Shifting Gears

The book Shifting Gears details the evolution of Canada's largest private-sector union's political strategy from activism to transactional partnerships.

The book Shifting Gears explores the significant transformation of Canada's largest private-sector union, focusing on its political strategy over the decades. Initially, in the aftermath of the Second World War, autoworkers were leaders in the labor movement, advocating for transformative activism that encouraged members to engage in street rallies and utilize the electoral process for the benefit of the working class. However, as time progressed, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union began shifting towards a more defensive political stance, which is meticulously traced in Shifting Gears.

Throughout the book, the authors, Stephanie Ross and Larry Savage, analyze how the CAW's approach evolved from class-based collective action to transactional partnerships. This change reflects a broader trend in labor politics, where the focus moved away from social democratic mobilization to a more pragmatic relationship between the union, employers, and government entities. The narrative delves into the implications of this shift, particularly how it affected the union's ability to advocate for workers' rights and interests in a changing political landscape.

The culmination of this transformation is highlighted by the merger of CAW with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union in 2013, resulting in the formation of Unifor. Shifting Gears offers readers a critical perspective on the current state of working-class politics, examining the reasons behind these strategic changes and their impact on the labor movement in Canada.