Jobs Rally Challenge

A letter from a reader follows:

• Hi Ed,
  
  Read you faithfully.
  
  Enough about politicians TALKING. Can you help promote the people in this town who WORK, and would like to KEEP working, by giving some space to the Jobs Rally taking place Sunday, May 27th at the Ford Test Track?
  
  Yes, it’s a labour initiative (somebody’s got to have some), but since the Mayor’s speech on Monday, this thing has exploded and support and interest and offers of help are coming from everywhere. You say you represent the taxpayers, citizens, regular guy in town. Well, I guess we’ll see.
  
  Yes – you read it right – this is a challenge – but a very small one compared to what this City is facing. It’s time to see what everyone is made of – including you and me."

Gord Henderson's column today scolds the Labour Movement for not being quiet. Brand imaging you know. Maintaining unity.

What I have found strange is that Eddie's words about the unions weren't all that bad. I agree with Gord there. However, has everyone missed Eddie's attack on CUPE? I expect that the various locals will be brutalized as the new service delivery model is created. That means "outsourcing" and job reduction if you have not figured that out as well. If the Big Three can do it, so can City Hall. Investors will be impressed.

Anyway, for those who dare attack Eddie as he positions himself for his new career, understand that you will be attacked as well. Remember what Eddie said at his state of the City speech and be quiet:

• "We need to put narrow interests aside – and promote the greater good.
  We need to think about the long-term, and not get distracted by arguing with one another over small, petty and personal issues in the short term.
  We need to end the fragmentation – where narrow interests compete with one another within Windsor.
  We need to recognize and sideline the special interests that seek to divide us.
  And we need to stop distorting our Windsor in the name of advancing other agendas – political or otherwise.
  We need to unite in the cause of promoting the benefits of our city and our region to one another … and to the world….
  Negative messages travel at the same speed as a text message or information on the internet…
  It’s time for a new mentality in Windsor. One where we always ask ourselves if our words and our deeds help our city’s image – or hurt it…
  Others are listening. Others are watching us. The old era of airing our dirty laundry in public is over.
  We must unite. "

It is the same message that Eddie uses with Councillors to shut them up...we must keep a united front or "OTHERS" will win. Shades of Dief the Chief's "THEY!"

Interestingly, Gord can suggest an Eddie-Kenny meeting while ignoring another big reason investors will stay away from here: the anti-business attitude of this Mayor. Perhaps Gord might suggest that there be a Matty-Eddie meeting and a Tony-Eddie meeting soon too so we can get thousands of high-paying new jobs created NOW, not just minimum wage call centre positions.

No one dares speak out in this City. There is a real element of fear and of possible retribution. I speak from personal experience on that one. That is why I get so many tips from readers! I can BLOG what they do not dare say.

This fear is why this City is in such a mess. It is time that people begin to speak up. Unity or no unity!