Democracy of Hypocrisy

The Windsor Star seems unable to change. In what has become almost a daily ritual, stories will be printed that pertain to the blue collar workers, particularly those in union jobs and the woes that these workers face as the economy continues to tank. In a twist of irony, they also print stories misleading the people telling them that the economy in Windsor is turning around. What a slap in the face that is, I mean come on. Not only that, they have the nerve to print a story about the Toyota recall, but low and behold, commenting on that story is turned off. I find myself asking why that is but the answer is pretty clear. It doesn't involve union workers thus negating a chance for the Star to once again push their anti union vitriol through readers comments.

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I have finally gotten around to writing a new post and it's about time. Let's just say that the economy has got me down and I've been feeling some self loathing and a general feeling of "whatever". But it is a new year and I feel that what I have been seeing happening in Windsor and in the world in general,it is time to get my thoughts out there. But where to begin? Why right here at home of course.

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I attended the CUPE rally today which started out front of the University of Windsor and ended at city hall square. I must say that I was very impressed with the turnout. CUPE members from out of town arrived in bus loads; as well other locals from the Windsor area stood by their union brothers and sisters as we marched to city hall down Riverside drive. Chants of "hey hey, ho ho, Eddie has got to go" and other songs were plentiful as we walked past the red bull air racers practising in their sweet planes. The 9 week old strike has no end in site and it was awesome that the different locals came out to show support.

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The citizens of Windsor made good on their promise to clean up the Ford Test Track today. As organizers and crews converged on the park, so did pro union citizens, many from different unions that are not on strike; I being one of them. Mike Morency, the organizer of this event, had some words to speak to the people before the clean up was to commence. They were planning to cut the grass, however, the police informed them that they would not be allowed due to safety reasons and for fear of confrontation. Mr. Morency was called out on only doing this for publicity as speculation arises that he wishes to run for city council in the election next year. A question which he quickly shrugged aside. Mr. Morency says that he supports the union and had only planned on cleaning this one park, yet on his facebook group it has come to light that they are planning to clean more city parks. Over all, there were no physical fights, just angry words exchanged between both sides and when I finally left, a small crowd of people were left, along with the police.

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Link: http://www.windsorstar.com/Mediator+leaves+town+sight+city+strike/1588833/story.html

Negotiations between the city of Windsor and the outside workers broke off Tuesday leaving no end in sight for the strike which has dragged on for five weeks now. The mediator, who was brought in on Monday has left town and the residents of Windsor are showing increased frustration and a total lack of decency by continuing to dump garbage and other household junk along the streets and fields of the city. There are no new talks scheduled and Mayor "Fast" Eddie Francis said the city will contemplate new plans to deal with the mounting refuse but couldn't offer a time frame of when those plans would be available.

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The UAW is fighting for it's members future in North America as GM plans to outsource and shut down plants in its bid to restructure. GM wants to outsource production to Mexico and Asia and it has caused a stir within the UAW who believes that

"This is really about the shape of GM in the US and its foot print in North America in the future," a senior UAW official who asked not to be identified told AFP

The UAW strongly objects to GM's plans because it basically means that GM's manufacturing will shift from North America to places like China, Mexico, Korea and Japan. The UAW also believes that if GM will be given government money, that they should keep plants open in North America.

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Windsor's outside municipal workers went on strike Wednesday morning after negotiations failed. The heart of the issue seems to be how the city wants to eliminate benefits for new hires and of course the supposed wage increase for current workers that the city claims is on the table. The city negotiating team so far does not seem willing to bargain fairly and they are only interested in concessions, which CUPE local 82 will not bargain concessions.

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