Municipal Strike in Toronto

Fresh off the heels of the anti-G8 protests, the largest municipal strike in Canadian history is about to engulf the city of Toronto. Toronto's 6800 outside city workers went on strike last Friday. It was announced that effective at midnight July 4th, over 18000 inside city workers, would also be going on strike while Mayor Mel Lastman refuses to negotiate with the workers.

The main issue is the threatened privitization of key services such as garbage disposal. Recently, the neo-liberal policies of the ruling Conservative (Tory) Party to privatize Ontario Hydro has led to scandal. The entire Tory-appointed Board of Directors of Ontario Hydro resigned over salary scandals, as well as legal rulings against the plan.

The revolt against these plans to turn public services into private capitalist ventures has become a focal point in the labor struggle and in street protests. While the strike continues, anti-capitalist activists will be holding a conference under the banner of "Making the Movement Matter". Meanwhile, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty is preparing to open a squat as the city pays host to the Pope in the midst of an housing crisis in Toronto.

Ontario IMC

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