Liberal duffers hit rough at OPSEU demo
July 29, 2010 Tee off times were delayed for hundreds of well-heeled Liberal party members today when more than 80 OPSEU demonstrators blocked the entrance to a golf club north of Toronto to protest the government’s proposed wage freeze, under-funding of public services and corporate tax giveaways.
The occasion was the Liberal party’s annual fundraising golf tournament at The Club at Bond Head where party supporters paid $750 per round and the opportunity to hear the Premier speak later in the day.
OPSEU’s message to the early-morning golfers was blunt: ‘Working people are not the problem’ and they shouldn’t be made to pay, through their wages and public services, for reducing the province’s deficit which was triggered by the Great Recession and caused by the greed and incompetence of international money markets.
First vice president / treasurer Patty Routt told demonstrators that “Premier McGuinty is targeting low income earners in the broader public service. These workers provide important services including care for the elderly, treatment of the mentally ill and the operation of programs for vulnerable children and youth and they’re being told they’re part of the problem. Well they aren’t!”
Demonstrators prepared breakfast on BBQs and proceeds from the meal – more than $700 – went to the Community Living Association for South Simcoe, one of the many social service agencies that are struggling because of the government failure to adequately fund their programs.
“The amount of support received by the attendees is overwhelming. People are getting our message that ‘public services are important services and cutting these services only hurts vulnerable individuals in our community,’” said OPSEU executive board member for Region 3, Claire Rowett.
Today’s successful demonstration, which attracted considerable media attention, was organized on short notice thanks in large measure to the hard work of Region 3 mobilizers Denise Davis, Ken Hord and Stacey Tomblin, with support of EBMs Pete Wright and Claire Rowett.
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