(The following article is from the April 1-15, 2010 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)

The Communist Party of Canada (Ontario) and the Hamilton Committee of the Party reacted quickly to the Siemens closure announcement, issuing a news release and a leaflet condemning the move and calling for new policies to defend the interests of workers.

     It's true that U.S. sunbelt politicians don't care enough about the environment to rein in the corporations, points out the statement. But the real motive is North Carolina's pathetic labour laws: "Siemens' workers have no union, no collective agreement, no bargaining rights, no right to strike, and are paid wages far lower than any worker in the Hamilton operations. Benefits? What are those?"

     The statement points out that the 550 families affected by the closure will join half a million others who have lost well-paid, unionized jobs in Ontario. After using their severance and their EI weeks to search for comparable jobs in an economy with 12.1% real unemployment, most will have to choose between lower-paid, precarious work, or welfare.

     Federal and provincial governments have said nothing about the shutdown. "For Liberal and Tory governments, multinational corporations can do whatever they want. Concessions and sweeteners like the tax gifts and freebies in North Carolina are the only thing on offer in Ontario."

     The Communist Party is demanding legislation that would force companies like Siemens to show "just cause" before a public tribunal, and prevent closures based on reducing workers' wages and union-busting. The Party also calls for an immediate end to the free trade deals, and an industrial strategy to create jobs and re-build Canadian industry and manufacturing on a sustainable basis.

     The Party's statement urges "plant closure legislation with teeth - stop corporations putting plants on skids south to cut wages and break unions," and goes on to demand:

"* foreign investment laws that benefit Canada - not Siemens, US Steel, Vale Inco, and the rest.

* bankruptcy protection for workers' wages and pensions.

* massive public investment to create jobs, expand manufacturing and secondary industry.

* raise wages and living standards, put Ontario back to work

* anti-scab legislation.

* a Bill of Rights for Labour guaranteeing the right to strike, picket and organize.

     "Corporations and their right wing governments say the economic crisis is over. But it's not over for workers who continue to face massive unemployment, job loss, static wages, and declining living conditions. Now the attack is on the trade union movement itself, which corporations and reactionary governments know is the backbone of a province-wide, and Canada-wide fightback movement."

     In response, "Labour needs its democratic and community allies now more than ever, and communities need labour to beat back the corporate attack on cities, social programs, and public services.

     "The OFL needs to convene a labour-community summit that can organize and mobilize a mass, united and militant response, that can put people in the streets and launch a counter-offensive against the corporate assault.

     "We stand in solidarity with fighting members of Local 504, CAW, which has a long history of militant struggle from the early days of organizing in the 1930s and 40s up to the present. The struggle continues!"