POLICE, CITY MUST STOP HARASSING PANHANDLERS

MAY DAY NEWS RELEASE

May 1, 2013

Ottawa—The Ottawa Panhandlers Union of the Industrial Workers of the World is calling on the Ottawa Police Service and the politicians at City Hall to stop harassing and intimidating panhandlers.

WHO:             Alison Hoffman, panhandler organizer

WHAT:            Speech on police harassment of panhandlers

WHEN:            7 PM, Wednesday, May 1

WHERE:         Ottawa Police Service station on 474 Elgin St.

It is time for Ottawans to stand up for this city’s panhandlers. The police continue to use the Safe Streets Act as a tool to sweep the streets, making it more difficult for panhandlers who are trying to simply get by, day by day.

We are urging our members and the public to watch out for police officers who are pulling the following tricks:

Threatening Tickets Citing Irrelevant Bylaws

Police officers are telling panhandlers in the Market area that they are going to issue them tickets using Byward Market Bylaw 2008-449. We’ve read the bylaw and it only applies to vendors; not panhandlers who do not sell anything.

Pressuring business staff and owners to complain about panhandlers

Police are entering businesses in order to solicit complaints from owners and staff about panhandlers on the street nearby. Fortunately, many business owners and staff resist the police pressure to file a complaint. We thank them for their efforts. Police should stop this tactic immediately; it’s not their job to make up complaints so they can harass our members and people on the street.

The Ottawa Panhandlers Union finds these tactics of misinformation and harassment unacceptable. The police should know better and we urge city councillors and the public to let them know what they think of this behaviour.

***

The Ottawa Panhandlers Union was formed in 2004 as a way for people on the street to unite, help each other and defend against police, municipal and provincial attacks. For more information or to get involved with the Ottawa Panhandlers Union, email opu@ottawaiww.org.

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Available for just $2 at the following Ottawa stores:

Britton’s Westboro
352 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8, Canada
(613) 729-0551

Globe Mags & Cigars
57 William St
Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z9
(613) 241-7274

Mags & Fags
254 Elgin St
Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9 Canada
(613) 233 9651

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Available for just $2 at the following Ottawa stores:

Britton’s Westboro
352 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8, Canada
(613) 729-0551

Globe Mags & Cigars
57 William St
Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z9
(613) 241-7274

Mags & Fags
254 Elgin St
Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9 Canada
(613) 233 9651

Want back issues? Email ott-out@iww.org if you need others or check www.iww.org/projects/IW for PDF versions.

Fellow Education Workers,

The Industrial Workers of the World Canadian Regional Organizing Committee urges Ontario rank-and-file teachers union members to keep struggling for justice and respect on the job.

The rank-and-file of Ontario’s teachers’ unions have borne the brunt of this struggle with Ontario’s Liberal government for a fair and equitable contract, negotiated freely and under conditions of respect and solidarity.

The government’s decision to repeal Bill 115 is meaningless, particularly as it intends to enforce the two-year agreement it forced on teachers. Taking the knife out does not heal the wound.

The Industrial Workers of the World in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada urge the rank-and-file to keep up the fight on the job and within your own union. We see rank-and-file members adopting a more effective approach by continuing to network at the grassroots level and keep mobilized in the workplace. Instructors should continue to take action as necessary to make the imposition of this contract a mistake the government will not forget.

There is also organizing work to do within the teachers’ unions. The news that the Toronto District 12 of the OSSTF donated $30,000 to Liberal leadership candidates in December 2012 demonstrates a serious breach of faith with its members. Attempting to use union funds to curry favour with the very members of the Liberal cabinet who voted in favour of Bill 115 is an ineffective way of fighting this government and its allies.

Similarly, the decision to stop the work-to-rule tactic on extra-curricular activities on the hint of a promise from the new premier puts the interests of the Ontario Liberal Party over the interests of the union’s membership. We urge union members to hold their officers accountable for these blunders.

Our members and working class Ontarians support the teachers and educators in our schools. We know what it is like to face austerity and demonization by this province’s government and its allies. Solidarity and political independence is the hard road to victory and we will see you on it, Fellow Workers.

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Available for just $2 at the following stores:

Britton’s Westboro
352 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8, Canada
(613) 729-0551

Globe Mags & Cigars
57 William St
Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z9
(613) 241-7274

Mags & Fags
254 Elgin St
Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9 Canada
(613) 233 9651

Want back issues? Email ott-out@iww.org if you need others or check www.iww.org/projects/IW for PDF versions.