Date: Fri, 1 Mar 96 13:58:14 GMT
From: Adam Rose <adam-AT-pmel.com>
Subject: Canada



I'll completely piss everyone off now by reprinting an entire
article from Socialist Worker. What I want to know is whether
the tone fits the events described.

Adam.

60,000 Strike for their jobs
----------------------------

Workers struggle has erupted in the Canadian province of Ontaria.

A city wide strike closed down the industrial town of Hamilton
last Friday. The next day a staggering 120,000 strong demonstration
marched through the town, protesting at the province's Tory
government.

And from Monday picket lines were being thrown up as 60,000 Ontario
public sector workers went on all out strike against the threat of
up to 20,000 job cuts.

Ontario is run by a vicious Tory government, which came to power on
the back of disillusionment with the previous right wing Labour
administration.

Tory attacks on jobs and services have provoked rising anger. In
London, Ontario, a one day strike in December involved 40,000
trade unionists - the biggest action of its kind since 1976.

Pressure then mounted on union leaders to call more action. So last
weekend's mobilisation in Hamilton was called.

Friday's strike shut the town. Strikers included 6,000 workers in one of 
Hamilton's steel plants. No trains or buses ran. Workers picketed out 
students at the local university.

In preparation for the following day's march the police built protective
concrete barriers round the Ontario Tory convention which was being
held in Hamilton.

The 120,000 strong demonstration that followed was unprecedented. It was
swelled by 200 coachloads of protestors from nearby Toronto.

The public sector worker's strike is now key. The Tories have indicated 
they are prepared to sit it out.

The movement is very much under the control of the trade union leaders for
the moment - but as the Tories try and face it down, calls from below for
more mass action may grow louder.




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