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Hi-tech tactics during a strike at a dockside
factory in Montreal. A workplace cancer tragedy in
Sarnia, Ontario. Immigrant workers sticking with
their union at the chocolate factory. A struggle
for pay equity in the courts and on the streets. A
campaign to create jobs by cutting hours of work in
B.C. An organizing drive 350 kilometres out into
the frigid Atlantic. These are some of the
fascinating stories told by Jamie Swift in his
chronicle of the first ten eventful years of one of
the most dynamic labour unions in North America.
A
strength of the book is its national scope, and the
range of jobs portrayed, drawing on stories from
every region of the country.
"We
had a little war there," laughed Alain. "One of the
first internet strikes. We'd just entered a new
century and with it a new level of struggle using
new technology."
"Unions
are always accused of looking out for ourselves,"
said Mike. At 47, he was one of the youngest
pipefitters at the mill. "We're trying to reduce
the work week to keep people employed, and not just
our own members."
Jamie
Swift is the author of many books, including
Civil Society in Question (BTL, 1999), and a
regular contributor to CBC Radio's "Ideas" series.
He lives in Kingston.
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