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<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman">SUBJECT: <STRONG>London Day of Action
Against Caterpillar Inc: Saturday, January 21 @ 11:00 a.m.<BR></STRONG>> …
ALL OUT to support CAW Local 27<BR>> <BR>> Dear Sisters and
Brothers,<BR>> <BR>> Caterpillar Inc. is attempting to bulldoze Canadian
workers. It is time to fight back!<BR>> <BR>> Electro-Motive, a subsidiary
of U.S. industrial giant Caterpillar Inc., wants to strong-arm workers into a
pay cut of over 50%, dropping hourly wages from $35 to $16.50. It has also
leveled devastating cuts to benefits and pensions at the members of CAW Local 27
even though the company has enjoyed billions in profit and a 20 percent boost to
production over the last year.<BR>> <BR>> The labour movement must come
together to defend these workers and stop Caterpillar dead in its tracks. It’s
time that organized labour began to militantly push back against every greedy
employer – whether in the private or public sector – that is attacking good jobs
and retirement security for current and future employees.<BR>> <BR>> The
OFL is calling on every affiliate to help mobilize for a massive Day of Action
Against Caterpillar in London on Saturday, January 21 at 11:00 am to support the
members of CAW Local 27. The rally will take place at 2021 Oxford St. East in
London, Ontario (between Clark Rd and Industrial Rd).<BR>> <BR>> In the
lead-up to the rally, we need every affiliate to begin mobilizing quickly and
aggressively to fill buses to London with your members and community allies, no
matter where they are in the province.<BR>> <BR>> Print and online
materials will be distributed over the weekend and early next week. However, you
should waste no time in booking buses to London and appointing staff and
activists to begin spreading the word to sign up your members and community
allies for the buses.<BR>> <BR>> This is pivotal moment in the history of
labour! Employers of all types in the public and private sectors are
collaborating in an aggressive assault on decent paying jobs, good benefits and
retirement security. The consequences could mean the destruction of the middle
class and a ballooning of the working poor. Everywhere we turn, employers are
seeking major concessions from dedicated workers that are designed to convert
good jobs into precarious and temporary ones. The same issues have recurred
again and again over the past two years at U.S. Steel, ECP, Vale Inco, Canada
Post, Air Canada, and even the City of Toronto. There is no doubt that greedy
foreign-owned companies like Electro-Motive/Caterpillar and others are
attempting to set a precedent by exploiting Canada’s lax labour laws and
shameful domestic investment protections to break unions and usher in a new era
of precarious work and record corporate profits.<BR>> <BR>> Take these
extra steps to help make the London Day of Action a success:<BR>> • Pass an
emergency motion at your meeting to support the Jan. 21 Day of Action;<BR>> •
Appoint a staff member to coordinate your union’s mobilization;<BR>> •
Outreach to community allies, in particular any local Occupy Activists, to
connect our issues in the battle against corporate greed;<BR>> • Bring your
own signs, banners and union flags to show support; and<BR>> • Secure funding
from your union for buses from your community.<BR>> <BR>> Send contact
information for your union’s designated Day of Action Organizer to the OFL to
coordinate your union’s participation. Questions about mobilizing, logistics and
bus registration should be directed to:<BR>> Laurie Hardwick, Director of
Organization Services<BR>> 416-571-3087<BR>>
lhardwick@ofl.ca<UrlBlockedError.aspx><BR>> <BR>> More details on
the London Day of Action Against Caterpillar Inc. will follow shortly but it is
crucial that you begin mobilizing immediately to make this rally bigger than
last year’s Hamilton and Toronto Days of Action. The future of Ontario jobs
depends on it.<BR>> <BR>> I look forward to seeing you all on the streets
of London.<BR>> <BR>> In solidarity,<BR>> <BR>> SID RYAN<BR>>
President<BR>> Ontario Federation of Labour<BR>> <BR>>
SR/kn:cope343<BR>> <BR><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>