EXPERT PANEL TO REVIEW WORKPLACE SAFETY The Toronto & York Region Labour Council is welcoming today's announcement of an Expert Advisory Panel to conduct a comprehensive review of the province's occupational health and safety prevention and enforcement system. After the tragic loss of four construction workers on Christmas Eve, the Labour Council had called for a public inquiry into the deaths, and the relationship between the underground economy and workplace safety. The Panel headed by well-respected former Deputy Minister of LabourTony Dean is to report by the Fall of 2010 on:

Continuum of safety practices in a workplace and entry-level safety training

Impact of the underground economy on health and safety practices

How existing legislation serves worker safety

"This is an important step being taken in the aftermath of the Christmas Eve tragedy", said John Cartwright, Labour Council President. "We hope it will come forward with strong recommendations on curtailing precarious work in Ontario and ensuring all workers are able to exercise their right to refuse unsafe working conditions".

OFL PRESIDENT SID RYAN asks why Ontario ignores criminal dimension of workplace safety. For his Toronto Star Op-Ed click here OFL President asks why

CONSTRUCTION TRAGEDY On Christmas Eve four immigrant construction workers were killed and another crippled when the swing stage they were working on broke in two and they plunged 13 storeys. This is the worst construction accident in Toronto since Hogg's Hollow fifty years ago http://torontohistory.org/Pages_GHI/Hoggs_Hollow_Tragedy.html. The workers from eastern Europe - Alexander Bondorov, Aleksey Blumberg, Fayzull Fazilov, Vladimir Korostin, and survivor Dilshod Mamurov - were deemed to be "subcontractors" by their employer Metron Construction. None were tied off to lifelines as required by law. In fact, there had been a Ministry of Labour stop work order on the site for weeks due to the unsafe swing stage setup. It is clearly an example of new immigrants being put in harm's way by a non-union company that was cutting corners and breaking the rules.

To read Labour Council statement on this tragedy click here Christmas Eve Tragedy

A donation to assist the victims and their families can be made to PBCTC Kipling Ave Tragedy Fund, Provincial Building Trades Council, 35 International Boulevard, Etobicoke, ON, M9W 6H3

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NO TIME FOR A FIRE SALE OF PUBLIC ASSETS The Toronto Star published an Op-Ed by Labour Council President John Cartwright as part of its series on Toronto's Budget Crunch. He pushes back on the chorus from Bay Street demanding the sell-off of key public assets such as Toronto Hydro and Enwave. To read the article click here No time for a fire sale of public assets

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"DEFICIT WARS AHEAD" The logical consequences of the global financial meltdown of 2008 will be the deficit wars of 2010. Ontario projects a $25 billion shortfall, the federal government twice that amount, and municipalities everywhere are faced with the dilemma that they are forbidden to run a deficit. The budget crisis will be played out according to a well-known script – sell off public assets, reduce public services, and attack the rights and living standards of public sector workers.
Naomi Klein's important book Shock Doctrine details how global capital seizes on any national crisis to further its agenda of privatization, driving down wages, and reducing labour rights. The expansion of Milton Freidman's Chicago School doctrine wasn't limited to neo-cons like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher – it has been actively encouraged by corporate leaders and accepted by politicians from across the political spectrum who come to believe that there is no alternative. But there are alternatives.
To read more go here Deficit Wars Ahead, for the flyer version click here Deficit Wars Ahead flyer

CUPE is airing TV ads that promote the value of public services. Using the theme of "a good deal for all Canadians," the ads are a reminder that public services are the bedrock of our communities and our country. You can watch them on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/cupescfp#p/c/EFF9415AB6A2A4A0

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WORKING FOR SECURE RETIREMENT One of the most significant social programs for Canadian workers is the Canadian retirement system. Yet, to this day, too many Canadians still have little or no access to a secure retirement. As a country, as a society we owe all workers access to retirement based on dignity and security. For Labour Council statement on pensions and retirement security, click here working to secure retirement. To find out more about the national pension campaign go to www.canadianlabour.ca

RETIREES FORUM
Fixing our Pension Crisis - Taking action for pensions
A panel discussion with Members of Parliament
February 11, 2010 starting at 1:00 p.m.
CAW Local 112 hall, 30 Tangiers Rd.
For the flyer click here Pension Forum

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LABOUR HISTORY MAP AND WALKING TOUR Labour Council and George Brown College School of Labour are developing a Toronto Labour History Map and a Timeline of key events. Where was Labour Council's first office? Who went on strike against Eaton's in 1912? How did tech change defeat workers in Toronto's Distillery District? What local union is Toronto's oldest continuous union? What building on Spadina did Emma Goldman speak in? Where and when did the pitched battles to transform Toronto's Street Railways into a public transit authority occur? How many teachers packed Maple Leaf Gardens and marched to Queen's Park in 1973? All these questions and many more will be answered in our project. If you or your union have any suggestions, photos, advice please contact Maureen Hynes at mhynes@georgebrown.ca

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STANDING ROOM ONLY FOR GREEN JOBS CONFERENCE On November 7th, a unique event took place at the newly renovated Allstream Building on the CNE grounds in Toronto. The Green Jobs for All conference brought together over 600 union members, environmentalists, students, elected representatives and community activists to address key issues for the future economy of greater Toronto. The overwhelming response was one hundred more than the organizers planned for, and registration had to be cut off two days before the event.
As a follow up to last year's successful good jobs summit, the Good Jobs for All Coalition is calling upon people and organizations to develop campaigns and strategies to lead to a green infrastructure renewal (including transit and alternative energy), develop green local manufacturing, and include youth in a green vision of Canada's largest urban centre. For highlights go to www.goodjobsforall.ca To read the transcript of keynote speech by Clayton Thomas-Muller, click here Clayton Thomas-Muller speech.
What are the obstacles to a green prosperous future? Labour Council President John Cartwright explores the questions of green jobs and corporate power in a commentary in this month's Our Times magazine. Click here Green Jobs + Power.

For pictures of the day go here green jobs pictures

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STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 2010-12 Over the next three years, Labour Council will concentrate its efforts on building deeper labour power within Toronto and York Region. An essential part of that involves strengthening solidarity with Toronto's diverse For the document click here Strategic Directions

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