Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As you are no doubt aware, there is a provincial election scheduled for June 12, 2014.
I know that our members often get frustrated by the number of elections we have had in Ontario over the past few years. However, this June, organized labour is going to stand up and ensure that we have the people in government who will best look after the rights of working people like our members.
Spending money on commercials and “attack” ads by political parties has become the practice of today. However, we still have the final say about who goes to office through our vote. We can vote against those who attack working people if we come together and fight back.
But, in order to fight back, we must be engaged in the process. I know that some of the issues can often divide us, but we have to vote with our jobs in mind and not by what others tell us how we should feel about an issue. Apart from our families and our health, what is more important than our jobs?
When I started working with a young family, my biggest concern was being able to provide for them.This Union has been a great organization for all of us. Now it is time to defend the core belief of the labour movement – we have the right to make a fair living with some benefits and to retire with dignity.
The leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario, Tim Hudak, has said a lot of negative things about Unions and what they have gained for their members. Hudak has spoken about cutting jobs, eliminating and lowering health & welfare benefits and pensions from working people, and basically tearing down what Unions have come to stand for.
After what we experienced when the Conservatives were last in office in Ontario under Mike Harris, we need to make sure that our members are educated and understand the magnitude of what is at stake in this provincial election. We need to make sure all workers know how important this is for us all.
The old saying, “the job you may be saving is your own” never had more impact and relevance than it does today. Go to our web site and newsletter and read about what Tim Hudak is saying about the labour movement and Union members. If that doesn’t motivate you to act, I truly don’t know what would. Simply stated, we have to work together to stop Tim Hudak from taking office as Premier of Ontario.
We need as many of our members as possible to volunteer to help educate your fellow union members. Contact our office and speak to our Political Director of District Council 46 for information on how you can get involved.
Although we will never tell our members who to vote for, we do ask that you please strongly consider supporting the candidate in your area who supports Unions and working people.
In Solidarity,
Joe Russo
President Ontario Council
