STIMULUS GOOD and BAD - This Opinion piece by Labour Council President John Cartwright was published in Saturday’s Toronto Star.
"Some Economic Stimuli are Better Than Others" Now that the Harper government has finally admitted that there is an economic crisis in Canada, all indications are that there will be a stimulus package in 2009. But there are many kinds of economic stimulus – with very different results. In the U.S., the bankers and loan sharks who created the crisis were rewarded with a multi-billion dollar bailout, while Republican politicians demanded massive concessions from front-line auto workers whose wages help sustain middle class communities.
The stimulus should strengthen the real economy – not reward paper traders and speculators. Think it can’t happen after all the meltdown furor? Just look at Britain, where four of the largest banking houses diverted over $12 billion into CEO and other executive bonuses immediately after securing billions in taxpayer’s money. For a list of possible stimulus policies – the good, the bad, and the ugly click here .StimulusNAFTA's legacy: the worst agreement we ever signed
by MURRAY DOBBIN
In the aftermath of Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's threats to "renegotiate" NAFTA - or pull out - the usual suspects have been activated to tell the world how wonderful the deal has been for Canada and the United States. To read on click here NAFTA
25 in 5 - TOWARDS REAL POVERTY REDUCTION IN ONTARIO
25-in-5 Network for Poverty Reduction is a multi-sectoral network comprised of more than 100 provincial and Toronto-based organizations and individuals working on eliminating poverty. 25 in 5 has been organized around the call for a Poverty Reduction Plan with a goal to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years and 50% in 10 years. For more information check out the following websites www.makepovertyhistory.ca/en/25in5/take-action
APPRENTICES, OBAMA AND THE GOVERNOR GENERAL What does a carpenter apprentice from an "at-risk" Toronto neighbourhood say to the Governor-General on the day of Obama's inauguration? to read more, click here Apprentices-Obama-Governor General
KEY PLAYER IN WAR ON POVERTY
Jan 17, 2008, John Cartwright
Poverty reduction has been identified as the Number 1 challenge for 2008. The issue has been front-page news in all the major Toronto media, and now the Ontario government has concurred. The United Way's Losing Ground report, followed by U of T's The Three Cities within Toronto, each show in the starkest terms the impact of the new economy on Toronto residents. To read the full op-ed by Council president John Cartwright click here www.thestar.com/article/294740
NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD
Labour Council delegates have elected new members to the E xecutive Board - To find out who the new members are, and to view Labour Council committees please click here E-Board
LABOUR COUNCIL MOST DIVERSE LEADERSHIP IN COUNTRY
The Toronto & York Region Labour Council has just elected a new Executive Board that features the most diverse leadership of any central labour body in Canada. Of the sixteen Executive Board members, nearly half are leaders of colour representing unions in every sector of the economy.
With 190,000 members, Toronto’s is the largest labour council in Canada, and the first to sponsor a Workers of Colour/Aboriginal Workers conference. At that conference held in June 2003, the Council committed itself to an equity agenda that includes strengthening the participation of workers of colour in all levels of leadership of the union movement.Click here for the biographies and pictures of the new Labour Council leadership
WHY IS THERE A BUDGET CRISIS?
Mike Harris created the crisis for our city, our transit and our schools. Dalton McGuinty promised to restore funding, but he has failed to deliver. Stand up for Toronto! is a broadly based campaign to demand a fair deal for our city and its residents. Each year, billions in taxes go from Toronto to Queen's Park, yet the City and our school boards find themselves in constant budget crises.
The McGuinty government has not restored fair funding for public transit, continues to download social service costs onto property taxpayers, and refuses to fix the broken funding formula for education. Tuition fee increases undermine the affordability of post-secondary education.
We need the provincial government to act on these issues now, not some time in the distant future. We need our MPP's to do their job and Stand up for Toronto. Please go to www.standupfortoronto.ca and send a message to Premier McGuinty and your MPP. To download the poster click here
A MILLION REASONS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE
Over one million people in Ontario earn less than $10 an hour, working in jobs where they are underpaid and undervalued. Most low-wage jobs are not found insmall business - instead they are with retail giants, fast food chains, or tempagencies. Why should wealthy companies be allowed to pay poverty wages?
The fact is that if minimum wage had kept up with inflation, it would be $10 today.
The Toronto & York Region Labour Council has joined with community groups and the student movement to launch a major campaign in support of MPP Cheri DiNovo's Bill 150, to raise Ontario's minimum wage to $10.
Send a message to the Premier and your MPP by going to www.forthepublicgood.ca/takeaction3.cfm. And please, pass on this message to everyone on your contact list.To download and print the special edition of Labour Action visit here Labour Action
To see when a town hall meeting or roundtable discussion is taking place in your community click here Meeting schedules
“It’s about more than just a $10 minimum wage” - Labour Council President John Cartwright’s op-ed article in the Toronto Star www.thestar.com/article/188838
To check out what organizations are in support of this campaign click here organizations To find out more visit www.amillionreasons.ca
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2006 -
HUNDREDS OF HOTEL WORKERS led the International Women’s
Day march this year, highlighting the continent-wide struggle to raise standards for
workers in their industry. The Hotel Workers Rising campaign has garnered the
support of politicians, faith leaders, community activists, women’s groups and other
unions across North America. Eleven hotel cities are lined up to bargain this year,
and UNITE HERE members from Chicago, Los Angeles, Hawaii, New York and San
Francisco joined their sisters and brothers in Local 75 at the head of our IWD
march.
STUDY FINDS PRIVATE HOSPITALS COSTS MORE,
DELIVERS LESS
For the facts click here
LABOUR DAY 2003 - Monday, September 1, 2003
On Monday, September 1st, Toronto's labour movement celebrated the 132nd labour day parade. This year, the Labour Council turned up the music. For Labour Day Media Release, August 27, 2003 click here for photos please click here
CELEBRATING OUR VICTORIES 2005 For pictures of the celebration go to December 2005 meeting
Walking on Sunshine, METRO DAYS OF ACTION
October 22 to 27, 1996. In October of 1996, an unprecedented event took place in Toronto. The Metro Days of Action. "Walking on Sunshine", by Linda Torney is the story of how it happened.
For the order form click here