When crisis becomes opportunity: Progressive organizing after Bill C-377

[Joe Shlabotnik]

...This is likely the first part of a two-stage strategy. First, get union members to identify the spending they don't like. Then encourage them (given legislation to come later) to "opt-out" of union membership once existing union security laws (aka, the "Rand Formula&quot are abolished. This is a textbook case of "divide and rule", and the Tory machine must be creating a network conservative union members to back it up.

... instead of waiting for the 2015 election (or the next Harper attack), unions could go on the offensive. They could commit to an all-out effort to educate union members (and wider society) about how to take our democracy back from Bay Street barons and tar sands tycoons. They could remind us that stone building in Ottawa is called the "House of Commons," not the "House of Corporations."

...The previous weekend, over 120 influential movement organizers (representing an array of groups) gathered in Ottawa for a "Indigenous-Canada-Quebec Social Forum," one that participants believed, despite some hiccups, witnessed important conversations, and a new potential era of progressive collaboration. A large delegation of indigenous organizers attended, along with veterans from Quebec's recent student strike and union leaders from a variety of sectors.

Less publicized is a Working in Progress network initiated by the Canadian Autoworkers Union in November 2012. The network began with a large conference of over 80 movement organizers. That conference gave rise to initiatives that aim to share resources between progressive groups, and facilitate effective organizing.

Full article at : http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/when-crisis-becomes-opportunity-progressive-organizing-after-bill-c-377