[PEN-L:1970] Speech by Jesse Jackson to Ontario Fed

[D Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

TOWARDS "A RAINBOW LABOUR HEMISPHERIC CONFERENCE"

Rev. Jesse Jackson of the U.S. National Rainbow Coalition delivered a
stirring speech to 2,000 delegates at the Ontario Federation of Labour's
conference on November 22nd, exhorting them to fight back against the
regressive forces that are assaulting working people. Here are some excerpts
from his speech.

"In this increasingly globalized economy, we cannot escape the realities of
the growing right-wing forces. The same oppressive winds which now sweep
your nation, threatening workers' economic and emotional security, have
blown north from the U.S.

"The context within which this assault on working people has occurred is the
globalization of the economy. The term 'globalized economy' sounds expansive
-- open-ended -- big, but it conceals a sinister reality. At the core of
this process is the domination of the world economy by an elite group of
trans-national corporations who seek to maximize profits and returns on
investments at the expense of humanity. . . . To make matters worse, this
process is being codified into law, and given legitimacy by formal treaties
such as GATT, NAFTA, and the US/Canada Free Trade Agreement. . . .

"It is time to fight back. Working people can win if we strengthen our
alliances both internally and externally. We must fortify our trade unions
from the inside, for we know that the best coalition is a labour union.

"I look forward to the day when there will be a Rainbow labour hemispheric
conference for workers to unite and demand jobs and justice. . . .

"But I caution you, as well, of the need for building broader coalitions.

"In order to mount a successful challenge to the right wing, labour must
join with the social justice movement in our common quest for jobs, civil
and human rights and peace. History teaches us that when we fight together,
we win. When we go our separate ways, we are vulnerable and lose. . . .

"The rhetoric of the day attacks the very idea of the role of government.
Even our governments -- both Newt Gingrich and Mike Harris -- define
government as the problem, as the enemy. . . .

"We all know that government is not the problem. It is through them that we,
as common people, are able to realize our finest ideals of justice and
compassion. It is through government that we can provide for our infirm and
vulnerable. It is through government that we can conquer the poverty of
unemployment and joblessness with unemployment insurance and social
security. Without public pension plans like . . . . your Old Age Security
and Canada Pension Plan, millions of senior citizens would suffer the
brutalities of poverty which accompany old age. . . .

"Those who would weaken and diminish the role of our governments do so
precisely to prevent our government from protecting the environment, our
civil and human rights. They threaten the very air that we breathe and water
that we drink. Tax dollars fund our schools and infrastructure. Without a
functioning government, our roads, bridges and sewers would be in disrepair,
threatening public health and safety.

"So, when Mike Harris tells you that he wants to slash public services and
give you a tax break, you must not be deceived. We would all rather live in
a nation where everyone pays their fair share and reaps the benefits of the
social services, job creation programs, health care services, and
fully-funded public education that tax dollars assure. We must not allow the
right wing to destroy the positive work of generations.

"We must seize this opportunity to stem the oppressive tide. The global
economy confronts us with the challenge and responsibility of developing our
own global strategy of resistance. We must mobilize the Trade Union
Movement, environmentalists, farmers, women and human rights activists, the
youth and retired elders -- in a massive movement of empowerment.

Resistance! At the ballot box and in the electoral arena; at the plant
gates in strike action, and resistance in the marketplace of consumer power.
Let us today commit to join together and fight the right-wing forces which
threaten the future of North America. We have the power, and we will win.
Keep Hope Alive."

Sources: "Defeating the Right: A Call for Coalition," Statement by Rev.
Jesse L. Jackson to Ontario Federation of Labour (Nov. 22, 1995); Financial
Post, "Jackson fires up OFL delegates" (p. 11, Nov. 23, 1995).