ADVISORY: Campaign to Stop Tim Hudak Kicks Off With Urgent All Union Meeting in Durham

OSHAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 27, 2014) - Workers across Ontario are kicking off a province-wide campaign to defeat Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak with an urgent all union meeting in Oshawa this Thursday. Calling Hudak's claim that he has shelved his anti-worker scheme a dishonest tactical maneuver, Ontario's labour movement is forging ahead with plans to travel the province and expose Hudak's hidden agenda.

"Hudak's entire platform is centred on dismantling the labour movement to clear the way for a low-wage economy," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "He isn't fooling anyone. No matter how he tries to massage his message, Tim Hudak is still committed to the same extremist policies that would divide our workplaces, weaken workers' voices and drive down wages for everyone."

The Ontario Federation of Labour, the Canadian Labour Congress and regional labour councils across the province are currently planning upwards of 20 regional meetings to train workers to educate their colleagues, families and neighbours about Hudak's hidden agenda. Thursday's Durham Region meeting will mark the official launch of the campaign.

While the meeting itself is closed to reporters, photo opportunities will be provided and a media conference will be held immediately preceding the meeting to address questions about the campaign. Interviews will also be available with participants at the meeting.

"We know Hudak believes that workers in the Durham Region should be competing with workers in low-wage jurisdictions in a race to the bottom, so he wants to eliminate the workplace rights that stand in the way of his plan," said Jim Freeman, President of the Durham Region Labour Council. "We are going to bring this message to every union member who has voted for the Conservatives in the past to say 'not this time, Mr. Hudak.' We will be telling our coworkers, friends and neighbours exactly what a Hudak government has in store."

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour.