Canada
Toronto municipal union accepts Mayor Ford’s layoff and privatization-promoting contract
By Carl Bronski, February 10, 2012
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has accepted a “framework” contract for outside municipal workers that includes virtually every item on the Toronto mayor’s concessionary agenda—beginning with the gutting of job security.
Fight Ontario Caterpillar plant closure! Unite North American workers against wage-cutting!
By Keith Jones, February 9, 2012
Caterpillar's decision to close its London, Ontario locomotive plant exemplifies the ruthlessness of big business and the urgency of workers in North America and around the world uniting their struggles against the corporate offensive on jobs, wages and workers’ rights.
CAW begins talks on closing Ontario Caterpillar plant
By Keith Jones, February 9, 2012
Last Friday, Caterpillar announced that it was transforming a six-week-old lockout of the 465 CAW members employed at the train locomotive assembly facility into a plant closure.
Caterpillar to close Ontario locomotive plant where workers resisted wage cut
By Keith Jones, February 4, 2012
Caterpillar subsidiary Electro-Motive Diesel has announced that it is transforming the lockout at its London, Ontario diesel-locomotive manufacturing facility into a plant closure.
Ontario premier feigns support for locked out Electro-Motive workers
By Keith Jones, February 2, 2012
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s intervention in the Electro-Motive lockout is a reactionary ploy. His aim is to assist the CAW in securing a concessions–filled contract and enlist the cooperation of Ontario’s unions in imposing sweeping social spending cuts.
Canada: Conservatives’ reactionary “tough on crime” bill soon to become law
By Ed Patrick, January 31, 2012
A top priority of Canada’s Conservative government is to pass an omnibus anti-crime bill replete with socially regressive measures. Taken together, these measures represent a wholesale repudiation of the notion of rehabilitation, in favor of punishment and vengeance.
Canada’s Harper outlines class war agenda at Davos forum
By Keith Jones, January 28, 2012
In a speech to the Davos World Economic Forum, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed Thursday that his Conservative government will pursue a social policy counter-revolution—austerity and tax cuts, radical regressive restructuring of public health care and pensions, and deregulation.
“We need every worker from around the world to have a day of action against Caterpillar”
By a WSWS reporting team, January 23, 2012
Locked-out Electro-Motive workers and their supporters spoke to the WSWS at a January 21 support rally in London, Ontario.
Thousands rally to support Ontario Electro-Motive workers
By Carl Bronski, January 23, 2012
Ten thousand workers and young people rallied in London, Ontario last Saturday to support workers at the local Caterpillar-owned diesel locomotive plant who have been locked out after refusing to accept a more than 50 percent cut in pay.
Some hard truths about the unions’ “Day of Action” for Ontario Electro-Motive workers
By Keith Jones, January 21, 2012
Almost exactly one year ago, union and NDP leaders gave fiery speeches at a “Day of Action” organized to support locked-out US Steel workers in Hamilton, Ontario. They then systematically isolated the steelworkers’ struggle, ultimately imposing a concessions-laden contract on them.
Quebec: Lockout of workers at Rio Tinto Alcan smelter in third week
By Eric Marquis, January 17, 2012
Rio Tinto Alcan, the world’s largest producer of aluminum, has locked out 750 workers at its Alma, Quebec smelter since December 31.
The way forward for locked-out Ontario Electro-Motive workers
By Carl Bronski, January 17, 2012
While workers at the London, Ontario Electro-Motive plant are steadfastly resisting sweeping concession demands, including a 55 percent wage cut, the CAW has signaled to the company it is ready to negotiate a concessions-laden contract.
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