Thread by @Lanampayne

As a lifelong trade unionist who has spent a lot of time on picketlines and at protests, it's not lost on any of us how the police have been used to suppress democratic trade union rights and bust strikes /1 #cdnpoli #canlab

Indeed, often police forces are used to enable the transport of scabs across picket lines. In other words they act as a agent to help capitalism suppress working people's legitimate charter right to a union and all that this should entail /2

There are too many examples to cite. Pick a picketline. The Fleck strike of 1978 - a strike of mostly women working in horrific conditions. These women were courageous and their cause just.
riseupfeministarchive.ca/activism/issue… /3

The lock-out of refinery workers two years ago in Regina that lead to the arrest of over 20 trade unionists and where the police played a significant role in aiding the boss. A horrible act of suppression of workers' rights. /4

And this from my sister in Newfoundland who stood strong with grocery workers fighting for a living wage as the police busted their line under the cover of darkness

https://twitter.com/SharonWalshNL/status/1488180565023068174?s=20&t=6K94ro6qni4OvubNB4iaGA

They too were and are a courageous group of workers /5

Too many picketlines to count. Too many court injunctions to count. Enough to fill a large library. Think back to the Winnipeg General Strike. And even before. This has been happening a long, long time. The police has been used to suppress worker actions against their bosses. /6

This brings me to the convoy. And this notion of freedom and the role the police have or haven't played.

And what's clear, as others have also said: there are two sets of rules. And it's never been more obvious as the scenes across Ottawa play out across our screens. /7

No group of protesters have been given so much "freedom." Freedom from consequences. Freedom to harass others. Freedom to make racial slurs. Freedom to block emergency vehicles. Freedom to intimidate. Freedom to fly flags of hate. Freedom to do whatever they want. /8

And the police?

Well it's clear they sure are not treating this like they would a picketline.

Photo-ops and all.

#canlab