October-November 2011

Features

12

THANK YOU, SISTER JANE

By A. Member

A local union has no magic wand to solve problems, but it does have a few decent and tireless activists like Jane.
17

58 HOURS: FILIBUSTERING FOR OUR FUTURE

By Mylene Freeman and Charmaine Borg

Here are the voices of two young MPs who proudly took part in the NDP’s 58-hour filibuster in June to delay the passing of back-to-work legislation aimed at locked-out postal workers.
22

CLASS ACTS

By Melissa Keith

Singer-songwriters David Francey and James Keelaghan, both legendary on the Canadian folk scene, are two of the most humble and talented people I’ve ever interviewed. Says Francey of his music: “It’s just the side of me that I can’t express with a hammer and nails.”
30

COVER STORY: MY JOURNEY TO ACTING AND ACTIVISM

By Eli Goree

As a young kid it was so exciting to be on TV and have all your friends and family congratulating you. Then I grew up.
37

THE SPIRIT OF OUR MOVEMENT

Powerful images by photographer John Maclennan, celebrating Toronto labour activism, are complemented by a moving personal essay by community and labour activist Winnie Ng. An excerpt from a special book just published by the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

5

NOTES

Somalia Famine Relief * Corporate Childcare * Cost of Poverty Report * The Voice of Teachers * NB Labour Youth Camp * Mexican Solidarity * Nycole Turmel on Facebook
8

WEBWORK: FACEBOOK NEEDS A NEW BUTTON

By Derek Blackadder

Facebook needs to add an “I think this is important” button as an alternative to “like” so people can respond to issues better. No one “likes” news about a bad employer.
11

OUR TIMES TALLY

By Sean Cain

Number of Canadian newspapers that officially endorsed the Conservative Party during the 2011 federal election: 28
15

POETRY

By Ronna Bloom
46

REVIEW: LIVE WORKING OR DIE FIGHTING

Review by Derek Blackadder

This history book isn’t concerned with production figures, but real people through the ages trying to figure things out and exert some control over their lives.
48

COMMENTARY: THE WORK-LIFE GENERATION GAPS

By Stephen Elliott-Buckley

Currently, there are workers born in five different decades trying to exist side by side in Canadian workplaces, each with different typical work-life styles.