Crown corp. strike significant, but not radical: prof

As an estimated 2,000 striking Crown corporation workers and supporters marched through Regina’s downtown Friday, some compared the event to the Winnipeg General Strike.

University of Regina faculty of business associate professor Andrew Stevens said this is likely the largest Crown corporation strike Saskatchewan has ever seen. Stevens researches labour studies and industrial relations. He holds an academic position sponsored by Unifor, which he says guarantees his academic independence.

“The fact that all of them are on strike at once under one union banner is of great historical significance simply because it hasn’t happened that much or perhaps at all,” he said. “It is a reflection of the kind of labour militancy we’ve seen in Saskatchewan’s history.”

The economic weight the Crown corporations combined hold also makes this strike situation unique, said Stevens.

Initially, all seven Crowns were on strike at once. Six are currently on strike after the Water Security Agency reached an agreement Thursday.

Despite its significance, Stevens does not think this will become Saskatchewan’s version of the Winnipeg General Strike, noting that what often pushes a strike into historical significance is not only its scale, but also some radical ideology behind it that gives it energy and momentum.

“This is about delayed wage increases. As important as it is, it’s not a revolutionary moment,” he said. “People want just a fair share of what they see as a growing pot, so it’s wonderful that in the centenary of the Winnipeg General Strike we’re thinking about it, (but) I don’t imagine it’s going to go down that road.”

Stevens said the “real test” will be if the public turnout will translate into pressure on the government.

“Is it swaying the public enough to engage in social media with the government, to write letters, to demand some level of economic justice and parity when they’re going to bargaining? So it has to translate into something,” he said.

Ultimately, Stevens said the strike’s historical importance will be determined by its outcome. If the strike is successful in getting workers what they want and this strike sparks others with its momentum across the province, then it might hold lasting significance.

“We’re going to look at it differently if we see a series of other strikes or forms of militancy erupting. This might be the start of something or it could just simply be a blip.”

This is about delayed wage increases. As important as it is, it’s not a revolutionary moment.