On the day before the OFL rally in London, community members and allied trade unionists in Toronto, Hamilton, Peterborough and Kingston held a coordinated day of action against CAT retailer Battlefield CAT-Rentals. This action was carried out to show how simple it is for those outside CAW 27 to show solidarity with their working class brothers and sisters, and to hopefully inspire other people to get involved in broadening the battle against Caterpillar to include new fronts.

Below is the text of a broadsheet that was handed out at the rally in London on January 21st. You can download the broadsheet here:

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On Friday, January 20th cities across Ontario held information pickets in support of the workers in an attempt to mobilize community members to act against a union-busting employer. Secondary pickets—against Battlefield Cat Rental—were held in Toronto, Hamilton, Peterborough, and Kingston.

Common Cause supports the locked out workers of CAW Local 27 in their struggle for a living wage. The year of 2012 has begun with a blatant attack on the working class. Electromotive Canada (EMC), owned by Caterpillar, has demanded a 50 per cent wage cut and major pension and benefit concessions. When the workers refused to accept that offer the company locked them out at the start of the year. This shows that the capitalist class, aka the 1%, is only interested in their own profits and will stop at nothing to meet this goal.

The events at EMC will set the tone for the struggle against exploitation in London, Canada, and beyond. Whether this ends in victory or defeat, this struggle is important for all working people, but we must do everything we can to win. If mobilized, the power of the labour movement can stop the bosses in their tracks.