It has been used to good effect in unionized work places, especially in the auto assembly plants where production speed-up has resulted in an increasing incidence of repetitive strain and other injuries and where workers have fought back by exercising their right to refuse. Not surprisingly Ford and GM have been the main lobbyists for eroding the right to refuse in the statute. Since Ford and GM were the major lobbyists for cutbacks to the right to refuse, we made enshrining the present health and safety act and regulations in our collective agreement a major priority of our bargaining with the Big 3 automobile manufacturers this fall. Ford chose to make the right to refuse a major focus of their bargaining as did we in return. By enshrining these provisions in our contracts, we hope to reduce employer pressure on the government to erode the law.
Attacks beget counter-attacks.
Trade unions are the defense organizations of the working class and we have been effective immobilizing our counter offensive together with our allies in the social justice movement. Use it or lose it became the slogan for encouraging workers to exercise their right to refuse unsafe work. Ministry of Labor offices have been occupied in a number of Ontario communities with the demonstrators insisting on a hearing from the senior MOL officials in the office to ensure that our point of view on proposed cutbacks is heard. Offices of the government Members of the Provincial Parliament as well have been occupied. The most effective occupation so far was the occupation of the Premier's constituency office in North Bay which resulted in a meeting with the Minister of Labor and her senior ministry officials.