Edith Bradley

1. Union Criticism

Union criticisms are frequently seen by unions as being anti-union. This position or ‘defense’ is entirely false. Most large labour organizations have become corporations with bottom-line guiding principles.

At the end of WWII, a wave of labour strikes achieved significant improvements in wages, hours, and innovations such as vacation pay, to name a few.

The 1945 lengthy and bitter Windsor, Ontario Ford strike resulted in a landmark court decision, which granted a compulsory check-off of union dues. The collection of union dues provided unions with financial security, though some critics were worried that unions might become more bureaucratic.

Today, Quebec’s large union Centrals have metamorphosed into bureaucratic ‘corporations’ with union executives earning six-figure incomes.

2. Let’s Rally, Solidarity!

The abuse of the term solidarity. During my seven-year union tenure, I often witnessed the term used, not supporting a ‘community of interests, but as a catchword to squash disagreement.

3. Standup!

If a union delegate or a unionized worker disagrees with a union policy or proposition, don’t allow yourself to be pressured (bullied) into accepting or supporting a position that is a disadvantage.

Union Statutes and Bylaws exist, allowing delegates and workers to state their dissident (disagreement) officially. Read and study your unions’ Statutes and Bylaws.

4. Remember History

Remember the history! Spanish philosopher George Santayana aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Five years between public sector contract negotiations is a long time, and details become blurry or forgotten. Quebec public healthcare union representatives at the local level and healthcare workers need to remember the 2015 contract sellout by their central unions.

Quebec’s 2015 Public Sector strike is the largest in the province’s history. Despite close to 500,000 public striking workers backed by strong public support, Central union leaders accepted a tentative five contract with a two-year salary rate freeze which continued the impoverishment of the healthcare workers they represented.

Manuel Fernandes was VP for Occupational Health and Safety and later interim President for the McGill University Health Centre CSN affiliated union, the MUHCEU. At the time, the MUHCEU was Quebec’s biggest single healthcare workers union.