.10 an hour on September 15, be exploited to water down the but there needs to be a case for it. nine things we all agree on because – once we start receiving a still well below the general mini- NDP’s most progressive campaign When you nationalize something we’re all New Democrats. There’s basic income will raise prices mum wage. promises. there is the risk that politics will play one for which I’m the lone standard accordingly. The NDP’s minority government a role, which will not necessarily bearer, which is basic income. And People assume that it will decrease Placating, emboldening status can equally be exploited by be in the best interests of those who there’s five or six which are about wages because it will provide an business labour and the left to wrench out are served by the service that is energy and climate change. We are incentive for the Wal-Marts of this The BC NDP’s announcement also concessions, but this requires a being nationalized. We do have an having this debate in the race right world to bring down their wages to tried to address the fears that a willingness to fight. infrastructure problem, and we need now. I welcome the debate. I don’t minimum wage saying, “you have minimum wage increase would Considering the BC Liberals to solve it. think it’s that productive to say “for” basic income, that will take care of hurt businesses. The Minister of kept the minimum wage frozen I would suggest the creation of or “against” Leap. it.” Labour, Harry Bains, told the me- from 2002 to 2010, and housing a crown corporation to invest in I would actually submit to you dia, “we’ve listened to business costs are spiralling out of control infrastructure. That would be publicly Basic income (BI): this is that in all likelihood basic income owners, who have told us gradual, in Vancouver and other parts of controlled and the infrastructure something on which you stand would increase wages. You have low predictable increases are the way the province, there is no good would remain publicly controlled. apart in the leadership race. wages because people are desperate to go to minimize the impact on reason for the BC NDP’s slow Basic income, the way I’m enough that they will be taking the their businesses.” timeline to $15. On climate, where do you orient proposing it is basically for all those first crappy job at minimum wage to Echoing the business lobby’s The BC NDP’s announcement yourself? Are there any red lines who are below the low-income cutoff. be able to survive. Employers know arguments is unlikely to discour- is a victory for the Fight for $15 you would say we absolutely You ensure that through the tax it. age employers from aggressively movement. But the delayed cannot cross? system you complement any income If you no longer have to worry attacking a raise to the minimum rollout shows that a grassroots It’s always hard to say because the they have, be it labour income or about survival, you don’t need to wage. movement aimed at organizing decisions you have to make have to be support program income. Through take that crappy job. So employers In fact, there is already a strong and mobilizing workers across the made with the information you have monthly payments you make sure will actually see that job, see that it indication that the business province is needed to stand-up in hand.