02) THREE CANDIDATES IN CLC PRESIDENT RACE

PV Vancouver Bureau

            The 27th Canadian Labour Congress convention opens May 5 in Montreal. For the first time in memory, there are now three candidates for president, including the incumbent, Ken Georgetti, who has held the position for fifteen years.

            The first to come forward was Hassan Husseini, who has a strong track record as a labour and community organizer in Ontario. Husseini quickly won endorsations from union bodies and activists who see the need for stronger militant strategies. Then, CLC Secretary‑Treasurer Hassan Yussuff entered the race in mid‑April, issuing an open letter titled "Leadership for a Bold Labour Movement."

            Yussuff, who has held that position since 2002, was born in Guyana, becoming a trade unionist in Ontario's auto plant sector. He argues that "There is a wind of change blowing in Canada's trade union movement," and he wants to "give voice to that change and work with you to lead our movement."

            His statement goes on to say, "There is a desire and a demand to return to the offensive for rights and progress for workers after decades of retreat and decline. There is an eagerness for new leadership that is truly reflective of the diverse reality of today's working class and ready to step forward with new energy and creativity. There is a need for a new labour movement using its power and resources to connect and give leadership to social movements for democracy and sustainability..."

            In an implicit critique of the Georgetti leadership, Yussuff continues, "The movement can continue to tell itself that it is doing all it can; that we still hold influence in spite of years of right‑wing economic policy and US‑Republican style politics; that the CLC's ongoing campaign for CPP expansion has kept this social priority on the national agenda; that two‑tier contracts are not as prevalent here as south of the border. But the reality is that the lives of workers and their families are getting tougher; both in their workplaces and their communities."

            Yussuff adds, "When labour fails to mobilize its members and to impact employers and governments in the workplace and in the streets, it will have limited effect on decisions."

            He calls for "a more inclusive and respectful leadership at the CLC," reflecting a widely held view that the current leadership has not acted in such a manner, either towards labour's community partners or even its own affiliates. The current proposal to gut the authority and powers of local labour councils may be the most visible example.

            Speaking to People's Voice, several rank and file or mid‑level trade union activists have asked whether Yussuff is too closely identified with the current leadership to make the changes which are necessary to reinvigorate the CLC.

            The first candidate for president, Hassan Husseini, has drawn attention to the serious issues facing working people, while also calling for major changes to the CLC's structure and approach.

            In a new document called "My commitment ‑ The first 100 days and beyond," Husseini makes specific proposals, including immediate consultations with Federations of Labour and Labour Councils about their issues and struggles, and enhanced financial and staff resources for the Labour Councils.

            He promises to reduce the number of Executive Assistants to the President (from 4 to 1), and allocate those resources to staff support in the field. Pledging to lead by example, Husseini would also reduce his own pay and compensation, helping to "free up resources more usefully put towards grassroots organizing and local leadership development."

            He hopes to "work with affiliates on developing cross‑union training sessions for members on organizing drives and effective mobilizations.... Working with affiliates, Federations and Labour Councils, I will develop online resources to help workers in labour disputes and to build labour solidarity with workers on strike. I will modernize the CLC's use of social media to spread the word on workers struggles to union members and social movement allies in an immediate and popular way."

            And pledging to go further, he calls for an "open dialogue between the CLC and our allies in the social justice community on ways to support each other and build a broad coalition to challenge the austerity agenda and build an inclusive, democratic country."

            This would start with cross‑Canada "Fairness Works" town halls around Labour Day 2014 "to engage the activist base of our movement and to broaden the campaign beyond television ads. Community and social movement allies would be included."

            Husseini would also open a discussion on labour's program for the 2015 federal election at the Canadian Council, with Labour Councils and online, so that the CLC can "position itself as an important voice in the organizing that has already begun in the country to get rid of the Harper Conservatives and their anti‑worker, anti‑democratic and big business agenda."

            "We need an independent labour vision and platform to mobilize members, present to the political parties who want to form the next federal government, and engage our allies," he argues.

            Husseini wants to "place equality issues at the heart of the work of the Canadian Labour Congress. The role of the Women's and Equity Vice‑Presidents and of the committees of equality‑seeking groups will be critical sources of ideas."

He promises to "meet at the first opportunity with these worker representatives to seek advice about the campaigns and issues facing equality‑seeking members, about what role the labour movement should be playing and about how we integrate equality into all of the CLC's campaigns."

            He concludes, "My commitment is to find every way possible to listen to and engage our union activists and leaders in developing our vision and in mobilizing our members for positive social change."

(The above article is from the May 1-15, 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.)