Challenges Ahead - "The Opportunity We Face"
We know all too well the tremendous challenges that our union, our communities and our country face today. With the state of our economy, trade policies, government inaction, corporate greed and the right wing agenda - we face tremendous and unprecedented times ahead.
One can argue that this is nothing new. There is no doubt that some of what we are seeing and experiencing are new challenges, but throughout our history we have faced enormous challenges and suffering. Through economic and financial crisis, wars, natural disasters, droughts and famines, working people have bore the brunt of the pain and suffering - but regardless have come out of these challenges more determined and stronger than ever.
One cannot underestimate the human will and determination. When people have hope, when people are given an opportunity, when people think they can make a difference they will seize upon that opportunity and they can and will make a difference. If a single individual like Barack Obama can inspire a nation and the world to have hope, then collectively we can do as much if not more.
As we face the changes and challenges that are sure to come in the days ahead, we need to be even more dedicated and committed. We have to continue to fight for our members and our communities, but we also need to ensure that working people everywhere have the same protections and ability that only comes with the introduction of a strong, progressive and democratic union like the CAW. Just imagine what those without a union are going through today.
Unless we increase our density and organize at levels greater than we have, our ability to make and influence changes and to fight back diminishes. If our ability diminishes then fewer working people, as well as our own members, will see the light. Our workplaces suffer and in turn our communities follow suit and our struggle for economic and social justice is pushed back even further.
There has much been written and debated about organizing and it is time to get serious. Action needs to replace words, ownership needs to replace blame and finger pointing and hope needs to replace despair. Now is the time to make a difference. We need to seriously engage each other in our future organizing plans and goals and develop a renewed commitment and a new approach to organizing.
The one big advantage we have and in part the frustration that some feel is we know that working people want unions. Poll after poll has shown that if given a choice, workers would rather have a union job than a non union job. Our statistics show that even in the face of some of the most regressive legislation and employer opposition we still succeed more times than we fail. And yet 70% of workers remain unorganized. Why is that?
In part, it is because a large number of non-union workers simply haven't been asked to join a union. Many are fearful because unfortunately many still think that joining a union is an illegal activity and that some harm will come upon them. Yes, through education and information we can overcome that fear as we have thousands of times, but we need to be in a position to do that even more. It is a simple equation: the more workers we speak to the more workers that join our union.
All of us have to re-examine the role we play in organizing. The old adage of "everyone plays a role" is true. In our day to day activities, we come across more non-union workers than unionized workers. We probably know more non-union workers than unionized workers. We need to engage them, challenge them and speak to them about the benefits of the union. When we do that we all win.
If you know of anyone or a workplace that can benefit by joining our union, please contact us and we will be sure to follow up.
In solidarity
John Aman
Director of Organizing
Toll free: 1-877-495-6551
organize@caw.ca