Steelworkers rally in downtown Hamilton against lay-offs and pension cuts marching under the slogan "Oppose Economic Terrorism." Dec. 14, 2009

The rally covered all four corners of Main and James streets. Workers from U.S. Steel (formerly Stelco) handed out flyers as they have done every Monday afternoon for the past year. The flyer attacked "the monopolies and the rich" for the economic crisis and called for "public ownership and control over the basic sectors of the economy."

By Mick Sweetman

TORONTO — At a streetcar stop at Queen and Bay streets Saturday about 50 anti-poverty activists boarded a westbound streetcar after showing the driver protest “transfers” made by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) in what they called a “pilot program” for fighting the fare hike.

Driver and passengers seemed in good spirits as protesters chanted “Hey, Hey, TTC! Public transit should be free!” Protestors distributed OCAP “transfers” to passengers and hung a banner out the window reading “Fair rates not fare hikes” as the streetcar headed toward Spadina Avenue.

The rolling protest was against the TTC increasing fares to $3 starting on Jan. 3. The price hike is 25 cents a trip and an increase of over 10% for a monthly pass. Advocates of poor and working people say transit costs are already too high. The fare hike comes at a time of economic recession and job losses, growing poverty, and dangerously low social assistance rates.

By Nicolas Phébus
Quebec correspondent

On Oct. 30, the public sector unions in Québec made their central demands for the negotiations with the province. Under the banner "together for public services", they are demanding a negotiated agreement that includes better pay, improved retirement plans and accommodation of workers family commitments. The demands are backed by a “Common Front” of unions representing 475,000 workers in health care, social services, education, public service and government agencies. While the mobilization is not yet impressive, and may never become, some unions and activists are taking positive steps for wider grassroots participation.

Video of the delivery of the demands to the Quebec government

By Shawn Doyle

OTTAWA — The strike at the Museum of Civilization and War Museum has been dragging on since Sept. 21, and it's not getting any easier. Management at the museums "have hired a private film crew that is trying to catch us doing illegal stuff, but (it) has not succeeded," said Ralph Brassard, a striking tour guide with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). "They have hired scabs," he added.

PSAC Regional Executive Vice President Maria Fitzpatrick has confirmed the museums "have been using workers from the U.S. and international firms to replace the museum professionals that are on strike." Fitzpatrick says management is also using security firms to "harass" workers on strike, calling it "shameful that Canadians' tax dollars are best spent in this manner, rather than resolving the strike and allowing the museum workers to return to their jobs."

By Alex Balch

LONDON, Ont. — Workers of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 741 went on strike at midnight Nov. 16, when the deadline for a new contract passed unheeded by their employer, the London Transit Commission (LTC). ATU-741 represents 450 bus drivers, maintenance workers and support staff, and the strike has effectively paralyzed London’s public transit system.

The workers of the LTC have been without a contract since June. Chief among their demands are regularly scheduled lunch breaks, a 12 per cent wage increase over three years and improvements to dental and short-term disability benefits. The union has repeatedly requested arbitration as a means of settling the dispute, but their requests have been blocked by LTC general manager Larry Ducharme and the city’s mayor, Anne Marie DeCicco-Best.

by Geordie Gwalgen Dent
Toronto Media Coop

TORONTO — Under a blanket of hail, rain and cold weather, 250 anti-poverty protesters marched on the financial centre of Toronto on Nov. 5, The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) organized march took aim at government policy during the recession. The Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario held a separate march on the same day to the Ontario legislature.

“We wanted to participate [on] that day and march into the financial district to point out who is benefiting within this crisis,” says Lisa Schofield, an organizer with OCAP.

By Scott Neigh

SUDBURY, Ont. — 150 post-secondary students, joined by dozens of striking members of Steelworkers Local 6500 and community supporters, marched in Sudbury Nov. 5 demanding a poverty-free Ontario and reduced tuition fees. The march was part of a provincial “day of action” organized by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).

Ontario has the highest post-secondary tuition fees in the country. CFS publications state that more than 70% of all new jobs require post-secondary education while the youth unemployment rate has topped 18%.

Rafiq Rahemtulla, vice president of the Graduate Student Association at Laurentian University, said Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government is reviewing tuition with the intent of introducing a new comprehensive policy in 2010.

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/09/justice-follows-direct-action-former-b...

by Benjamin Dangl / September 16th, 2009

Richard Gillman, the former CEO of Chicago’s Republic Windows and Doors factory where over 200 workers organized a victorious sit-in last year, has been sent to jail on eight charges including felony, theft, fraud, and money laundering. After the judge announced the $10 million bail, the shocked and dazed Gillman, dressed in a pinstriped suit, was hauled away to the county jail.

Republic workers captured the attention of the world when they occupied their plant on December 5, 2008 calling for the severance and vacation pay they were due. The sit-in ended six days later when the Bank of America and other lenders to Republic agreed to pay the workers the approximately $2 million owed to them. Recently, the workers won another victory with the arrest of Gillman.

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE DU CANADA/CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT- QUÉBEC:
UN APPEL DE L'UCL/AN APPEAL FROM THE UCL:

This fall the Québec platformist organization, the Union Communiste Libertaire (UCL) (website under construction) is planning a tour of the province to promote libertarian solutions to our present economic crisis. They are in need of funds for this tour, and this is their appeal. The following is a translation from an article in the Québec City Voix De Faits blog. The French original is also at the Anarkismo website.

@@@@@@@@@@

The UCL campaign!
by Common Cause - Libertarian Communist Union (UCL) causecommune at ucl dot net

An article in the 25th issue of Cause Commun

Most of the Hamilton branch of Common Cause attended the Hamilton's Labour Day parade on September 7.

United Steelworkers of America Local (USWA) 1005 (US Steel/Stelco, Hamilton) stand silent with hats off near Hamilton's injured worker's monument. 1005 has stood strong in recent years against many threats to retirees, existing workers, and new workers from both Canadian and US owners. With production increasingly moving elsewhere, some workers turn to nationalistic slogans.