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It’s everybody’s fight’
Day after Victoria Park labour rally, locked out workers remain energized Smaller events being organized to support picketers, workers say...
It may not spur movement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Few, if any, are holding out hope it will spur movement from parent company Caterpillar.
But Saturday’s labour rally in Victoria Park helped make at least one thing concrete for locked out Electro-Motive Diesel workers — their situation warrants a call to action.
“I think people … can’t comprehend why this is happening,” Electro-Motive employee Rob White, 49, from London said Sunday.
That simple fact, he said, helped draw the thousands of people who participated in what was dubbed a London Day of Action.
Organizers estimate upwards of 15,000 people headed downtown for the event. Many left the park — where politicians and labour leaders alike called on the federal government to help in the dispute — en route to Oxford Street East locomotive plant, standing on a picket line for hours.
The rally took on the tone of a rock concert at times as a band played on stage and people in the crowd waved union flags, shouting to show support for speakers’ calls to action. Participants included union members from as far away as Illinois and Montreal, workers said.
The excitement carried into Sunday morning with picketing workers talking about the need for everyone to remain united.
“Solidarity” will be key to keeping the momentum going, said Todd Sleeper, 46, of St. Mary’s, an Electro-Motive employee for more than 20 years.
“Its not just our fight,” he said. “It’s everybody’s fight.”
London’s Day of Action (video)
Photos by Mike Maloney/London Community News
By Jonathon Brodie/London Community News
A large crowd — the actual number up for dispute — filled Victoria Park Saturday (Jan. 21) to stand beside 425 locked out union members and fight for an issue everyone at the rally called a national concern.
“Canadians, we have to understand that this fight is our fight. It is our future that is at stake,” said Brianne Jones, a daughter of an Electro-Motive Canada (EMC) worker who took to the stage amidst rowdy shouts of “greed, greed, greed” from the crowd. “We have to build on the progress made by past generations. We can’t afford to go backwards.”
On day 21 of the EMC lockout, thousands of people came out for the demonstration, with some local residents walking just a few blocks to the rally and others driving from as far as the United States to show their support for the unionized workers. Although organizers said there were around 15,000 people at the rally, London police estimated the number at 5,000.
The large crowd started funneling in quickly around 11 a.m. to rally together in around -5 C weather to listen to live music with heavy solidarity themes like the Twisted Sister’s classic We’re Not Gonna Take It.
“We’re here to support people who are suffering right now,” said London resident Daryl Jennings who came to Victoria Park with his wife and two children. Jennings’ kids blended in with the crowd filled with everyone from toddlers with parents to retirees.
“People everywhere are showing their support for what’s going on here and I think that’s a good first step — people being aware of what’s happening,” Jennings added, pointing out supporters from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana at the rally, which was dubbed the London Day of Action for Canadian Jobs.
Those sentiments were shared by many in the crowd.
“These locked-out workers … have families they’re trying to provide for. When the mortgage payment comes in, their mortgage isn’t going from $1,500 to $750. When they go to fill up their vehicles, they’re not paying 60 cents a litre, they have to pay $1.20 a litre,” said Peter Terranova who travelled from Brighton. “How can this company expect, possible expect, to cut their wages to less than 50 per cent. If it’s 50 per cent cut today, what’s the next contract going to be – 50 cents – take it or leave it?
At around 11:30 a.m., the demonstration started with the crowd singing the national anthem before speeches from Canadian Auto Worker Union (CAW) representatives, Ontario Federation Leader (OFL) president Sid Ryan, a family member of an EMC worker, politicians and other labour, public service and justice activists.
When London Mayor Joe Fontana was called to the microphone, joined by most of city council, he was greeted with mild cheers and a few boos from the crowd, but managed to get everyone clapping with one statement.
“Get back to the table Caterpillar, get your [censored] down here Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper … let’s build the best locomotives in the world,” he screamed into the mic working the audience into a frenzy — not that it already wasn’t.
During lull periods between speakers, the crowd would sporadically begin to chant things like, “The interest of Canadians must come first” or “We’re the 99 per cent.”
“We’ve come today my friends to send a signal to Harper,” said Ryan, who had vowed, along with the CAW, to send about 70 full buses from across Ontario to the rally. “To say to Harper, ‘we’re sick and tired of the corporate greed that exists in Canada today and that Caterpillar has now become the poster child for corporate greed’.”
The calling on of Harper became a frequent theme throughout the speeches, demanding the prime minister put a stop to the lockout and force Caterpillar to get back to the negotiation table.
“I’m here, quite frankly, in interest of 425 direct families of the CAW, but another couple thousand spinoff jobs including the salary group of EMC to demand the federal government to use the power of government to preserve jobs,” said Ken Lewenza, CAW president. “And to say to companies like Caterpillar, you can not buy a company in London that’s profitable, (with a) highly skilled, high quality workforce and treat the members as you’re treating them.”
Lewenza closed out the Victoria Park portion of the rally pointing out the lockout is a far bigger problem than just London.
“We send our heart and our commitment to the 450,00 manufacturing workers that have lost their job from one end of the country to the other from no fault of your own … the voice of 15 to 16,000 people are behind you today.”
At around 1:30 p.m., people began to leave the park and the rally moved to street outside the Oxford Street plant.
Spirits remained high on the picket line. Hot dogs and hamburgers were served up, live rock music was played and solidarity songs could be heard from buses rolling in to join the fun.
At around 2:30, supporters hit a peak with about 1,000 people and spread onto the road. Despite an officer trying to keep people off the street, it became unmanageable and police shutdown traffic on Oxford Street East from Clarke Road to Industrial Road.
“This is phenomenal. It sends a message to the prime minister that something’s got to be done about this,” said Paul Bruder, a 23-year worker at EMC, about the huge support all day. “This is outrageous what they’re trying to do to the Canadian workforce. Good paying jobs are going to all disappear if we don’t change things now.
“Harper should be watching.”
For more photos, videos and other information from the rally, visit www.londoncommunitynews.com/2012/01/the-fight-for-canada-gets-underway/
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It’s everybody’s fight’
Day after Victoria Park labour rally, locked out workers remain energized Smaller events being organized to support picketers, workers say...
It may not spur movement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Few, if any, are holding out hope it will spur movement from parent company Caterpillar.
But Saturday’s labour rally in Victoria Park helped make at least one thing concrete for locked out Electro-Motive Diesel workers — their situation warrants a call to action.
“I think people … can’t comprehend why this is happening,” Electro-Motive employee Rob White, 49, from London said Sunday.
That simple fact, he said, helped draw the thousands of people who participated in what was dubbed a London Day of Action.
Organizers estimate upwards of 15,000 people headed downtown for the event. Many left the park — where politicians and labour leaders alike called on the federal government to help in the dispute — en route to Oxford Street East locomotive plant, standing on a picket line for hours.
The rally took on the tone of a rock concert at times as a band played on stage and people in the crowd waved union flags, shouting to show support for speakers’ calls to action. Participants included union members from as far away as Illinois and Montreal, workers said.
The excitement carried into Sunday morning with picketing workers talking about the need for everyone to remain united.
“Solidarity” will be key to keeping the momentum going, said Todd Sleeper, 46, of St. Mary’s, an Electro-Motive employee for more than 20 years.
“Its not just our fight,” he said. “It’s everybody’s fight.”
London’s Day of Action (video)
Photos by Mike Maloney/London Community News
By Jonathon Brodie/London Community News
A large crowd — the actual number up for dispute — filled Victoria Park Saturday (Jan. 21) to stand beside 425 locked out union members and fight for an issue everyone at the rally called a national concern.
“Canadians, we have to understand that this fight is our fight. It is our future that is at stake,” said Brianne Jones, a daughter of an Electro-Motive Canada (EMC) worker who took to the stage amidst rowdy shouts of “greed, greed, greed” from the crowd. “We have to build on the progress made by past generations. We can’t afford to go backwards.”
On day 21 of the EMC lockout, thousands of people came out for the demonstration, with some local residents walking just a few blocks to the rally and others driving from as far as the United States to show their support for the unionized workers. Although organizers said there were around 15,000 people at the rally, London police estimated the number at 5,000.
The large crowd started funneling in quickly around 11 a.m. to rally together in around -5 C weather to listen to live music with heavy solidarity themes like the Twisted Sister’s classic We’re Not Gonna Take It.
“We’re here to support people who are suffering right now,” said London resident Daryl Jennings who came to Victoria Park with his wife and two children. Jennings’ kids blended in with the crowd filled with everyone from toddlers with parents to retirees.
“People everywhere are showing their support for what’s going on here and I think that’s a good first step — people being aware of what’s happening,” Jennings added, pointing out supporters from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana at the rally, which was dubbed the London Day of Action for Canadian Jobs.
Those sentiments were shared by many in the crowd.
“These locked-out workers … have families they’re trying to provide for. When the mortgage payment comes in, their mortgage isn’t going from $1,500 to $750. When they go to fill up their vehicles, they’re not paying 60 cents a litre, they have to pay $1.20 a litre,” said Peter Terranova who travelled from Brighton. “How can this company expect, possible expect, to cut their wages to less than 50 per cent. If it’s 50 per cent cut today, what’s the next contract going to be – 50 cents – take it or leave it?
At around 11:30 a.m., the demonstration started with the crowd singing the national anthem before speeches from Canadian Auto Worker Union (CAW) representatives, Ontario Federation Leader (OFL) president Sid Ryan, a family member of an EMC worker, politicians and other labour, public service and justice activists.
When London Mayor Joe Fontana was called to the microphone, joined by most of city council, he was greeted with mild cheers and a few boos from the crowd, but managed to get everyone clapping with one statement.
“Get back to the table Caterpillar, get your [censored] down here Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper … let’s build the best locomotives in the world,” he screamed into the mic working the audience into a frenzy — not that it already wasn’t.
During lull periods between speakers, the crowd would sporadically begin to chant things like, “The interest of Canadians must come first” or “We’re the 99 per cent.”
“We’ve come today my friends to send a signal to Harper,” said Ryan, who had vowed, along with the CAW, to send about 70 full buses from across Ontario to the rally. “To say to Harper, ‘we’re sick and tired of the corporate greed that exists in Canada today and that Caterpillar has now become the poster child for corporate greed’.”
The calling on of Harper became a frequent theme throughout the speeches, demanding the prime minister put a stop to the lockout and force Caterpillar to get back to the negotiation table.
“I’m here, quite frankly, in interest of 425 direct families of the CAW, but another couple thousand spinoff jobs including the salary group of EMC to demand the federal government to use the power of government to preserve jobs,” said Ken Lewenza, CAW president. “And to say to companies like Caterpillar, you can not buy a company in London that’s profitable, (with a) highly skilled, high quality workforce and treat the members as you’re treating them.”
Lewenza closed out the Victoria Park portion of the rally pointing out the lockout is a far bigger problem than just London.
“We send our heart and our commitment to the 450,00 manufacturing workers that have lost their job from one end of the country to the other from no fault of your own … the voice of 15 to 16,000 people are behind you today.”
At around 1:30 p.m., people began to leave the park and the rally moved to street outside the Oxford Street plant.
Spirits remained high on the picket line. Hot dogs and hamburgers were served up, live rock music was played and solidarity songs could be heard from buses rolling in to join the fun.
At around 2:30, supporters hit a peak with about 1,000 people and spread onto the road. Despite an officer trying to keep people off the street, it became unmanageable and police shutdown traffic on Oxford Street East from Clarke Road to Industrial Road.
“This is phenomenal. It sends a message to the prime minister that something’s got to be done about this,” said Paul Bruder, a 23-year worker at EMC, about the huge support all day. “This is outrageous what they’re trying to do to the Canadian workforce. Good paying jobs are going to all disappear if we don’t change things now.
“Harper should be watching.”
For more photos, videos and other information from the rally, visit www.londoncommunitynews.com/2012/01/the-fight-for-canada-gets-underway/
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