Notes from a Byzantine-Rite Calvinist

A union making a difference

Labour Day is an appropriate time to honour Canada's fastest growing union, the Christian Labour Association of Canada, with which I have had numerous personal and professional connections over the years. Founded in 1952, the CLAC differs from the secular trade unions in that it rejects an adversarial approach in favour of reconciliation. Despite the hostility of these other unions, it has been an effective force for justice in the workplace for more than half a century. Furthermore, it is also the largest employer of Redeemer University College's political science graduates. May God continue to bless the CLAC as it seeks to honour him in the field of labour relations.

Labels: CLAC, labour

Kudos to Bosveld

One of our alumni, Mr. Ed Bosveld, has been appointed to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). Bosveld graduated from Redeemer in 1992 with a degree in political science. Here is his bio from the federal government's Canada News Centre:

Enthusiastic congratulations are due to my friend and protégé for this great honour. May God bless him as he serves in this important position.

Labels: Canada, CLAC

Rome and the CLAC

It seems that the Vatican is onside of efforts at universalizing labour standards to secure economic justice: Workers' Rights Need Protecting, Says Holy See. Perhaps now is the time for the Christian Labour Association of Canada to introduce itself and its work to Pope Benedict XVI. Imagine how the "union with a difference" might fare with such high-profile support.

Labels: Catholicism, CLAC, labour

My day with the CLAC

Is it possible to fall in love with a trade union? Yes, especially if people you love are working there. On friday I was privileged to spend part of the day at the new national headquarters of the Christian Labour Association of Canada, where a number of my protégés are employed. I was given a warm welcome and pizza was ordered in for the occasion. Ed Bosveld, the Ontario provincial director, presented me with the t-shirt and cap shown below. I am already making plans to have lunch there again in a few months — minus the fanfare.

Labels: CLAC

CLAC celebration

Last evening the Christian Labour Association of Canada held an open house to mark the dedication of its new building at 2335 Argentia Road in Mississauga. Nancy, Theresa and I were privileged to be among the guests at this event. Given that many of my own past students now work for this organization, I have a considerable stake in its important work in bringing justice and reconciliation to the workplace.

Here are some of the special moments recorded for posterity.


Dedicating the building


Provincial Director Ed Bosveld with son Caleb


Michael and Melissa Glockner, with daughter Natalie


Nancy with J.D. Alkema


Brian Harskamp and Brian Dijkema


Opening the Harry Antonides Library


Janet and Harry Antonides


Me (sans bowtie) with my beloved protégés


Koyzis' protégés in gesture of solidarity

Labels: CLAC

A semicentennial history

I was delighted to receive today a copy of the new book by Ed Grootenboer, In Pursuit of Justice: So Far, So Good, which is an account of "The first 50 years of the Christian Labour Association of Canada, 1952-2002." Thus far I've only paged through it, but it looks very much worth reading. As readers of this blog are undoubtedly aware, I have more than a passing interest in the CLAC, because quite a number of political science alumni from Redeemer have gone to work there over the years. In so far as they are dedicated to the cause of christian labour, this is their story too.

Labels: CLAC

CLAC colloquium

I was pleased to be present last evening at a roundtable discussion at the CLAC head offices in Mississauga with Bruce Clemenger, president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. For those interested in knowing more about what was said, I would recommend reading Gideon Strauss' account. Gideon was, of course, the convener. As I have written before, I have a special relationship with the CLAC -- which has yet to be formalized in an official title (perhaps "grandpa"?) -- because so many of my own protégés have gone on to work there.

Labels: CLAC

Wisdom from the CLAC (as usual)

Here is a follow-up to my entry of 23 April concerning the Cypriot bishops' presumption to be anathematizing supporters of the UN plan to unify the island. This is from Ed Bosveld, Ontario provincial director of the CLAC, in a letter published in the new issue of Christian Courier:

Labels: CLAC

Labour unions: pro and con

On thursday evening there was a debate in the rec centre at Redeemer on whether Christians ought to join labour unions. Arguing against were my esteemed colleague, John Boersema, and student Jarend Van Rooyen. Taking the favourable side were my equally esteemed colleague, Harry Van Dyke, and Brian Dijkema, who should be familiar to readers of this blog. Both sides ably defended their positions, but I thought Van Dyke and Dijkema (whose surnames, incidentally, both seem to refer to a certain Dutch geographical feature) carried the day.

Of course, I cannot exactly claim to be unbiased. I am a longtime supporter of the CLAC, my ties to which have been increasingly cemented by the fact that so many of my beloved protégés have gone to work for it over the years and that Gideon Strauss and I have become co-conspirators of sorts on more than one undertaking.

May God prosper the work of the CLAC and use it to advance his kingdom.

Labels: CLAC

The CLAC

Today was a CLAC sort of day. In the morning we had two representatives of the Christian Labour Association of Canada on campus to recruit students for a summer internship. Later in the day I hosted an ad hoc meeting with, among others, two representatives of the CLAC, Gideon Strauss and Ray Pennings, and the estimable James W. Skillen, of the Center for Public Justice.

I have been associated with the Center for Public Justice and its predecessor organizations for nearly three decades. I have a great deal of respect for its insight into the political realm, as manifested in the Public Justice Report, Capital Commentaries, &c. Skillen's presence with CPJ since 1981 has imbued it with a unique blend of the vision, good sense and wisdom found in the man himself.

The CLAC shares this vision, and I sense that the time might be right for some sort of co-operative venture between the two organizations, possibly even a high quality journal of opinion. While this is a rather large and expensive undertaking requiring outside funding, I was encouraged by this afternoon's conversation.

A print journal along the lines of First Things or Commentary may be some time off. In the meantime do read the new issue of Comment. And pray that God will use the CLAC and CPJ (and of course Redeemer University College) to advance his kingdom.

Labels: CLAC

The Christian Labour Association of Canada

Some of the finest people in the world work for the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), the "union with a difference." Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, it is recognized by the labour boards of five provinces and by the federal Canadian Labour Relations Board. Though it represents workers of all faiths, it is unabashedly grounded in christian principles.

The CLAC takes an approach based on the belief that the best workplace is one where co-operation rather than conflict is the norm. It was established half a century ago, as recounted in its website:

I suppose one could charge that I'm prejudiced in favour of the CLAC, because a number of my own protégés currently work there. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to name them all at the moment. But the number is such that, when I'm dead and gone, it may well be judged that my principal legacy will have been, not in politics or political science, but, albeit indirectly, in the field of labour relations.

The CLAC has some 25,000 members and is part of the Brussels-based World Confederation of Labour.

Labels: CLAC