CONTENTS
CALLS TO ACTION
Stop the 40% cut to CRB income support!
The federal government is planning to cut the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) by 40% on July 17, 2021. This cut will be devastating for the more than 800,000 workers who rely on the federal income support program to make ends meet. Workers are already struggling to live on $500 each week. If passed, workers would be expected to cover rent, groceries, medicines and more on only $300 per week.But it’s not too late to stop this cut to CRB. The CRB reduction is contained in the federal budget — and the federal budget legislation has not yet been passed by Parliament.
justice4workers.org
Demand Rexplas Negotiate a Fair Deal
Take a moment to demand a fair contract for Rexplas workers now!The 35 members of USW Local 8300 – a group made up predominantly of racialized women – have been on strike since April 26.
These Steelworkers made the courageous choice to go out on strike for a recognition of their hard work. During the pandemic, they were considered essential workers but were not given any extra pay or compensation.
www.usw.ca
EVENTS
Digital Rally: Say No to Coal!
When: June 25th, 2pmJoin the Council of Canadians for a digital rally on June 25th to celebrate the end of the Grassy Mountain project, hear from those on the ground about why we must continue the fight against coal, and come together to take action to protect the Rockies and rivers.
We are coming together to build a Canada (and an Alberta) beyond coal to preserve our mountains and water for future generations. We look forward to you joining us for the digital rally and calling on our leaders to make the right decision by saying no to coal mining in the Rockies!
zoom.us
Car Rally for the Women Workers of Hillcrest
When: June 26th, 10:30 amWhere: 47 Austin Terrace
Personal support workers (PSWs) at the Hillcrest site of the University Health Network (UHN) are paid $16.83 an hour or less, have 3 paid sick days a year, and are overwhelmingly women and racialized. This reactivation hospital takes patients from the wider UHN, where PSWs enjoy better pay and benefits.
The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, and CUPE Ontario are organizing a Car Rally on Saturday June 26 at 10:30 am, to tell UHN to stop the exploitation of the women working at Hillcrest and make them direct employees.
cupe.on.ca
Supporting Palestine Resistance
When: June 27th, 3pmSuzanne Berliner Weiss is the author of Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey. In the memoir, she describes her experiences as an orphan in France and New York during and after World War 2; as an adult during the McCarthy years; as a socialist activist printer fighting the Vietnam war; as a labourer fighting sexism in unions and employers; as an assistant to veteran socialists; as a gerontological social worker and as a committed opponent to oppression of any kind. Her lifework has included transformative trips to Cuba, and Bolivia, Venezuela and Egypt.
zoom.us
No Hybrid Phone and Email Zap
When: June 28th, 7pmOn Monday, June 28 at 7:00 pm, join hundreds of Teachers, Education Workers, Parents, and Students along with York Communities for Public Education and Ontario Families for Public Education at a Phone/Email Zap action to stop the Hybrid Model in your Board!
Hybrid Hurts Kids. When hundreds of us come together to deliver this message on June 28th, we can force the school boards to say NO to Hybrid Learning and stand with us for the schools our students deserve.
labourcouncil.ca
The Atom: A Love Affair – panel discussion
When: June 28th, 7pmCanada has supported the nuclear industry since the 1940’s. From coast to coast to coast, we now have a stockpile of toxic radioactive tailings from uranium mines to nuclear sites all along the nuclear fuel chain. Seventy years later, we’re still searching for a long-term solution to store the deadly waste which will need to be isolated from the environment for a million years. And now industry is begging for more taxpayer hand-outs to build out more nuclear reactors, SMRs (small modular nuclear reactors). Learn why this should concern you and what the alternatives are. The webinar will be hosted and moderated by Angela Bischoff of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance and will feature:
– Vicki Lesley @tennerfilms, Film Producer/Director
– Dr. Susan O’Donnell, University of New Brunswick, addressing the push for SMRs in Canada (small modular nuclear reactors)
– Brennain Lloyd, Northwatch, addressing the problem of nuclear waste in Canada
– Dr. Gordon Edwards, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, addressing the connection between SMRs and weapons proliferation
eventbrite.ca
Canada and the World /w Tyler Shipley
When: June 30 to August 25 (Wednesdays at 7:30pm)Tyler Shipley is running a free, nine-week online course called “Canada in the World”, loosely following the structure of his book of the same title (which is naturally recommended but by no means necessary for your participation in the course). The first class is June 30, just in time to ruin Canada Day!
Anyone who would like to refresh or fill in some gaps in Canadian history is more than welcome to join. There are no assignments or grading, just a couple hours on Zoom every Wednesday evening.
June 30: Introduction and Historical Context
July 7: Canadian Colonialism
July 14: The ‘Birth’ of a Nation
For those interested, send an email to tyshipley@hotmail.com.
ARTICLES
How Many Strikes Are There in the USA?
By Johnnie Kallas, Eli Friedman and Dana TrentalangeThe number of strikes in the United States is a question with obvious importance to labor activists, yet there is no readily accessible answer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases an annual work stoppage summary in February reporting the number of strikes and lockouts over the prior year – but only those that involved at least 1,000 workers and lasted an entire shift. This is especially problematic because nearly 60 percent of all private sector workers are employed by companies with fewer than 1,000 employees. Even many of those who work at big firms are in bargaining units or workplaces with under 1,000 workers.
Source: The Bullet No. 2401
Irregular War and the Mafia in Turkey
By Cenk AgcabayThe subject of the film On the Waterfront, released in 1954, is the struggle of workers with mafia organizations trying to suppress the growing dockers’ movement in the US. In the film, Marlon Brando portrays a gang member who initially tries to suppress the dockers by force. However, the character experiences a transformation over time and joins the fight alongside the dock workers. The screenplay for the movie was written based on actual events of that period reflected in a series of articles in a daily newspaper. As is well-known, mafia groups played an essential role in suppressing the working class struggle in the US.
Source: The Bullet No. 2402
Canada and Economic Sanctions Against Cuba: An Open Letter to Marc Garneau
Dear Minister Garneau,Re: June 23rd United Nations General Assembly Vote on Resolution Against US Economic Sanctions Against Cuba.
I am writing to you on behalf of the Canadian Network On Cuba (CNC), which represents Canada-Cuba friendship and solidarity organizations from Vancouver to Halifax. Two of the CNC’s principal objectives are bringing an end to US economic sanctions against Cuba and ensuring that Canada’s relations with Cuba are based on equality and respect for the island nation’s independence, sovereignty, and the right of self-determination.
Source: The Bullet No. 2403
The Red Deal: Indigenous Action to Save our Earth
By Susan RosenthalIndigenous people have been fighting to survive for centuries. Recently, their struggles have become more militant, more global, and less isolated, aligning with other anti-racist and anti-colonial movements, and leading the environmental movement. The growing challenge that Indigenous people pose to capitalist rule can be measured by the increasing use of military force to suppress their rebellions and by the targeted murders of Indigenous activists.
Source: The Bullet No. 2404
Far From Over – Class Struggle and Union Organizing at Amazon
A presentation and roundtable discussion on class struggle and union organizing at Amazon warehouses with Alessandro Delfanti, Amazonians United workers and organizers Ira and Fathia, Paul Gray, Jessica Ireland, and Tanner Mirrlees.Source: LeftStreamed
EMPLOYMENT
Communications Coordinator
Do you want to be an integral part of a dynamic and creative coalition working for environmental and social justice in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and mining-affected communities, with great opportunities for learning?Position: Communications Coordinator
Contract period: This is a 4 day work week (32 hours) position for two years, with possibility to renew contingent on funding
Location: Ottawa region
Compensation: We offer a competitive salary of $50,000 per annum plus a generous health benefits package.
mailchi.mp