Guelph and District Labour Council to endorse NDP Candidates James Gordon and Dale Hamilton in provincial election

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Guelph and District Labour Council (GDLC) is announcing their endorsement of James Gordon, NDP candidate for Guelph, and Dale Hamilton, NDP candidate for Wellington-Halton Hills, two NDP candidates running for election in their catchment area.

“It’s unusual for the Labour Council to endorse candidates in a provincial election. We are taking this step because we know the status quo isn’t working,” said Janice Folk Dawson, GDLC President. “Statistics Canada reported in 2010 that since 2008, we lost  more than 171,000 Ontario jobs. Two out of every three workers still don’t have a workplace pension.”

“We need a government who’ll listen to the needs of working people. This election is about building a future that supports Ontario’s families,” said Folk Dawson.

After discussions with the NDP, the GDLC agreed that their platform containing incentives for workplace training programs, job creation tax credit plans, 80,000 good jobs over four years, respecting collective bargaining rights and enhancing labour legislation fits the mandate and principles of the Guelph & District Labour Council.

“Too many people have suffered during this terrible recession. We want a commitment from our next government that they will get people back to work in good jobs with benefits and pensions, and that they will ensure that everyone in Ontario can retire with dignity and security,” said Folk Dawson. 

The GDLC supports the NDP’s plan for an Ontario Pension Plan – a public, cost-efficient, defined benefit pension plan that that has received positive feedback from numerous pension stakeholders.  The Labour Council also wants the next provincial government to actively lobby the Federal government to expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

In the October election, trade unions also seek reform on labour law issues, such as restoring the ban on replacement workers, establishing card-check certification in Ontario, and giving agricultural and part-time college workers the right to join unions. 

The Guelph and District Labour Council represents more than 6,000 unionized workers in Guelph and surrounding area.