BACKGROUND
In June 2001, the Executive Board of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) made the decision to have a campaign to "defend working people from the latest round of assaults by the Harris government and its business allies." Building on this decision, in August 2001, the OFL Executive Board established the Solidarity Network the goal of which is:
"To establish and provide the training for a network of activists at the local union and community level. The network would play a critical role in mobilizing for strike support, rallies and other events across the province."
PROCESS
The Solidarity Network has been developed to give the labour movement the ability to provide support for workers in a credible, timely and effective manner in any part of Ontario in their time of need. There are two broad categories of actions which would involve the Solidarity Network:
1. Labour Disputes
2. Community-based activities
What is needed is a clear and simple process -- a protocol on how this Solidarity Network would be involved in support activities in any part of Ontario.
A. Labour Disputes
1. The OFL President, on behalf of the Executive Board, shall consider a request to involve the Solidarity Network upon receiving a request from the ranking officer of the union in Ontario involved in the labour dispute.
The ranking officer of an affiliate will inform the OFL should they wish to designate other persons with the authorization to request involvement of the Network.
2. Upon receipt of the request, the OFL will ensure that the affiliate representative on the Executive Board, if he/she is not the person making the request, and the OFL Executive Board are made aware of the request.
The Ontario Director of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the President of the appropriate Labour Council would also be made aware of the request.
3. The requesting union will provide to the OFL relevant information on the labour dispute which would be posted in an appropriate spot in the OFL web page and updated when needed.
4. The requesting union will appoint a person to serve as a co-ordinator to work closely with the OFL to develop strategies on how to use the Solidarity Network to support the workers in the dispute and to build support for them in the wider labour movement. There must be opportunities for local involvement in both the development and implementation of strategies.
5. The OFL will inform appropriate contacts (e.g. geographical) in the Solidarity Network to make them aware of the labour dispute and the nature of the support requested by the union. Whenever possible, information will be shared electronically.
6. Support activities of the Solidarity Network and the Labour Councils will be carried out in close co-operation with the union involved in the labour dispute.
7. The President of the OFL will report to the OFL Executive Board and Council on a regular basis on the activities of the Solidarity Network.
B. Community-based Activities
1. The OFL President, on behalf of the Executive Board, shall consider a request to involve the Solidarity Network in community organized activities upon receiving a request from the President of the appropriate Labour Council.
Ranking officers of affiliated unions may also initiate a request.
2. Upon receipt of the request, the OFL President will ensure that the OFL Executive Board and the Ontario Director of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) are made aware of the request.
3. The requesting Labour Council will provide to the OFL relevant information on the community organized activities which can be shared with affiliates and other appropriate provincial organizations.
4. The requesting Labour Council will appoint a person to serve as a co-ordinator to work closely with the OFL to develop strategies on how to best use the Solidarity Network. There must be opportunities for local involvement in both the development and implementation of strategies.
5. The OFL will inform appropriate contacts (e.g. geographic) in the Solidarity Network to make them aware of the community-based activities and the nature of the support requested by the Labour Council. Wherever possible, information will be shared electronically.
6. Support activities of the Solidarity Network will be carried out in close co-operation with the appropriate Labour Council.
7. The President of the OFL will report to the OFL Executive Board and Council on a regular basis on the activities of the Solidarity Network in support of community-based activities.
COMMUNICATIONS
The OFL will develop and maintain a province-wide list of Solidarity Network contacts.
The OFL will, upon request, provide a Labour Council with the contacts in their area.
The Solidarity Network list will only be used for communications that meet this protocol.
LABOUR DISPUTES
Protocol
