Mr. Hargrove throws a tantrum

The Canadian Auto Workers may have just pulled off organized labour's second stupidest stunt in recent memory. The first, of course, was opposing the Rae government in Ontario in the 1993 election, thereby helping to open the door for Mike Harris and his Conservatives who, just as one might have expected, proceeded not only to dismantle the progressive labour legislation brought in by the NDP but also to launch the harshest attack on social programs in the province's history.

Now the CAW National Executive Board has adopted a resolution that calls for, "CAW local leadership, staff, CAW members, as well as CAW local unions affiliated to the NDP, to withdraw all support and affiliations from the NDP federally and in all provinces and territories." Apparently the Board is in a snit over Buzz Hargrove's suspension from the Ontario wing of the party for advocating strategically voting for Liberal candidates during the federal election. Do these guys realize what they are doing?

Consider a province like Saskatchewan. Do they believe if the NDP government is defeated by the Saskatchewan Party, a Reform-style conservative party, this will be a good thing for labour legislation and social justice? Will it be a good thing for labour legislation and social justice if the NDP are defeated by the Conservatives in Manitoba? Will the NDP not do more for organized labour and social justice in B.C. if they win the next election?

That the Ontario NDP suspended Hargrove is not surprising. When you are a member of one party and you advocate voting for another, you can hardly expect less. But even if it was an overreaction, it is less than brilliant to overreact in turn with action that undermines your own best interests and goals. The CAW claims to be progressive, yet it acts to undermine the political party that has done more for social progress in this country than any other.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.