Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 12:08:31 -0700
From: David McNally <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Sue Collis to Buzz Hargrove
Sue Collis has agreed that her letter of 11 days ago to Buzz Hargrove can
now be circulated publicly. I think it speaks for itself. -- David
July 16th, 2001
Buzz Hargrove, President Canadian Auto Workers National 205 Placer Court,
Toronto by fax, hard copy to follow
Dear Brother Hargrove,
We have been advised that funding through the CAW National has been
terminated. I am under the impression that the decision is final, but will
not be made public until next week. We will respect your right to make your
announcement and will reserve our public position until that time.
In the interim, I will take this opportunity to clarify our organization's
stand with respect to the broader movement, and the values which guide our
decision- making processes.
OCAP holds a reputation for responding to issues in a degree proportionate
to the seriousness of any given situation. This has led us to develop a
system where we are able to address the day-to-day realities of poverty our
constituents experience. Through what we term 'direct action casework', we
are able to successfully resolve disputes by avoiding the lengthy delays of
reviews, appeals and tribunals that often mean the difference between
maintaining housing, or being forced onto the streets. This tactic, we
feel, is justified by the urgent and immediate needs of the people we
represent and the consequences they face without our intervention. These
decisions are made every day on a case-by-case basis and are acted upon with
consistency and discipline.
It is acknowledged that this component of our mandate best serves our client
base and is reinforced by our ongoing success. CAW members have shared in
these successes and have had an important hand in helping to stop many cruel
and unjust deportations in the last year. I believe also, that they have
been profoundly touched by the circumstances, terrible risk and courage of
the parents and children they have met. Notwithstanding this success, as
caseworkers, we have become aware of a tremendous increase in the number of
cases, and personal experiences of tragedy and indignity. It has been
resolved, through our membership, that the mandate of the organization must
be to seek resolution to the policies and legislation that gives rise to
these circumstances, and not simply increase the numbers of caseworkers
proportionately to the results of government cutbacks.
It is this second mandate of the organization that has led to the call for a
'fall campaign of economic disruption' against the Harris Government. The
last six years in Ontario have been characterized by policy after policy
causing dramatic, widespread and increasing hardship. In this context, the
resistance that people are forced take up becomes equally more pitched. This
situation calls for the development of politically sophisticated actions and
campaigns that seek to substantially change and improve people's lives
rather than simply register our dissent. When allies are involved, as with
the fall campaign, a broader coalition is formed to assess the situation and
to troubleshoot potential conflicts and outcomes. I acknowledge your
justified concerns surrounding the action in Whitby, and specifically the
references made with regards to CAW involvement. At a recent meeting, OCAP
organizers, myself included, apologized to the staffers, flying squad
leaders and members present surrounding the CAW association to OCAP and the
press release issued and I am extending that same regret to you.
>From this meeting, it was made clear that larger, more involved actions,
require the greatest amount of care and consultation with our allies and we
will continue to welcome that input from all levels with the broader struggle.
The funding from the CAW Brother/Sisterhood is the largest single donation
that we receive each year and there can be no doubt the withdrawal of those
funds will have an immediate impact on our overall operations, ability to
pay staff and defend the families and others who depend on the services
provided by OCAP.
To clarify any misunderstandings, the organizers and members of OCAP do not
take pleasure in engaging in actions such as that Whitby, but see it as a
necessity, given the very real daily lives of those looking for help.
Leading up to Whitby, three women in four days, from an Indian Reserve hung
themselves, just prior to the community asking for our help. The last death
was that of a 12 year old girl who took her own life because she had not
eaten in days and had no real belief that her situation would change.
In these circumstances, I will not denounce the actions taken in Whitby, but
rather present them for your consideration. I do not expect that this will
serve as a basis for the CAW to change its decision with respect to funding,
however, given our long relationship of involvement in each others struggle,
I thought it appropriate and respectful to provide you with the real
circumstances to this particular action and to thank the board for its past
financial support.
Yours in solidarity,
Sue Collis, Organizer Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
Cc Peggy Nash
..................................................................
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 11:55:31 -0700
From: David McNally <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: OCAP Allies update
OCAP ALLIES UPDATE
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The campaign for economic disruption against the Harris government is
now truly up and running. While various difficulties have been
encountered over the last month (some of which I discuss below), it
seems fair to say that none of these have been able to stop the build-up
of momentum behind the fall campaign. What follows are a series of
updates that should spread information and help with local organizing
efforts.
1. Building the Ontario Common Front
A very successful organizing meeting was held in Toronto last Saturday,
July 21st. Over 50 activists came together to strategize and organize. A
series of committees were struck dealing with Outreach and Publicity;
Organizing for October 16th in Toronto and build-up actions; Continuing
actions (particularly outside Toronto); Legal Work; Research; and
Billeting.
The consensus in the Outreach committee seemed to favour calling the
campaign "The Ontario Common Front." Campaign materials – posters and
leaflets in particular – are being prepared using this name.
An excellent set of proposals was developed for the action against the
downtown financial district in Toronto on October 16th. Planning will
continue at the next meeting, Saturday, August 11 from 2-5 PM. Contact
OCAP for further information.
2. Support for Campaign Grows
At least 60 organizations have now endorsed the economic disruption
campaign. These include:
· Labour councils in Guelph, North Bay, Stratford and Toronto
· CUPE-Ontario
· CUPE Area Council, Toronto
· Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Sudbury and Toronto locals
· CAW Locals 88 and 4451 and CAW flying squads
· Steelworkers Local 5338
· Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation
· Hamilton-Wentworth Elementary Teachers Federation
· The Mohawk Nation
· Mobilization for Global Justice, Toronto
· Anti-Racist Action
· Employment Standards Working Group
· The Committee to Stop Targeted Policing
· Niagara Network for Social Justice
· Sudbury Coalition for Global Justice
· Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty
· Belleville Tenants Action Group
· Hamilton Fight Back Committee
· Low Income Needs Coalition, Kingston
· Chatham Organizing Committee
· Windsor Organizing Committee
· York University Faculty Association
If you know of organizations that ought to join this list, please
contact OCAP.
3. Buzz Hargrove pulls financial support
Many of you will now be aware that Buzz Hargrove, national president of
the CAW, has publicly announced termination of the CAW’s financial
support to OCAP. On behalf of OCAP Allies groups, Cathy Crowe and Kathy
Hardill, both of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, and I met with
Hargrove ten days ago to try to dissuade him from this course of action.
We left that meeting very disappointed with Hargrove’s approach to
solidarity relations with OCAP.
Following Hargrove’s public announcement yesterday, John Clarke told
the Toronto Star "We have great respect for the CAW and we’ll continue
to work with the CAW and its members as best we can." At the same time,
he also stated that he was "saddened that the national president of the
CAW places so much concern on Jim Flaherty’s furniture" (Toronto Star,
July 27, 2001).
It is worth noting that Hargrove took this move despite having received
an eloquent and moving letter from OCAP organizer Sue Collis that
apologized for confusion and mistakes around the action at the finance
minister’s constituency office in Whitby.
OCAP will soon be announcing plans to try to make up the $10,000 loss
that Hargrove’s decision represents. At the same time, many rank and
file CAW activists have reaffirmed their commitment to OCAP and the fall
campaign.
4. Organizing moves forward outside Toronto
A number of steps forward in building the Ontario Common Front have
also taken place outside Toronto in recent weeks:
· SUDBURY – Two meetings, the most recent with OCAP organizer Shawn
Brant and Jaggi Singh of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC), have
taken place in the last month to build the campaign. The Sudbury and
District Labour Council has also voted to support "economic disruption"
against the Harris government and to form flying squads to that end.
· OTTAWA – A meeting of just over 100 people took place on July 24 with
John Clarke as guest speaker. The campaign received extensive coverage
in the Ottawa Citizen and on local CBC. Ottawa activists have now formed
the Ottawa Committee Against the Tories (OCAT) through which they will
build the campaign.
· CHATHAM-KENT – Local labour activists are organizing a fund-raising
event for OCAP this Sunday, July 29 and a press conference the next day
to announce support for the fall campaign in their area.
· HAMILTON – The Hamilton Fight Back Committee is well on the road of
planning its October actions, having held an effective meeting recently.
They can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
· GUELPH – In addition to strong support from the Labour Council, local
activists are planning a major public forum on August 22 to build the
campaign.
In sum, then, the Ontario Common Front for economic disruption of the
Harris agenda is up and running. With so much happening, we can look
forward to an exciting fall. Feel free to get back to me if you need
more information. Or contact OCAP at 416-925-6939, or by email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In solidarity – David McNally
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Bob Olsen Toronto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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