May 6 Convergence: Wrap-Up

The pre-rally convergence, that was held on May 6 at the CAW Local 195 union hall, was well attended - and there was standing room only by 9:00 AM.

This meeting was organized by a coalition of Windsor & Essex area CAW locals, who are all supporting our community rally on May 27.

Click here to view a brief summary of the meeting.

May 8: Press Conference

Below are a few photos from a press conference that was held on May 8 at Platinum Tool Technologies Inc. in Oldcastle. A non-union workplace, whose owner and workers know all too well that the challanges facing manufacturing in this region are not limited only to unionized workplaces.

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Community Support Growing

A few photos from around the area that show support for our community rally on May 27 is growing, and many businesses are doing their part to help spread the word.

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Click on Thumbnails to View Larger Images

Farming Community Voices Support

Ladies and Gentlemen, this letter of support comes to you from Essex County Local 14 of the National Farmers’ Union of Ontario.

Working women and men of Windsor - Essex , we farmers stand shoulder to shoulder with you today and every day. We can give ample testimony of the impact of unfair trade practices by other countries notably in our case, the United States. The U.S. farm bill is a predatory trade practice. It protects their farmers and drives Canadian farmers out of business. Canadian governments both provincial and federal have ignored us and let the Americans devastate our families, devastate our farms and devastate our communities.

Currently, both provincial and federal governments are in negotiation for the new agricultural policy framework which will if properly designed, alleviate the impact of U.S. trade practices. I appeal to the members of Parliament and the provincial members of Parliament here today to act as advocates for us. Now is the time to come to the plate and make right the mistakes created by past farm policies which continue to exist in this country. The present federal government promised to scrap the CAIS program which was supposed to give us equity with the Americans. In truth, it has been a disaster witnessed by the previous 5 years which have been the worst in Canadian farm income history. The American farmer has continued to move forward while the Canadian farmer goes further into debt watching subsidized American grain being dumped into our Canadian market place. My friends, no country can exist without a domestic food supply. The farm policies of Canadian governments both provincial and federal, are putting our domestic supply of safe, high quality food at risk. One only has to remember the recent melamine contamination of dog food to appreciate the risks that are involved. It could have just as easily contaminated our food supply.

Again, I tell you quite truthfully that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you. You do not want to journey down the same trail that Canadian farmers have travelled these past 5 desolate years. Thank you.

Terry Byrne - Spokesperson : National Farmers’ Union - Local 14, Essex