Black History and Worker Power
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It’s never been easy, but the only way to improve our living conditions is together. Get involved!
We are over halfway through Black History Month (BHM). I know many members are supporting and participating in local BHM events and celebrations. For those who aren’t, there is still time. Events continue in your community throughout the month and I encourage you to get involved.
As labour activists, it’s a time to remember that a significant portion of the infrastructure and wealth we see has been created by Black labour – and this prosperity has never been equitably distributed.
During Black History Month, inevitably, people focus on the work and social conditions of enslaved people, but we should remember that the international slave trade was the foundation of the triangle trade – a system that built the wealth of the western world, not just in the countries where the work was performed. This was the foundation of western capitalism, woven into colonialism. One cannot be considered without the other.
Think about your city and your built environment, the food that you eat, and the technologies that you rely on every day, in terms of the role of Black labour in creating it all. Think of how the people and communities that produced all that value have still not been compensated, and still face oppression.
This is also the time of Regional Presidents’ Meetings. I’ve attended some and more are coming up. It’s so good to meet with local Presidents, and to tie-in work floors visits in different parts of the country.
This is an excellent time to get involved in your local, where you can talk about your workplace issues and help formulate demands to improve your work life. Bargaining is at the forefront of the union’s employer-facing work and your voice matters. A discussion paper for bargaining has been published, and your local will soon hold meetings to submit demands for the upcoming bargaining with Canada Post.
Among our private sector bargaining units, remember that TFI members in Saskatoon and Winnipeg are currently in negotiations. We’ll keep you updated on how we can all support them during the critical moments in their struggle. Also MedaCom in P.E. I. has reached a tentative agreement and ratification votes will be taking place soon.
We continue to build a stronger unified union through the Building Worker Power campaign <https://bwp.cupw.ca/>. This internal campaign is focused on creating a union culture at work, bringing members together, and turning our work into collective power – power that can be mobilized in negotiations to win better wages and conditions. Between now and then, we can build power to win local demands too. Watch for your regional organizer or workfloor captains to come around, volunteer for the campaign, and spread the word. We are the union – you, and I, and all our co-workers. How much we gain, and how well we can protect each other’s rights, all depends on how unified we are. You can read more about Building Worker Power in the latest issue of Perspective magazine.
Remember, too, to stay connected with our national news and updates as bargaining approaches. To stay up to date, sign up for eDigest (our weekly newsletter) <http://www.cupw.ca/cupw-eDigest> and follow us on social media < https://www.facebook.com/cupwsttp> <https://twitter.com/cupw>.
Solidarity!
Jan
