American Run Unions In Canada IBEW Local Union 424

Not to mention that they are completely privately owned, and even worse--foreign owned.

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The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter --

Winston Churchill

I was a member of L.773 for one year. During this period it became very apparent to me that the local was little more than a personnel service. Senority meant nothing and company name hiring from the list was common practice. Dues of close to $50 a month were collected whether or not one was on the out of work list and a good chunk of that went to Washington.

As for politcal action, there was little if any and only then if it DIRECTLY impacted electricians in the IBEW. Free Trade, North American integration, war, de-industrialization, racial profiling, national health care, education etc. were rearely discussed. I remember visiting the local after marching in Quebec city (2001) and asking the receptionist if she had any idea why there was no presence from the IBEW at the march. She explained to me that they were unaware and that "Washington had not called". Needless to say the culture was definitely rife with that North American--see American---chauvinism that is all too prevalent in Canadian politics today (especially in the Conservative party, but surely not absent in the Liberal or NDP). The idea of splitting from the international was never discussed. Even basic union principles such as fighting concessions rarely came up. Market recovery and the stab fund (company driven initiatives i am sure you are familiar with) were all brought to the membership by the execs and made into policy with the accompanying threat of "losing our charter" if the workers did not accept them (what use is the charter of a union if the workers therein can't fight for their collective good anyway?).

I would like to be able to say that gaining membership in a Canadian union would be a great change. The sad fact, from my experience, has been that unions based in Canada have become more and more corporatist in their approach. This attitute goes all the way to the CLC. My current union, the CAW, which is seen as a bastion of Canadian working class resistance to the corporate, integrationist movement has been slipping as well.
A solution to the above and your problems can only come about through the workers who are aware of the problems organizing themselves and others. It means education on the history of the labour movement in Canada, the history of capitalism, and the role of the state in keeping workers subordinate. We have to gain some sense of who we are in relation to our employers, government(s), and yes, union executives before we can be effective in a permanent fashion.

I wish you luck, and I want you know you are not alone. In fact I would say you are in a growing segment of the Canadian labour movement that is tired of Quislings running the show.

Yes, I agree, the CAW has slipped alot! My workplace is also CAW. Nothing but a bunch of corporate lackeys anymore. Everyone it seems, is in it for themselves. So sad.

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Dave Ruston

I own stock in(buy below $55)EnCana for the sands, and an alternative to the Middle East, and it's 90% Canadian folks. I'm an American who supports the IBEW in protecting worker rights, and I support Canadian independence from the Bush Drug War interventionism. Who exactly is the "American" from the IBEW International causing problems? Are you talking about some unethical collusion between your President and an US IBEW Official? Sounds like that hall needs some unity, and you think taking on "Americans" will achieve this? The Union should help brothers move freely across borders to work. The localist-isolationist anti-US rally call is a sad scene. Good Luck cleaning your union up! Tell us who the problem Americans are so we can boot them out of office! FTL Viva le Big Red Machine

So easy to blame America for all the ills caused by non-union oppressive governments or governments that do nothing for their people keeping them in poverty and ignorance while feeding off the nations who's people demand that their governments role is to better the lives of their citizens and to be accountable to them. You could start with the WTO and the new global economy and all the Fair Trade agreements which are unfair to our countries and our workers. But if it makes you happy to Blame America while you stick your head in the sand, knock yourself out.