Opening Statement



Wednesday 23 January 2013

Calling All Teachers: Come Protest in Toronto!

Updated Friday 12:30 pm Acronym list on Jan.13 blog below.


EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!


Howzabout a protest trip to Toronto this weekend?

BOOK BUSES NOW!

Make a statement + share some good laughs with your colleagues from OSSTF, ETFO, CUPE, OFL and .... Ta da! OECTA! Here's the protest itinerary. All unionists + union supporters are welcome both days:

Busing Info: The OFL is sponsoring bus pick ups across Ontario at the locations on this link. It also gives directions for getting to Allan Gardens. Check this out + let others know so they can go! See: CUPE Busing

PS: OFL's Sid Ryan now says 129 buses have been filled. They are adding more on. Call quick though!!!

Friday J25 6:30:  Join the "Respect 4 Democracy Rally" outside the historic Maple Leaf Gardens [MLG]. Inside the OLP leadership convention the delegates will be participating in a good bye tribute to Dalton McGuinty. Crashing hospitality suites + leaders pubs afterwards is optional. [See below]



Yoo-hoo! Protest time: Be there or be square! It's time to rock the OLP!

Saturday J26: "Respect 4 Democracy Rally" reconvenes outside the MLG at 9am with a pre-protest protest for all our diehard protest fans. The OLP leader candidates will be giving their speeches inside.

Here is the ETFO link for info on their Friday night + Saturday morning protests. It's open to everybody. OECTA TSU and  believe TECT will also be joining ETFO ETT on Friday night: ETFO Itinerary

 The  OFL sponsored "Rally for Rights+ Democracy" commences at 1pm. Meet at scenic Allen Gardens! March up picturesque Yonge St! Rabble rouse outside the historic MLG. Inside the delegates will be voting for the next Premier of Ontario. All this + more. Contact your local unit now if you are from out of town. Buses are being arranged. Over 110 are expected to arrive. 

Here's the OFL J26 video for the Rally for Rights + Democracy: OFL J26 



OECTA TSU members are meeting in Allan Gardens at the north west corner of Gerrard + Sherbourne St. by 1 pm Saturday for the rally.

OK. So what's this about now that Bill 115 has been repealed? Here's a big part of the answer put quite simply + effectively. See CUPE's latest t.v. ad: Collective Bargaining Works

Car pool tip! Turn north off 401 up Allen Park Expressway to Wilson Ave. Exit. Lots of free parking at Wilson Subway Station. Take the subway southbound + stay on until you get to the College Street Station on the Yonge St. line near Allen Gardens and the MLG! You will avoid a lot of parking and traffic jam headaches. It's very quick and easy. You  can quickly get out of the city afterwards too!

Party Tips! McGuinty tribute + post presentations events will tie up the 1st night of the convention. Most of the delegate pubs + hospitality suites will be near the MLG protest site, except for the McGuinty blast which will be down in the entertainment district. OLP party planners + campaign managers are freaking out expecting delgate chaos as they walk in + out of the Gardens + all over the place. Hardcore protesters might reflect: Where are the OLP pubs to pickett + party for our bash?? See: McGuinty's long good-bye

From the UK protest band the Austerity All Stars comes this inspirational marching song, with a dance break too! Thanks to Metro 7's LM for the link. See: Buggar the Buggars

OLP Itinerary: Saturday morning the OLP candidates give their speeches inside the MLG. Voting begins and will probably continue afterwards throughout the day. Candidates are eliminated after each round until one gets a majority vote +  becomes the next OLP Ontario Premier. The OFL march will end up here at the Gardens.



Allan Gardens Toronto is named after "Allan". J26 march starts here.

A Convention Primer: This Mclean's report provides a very detailed explanation on how these leadership conventions unfold. It challenges many of our assumptions about fore runners + dark horses. An excellent primer for when we are all are speculating about whats going on inside the Gardens! A must read! See: A Convention Primer

5 things to watch out for in the leadership race: Convention tips?

The Mercer Report provides a great laff about what it takes to become the next Ontario OLP Premier. He provides excellent insight into what winter is like here in Toronto too! Very educational! See the video: Rick Mercer Rocks!



When your children/ grandchildren ask you what you did during the Great Toronto Union Protests of January 25-26 2013 what will you say? "I stayed home + did nothing but whine?" Toronto/ GTA teachers: MLG's is close + the protest only requires a few hours. Look at what is at stake. Act now! ;-)

First 100 HWOTL members to arrive at Allan Gardens J26 by 1pm Saturday will have your Go Ticket's refunded. Contact your local for more info!

Notice: Ah jeez! I got turned down by the OLP for my blogger accreditation. They won't let  me into the MLG to report on the leadership conference. Hmmmm! Wonder why? ;-) Oh well! I look forward to meeting any + all of my readers who will be there. I will be somewhere around the teal blue OECTA flags. This weekend should be very worthwhile + fun. Nothing like a good protest to get the old adrenaline running again! Plan for a total rush!

Media: [to listen to on radio while we march. Yup!]

CBC radio + t.v. news coverage details are here: CBC

Watch for excellent internet + T.V. coverage on TVO Agenda: TVO Agenda

Toronto Star will have a lot of reporters at the convention. You can find their articles online here: Toronto Star

The OECTA Corner: OECTA provincial has officially bought into this weekend's protests. I am confused. Who will show up from provincial? After all we've been through, why? It is our dissident teachers who have been trying to carry the load while all the dirty work was being done up at the St. Clare offices. Who else will show up? I will contact our truly exemplary School Edition OECTA Protesters like Bad Boy Brock, the Metro 7 + more. Let's look out for each others flags throughout the weekend! In solidarity!



Visitor's Tips: 

Weather forecast for Toronto on Saturday is a clear, sunny -5 degrees C. Cold but quite doable if you bundle up. More on this later! Here is a link for weather updates + road conditions: Weather channel


Be sure to dress for the weather this weekend!

NOW! Magazine is a good guide for restaurants, clubs, art galleries, theatre etc.etc.etc. Maybe a little too leftie trendy but no matter. See: NOW!

Use the Lost Toronto Guide to explore the city! See: Lost Toronto!

Hogtown Blues is offbeat and more up to dateHog Town Blues!

Here's a calendar you can print out. It has a very thorough list of other things to see + do in Toronto this weekend: January 2013 Savvy Guide


Lots to see + do in Toronto this weekend before + after the protests!

Situation permitting I will try to post throughout the convention protest. If not, after.

Keep checking this blog for info about this weekend. Regular news link updates continue in the digest blog below ...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hudak to eliminate school board superintendents! Does this mean we may have to stand in solidarity with our S.O. brothers and sisters? What's next? Dogs sleeping with cats? http://www.ontariopc.com/news/a-principal-and-teacher-driven-system/

Anonymous said...

All of us should show for the Saturday protest!

If we don't speak up for democracy and our rights, there are those who will be quite happy to take those items away from us! Young people in particular should be out there defending democracy and worker rights, as they are the future and the ones that are going to suffer the consequences if worker rights are taken away from them and democracy dies. Metro 7 will definitely be at the Rally and cheering for the side of right!

Anonymous said...

Are you going to update on the OLRB hearing that's going on right now! Very interesting!

David on the run said...

wil do but am double booked now headed out to tonights olp protest at the maple leaf gardens! stay tuned!

Anonymous said...

NDP polls in first place. Forum. http://m.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1320295--ontario-liberals-no-poll-bounce-for-grits-after-leadership-campaign

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