BY JOHN STEELE AND BOB ALLEN

KITCHENER, Ontario - Tens of thousands of unionists, students, and others gathered here April 19 for the third work stoppage and "Day of Protest" called by the Ontario Federation of Labor (OFL). The union federation has been calling large actions to oppose proposed cuts in government funding of social services, layoffs of thousands of government workers, and government attacks on union rights. Similar labor actions in the province were held in London last December and Hamilton in February.

The day's activities began early as union members from cities around the province converged to set up picket lines at workplaces in the nearby cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Many unionized enterprises that were not picketed shut down for the day. There was no mail delivery or public transit in the Tri-City area, and government services were sharply reduced.

At the Budd auto parts plant in Waterloo, which employs 1,500 workers, a busload of members of Canadian Auto Workers Local 27 in London, 60 miles away, took charge of the plant's three entrances before 6:00 a.m. The large parking lot inside the gate stood empty. A dozen cars with management personnel were stalled on the busy highway outside, some of their occupants acting nonchalant, others scowling. Brilliant orange stickers on dashboards and windshields proclaiming "Nonunion Employee" did not gain them admission.

At the suggestion of a picket who was a woman, Local 27 member Jim Carrie leaned toward the window of the lead car and said, "We'll let you cross if you can name one woman who works on the production floor." The plant employs no women in production.

Area elementary and secondary schools closed for the day, and university exams were postponed.

Nearly 1,000 high school and university students, teachers, and university workers marched from the University of Waterloo campus to the rally site at Kitchener City Hall. A popular chant was, "Hey Harris, we don't care, try to stop us if you dare!" a reference to Ontario premier Michael Harris, whom many hold accountable for the government cuts.

Sarah Lamble, a high school student active in anti-cutbacks protests, remarked, "Every human being is entitled to these [social service] programs; the government is working for the wealthy."

`Health care being butchered'
At noon marchers in the main parade streamed into Kitchener City Hall plaza to cheers and applause, singing Solidarity Forever, the colorful banners and pennants of union contingents snapping in the wind. Imaginative banners, placards, caps, buttons, and T- shirts identified auto workers, steelworkers, power workers, postal workers, Teamsters, secondary school teachers, nurses associations, public and government employees unions, the theatrical and stage employees union, and numerous religious and community organizations.

According to the Toronto Star, march organizers estimated the size of the demonstration at 40,000. Cathy Drown, a registered nurse at Waterloo Grand River Health Care Center, said, "We're here to save the health-care system in Ontario." She added that the health-care system "is being butchered. It is struggling to survive. Service is not being maintained. Doctors are leaving Ontario; patients are living in the hallways. They are planning to replace RNs with semi-trained health-care workers. I do not think that is safe. Now they have one nurse for every 30 or 40 patients."

The mood was not only of protest but of confidence and celebration. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) workers, who recently waged a hard-fought strike against the provincial government, entered the square chanting their battle cry: "No Justice, No Peace," and singing their battle hymn, "We are OPSEU, mighty, mighty OPSEU." Sam Elejel, a member of CAW Local 27 in London, commented, "OPSEU is stronger; Harris was not able to follow his agenda of using scabs and cops."

Shelly Speiram, a member of CAW Local 27 at ITT Automotive in London, noted the broad and sustained appeal of these union actions. "The cuts are affecting so many people that we have to take a stand," she said. "My brother-in-law is a teacher and might lose his job."

Union leaders from across the province will meet in Toronto on May 2 to discuss plans for the next action. One proposal is to hold it in Toronto on June 8, first anniversary of the election of Premier Harris.

John Steele is a member of International Association of Machinists Local 2113 in Toronto.  
 
 
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