A thousand OPSEU members march on Queen’s Park, joining thousands more autoworkers and retirees rallying to preserve pensions.
A few days later, thousands of people from all over attend a rally to protect our rural hospitals from layoffs and closures.
We call it solidarity – actions that show a revived unity in the labour movement and the community.
Last week, Convention delegates passed a major resolution calling for a united response to the economic crisis. Our plan includes community forums and campaigns to save public services, create jobs and force the government to take the lead in the economic recovery.
There will be many opportunities for members and their families to get involved. The Canadian Labour Congress, the Ontario Federation of Labour, our National Union and OPSEU aim to create forums and rallies where we can march together, share our stories and map out a strategy for a the future of Ontario.
There’s nothing like a crisis to bring us together, and you’ll be seeing much more unity in labour over the next few months. Later this fall, we hope to welcome the CAW back into the Ontario Federation of Labour after years on the outs. As Ken Lewenza, the CAW president told our Convention last Saturday: “There was no split among the rank-and-file.”
Now more than ever, our leaders must set aside differences and unite on a plan of action.
Unity must be our strength, because we’re facing the same dire economic issues that demand an immediate response.
After all, we’re all in this together
In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President