The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), the Grey Bruce Labour Council and the Bruce Grey Owen Sound NDP Riding Association are calling for all-hands-on-deck emergency demonstrations at local constituency offices tonight at 5:00 p.m.

"Bring a homemade sign of your choice and make some noise," encourages Kevin Smith, president of the Grey Bruce Labour Council, in a letter shared by the Bruce Grey Owen Sound NDP Riding Association:

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URGENT: Emergency rally on Tuesday Nov. 1: Hands off workers’ rights!

We are sharing this message from the Grey Bruce Labour Council about tonight's emergency action! Thank you to all who can attend either in Owen Sound or Kincardine.

Greetings Sisters, Brothers and Comrades,

I’m writing to you with an URGENT request from the OFL.

In response to the Ford government’s full-frontal attack on basic labour freedoms in Ontario, we need to take emergency action and gather in front of our local constituency offices at 5:00 p.m.

MPP Rick Byers Office is located at 100 – 920 1st Ave. W., Owen Sound.

MPP Lisa Thompson Office is located at 807 Queen St, Kincardine.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce is trying to pull the plug on bargaining with education workers and use legislation to forcibly impose a contract on them.

The right to free and fair collective bargaining is a fundamental freedom, protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ford’s attack on education workers is an attack on all workers in Ontario.

If he gets away with it, all other workers, including our union, will face the same threat: contracts imposed by law instead of free collective bargaining.

Please join those that can make it to say: Hands Off Workers’ Rights!

We encourage you to bring a homemade sign of your choice and make some noise!

What’s next? Use this online tool to tell your MP you oppose Ford’s attack on workers. Then on Wednesday, join this online action to phone your MPP, Doug Ford, and Stephen Lecce.

Thank you for your support!

As I will be in Toronto, I will be attending the emergency rally tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at the Ministry of Labour at 400 University Avenue. As such will not be able to join you here locally but I know that GBLC will be well represented and will send a clear message to Rick and Lisa to keep their “HANDS OFF WORKERS’ RIGHTS”. If you happen to be in Toronto please join us at the Ministry of Labour office.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Smith, President, Grey Bruce Labour Council

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source: media release, Bruce Grey Owen Sound NDP Riding Association