Windsor City Workers Strike against Two-Tier

Jun 22, 2009

City workers in Windsor, Ontario, in Canada are on strike, fighting an attempt by the city to set up what here is called a “two-tier” system of retirement benefits. Under the guise that the cuts will only affect new hires and some current workers, the city hopes to convince most current workers that it is no concern to them, and that newer workers will see it as far enough away that it is not that important.

The response by city workers has been a strike that has lasted more than nine weeks thus far. Up until now the strike has been put in front of other workers by picket lines and some demonstrations. But the city administration has tried to turn other workers against the strikers by blaming them for garbage accumulating, parks left uncut, etc.

But the Windsor city workers have all the means to trump that – by calling on other workers to join them. Certainly every worker is under attack and everyone has reason to join a common fight.

A strike like this could have an influence on many other workers, including in Detroit, which is just across the river from Windsor.