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Pauline Rourke is president of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, representing more than 500,000 trade union members across Scotland. With over 20 years’ experience as a trade union representative in the telecoms industry, she has successfully defended workers, won legal battles and fought to improve workers conditions and pay. A passionate champion of equal rights in the workplace and society, she was awarded the STUC Meritorious Award in recognition of outstanding work in the trade union movement in 2015.
By Pauline Rourke
Throughout the generations, Scotland and Canada have a shared history that entwines our two nations. Politically, socially and culturally, there’s a deep bond between our two countries.
One unfortunate comparison between our regions is the creeping influence of the privatization of our public services. I’m all too aware and, sadly, familiar with the issues currently facing Newfoundland and Labrador in terms of those who advocate this approach; those who believe free-market economics and private interests can deliver better for working people. This is a fallacy, as there can be no public good derived from those who pursue profit over people. There can be little benefit to working people and to our communities from those who believe market forces are the answer to injustice and social inequality.
In Scotland, we’ve faced a succession of Conservative U.K. governments hell-bent on dismantling of our public services. Unsurprisingly, that same Conservative government places some of the most restrictive anti-trade union legislation throughout Europe on our movement, undercutting our resistance to any move that strips our public assets.
Undeterred, my union — the Communications Workers Union — an affiliate member of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), is leading the fight to ensure that public services remain in public hands. Despite mobilizing and resisting as far as possible, this came all too late for one of our most long-serving services: the Royal Mail.
In private hands for the first time in its 500-year history, our postal service is now in disarray. With industrial action ensuing, and cut upon cut to local services, what was once the crown jewel of public provision has been stripped and sold for parts.
There can be little benefit to working people and to our communities from those who believe market forces are the answer to injustice and social inequality.
Let me be clear: a publicly owned postal service is far more than just a public asset. It’s the basis of community. It’s knowing that your local post office worker, established within the region, was delivering for the public good as a result of their labour. This applies to all areas of public service and dedication.
The example of Royal Mail should serve as a forewarning to those who wish to follow suit; private industry is not the answer to public service. It should also serve as notice, that when faced with cut after cut to their working conditions, strong unionized workers will collectivize. They will rise to the challenge.
These workers are the lifeblood of our movement. It was these key workers who sacrificed so much during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who toiled and worked at the height of a lethal virus to ensure that our communities kept functioning.
As we now exit the pandemic, we must not lose sight of them. We have the opportunity to build anew; to fundamentally reshape our economy, not with a “Big Reset” but with a “People’s Recovery.” It is simply not good enough to rely on the old ways, on the models that blame inequality on individualism and not on the unequal structures that ingrain poverty and deprivation. We must develop an economic model that puts workers’ interests and the advancement of workplace rights at the heart of any post-pandemic recovery.
These are the themes that unite our movement, from Scotland to Canada and beyond. That when working people are united in solidarity, we’re an unstoppable force for good in our societies.
