Targeting of public services crucial issue for convergence
Late in November, a meeting took place at the head office of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) in Toronto. It included “key Ontario union leaders from both the public and private sectors,” according to OPSEU president Smokey Thomas, although there was no guest list provided. The topic of conversation was what was perceived as a public-service crisis.
A message of strong support for public services is not surprising coming from the leader of a public service union. Or from the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, who was formerly the leader of another public-service union. Maybe it’s not so surprising, either, from the leaders of other unions during a time when their members are being laid off and forced to rely on the social safety net.
What is different is the solidarity that the various unions are showing around an issue that is not obviously a private-sector issue.
In the past, the militancy shown by public-sector unions in Ontario has not been that great. Despite their numbers, efforts like the Days of Action under Mike Harris have relied more on private-sector than on public-sector unions (and on radical community groups) for punch. And, even among the private-sector unions, there was a broad range of commitment.
In the current economic and fiscal climate, it is likely that most governments, regardless of party, will be looking long and hard at program and service cuts. It must also be remembered that this issue, before the budget season arrives, is more a fear than a reality. (But not an unreasonable fear.) The range and volume of these cuts, if and when they come, may create the issue on which unions can converge.
Two trends suggest this. The first is the blurring of lines between traditionally public and traditionally private unions, especially through the growth in the broader public sector and in newly privatized services. They form a new field of competition for unions, but also give them common interests. The second is the lessening of political tensions between unions (over NDP support, for example) and the increase in friendly acts of solidarity (strike fund donations, for example) as they recognize common interests.
