Local 1000A President Pearl Sawyer led a strong local union delegation, including members, activists, and staff, to Queen’s Park on April 21 to protest the Ontario government’s original proposed budget, which put the needs of corporations ahead of those of working families.
"Many of our members work part-time and depend on the very services this government threatens to cut,"said Local 1000A president Pearl Sawyer. “Those in power need to know working families are already struggling across Ontario and protecting the rich at the expense of these families through these cuts is not the answer to a prosperous Ontario."
Held three days before the budget vote, the ‘We Are Ontario’ rally drew 15,000 participants and helped put pressure on the government to alter its original budget. With input and guidance from Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, the budget now includes a 2 per cent tax on Ontario residents who make more than $500,000, as well as millions in additional funding for child care, northern and rural hospital and welfare and disability benefits.
Local 1000A activist Glacier Samuel said working people need to stand together to have their voices and struggles heard.
“The more people that come out and show the government and the corporations that we are not going to stand for the attacks against the middle class and that we support people making a decent living, the more they will think twice about the path they are going down,” Samuel said.
Diane Wilmot, another Local 1000A activist, said it’s unfair that working class are facing cuts.
“The government needs to work with the working class people and not against them.”
Click here for a thank you letter from Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan.
