OFL 2009 » Forums and other

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

Pre-convention news

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:20:08 +0000

Forum to better connect unions and communities of colour

The economic crisis has hit workers of colour harder than others. Community and labour activists are examining this disproportionate effect at a forum in Toronto, Saturday, Nov. 21. The event is at the Sheraton Centre where labour delegates from across Ontario will gather at the OFL convention for the week of Nov. 23 to set direction and policy for the coming two years on many issues, including on the equity front.

“What the employment statistics from the past year tell us is that while all Ontarians are struggling, racialized workers and their families have been hit especially hard,” says OFL executive vice-president Terry Downey, who is a forum co-chair. “Racialized workers have seen disproportionately larger increases in unemployment rates and disproportionately larger decreases in employment income.”

Co-chairing with Downey is Avvy Go, Clinic Director of the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic. Although racialized workers could achieve greater job security and better pay from unionization, they are less likely to be union members, according to Go.

“We need to examine why that is so, and together, develop solutions to build communication and co-operation between communities,” she says. “The forum will allow activists from unions and racialized communities to develop a common action plan that will bring about positive solutions that will benefit all workers. It will promote a green-collar, substainable economy that includes good jobs for all.”

Lots going on off the convention floor too

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:29:35 +0000

Here’s a list of events beyond the official convention proceedings.

Women’s Forum

Monday, Nov. 23

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Civic Ballroom

Human Rights Forum

Tuesday, Nov. 24

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Civic Ballroom

Youth Forum

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Civic Ballroom North

Aboriginal Circle

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

City Hall Room

Celebration Tribute

6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009

Grand Ballroom

OFL’s five-day convention opens Monday, Nov. 23, 2009

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:07:54 +0000

Union delegates from across Ontario are in Toronto for the week of Nov. 23 for the OFL convention. It’s held every two years to set policy and elect leaders.

We’re tweeting, y’know

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:11:26 +0000

You can find us on Twitter. Just search for ontariolabour. We’ll be tweeting all Convention long, so follow us or add our RSS feed to your website or feed reader. And if you’re tweeting from or about convention, end your tweets with #ofl2009 so they’ll show up with all of the others.