[PEN-L:1960] London General Strike Report (fwd)

[D Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

Forwarded message:
Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 23:01:22 -0500
From: Sean Purdy <PURDYR@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: London General Strike Report
Sender: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <LABOR-L@xxxxxxxx>
Reply-to: Sean Purdy <PURDYR@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

What a great day! The mood on the buses was lively. We sang Solidarity Forever
and a couple variations on Christmas songs (i.e On the first day of Christmas
Mike Harris gave to me, 3 cuts to welfare etc.) When we arrived at the worksite
we were picketing we were greeted with cheers from a 400 strong mass picket.
Mass pickets at two entrances completely shut down the Ministry of
Transportation offices. There was a handful of cars in the huge parking lot and
some scabs did get in, but for the most part it was shut down. We turned back
several cars although it was clear that there would not be many attempts
because the picket line was so solid. At this site, there were OPSEU workers
from around the province, local CAW workers, CUPE activists, Chemical, Energy
and Paper Workers members, and a huge contingent of building trades workers
from Sarnia. The chants were very militant "Hey Mike, Hey Mike, You're Going
to Get a General Strike." Despite the bitter cold (-15 plus windchill), it was
a festive atmosphere.

Three major CAW organized plants were completely shut down (Cami in Ingersol,
GM Diesel in London and Ford St.Thomas). The 3M plant and several other
industrial sites were closed down. Most municipal services were shut down
despite the symbolic crossing of the picket line by the Mayor early in the
morning. Many provincial government offices were also closed for the day.
The media has made much of the fact that most small businesses and offices
were not disrupted but this was not the objective of the strike.

There were two points of congregation for the march and rally. At ours, outside
city hall, every major union in Ontario had a contingent with banners, placards
etc. University of Western Ontario grad students marched behind an anti-cuts
banner to the hearty cheers of the 5,000+ crowd. The march was led by London
firefighters on an antique fire truck. The march was loud and lively. Chants
included "Cuts, No Thanks, Tax the Fucking Banks"; "hey hey, ho, ho Tory cuts
have got to go"; and various general strike themes. There was considerable
support from passersby and from some offices and apartments. Some workplaces
came out and cheered on the march although they didn't join in. One tavern had
"Welcome Protestors" on its billboard.

When we arrived at the rally point, we converged with another march from the
Eastern end of town which was considerably larger than ours. The day
ended with speeches, music, food and drinks in a large arena. Notably, many
speakers talked of the potential for a province-wide general strike. Altogether
the rally was attended by 15-20,000 people.

On the way back, everybody was quite happy and very impressed with the day.
There is a real change in consciousness among at least a sizable minority of
the working class in Ontario. Arguments for action, including general political
strikes against the Tories, are much easier to make. I don't see why we need
to bother with rotating city-wide general strikes. The potential is there for
a province-wide walkout now if sufficient resources and political will is put
behind the organizing.

The class struggle is heating up. Strike down the Tories.

Cheers, Sean Purdy