Ontario to strip Toronto transit workers of right to strike

[Hannah Bell]

With the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) workers’ contract set to expire April 1, the Ontario government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty abruptly closed debate in the provincial legislature last week on a bill that will strip more than nine thousand subway and bus drivers and maintenance workers of their right to strike. It is expected that the proposed legislation to declare the TTC an “essential service” will become law in the final week of March.

The Liberals’ attack on the most basic of workers’ rights comes in the wake of a vote by the Toronto City Council, led by right-wing multi-millionaire mayor Rob Ford, to formally request the McGuinty government—which has jurisdiction in the matter—to devise and pass such a law. Since his election last fall, Ford has spearheaded a campaign to vilify public sector workers, privatize garbage collection, sell off public assets and further slash taxes for corporations and the rich. It is expected that Ford’s 2012 municipal budget will seek to decimate what remains of the social safety net in Toronto, including an attempt to privatize public housing in the city.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/cana-m10.shtml

[DonCoquixote]

1. wtf

et tu Canada?

[bbgrunt]

2. this must be the BIG roundup.

[PDJane]

3. Yep. He did it.

And yes, the federal government is even worse. I am bloody tired of the reich wing.

[villager]

4. reliably unrecc'd by the "furtive & craven" brigade...

n/t

[Lorien]

5. Yep. We're making them nervous. nt