Mobilizing against austerity in every community
CUPE Ontario Convention 2015 Thursday, May 28, 2015 Historic fights against concessions FiveCUPElocalsinOntariohave takenstrongstandsagainst concessiondemandsoverthepast year. Mobilizing against austerity in every community CUPEOntarioPresidentFredHahn kickedoffConventionon Wednesdaymorningwithan electrifyingspeechthatpledgedto defendpublicservicesandpublic employeesfromtheausterity agenda,andprotectOntario’s publicpowerfromprivatization. “Thehydrogridistherebecause ourparentsandgrandparents boughtandpaidforitwiththeir taxes.Itbelongstoallofus,”Hahn toldthethousanddelegateswho packedtheSheratonCentretohear hisspeech. Injustafewshortweeks,we’ve broughttogethertheKeepHydro PublicCoalition,andareworking closelywithAndreaHorwathand theNDPtoholdPremierKathleen WynneandLiberalgovernmentto account,headded. Ahugeandgrowingmajorityof Ontariansopposethesale,which willendpublicownership, oversightandaccountability.Itwill alsocostushundredsofmillionsin lostrevenuesanddriveuphydro rates.Higherrateswillbeadirect hitonoperatingbudgetsforthe servicesweprovide,meaningmore layoffsandservicecutsinevery sector. WemustmobilizeacrossOntarioto fightthissale,aswemobilizedin recordnumbersduringthe provincialandmunicipalelections. Thestrengthofourmovementwas proveninAlberta,wherelabour helpedelectanNDPgovernment. “IftheNDPcanbeelectedtoa majorityafterfortyyearsof Conservatives,runningona progressiveplatformofraising corporatetaxesandrollingback cutsineducation,anythingis possible,”hesaid,adding,“Weare oneelectionawayfroman enhancedCanadaPensionPlan, fromcorporationspayingtheirfair shareintaxes,fromanationalchild caresystem,thelistgoesonand on.” BrotherHahnalsopaidtributeto municipalworkersanduniversity workerswereonpicketlinesinthe pastyearandstrikingCityof Londonemployeeswhobegana strikelastweektodefendtheir collectiveagreements. InJune,DurhamRegioncouncil targetedtheEMSsickleaveplan forLocal1764members.Itwasan attempttodividealocal,but membersstoodtogetherthrough adifficultstrikethatheldback sickleaveconcessionsforthevery peoplewhoprotectourhealth. Twomonthslater,inAugust,22 membersofCUPELocal1490in BlackRiver‐Mathesonwere lockedoutbythemunicipality afterrefusingdemandsforshift changesthatwouldhavemeant membersneverhavingaweekend offwiththeirfamilies. Throughthewinter,CUPELocal 3902attheUniversityofToronto andLocal3903atYorkUniversity bothtookbravestandsagainst precariousworkandpoverty‐ levelcompensation.Thousandsof membersstoodresoluteand achievedimportantgainsthatwill raisethebarforcontractfaculty andteachingandgraduate assistants.Local3903alsowonan importantvictorytoincludeLGBT membersinemploymentequity language. Today,CUPELocal101, representingmunicipalworkers inLondon,isontheirfirststrike since1979.Theyarefighting managementattemptstogutthe collectiveagreement’slanguage onhoursofwork,jobevaluation, promotions,andcuttingretiree benefits.AtConvention,locals fromacrosstheprovincepledged supportforoursistersand brothersinLondon. T hursday, May 28, 2015 Together, let’s build a better Ontario: Moist CUPENationalPresidentPaulMoist praisedCUPEOntario’ssuccesson thepoliticalfrontandatthe bargainingtableduringhisaddress toconventiondelegates. HesalutedCUPEOntariomembers whohavebeenonthepicketline overthepastyear,thankingthem forstandingupforfairnessatthe bargainingtable.Moistsaidthat fightcontinuesforallCUPEOntario members. “Byfar,ourbiggestchallengehere inOntarioistheprovince’sausterity agendaandtheirmovement towardsprivatization,”saidMoist, callingoutOntarioLiberal’swasting ofover$8billiononP3s,andmoves toprivatizetheprovince’shydro utility. “CUPEstandsopposedto privatizationofHydroOne.Itwill driveupratesandwillhurtthe Ontarioeconomy,”saidMoist.“We didn’tacceptthiswhenMikeHarris triedthisandwewon’tacceptit now!” Moistalsorallieddelegatestothe otherfrontinthefightagainst austeritytheupcomingfederal election. Health and Safety Award WHOA, CHECK OUT THIS FINE EXEMPLAR OF DEMOCRACY TAKING PLACE ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR JUST THIS MORNING, “Wehaveanopportunitytovote forthegovernmentwewantand getit,theopportunitytoelectour firstNDPfederalgovernment,with TomMulcairasourPrime Minister,”saidMoist,whocalled onalldelegatestogobacktotheir localsandtalktotheirmembers aboutvotingforabetter,fairer, moreequalCanada. “Wewanttotalkaboutvotingfor thekindofCanadayouwantfor yourselfandyourfamily,”said Moist.“Together,let’sbeactivein votingforchangeweallbelievein. Together,let’sbuildabetter Ontario.” KathyMacKinnonfromLocal7800 receivedthisyear’sCUPEOntario HealthandSafetyAward. For25years,SisterKathyhas servedonlocalandjointhealthand safetycommittees,representing morethan3800membersatsix hospitalsandfivesatellitesitesin HamiltonHealthSciences. AsbestosisakeyissueforSister KathyandmembersinHHS,which hasmorethan300acresofasbestos initsbuildings.Shespentyears fightingtheemployer,resultingtwo yearsagoinchargesandfines totalling$19,000. LastSeptember,shecameinfrom vacationbecausetheemployerwas notpreparedtoadequatelyprotect workersdealingwithpatientswith Ebola‐likesymptoms. AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS Day 2 9:00 Call to Order Secretary-Treasurer's Report Candace Rennick Guest Speaker Lucia McKeever, President, UNISON Noon- Rally 2:00 pm Call to Order Sisters in Solidarity Award National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury 5:00 pm All Candidates' Forum 7:00 pm International Solidarity Forum cope343
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