The October 22-27 Metro Days of Action in Ontario provide an opportunity for tens of thousands of unionized and unorganized workers, working farmers, students and other youth to take a stand against the cutbacks to social services and anti-union legislation of Ontario's conservative government. Tens of thousands are expected to join work stoppages and community events on October 25, and up to 200,000 to march and rally at the provincial legislature the next day. The Canadian Federation of Students is also holding a "Pan-Canadian Week of Action" against education cuts and rising tuition Oct. 21-25.

The Metro Days of Action is the sixth in a series of city-by- city labor mobilizations against the austerity drive of the Ontario government of Michael Harris. The conservative premier is leading the assault by Canada's rulers against the social gains won through decades of struggle by working people in that country.

A massive turnout for the Toronto action will not only maintain the momentum of the previous demonstrations, but can strengthen the hand of the 26,000 striking auto workers in Ontario and Quebec who are resisting concessions General Motors is trying to ram down their throats. The assaults by the government in Ontario are part of the same battle GM is spearheading to make working people pay for the endemic crisis of their profit system.

In Canada, the federal government is leading these attacks. Working people have already seen federal unemployment insurance and funds for social services slashed. Immigrant rights have been restricted. And Ottawa is leading the offensive against Quebecois' just struggle against national oppression and for independence. Like their counterparts around the world, Canada's wealthy rulers are trying to get working people to blame each other for the crisis-scapegoating immigrants, welfare recipients, unemployed workers, or Quebecois patriots.

Auto workers in Canada are showing the potential power of the labor movement to fight the assault on wages, working conditions, and democratic rights.

Resistance to the anti-union and austerity drives of the billionaire families is developing in countries around the world. Last December, French railway and other public workers shut down France for weeks. They are now back on the streets as Paris is pressing ahead with its onslaught on the social wage. On October 12, 25,000 marched in Washington, D.C., to defend the rights of immigrants against attacks by the Clinton administration. Resisting the effects of the growing world capitalist disorder will help forge a movement that can fight for social demands, such as a shorter work week with no cut in pay to create jobs for all, to unite working people in a struggle to take the power out of the hands of the exploiters.

The Metro Days of Action can help reinforce this fight-back. Leading up to and after these protests, working-class fighters should redouble our efforts to back the GM strikers and others standing up to the rulers around the world. All out for the Metro Days of Action!  
 
 
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