RESPECT and SOLIDARITY
The icon you see above is one that ETT will utilize in its efforts to show SOLIDARITY & SUPPORT with locals that face strikes, or lockouts, and at various rallies and demonstrations that will demonstrate that we understand the situations workers may find themselves in these days. This icon will be on our website and will show active strikes and/or rallies where ETT members can show solidarity and support, whether that be: joining the picket line for a short while, dropping off coffee and donuts, dropping off a donation, joining a boycott, or simply driving by a picket line and tooting the car horn.
ETT SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MEMO DEFICIT WARS WARS AHEAD BE KIND TO A TTC WORKER RESPECT AND SOLIDARITY
Please download the attachments for more information.
TO: ETT MEMBERS
FROM: MARTIN LONG, PRESIDENT &
ANDY LOMNICKI, EXECUTIVE LIAISION - POLITICAL ACTION COMM.
RE: ETT SOLIDARITY
DATE: MARCH 4, 2010
ETT Solidarity Committee
Over the course of the last two years, including the period of our own round of negotiations, we have been made aware of the “tough economic times”. In fact, that phrase has been the “camouflage” for many abuses of workers, and negative workplace practices over that time period.
Last year, ETT members were involved when the Toronto & York Region Labour Council undertook the organizing of a massive Stewards’ Assembly at the Sheraton Centre. We were also present at the Good Jobs Summit. From those events grew the “Good Jobs for All For a Greater Toronto” Declaration - which the ETT Executive endorsed wholeheartedly. From that grew the “Solidarity Checklist” which had six basic concepts, including: Don’t blame ourselves - or other workers; Work hard to renew solidarity; Stand together for what we believe in!
Earlier this year, the Labour Council undertook to reconvene the “Strike Support Committee”, which had been inactive for a number of years. In its Executive Statement of October 2009, the Labour Council also suggested that the different member locals should also setup their own “strike support committees”.
The icon you see above is one that ETT will utilize in its efforts to show SOLIDARITY & SUPPORT with locals that face strikes, or lockouts, and at various rallies and demonstrations that will demonstrate that we understand the situations workers may find themselves in these days.
This icon will be on our website and will show active strikes and/or rallies where ETT members can show solidarity and support, whether that be: joining the picket line for a short while, dropping off coffee and donuts, dropping off a donation, joining a boycott, or simply driving by a picket line and tooting the car horn.
Labour Council Strike Support Forum
As the nasty strikes at VALE Inco and Infinity Rubber drag on, and the locked-out Cadillac Fairview workers continue to pound the pavement, and after the civic workers’ strike of the summer, it is clear that we need to bolster our ability to win tough labour disputes. The Labour Council’s Strike Support Committee has set Thursday, May 13th as the date for an evening forum on strike preparation, picket line strategies, and corporate campaigns, to help affiliates secure contract settlements. ETT will provide more information as it becomes available.
Ongoing Strike Issues in Toronto
CEP 2003 (The Cadillac Fairview 61) - Many of us learned about this at the ETFO General Meeting. 61 Communications, Energy and Paperworkers employees from the TD Centre were locked out, and subsequently fired, and have been picketing since last June 14th. The tie to the educational affiliates is that the property is managed by Cadillac Fairview, which in turn is wholly owned by the Teachers’ Pension Plan. The various education affiliates have been very clear in condemning the labour practices of Cadillac Fairview, by letters and deputations through the Ontario Teachers’ Federation to the TPP. Nonetheless the situation is still unresolved.
Currently, the picket lines are still in place five days a week, at the downtown property. A court injunction obtained by Cadillac Fairview forced the removal of the striker’s shelter on Dec. 10, 2009! CEP local 2003 has taken their campaign into the malls of other Cadillac Fairview properties, asking shoppers to choose wisely and to spend their dollars ethically; to “Shop Fair - not Cadillac Fairview”. About half of the original strike line members still remain on the line.
USW 526 (Infinity Rubber) - This very small United Steel Workers local in Etobicoke has been on strike since Dec. 1, 2009. Although not on the same scale as the large Cadillac Fairview conglomerate many of the tactics used in dealing with employees are similar. This bargaining unit had already made several concessions in the past, yet that was still not enough for the (new) owners of the factory. The vast majority of these employees are long term, having worked at the factory for 20-30 years. Wages had gone from around $22/hr to around $15/hr, with further reductions to benefits as well. Scabs are currently being bussed into the plant. $200,000 per month is currently being spent by the company, just on additional security alone. This money could obviously be used to settle the strike. Instead, the company is more interested in busting the union.
