>Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 22:10:04 -0400 >From: Marc Collister and Lianne Black <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: OW-WATCH-L OFL and Workfare >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: (Name WithHeld) > >Hello to everyone. I am working with the Ontario Coalition for Social >Justice and this crossed my desk today from the OFL. The Standing >Committee dates for the hearings on Bill 22 are particularly important. >As well, the sample press release is something the OFL has drafted and >communities can adapt it to their own needs. Just thought I would pass >it on to you. Sorry for the length, but I know how much some people hate >attachments. > >Lianne Black > >July 10, 1998 > >TO: OFL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL > >Greetings: > > RE: WORKFARE > >This week the Ontario government announced its plans to expand workfare >into the private sector. The labour movement has opposed this >wrong-headed policy of workfare from the start. There are positive >policy alternatives for job creation and economic stability for the >people of Ontario. The Alternative Budget has shown that there are >long-term and attainable solutions to unemployment. > >Labour Councils across Ontario are vital to the labour movement's >continuing opposition to workfare. We must mobilize our communities and >memberships to stop the harm being done to people by government policies >that are taking our province in the wrong direction. We must also work >closely with our community partners in towns and cities across Ontario >to develop and implement a program of community resistance to workfare. > >The attached sample press release should be of some assistance in your >continuing activities. > >You have already received a copy of the OFL presentation on Bill 22, >Prevention of Unionization Act (Ontario Works) 1998, which we delivered >on June 16 to the government's Standing Committee on Justice. A number >of affiliates also made presentations at that time. During the course of >the summer, hearings will be held by the Standing Committee in the >following cities: > > August 11 Sudbury August 18 St. Catharines > August 12 Cornwall August 19 Toronto > August 17 Chatham > >If you would like to make a presentation contact Doug Arnott, Clerk, >Standing committee on Justice (416) 325-3506 or by fax (416) 325-3505. > >Please feel free to contact Duncan Mac Donald of the OFL staff if you >require any assistance on matters related to workfare. > >In solidarity >Wayne Samuelson >President > >_________________________________________________________________________ > >SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE > >Date: > >(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) > > WORKFARE IN UNFAIR - BUSINESSES WILL BE PICKETED > >(YOUR TOWN) - Social Services Minister Janet Ecker has announced that >the provincial government will be extending "workfare" to the private >sector. Throughout the implementation of the Ontario Works program the >Minister steadfastly insisted that workfare would not be allowed in >private sector as this would displace paid workers. > > The announcement that she is establishing an `expert' private >sector panel to advise on this suggests that she has been planning to >introduce workfare into the private sector all along. It's not >surprising that this announcement has come during the summer recess of >the Legislature, conveniently short-circuiting the legislative >processwhere elected representatives could voice their concerns. > > "Workfare is not about putting people back to >work,"said_____________________, president of the ________________ >Labour Council. "It's about giving employers in Ontario access to a >cheap labour force that has been conscripted for duty. It will drive >wages down here like it did in New York City." > > Instead of people actively looking for decent-paying jobs in their >communities they will be required to work at dead-end jobs during >business hours - all in the name of workfare. Study after study in other >jurisdictions has proved that workfare just doesn't work. In the >province of Quebec, a recent survey of employers participating in a >similar program reported that they would have hired full time employees >to fill job vacancies, but instead they used the government's PAIE >program. > > "I seem to recall the Harris government claims that the 30 percent >tax break was suppose to provide all the stimulus needed for the private >sector to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Now we're told >what's needed is a corporate welfare handout in the form of `free >labour'. This is not job creation or sound economics," >_________________said. > > "The ________________Labour Council and social activists here in >__________________ intend to resist workfare and support our fellow >citizens to fight for real jobs through community actions. We will >boycott private sector businesses and picket businesses for forcing >disadvantaged people into workfare." > > >More information: > >Contact __________________ Phone _____________________ >
