The council has been involved in numerous issues. We continue to support the strikers involved in the labour dispute between CUPE Local 109 and the City of Kingston. Our delegates and affiliates are on the picket lines, at rallies and are giving financial support. The council is working with the Kingston Action Network and CAW Local 1837 in terms of organizing a solidarity event this week.

The Labour Council / KAN initiative actively asking people to support our United Way and stating on the pledge form or cheque that no money be given to any agency that supports workfare appears to be working very well. As an example the pledges at USWA Local 343 at Alcan are exceeding their goal and many members used a stamp to support our position. The council has also placed two ads in PIC Press that highlighted the issue of United Way and Workfare.

The Labour Council and KAN are arranging carpools to Queen's Park on Thursday morning to highlight the issue of cutbacks to homecare affecting health care workers and their patients in the Province. This will preceed the opening of the Legislature. An example of the cutbacks in our area is ComCare who announced their closure, dismissed their nursing staff and their clients when the arbitration award was announced. The current situation with the CCAC's tendering contracts for health care will produce a race to the bottom in terms of patient care and working conditions for health care workers in Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Labour is working with Labour Councils to lobby politicians about the state of homecare in the Province. Thanks to Natalie for organizing both the carpooling and lobbying for us.

The council's Fall school will take place this weekend at Chaffey's Locks. Once again there will be good attendance and as usual Peter deserves credit for a job well done.

Labour's Voice in the Community taped two more shows this evening. The first featured Hassan Yussuff Executive Vice-President of the C.L.C who will be joining us this evening. The second show featured Ross Sutherland a CUPE member from the V.O.N. who detailed the issues surrounding Homecare in Ontario.

We have applied for an Artist and the Community grant to document the historical changes of labour in the Kingston area. We look forward to working with Robert Mulder on this project.

As always,
In solidarity,

Charlie Stock
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