"Whose economy? Our economy! Who decides? We decide!" This rally cry was just one of the dozens heard when 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Hamilton on Saturday, showing solidarity with 900 locked-out members of the United Steelworkers Local 1005. The workers were locked out on Nov. 7 for refusing to agree to pension cutbacks that would affect 9,000 pensioners.
Busloads of labour activists came from cities as far away as Montreal and Sudbury, some departing as early as 4:00 a.m., to join the fight against United States Steel, as well as Stephen Harper's government for failing to protect workers from what many called corporate greed.
It has been almost two year since 253 workers of Le Journal de Montréal -- journalists, photographers and office staff -- were served with a lockout notice by their employer. On every single day since Jan. 24, 2009, whether under the scorching summer sun or the chilly winter of Montreal, these locked out workers have picketed the building they used to work in.
These Interviews were conducted on January 21, 2012 on the day of action against Caterpillar organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour in solidarity with the locked-out EMD workers. Up to 7,000 union and activists rallied in Victoria Park, then moved to the lockout at the Caterpillar plant (EMD).
Interviewer: Mick Sweetman
Camera & Editing: Kristyna Balaban
Toronto Media Co-op