A new role for organized labour?

June 10 2002 - Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, told thousands of union delegates at the opening of the CLC's 23rd Convention that organized labour can become a powerful political force to defend people from corporate greed and capitalist excess.

He pointed out that the structure of the CLC was designed before colour television and called for the organization of the labour movement to be modernized so that it can exercise the muscle that should come from a membership of 2.5 million people.

"To be successfull, to give workers the unions and the Canadian Labour Congress they deserve, it is up to us as a labour movement to change our thinking, our culture, our approach... because if we build on and respect our past and meet the challenges of today, there's no stopping us in the future."

Georgetti has been leading the country's largest labour organization for three years. He says he has learned that Canada's political leadership - at federal, provincial and local levels - will only listen to working people if they speak with a united voice, from a position of strength, and apply constant pressure.

On the other hand today's politicians are far too willing to listen to greedy CEOs who, according to Georgetti, do not deserve the attention given the standard they set.

"Even though the TSE 100-Index lost 16% last year, the top 100 Chief Executive Officers in Canada took home a 54% raise. Name me one ordinary worker in this entire country who earned a 54% increase in less than the last 20 years combined."

Georgetti attacked the political agenda of 'these greedy corporate leaders' which he considered was destroying the lives of workers around the world as well as corroding basic standards of decency in Canada. He cited the openly pro-business government of British Columbia who shut down the provincial human rights commission, repealed laws restricting child labour, and passed legislation eliminating overtime and bringing back the 12-hour working day.

"Canada's success is too important to leave it all up to government and business, workers have to be involved too... and people desperately want us to fight back against the right wing and defend their standard of living and the quality of life they have built together in communities right across this country."