GM Workers set up blockade.

[dirtycommiebastard]

Heres an interesting story a couple of my comrades brought to my attention;

Jun 04, 2008
OSHAWA–Angry General Motors employees blocked the road outside the company's Canadian head office early Wednesday and promised to stand their ground until their union receives a guarantee that 2,600 local workers will have jobs..... (link below)



http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/253617

PS How do I turn a link into one word? Thanks

[Niccolò Rossi]

Thanks for the article, it's always good to hear about workers direct action.


[/URL]PS How do I turn a link into one word? Thanks

Highlight the word you want to make the link, then click the "insert Link" button (the globe with the chain) then enter the url.
[URL="http://google.com/"] (http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/253617)

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Interesting how the CAW actually fights back, while the UAW just lays down and waits for the steamroller. True, the CAW is still a partnership union that operates under contracts, but hey they still have some backbone.

[Cheung Mo]

Hopefully the workers don't let Buzz Harper (sic) sell them out again.

[F9]

its unfortunate that because of a cancelling a project 2600(!) people are going to lose their jobs.they are doing the right thing by rising up and demand their rights!in the article said that might be and a bigger and more powerful strike.Workers should awake and demand their rights!

Fuserg9:star:

[hekmatista]

Only under capitalism could a huge productive enterprise go from being capital to being rummage sale junk because of a change in consumption patterns. Worse, only under capitalism could the source of productivity, the workers there, be transformed overnight into useless mouths to feed.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Only under capitalism could a huge productive enterprise go from being capital to being rummage sale junk because of a change in consumption patterns. Worse, only under capitalism could the source of productivity, the workers there, be transformed overnight into useless mouths to feed.

Whats funny is that Michigan will see a net increase of 36 thousand auto jobs, now that the UAW has been disciplined. Its not even about pure profits, its just class war.

[The Intransigent Faction]

*Sigh*..I saw the bureaucrats debating this on CPAC.
When asked by the NDP all the Conservatives could say was something about business incentives and GM..not even remotely connected to the crisis of the workers.
Not much of a surprise.
In any case, I urge my Canadian comrades in the area to show their support for the strike.

[dirtycommiebastard]

In any case, I urge my Canadian comrades in the area to show their support for the strike. A few members of my organization went to meet with the workers demonstrating in Oshawa. They were very happy to discuss and we made some contacts. We pushed the line that Canada had to nationalize the industry under workers control and this was well received by the workers who are very militant.

There has been a streak of occupied factories in Ontario in the last few years. Hopefully that same spirit lives on.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

A few members of my organization went to meet with the workers demonstrating in Oshawa. They were very happy to discuss and we made some contacts. We pushed the line that Canada had to nationalize the industry under workers control and this was well received by the workers who are very militant.

There has been a streak of occupied factories in Ontario in the last few years. Hopefully that same spirit lives on.

Eh? Seems like that line is a wee bit divorced from reality mate. We first have to build enough strength to successfully fight job cuts first. These guys are barely holding on at this point.

[dirtycommiebastard]

Eh? Seems like that line is a wee bit divorced from reality mate. We first have to build enough strength to successfully fight job cuts first. These guys are barely holding on at this point.

You've never heard of Transitional program have you?

Some things may sound divorced from reality, but that is the point. Many goals are unachievable under capitalism, so in that case, you must convince the workers that if the current system cannot provide for us, we must change the system.

Obviously the Canadian government probably wouldn't nationalize GM but making demands that hit the core of the capitalist problem is how you push workers to fight for their interests.

Just curious, are you an anarchist? What would you do in my comrades place if you went up to visit these extremely militant workers?

Oh and by the way, my comrades went to see them once again today, when I get a report back I'll let you know what else is going on.

[BIG BROTHER]

A few members of my organization went to meet with the workers demonstrating in Oshawa. They were very happy to discuss and we made some contacts. We pushed the line that Canada had to nationalize the industry under workers control and this was well received by the workers who are very militant.

There has been a streak of occupied factories in Ontario in the last few years. Hopefully that same spirit lives on.

That's good to hear. So just so I know a little more background info, around what percentage of workers in Canada are in unions? and what's the character of unions in Canada, are they all militant or just that GM one?

[dirtycommiebastard]

That's good to hear. So just so I know a little more background info, around what percentage of workers in Canada are in unions? and what's the character of unions in Canada, are they all militant or just that GM one?

I couldn't tell you exactly the percentage of unionised workers in Canada, but I would guess around 30%.

As for the unions themselves, it really depends where you look. The big unions though, espeically here in Quebec are all lead by careerist bureaucrats who actually have no interest in furthering the fight for workers interests.

The workers, on the other hand, are quite militant and don't take any crap. In Ontario there has been a few factory occupations recently, so this is a sign of an advanced working class.

[dirtycommiebastard]

Here is the link to an article by my comrades in Toronto who went back to visit the GM workers. There are also videos of thousands of people chanting 'Save our Jobs'.

My comrades also reported that people were literally lining up to get their hands on our fliers looking for ideas on how to fight this scandal.

Some workers were even heard saying "Why aren't we occupying the factories?"

http://www.marxist.com/canada-5000-rally-oshawa-gm.htm

[BIG BROTHER]

sweet news man!