Our Goals
Help us drive the Message Home
We are taking the fight for jobs and services up a notch. We are asking folks to join the caravan of vehicles that will travel Ontario’s highways and stop in dozens of your communities to drive this message home.
People and communities are hurting because of job losses and service cuts. Let’s tell the stories behind the statistics.
No one and no community is alone in this struggle. We have solutions. We need you to help us make the government listen.
Join our drive to help protect and to create new jobs for Ontario Workers.
Check our news page daily for updates and video content!!!
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Join us!!!
Join us!!!
Visit our *new* Confederation Park Event page.
We want to tell your stories!!!
Hi everyone, and thanks for your support! We are trying to reach people in different job sectors and in varying demographics! We want to tell your stories!!!If you are having a hard time finding employment, or have been recently downsized or are a recent graduate looking for a job… we want to hear from you!!!It’s easy to tell your story! Grab a webcam, tell your story in about a minute, and post it to youtube!Send us the link and we’ll post your story on our website!Together we can spread the word and save jobs!!!
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Recent Comments
Brian Nault on MICHEAL REDHILL HAMP… on Don Guest 1st VP Bra… on Joel Thelosen on Michelle Hruschka on
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COMEUNITY MUST BE OUR GOAL AND STANDING TOGETHER OUR CATALYST OF CHANGE…HOW CAN WE COMPETE WITH COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT HAVE WORKERS RIGHTS, WAGE RIGHTS, ENVIROMENTAL RIGHTS, WHIMIS ECT..THATS WHAT FREE TRADE DEALS PUT US IN COMPETITION WITH.WE MUST STOP THIS UNBALANCED PRACTICE IMMEDIATELY. WE MUST RAISE THESE COUNTRIES STANDARDS TO OUR, NOT LOWER OURS TO THERES.
WORDS MUSIC SOLIDARITY
Steve Sinnicks will do a personal apperarance for ECP picketers who missed his performance June 22nd at the Labour Centre in Brantford. They were busy dealing with Strike breaking security and the scabs who are bussed across their line ! Steve will be coming back to them tomorrow for thier own show. Many people talk the talk but this is one Brother who walks the walk . all are welcome!
Hello DRV2WRK Hamilton. I’m really excited to be coming to your event on Wednesday! It’s great to see that you’re organizing such an awesome event. All of us in the DRV2WRK Caravan are extremely pleased that we will have Hamilton’s support to build momentum that we can take to Queen’s Park on Thursday! Together we can get results for all Ontarians.
Hello Joel. I met you at Confederation Park Wednesday. I am the single dad, I had the boy Nicholas and girl Celina with me in the video.
Thanks for having patience with Celina while she toured your washroom inside the Caravan RV.
Part of my Journey 2 work is being one of many 75 single parents here at Local 1005 Homes. Thanks so much in listening.
briannault@cia.com
Hi Diana Richmond: Please know that you are not alone, in your struggles. The emotional toll and stress is unbearable. I am sending your family a big hug.
You bring up a very pertinant question: What will happen when EI runs out and there is no job?
Well, you are left with Ontario Works and well that in itself is a very oppressive system. The amounts you will receive are not even liveble. Even if you get work, that penalize your earnings now at 50%, instead of the 100%, they were doing it at. You will have someone constantly reminding you to cut expenses, they do not care about you, you can be cutoff at any time, usually just days before your cheque comes, which adds more stress onto the already stress you have. The system creates more health problems both physically and mentally.
They can force you out to work where you do not get paid, they deem that as training. Workfare is still alive and well.
It is the system that must change.
I am really proud of the organizers of the DRV2WRK caravan it is good to be getting input from everyone not just one communtiy. I feel we have to work together to be heard.
I feel for the young children what do they have to look forward to the future and they are oour future leaders. Also with no jobs what will happen to our communtiies. In our community we heard from the young teenages tell what they feel and it was good to hear their voice.
I sincerely hope that good thing come out of this.
First Nation Edler Diane Richmond from Marathon,Ont,
On June 23rd the DRV 2WRK Caravan will arrive in St Catharines about 4:30 pm. there is A large Band
called(MORE BAD NEWS AND THE HORNS FROM HELL)
also Anne Feeney, Free Food and Drinks for Everyone All are Welcome
The address is CAW hall at 124 Bunting rd St Catharines.
You will not want to miss this Event!
Regards Jim Pasel
The Time has come as seen in the recent Election In the East coast With the NDP winning.
We in Ontario have to send a clear Message to the Provincial Government AND Federal Government that We will not stand for the Laid Back Attitude towards Us as Workers the time is now to Start Using some of our hard earned Tax Dollars Towards Those that need it the most .
Jim Pasel USW
In one small community of 1,000 people. The Drive to work Caravan stopped in, there were 100 people in attendance. That is a huge number to show up in a community so small.
I am proud of my community of Marathon, Ontario when the DRV2WRK caravan came through our community there were over 400+ in attendance. Our paper mill went bankrupt amd my husband who worked there for 29 years lost his severence pay, his holiday day and will probably lose a percentage of his pension that we were looking forward to receive after he retired. For years he took a cut in pay to keep the mill in operation.
This is a major blow to his emotional well being now we have to live off EI of $800 per 2 weeks and that is a big cut in pay. I feel for the families who have young children. What will happen when EI runs out? The government has not given anything to the Forestry and I hope that they do becasue all our mills are shutting down here in North Western Ontario.
I am happy that this caravan is travelling across Ontario hopefully the government will do something when they meet in Queen’s Park on June 25, 2009.
As a Injured Worker Representitive for the Niagara Steelworkers
Area Council. I have seen the numbers increase greatly with injured workers being put out in the street.The employers are saying that they no longer can accomodate them . This is just the beginning for all workers. Their wages and pensions are being stripped as the other countries
Flood the Canadian Market with their low cost wage made products.We need to return to a Canadian content law to
Protect our Livelyhood and the future of our Children.
WAKE UP CANADA BEFORE IT IS TO LATE.
Hi Jim: Yes, what are talking about seems to be the trend these days. If these injuried workers can not find jobs, then they will be forced to wallow on Ontario Works and fight with ODSP for about three years if they actually get disability benefts, which while it is a little better then OW, it clearly is not enough.
Maybe some heat should be directed towards WSIB, since they are reforming. But to be honest even when one,looks at their policy statements, the reality is far away from thier words.
Hi Michelle
I agree some heat should be put on towards WSIB and we will Continue our Fight to protect Injured Workers Rights
Jim Pasel USW
Society: We NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE
The CEOs getting millions say they can wait for the recovery.
We need MANUFACTURING NOT NATION WRECKING .You should be able to LOOK IN YOUR KIDS EYES and tell them everything will be okay.We create the wealth. Whether it’s CARS, Steel or anything manufacturing. We have something tangible. We should use the new wealth for HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND WAGES. We have the resources. We need a government that will look after the Society. We will LOVE the politicians that PUT PEOPLE FIRST, the ones that don’t will be thrown out. Get out and talk to your neighbor. It all starts in your back yard. We need people to have the conviction. Talk about what we should do. We will have a future for our kids.
People and communities are hurting because of job losses and service cuts. No one and no community is alone in this struggle. Let’s tell the stories behind the statistics. We have solutions. We need you to help us make the
government listen.
WE NEED EMERGENCY LEGISLATION Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought we were told that the trade agreements would lift Mexico and other countries out of poverty through our deals, I thought we would raise their rights: environmental, workers and wage rights… however it seems that they have lowered ours, because the countries and corporations are not raising the bar in these countries, they are using these country’s lack of workers rights, lack of environmental and wage rights to force us to compete at their levels or lose our manufacturing jobs to them. Why is nobody pointing this obvious injustice out???
Hi Mike: Good question, but then the answer to that is too easy or too obvious. The masses have been lulled to sleep but hopefully now they will wake up to see what the many, the poor, the working poor, the disabled have gone through for years on end.
Wake up people it is our leaders that put us into this situation, think SPP, NAFTA!!!
They have to look beyond the current political system, that has forgetten that it is suppose to represent the people.
Hi everyone: I am the chair for a grassroots group in Hamilton, the temp workers rights/action group in Hamilton. Temp work is not the answer, low wages, no benefits, no job protection and no job security.
Many workers trapped in this industry are some of the most marginalized workers and struggle just to make ends meet.
Ontario works (welfare) forces people out into this job market, they give you no choice, it is either take the job or be cut off and live in either the streets or the shelters. They do not care one bit what happens to you or your family.
Our leaders have failed us and I for one am tired that they get to live the good life while stepping on the people. Reform and leadership from the grassroots is the way forward to have our voices heard. All workers must stand up for each other.
I don’t have to sit & wait I have already become a VICTIM of this tragedy along with my UNION BROTHERS& SISTERS. I have worked in the manufacturing industry for the last 36 yrs.thru which I have gone thru 3 plant closures and currently I am engaged in a 9 month long bitter strike with my current employer ECP LTD.Previously I worked at ICP FOR 20 yrs.(FORMERLY KEEPRITE) until they moved the business south of our border and I worked at Gates Rubber for 2 yrs before they did the same thing there as well .We as PROUD Canadian workers MUST make a STAND NOW before there is NOTHING LEFT TO FIGHT FOR. I for one should be winding down my working career and planning my RETIREMENT but here I am after 36 yrs. of working hard all my life I DON’T KNOW WHAT TOMMORROW WILL BRING ME .I NOT ONLY WORRY FOR MYSELF BUT WHAT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE FOR MY CHILDREN.My current employer is trying to not only steal back WAGES he also wants my holidays back WHY STOP THERE YES HE ALSO WANTS TO GUT MY PENSION co-pay BENEFITS TOO SURE WHY NOT … LONGER WORK HOURS TOO so I CAN BE AWAY FROM MY FAMILY MORE TOO yea why not, all this and while were at it let’s freeze everything for 5 years.I’m not looking for any kind of SYMPATHY but WE all need to wake up and take a good look at what’s in our future if we sit back & do nothing.I BELIEVE WHAT WE ARE GOING THRU AT OUR PLANT THERE IS GOING TO MORE OF THE SAME ACROSS THIS COUNTRY UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE.FOR 9 MONTHS WE HAVE HAD NO HELP FROM OUR GOVERNMENT at any level in fact I have always felt this STRIKE was the right thing to do and for doing that WE have been treated like CRIMINALS from day one . TAKE WHAT YOU WANT FROM MY STORY and HOPEFULLY TOGETHER WE WILL HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR FUTURES FOR THE BETTER…IN SOLIDARITY I WILL ALWAYS REMAIN … THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITNESS TO MY STORY I TRULY HOPE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE …
Iam a Steelworker local 1-500 from BRANTFORD ONT.I am currently involved in a 9 MONTH long strike against my employer ECP LTD.I have spent the last 36 yrs. working in the manufacturing industry , at which time I’ve been thru 3 plant closures… ICP(FORMERLY KEEPRITE)&GATES RUBBER plant being the most recent of them . I spent 20 yrs. at ICP & over 2 yrs at GATES RUBBER. i HAVE WORKED AT ECP FOR THE LAST 14yrs. &the way things are going there I may not have a future there either.
We are ready for the caravan to arrive from hospital workers in Welland to Port Colborne and Fort Erie, as well as all workers in the Niagara area who are worried about their future.
We cannot idly sit back and let our future be destroyed.
Stand UP, be there, have a say that cannot be ignored.
It is time we all speak our minds, it’s time we all step up to the plate and get involved! We cannot sit and wait until we are victims of this economic breakdown and inadequate response from our governments. Politicians will not be able to ignore this grassroots movement. Thanks for joining us! Everyone is welcome! Come tell your stories, together we will make sure they are no longer ignored!