2010 Labour Day Parade

ACTRA Toronto members, friends and family marched in Toronto's annual Labour Day Parade on Monday September 6, 2010. As always, this was a spirited occasion with new T-shirts on hand for all members.

UNITE HERE Solidarity Rally

Unite Here members, Ontario Labour CongressIn 2007, when ACTRA was walking picket lines in the dead of winter, we had the support of our strategic alliance partners at the United Steelworkers. ACTRA and the USW understood that that it never hurts to have a little help in your corner when you’re heading into a fight.

We came through that strike with flying colours, bargaining for a fair and equitable resolution to our contract disputes, thanks in no small part to our own perseverance and the presence of the USW.

Now, it’s our turn to lend a hand to another union, one whose members are getting squeezed by myopic employers intent on slashing their collective agreement.

The proud brothers and sisters of Unite HERE represent 50,000 workers across Canada in a variety of industries, including the hotel and service sectors. Many of its members are immigrants, women and workers of colour who have fought hard to lift themselves out of poverty.

Unite Here member, Ontario Labour CongressIn a rush to improve their short-term bottom line the hotels at which they work have introduced procedures that cut hours and levels of service and put unacceptable hardships on their employees, including split shifts, increased use of part timers and ‘beck and call’ hyper flexible scheduling. These policies destroy the income and benefits of their employees and make an already demanding job that much harder.

Members of Unite HERE Local 75 will be in a strike position as of midnight on Thursday, September 2nd. On Friday, September 3rd, they will be holding a solidarity rally in front of the Toronto Hyatt Regency at the intersection of King and Peter Street at 4:30pm.

Come out and lend your support to our brothers and sisters and remember there was once a time in our own contract negotiations when a little support from strangers went a long, long way.

Check out www.uniteherelocal75.org or on their Facebook page for more information about the plight of Toronto’s hotel workers and see what you can do to support them in their fight. You can even follow them on Twitter at @UniteHere75 for the latest developments in their struggle. In solidarity.

People First: G20 Rally & March

ACTRA Toronto members joined thousands of Canadians in a peaceful G20 rally and march. ACTRA was part of the People First! effort organized by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Ontario Federation of Labour, the Council of Canadians, Greenpeace, Oxfam, and the Canadian Federation of Students. The group marched for decent and green jobs, culture and human rights, equality and social justice.

 

 

More Canada on Global TV

Global TV launched a fall line-up packed with American shows and ACTRA was there. In this video, Canadian icon and culture activist Eric Peterson speaks about the "betrayal" of Canadians by Global and other private broadcasters (June 1, 2010.)

For more information on the issues, see ACTRA's press release.

ACTRA Toronto at the Vale Workers Support Rally

On April 29th, 2010 ACTRA Toronto councillors, members and staff joined the United Steelworkers and other trade unionists for a rally at Queen's Park. Speakers encouraged Queen's Park to pass legislation preventing employers from hiring replacement workers to reduce the economic effects of a strike and encourage Vale to come back to the table to negotiate a fair deal with workers.

Vale workers in Sudbury have been on strike for nine long months and are viewed around the world as test case of workers holding out against the mining giant. For more information on the issues, visit the Fair Deal Now site.