Unifor can't crack Honda and Toyota, and failed to fight for autoworkers against Bill 148 paid sick day exclusions. A huge error. Meanwhile, the Unifor strategy with the Big 3 remains concessions for investment. And turns its back to @GreenJobsOshawa. https://technocodex.com/honda-toyota-on-pace-to-out-produce-detroit-3-in-canada-for-first-time/

The paid sick days fiasco is part of bigger failure: union organizers & resources were pulled from Honda & Toyota during Bill 148 introduction and channelled into raid and split of Unite Here Local 75 (Toronto hotel workers) - which came 1 year after absurd failed raid on ATU 113

As Bill 148 became law in Jan 2018 and Unifor's raiding plot with UH75 splitters unfolded, Unifor announced departure from Cdn Labour Congress to evade more raiding rules, and the (very reluctant) sanctioning of Unifor for the ATU 113 (TTC workers) raid.

Both raids were wrapped in the Canadian flag as a principled defence of independent trade unionism against American-dominated international unions. When 113 was appropriately trusteed because its prez has plotted with Unifor in the raid, Dias pointed fingers at bad intl union.

With UH75 raid, a broader base of local leaders, activists & members broke away some hotels to new Unifor 7575. They pointed to greasy trusteeship of UH75. In my view, the splitters never gave a compelling reason for pursuing a disastrous split vs a tactical retreat and rebuild.

The appeal to nationalism by has real pull inside Unifor. The 2 unions that formed it, CAW (autoworkers +mfg) and CEP (telecom, mills, mines, oil + gas), are rooted mainly in Cdn breaks from CIO international unions in the 70s, 80s. The CAW break is immortalized in Final Offer.

That pull is large enough to sustain a base of local activists and bureaucrats up and down the ranks who will throw themselves into battle for the union - but at the direction of the existing leadership who makes such appeals.

This plays out in many ways. This machine is used by the leadership to control and enforce the union leadership's dictates, and squeeze out dissent. However, it is also a force large enough to provide muscle for mass actions.

In fact, Unifor's use of direct action is a key to maintaining the leadership's base. There's a question about how effectively it's used, but there are numerous recent examples: Goderich salt mine strike, Regine refinery lockout, DJ Composites lockout, and Nfld grocery strike.

Militancy, like nationalism, also has deep roots in the CEP and CAW which make up Unifor. Dias taps into these traditions (and myths). But at the end of the day, they don't mask over the record of catastrophic raids, endless concessions in auto, and a right-wing electoral bent.

The union members have tremendous potential power in Canadian society. Density in so many strategic sectors, including rail and air, is astounding. But a new strategy and direction has to be fought for, including a plan to dictate the terms of the inevitable green transition.