21st Century Learning - Labour Council calls for revision of public education funding formula (April 2018)
The Ontario government funds its public education system to the tune of approximately $24 billion annually. Despite rising inflation and practices requiring greater accountability between school boards and the provincial government, allotted funding has remained substantially unchanged for two decades. As a result, funding has failed to keep pace with inflation and other emerging needs and, more importantly, societal expectations and ever-growing needs of our students.
According to economist Hugh Mackenzie, education funding in Ontario should be sufficient to adequately fund our schools. Why then, is there a continued lack of technological resources necessary to implement the Ministry’s 21st century curriculum? Why is there a lack of resources to address the needs of our most vulnerable students, a population that continues to grow in numbers?"
Read Education Committee's statement on 21st Century Learning, calling for a revision of the Public Education Funding Formula.
The Ontario government funds its public education system to the tune of approximately $24 billion annually. Despite rising inflation and practices requiring greater accountability between school boards and the provincial government, allotted funding has remained substantially unchanged for two decades. As a result, funding has failed to keep pace with inflation and other emerging needs and, more importantly, societal expectations and ever-growing needs of our students.
According to economist Hugh Mackenzie, education funding in Ontario should be sufficient to adequately fund our schools. Why then, is there a continued lack of technological resources necessary to implement the Ministry’s 21st century curriculum? Why is there a lack of resources to address the needs of our most vulnerable students, a population that continues to grow in numbers?"
Read Education Committee's statement on 21st Century Learning, calling for a revision of the Public Education Funding Formula.
Fighting for Community Benefits from Woodbine Casino Development (Winter2018 Labour Action article)
"The fight is on to make sure that the massive new casino project at Woodbine provides real benefits to residents and future employees. A decade ago, Rexdale’s Community Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD) mobilized for local needs in a proposed expansion at Woodbine. Although the project did not materialize, the experience set the stage for a community benefits movement. In 2014 the Toronto Community Benefits Network, a coalition of over 80 labour and community groups, negotiated the first Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in Toronto. That agreement with Metrolinx provides for access to careers in construction trades and professional occupations for the Eglinton Crosstown Transit Project." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action.
"The fight is on to make sure that the massive new casino project at Woodbine provides real benefits to residents and future employees. A decade ago, Rexdale’s Community Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD) mobilized for local needs in a proposed expansion at Woodbine. Although the project did not materialize, the experience set the stage for a community benefits movement. In 2014 the Toronto Community Benefits Network, a coalition of over 80 labour and community groups, negotiated the first Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in Toronto. That agreement with Metrolinx provides for access to careers in construction trades and professional occupations for the Eglinton Crosstown Transit Project." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action.
Defending Bombadier's Toronto Footprint (Winter2018 Labour Action article)
"Labour Council is committed to maintaining good jobs in the Toronto area – and an important part of that is protecting the City of Toronto’s Employment Areas. In early January, the public became aware of potential plans for sale of Bombardier’s Downsview lands. Not only is Bombardier Toronto’s largest industrial employer – a source of over 3,000 good union jobs – but having an aerospace hub within the City is important to Toronto’s economic strength. If the lands are sold, there is no doubt that Bombardier jobs will end up elsewhere. The company claims it will move them to a location near Pearson airport. But more than likely that will be only a portion of the current workforce, with other production relocated in North Carolina, China or Montreal. If the entire Bombardier lands were sold there would be huge pressure for rezoning to remove the Employment Area designation." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action.
"Labour Council is committed to maintaining good jobs in the Toronto area – and an important part of that is protecting the City of Toronto’s Employment Areas. In early January, the public became aware of potential plans for sale of Bombardier’s Downsview lands. Not only is Bombardier Toronto’s largest industrial employer – a source of over 3,000 good union jobs – but having an aerospace hub within the City is important to Toronto’s economic strength. If the lands are sold, there is no doubt that Bombardier jobs will end up elsewhere. The company claims it will move them to a location near Pearson airport. But more than likely that will be only a portion of the current workforce, with other production relocated in North Carolina, China or Montreal. If the entire Bombardier lands were sold there would be huge pressure for rezoning to remove the Employment Area designation." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action.
From Syria to Toronto (Winter2018 Labour Action article)
"In early January 2016 the Globe & Mail published a front-page story about a Syrian refugee family and their childrens’ their first day of school in Canada. They arrived in Toronto after spending three years in Lebanon where they fled when the fighting from the civil war reached close to their home in the city of Homs. In a sentence in one of the story's last few paragraphs, there was a question about the family’s economic future, given that Mahmoud had been a construction worker back home. That one sentence caught the attention of Labour Council President, John Cartwright who himself comes from the construction trades." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action
"In early January 2016 the Globe & Mail published a front-page story about a Syrian refugee family and their childrens’ their first day of school in Canada. They arrived in Toronto after spending three years in Lebanon where they fled when the fighting from the civil war reached close to their home in the city of Homs. In a sentence in one of the story's last few paragraphs, there was a question about the family’s economic future, given that Mahmoud had been a construction worker back home. That one sentence caught the attention of Labour Council President, John Cartwright who himself comes from the construction trades." Click to read article or to download Winter2018 Labour Action
Click to download the flyer or registration form for the events below
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JOHN CARTWRIGHT'S OPEN LETTER IN RESPONSE TO CRISIS IN THE CANADIAN LABOUR MOVEMENT
On January 17th, 2018 the Canadian labour movement was plunged into a crisis with the exit of Unifor from the Canadian Labour Congress and the launching of raids on bargaining units of UNITEHERE Local 75. This open letter is intended as an urgent call for leaders in our movement,at every level, to strive to find a solution to this potential rupture before it becomes irreparable. And to allow time to explore solutions before hardening differences. CLICK TO READ THE ENTIRE LETTER.
On January 17th, 2018 the Canadian labour movement was plunged into a crisis with the exit of Unifor from the Canadian Labour Congress and the launching of raids on bargaining units of UNITEHERE Local 75. This open letter is intended as an urgent call for leaders in our movement,at every level, to strive to find a solution to this potential rupture before it becomes irreparable. And to allow time to explore solutions before hardening differences. CLICK TO READ THE ENTIRE LETTER.
click image to download
GREENPRINT working together for climate action
If our Earth is to be sustained for future generations, we must examine how we carry on our daily lives, and what impact we have on the environment. What we consume and produce, where we live, how we move from place to place, and how we spend our leisure time – all these factors add up to our personal and collective footprint on the Earth. Toronto, Canada’s largest urban centre, is an amazingly complex and sophisticated space. And every day, millions of tons of CO2 are emitted into the air.
How Toronto could lead the Climate Change charge in Canadian Cities
Read article by John Cartwright in NationalObserver (Jun15, 2017)
If our Earth is to be sustained for future generations, we must examine how we carry on our daily lives, and what impact we have on the environment. What we consume and produce, where we live, how we move from place to place, and how we spend our leisure time – all these factors add up to our personal and collective footprint on the Earth. Toronto, Canada’s largest urban centre, is an amazingly complex and sophisticated space. And every day, millions of tons of CO2 are emitted into the air.
How Toronto could lead the Climate Change charge in Canadian Cities
Read article by John Cartwright in NationalObserver (Jun15, 2017)
Labour Council Strategic Plan 2016 to 2019
Over the next three years the Labour Council will focus on becoming more powerful as a movement in greater Toronto. Click to read entire Labour Council Strategic Plan.
Over the next three years the Labour Council will focus on becoming more powerful as a movement in greater Toronto. Click to read entire Labour Council Strategic Plan.
Diverse Workers Networks
Labour Council supports the development of networks of union members in diverse communities – Chinese, Filipino, Tamil, Somali and Ethiopian/Eritrean. If you are interested in getting involved you can sign up HERE or contact Kiruthiha Kulendiren at kkulendiren@labourcouncil.ca 416 441-3663 x 221. Click for the Chinese Network flyer click here, Filipino flyer click here and Tamil Flyer.
Labour Council supports the development of networks of union members in diverse communities – Chinese, Filipino, Tamil, Somali and Ethiopian/Eritrean. If you are interested in getting involved you can sign up HERE or contact Kiruthiha Kulendiren at kkulendiren@labourcouncil.ca 416 441-3663 x 221. Click for the Chinese Network flyer click here, Filipino flyer click here and Tamil Flyer.
Toronto Workers History Project (TWHP)
TWHP is a group of workers, unionists, professors, students, artists, teachers, librarians, educators, researchers, community activists, and retirees dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of working people in Toronto. We are committed to bringing to light the experiences of working people and their contributions as individuals and collectively to the building of this city, in the home, in the paid workplace, and in the community. For more info visit www.twhp.ca
TWHP is a group of workers, unionists, professors, students, artists, teachers, librarians, educators, researchers, community activists, and retirees dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the history of working people in Toronto. We are committed to bringing to light the experiences of working people and their contributions as individuals and collectively to the building of this city, in the home, in the paid workplace, and in the community. For more info visit www.twhp.ca
Strengthening our Unions through Equity
In September 2014, Labour Council released its latest contribution to the equity work in our movement. Entitled “A Leader’s Guide to Strengthen Unions: Moving Beyond Diversity… Towards Inclusion and Equity” the document is designed to be a tool for activists and leaders who want to build more powerful unions in greater Toronto, and across Canada. It is written by Jojo Geronimo, veteran labour educator former Executive Director of the Labour Education Centre. It's time to take the next step in advancing equity in every union's work. Click on image to download guide
In September 2014, Labour Council released its latest contribution to the equity work in our movement. Entitled “A Leader’s Guide to Strengthen Unions: Moving Beyond Diversity… Towards Inclusion and Equity” the document is designed to be a tool for activists and leaders who want to build more powerful unions in greater Toronto, and across Canada. It is written by Jojo Geronimo, veteran labour educator former Executive Director of the Labour Education Centre. It's time to take the next step in advancing equity in every union's work. Click on image to download guide
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Winter 2018
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