We must collectively raise the consciousness of job loss and the inaction of government. We must force government to protect the interests of Canada and concentrate on the needs and expectations of Canadians. Tough questions must be asked and favourable responses must be oursued.

The areas selected for this event encompass the industrial heartlands of the Windsor-Essex region. The march routes will pass by factories of all of the big-three automakers – who have historically been our largest employers – and they will pass by many plants that have long been closed or are currently facing an uncertain and insecure future.

The marshalling areas have all been selected because they provide ample parking for march participants and their families, along with a comparable distance to the main rallying point at the Ford Test Track Park.

As the purpose of this event is to defend our economic security and our manufacturing jobs base, it would not make any sense to schedule the event on a date, or at a time, that would interfere with local production. Our business and community partners have enough struggles – it is not our intent to add to them in any way!

NO! There is no cost associated with participating in this event at all. Parking at the designated locations will be free to all participants, shuttle buses to return you to the parking areas from the Ford Test Track Park will be running for free all afternoon, and all of the family activities and entertainment during the day are being provided by the “Rally for Windsor-Essex” coalition.

It should be noted however, that community groups will have concession stands on site and will be selling food and beverages as a fund raising activity for their organizations. If you will be spending the entire day with us, we would encourage you to bring along enough money to purchase your lunch or some beverages. We will NOT be able to provide free food to the crowd, so please come prepared and with that in mind.

There will be NO ALCOHOL sold or allowed at this event! Remember, we are fighting for the children and we want them to attend too.

NO! This is not a CAW or even a “unions only” event. This is a community event, and we are a broad community coalition working to make it happen. Numerous business, labour and community service organizations are supporting our efforts, and working together on the organizing committee.

Yes, this rally is being organized in support of the CAW call for action and the “Manufacturing Jobs Matter” campaign that they initiated in October 2006. But it is just that – the community supporting the manufacturing sector. Being union or non union is of no importance if there is no manufacturing base left to provide jobs for workers of any affiliation or designation. Now is not the time to draw divisions in our community – now is the time we must rally together before it is too late!

And on a final note, it must be said, that without the generous financial support of the local labour community – we would not be able to even consider organizing an event of this magnitude. As has been the case historically in Windsor-Essex, without unions and the generosity of their members many community service organizations and non-profits would cease to function or exist.

Again, this is simply a result of the generosity of these organizations. The unions have the space for us to meet, and have made that space available to us without cost. This has allowed us to direct more of our budget toward advertising, and building awareness about the importance of attending on May 27 with the entire family. Everyone has always been welcome to the meetings, and any differences have been checked at the doors - we are all in this together!

Again, this is not about only one sector – this is about the very fabric of our community.

The most obvious job loss we are experiencing is within the manufacturing sector, but you don’t have to look hard to realize how that is affecting the rest of our communities. With over 17,700 manufacturing jobs lost since 2002 – and well over $450,000,000 dollars per year in lost wages – think of the impact on the community; the lost tax base and the millions of dollars of disposable income that is no longer available to families in our region.

This impacts every aspect of our communities from the corner store to the big-box super centres. Fewer sales are being made and fewer employees are needed to service those few who still have any income to spend. City hall starts to employ fewer people, and even our educational systems take a hit as they watch an exodus of students whose families are relocating in hopes of finding gainful employment in other regions.

Community institutions like the Capital Theatre fall into bankruptcy, the United Way (and other charities) fail to meet their fund raising targets, community service groups are forced to close their doors and turn away people who just lost their jobs – and the downward spiral only picks up momentum!

We owe it to our children, and their children, to stop the bleeding of our good-paying manufacturing sector jobs before our community no longer resembles the caring place to grow and live that it once was when were ourselves were younger!!!