On March 2nd and 3rd, 2002, the Canadian Labour Congress, with assistance from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, sponsored and organized a two-day seminar on the relationship between the labour movement and parties of the left in Canada and other countries. The seminar brought together a distinguished international group of panelists - union leaders and academics - from Canada, Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. Their own stories and experiences, which they shared generously with conference participants, offer a rich vein of insight, instructive both by what they had in common and by what was unique. They also provide lessons that are relevant to the relationship of labour and social democracy in Canada. This book brings together the presentations made at the seminar.