LABOUR COUNCIL DELEGATES MEETING
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
OFL Building, 15 Gervais Dr.
ON THE AGENDA -
International Women's Day
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
OFL Building, 15 Gervais Dr.
ON THE AGENDA -
International Women's Day
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WHAT DOES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
MEAN TO THE LABOUR MOVEMENT
Black History month is more than a reflection of struggles and pain, it’s about discrimination, courage and perseverance. Hundreds of years ago, many black descendants stood strong in solidarity, many lost their lives to end slavery, to end racism and demand equality for all. To read more click black history Go here to see pictures and read about black people that have and continue to make history. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
March 7 - IWD May 29 - Bromley Armstrong Dinner May 23 - AWOC HELP TAKE MESSAGE TO THE DOOR! Join Postal Workers Fight Canvassing starts at 9:30 February 28 - Scarborough & Mississauga March 28 - Scarborough & Brampton 
“Bottles Not Cans”: Steelworkers and supporters will hit the beer
stores on Saturday January 24th to support 120 workers at Crown
Metal Packaging in Toronto have been on strike for over 17 months. Instead of negotiating a fair deal with the strikers, the company is using scab labour to produce cans of Molson, Coors, Labatt, Budweiser and many other beers. Instead of buying beer in scab cans, buy bottles instead! Please circulate the leaflet here.
Ready for the New Year - the latest Labour Action features a report card on the Conservative government (it's not all F's!) and great articles on schools, pensions, 2104 elections, and generous giving.
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ELECTION 2015 The federal Conservatives have governed Canada for ten years and it's time for a change. Under Stephen Harper every aspect of Canadian politics has been adjusted to serve the Conservative Party and the key sections of capital that it answers to - oil + gas, mining, agribusiness and finance. The Harper regime has exercised a ruthless approach to any opposition in civil society or in Parliament - slashing funding, smearing reputations, imposing gag orders, and habitually abusing legislative power time.
Labour Council has prepared a report card on the Conservative record, and it's not all F's! Download and circulate to anyone who cares about Canada's future. For the statement on The Election 2015 click here and for John Cartwright's OP-ED in the Star click oped ***************************************** DEFEND DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS The recent Review of the
Toronto District School Board by Margaret Wilson and the consequent
13 directions from Education Minister Liz Sandals are troubling to say the
least. There is no doubt that the intervention by the Ontario Government into
the affairs of the TDSB is as much about closing schools and reducing the
democratic role of Trustees as it is about fixing any dysfunctional relationships
between Trustees and senior staff. For the full statement click here
Trustee Chris Glover’s article in the Toronto Star is a brilliant explanation of what is happening. You can read it at tinyurl.com/trusteeglover. Read the backgrounder written by CUPE 4400’s Katie McGovern. Click here for the Five Questions for the Minister. ****************************************** “WE ARE ALL
CANADIANS” Don't
Let Race Or Religion Divide Us The
killing of media workers at France's Charlie Hebdo magazine has sparked a world-wide
debate on extremist violence and the impact of discrimination in society. The
tragic murder of two soldiers in Canada has added a sense of vulnerability
inside our own country. In response Stephen Harper has declared that Canada is
under attack by "global Jihadists" and introduced sweeping
legislation giving new powers to CSIS.
The beating of the "war on terror" drums by Harper is a calculated move to shore up the Conservative election hopes. This strategy has resulted in an increase in the Tory polling numbers, but poses real risks of stirring up anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. While we haven't experienced the kind of right-wing backlash seen in Europe, there is a real danger that such a dynamic could develop here. To read the rest of the statement click here *****************************************
POSTAL
DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASS
On Saturday February 28th, join the CUPW activists going door-to-door to save home mail delivery. This week they will be hitting ridings held by Conservative MP’s who are vulnerable in the next election – Scarborough-Pickering and Mississauga. Canvassers will gather at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall 35 Front Street North in Mississauga (contact Angela 647 909-7484) and CUPW Scarborough Office 130 Dynamic Dr. Unit 12, Scarborough (contact Derek 416 809-7632). ***************************************** 
FILIPINO WORKERS NETWORK - IN SPIRIT OF
SOLIDARITY ND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, Filipina/Filipino-Canadian union members and community
organizers from the Greater Toronto Area have come together to form the Filipino
Workers’ Network.
Supported by
the Toronto & York
Region Labour Council,
this group of workers and activists meet to support each other in their labour activism by
sharing strategies to engage workers to be more active members, and in finding
ways to positively change the way people think about unions.
Click here - Filipino Network to read more and to download the flyer for posting and distribution. ************************************** 
Click on the image to download the guide
STRENGTHENING OUR UNIONS THROUGH EQUITY On September 6th, 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. Nearly two decades ago, the Canadian labour movement took a hard look at the reality of racial discrimination in our workplaces, our society, and in our unions. The Canadian Labour Congress National Anti-Racism Task Force presented a disturbing but insightful report that called on the labour movement to take this issue seriously. It’s framework for action touched on every aspect of how we operate, as well as crucial issues of racism in broader society. Today, the makeup of the workforce is rapidly evolving. In greater Toronto, half of us were born outside Canada, and half of us are people of colour. This guide has been developed to help unions embrace change in a way that is effective and authentic. It is not meant to be an easy task. It will take determination and an openness to change from all levels of leadership. Together we can craft a more equitable and powerful labour movement for the 21st century – and this Guide can help make some of that happen. ***********************************************  Click the image to download the poster.
SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PREMIER The Honourable Kathleen Wynne
Dear Premier Wynne, I am tired of hearing politicians talk about financial budget pressures when their governments have squandered billions of dollars in public revenues through corporate tax cuts. There is no reason that the tax rates for corporations cannot be restored to the level they were when the Liberal government was first elected in 2003. Corporate Canada is sitting on over $600 billion in “dead money” they refuse to invest in new jobs. Please include an increase in the corporate tax rate in your 2015 provincial budget. Simply copy and paste the text on to your email and click premier@ontario.ca and hit send. |
