For immediate release
October 03, 2013
Media Advisory: Rally for Fairness Saturday in Bonfield
Labour leaders and workers from across Ontario to rally with striking Bonfield municipal workers Saturday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(BONFIELD, ONTARIO) – Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn and North Bay District Labour Council President Henri Giroux, will be joined by community supporters and labour leaders and workers from across the province at the Rally for Fairness in support of striking Bonfield municipal workers on Saturday, October 5th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., in Bonfield, Ontario.
Who?
Sid Ryan, Ontario Federation of Labour President
Fred Hahn, CUPE Ontario President
Henri Giroux, President of North Bay and District Labour Council
Other Ontario Labour Leaders, community supporters and workers from many Ontario trade unionsWhat?
Rally for Fairness in support of Striking Bonfield Municipal workers (CUPE)When?
Saturday, October 5, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.Where?
Bonfield Municipal Town Hall
365 Highway 531 (off Hwy 17), Bonfield
“In bullying municipal workers to force concessions, Mayor McLaren has picked a fight he can’t win,” said Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan. “Workers across Ontario and residents of this community are supporting these 16 workers and rejecting the austerity agenda. McLaren must start listening to the public demand for good jobs or he will face a growing opposition in his own backyard.”
“Public services are at risk in Bonfield because the Mayor and councillors decided to attack their own workers, with a focus on contracting out public services,” said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “CUPE and the workers across the province stand with these workers in their fight for basic fairness and to protect public services, and we thank the residents of Bonfield for their patience and support. We join them in urging the Mayor to stop attacking public services and come back to the bargaining table with a contract offer that’s fair and protects public services.”
“The Mayor and Council have cancelled all public meetings since July,” said North Bay and District Labour Council President Henri Giroux. “Not only has the Mayor deprived residents of essential public services, he has effectively shut down democracy in Bonfield. It’s time for the Council to resume negotiations. It’s time for Mayor McLaren to restore democracy in Bonfield.”
The 16 workers have been on strike since August 1st, after the Town’s Mayor tried to force the workers to accept major concessions by imposing his own terms and working conditions. The Rally for Fairness is another show of solidarity and growing support for the Bonfield strikers, and CUPE is urging the Mayor and Councillors to resume negotiations and reach a fair contract settlement so municipal workers in Bonfield can get back to doing what they do best – providing quality public services for Bonfield residents.
Contact Information
Joel Duff, OFL Director of Communications: 416-707-0349 (cell)
Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications: 416-576-7316 (cell)
