by Barry Weisleder
This proposal is submitted to stimulate a discussion in the new Workers’ Action Movement on how to advance the effort to achieve a democratic, cooperative, egalitarian society and a better world for all.
Demands:
Good jobs for all, at union rates of pay. Shorten work hours without loss of pay or benefits to share the available work.
Money for quality social housing, public education, health care, and transportation, not for war. Limit the military to a rescue and disaster relief role. Disarm the cops. End racial profiling. Abolish post-secondary education fees and student debt.
Tax the rich, the banks and giant corporations. No subsidies or tax concessions to big business. Eliminate all regressive taxes, like the GST/HST. Institute taxes on corporate financial transactions and speculative investments.
For public ownership of the commanding heights of the economy, and for democratic planning under workers’ and community control. This is urgently needed to facilitate a rapid conversion to a green energy system, and to move away from carbon-based and nuclear energy. No to any new pipelines.
A guaranteed minimum income of $30,000 a year for a single person, plus $5,000 per dependent child.
A minimum wage of $17/hour.
Affirmative action in employment for women and visible minorities. Equal pay and equal work. De-colonize Canada. Honour aboriginal treaties and land claims. Justice for indigenous peoples. Self-determination for Quebec. Full rights for immigrant workers. End the temporary foreign workers’ programme.
Improve the Canada Pension Plan. Ensure that all workers enjoy decent pensions with defined benefits, protected against inflation.
Increase the eligibility of laid off workers, including part-time workers, to Employment Insurance benefits to last up to one year after layoff, with replacement of 66% of lost wages.
Organize the unorganized. For the unfettered right to strike for all workers.
Abolish the international trade and investment deals that undermine health and safety regulation, environmental protection, public ownership, public services and domestic purchasing policies.
Enforce boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid.
Canada out of NATO. Solidarity with all struggles against imperialist intervention.
Action Goals designed to help achieve our demands and change the world:
Change the direction of the union movement by building a class struggle caucus in every union to fight against austerity and concessions, and to win greater union democracy. Challenge and replace union leaders who fail to advance the interests of the working class.
Support struggles that resist social cuts, layoffs, the erosion of public services, including the elimination of home mail delivery, and attacks on democratic rights. Put the emphasis on organizing for direct action in the workplace, community and on the streets.
Oppose voting for the Liberal Party, Green Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Quebecois and candidates supported by any section of the capitalist class. Give critical support to candidates of the labour-based New Democratic Party, and insist that the NDP fight for and implement a Workers’ Agenda, including the above demands. We strive for a Workers’ Government, by any means necessary, and support the campaign for proportional representation at all levels.
Build a culture of working class pride and self-identification, incorporating the radical arts scene, popular education, the celebration of May Day and other important working class occasions, and by embracing challenges to racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia.
Good jobs for all, at union rates of pay. Shorten work hours without loss of pay or benefits to share the available work.
Money for quality social housing, public education, health care, and transportation, not for war. Limit the military to a rescue and disaster relief role. Disarm the cops. End racial profiling. Abolish post-secondary education fees and student debt.
Tax the rich, the banks and giant corporations. No subsidies or tax concessions to big business. Eliminate all regressive taxes, like the GST/HST. Institute taxes on corporate financial transactions and speculative investments.
For public ownership of the commanding heights of the economy, and for democratic planning under workers’ and community control. This is urgently needed to facilitate a rapid conversion to a green energy system, and to move away from carbon-based and nuclear energy. No to any new pipelines.
A guaranteed minimum income of $30,000 a year for a single person, plus $5,000 per dependent child.
A minimum wage of $17/hour.
Affirmative action in employment for women and visible minorities. Equal pay and equal work. De-colonize Canada. Honour aboriginal treaties and land claims. Justice for indigenous peoples. Self-determination for Quebec. Full rights for immigrant workers. End the temporary foreign workers’ programme.
Improve the Canada Pension Plan. Ensure that all workers enjoy decent pensions with defined benefits, protected against inflation.
Increase the eligibility of laid off workers, including part-time workers, to Employment Insurance benefits to last up to one year after layoff, with replacement of 66% of lost wages.
Organize the unorganized. For the unfettered right to strike for all workers.
Abolish the international trade and investment deals that undermine health and safety regulation, environmental protection, public ownership, public services and domestic purchasing policies.
Enforce boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid.
Canada out of NATO. Solidarity with all struggles against imperialist intervention.
Action Goals designed to help achieve our demands and change the world:
Change the direction of the union movement by building a class struggle caucus in every union to fight against austerity and concessions, and to win greater union democracy. Challenge and replace union leaders who fail to advance the interests of the working class.
Support struggles that resist social cuts, layoffs, the erosion of public services, including the elimination of home mail delivery, and attacks on democratic rights. Put the emphasis on organizing for direct action in the workplace, community and on the streets.
Oppose voting for the Liberal Party, Green Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Quebecois and candidates supported by any section of the capitalist class. Give critical support to candidates of the labour-based New Democratic Party, and insist that the NDP fight for and implement a Workers’ Agenda, including the above demands. We strive for a Workers’ Government, by any means necessary, and support the campaign for proportional representation at all levels.
Build a culture of working class pride and self-identification, incorporating the radical arts scene, popular education, the celebration of May Day and other important working class occasions, and by embracing challenges to racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia.
