Solidarity Fundraiser on June 8th

On June 8th, the Niagara Regional Labour Council is hosting a solidarity fundraiser in support of CUPE 1287 workers at the Lincoln County Humane Society.

These workers have been on strike since February 24, 2012.  They're not asking for more, what they're doing is fighting to preserve the basics: full-time employment and benefits.

The event will take place at the CAW Hall, 124 Bunting Rd., St. Catharines.  Admission is $5.00, and there will be speakers, music, and food.

You can also support these workers in other ways:

1) Add your name to the online petition.

2) Follow that up by sending e-mails to the Board of Directors.

3) Show up at the picket to support the workers.  Pickets are going on 7 days a week from 8:30am-4pm at the LCHS located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Louth Street in St. Catharines.  In addition, there are now "Strooband Resign" demonstrations being held Wednesday evenings from 7pm-9pm. 

4) Join the Strooband Resign Facebook group.

5) Finally, you can financially support the workers.  Cheques can be made payable to the "CUPE Local 1287 Strike Fund" and mailed to 133 Front Street North, Thorold, Ontario, L2V 0A3.

April 28th Day of Mourning

April 28th is the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, injured, or made ill on the job.

There are a variety of ceremonies in Niagara to mark the day:

Niagara Region Headquarters 12:00 noon
Unveiling of the new Day of Mourning monument
2201 St. David's Road, Thorold
Speaker: Sari Sairanem, CAW Director of Health and Safety
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

Town of Fort Erie 9:00am
Fort Erie Town Hall Hwy #3
Contact: Heather Kelley (905) 993-2078

Niagara-on-the-Lake 9:00am
Centennial Park Arena, Four Mile Creek Road, Virgil
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

City of Port Colborne 9:00am
HH Knoll Park, Sugarloaf Street
Speaker: John Perquin
Contact: Jim Pasel (905) 658-0252

City of Niagara Falls 10:00am
Niagara Falls City Hall, 4310 Queen Street
Contact: Heather Kelley (905) 993-2078

City of Welland 10:00am
Merritt Park, King Street
Contact: Bob McCallion (905) 735-4223

Port Robinson 11:00am
Esquire Explosion Site, 125 South Street North
Contact: Jim Pasel (905) 658-0252

St. Catharines 11:00am
The Workers' Monument
Government Road beneath Garden City Skyway
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

St. Catharines 2:00pm
Merritt Park Monument
St. Paul Street West at Burgoyne Bridge
Contact: Bruce Allen (905) 934-6233

#A21NoCuts Photos

Photos from the Day of Action Against Cuts:

More photos.

April 21st Day of Action Against Cuts!

Join us on April 21st at Queen's Park to rally against government cuts!

Bus Departure Times and Locations:

10:45am Port Colborne: Steelworkers Hall, 2-87 Clarence Street

11:15am Welland: Welland Hydro, 950 East Main Street

11:45am Thorold: Niagara RegionalHeadquarters, 2201 St. David’s Road

12:00pm (noon) St. Catharines: CAW 199 Hall, 124 Bunting Road

1:30 pm Toronto Steelworkers Hall: Lunch Provided

Bus Sign-up Sheet

Event Poster

For more information contact nrlc.clc@gmail.com or call Daniel Peat at 905-933-1889.

Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/A21NoCuts
Twitter: #A21DOA

CLC Analysis of the Federal Budget

The Canadian Labour Congress has published its analysis of the federal budget, which can be read here.

Budgets are all about choices. With unemployment and underemployment still at very high levels and a shrinking middle-class, the federal government could and should have laid the basis for a sustained and broadly shared economic recovery.

The federal government should be taking a larger and stronger role in making the economy work for average Canadians, and developing policies that ensure that all Canadians can afford their basic needs in tough times.

Instead, we got a budget that cuts jobs rather than creates jobs; which attacks needed public services and social programs; and undermines rather than enhances retirement security.

Further analysis here.

OFL responds to Ontario Budget

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

OFL:ONTARIO BUDGET DELIVERS BILLIONS TO BANKERS BUT JOB LOSS AND DEEP CUTS FOR ONTARIO FAMILIES

(TORONTO, ON.) -- Today, the McGuinty government delivered two budgets to the province: a lucrative one for corporations and the financial sector and another full of deep cuts to core services for everyone else. McGuinty’s stubborn refusal to increase provincial revenue through the fair taxation of banks and corporations will cost many their jobs and many more their livelihoods.

“McGuinty hasn’t given us a balanced budget, he’s given us a banker’s budget. It was drafted by a banker, for bankers, so it is no surprise that this budget shields the financial and private sector from sharing the burden of a deficit they helped to create,” said OFL President Sid Ryan. “Simply rolling corporate tax cuts back by 1.5 percent would generate enough revenue to cancel cuts to social assistance and increase the income of recipients by 25 percent. Instead of looking for fair measures to generate revenue, McGuinty is asking the most vulnerable to make greater sacrifices.”

Today's budget will uphold three years of corporate tax cuts that continue to starve the province of billions in revenue while imposing “more than half” of the 362 cuts in the Drummond Commission’s five-year plan. Lack of funding will cause child care centres to close and force some working mothers out of the labour market. Frozen benefits payments for lifeline services like the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works will amount to a real dollar cut for the most vulnerable. Even funding for so-called “protected programs,” like education and health care, will lag nearly 5 percent behind inflation and population growth, leading to layoffs and service reductions.

“This budget reflects a profound lack of leadership from the Liberals. Instead of a plan to create jobs and grow the economy, McGuinty has offered us no plan at all. It is the same lack of vision that lost McGuinty his majority but it will cost working people much more,” said Ryan. “You simply can’t cut your way to prosperity. You have to make investments that will grow the economy, keep people working and help families get back on their feet.”

When it comes to labour relations, McGuinty’s budget strikes an ominous tone. While purporting to support free collective bargaining and falling short of legislating a wage freeze for unionized workers, the budget threatens government intervention to impose administrative or legislative measures as it sees fit.

“Ontarians never gave McGuinty a mandate to cut jobs and undermine the social safety net. Thankfully, we have a minority government that requires compromise for the budget to pass,” said Ryan. “The vast majority of Ontarians want corporations and the well-to-do to pay their fair share. Since McGuinty is ignoring the electorate, we will take our demands directly to Queen’s Park. Over 60 labour unions and community groups have already pledged to challenge McGuinty’s agenda of cuts in a mass rally at Queen’s Park on April 21.”

The OFL represents one million workers across Ontario and President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario’s labour movement. For details on the April 21 Day of Action Against Cuts, visit http://www.OFL.ca.

Related Web Sites:
http://www.Twitter.com/OntarioLabour
http://www.Facebook.com/OntarioFedLabour

For More Information:
Patrick (Sid) Ryan, President
p: 416.441.2731 | m: 416.209.0066 | f: 416.441.0722
Toll-free: 1-800-668-9138

Joel Duff, Communications Director
p: 416-443-7665 | m: 416-707-0349 | f: 416-441-1893

NRLC Federal NDP Leadership Forum

Update: Nathan Cullen and Paul Dewar were able to attend (Brian Topp was stuck in a meeting), and we even had a brief surprise appearance by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson.  Both candidates exemplified the high calibre of candidates that are running for the NDP leadership.  Both were dynamic, informed, and capable of doing the job.  I'd suggest that viewing the Leadership Debate video archive is a good idea.

The St. Catharines Standard wrote a good article covering the evening, read it here.

*****

The Niagara Regional Labour Council is sponsoring a Federal NDP Leadership Forum at Club Capri, 36 Cleveland Street, Thorold, from 6:30 to 9 pm on Thursday, February 23rd.

Nathan Cullen, Paul Dewar, and Brian Topp are all confirmed.  Peggy Nash may also be able to attend.  A poster is available here.

Remember, make sure you're a member of the NDP by February 18th to be eligible to vote for the new leader (aka the next Prime Minister!).  Membership is just $25, or $5 if you're under/unemployed.  Join here!