05) OFL CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES FOR 2014

 

PV Ontario Bureau

 

            Under the theme "Rising Together", the OFL Convention in November adopted a two year Action Plan which aims to "inspire, unite and activate" the labour movement in Ontario. The plan is meant to be the catalyst of a Common Front of community groups, the social justice movement, First Nations and Labour, by charting "A People's Agenda" to counter the corporate "Austerity Agenda" and promote "a progressive vision of the type of society we want to live in".

 

            Delegates spoke of the need to draw inspiration from the Quebec student strike and the Occupy Movement, which helped build unity among workers and community activists.

 

            OFL President Sid Ryan spoke to the media about the need to strengthen the Common Front in every community around the province.           "Two years ago we got a mandate to put together the nuts and bolts of a common front," said Ryan. "I think we've deepened the understanding of it now with the delegates by bringing members of community activist groups here to speak. They understand that labour on its own cannot defeat the Tory agenda. What is needed is a broader base and a broader tent, and that's what we're about to do. There is a recognition that we cannot operate in a silo on an island while the Tories are gearing up for the biggest attack on organized labour". 

 

            The Action plan instructs the OFL and affiliates to "put forward bold ideas which today may seem distant and radical, but will command public attention and spark new conversations about the future of our province by proposing solutions to our collective economic, environmental, social and political crises. Visionary ideas rooted in progressive values are needed to shift what is deemed acceptable and move people to take concrete action." 

 

            According to Ryan, "we have to expand beyond simply fighting for the crumbs off the table. We're still fighting to protect Medicare instead of saying `why aren't we fighting to expand it?' The same with post-secondary education ‑ we should stop talking about freezing tuition rates and start talking about what they've got in Ireland: Free University!"

 

            The anticipated elections for President and other executive officers did not materialize, and the three positions were acclaimed. This was a victory for the majority of delegates who supported the mandate of the leadership to build a united front, and for the proposals on the Common Front and for an engaged and fighting Federation.

 

            But it was a defeat for the right-wing social democratic leaders of some unions, with no mandate from their memberships, whose program is to split and divide the labour movement, including the attempt by OPSEU, SEIU and ONA to create a financial crisis in the OFL by freezing their dues payments.

 

            This coincides with a combined Tory, Liberal and corporate attack, the most serious and deadly since the 1930's. In the main, this group comes from the leadership of the old "pink paper" unions, named after those who destroyed mass escalating action against the Harris government in the 1990s. Many of these leaders want the OFL to exclusively support the electoral ambitions of the NDP, while some are Liberal Party sympathizers.

 

            The main lines of demarcation at the Convention were between those wanting extra‑parliamentary Common Front alliances and struggle, a People's Agenda, parliamentary tactics and a vision of a different Province, and those who see this as a challenge to the NDP and its tepid programs.

 

            The most controversial debate on the floor centered on a constitutional amendment to create an Advisory Executive Committee on Finances, made up of the President, Secretary Treasurer and Executive Officer; the three largest private sector unions (UNIFOR, USW, UFCW); the three largest public sector unions (CUPE, ETFO, PSAC); and three Equity VPs, along with the smaller affiliate VP.

 

            The amendment was intended to create a non‑elected body, CLC style, to hobble the President and table officers elected by the Convention, shifting power to an unelected Executive Committee. The amendment received just slightly more than 50%, less than the two-thirds required to pass.

 

            The Action Caucus worked energetically to explain the undemocratic purpose of this amendment, and helped swing the vote. The Caucus also exposed the right wing's secret meetings and its plan to defeat Ryan in a sudden election. (An article by Helen Kennedy in the Oct. 16-31 issue of People's Voice revealed this agenda.)

 

            Action Caucus members were successful in re‑electing Stephen Seaborn as Vice‑President for Solidarity and Pride, and in electing Denise Martins as VP for Young Workers.

 

Challenges continue

 

            Defeated on every major issue, the dissident group quickly tried to usurp the Convention decisions and the elected OFL leadership. On Jan. 8, they organized a rump meeting of Ontario heads of unions with the CLC (excluding the OFL), to map out a provincial election strategy.

 

            This was just two weeks before the OFL's Jan. 22 meeting involving heads of Ontario unions and the CLC, called to work out an election strategy and fightback in the province, based on the Convention decisions. The January 8 gathering was clearly intended to preempt the OFL and exclude its elected leadership.

 

            The CLC's role here is a clear violation of their Constitution, and an attack on the OFL leadership and the mass action plan adopted by the Convention. It is a continuation of the effort to split the labour movement in Ontario. In the context of austerity and the all‑out assault on labour and democratic rights, these actions only benefit the Tory agenda, strengthen labour's enemies and weaken labour solidarity.

 

            Ryan responded by calling on Ontario union heads and the CLC to cancel the parallel meeting, and to work together with the OFL to build a united fightback against the employers and reactionary governments.

 

            The CLC would do well to listen, as would the "pink paper" group which now poses the greatest threat to labour unity, and to an effective struggle against a very dangerous government/employer agenda to introduce US style "right‑to‑work" legislation and destroy the Rand Formula.

 

            Thanks to the November Convention of the OFL, the struggle will continue and sharpen with the main enemy being the corporate neo‑liberal agenda. It is becoming clearer that the struggle for democracy within labour, for transparency and implementation of Convention program, is emerging as an important part of the development of fightback and solidarity. The backroom cabal of narrow and partisan political interests is the breeding ground of defeat and betrayal. Their actions threaten the whole labour movement's fight for a decent future for all.

 

            The majority of elected delegates decided where they stand at a democratic convention. The OFL table officers have a mandate, a program and a responsibility to work cooperatively with the Executive Board to forge the unity needed to undertake the action plan.

 

            The financial difficulties at the OFL, created largely by OPSEU, SEIU and ONA who have withheld dues for almost three years, will no doubt continue to be a real area of Executive Board concerns. The financial challenge will need to be addressed with a strategic plan to organize the unorganized and recruit new affiliates.

 

            Ryan emerges as a leader carrying a heavy load and facing many adversaries, but with the mandate to move forward. There will be those who seek to conceal their agenda by making personalities and leadership style the main issue. It is not.

 

            The welfare of the working people is the main issue. Our actions will be judged by how we fight for this. The convention is over, the decisions remain, and all affiliates, if they honour democratic decision making, are bound to implement the Convention decisions and hold leadership accountable to them.

 

(The above article is from the January 16-31, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)