On March 16, 2003, a 23-year old American activist named Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an IDF armored bulldozer in Rafah, southern Gaza. Along with fellow activists from the International Solidarity Movement, Corrie was engaged in a courageous effort to defend Palestinian homes slated for demolition. In an
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DeSmogBlog: The Big Waffle? New Report Exposes Corporations That Try to Split the Difference on Global Warming
caterpillar-logo-2401.jpg We hear a lot about the Koch brothers. And before them, we heard a lot about ExxonMobil. In other words, we all know the names of the corporations, and the corporate leaders, who have sought to undermine public understanding about global warming—for instance, by supporting think tanks that misrepresent
Continue readingRedBedHead: Caterpillar Won Because Nobody Fought Hard Enough
It doesn’t have to be this way. We built this country, this economy and this world. We don’t have to mourn the loss of more jobs, this time sent to a union-busting “right to work” state, Indiana, for half the wages. It isn’t inevitable that our wages, pensions, benefits –
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Electro-Motive and the Great Betrayal
When I see how the workers at Electro-Motive are suffering it breaks my heart. From Lynda: We have discussed the food bank. Worry that Paul will not be able to find another job that will pay our bills Now the worry that we will have no health coverage. The worry
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Stephen Harper Shows Corporate Tax Cuts at Work
On March 19, 2008, Stephen Harper posed for a photo-op at London’s Electro-Motive plant to showcase a $5-million federal tax break given to Caterpillar, the American buyers of the Canadian company. When Caterpillar, famous for union busting in the United States, amid record profits, wanted the employees to take a 50% pay cut and surrender
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Olive: Time to play hardball with Caterpillar (but you can bet the Conservatives won’t)
Here is a very hard-line piece from David Olive today in the Star about what the Canadian government should do about Caterpillar – a tone I’m not used to seeing Olive, the Star’s business columnist, come out and write in his pieces, so he’s obviously ticked off: We could nationalize
Continue readingkirbycairo: A Changing Mood. . . .
I was communicating lately with another blogger whose work I greatly appreciate about the way the mood has changed in the country in recent weeks. I have found in my own experience, as well as in my historical reading, that even significant political changes occur in a kind of mysterious
Continue readingbastard.logic: The New 1% Doctrine in Action (Electro-Motive Diesel Edition)
While many the US were celebrating seemingly positive job numbers yesterday, for London, Ontario residents such news was caustic, rock salt poured into a gaping wound. WSWS: Caterpillar subsidiary Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) has announced that it is transforming the lockout at its London, Ontario diesel-locomotive manufacturing facility into a plant closure. Six
Continue readingExcited Delirium: London Should Have More 50% Off Days
50% off wages? How about 50% off everything? Yeehaw!
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: It’s time to step on a Caterpillar, Premier Mcguinty
I was reading a column that Martin Reg-Cohn wrote yesterday on the continuing saga in London where as those who’ve followed it know, Caterpillar has locked out it’s workers in a draconian effort to get them to slah their wages by half – this as the CEO earns a million
Continue readingMolly'sBlog: Molly’sBlog 2012-01-20 02:48:00
CANADIAN LABOUR LONDON ONTARIO: COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LOCKED OUT CATERPILLAR WORKERS: Time ticks on until this Saturday’s mass demonstration in solidarity with workers at the Electro-Motive Diesel plant in London Ontario. While this is being planned the local community in London Ontario is rallying behind the workers affected who are
Continue readingMolly'sBlog: Molly’sBlog 2012-01-08 18:35:00
CANADIAN LABOUR LONDON ONTARIO: RALLY TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THE CORPORATE BULLDOZER CATERPILLAR INC.: Since New Year’s Day 425 workers at Electro-Motive (a subsidiary of heavy equipment firm Caterpillar) have been locked out. The demands of this quite profitable company are quite amazing – a 50% cut in wages as
Continue readingExcited Delirium: #Occupy Electro-Motive?
How can Canadians respond to the insult that comes from Caterpillar? And when unions know this is coming, why are we chronically unprepared?
Continue readingA Different Point of View....: Should we ‘take down’ the banks or try to save the best of capitalism?
It is November 1968, and a writer for Modern Mechanix peers 40 years into the future: “People have more time for leisure activities in the year 2008. The average work day is about four hours . . . . Homes are practically self-maintaining. Robots are available to do housework and
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: An ugly looking Caterpillar.
The big news down in this area the past few days – specifically in London – is that the big company Caterpillar decided to lock all of its employees out at its London based ElectroMotive plant. It is trying to force its employees there to take more then a 50%
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