07) STOP THE ONTARIO WAGE FREEZE

People's Voice Editorial

     Ontario's McGuinty Liberal government is preparing to recall the Legislature to impose an "emergency" two year wage freeze and benefit cuts on teachers and educational workers, despite the fact that negotiations continue with no signs of any imminent work stoppage. As usual, bargaining between School Boards and the unions will continue if current agreements expire.

     But the Liberal minority in Queen's Park has been whipping up public fears of a work stoppage in early September, to justify their illegal intervention and subversion of free collective bargaining in education.

     The real decision to cut wages was made by the Liberals' spring budget, supported by the Tories, and unopposed by the NDP. All three parties agreed this was reasonable to eliminate the province's $15 billion deficit created by the bailout of the banks and corporations in 2008, on top of 30 years of massive corporate tax cuts. "Creating a crisis" in education worked for the Tories in 1995. The Liberals hope it will work again in 2012.

     Meanwhile, Tory leader Tim Hudak wants to transform Ontario into a right to work jurisdiction, like Indiana: an end to the closed shop and dues check‑off, and tight restrictions on the social and political activities of unions. And the NDP says it will oppose the wage freeze legislation. So why did they vote for the cuts in the first place? The Liberals and Tories have few differences when it comes to attacking labour, and to the dismay of the public, the NDP hasn't got nearly enough.

     The Communist Party is calling for a massive protest against the Liberal legislation, which could pass with Tory support. Only mass action by labour and its allies, and the We Are Ontario Coalition, can stop this legislation in a minority Legislature.

(The above article is from the September 1-15, 2012, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)