News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 January 19, 2007CAW and CN Rail Reach Tentative Agreement
After several weeks of tough bargaining, CAW Local 100 and CAW National Council 4000 reached a tentative collective agreement January 15 with CN Rail in Toronto. The agreement is subject to ratification by CAW members who work for CN Rail and Canadian National Transportation Limited.
The CAW represents more than 4000 shopcraft, clerical, supplemental and owner-operator members at CN facilities across the country.
Nearly 100 CAW local union leadership voted unanimously on Jan 16 in support of the tentative agreement after arriving from across the country for an information meeting in Toronto to review its details.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove highlighted the long hours of tough negotiations by CAW leadership and the CAW master bargaining committees that resulted in the new agreement.
"This agreement includes strong wage and benefit gains, new shopcraft work and job guarantees, additional owner-operator jobs and a health care spending account for future retirees," Hargrove said.
"The bargaining committees have done a tremendous job to negotiate this agreement at a time when the rail industry continues to go through major structural and technological change."
Ratification meetings will be held across the country. They will be completed by the end of next week.
The Growing Imbalance in Automotive Trade
CAW President Buzz Hargrove challenged conventional thinking on the problems and solutions to the growing imbalance in automotive trade affecting the North American auto industry in a speech January 17.
Hargrove was a guest speaker at the Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, Michigan. Here are some excerpts from his written text:
"When it comes to our auto industry there is an elephant in the room and it's time to talk about it. We have the most open automotive market in the world: fully one quarter of the vehicles sold in North America are made outside the region, compared to less than 5 per cent in Japan and less than 3 per cent in Korea.."
".Let me follow the logic of this unequal trading relationship a bit further. Japanese companies facing problems at home export products to North America. A secure, protected domestic market provides the basis for this export-led solution.
In responding to the import challenge and the dramatic loss of market share, the traditional North American producers close plants and workers see their standard of living eroded and their jobs destroyed. In turn North American car producers shift production to China and elsewhere, reinforcing the loss of jobs at home and setting the stage for further job loss down the road.
As well, young people in North America see little or no opportunity in the world's most dynamic industry. Japanese companies, flush with cash from North American sales, have the money to invest in new products and new plants."
To read Hargrove's full speech visit the Visual & Print Library section of the CAW web site at: www.caw.ca/visual&printlibrary/speeches&briefs/speeches/index.asp
Concerns About Autoworker Job Loss
CAW President Buzz Hargrove sent a letter requesting a meeting with the newly appointed Environment Minister John Baird before Baird sets policy and establishes new legislation on the environment that affects auto jobs.
Hargrove requested the meeting with Baird to express concern about the federal government making changes to the Clean Air Act and the possible impact it will have on the jobs of CAW members and the communities where they live.
Further, Hargrove wrote NDP leader Jack Layton expressing concern about recent comments in the media calling for tougher emission standards to be effective immediately on Canada's major auto makers which would endanger the jobs of thousands of Canadian autoworkers. Hargrove has requested a meeting with Layton to discuss Layton's proposals on climate change.
The CAW continues to support mandatory fuel economy improvements and the corresponding emission reductions. There is a way to respond effectively to climate change and at the same time protect auto jobs and support an innovative auto industry.
CAW Brings Christmas Spirit to Stranded Fishermen
The crew of a Ukrainian shrimp dragger, stranded in St. John's, Newfoundland with engine trouble, received tidings of solidarity and a Christmas dinner of turkey, gravy and fruit cake from the CAW/FFAW.
CAW/FFAW President Earle McCurdy, along with several staff members, visited the vessel at Christmas to bring food and gifts to the crew, many of who hadn't been home in more than a year.
The ship was fishing off the Newfoundland coast when it had engine trouble and had to dock in St. John's. The crew has been forced to wait on the ship for a propeller shaft from eastern Europe and for repairs to be completed. Most of them don't have the money to fly home. They haven't received earnings in that time.
'This is a pretty tough situation for the crew. We felt it was important to send a message of solidarity from Newfoundland fishermen to Ukraine fishermen," McCurdy said.
Hargrove Urges Feds to Purchase Canadian Aircraft
CAW President Buzz Hargrove is urging federal MPs to use Canadian tax dollars to support the purchase of Canadian-made search and rescue aircraft instead of sending the $3 billion contract to an overseas manufacturer.
In a January 16 letter to opposition party leaders and defence critics Hargrove outlined concerns over a wrong-headed debate on Parliament Hill that could result in negative consequences for the Canadian aerospace industry.
"It is disappointing to see your party focusing the debate surrounding this $3 billion contract exclusively on the value of an open competition versus a sole-sourced procurement process," Hargrove wrote.
"As elected officials, the first question that should be considered in any situation involving billions of dollars in public spending is whether the product can be built, or the service provided, in Canada by Canadians."
Hargrove urges the government to use a transparent process and one that encourages job creation and industrial development in Canada when awarding the massive contract. He said particular requirements by the Department of National Defence for the search and rescue aircraft restrict the number of potential suppliers.
"Despite the fact that Canadian manufacturers currently have the capability to manufacture search and rescue aircraft in Canada, the DND process all but ensures the successful supplier will be an overseas manufacturer."
"Canadians need their elected representatives to ensure governments make spending decisions that are in the best interests of its citizens, and that includes maximizing the economic benefits to our economy from these massive government expenditures."
You can send your MP a message on this topic from the "Take Action Now!" section of the CAW web site at: www.caw.ca/takeactionnow/index.asp?ID=33
Did You Know
| Did you know that you can watch video coverage of many CAW events on the CAW National website?
You can find Video News at: www.caw.ca/news/videonews/index.asp. |
