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Thousands of employees demonstrated against Ontario’s Harris government in St. Catharines on Friday, May 1.
The protest shut down government offices such as the city hall and the main postal station. The central library was closed, classes at Brock University were canceled and the public transport system was halted. As well, the huge GM plant in the city was shut down.
Some 5,000 people demonstrated and picketed throughout the city, including many CUPE members.
“We will not allow our children to inherit a world where the corporations control who gets health care.” CUPE President Judy Darcy tod the demonstrators. “We will not allow our children to inherit a world where the corporations determine what gets taught in our schools. We will not allow our children to inherit a world where the power and the water in the streams and rivers is in the hand of corporate privatizers. We’re here to say this fight is going to continue.’’
Sid Ryan, the president of CUPE’s Ontario Division said Harris “is very concerned about these demonstrations because they are tapping into mainstream Ontario,’’ noting that Niagara’s Roman Catholic bishop had backed the protest.
This was the 10th Day of Action held in the province in the past thirty months. It was the largest protest in the history of St. Catharines. The next protest will be held in Kingston.