BOB BAKER, INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Be Ready – Don’t Get Left at the Starting Gate
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s I sit in my office and look at all the requests for assistance by local unions in so many states and provinces, it is very clear to me that we cannot afford to be unprepared for what is coming our way in the United States and Canada. We are facing the most brutal enemies I have seen in my whole career as a labor leader. We have just had crucial elections in the province of Ontario. In Toronto and now other areas we are being targeted as “essential services” which is a politician’s way of destroying our collective bargaining rights by taking away our right to strike.
‘Just Be Glad You’ve Got a Job’ They will make the playing field so unlevel that we will be constantly fighting an uphill battle, just trying to hang on to what we have worked for all our lives. Management will be freed from the requirement to negotiate with their employees. They will mandate new rules and legislate new laws, and tell our members, “Just be glad you’ve got a job.” In the United States and especially in Ohio right now, the governor had legislation passed in the middle of the night, using sneaky and almost illegal tactics to take away collective bargaining rights for all public employees. All the unions came together and got over 1.4 million signatures from 44 counties in Ohio to put the law on hold and place the measure on the November ballot. Now we have to defeat the law to keep our collective bargaining rights in Ohio.
Don’t Get Left at the Starting Gate! This involves YOU and your family! Your officers need you, your family and your friends to do all you can. Make calls, pass out leaflets, visit work sites, talk to neighbors and passengers about supporting working families simply because it is the right thing to do. These are not political issues, if you lose your collective bargaining rights – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents will lose their bargaining rights in the United States. Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals will lose their rights in Canada. It doesn’t matter what your party affiliation is, EVERYONE will be affected. Obviously, we literally cannot afford to be left at the starting gate. The enemies of organized labor are counting on you not paying attention. We have to act now because the attacks are happening now! At the International Union we know that our members will fight the good fight, and you can rest assured we will be there with you every step of the way. In Solidarity,
Bob Baker
This is an all out assault on organized labor in both countries and, indeed, all over Europe, and if they win we will lose everything. Our local officers are well aware of these terrible tactics and are working diligently to fight off these vicious attacks, but they cannot do it alone.
IN TRANSIT
| September/October 2011
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