(The following article is from the January 16-31, 2010 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St., Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

By Liz Rowley

Delegates to the 10th Biennial Convention of the recent Ontario Federation of Labour made themselves heard loud and clear: the new OFL leadership has to lead an all-in fight against the corporate/government assault that is driving down wages and living standards, eliminating jobs, and devastating the province. The 25-plus pages in the Action Plan were little more than a recitation of OFL policy, combined with calls to more vigorously lobby, consult, and study the issues. Delegates were united in their estimate that much more would be needed to win the battles at hand and those ahead.

     An ETFO (Elementary Teachers) delegate put it best. It was too late in the Convention to do much with the Plan, she said, other than impress the new leadership with the need for immediate and broad-based action to counter the corporate attack.

     "They're here, and if they don't do it we'll slap them," she said to enthusiastic applause. "And it won't be a friendly slap". Her comments situated this Action Plan, prepared personally by outgoing President Wayne Samuelson, on the periphery where it belonged. The issue was not about how much lobbying to do, but how to fight and win.

     Regrettably, the stacked agenda left delegates little opportunity to debate that issue. The first three days of the Nov. 23-27 Convention were devoted almost exclusively to a change of leadership, after twelve years of an administration dominated by right-wing business unionism.

     Though he was forced to give tacit support to mass action in order to secure the handful of votes with which he won election in 1997, Samuelson's administration killed the Ontario Days of Action shortly afterwards. A candidate of the USWA, Samuelson was also closely identified with the NDP. He was OFL President while the CAW was outside the CLC, and (it is now clear) was an obstacle to bringing the CAW back into the OFL and reuniting the labour movement in Ontario.

     After years of inaction, in the face of an economic hurricane, this convention was all about changing that direction.

     On the second day, delegates heard from an uninvited guest: Ken Lewenza. The CAW president told delegates that while his union and the OFL had been separated for a number of years, it was a separation not a divorce, and the CAW was coming back in a transition to be worked out with the new leadership. Adding that the CAW also had its "boneheads", Lewenza received several ovations when he spoke about the unprecedented attack by corporations and their governments. He stressed the need to close ranks and develop the kind of fight led by labour and its allies that would mobilize workers, women, youth, communities, all those under attack, to defeat the corporate assault. This ringing call to action resonated with delegates, who clearly supported the plan to reunite the labour movement in Ontario and to mount a colossal fightback.

     The next day, CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan was acclaimed the new President of the OFL, to the relief of many public sector and progressive delegates, who had feared that the right-wing would nominate a candidate from the floor. The right-wing, in and out of the labour movement, has viciously attacked Ryan for his support of the Palestinian cause and sanctions against Israel following the Israeli attack on Gaza.

     In exchange for not opposing Ryan, the right-wing expects to be able to clip the new President's wings, as well as seeing its candidate Marie Kelly (USWA) acclaimed as Secretary Treasurer.

     But Ryan's speeches to the Convention were not low-key. His call to action following the acclamation gave hope to delegates who have been waiting a long time for an OFL leader who's ready to lead a fight.

     Ryan and others elected to the OFL leadership (including Action Caucus member Stephen Seaborn, the new VP for Pride and Solidarity) will need to harness the energy and push of the left and centre forces in the OFL and its affiliates. Otherwise, the Convention's clear directive for mass united action could be swept under the table, and its new leadership cut off at the knees.

     Further, the sooner the CAW is back in the fold, the better. United, the OFL can mobilize a fight. Divided, the working class is in even deeper trouble.

     The Action Caucus, which played an important role on the floor of the convention, can play a big role in the days ahead by remaining active and involved in mobilizing union members to press for implementation of the Convention directives.

     As 2010 begins, working people have something to work for and work with in Ontario. This convention didn't end the struggle, it started it. Now relief will have to turn to action to deliver the goods.

     (Liz Rowley is the Communist Party's Ontario leader.)