SPC Newsletter 1st Oct 2016

March 2024 Forums World Socialist Movement SPC Newsletter 1st Oct 2016

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #84914

    The Socialist Party of Canada

     

    Secretary's Report for October 2016

     

    Email Report

     

    – WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 167, September 2016, received with thanks.

    Members wishing to read these minutes please contact the secretary at our spc@iname.com

    account.

    – WSP (India) 1000 copies of History of Economic published. 50.00 Rupees/CD$1-1.50.

    Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more

    information to purchase.

     

    Good of the Movement

    – Toronto members attended Toronto's book fair, “Word on the Street,” in late September. This was a successful tabling highlighting our party's case, and I post our Toronto Branch Secretary's report and photographs:

    Yesterday Steve and I were at the Word-on-the-Street until 5 PM. We distributed all the back issues of the IMAGINE (2011, 2012,2013, 2014, and 2015) alongside the COMMON OWNERSHIP leaflets and a number of flyers that we had. Also we distributed some of the Socialist Standard issues. Our sales amount to 10 dollars.

    A journalism student interviewed myself and Steve for one of his projects.

    We had mostly pleasant conversations with many visitors to our booth. I am under the impression that a number of them would like to see us more active in the political scene.

    – Autumn socialist discussion meetings (Toronto) – see Toronto Branch Facebook for details

    https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/

    – Social media ad hoc committee Google hangout conference call held September 11. Technical problems with Google blocked two of seven members being able to participate, and we are seeking a new platform to remedy.

    Under discussion: new SPC Facebook, gmail, Google hangouts, Tweet, YouTube, and transitioning of Imagine from paper to digital format. Imagine's new format and distribution was central topic, other social media topics to be taken up in greater depth at a future meeting – tentative dates Oct/Nov 2016. Members wishing to add their names and suggestions to this new ad hoc committee please let us know at spc@iname.com so we can add you to the list.

    – Two Introductory packages sent out; a request from Germany for Imagine back issues – several sent via Toronto.

    Call for submissions, Imagine Autumn issue: seven draft articles received. Members please forward your drafts & ideas to our email: spc@iname.com

    New Toronto Branch email (June 2016): "Socialist Party of Canada Toronto Branch" <spctorontobranch@gmail.com>

    Spring issue of Imagine available http://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/

    – Socialist education site for redistribution & hyperlinking, S. Shenfield (WSPUS) – http://www.whatissocialism.net/

    Finances

    – No September expenses.

     

    Outstanding Constitutional matter: Headquarter location and General Administrative Committee-elect (GAC) election(s). An all members-driven conference call could facilitate this and future elections. Our Constitution reads: That every two years, in even numbered years, headquarter's location and General Administrative

    Committee-elect be determined by Party Conference or general vote of the membership, as per Rule 17 (a), (b),(c), (d).

    Please forward your views on nominations and changes to spc@iname.com so we can collate and republish them to our entire membership.

    Note: Our Constitution calls for elections in first half of December, GAC terms beginning the first of Januaryfollowing — about three months from this newsletter.

     

    Food For Thought

     

    On August 11, Macy's said it would close 100 stores next year and boost its online investments as it tries tobecome more competitive. This will mean unemployment for 14 per cent of their present staff. In the past year and a half sales have been down as Macy's battled competition on various fronts. People are spending more on home improvements, travel and spas. When they buy clothes they are going to T .J. Maxx or fast fashion chains, such as H & M.

    It's probable that years ago, many of Macy's workers thought they had job security as many certainly did in Eaton's and Simpson's in Canada.

    Under capitalism, there is no security.

     

    On August 10th, the Toronto Daily Star reminded readers that it was the eight "Anniversary" of the

    explosion at the Sunshine Propane plant at Wilson and Keele – a blast that was heard ten kilometers away. 12,000 residents had to flee in what was described as a 'chaotic evacuation'. Over one hundred fire fighters battled the blaze. A fire fighter and a plant manager were killed. Dozens were injured and many houses were ruined. Investigators found Sunshine used to swap propane loads from truck-to-truck, instead of emptying it into a buried storage tank, then, having a second truck load up. This saved the company several minutes a load, and, in business, time equals money and to hell with the potential for danger.

    The company and its two directors were convicted of nine charges relating to Environmental Damage and also, for not following Provincial Safety Orders. Six thousand residents near the plant won a $23 million lawsuit to compensate for their losses.

    What was never said, was, that the plant, where there was an ever-present potential for danger, was in a working class neighbourhood. Can you imagine a propane plant next door to Buckingham Palace or the White House?

     

    A recent study of self-service checkout technology in the U.S., Canada and some European countries, concluded that it turns law-abiding citizens into petty thieves by giving them "ready made excuses" to take merchandise without paying for it.

    The use of self-service lanes and smart-phone apps caused a loss of 4%, more than double the average, given that the profit margin among European grocers is 3%, the technology is a non-profit venture.

    What the report failed to mention is the money the companies save by not paying wages to the workers that the technology has made redundant.

    One million shopping trips were audited, amounting to six million items checked. 850,000 were found not to have been scanned.

    Proving intent and deciding whether to press charges can be a legal and Customer Relations minefield, the report noted.

    Shoppers claimed the technology was faulty, there were problems with the bar codes, or they didn't know how to use the check out facilities. The behaviour is termed "neutralizing your guilt", but, there's one thing that ain't neutral buddy – the law itself. It is the capitalists' law that exists to protect their interests, which includes keeping the wealth they've stolen from the working class who created it. As for workers, supposedly stealing in check-out lanes – we socialists hope you get away with it.

     

    A survey conducted by Ontario's Ministry of Labour, reported that victims of wage theft in Ontario have "lost out" on $28 million over the last six years. Just $19 million from the $47 million stolen from out-of-pocket workers has been recovered. Yet, only 0.2% of the guilty bosses were prosecuted – "Our study showed that the Employment Standards Acts Enforcement is still largely compliant-driven, but, that many employees face barriers, like, fear of retaliation – (Ya think?) that inhibits them from making complaints", said Leah Vosko, one of the lead researchers.

    According to Ms. Vosko, "….even when violations are validated by the Ministry, penalties are rarely imposed on employers and the Dispute Resolution System provides opportunities for employers to avoid paying employees all that they are owed."

    Forty-eight percent of complaints the Ministry receive are about unpaid wages, yet, only a mere 8.6 of the complainants are still in their jobs. 85% of the claims investigated were shown to be valid. Small businesses were found more likely to be in violation than big ones. Some 80% from employees at small firms were validated, these being mostly with five or fewer employees. The validations were 50% with companies with more than 200 employees.

    About half of the complaints are for $1,000 or more, a huge loss to a worker. Since 2012 the Ministry has prosecuted successfully just forty-one of the law-breaking bosses.

    It's understandable the bosses of small businesses are the main offenders, considering a small business is closer to the edge economically. Bankruptcy, even when avoided, is always a Damocles Sword for small capitalists, which makes them more intensive in their exploitation of their workers than big ones.

    Nor, is this an attempt to defend them, but to understand the economic forces at work. It's easy enough to call all of the violators dishonest jerks, but the plain brutal fact is, present-day economic conditions cause dishonesty and, as is obvious from the above, no tinkering around with complaints and prosecutions will do much good. Better an economic system where there is no need for dishonesty.

     

    On August 5th, Statistics Canada released its monthly unemployment report which won't cause anyone to say "Let's party.'

    Ontario lost 36,000 jobs in July over all of Canada. 71,000 full-time jobs were lost. The unemployment figure rose 0.1% point, to 6.9%. It was the fourth straight month of more jobs lost than gained.

    Young workers with obviously most of their working lives ahead of them, were the hardest hit. There was a reduction of 28,000 jobs in Canada during July for the 24 year old age group. All of these were part-time jobs. The youth unemployment rate stands at 13.3%, nearly twice the national average. There were 66,000 fewer jobs for that age group this July than last year. A decrease of 2.7%.

    Public sector jobs fell by 42,000, which is similar to last year, but, as always, the apologists for capitalism, or, to call a spade a spade, 'sooth-sayers' won't give up. An economist at CIBC said, "Federal fiscal stimulus and the regular see-saw in the L.F.S.'s data, would suggest that this particular category is headed for a rebound ahead."

    They can say what they want, but, things ain't getting better.

     

    ARC Productions, a movie and TV animation company, abruptly closed its doors on August 1, locking out its 500 employees, who became unemployed and the company won't have to repay a $23 million dollar government grant it got through a splashy photo taken with Elton John in 2009.

    ARC, which was one of the largest animation studios, cited a "cash crunch", that caused its principal lender to seek a court-appointed receiver to take possession. The staff is owed their wages under the 2009 agreement, and was to create 200 jobs over five years.

    The loan was part of a business assistance funding program that began in 2004. Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk, flagged $1.45 billion, with 80% awarded in a secret process, by invitation, only to certain companies. This raises questions about why they were chosen.

    Opinions were sharply divided at Queen's Park, resulting in a couple of gems. P.C, M.P.P. Monte McNaughton, said the company's failure is why he's been pressing the government, for six months, to release a comprehensive list of their handouts to corporations, and details on how many jobs were created. To quote: "The government needs to come clean, so, all taxpayers (meaning capitalists) can see whether they're getting value for money." He also called it 'crony capitalism' (is there another kind?), with no transparent guidelines, targets, or measurement of results."

    Of course, Economic Development Minister, Brad Duguid, was swift to defend the government with this goodie

    – "You cant hold a company responsible to operate forever because they're operating in the real world." One wonders what Brad-baby would call the real world. The Business Assistance Fund is just another reform and in the real world, reforms have been shown to have little temporary and no permanent value. The only difference is, the one Mr. Duguid is defending, has no temporary value either, as the unemployment figures clearly attest.

     

    Falling gas prices are prompting Americans to rekindle their love for bigger cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. This is bad news for the makers of hybrids and electric cars. Seventy-five percent who traded in a hybrid or electric car, so far this year, have replaced them with all gas cars, (according to a survey released by the New York Times, August 19/2016.) This is an 18% increase on the figures from 2015 figures and the year's not over. President Obama's aim was that one million electric cars would be sold in 2015, but, in the last nearly two years, it is 442,000. Furthermore, 16.2% of U.S. greenhouse emissions come from SUVs and pickups.

    Primarily, it's the working class who are buying the cars that pollute, which proves the problem of too much greenhouse emissions can't be solved within capitalism.

    Better wake up folks, before it's too late!

     

    The Toronto Community Housing Corporation (T.C.H.) faces a $98 million hole in the budget. The recent council-approved budget requires all agencies and departments to find 2.6 percent in savings. This will definitely impact on the quality of life of the T.C.H.'s tenants. Much of the revenue for T.C.H. comes from rents, most of which are geared to the tenants' incomes. $200, million is provided in city subsidies annually, which covers just less than a third of the budget.

    As tenants' incomes and revenues don't increase by leaps and bounds, it's not easy to operate the T.C.H., since operating expenses have increased by leaps and bounds. The cost for hydro within the T.C.H.'s 2,100 buildings has increased 43% since 2012, water costs are up 39%.

    The 2.6% reduction on the subsidies is about $5 million in additional pressure, that, with the $96 million existing gap, will certainly mean homes will be boarded up this year and next. The City Council is short $1.7 billion which was expected from the Provincial and Federal Governments and has yet to materialize.

    Lack of funding will necessarily cause lack of repairs. One of the worst hit is the Grassway Community at Jane and Firgrove. According to the Vice President of Management at Grassway, Sheila Penny…."People will soon be living in the air. They'll be living in nature". Crumbling brick exteriors, deterioration caused by water damage, has left 22 units uninhabitable. Backyards have been quarantined because of construction fencing being strewn with danger signs. To put it bluntly, lack of money means homelessness, or living in a dump.

    This has nothing to do with the Toronto City Council and its appointed administrators being incompetent, corrupt or indifferent. Some might be, that wouldn't be a moot point. Capitalism is a market economy, meaning goods have to be sold for a profit in the market. From profits come taxes, some of which pay for the administration of daily life in our cities. If the market goes down, as they all do, given the boom/ slump nature of capitalism, then obviously the taxes will not be forthcoming, the present situation in Detroit being a perfect (if one can use the word) example.

    Politicians may do what little they can, but they cannot come up with an answer, because, within capitalism there isn't one.

     

    Would matters concerning Britain's beloved Queen Victoria, come under the heading of current affairs? Well, maybe- sorta – kinda, considering the old broad was in the news indirectly, a little way back when the present parasite in Vicky's old job had been counting the loot she's stolen from the working class longer than Vicky-baby.

    According to James Bradley in his well-researched book, "The Imperial Cruise" (Little, Brown, 2009),"Victoria ordered the British government to: enforce the illegal drug, Opium, on the Chinese". This resulted in the two 'Opium Wars', from 1839 to 1842 and, 1856 to 1860. "Opium production and smuggling not only paid for imports from China that England could not afford in silver, but the drug trade also provided the easy money that sustained her empire." The British Empire grew fat on Chinese Silver drained from the formerly richest country in the world.

    The sums were so enormous that Queen Victoria stands as history's largest drug dealer."

    The point, dear friends, in case you're wondering, is the capitalist class, through their organs of propaganda, try to make you think Vicky and her like, are very worthy people and they're right in one respect – they are worth looking down on.

     

    The Toronto Metro News of August 17th, contained this delightful goodie, "Canada's top cops want to change the law to force people to surrender the passwords to their electronic devices – if a judge agrees."

    R.C.M.P. Assistant Commissioner, Joe Oliver, said; "Baddies, from child-molesters to mobsters, are using encryption to mask their nefarious activities." It's that anonymity that allows them to operate.

    The article concluded with the news that the Feds. are looking into it.

    Mr. Oliver's comments shouldn't fool anyone. His talk of baddies is to make such an invasion of privacy acceptable to everyone, which Bush did after 9/11.

    Let's ignore such talk about it being in the interest of the public, when it's really in the interest of the capitalist class in their attempts to keep the working class under greater surveillance.

     

    Most of us have enjoyed watching the Rio Olympics and there is much to praise in its planning and the performances over all of the competitors. However, Grinch that I am, there were some things that weren't so wonderful.

    British athletes confirmed what they had shown in 2012, that they are a power to be reckoned with in world sports. This is a far cry from their performances years ago. In 1952 they won one gold medal, and, since it was equestrian, they needed a horse to win it.

    The explanation I was given for their present success, is that, in the 1980s, the government decided to spend a lot more on sport, so, like everything else under capitalism, it all relates to money.

    Another negative comment is that one could hardly fail to notice the sometimes, disgraceful behaviour of the Brazilian fans. They jeered the French pole-vaulter because he was a threat to the Brazilian who won. They taunted Russian swimmers. They booed a ball boy for dropping a tennis ball. They booed a German player when he twisted his ankle in a tennis match, also against a Brazilian.

    In the air pistol finals, they tried to disrupt the concentration of non-Brazilian shooters as they pulled the trigger.

    At show jumping, a bellowing Ring Master had the crowd jeering, to startle the horse when an Argentinian rider approached a fence. When the Brazilian team won the men's beach volleyball, their excitement could be best described as "hysterically happy."

    Brazil is undergoing economic, hence, political crises, which, plus the fact that the majority of the population lives in abject poverty, causes them to seek an outlet by venting their feelings in sport. This is little different from British soccer fans from slum neighbourhoods, building their lives around the success of their local team.

    The above and the nationalistic feeling it engenders, only accentuates the happiness, or sadness, the fans feel depending on the result.

    Socialists do not condone such behaviour, but understand the economic pressures that cause it.

     

    The $70 million spent by Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne to set up the Ontario Pension Plan has caused a bit of a stink. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is upset because the set-up cost was higher than expected. The group which represents 42,000 small businesses said it was a payroll tax, meaning they would have to pay it, and that Wynne should wait a year to see if the Federal Government increases the C.P.P. Boy ain't these guys all heart?

    The plan is now being shut down, following a deal in June between the Provinces and the new Federal Government to improve the C.P.P.

    The P.C.'s were upset because the plan included $12.1 million for a 5 year lease of two furnished floors of an office building, $17.6 million for consultants, and $3.5 million in legal fees.

    Finance Minister, Charles Sousa, defended the planned O.R.R.P. on the grounds that two-thirds of Ontario workers, who don't have company pensions, will need more than C.P.P. at retirement.

    So, there you have it, folks, a crowd of various politicians and businessmen who are upholders of Capitalism, squabbling about the implementation of another reform.

    So why not scrap reforms, including pension plans, and while we're about it, why not scrap Capitalism?

     

    For the last three years, Ontario's Legal Aid Staff Lawyers, have been attempting to unionize, claiming it would help them negotiate fair working conditions to better serve their clients.

    Legal Aid Ontario (L.A.O.), a provincial Government agency, has refused to recognize their union and now, employer and employee, are locked in a legal battle that could turn out to be lengthy and expensive.

    The lawyers, many of whom work out of courthouses, often representing people who can't afford counsel, have launched a constitutional challenge with L.A.O.'s refusal to bargain with their chosen representative, The Society of Energy Professionals.

    The case is set to be heard in Superior Court on December 5th.

    Obviously, this is just another worker-boss dispute, but it clearly shows that professional people are workers too, which includes dentists, accountants and doctors, including, those who are self-employed.

    If there can be any doubt, all they would have to do would be to quit work and see how quickly they would need money.

    Some may consider the above as middle-class, but it doesn't exist chum, you're either a worker or a capitalist.

     

    Karl's (& William's) Quotes

     

    As Socialists, we state firmly, in a Socialist Society money will not exist because the very conditions for its existence will have been abolished.

    Marx, with a little help from 'The Bard', had something to say about it.

    Shakespeare attributes to money two qualities:

    1) "It is the visible deity, the transformation of all human and natural qualities into their opposite, the universal confusion and inversion of things; it brings incompatibilities into fraternity."

    2) " It is the universal whore, the universal pander between men and nations."

     

    "The power to confuse and invert all human and natural qualities, to bring about fraternization of incompatibles, the divine power of money, resides in its essence as the alienated species – life of men. It is the alienated power of humanity."

     

    "What I as a man am unable to do, what therefore all my individual faculties are unable to do, is made possible for me by means of money therefore turns each of these faculties into something which in itself it is not, into its opposite."

     

    Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts – 1844

     

    Just think of the anti-social behaviour of many caused by the need for money and then think, what a terrific burden would be lifted from people, individually and collectively if it wasn't needed – a society based on "From each according to his ability to each according to his need."

    For socialism, Steve and John.

Viewing 1 post (of 1 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.