(The following article is from the November 16-30, 2008, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

People's Voice Editorial, Nov. 16-30, 2008

The initial responses of the labour movement to the deepening economic and financial crisis are to be welcomed. In recent weeks, the Canadian Labour Congress has forcefully condemned the "age of deregulated neo-liberal global capitalism," and called for measures to discourage financial speculation, restrict capital flight, increase government revenues, create jobs, and invest in social programs.

     Heading into the BC Federation of Labour convention this month, the Vancouver and District Labour Council called for more education of workers and the public on the crisis, and to "fight any attempt to put the burden of this crisis onto workers' shoulders."

     A combination of these and other approaches is urgently necessary to raise the struggle for more advanced reforms: a shorter work week, public ownership of the banks and the energy sector, withdrawal from NAFTA, a $15 minimum wage, an end to Canada's part in the dirty imperialist war in Afghanistan.

     Just as important, the labour movement must swing into action. We urge the CLC to take the lead in convening an emergency peoples' conference, bringing together Aboriginal peoples, women, students, seniors, immigrants, social justice movements and all other democratic forces to debate our united response to the crisis and to fight the Harper government's neo-con agenda. Such a powerful gathering would have the political and organizational strength to mobilize millions for people's needs, against corporate greed. As the old advertising jingle asked: why wait for spring? Do it now!