The CTH tour across Canada has been a great success thus far, meeting with hundreds of activists, students and trade unionists.

Here is just one of the report backs. From Barry Weisleder in Ontario:

Close to twenty union activists and staff of the Ontario Public Service Employees' Union crowded a boardroom at the union's Toronto regional office at 31 Wellesley Street East, 4 p.m. on May 25 to hear Ginette Apollon speak about the situation of workers in Haiti today.

Sister Ginette spoke in French, and with the able assistance of translator Charles Nantel, stunned the gathering with details about the abysmal working and living conditions in Haiti, and the uphill battle of the under-resourced Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH) against sweat-shop employers and 'yellow' unions. She spoke of the nefarious role of the Canadian state and its allies in the anti-Aristide coup, and the ongoing occupation and economic strangulation of Haiti. She also testified to the positive example of Cuba and Venezuela in providing doctors, medicines and cheap fuel to Haiti to alleviate the suffering of the majority.

In attendance at the meeting were OPSEU negotiators, grievance officers, communications personnel, staff reps., human rights activists and local union executive officers. Brother Joe Healey, Vice-President of the Greater Toronto Area Council of OPSEU, formally thanked Ginette for her remarks and presented her with a number of gifts from the union.

Pam Doig, an OPSEU Head Office staff representative, welcomed Ginette on behalf of OPSEU's President-elect Smokey Thomas, who sent his regrets at being unable to be present.

I particularly want to thank Pam for working with me in the days leading up to the meeting and for facilitating the outreach, the refreshments and the venue for our highly successful gathering.

Euvonie Georges-Auguste arrived at the conclusion of the meeting, fresh from a speaking engagement at Ryerson University. I briefly introduced her to the OPSEU folks, who responded warmly and included her in photos with Ginette and union officers.

Nearly everyone present provided personal contact information for ongoing news and connections with the Toronto Haiti Action Committee. A couple of unionists invited Ginette to an event in the Toronto francophone community the next day.

Judging from comments by a number of participants, the CTH can look forward to meaningful support from OPSEU bodies, and CHAN/THAC can look forward to a partnership with OPSEU in the field of solidarity with the workers of Haiti.