OFL 2009 » Economy

Put people first for economic recovery: Horwath

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:49:34 +0000

It will take innovative thinking and putting people first to get the economy back on track, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath told delegates.

Government has a decisive role to play in using investment dollars for good jobs, green jobs, and Ontario- and Canadian-made products, she said. Despite “playing by the rules”, Canadian families are falling behind with four out of five of them living on less money than they had a generation ago.

Governments have abandoned the middle class and encouraged a growing gap between “the fortunate few” and working women and men, she said.

Economic recovery must include good jobs and other supports, including pension security, training and education, and employment insurance that “really covers you from job to job”.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath enters convention hall to address delegates.

Unions are first and last lines of defence for many

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:11:37 +0000

Unions have to keep defending workers’ rights and elect political leaders who will do the same, CLC executive vice-president Barb Byers told delegates this morning.

As job losses continue to mount, and private sector workers struggle with unemployment and lost pensions, corporate leaders “are setting their sights” on the public sector.

“If they can silence us, they will have removed the first and the last lines of defense that many of our members and our community allies have,” said Byers.

She talked about the need to change the employment insurance program and pensions. Workers and communities across the country are suffering, and things are getting tougher for equity groups.

“The gains of women, workers of colour, Aboriginal workers, and workers with disabilities over the past 20 years are being wiped out by the effects of corporate greed,” she said.

More of the same – Video

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:04:32 +0000

Economic downturn bound to continue because governments are offering more of what caused the problem in the first place says OFL president Wayne Samuelson.

Billions for the banks, nothing for the workers – Video

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:28:25 +0000

Where there’s a will, there are billions of dollars, according to OFL president Wayne Samuelson. It’s outrageous that governments could find so much money to help banks, but not unemployed workers.

Video premiere: Stories behind the statistics

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:17:50 +0000

A 12-minute video featuring faces and voices from the OFL’s Drive to Work campaign premiered at the OFL convention today. Directed by videographer Joel Thelosen, the video tells the story of job loss and devastation in Ontario communities.

At more than 100 events in 53 communities, working people, unemployed, young people, and labour and community leaders shared their own stories behind the statistics.

Videographers, photographers, writers, and bloggers chronicled the 3,000-km trek. Musician Steve Sinnicks did double duty, driving a motor home and entertaining at stops. Music for the video, Tied Down, is an original tune (Sinnicks Hutchinson Petzelt).

Lyrics: Tied Down

I was born union

And I’ll die union

And I’m here because a union

Was strong when I was younger

When it’s ‘eat what you kill’

Or steal from your brother

And I guess I believe in something other

Something better

Still believe in welfare

Still pay my taxes

And any other measure

That’ll even out the classes

And I guess I believe in somethin’ other

Somethin’ better

So keep it tied down

Keep it tied down

For somethin’ better

Somethin’ other