Centre for Research on Work and Society
Channelling the New Militancy Against Global Economic Trends: York U. Panel looks at Working People's Politics, Labour and the NDP

TORONTO, February 17, 2000 -- The success of mass public protests at World Trade Organization talks in Seattle last November has sparked a new militancy among opponents of unfettered globalization. Whether the issue is genetically modified foods, international financial flows, job security, the decline of health and education services, or just plain government accountability, renewed public activism on these issues has been a wake-up call to governments worldwide.

Can this new activism be effectively channelled at election time? The Centre for Research on Work and Society (CRWS) at York University will host four Canadian labour and political activists in a panel discussion of this question, Wednesday, February 23rd at 4 p.m. Entitled, Working Class Politics, Labour and the NDP, the panellists will assess the shake-up of the last 15 years in relations between social democratic parties and trade unions worldwide. They will discuss what must change, and what kind of political party can represent the interests of a re-emerging movement for social justice.

"Two events of the last year highlight the dilemma of progressive and trade union politics in Ontario," says CRWS Director, Prof. Carla Lipsig-MummÈ. "The failure of strategic voting in the last Ontario election and the success of the protests in Seattle tell us that electoral politics are more important than ever, but there is an urgent need to modernize their practice."

WHO:
Mel Watkins, longtime political activist and an NDP candidate in the 1997 federal election, will discuss the effect of so-called neo-liberal politics on the New Democratic Party, why strategic voting fails, and why creation of a new, more left-wing party will only damage the movement for social change.

Jordan Berger, a member of the Ontario NDP executive for Metro Toronto and research supervisor at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says the NDP must be responsive to the concerns of rank-and-file labour. But he says a more effective relationship between the labour movement and the NDP at both the leadership and activist level must be based on the understanding that each has a distinct role to play in advancing the concerns of working people.

Peggy Nash, assistant to the National President of the Canadian Auto Workers union, will discuss the CAW's new task force on working class politics that seeks to re-connect the union leadership with members. She says it is clear that there is a gap between the membership and the union leadership when it comes to electoral politics and broader political issues.

Debra Bourque, a national vice president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, will discuss the lack of consensus on the Left in Canadian politics and the need for discussion about the alternatives. She says the NDP is not serving the needs of organized labour and workers in general and suggests labour unions at all levels should re-examine their role in building a strong social movement.

Wynne Hartviksen, an organizer for the union of needle trade workers, and a former member of the Ontario Federation of Labour youth committee, will moderate the discussion.

WHAT:
Working Class Politics, Labour and the NDP
Panel discussion organized by the Centre for Research on Work and Society

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 23, 2000
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE:
Moot Court, room 101
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Keele Campus, 4700 Keele St.

-30-

For further information, please contact:

Carla Lipsig-MummÈ
Director, CRWS
York University
(416) 736-5612
carlalm@yorku.ca

Joyce Nobel
Organizer, CRWS
York University
(416) 736-5612

Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
sbigelow@yorku.ca
YU/016/00