News

Preparing for the Fall-25 Years of the CAW-Labour Day-Defending the Right to Speak Out

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 05:09 — George Hewison

It's been a crazy summer, almost tropical hot and humid with rain squalls almost every day so far. Preparing for the Fall that starts by celebrating with the Canadian Autoworkers Union in Montreal the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Canadian union.

Will join the good folks at the Muskoka Labour Council to celebrate Labour Day at their annual picnic. The public is invited.

The following week, I will be in St. Catherines for a fund raiser for the defence fund for those wrongfully arrested.

May Day/Day of Mourning 2010 Behind Us; Touring Up Ahead

Sun, 05/02/2010 - 08:47 — George Hewison

For once, the sun shone on the Peterborough Day of Mourning ceremony and I didn't have to have to use Mayor Paul Ayotte this year as my roadie, holding an umbrella to keep my guitar dry. This year, we remembered the West Virginia miners (sang "Union Miner"), the immigrant workers who died in Toronto on Xmas Eve, and the 1000 workers who died on the job this past year ("We'll Not Forget").

The May Day Concert at the Tranzac Club was inspirational in so many ways. It was the first time the Rank n File had performed together since 1997. Kevin Wrycraft was outstanding as performer and emcee. His version of Bill Turner's "Estevan", accompanied by Turner, was the highlight of the evening for me. Close behind was the singing of Natasha Luckhardt and the emergence of percssionist Evan Cartwight, both in their early twenties, that gives this veteran a warm and fuzzy feeling for the future of labour music. All of the performers did an outstanding job, as did the singing audience. Still haven't listened to the recording to see if there is usable material for a CD. There are inherent contradictions between music at rallies and music at concerts.

Now it's on to the house concert circuit. Heading to London this Wednesday May 5th and the western trip (BC and Alberta) at the end of the month. In between, there is a trip to Collingwood for an engagement for OPSEU May 14 and a pre-Mariposa event at the Flying Cloud Folk Club on May 16. Always look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones at each of these events.

May Day Shapes Up

Wed, 03/31/2010 - 09:38 — George Hewison

Three years after my maternal grandfather was born, ten miners were executed by the state during a bitter miners dispute in the US. The "Molly McGuires" paid the ultimate price for promoting unionism. A few years later, during the Eight Hour Day Movement that led to an explosive increase in unionism, the employers again resorted to violence to crush a movement. After a violent police attack in which seven policemen and four workers were killed, four more leaders of the working class were hanged in Cook County Jail in Chicago.

That was the culminating incident that led AFL leader Sam Gompers to appeal to the Workers International to designate May 1 as International Workers Day/May Day. Since then millions of workers around the world have celebrated the advance of organized labour on this day.

Today, the Steelworkers Union is on the front line of organized workers fighting to defend hard won gains by Canadian labour, this time against a huge transnational corporation, Vale/Inco, that would return us back to much darker days. They would use every means at their disposal including compliant politicians and laws to destroy an important bastion of unionism, if not entire communities.

Myself and some other labour musicians are celebrating May Day by holding a concert at the Tranzac Club in Toronto on Thursday April 29th in solidarity with the Steelworkers fighting the good fight for all of us. We hope to raise money for the strikers, but just as important to spread the word even further that this is everybody's fight.

In all my touring this year, I intend to make the Steelworkers fight, my fight in whatever way I can, until they win a fair deal. I hope those of you in Toronto area will join us; or for those in other areas look for me on the road and stay tuned for tour dates.

Western Tour Dates Now Confirmed

Wed, 03/31/2010 - 09:18 — George Hewison

The dates for my Western Tour are now almost finalized, although I still have a couple of open dates.

The tour will feature both performing and workshops.

I arrive in Calgary May 31. I will have an event there on Tuesday, June 1. I have an event in Edmonton on Saturday June 5. I leave for BC on Monday, June 7 for dates in the Vancouver and Kamloops area through June 13. I then head for Vancouver Island finishing there at the Cumberland Miners Memorial Days June 18, 19. I then head back to Calgary for my flight back to Toronto.

Globalization and Culture-One Labour View

Mon, 02/15/2010 - 13:43 — George Hewison