Class issues/labour and the climate movement

Definitions

Class

Classism

Economic imperialism (see imperialism)

Middle class (see class)

Neoliberal policy (see neoliberalism)

Oppression

Poverty

Precariousness

Privilege

Worker struggles

The ideas and knowledge shared on this page come from a discussion between these panelists moderated by Jacob Pirro, member of the HUB team.

Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood (he/him) is a Senior Fellow at THE Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), a non-partisan, non-profit public policy think tank. Her work examines the social and economic dimensions of Canada's transition to a zero-carbon economy, including the need for a just transition for working people and vulnerable communities across the country. He contributes to CCPA's Trade and Investment Research Project and 'Alternative Federal Budget. Hadrian holds a master's degree in political economy from Carleton University.

Cynthia Calderon Gambini (he, iel), originally from the Quechua people of Ayacucho in Peru, is a worker at the Logements de l'Envol and a psychosocial worker at the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal. He co-founded the Multicultural and Against Exclusion Committee ofMulticultural and Against Exclusion Committee of Cégep Marie-Victorinand continues to be involved in his community, notably through the creation of an Aboriginal space. Within his commitment, he has campaigned for several social causes including climate justice, migration justice, the rights of parents who are students, indigenous struggles as well as the rights of queer people.

Jérémie Lamarche (he/him) is a community organizer at RAPSIM, the Support Network for Single and Homeless People in Montreal. The Network defends the rights of people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and brings together 104 community organizations dealing with issues of social housing, day and evening centres, street resources, food aid and than socio-professional integration. During his studies in social work, Jérémie campaigned with the movement for climate justice as well as for the salary of internships.

Suzanne MacNeil (she/her) is a long-time labor activist based in Kjipuktuk, Unceded Mi'kmaq Territory, also known as Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is currently advocating with Justice for Workers Nova Scotia for a $20 minimum wage and labor standards reforms. Suzanne has held a number of leadership positions, including past chair of the Cape Breton and Halifax-Dartmouth District Labor Councils and as a union training facilitator.

Defining class and the distinction between classes

When asked about definitions related to class:

• Panelists sense that there is a widespread belief in so-called Canada that we are a classless or largely middle-class society.
• The working class is diversified... We wonder if the middle class exists: who can survive and flourish without selling their labor power in exchange for a salary?
• Social class cannot be reduced to the proletariat/bourgeoisie binary. Homeless people exist, do not sell their labor and are not privileged people.

The intersection between class and climate

Impact vs. responsibility	The climate crisis has a very significant impact on low-income people, marginalized people and indigenous people, although these are the least responsible for the climate crisis.
Temporality	The climate crisis is often experienced less immediately than other daily challenges, particularly among people in precarious situations. They must struggle on a daily basis to meet their basic needs (food security, housing, etc.). The pandemic has exacerbated these vulnerabilities. It is increasingly difficult to live in dignity and flourish in society.
Forced migration	Extreme weather events as well as massive resource extraction are increasing the migration of [more precarious] people seeking to survive.
Origins	Both the climate crisis and the economic classes are rooted in the same systems of oppression and exploitation (colonialism, imperialism and capitalism).
Impact	Both influence people's lives and the availability of resources.
Security	Wealthier people are the most sheltered from climatic events. They have access to air conditioning, the ability to move, access to resources.
Between countries	Economic disparities exist between countries; some are better off by their domination over others. This means that there are disparities in the capacities of countries to prioritize the climate crisis and to respond to it by building the right infrastructure and building the resilience of communities.
Precariousness in climate action	Many people working in non-governmental organizations and climate researchers do not receive a living wage.

Our main goal should not be to unite the working class and the environmentalists, but above all to show the links between the two realities.