It was a call to action that completely changed Rob Spencer’s life.
A little more than a year ago, Spencer was sitting and listening to the different speakers at the 2011 Stewards’ Conference when President Pearl Sawyer came on stage.
The voice of business is being heard in the political arena and now, she said, it was time for the working class to be heard. If we don’t speak up, she asked, who will?
It was a message that resonated with Spencer. That day, Spencer, a produce clerk and steward at a Great Food store in London, signed up to undergo election training with UFCW Canada and become a volunteer in the upcoming provincial election.
“Being able to sign up provided me the first step forward and I have been walking ever since,” said Spencer.
Since that fateful day, Spencer has helped elect new NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong, is a regular at his local federal and provincial NDP constituency offices, sits on the executive of his provincial riding association, and is a member of his local labour council. Last but not least, he is also the Vice-President of the London Area New Democratic Youth.
“It really snowballed,” he said. “It started off volunteering with my local and now I am helping with issues that affect hundreds of people in my community, and thousands of people across the country.”
Spencer was among the 170 stewards who gathered in Toronto from June 8 to 10 for the sixth annual Stewards’ Conference. The conference centered around the theme, Passport to Action, and focused on encouraging activists to become more involved with their union and the movement to build a fairer and more just society.
For Amanda Atwell, getting involved in the union has altered her outlook on life.
“I had a million training opportunities from the union that shaped me into the person I am today,” said Atwell, who works in the Natural Value Department of an Ottawa Great Food store and is today an OFL Vice-President (Workers Under 30). “Being involved taught me more about myself, the labour movement and the world and gave me the confidence to speak against injustice.”
In the Crossfire
Fostering activism is critical in light of the growing attacks workers are facing all across North America. The climate for unions has never been more hostile and the stakes have never been as high.
“When employers are not busy demanding concessions, they are finding new ways to erode our basic right to stick together and have a say in our jobs and in our future,” Sawyer told stewards.
In the US, Republicans are working hand in hand with powerful employers to take away rights that have taken decades to achieve. Their weapon of choice is right-to-work legislation, under which, workers can choose not to pay union dues or be union members in a unionized workplace.
“For Republicans and big business, this is not about giving workers choice,” said Sawyer at the conference. “It’s about attacking the very resources unions use to protect and improve members’ wages, benefits, rights and standard of living. It’s about removing all the checks and balances unions provide in the workplace and in the government, and returning to a time when employers could pay you whatever they wished and work you however they wanted.”
So far, the Republicans have been very successful in making right-to-work a reality in 23 states across the US.
“Corporations and their allies in government have been pushing a narrative that portrays unions in a negative light,” said Tim Schlittner, Assistant Communications Director, Politics & Advocacy with UFCW International. “With falsehoods and spin, they have spread their message with such a degree of success that it is now made its way into everyday conversations.”
Schlittner along with Dawn Le, Assistant Director of Communications, Organizing with UFCW International, spoke at the event.
While the situation is not so dire in Canada, attacks against the working class have been escalating in the last few years.
“It’s surprising and frightening how far the anti-union forces are willing to go to destroy people’s lives,” said Andy Rostoks, a steward at Valu-Mart (Guildwood).
In London, global giant Caterpillar, fresh off reporting record profits, closed down a plant and laid off 465 workers because they were unwilling to accept a 50 per cent wage cut. Despite receiving $5-million in federal tax breaks, the company moved its production to a right-to-work state where it could pay workers half the wages.
In Ottawa, the Conservatives used back-to-work legislation to force CP Rail workers back to work despite the fact CP Rail is a private company making record profits. Earlier this year, they passed back to work legislation against pilots, machinists and ground crew at Air Canada. Additionally, they have made the public sector into scapegoats for the country’s economic woes and eliminated thousands of jobs.
One of the latest attacks has come in the form of Bill C-377, said Bob Linton, Director of Government and Political Affairs for UFCW Canada.
He added it’s inaccurate to say Bill C-377 is about union transparency. “It’s more about interference in the labour relations process which will give significant advantages to employers at the taxpayers’ expense.” The overall costs associated with this bill are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
“For Canadian taxpayers, that is money that could be better spent on programs such as job creation and for unions, money that could be better spent servicing their members’ needs,” he said. “This bill will create unnecessary costs for Canadian taxpayers and for unions, and their members.”
To fight back against this bill, UFCW Canada is encouraging members to send letters through its website (ufcw.ca) to federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, telling the government that you don’t support Bill C-377.
As workers face a rising tide of attacks, Sawyer said it’s more important than ever for members to become informed and engaged in their union.
“When our rights are under attack, we feel angry and frustrated,” Sawyer said. “But we must find ways to channel our anger so that we can defeat those who are trying to take away our rights and the first step in doing that is getting involved.”
Highlights
Bill Fowlie, who works at La Rosa’s No Frills, is one of the many stewards who has taken Sawyer’s message to heart. The new steward is already planning to plunge himself head first into the world of activism. He has already attended Members’ Day at Canada’s Wonderland and the Pride Parade this summer, and plans to attend the Toronto CAN picnic and march with Local 1000A on Labour Day.
“I am definitely planning to be 100 per cent involved this year,” said Fowlie, who said he got involved in the union to fight for youth and help others who aren’t familiar with the union.
Annie Sundar, a steward at a Mississauga Real Canadian Superstore said becoming more involved can lead to a greater sense of satisfaction. “Personally, I feel I have accomplished something worthwhile when I see the smile on the face of someone I have helped,” she said.
Evelyn Incillo, a steward at HMS Host, said she has become more patient and more adept at problem solving thanks to her increased involvement with the union. She also feels a greater sense of satisfaction in her life. “Inside, I feel happy helping others.”
Martin Franchi, a steward at a Toronto Great Food, has undergone Health and Safety and instructor training thanks to the union.
“The union has opened up a world of professional and personal opportunities,” said Franchi, who has instructed outside the local union thanks to his training.
While increased involvement is key, Rostoks said it’s equally important for members to educate the larger community and public on what the fight is all about.
“We have to stick together or no one is going to have a good paying job.”
