THUNDER BAY – Ontario is about to be “Occupied”. The Occupy Wall Street movement is spreading to Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Labour’s Sid Ryan says, “I am sure that many of you have been following the epic Occupy Wall Street protests that are now entering their third week and the similar actions that have spread throughout the United States. This is a truly exciting movement that represents a new kind of grass roots organizing that is taking its lead from similar tactics and outreach strategies used in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Greece, the UK and elsewhere. Broadly speaking, this is an organic movement that is opposing the austerity agenda that sees governments cooperating with corporations to download the financial crisis onto the backs of working people. This is very much in line with the struggles union members have been confronting at the bargaining table and in our campaigns to defend the next generation of workers. In the US, the AFL-CIO has supported the protests. We are currently coordinating with the CLC to determine how Canadian labour unions can best support the protests that will begin this weekend”.
Ryan adds, “We have been approached by some of the organizers of “Occupy” events with a request that rather than organizing and mobilizing the events, labour unions provide solidarity and support for these grass roots actions, while encouraging our members to participate in local events as individual workers. The OFL and CLC will be providing some in-kind support to local organizers, where possible, and I hope that you will all encourage your union activists to get involved in local events”.
The OFL shares, “In Toronto, protesters will be converging at King Street and York Street at 10 a.m. In Windsor, union members will be converging at the Old Windsor Arena at 11 a.m. and joining the central convergence at the City Hall Park at noon”.
While there have been reports of an Occupy Thunder Bay, there are no details as yet.