Just getting to this, but to add to the incredible legacy of Oshawa autoworkers, the GM plant in Oshawa was the first auto plant in Canada to unionize in 1937, as outlined in Tony Leah's fantastic book on the topic, “The Truth About the ‘37 Oshawa GM Strike”. Tony Leah was a member of Local 222 in Oshawa during the 80s, and one of the masterminds behind the plant occupation.
As Tony points out in his book, the success of the 37 strike-an illegal strike that created the union-was due to a broad base of solidarity: solidarity with women who worked at the plant, but also in the community; solidarity among the community at large in Oshawa, which resulted in huge strike participation and enormous rallies; and solidarity with American autoworkers, whose courageous struggle in Flint just prior to Oshawa, where the National Guard came out with machine guns, and UAW organizers whose commitment to democracy prevented the cooptation of the strike by insiders working with the premiere, set the stage for the success in Canada. The organizers behind this weren't the NDP, they were communists, whose dogged and unfailing commitment to working class struggle provided the leadership and cohesion that made this all possible.
I read a book in college while studying finance called Plenty of Nothing: The Downsizing Of The American Dream And The Case For Structural Keynesianism. It's a good read and has some clear explanations of how we got here. It was published in 98' so it would have one hell of an update. I'm in California cheering on the Great North in their incredible journey. I have more in common with a stranger from Canada than my own maga mom. Elbows Up.
Canada has been treated very badly by corporate America. Any boons Canada received were only given to enhance their profits. Too many times the bone they threw us has been taken away to punish Canadian workers and protect their profits.
The auto pact, NAFTA ,CUSMA, are all treaties negotiated primarily to enhance Corporate America’s profits. Yes, Canada has prospered too. Free Trade has been profitable for everyone. But these treaties have also dictated Canadian domestic policies. (some of us remember the changes to employment benefits and regulations). They also controlled our foreign trade policies. Dictating who we can trade with and what punitive measures we must levy against them. ( ie. EVs from China)
At the whim of Trump, the treaties are broken and punitive tariffs have been assessed. I know it would be an almost insurmountable difficulty for Canada, but I think it’s time to shun Authoritarian America in every way possible. Enhance and double down on the boycott and discourage exports of critical minerals, isotopes,electricity, steel and aluminum. Trump has walked away from trade talks stating USA needs nothing Canada has. We should prove him wrong
Thank you for this history lesson. Here in Peterborough I was not far from these events in Oshawa and yet I have no memory of it. Now it is important, I think, to have a more recent example of how Canadians win battles with the megalomaniac Republicans. [more recent than Juno Beach] We Canadians have our differences but we are proving once again that we can buoy each other in a common purpose. This may not have been in your plans for retirement from public life, Charlie, but you seem to be especially created for being the centre of The Resistance 2025. A heartfelt thank you for your time and energy. Elbows up!
Shareholders in the 1960's, received small dividends, and companies seemed to budget to " save for a rainy day". Then the shift occurred, because dividends are favorably taxed. Companies, usually with executives and fund managers that held thousands of shares, focused profits more for dividends pay out.
Then when there was a "need", with money disbursed to shareholders, these companies then approach the federal government for money. E.g. Loblaws/Superstore with profits each year, requested money and received it for replacement of refrigeration units.
Sometimes these corporations say that without the "assistance " from the feds, they will need to layoff staff.
The CBC program "Still Standing" is a series of histories of small, once prosperous towns, that suffered closure of their main industry. Several episodes related that US companies bought the small town enterprise then moved production to the US. The remnant of the population of the town have been resilient in remaining there and surviving.
During the postal strike last Nov & Dec, a relative with a small business across the pond, emailed me to contact the supplier- a small business in small town Ontario. The shipment, paid for, was not shipped. During the call, the supplier stated that Purolator had stopped shipments, their warehouse in Toronto was full, so the Purolator was not picking up products. Yet Purolator in AB was running.
I was told that Purolator is 91% owned by Canada Post. Purolator was not on strike. Apparently, management at CP had decided to inflict more harm to Canadians.
I wrote an email to the Labour Relations Board citing this situation. What little good it did. But suggested that after the previous railway, airline and port strikes, perhaps management that manages a company to the strike position should 1) have the same strike pay and loss of any perks 2) no raise in pay for this or the next fiscal year especially if the company has a loss 3) no " performance bonus" for mismanagement of the corporation .
If GM, Ford or Chrysler want to move jobs to the USA, we want our money back, with interest.
The Canadian government spent approximately $13.7 billion in government support for the auto sector during the 2009 global financial crisis. This included loans and equity investments to bail out General Motors and Chrysler. The federal and Ontario governments each contributed to the bailout. While some of the investment was recouped through stock sales and repayments, taxpayers ultimately experienced a loss of around $3.7 billion, not accounting for inflation or lost opportunities, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Keep in mind the struggles that our current unions are battling as well both WSIB and Canada Post. Check out what the issues are and remember when they battle for fairness it also sets the stage for non unionized workers in Canada as well. WSIB has a couple ways of showing worker support via letters both to the union and to our MPPs. I haven’t found much as to how to show support for Canada Post but there again the workers have ideas and the high paid CEOs refuse to listen.
You compare the decline of unionization rates in the US from 25% in the 1970s to 6% today to Canadian rates of 31% in the 1970s to 28% in 2003. How much further have Canadian rates dropped in the last 20 years? That is, what is the Canadian equivalent of the 6% US figure?
I am a big proponent of worker solidarity, but I’d like to hear more from the ndp and its advocates about different models of association, to.
Should be in a Grade 9 history class, part of studies for new Canadians and replace the part of Econ101 class where students are fed the bananas and machinery BS.
This is the good stuff Charlie.
Carry on
Folks, consider a paid subscription, monthly or a one off. I’m not wealthy guy. And I for sure don’t agree with Charlie on everything. But I’m doing a monthly donation for Charlie for a while now. Because maybe I can talk the talk and generally walk … no damn way I can write or stand before crowds big or small like this guy.
Masterful explanation Charlie. Although I certainly remember Ronald Regan and Brian Mulroney Singing “when Irish eyes are smiling” I never understood or realized Regan’s dislike for the working class and because of Tim Allen’s stance on Regan I just assumed he was a man’s man.
Not until america admits to itself en masse what a fraud Bonzo’s side kick was, along with his economist’s shareholder superiority will it ever get off its knees.
Well explained! I remember this happening in Ontario…always supported the unions and am especially supportive and thankful to the teachers’ unions for looking out for us back in the day.
I also look up quotes at times. I think if the right did too, the continent might be in a bit better shape.
But come on.
Volcker was on a mission.
In an interview where admittedly he has had to massage his message. Then sounds almost like RFK when challenged about the data in his report being out 3billion (1979$).
Yep he was on a mission. I lived/worked through that time and remember well what was going on.
The primary inflation shock was external, but the inflation had to be curtailed. To get a sense of what happens when you don't raise rates in a high-inflation environment, despite the obvious and real costs, take a look at how Erdoganomics has played out over the past several years. He finally had to rehire the conventional economist he fired for raising rates, but the climb-down has been slow. And guess what, the average working person is worse off than s/he was because even so, wages could not rise fast enough, for obvious reasons.
Just getting to this, but to add to the incredible legacy of Oshawa autoworkers, the GM plant in Oshawa was the first auto plant in Canada to unionize in 1937, as outlined in Tony Leah's fantastic book on the topic, “The Truth About the ‘37 Oshawa GM Strike”. Tony Leah was a member of Local 222 in Oshawa during the 80s, and one of the masterminds behind the plant occupation.
As Tony points out in his book, the success of the 37 strike-an illegal strike that created the union-was due to a broad base of solidarity: solidarity with women who worked at the plant, but also in the community; solidarity among the community at large in Oshawa, which resulted in huge strike participation and enormous rallies; and solidarity with American autoworkers, whose courageous struggle in Flint just prior to Oshawa, where the National Guard came out with machine guns, and UAW organizers whose commitment to democracy prevented the cooptation of the strike by insiders working with the premiere, set the stage for the success in Canada. The organizers behind this weren't the NDP, they were communists, whose dogged and unfailing commitment to working class struggle provided the leadership and cohesion that made this all possible.
I read a book in college while studying finance called Plenty of Nothing: The Downsizing Of The American Dream And The Case For Structural Keynesianism. It's a good read and has some clear explanations of how we got here. It was published in 98' so it would have one hell of an update. I'm in California cheering on the Great North in their incredible journey. I have more in common with a stranger from Canada than my own maga mom. Elbows Up.
Canada has been treated very badly by corporate America. Any boons Canada received were only given to enhance their profits. Too many times the bone they threw us has been taken away to punish Canadian workers and protect their profits.
The auto pact, NAFTA ,CUSMA, are all treaties negotiated primarily to enhance Corporate America’s profits. Yes, Canada has prospered too. Free Trade has been profitable for everyone. But these treaties have also dictated Canadian domestic policies. (some of us remember the changes to employment benefits and regulations). They also controlled our foreign trade policies. Dictating who we can trade with and what punitive measures we must levy against them. ( ie. EVs from China)
At the whim of Trump, the treaties are broken and punitive tariffs have been assessed. I know it would be an almost insurmountable difficulty for Canada, but I think it’s time to shun Authoritarian America in every way possible. Enhance and double down on the boycott and discourage exports of critical minerals, isotopes,electricity, steel and aluminum. Trump has walked away from trade talks stating USA needs nothing Canada has. We should prove him wrong
Thank you for this history lesson. Here in Peterborough I was not far from these events in Oshawa and yet I have no memory of it. Now it is important, I think, to have a more recent example of how Canadians win battles with the megalomaniac Republicans. [more recent than Juno Beach] We Canadians have our differences but we are proving once again that we can buoy each other in a common purpose. This may not have been in your plans for retirement from public life, Charlie, but you seem to be especially created for being the centre of The Resistance 2025. A heartfelt thank you for your time and energy. Elbows up!
Shareholders in the 1960's, received small dividends, and companies seemed to budget to " save for a rainy day". Then the shift occurred, because dividends are favorably taxed. Companies, usually with executives and fund managers that held thousands of shares, focused profits more for dividends pay out.
Then when there was a "need", with money disbursed to shareholders, these companies then approach the federal government for money. E.g. Loblaws/Superstore with profits each year, requested money and received it for replacement of refrigeration units.
Sometimes these corporations say that without the "assistance " from the feds, they will need to layoff staff.
The CBC program "Still Standing" is a series of histories of small, once prosperous towns, that suffered closure of their main industry. Several episodes related that US companies bought the small town enterprise then moved production to the US. The remnant of the population of the town have been resilient in remaining there and surviving.
During the postal strike last Nov & Dec, a relative with a small business across the pond, emailed me to contact the supplier- a small business in small town Ontario. The shipment, paid for, was not shipped. During the call, the supplier stated that Purolator had stopped shipments, their warehouse in Toronto was full, so the Purolator was not picking up products. Yet Purolator in AB was running.
I was told that Purolator is 91% owned by Canada Post. Purolator was not on strike. Apparently, management at CP had decided to inflict more harm to Canadians.
I wrote an email to the Labour Relations Board citing this situation. What little good it did. But suggested that after the previous railway, airline and port strikes, perhaps management that manages a company to the strike position should 1) have the same strike pay and loss of any perks 2) no raise in pay for this or the next fiscal year especially if the company has a loss 3) no " performance bonus" for mismanagement of the corporation .
If GM, Ford or Chrysler want to move jobs to the USA, we want our money back, with interest.
The Canadian government spent approximately $13.7 billion in government support for the auto sector during the 2009 global financial crisis. This included loans and equity investments to bail out General Motors and Chrysler. The federal and Ontario governments each contributed to the bailout. While some of the investment was recouped through stock sales and repayments, taxpayers ultimately experienced a loss of around $3.7 billion, not accounting for inflation or lost opportunities, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Keep in mind the struggles that our current unions are battling as well both WSIB and Canada Post. Check out what the issues are and remember when they battle for fairness it also sets the stage for non unionized workers in Canada as well. WSIB has a couple ways of showing worker support via letters both to the union and to our MPPs. I haven’t found much as to how to show support for Canada Post but there again the workers have ideas and the high paid CEOs refuse to listen.
You compare the decline of unionization rates in the US from 25% in the 1970s to 6% today to Canadian rates of 31% in the 1970s to 28% in 2003. How much further have Canadian rates dropped in the last 20 years? That is, what is the Canadian equivalent of the 6% US figure?
I am a big proponent of worker solidarity, but I’d like to hear more from the ndp and its advocates about different models of association, to.
… and they wonder why we are paranoid
Should be in a Grade 9 history class, part of studies for new Canadians and replace the part of Econ101 class where students are fed the bananas and machinery BS.
This is the good stuff Charlie.
Carry on
Folks, consider a paid subscription, monthly or a one off. I’m not wealthy guy. And I for sure don’t agree with Charlie on everything. But I’m doing a monthly donation for Charlie for a while now. Because maybe I can talk the talk and generally walk … no damn way I can write or stand before crowds big or small like this guy.
Well, not now that I’m sober and all.
folks, take care of each other
I'm glad to have learned this history. Reagan was a thug.
Thanks Charlie. Reminders and continued learning in your lesson. Jan Greenwood, Victoria, B.C.
Masterful explanation Charlie. Although I certainly remember Ronald Regan and Brian Mulroney Singing “when Irish eyes are smiling” I never understood or realized Regan’s dislike for the working class and because of Tim Allen’s stance on Regan I just assumed he was a man’s man.
Not until america admits to itself en masse what a fraud Bonzo’s side kick was, along with his economist’s shareholder superiority will it ever get off its knees.
Well explained! I remember this happening in Ontario…always supported the unions and am especially supportive and thankful to the teachers’ unions for looking out for us back in the day.
Jeez, Charlie, IC4I is no a reliable site for US history, and you're old enough to remember the inflation of that period.
There was no plot against the worker, and the proper quote does not even use that word.
https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/18/archives/volcker-asserts-us-must-trim-living-standard-warns-of-inflation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Rk8.o6Ql.hkU0lJkCyL2U&smid=url-share
Good stuff.
I also look up quotes at times. I think if the right did too, the continent might be in a bit better shape.
But come on.
Volcker was on a mission.
In an interview where admittedly he has had to massage his message. Then sounds almost like RFK when challenged about the data in his report being out 3billion (1979$).
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/statements-speeches-paul-a-volcker-451/interview-abc-news-issues-answers-8208/fulltext
Yep he was on a mission. I lived/worked through that time and remember well what was going on.
The primary inflation shock was external, but the inflation had to be curtailed. To get a sense of what happens when you don't raise rates in a high-inflation environment, despite the obvious and real costs, take a look at how Erdoganomics has played out over the past several years. He finally had to rehire the conventional economist he fired for raising rates, but the climb-down has been slow. And guess what, the average working person is worse off than s/he was because even so, wages could not rise fast enough, for obvious reasons.