CPSMayDayStatement2013

Also:StatementofCommunistPartyofCanadaandtheWorld FederationofTradeUnions
DonCurrie,EditorFocusOnSocialism,ChairCPS
April30,2013

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

CanadiansforPeace&Socialism CPSMayDayStatement
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

Box168SlocanBCV0G2C0 Canada 12503552669

BelowaretheMayDaystatementsoftheCommunistPartyofCanada(CPC)andtheWorldFederationofTradeUnions (WFTU).Thesestatementspromoteaclassstrugglelinefororganizedlabortoconfrontandthrowbacktheattemptof financecapitaltomakeallworkers,organizedandunorganizedtemporaryallwagessubstandardandallworking conditionsofallworkingpeopleeverywhere,regardlessoftheiroriginorhomeland,19thcentury. TodayCanadianworkerscanbefoundlabouringinmanycountriesandonallcontinents.Andworkersfromall continentslabourinCanada. ThereisonlyoneworkingclassandasMarxasserted,ithasnohomelandbecausetheentireinternationalworkingclass, organizedandunorganizedwhereveritfindsitselfwithinthesystemofglobalcapitalism,isexploitedbystatemonop0ly capitalism.Thatistheclassbasisforinternationalism. Themovementofworkersallovertheworldseekingworkisagrowingphenomenon.Thephenomenon,loosely definedbybourgeoiseconomistsaslabourmobility,isanobjectivestatemonopolycapitalist(imperialist)economic processassociatedwiththeextremeinternationalizationoffinancecapitalinthe21stcenturywhichinitspracticeofwar andexploitationruinsentireeconomiescreatingmassesofunemployedstatelessanddesperateworkersseekinga marketfortheirlabourpower. Whetherfinancecapitalplansitornotisimmaterial.Intheinterestsofmaximizingprofitcapitaliststakeadvantageof workersthrownoutofworkandcompelledtoseekalivingwherethereiswork. Statemonopolycapitalistgovernments,suchastheConservativegovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarper,enact laws,alternativelycriminalizingworkersorturningablindeyetoemployersthatmercilesslyexploitdefencelessworkers

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 thatarriveinourcountry.TheConservativegovernmentseekstoattempttoregulatethemovementoflabourinthe interestsofemployersbutdoesnothingtoprotecttheworkersoncetheyarehere. NotsatisfiedwithmakinghighprofitsoutoflowwagetemporarylabourinCanada,bankers,industrialistsandinvestors exploitlowwagelabourinothercountries. ThetragedythatunfoldedinBangladeshistraceabletoeveryG7capitalincludingthePMOinOttawaandtotheoffice ofeveryCanadianbankandcorporationthatdoesbusinessinlowwagejurisdictions.TheBangladeshtragedyisalso traceabletotheacademicsandthinktanksinourcountryfundedbythesesamebanksandcorporationswhoarepaid welltospintheoriesaboutthesuperiorityoftheglobalmarketeconomyanditsbenefitsforinvestors. WhetherinCanadaorBangladesh,workersarecompelledtoselltheirlabourpowertolive.Wagelabour,whetherhigh paidorlowpaidcreatesvalueintheproductionprocesswhichtheprivateownersofthemeansofproduction appropriate.Whenlabourislowpaidwithoutbenefitsunderslavelikeconditionsitmakessuperprofitsforprivate investors. Academicswouldsoongettoknowwhatunemploymentis,iftheyweretohavethecouragetotracehowmany mutualfunds,stocksandinvestorgroupsfatteneveryyearoutoftragediessuchasoccurredlastweek. Capitalismhasnoconscience,nomoralcodenoredeemingprettyface. Thecapitalistrequireshumanlabourtoprofiteer.Itispurchasedinthemarketplaceforascheaplyasitcanbehad. Capitalismasasystemceasestobetheprofitsystemwithoutexploitablelabour.Thereisnosuchthingasafairwage. Wagesinitselfisasymptomofagrosslyunfairsystem. Thecapitalistbuyslabourpowernotlabouringeneral,andbuysinthemarketplaceasanyothercommodityforusein production.Thecapitalistbuyslabourpowerforadefinednumberofhoursaday.Partofthedayworkersreceive wages,justenoughsotheycanworkagain.Therestofthedaytheyworkfornothingforthepurchaseroftheirlabour powerandintheprocessofproductioncreatesurplusvalueduringtheperiodofunpaidlabourthatthebosses appropriateandrealizeasprofitthroughthesaleofcommoditiesinthemarket. Surplusvaluebecomesrealizedinthemarketasprofitpartofwhichthecapitalistandtheirhangerson,usetolive lavishly,idlyandparasiticallyandanotherpartbecomescapitalthatisreinvestedtoensurecontinuousproduction.
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 Capital,createdbyunpaidlabourtime,isusedbytheprivateownersofthemeansofproductiontobuildfactories,pay forwearandtearonmachines,purchaserawmaterialsallofwhichiscontinuouslyconsumedintheproductionprocess. Nonewvalueiscreatedwithoutlabour. Workersundercapitalismcreateallofthewealth,allofthewages,allofthecapital,allofthestateandgovernmental revenues.Everythingthatissociallyusefulandnecessaryisattributabletolabourandunpaidlabourtime.Finance capital,themergerofbankandindustrialcapital,isthebeneficiaryofcapitalistproductionsolelybecauseoftheprivate ownershipofthemeansofproductionandthewealthitproduces. Theeconomywouldcontinuetoexistwithoutcapitalists.Whereandwhenitdoes,iscalledsocialism. Capitalistsdoeverythingintheirpowertopreventtheriseofsocialismandtostampitoutwhereitemergesforone overridingreason,theyceasetobeaclassofcapitalistsanddisappearfromhistorywhenthey,theexpropriatorsare expropriated. TheNDPerasingthewordsocialismfromthepreambleofitsconstitutiondidnothingtoeraseitfromhistory. Thesetruthsarewhatthecapitalistclassanditsapologistsseektoobscure.Themainwaytheydoitisthroughthe ideologicalpropagandafogoftheideologyofclasslessnessendlesslypromotedbythemassmedia. Unabletohomogenizesocietyintoaclasslessequalopportunitymyththepropagandistsofcapitalismnowattemptto homogenizesocietyintoonemiddleclass. TheworkingclassisnotthemiddleclassastheLiberalstheNDPandevensomelabourleadersassert. Themiddleclassstandsbetweentheworkingclassandthecapitalistclass.Itisanhistoricallyevolvedclassoftenboth ownerandproducer,sometimesprofessionallytrainedtoservethesystem,sometimesincludingworkerswhohave acquiredpropertyandcanlivemoreoninvestmentthanwagelabour.Themiddleclassisoftenruinedbystate monopolycapital,isheavilytaxedandoftendrivendownintotheranksoflabour.Thereitbecomesonceagainwage labour. CapitalisminitsmonopolystageastheCommunistManifestopredicted165yearsagohasbecomepolarized:

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 Ourepoch,theepochofthebourgeoisie,possesses,howeverthisdistinctivefeature.Ithassimplifiedtheclass antagonisms.Societyasawholeismoreandmoresplittingupintotwogreathostilecamps,intotwogreatclasses directlyfacingeachotherbourgeoisieandproletariat. ChapterOneMarxandEngelsCommunistManifesto.

Themodernworkingclassseekstounitewithallantimonopolymiddleclassforces,touniteallpeoplewhoare exploitedbymonopolyandinthefirstplacefarmerswhoworktheland,theselfemployed,smallbusinesses, intellectualsandprofessionalswhocontributetosociety. Canadianworkers,menwomenandyouthfromallprovincesandregions,handinhandwithworkerswhohavecome toCanadainsearchofabetterlife,justasourforbearsdid,areresistingtheattemptsoffinancecapitaltorobthemof theirdreamsofhappinessandwellbeing. Today,intheHouseofCommons,theConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarper,actingforasmall eliteofwealthyCanadianandforeigninvestorsoutlineditslatestantipeopleprogramofausterity,mass unemployment,cutstosocialprograms,soastocontinuetospendwithoutlimitonIMFbankinschemesand readinesstoparticipateinthenextUSNATOwar. TheConservativeGovernment,upholdingtheparasitismandidlenessoftherichcolludeswiththelikesofUSSteelthat haslockedoutathousandHamiltonOntarioCanadiansteelworkersandplanstotransfertheirjobstotheUSA. http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/28/hamiltonnanticokelockout.html AtthesametimetheConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterStephenHarperhasrestrictedunemployment insurancebenefitsnowavailabletoonly40%ofunemployedworkerswiththeaimofforcingoutofworkCanadiansto acceptjobsthatpay15to30%lessoftheirpreviouswage.http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news room/statements/clcsupportingprotestsagainstharmfuleichangesausterity TheConservativeGovernmentofPrimeMinisterHarperactsforwealthandprivilegeagainsttheworkingclassandthe urbanandruralmiddleclasses.ThePrimeMinisterdoessoonbehalfofthesystemhesofaithfullyserves,state monopolycapitalismimperialism. TheanswertothePrimeMinisterandthefinancecapitalistinterestsherepresentsisoutlinedinthestatementsbelow.

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 OnthisMayDay,asinalloftheMayDayspastandintheMayDaystocomeworkerswillcontinuetoraisethebannerof classdefiance,forapeacefulandrationalandjustdevelopmentoftheeconomyforall,forgenuineandlastingpeace,for friendshipandsolidaritywithworkerseverywhere,irrespectiveofnational,racialorigin,genderorreligiousconviction whowantandstruggleforthesamegoalsanewsystemwithouthumanexploitation. Unitedwewillwin! DonCurrie,Chair,CPS EditorFocusonSocialism

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LABOURANDPEOPLESUNITYCANDEFEATAUSTERITY MayDay2013messagefromtheCommunistPartyofCanada
OnMayDay,theInternationalWorkersDay,theCommunistPartyofCanadaextendswarmest solidaritytoallthoseinstruggleagainstcapitalistausterityandwar. ThesystemiccrisisofcapitalisminCanadaandinternationallycontinuestodeepen,reflectedin everwideningsocialdisparity,intensifiedeconomicandsocialattacksagainstthepeople,fresh assaultsonlabouranddemocraticrights,thefurtherdegradationofthenationalandglobal environment,andincreasingmilitarism,aggressionandwar. Theausteritypoliciespursuedbyrulingcirclesintheleadingimperialiststates,includingCanada,to resuscitateeconomicactivityandprofitsonthebacksoftheworkingclassandworkingpeoplein general,havefailedmiserably.TheeconomiesoftheU.S.,EuropeandJapanthetripodepicentre ofthisglobalcrisisremainstagnantorindecline.Thecrisisandtheintense,allsidedoffensive launchedbytherulingclassareexactingaheavyeconomic,social,culturalphysical,psychological andenvironmentalcostonallhumanity. Themaintargetofthisantisocialoffensiveofcapitalistheworkingclass,especiallyitsorganised section,thetradeunionmovement.Itisalsofallsheavilyonwomen,youthandstudents,indigenous peoples,immigrantsandmigrants,pensionersandtheelderly,peasantsandsmallfarmers,the extremepoorandmarginalizedsectionsofthepeople,andonallthosereliantonthesocial functionsandservicesofcapitaliststatesbenefitswonthroughmanydecadesofhardstruggle. Thiscapitalistoffensiveiscreatinganatmosphereofinsecurityanddesperationamongwide sectionsoftheworkingclassandthepeople,butitisalsogivingrisetoincreasedresistance.Labour andmassdemocraticstrugglesacrossEuropehavebeenmarkedbycountlessgeneralstrikes,mass demonstrationsandfactoryoccupations.MillionshavecomeoutintothestreetsofGreece,Spain, Portugal,France,Britain,Italy,Cyprusandelsewheretodemandjobs,decentwagesandpensions,to defendlabourrights,toinsistontherestorationofhealth,educationandotherpublicservices,and

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 todenouncetheausteritypoliciesdictatedbytheEUatthebehestofEuropeanbankersand monopolists. ThecounteroffensiveoflabourandpeoplesmovementsisalsogrowingacrossCanada.Thehistoric Qubecstudentstrikeandsocialstrugglewhichtookplacein2012,andtheCanadawideIdleNo MoreprotestsofAboriginalpeoplesandtheirsupportersareparticularlysignificant.Theseand manyothermobilizationsindefenceoflabour,socialandequalityrights,andtheenvironment,signal aqualitativechangeinthemoodoftheworkingclassanditsalliestofightbackagainsttheausterity agendaofcapitalanditsgovernments. Today,theissueofworkingclassunityhasbecomecritical,asthebigcorporationsattempttopit sectionsofworkersagainsteachother.Evenastherulingclassremovesanybarrierstothemobility ofcapitalandinvestments,newobstaclesareerectedagainstthelegalrightsofworkerstomove acrossbordersinsearchofbetteremploymentopportunities.Instead,theHarperConservatives havedramaticallyboostedtheTemporaryForeignWorkersProgram,aimingtoprovidecheaplabour foremployers,andkeepoverallwagelevelslow.Atthesametime,rightwingforcesfantheflames ofracism,blamingmigrantsforhighunemploymentanddeclininglivingstandards.Theenemyof Canadianworkersisnotoursistersandbrothersfromothercountries,butrathertheantiworker policiesofthefederalgovernmentandthebigcorporations.MayDay2013shouldseeapowerful rejectionofthisracistdivideandrulecapitaliststrategy,andacallforunityofallworkersemployed andunemployed,organizedandunorganized,AboriginalandnonAboriginal,youngandold,ofall gendersandnationalorigins,includingmigrantworkers. Theshifttotheuseoftemporary,nonunionizedworkers,paidminimalwagesandbenefits,ispartof awiderreactionaryagendawhichtheHarpergovernment,anditsprocorporatecounterpartsatthe provincialandmunicipallevels,arecarryingthroughonbehalfoffinancecapital.Theirgoalisto acceleratetheaccumulationofcapitalthrougheveryconceivablemeans(privatization,state restructuring,corporatetaxcuts,etc.),andtoweakenandsuppressworkingclassandpopular resistance.

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 Lestweforget,thefirsttargetofthenewHarpermajorityafterthe2011electionwasorganized labour(CUPW,theAirCanadaandCPRailworkers,etc.). Harperswaronlabourinthefederaljurisdictiongaveagreenlighttorightwingprovincialand municipalgovernmentstodemandthatworkersyieldconcessionsorfacethelegislativehammer, suchasOntariosattackonthebargainingrightsofteachers.Since1982,federalandprovincial governmentsinCanadahavepassed199piecesoflegislationtorestrict,suspendordenycollective bargainingrights.Whatisqualitativelynewisthespeed,ferocityandpunitivenatureofthese legislativeattacks. Atitscore,thisoffensiveaimsatcripplingandultimatelydestroyingtheorganizedlabour movement.ThefederalpassageofC377,requiringunionstodisclosesalaries,timespentonpolitical activitiesandexpenses,wasonlythebeginning.TherearenowominoussignalsthattheHarper Conservativesarepreparingtoimposerighttoworklegislationonallworkersunderfederal jurisdiction. Fromtheperspectiveoftherulingclass,theweakeningofthetradeunionmovementisthekeyto reducingthecostoflabourpower,andnotonlyamongorganizedworkers.Theyknowthatsuch reductionswillputtremendousdownwardpressureonthewagesandincomesofallworkers,most ofwhomhavenounionprotection.Financecapitalrealizesthatthelabourmovementbecauseof itssize,resourcesandabilitytotakejobactionistheonlysocial/classforcecapableofunitingbroad sectionsofthepeopleagainstitsoffensive. Thestruggleagainstrampagingmilitarism,aggressionandwarmustalsobeacentralfocusofthe labourandpeoplesfightback.AsthisMayDayapproaches,threatsoffreshimperialistaggression againstSyria,IranandtheDPRKareescalating.Wearecalledupontoopposethisgrowingwar danger,todefendthenationalsovereigntyofallcountries,andtocondemnthedriveto militarization,alongwiththechauvinist,antiterrorrhetoricusedtojustifyit.ThisMayDay,we expressunwaveringsolidaritywithsocialistCuba,theBolivarianRevolutioninVenezuelaandwithall progressiveandantiimperialistforcesandmovementsaroundtheworld!

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 Thelabourmovementisthekeytobuildingbroadstrugglesfortherightsofallworkers,forjobsand improvedlivingstandards,indefenceofsocialservicesandprograms,forgenderequality,forjustice forAboriginalpeoples,foryoungpeoplesrighttoaneducationandafuture,forgenuine environmentalprotection,andforaforeignpolicybasedonpeaceanddisarmament. Buttheoverallstateoflaboursfightbackhassofarbeeninsufficient.Morethanfiveyearsintothe currentcrisis,theCLCunderKenGeorgetti(andtheleadersofsomeimportantunions)haveyetto drawtheentirelabourmovementanditssocialpartnerstogetherintoabroadlabourcommunity commonfrontagainstausterity.Instead,theCLCisfocussingonorganizingpoliticalaction conferencestolineuplabourparticipationintheNDPselectoralmachineforthe2015general election. TheCommunistPartyurgestheCLCanditskeynationalaffiliatestoactnowtobuildthe extraparliamentaryfightbackbyconveninganemergencylabour&peoplessummit,bringing togethertheentiretradeunionmovement(includingthenonaffiliatedlabourcentralsinQubec) anditssocialpartnersAboriginalpeoples,women,youth&students,peace,environmentaland LGBTQactivists,seniorsandothermassdemocraticmovements. Recentexperiencesshowthatitisquitepossibletobuildastrongerlabourresistanceagainstthe corporateoffensive,andtowinbroadsupportfromcommunityallies.Despitetheadverse conditionsandsubjectiveweaknesses,manylabourandpopularmovementsarebecomingever morevibrantandmilitant.Newforcesarecomingintothefightback.Militanttacticsand coalitionbuildingcanmovelabourfromadefensiveposturetowardsafightingstrategyof mobilizingtheentireworkingclassanditsalliestoblocktherightwingagendaandtomoveontothe counteroffensive. WhilesituationselsewherecannotbemechanicallyreplicatedinCanada,militant,classstruggletrade unionismseeninGreeceandothercountriesshouldinspireunionactivistshere.ACanadawide commonfrontagainstthecorporate/governmentattackinturncanwinwidersupportforthegoal ofalabourledPeoplesCoalitiontounitebroadsectionsofthepeoplesmovements,notarounda nostalgicreturntoarosyKeynesianpast,butratheraroundaplatformofradicalprogressive

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 demands,andforafundamentalchallengetotheeconomicandpoliticalhegemonyoffinance capital,bothdomesticandinternational. AswesalutethestrugglesofworkersinallcountriesonMayDay2013,theCommunistPartyof Canadaisconfidentthelabourandpeoplesunitycandefeatausterityandwar! ContacttheCommunistPartyofCanada 290ADanforthAve.Toronto,OntarioM4K1N6 Phone4164692446,Emailinfo@cpcpcc.ca

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MayDayStatementofWorldFederationofTradeUnions2013

TheWorldFederationofTradeUnionsappealstoallthetradeunionorganizationsintheworldto organizeontheoccasionofMayDay2013ralliesandactivitiesinallcountries,inallcontinents, honoringtheInternationalWorkersDayandthemartyrsoftheworkingclass.TheWFTUproposes, basedonitsresolutionatitsPresidentialCouncilMeetingonMarch78,2013inLimaPeru,theslogan: CHICAGOSHOWEDUSTHEWAYtobeusednexttotherespectiveslogansofeachunion organization.

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 Theinternationaltradeunionmovementbearsgreatresponsibilitytoprotectanddefendthe InternationalWorkersDayfromtheeffortsofcapitalistgovernments,employers,variousinstitutions andnongovernmentalorganizationstovanquishthisdayorcompletelyalteritsmeaning. TheMayDayisfortheinternationalworkingclassaSYMBOLoftheirreplaceablerolethatthe workersholdinthesocietyandtheproduction,oftheimportantandthevictoriousachievementsof theclassstruggleshistorically,ofthefactthatalltherightsarethefruitofbloodystruggles.Nothing washandedovertotheworkingpeople. TheMayDayisaDAYOFMEMORYANDTRIBUTEtothemartyrsoftheworkingclasswhosacrificed themselvesinthecrucialanddecisivestrikesoftheAmericanworkersinChicago(1886)demanding 8hoursofwork,8hoursofrecreation,8hoursofrest,aswellasthestrugglesfortheworkinghours inmanycountriesallovertheworldbeforeandaftertheChicagostrikes,throughoutthehistoryof theclassstruggleuntiltoday.Wepaytributetothemartyrsoftheworkingclasswhowerekilled, tortured,imprisonedandwereforciblydisappearedbytheantipopularandantilaborgovernments ofthecapitalinallcontinents. TheMayDayisaLESSONFORTHENEWGENERATIONSthatincludestheprinciplesoftheworking classsuchastheproletarianinternationalism,theclassunity,theirreplaceablevalueofthedecisive struggleswithclassorientation. Mostofall,theMayDayisaDAYOFSTRUGGLEwheretheInternationalWorkingClassmeetsinthe streetsofthefightforthecontemporarylabourandsocialrights.Fortherighttolessworkinghours withdignifiedsalarieswhichwasrealisticinthe1880sandcannotbeunrealisticinthetechnological progressofthe21stcentury! Nowadays,whilecapitalismbeinginitsdeepcrisisexposesinallthespectrumitsbarbaric,brutaland ruthlessfaceconfiscatinganyounceofrightfromtheworkingclassandthepopularstrata; Nowadaysthatthecompetitionofthemonopoliescreatesmorebattlefieldsandnewimperialist interventions;Nowadaysthatthestateviolence,repressionofsocialandlabourstrugglesandthe violationofthetradeunionfreedomescalateinternationallyletsmove:

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 ChicagoshowedthewayNOtothecontemporarycapitalistslavery Wefightforaworldwithoutexploitationofmenbymen OnMayDay,theWFTUexpressesitsinternationalistsolidaritywiththepeopleofCuba,Palestine, Syria,Lebanon,Mali,Colombia,Venezuelaetc.

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