Ottawa & District Labour Council
Delivered (Greetings) to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Convention April 19, 2008 held in Ottawa by:
Sean McKenny, President, Ottawa and District Labour Council
Good morning.
Bonjour.
On behalf of the Ottawa and District Labour Council, its 90 affiliated locals representing 45,000 women and men in the city of Ottawa I bring you greetings.
As Canada’s capital we have a number of tourist attractions to see and to visit and for those new to Ottawa or for others returning, amidst a very full Convention agenda, I encourage you to check ‘em out.
In addition to the attractions as Canada’s capital – as the city of Ottawa we’re also home to a millionaire Mayor hell bent on privatizing the entire city. I know that attempts to privatize municipal programs and services is not uncommon to some of you in other communities across the country and that the introduction by the right a number of years ago to - in their minds softer approaches such as Public Private Partnerships – is not unfamiliar to you. I also know that if all of us can work together – if we can figure out just how to work together – when it comes to the issue of privatizing - its Mayor’s like ours, when it comes to municipal government, and Corporation heads like Moya – that can and will be defeated.
This is one union where I don’t need to remind delegates to utilize those establishments and services that are unionized. Our taxis are all union as are a number of restaurants and some bars. To me a memento – a souvenir of our city – has the words “Made in Canada”.
Oh I almost forgot – Ottawa’s Mayor – Larry O’Brien – continues to sit at the helm of our fair city despite an eight month Ontario Provincial Police investigation that saw two charges under Canada’s Criminal Code for bribery and influence peddling layed against him just a few short months ago. Ahhh you gotta love those millionaire business leaders who truly believe that their net worth is license enough to govern.
Ottawa has a rich history and it’s a part of that history that has helped to define Canada as a country. Our parliament – just over here - where debate and decisions made - has through out time etched the very foundation that we continue to build upon today. A structure where our children can play and our children’s children will continue to be able to play - a structure where those arriving from other countries to live here will ensure that they will be treated with the same decency and respect that those who were born here have the right to – a structure that ensures that there are no double looks or gazes at an individual because of the colour of their skin or because of a religious culture – a structure that ensures that individuals cannot be picked off our streets and detained in the guise of national security simply because of where they were born or what they believe in – a structure that not only ensures Peace but demands Peace at every level.
Our history here in this city - whether it be at a municipal level or as Canada’s capital is important and no different than other communities or cities across this country and around the world. Its our history as a people that has defined us. It’s the work we do today that becomes our history tomorrow.
As working people to ensure that the actions that we take today based on debate and enshrined through democracy are recorded as a part of our history and preserved becomes paramount to who we will become.
Your convention over the next five days is an example. Where resolutions will come to the floor and individuals will go to the Mic – and if you have something to say go to the damn Mic, don’t hold your comments to the evenings over a Guiness where you chastise a speaker or a resolution that was passed and people can’t get you to shut up. At the end of the day through debate through respect and most importantly through a democratic process a direction will be taken. A direction that will further define who you are. That’s your history – that’s your history as a union – and what happens with your union – because it is a good union – affects all the other unions – affects all other working people, becomes Labour’s history. Through history, the CUPW can claim Jean Claude Parrot – but Jean Claude Parrot helped to define all Labour.
It’s the historical etchings that we as a Labour Council in Ottawa put significant time towards. A few years back we realized that although there was considerable attention and focus directed towards Col John By who history books showed was responsible for the building of our Rideau Canal very little attention was paid to the workers who toiled away between 1826 and 1832 - building the Canal. Labour Council and a few others erected an eight foot Celtic Cross with the words “in memory of the 1000 workers and their families who died building this Canal” – Its located right beside the Canal at the first Lock.
We have started a Workers Heritage Museum to showcase and highlight the contributions that working people have made to the city of Ottawa. We have an agreement with the city of Ottawa and our National Capital Commission to have a street and a park in the Lebreton Flats area of the city named after Daniel J O’Donoghue one of the first Ottawa Labour Council presidents back in the 1870’s.
None of us believe for a minute that what we do as labour – as union activists – isn’t significant. It only makes sense that we ensure that what we do – others will see us to have done.
Okay – as I wrap up - I gotta give a plug for Labour Councils. Of course I think that they’re the greatest thing. If you’re not affiliated to your Labour Council in your area – please affiliate. And if you are affiliated please participate if you can – I know in Ottawa CUPW is very active with Labour Council and we sure appreciate that.
Good luck over the next few days – bonnne chance – merci - thank you.
