Union groups protests federal cutbacks

The Canadian Press:

Toronto – A national union rallied across Canada on Saturday against government public-service cuts.

Protests, organized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, included the staging of a so-called “People’s Court” in Toronto that tried an effigy of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Mock trials were also held for efigies of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario Tory leader Tim Hudak and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford over cutbacks to public spending.

In Calgary, a union representing prison guards rallied in front of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Calgary constituency office Saturday to complain about Conservatives’ crime policies. The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers says prison guards are on the frontline of having to deal with the effects of Harper’s tough on crime agenda.

Other scheduled national protests included ones outside two of Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s Nova Scotia constituency offices and the unveiling of a “Defending Quality Public Services” mural in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan acted as a prosecutor in the mock trial in Toronto.

He accused the paper-head figure of Harper of driving down wages and eliminating jobs with international free trade agreements.

“You will hear evidence that will tell us how jobs have been destroyed in this country, how free trade agreements have been entered into by these four individuals and their corporate-sector friends — free trade agreements that have shipped jobs offshore, eliminated jobs and driven down wages,” Ryan told the Toronto protest while dressed in a black-and-white court gown.

Continue reading here.