DOCSLIB.ORG

Race, Resistance and Co-Optation in the Canadian Labour Movement: Effecting an Equity Agenda Like Race Matters

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Race, Resistance and Co-Optation in the Canadian Labour Movement: Effecting an Equity Agenda Like Race Matters RACE, RESISTANCE AND CO-OPTATION IN THE CANADIAN LABOUR MOVEMENT: EFFECTING AN EQUITY AGENDA LIKE RACE MATTERS by Ajamu Nangwaya A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto © Copyright by Ajamu Nangwaya (2011) RACE, RESISTANCE AND CO-OPTATION IN THE CANADIAN LABOUR MOVEMENT: EFFECTING AN EQUITY AGENDA LIKE RACE MATTERS Doctor of Philosophy, 2011 Ajamu Nangwaya Graduate Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology University of Toronto Abstract The purpose of this research project was to analyze the dialectic of co- optation/domestication and resistance as manifested in the experience of racialized Canadian trade unionists. The seven research participants are racialized rank-and-file members, elected or appointed leaders, retired trade unionists, as well as staff of trade unions and other labour organizations . In spite of the struggle of racialized peoples for racial justice or firm anti-racism policies and programmes in their labour unions, there is a dearth of research on the racialized trade union members against racism, the actual condition under which they struggle, the particular ways that union institutional structures domesticate these struggles, and/or the countervailing actions by racialized members to realize anti-racist organizational goals. While the overt and vulgar forms of racism is no longer the dominant mode of expression in today’s labour movement, its systemic and institutional presence is just as debilitating for racial trade union members. This research has uncovered the manner in which the electoral process and machinery, elected and appointed political positions, staff jobs and formal constituency groups, and affirmative action or equity representational structures in labour unions and other labour organizations are used as sites of domestication or co-optation of some racialized trade unionists by the White-led labour bureaucratic structures and the forces in defense of ii whiteness. However, racialized trade union members also participate in struggles to resist racist domination. Among some of tools used to advance anti-racism are the creation of support networks, transgressive challenges to the entrenched leadership through elections, formation of constituency advocacy outside of the structure of the union and discrete forms of resistance. The participants in the research shared their stories of the way that race and gender condition the experiences of racialized women in the labour movement. The racialized interviewees were critical of the inadequacy of labour education programmes in dealing effectively with racism and offer solutions to make them relevant to the racial justice agenda. This study of race, resistance and co-optation in the labour movement has made contributions to the fields of critical race theory, labour and critical race feminism and labour studies. iii Acknowledgements I would like to express my eternal gratitude to my thesis supervisor Dr. Jack Quarter for his guidance, patience, encouragement, gentle reminders, thoughtful feedback and comments and for being the best supervisor with whom a doctoral student would want to work. The presence of Dr. Quarter in my corner was critical to the completion of this dissertation in the time that I did it, given my family, employment and community and trade union activism obligations and responsibilities. Jack, I would like to thank you for being a consistent and helpful partner along this doctoral thesis journey. I would like to extent my appreciation to Dr. Njoki Wane and Dr. Daniel Schugurensky, members of the thesis committee, for their careful reading of the manuscript and thoughtful questions and suggestions. Dr. Jean-Paul Restoule, I appreciate your close reading of the thesis and the helpful suggestions that you offered. Dr. Grace-Edward Galabuzi, many thanks for your detailed, interrogative, insightful and excellent appraisal report on the thesis. Dr. John Portelli, thanks for chairing the oral examination and the mentoring support that you have given me over the last two years. The research participants who consented to share their knowledge, insights, stories and perspectives on race, resistance and co-optation in the Canadian labour movement were critical and invaluable partners in this investigation. I am grateful for your contribution and would like to say thank you for your commitment, solidarity and participation in this research project. I would also like to acknowledge and thank my son Jumoke Nangwaya-Guy for his patience in putting up with the “distractions” that were involved in the thesis work as well as the numerous union meetings, conventions and other gatherings that you had to attend. You were a trooper throughout the whole process. There are many comrades who are deserving of special acknowledgement for the encouragement and solidaristic support that they gave to me during the work on this research project. I would like to thank Desemal Thomas, Ijeoma Ekoh, Carmen Harper, Mervis White, Nkechinyelum Chioneso, Winnie Ng, Akil Jabari, Adwoa Onuora, Carol Wall, Chris Ramsaroop, Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Renee Reid, Shelly Brown and Jahlani Niaah for their encouragement and support. I would also like to thank the members of Jack’s thesis support committee for keeping me on track and their contributions that they have made to this research project over the years. iv Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………...iv Dedication………………………………………………………………………………vii Chapter 1: Racial Subordination, Unions and Research as an act of Activism ……. 1 Introducing the Research …………………………………………………………………1 Rationale and implication of the research project ………………………………………..3 Research questions………………………………………………………………………..5 Situating myself in the Research …………………………………………………………6 Chapter 2: The Problematic of Race and Racism within the Labour Movement….18 The social construction, meaning and utility of race …………………………………....18 Labour’s attitude and Behaviour toward the racialized other ……………………….......26 Shifting perspective on race and human rights in the house of labour ………………….34 Nuanced contextual participation of the racialized other in locals ……………………...41 Racialized trade unionists asserting voice, 1970 to today ………………………………43 Race and the politics of gender ………………………………………………………….55 Material issues that makes racial justice a strategic necessity …………………………..60 Concluding thoughts..……………………………………………………………………64 Chapter 3: Review of Literature on Critical Organizational Perspectives ………...67 Asserting voice, silencing and organizational co-optation…………... …………………70 Organizational (in)justice ………………………………………………………………..82 Resistance in the organizational context ………………………………………………...89 Critical race theory and the interrogation of otherness………………………………......99 Racial differentiation…………………………………………………………………...100 Intersectionality…………………………………………………………………………105 Concluding thoughts …………………………………………………………………...107 Chapter 4: Methodological Approach ………………………………………………111 Participants and Procedures…………………………………………………………….112 Data Collection ………………………………………………………………………...114 Data Analysis …………………………………………………………………………..115 Ethical Considerations …………………………………………………………………116 Portrait of the research participants…………………………………………………….118 v Chapter 5: Results: Part 1 - The State of the Union on Race, Co-optation and Business as Usual……………………………………………………………………...120 Overview………………………………………………………………………………..120 Perspectives on Race and Racism……………………………………………………....120 Elections do not ensure democracy and inclusion……………………………………...133 Staff and elected positions in unions as sites of co-optation…………………………...149 Racialized constituency groups inside the box of conformity………………………….159 Concluding thoughts……………………………………………………………………174 Chapter 6: Results: Part 2 - The complexity and contour of resistance: Race, gender, and education…………………………………………………………………177 Overview………………………………………………………………………………..177 Resistance through elections and political structures…………………………………..178 Covert, discrete forms of resistance…………………………………………………….186 Speaking or communicating truth to power…………………………………………….193 Resistance through autonomous organizing………….………………………………...194 Racialized trade union women at the intersection of race and gender………………….200 The state of education on race, resistance and change in the labour movement……….209 Concluding thoughts……………………………………………………………………218 Chapter 7: Discussion and implications of the findings…………………………….220 Discussion of the research questions…………………………………………………...222 Interpreting the results………………………………………………………………….236 Contribution of this study to Critical Race Theory and related practice……………….254 Limitations of the study………………………………………………………………...262 Suggestions for future research………………………………………………………...263 Concluding thoughts……………………………………………………………………265 References …………………………………………………………………………......273 vi List of Appendices Appendix A: Interview Schedule ………………………………………………………286 Appendix B: Questionnaire on Background of Participants …………………………..288 Appendix C: Informed Consent Form …………………………………………………290 vii Dedication I dedicate this work to my father, Isaac Needham, who was the first trade union member in my network, and to racialized members of the non-unionized working-class and organized labour who have/are resisting systemic racism and cannot be bossed or bought
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2011 Annual Report 2 April 25, 2012
    Labour Community Services Annual Report A Project of Labour Council in Partnership with United Way Toronto and United Way of York Region USW 8300 On behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress and our affiliated unions, thank you for your 30 years of hard work bridging labour and community. Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress On behalf of the United Way Centraide Movement, congratulations for the significant leadership role Labour Community Services has played in our partnership with labour over the past 30 years. Al Hatton, CEO and President, United Way Centraide Canada Congratulations for 30 years of hard work dedicated to strengthening the ties between labour and community. Janice Manchee, National Director, Labour Programs and Services, United Way of Canada For 30 years Labour Community Services has built a greater understanding and appreciation of the important relationship between workers, their unions and their communities. After all, unionized workers often work or volunteer for many of the organizations, groups and services supporting our communities. The labour movement shares the LCS vision of an accessible and inclusive Toronto, Ontario and Canada - where diversity is celebrated, rights are protected and equality is achieved. We will continue to stand in solidarity with you in advancing these goals. Sid Ryan, President, Ontario Federation of Labour LCS and unions work to put people and communities first. We are all better off because of the work you do and the progress we make together. Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union Over the past thirty years, Labour Community Services has become a vital part of Toronto's community infrastructure.
    [Show full text]
  • "Industrial Voluntarism in Canada"
    Article "Industrial Voluntarism in Canada" Sean Tucker et Alex Mucalov Relations industrielles / Industrial Relations, vol. 65, n° 2, 2010, p. 215-235. Pour citer cet article, utiliser l'information suivante : URI: http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/044300ar DOI: 10.7202/044300ar Note : les règles d'écriture des références bibliographiques peuvent varier selon les différents domaines du savoir. Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d'auteur. L'utilisation des services d'Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d'utilisation que vous pouvez consulter à l'URI https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l'Université de Montréal, l'Université Laval et l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. Érudit offre des services d'édition numérique de documents scientifiques depuis 1998. Pour communiquer avec les responsables d'Érudit : [email protected] Document téléchargé le 3 juin 2016 03:07 © DÉPARTEMENT DES RELATIONS INDUSTRIELLES, UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL - ISSN 0034-379X – RI/IR, 65-2, 2010, 215 – 235 215 Industrial Voluntarism in Canada Sean Tucker and Alex Mucalov The term “industrial voluntarism” has been used to describe the norm that dominated union organizing and, more broadly, union-management relations in Canada during most of the first half of the 20th century. In practical terms, the principle defines situations in which unions and employers initiate, develop, and enforce agreements without state assistance or compulsion. This paper investigates the history of voluntarism in Canada with attention to post-war legal accommodations and various manifestations of voluntarism related to union recognition.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement on Canadian Foreign Policy in the 1980S
    Group of 78: Statement on Canadian Foreign Policy in the 1980s Reprinted from the Bulletin of the United Nations Association, February 1982. During the last few months, a group of Canadians with a special concern for Canada's role in the global community consulted together and arrived at certain conclusions which are detailed in the statement below. The group, consisting of 78 Canadians, are known informally as the "Group of 78" - an idea borrowed from the Group of 77 original lesser developed countries which banded together at the UN to work toward common goals. The statement of the Group of 78 - for which the prime mover has been Andrew Brewin, former NDP MP for Toronto Greenwood - follows: The basic priorities of Canada's foreign policy should be threefold: 1. Removal of the threat of nuclear war, the greatest danger facing mankind today; 2. the strengthening of the United Nations and other global institutions designed to bring about a pacific settlement of disputes, foster international cooperation, promote the growth of world law and the protection of basic human rights; 3. the mobilization of world resources to achieve a more equitable international order and bring an end to the crushing poverty which is the common lot of the majority of the Third World These objectives require a new emphasis in our foreign policy based on the recognition that national security depends on an international effort to maintain an equitable and stable international order. Canada should incorporate in its foreign policy the principal objectives set forth in the Final Document of the 1978 UN Special Session on Disarmament, and take an active part in the preparation for the Second Special Session in 1982.
    [Show full text]
  • Provincial Solidarities: a History of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour
    provincial solidarities Working Canadians: Books from the cclh Series editors: Alvin Finkel and Greg Kealey The Canadian Committee on Labour History is Canada’s organization of historians and other scholars interested in the study of the lives and struggles of working people throughout Canada’s past. Since 1976, the cclh has published Labour / Le Travail, Canada’s pre-eminent scholarly journal of labour studies. It also publishes books, now in conjunction with AU Press, that focus on the history of Canada’s working people and their organizations. The emphasis in this series is on materials that are accessible to labour audiences as well as university audiences rather than simply on scholarly studies in the labour area. This includes documentary collections, oral histories, autobiographies, biographies, and provincial and local labour movement histories with a popular bent. series titles Champagne and Meatballs: Adventures of a Canadian Communist Bert Whyte, edited and with an introduction by Larry Hannant Working People in Alberta: A History Alvin Finkel, with contributions by Jason Foster, Winston Gereluk, Jennifer Kelly and Dan Cui, James Muir, Joan Schiebelbein, Jim Selby, and Eric Strikwerda Union Power: Solidarity and Struggle in Niagara Carmela Patrias and Larry Savage The Wages of Relief: Cities and the Unemployed in Prairie Canada, 1929–39 Eric Strikwerda Provincial Solidarities: A History of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour / Solidarités provinciales: Histoire de la Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Nouveau-Brunswick David Frank A History of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour david fra nk canadian committee on labour history Copyright © 2013 David Frank Published by AU Press, Athabasca University 1200, 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton, ab t5j 3s8 isbn 978-1-927356-23-4 (print) 978-1-927356-24-1 (pdf) 978-1-927356-25-8 (epub) A volume in Working Canadians: Books from the cclh issn 1925-1831 (print) 1925-184x (digital) Cover and interior design by Natalie Olsen, Kisscut Design.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconsidering Labor Law and Policy Reform Sara Slinn
    University of Minnesota Law School Scholarship Repository Minnesota Law Review 2014 Whither Wagner? Reconsidering Labor Law and Policy Reform Sara Slinn Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Slinn, Sara, "Whither Wagner? Reconsidering Labor Law and Policy Reform" (2014). Minnesota Law Review. 319. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mlr/319 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Minnesota Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Minnesota Law Review collection by an authorized administrator of the Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Article Whither Wagner? Reconsidering Labor Law and Policy Reform Sara Slinn† INTRODUCTION It is an interesting moment to contemplate the future of North American labor law and labor relations. Canada and the United States initially adopted similar labor relations legal frameworks, the Canadian framework a variation of the United States’ 1935 National Labor Relations Act (generally referred to as the “Wagner Act” or the “Wagner model”).1 However, the Wagner model has played out very differently in the two coun- tries. A key indicator of this difference is the divergent trajecto- ries of changing union density over the last sixty years in Can- ada and the United States. In contrast with the severe, sustained decline in unionization in the United States, Canada experienced a longer period of growth, slower decline, and—in recent decades—a fairly stable level of unionization.2 Will the labor relations experiences of these closely linked nations con- tinue to diverge, or will Canada’s labor relations landscape come to resemble that of the United States, and what might be the implications for labor law? In addressing this question, this Article proceeds in six Parts.
    [Show full text]
  • Remembering Brother Gabe Macnally 1945 - 2008
    September 2008 70 october next General Membership Meeting is Wednesday, OCT. 15, 2008 - CAW 199 Hall - 124 Bunting Rd. REMEMBERING BROTHER GABE MACNALLY 1945 - 2008 farewell to vice-president & retirees PAGE 23 buzz hargrove environment reports reports Deadline for the next issue of 199 News is monDAY, october 20 , 2008 R EMEMBERING B ROTHER G ABE M ACN ALLY september 2008 t was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Susan Erskine-Fournier - editor Brother Gabe McNally. Gabe had not only been our Local The opinions and views expressed in this paper are 199 president but had held numerous elected positions dur- not necessarily the opinions and views of the editor, II the editorial board, and or CAW Local 199 ing his illustrious career. Gabe was well known throughout the EDITORIAL BOARD community for his tireless efforts on behalf of all workers whether Wayne Gates they belonged to a union or not. He believed everyone deserved to Bruce Allen Malcolm Allen be treated equally and that all of us were equal regardless of our WHO WE ARE background. AN AMALGAMATED UNION INCLUDING Gabe was instrumental in establishing the Unemployed Help THE FOLLOWING BARGAINING UNITS: BORDER PONTIAC Centre at a time when the unemployment rate had sky rocketed in BRIAN CULLEN MOTORS BRUNNER MFG. the Niagara region. The centre, still in existence today, is a testa- COUTTS LIBRARY SERVICE ment to his tenacity and foresight into the needs of our community. DAVID CHEV / OLDS ED LEARN FORD Brother McNally received numerous awards for his service to our EDSCHA F1RSTONTARIO CREDIT UNION community and the broader labour movement but was ever so FORBES FORD GENERAL MOTORS humble when receiving them saying “It is an honour and privilege GENAIRE to be given the trust of your fellow workers to work on behalf of IAFRATE MACHINE WORKS JOHN BEAR PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED them”.
    [Show full text]
  • 2000 October
    The Official Publication of October 2000 the Telecommunications Vol. XXII Workers Union TheTransmitter No. 5 BROADWAY rilaiiirO2 PRINTERS Union ready to begin bargaining with Telus The TWU bargaining commit- The six new bargaining com- part of the Bargaining Package. gaining process. We are con- only with their support that we tee is now prepared to begin bar- mittee members from Alberta, The Bargaining Committee fident that an informed mem- can, again, bring negotiations gaining a new contract with (two from Plant, two from Cleri- is again unanimous in our bership will be a vocal and sup- to a successful conclusion. Telus, following the three-day cal, one from Mobility, and one commitment to keep the mem- portive membership. These Respectfully submitted. bargaining convention held in from Operator Service) were bership informed of our upcoming negotiations belong Bargaining is expected to be- Burnaby September 13-15. nominated by the Alberta contin- progress throughout the bar- to the membership, and it is gin later this fall. Delegates debated the package gent, and were elected by. con- of resolutions which had been vention. They are: Donna Hikiro submitted by Locals, and on each from Mobility Local 237, Eileen resolution, voted on the commit- Wyliie and Bobbi Schneider tee's recommendation of concur- from Edmonton Local 207, rence or non-concurrence. Sandy Mutter from Calgary Lo- For the first time, delegates cal 203, Dave Tingle from from Alberta locals participated Calgary Plant Local 204 and in a TWU convention. More Tom Robson from Edmonton than 20 Alberta delegates were Plant Local 208. Following their present at the convention.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Africa Report, Vol. 2, No. 2
    Southern Africa report, Vol. 2, No. 2 http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.canp1b10008 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. Permission must be sought from Aluka and/or the applicable copyright holder in connection with any duplication or distribution of these materials where required by applicable law. Aluka is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to creating and preserving a digital archive of materials about and from the developing world. For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Southern Africa report, Vol. 2, No. 2 Alternative title Southern Africa report Author/Creator Toronto Committee for the Liberation of Southern Africa Publisher Toronto Committee for the Liberation of Southern Africa Date 1986-10 Resource type Magazines (Periodicals) Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States Coverage (temporal) 1986 Description Sanctions: What's Left?; What's Right with Mulroney? Canada and Sanctions, 1986; Stonewalling the Future: Thatcher's "NO"; U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of the Director-General
    INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE Governing Body 309th Session, Geneva, November 2010 GB.309/18 FOR DECISION EIGHTEENTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA Report of the Director-General Overview Issues covered This report summarizes information that the Director-General wishes to communicate to the Governing Body concerning obituaries; membership of the organization; progress in international labour legislation; and internal administration, as set out in the index. Policy implications None. Financial implications None. Decision required Paragraphs 7 and 14. References to other Governing Body documents and ILO instruments None. GB309_18_[2010-10-0070-1]-En.doc/v5 GB.309/18 Contents Page I. Obituaries .................................................................................................................................. 1 II. Membership of the Organization .............................................................................................. 2 III. Progress in international labour legislation ............................................................................... 2 IV. Internal administration .............................................................................................................. 6 GB309_18_[2010-10-0070-1]-En.doc/v5 iii GB.309/18 I. Obituaries Ms Shirley Carr 1. The Director-General announces with deep regret the death, on 24 June 2010, of Ms Shirley Carr, former Worker member and Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Governing Body. 2. Shirley Carr was born in Ontario in 1929, and graduated from the Stamford Collegiate
    [Show full text]
  • NIDMAR Announces New Board Members
    NIDMAR Announces New Board Members Karen Cooling, Health, Safety and Environmental Representative, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Cooling began her career in the pulp and paper sector in Gold River but for the past 10 years, she has been based in Vancouver, and brings a range of experience. “My contribution is education. I am a labour educator trained in adult education,” Cooling said. “I recently completed a Master’s degree through Royal Roads University in environmental education and communications.” Cooling said the additional training is geared towards dealing with the challenges facing the CEP membership. “What I’m hoping it does – simply – is make me better at my job. We represent a significant number of industrial workers in forestry and in the energy sector. My responsibilities with the union are education and communications, and it does make sense having a background in environmental studies, given the challenges those industries are facing.” The CEP was created in 1992 through the merger of three unions: the Canadian Paperworkers Union, the Communication and Electrical Workers of Canada, and the Energy and Chemical Workers Union. The union has grown to include workers in the print and electronic media. Energy workers worked at oil refineries, tar sands and on pipelines; communications workers were mostly at Bell, MTS and Sasktel. The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) joined afterwards, representing television workers at BCTV and CTV, and southern Ontario newspaper groups. NIDMAR and the Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS) are pleased to Cooling believes PCU-WHS has a major role to play in training announce the appointment of four new directors, listed the professionals tasked with re-integrating people into the here alphabetically: workplace and retaining their skills and experience.
    [Show full text]
  • The Christian Labour Association of Canada (Clac): Between Company and Populist Unionism Steven Tufts and Mark Thomas
    ARTICLE The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC): Between Company and Populist Unionism Steven Tufts and Mark Thomas Despite its long history of organization by specific trade, the construction sector in Canada is a contested site among unions seeking to represent workers. The Christian Labour Association of Canada clac( ) has attempted to disrupt traditional jurisdictions in the sector in Ontario and western Canada for over a decade. clac, founded in 1952 by Dutch immi- grants with strong links to European Christian labour, has been a relatively small player in Canada’s labour movement and relatively neglected by labour researchers. However, three developments have brought clac more attention over the last decade. First, the union has rapidly expanded its membership and now claims to represent 60,000 workers. Second, the controversial tactics used to achieve this growth – specifically, employer accommodationist strategies that undermine other unions – have resulted in clac’s expulsion from central labour bodies. Third, after largely dismissing Christian labour as inconse- quential and particular, labour studies scholarship has begun to push the boundaries of a secular, materialist labour studies with interpretations that integrate religion into understandings of labour mobilization. This article explores the recent strategic trajectory ofclac and seeks to contribute to the understanding of such an extreme form of accommoda- tionist unionism. clac is often characterized as an accommodationist, or “company,” union – an opportunistic, pariah organization that allows employ- ers who would otherwise face a “real” union (i.e., traditional, militant) a convenient union-avoidance alternative. clac’s presence must not, however, be reduced to a functionalist accommodationism.
    [Show full text]
  • Empowering Union Women
    Received SEP 13 1991 CAW TCA Empowering Union Women: Toward the year 2000 Report from the 7th Biennial CLC Women's Conference Ottawa, November 19, 1990 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONFERENCE PROGRAMME ........ 3 REPORT FROM WORKING GROUPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......... 5 OPENING REMARKS Nancy Riche Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress........ 9 GREETING FROM THE OFL Julie Davis Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Federation of Labour ........ 11 OPENING ADDRESS Shirley G. E. Carr President, Canadian Labour Congress ........13 PANEL -- CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS Huguette Plamondon Past Member of Executive Council, CLC United Food and Commercial Workers' International Union ........ 17 Grace Hartman Past President, Canadian Union of Public Employees ........ 21 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Audrey McLaughlin Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada ........ 25 PANEL -- WOMEN AND UNIONS: THE CHALLENGE AHEAD Muriel Collins Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79 ........ 29 Nicole Detormeaux Service Employees’ International Union Local 298 ........ 31 Peggy Nash Assistant to the President, National Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers Union of Canada ........ 35 KEYNOTE SPEAKER -- WOMEN, PROTEST AND POWER Judy Rebick President, National Action Committee on the Status of Women ........ 39 CLOSING REMARKS Nancy Riche Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress ……… 45 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME Purpose As we move into a new decade and toward the year 2000, it is important to take stock of our progress in the struggle for women's equality, and to prepare for the future. What do women want unions to look like in the year 2007? How will women achieve power? In alliance with whom? In plenary sessions and in workshops, participants will discuss the response to women's demands for equality over the past decades and will assess the impact of organizing efforts to increase women’s participation in unions.
    [Show full text]