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MESSAGE FROM LABOUR COUNCIL
Communications APRIL 9 - RESPECT our COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC SERVICES, GOOD JOBS What's Next APRIL 9 - RESPECT our COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC SERVICES, GOOD JOBS What an amazing day! Yes we can easily say that ten thousand people turned out to start the fightback against the policies being pursued by the Ford regime at City Hall. From the great speakers and performers at Dundas Square, to the spirited march the filled Yonge Street for blocks, to the final rally at City Hall square - it was simply breathtaking. Torontonians heard from community voices talking about the importance of city services and good jobs. They included: Kay Bisnath, the Chair of the Gordonridge Scarborough Chapter of Toronto ACORN since 2006. Brian Demareski grew up in Regent Park/Cabbagetown and has been a solid waste worker for the City of Toronto since 1997. He was flanked by fellow CUPE 416 members Tony Ramdeen and Leslie Frost, and by CUPE 79 members Alexandra Pinosa who teaches aquatics and cleaner Trish O'Brien. Bishara Mohamed and Catherine Wilkinson, TCHC tenants and active members of Tenants for Social Housing. Sabrina "Butterfly" Gopaul, a grassroots community activist speaking on behalf of Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty and the Green Change anti-poverty movement. Krisna Saravanamuttu, President of York Federation of Students, active in the Tamil community and a life-long public transit user. They were joined on stage by OFL President Sid Ryan and ATU Local 113's Bob Kinnear. The rally co-chairs were Labour Council President John Cartwright and Winnie Ng of the Good Jobs for All coalition. Thanks goes out to everyone for helping to make this day an overwhelming success. Unions and community groups who brought out great numbers, leaders who helped inspire the possibility of this happening, and staff of the different organizations who worked so hard in so many ways. ********************************** What's Next • City Council deals with the proposed "Core Services Review" this week, which many regard as a Trojan Horse for privatization and service cuts. In response to the April 9th rally, Mayor Rob Ford has promised extensive consultation; it will be more than interesting to see how that process rolls out. This report will come back in the fall, and will form the basis of how the 2012 budget will be shaped to deal with at least $775-million shortfall that is being made worse by the tax freeze and tax cuts. • On Thursday, April 26th, the City's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee will decide on the Mayor's proposal to privatize all recycling and garbage collection west of Yonge Street. The majority of the committee are expected to go along with his plan, even though the numbers don't make sense. The cost of collection in Toronto averages $79 per ton, lower than the Ontario average of $103 and far less than private collection in other GTA municipalities. The committee needs to hear from a broad range of Toronto residents that privatization is a bad idea. If you want to make a deputation, send an email request to the Clerk at pwic@toronto.ca This issue will be voted on by City Council on May 17/18th. City Council Chambers need to be full to hold every councillor to account on this key issue. At some point the Police Services Board will report on the suggestion of Councillor Frances Nunziata to contract out all cleaning of police stations. Get ready to respond to that fight against turning decent jobs into poverty jobs. |