We know the destructive impact politics can and does have on our ability to represent our members.

Workplace gains, which we think are permanent, can be swept away at the stroke of a politician’s pen.  Collective Agreements of both the private and public sector workers have been rolled back or gutted, especially in hard economic times.  Wages, defined benefit pension plans, and working conditions have been the priority focus of attack by federal Conservative and provincial Liberal governments.

The people we elect to our city councils, school boards, provincial and territorial legislatures, and federal parliament have tremendous power to make our lives better… or make them worse.  If we are not successful in defining and building support for a legislative agenda that reflects the needs of working people and their families, our adversaries will impose their own.

Labour’s history is one of continuous struggle, and when working people stand together in the political arena we achieve our greatest gains, not just for us but for everyone in society.  Some of our greatest gains also came about because workers and their unions led the fight and forced political parties to enact our issues into law.  That is why we can’t abandon the political arena.

“The day corporate governments advocate on behalf of working people, you can stop being involved in party politics. We should be proud to work together with political parties that reflect the needs of working people to make our point and take a side.”

Yours in Solidarity,

Colleen