–University of Guelph Graduate Students’ Association air their dirty laundry about tuition fees. This action is part of the Canada’s student movement’s Drop Fees campaign and the broader International Day for Accessible Education.

–CLC backs the call by the CEP to boycott Petro Canada while they are locking-out their workers at a Montreal refinery. More here from CLC. and here from CUPE.

–Some very welcome news. War resisters welcome here!

–The CLC has issued a statement on the current economic crisis.

–Country over Party? Doubt it. First, it is a fallacy that the Liberal Party is left-of-centre. Second, the Liberals will have a hard time explaining to their base the ideological consistency of aligning with the Bloc when they fundamentally oppose self determination for Quebec. Third, a coalition government would require a leader that could take it on. The Liberals do not have a leader and they are probably not going to give Layton that kind of publicity. But, maybe I am just cynical.

–It is only going to get worse for working class, especially those without unions to fight for wage increases that try to match these increases in inflation. If you need a raise but your boss won’t give you one, then now is the time to start a union drive.

–Stop the out-sourcing of service jobs in the health care sector. Health is too important to put profit ahead of care.

–The Winnipeg Free Press is still on strike two weeks after it was called. Here is the workers’ website.

From the 10 -13th of October, 2008 the first pan-Canadian young feminist gathering was held in Montreal, QC. More than 500 young women (aged 14 to 35), representing every province and territory in Canada, took over the classrooms of UQAM for 3 days to reaffirm the pertinence of feminism and to act collectively about issues like feminization of poverty, hyper-sexualization and racism, to name a few.

A young feminists’ manifesto was written over the course of the weekend. The manifesto is a work in progress and is available to be used as a political tool for all the young feminists in their own communities.

–Of interest to all people who fight for social justice in Canada.

–Not totally accurate, but the Guardian is getting into it. During crises, everyone wants to read Marx again. The problem is that the Left in many countries do not seem to be organized enough to take advantage of the situation and move a more progressive and stable system into being.

–Neo-liberalism is to blame.

“Across the 24 OECD nations for which data was available, the cumulative increase in inequality was around 7 percent from the mid-1980s to mid-2000s … The report said income inequality in general had risen significantly since 2000 in Canada, Germany, Norway, the United States, Italy, and Finland”

Buzz Hargrove, the outspoken former national president of the Canadian Auto Workers, will speak at a public lecture in Fredericton on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the Wu Conference Centre, University of New Brunswick at 4 p.m..

In “Looking Back, Looking Ahead”, the New Brunswick-born Hargrove will talk about his life as a trade unionist and why Canadian democracy needs a strong labour movement to survive. Mr. Hargrove’s speech is sponsored by the New Brunswick Labour History Project at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. A public reception hosted by the Office of the Vice-President of Research Services, UNB, will follow. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

For further information contact Carol Ferguson, Project Officer, New Brunswick Labour History Project at 506-453-4599 or cferguso@unb.ca.

Buzz Hargrove prononcera une conférence publique à la UNB

Buzz Hargrove, ce syndicaliste au franc-parler et ancien président national des Travailleurs canadiens de l’automobile, prononcera une conférence publique au Wu Conference Centre de la University of New Brunswick à Fredericton, le mercredi 22 octobre 2008 à 16 h.

Dans sa présentation intitulée « Lookink Back, Looking Ahead», Hargrove, un natif du Nouveau-Brunswick, parlera de sa vie de syndicaliste et démontrera que la démocratie canadienne a besoin d’un mouvement ouvrier fort pour survivre.

La conférence de Monsieur Hargrove est parrainée par le Projet d’histoire du travail au Nouveau-Brunswick (Fredericton). Une réception, offerte par le Bureau du vice-recteur à la recherche de la UNB, suivra. Bienvenue à toutes et à tous.

Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez contacter la chargée de projet Carol Ferguson, Projet d’histoire du travail au Nouveau-Brunswick, au 506-453-4599 ou par courriel : cferguso@unb.ca .

“Job security, the high cost of living and workplace equity are issues that could lead to a strike at York University at the end of October… You can help CUPE 3903 by sending a message to York’s negotiators.”

Canada has another minority government. Both the Conservatives and the union-supported New Democratic Party increased their support at the expense of the Liberals. However, none of the parties were able to give any answer to the current financial crisis. Faced with a lack of real solutions, workers stayed home in historic numbers with only 59% coming out to vote. The polarization in the electorate is an indicator of increased class struggle as the world heads into economic turmoil.

“After public pressure, the Alberta government announced it will cover the costs for expectant mothers who choose to deliver their babies using a midwife.”

“Duncan attributed her success to what she called a “community-driven campaign.”"

“While chilly weather may have been a factor during the wintry vote two years ago, that didn’t seem to be a problem Tuesday.”

Well, if it’s not the weather, there can be no other logical explanation.

–It is voting day in Canada. Vote for the party; vote for the candidate’ caste the “not that” party or candidate vote; or spoil your ballot — but, whatever you do, get to the polls!

Duncan Cameron on Dion’s comments associating the NDP with “old socialism”. If only!

–Stop the Deportations!