News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 March 16, 2007Local 1285 Members Endorse DaimlerChrysler Agreement 
CAW Local 1285 members who work at DaimlerChrysler's Brampton, Ontario car assembly plant, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a 'shelf' agreement that will help secure new work at the facility.
The 'shelf' agreement includes the elimination of the Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) premium, which includes 43 minutes of paid relief time above their 8-hour workday. The AWS premium is only in effect while the plant is operating under a three shift, 8-hour schedule.
The plant in Brampton builds the popular 300C, Dodge Magnum and Charger models and will soon produce the Challenger performance car. The 'shelf' agreement will only apply if DCX decides to build a fifth model in Brampton and makes the $700-million investment required to accommodate assembling that many models in one plant.
Ardis Snow, Local 1285 unit chairperson at DCX said "it was a very hard decision for the membership to make, but they looked at the long term future for themselves and their families."
Ken Lewenza, chairperson of the CAW's DaimlerChrysler master bargaining committee, said "there is obviously a lot of uncertainty in the auto industry and our members continue to express frustration and concern about the future."
Bob Chernecki, assistant to the CAW President, spoke to the membership about the tough environment facing domestic automakers and the challenging times that have created so much insecurity in auto producing communities.
E.I. Victory for CAW Highland Fish Plant Workers
The Employment Insurance dispute involving more than 70 former Highland Fisheries workers in Glace Bay, is finally over. Linda MacNeil, CAW National Representative said, 'On March 11, Service Canada announced it will not be appealing a recent decision of a board of referees to grant the workers full EI benefits. This is a tremendously important victory for the CAW Local 4622 members, and the Glace Bay community at large. The workers were thrilled, but they still hope that the plant might re-open,' added MacNeil.
Workers at the Clearwater Seafoods owned plant were locked out last March after the company and the CAW failed to reach an agreement on wage concessions demanded by the company.
Clearwater announced in June it had no plans to reopen the plant. Service Canada claimed the labour dispute was unresolved and rejected workers' employment insurance benefit claims.
Last month, an EI board of referees ruled the workers were entitled to full benefits, including retroactive payments. Service Canada did not say what prompted the government to drop its original plans to appeal the board of referees' decision.
CAW National Representative Laurell Ritchie said that 'over the years, inflexible EI labour dispute rules have been used to deny too many workers their rightful claim to unemployment benefits. This will serve as a useful precedent for other workers, who need to apply for EI, when a company decides not to re-open after a strike or lockout. Finally, common sense wins out.'
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21st was declared 'International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discriminations' in 1966 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The UN selected this day to commemorate sixty nine black South Africans who were shot on March 21, 1960 while peacefully demonstrating against the country's apartheid system. In addition to the sixty nine people killed, one hundred and eighty were wounded.
The CAW is committed to eliminate racism from workplaces, communities, and the union. It is an opportunity for us to recognize workers of colour, aboriginal workers and the many activists who have carried on the struggle to eliminate racial discrimination.
The CAW National Executive Board statement on March 21 states 'As trade unionists and Canadians we must lead by example, at home and on the international stage, through our words and deeds. Our union has always strived to achieve justice and equality for all.'
"March 21st is a day for us all to remember and reflect on the fact that racism is still part of our society today. We have an important role and responsibility to build a society that is not only free of discrimination, but that treats others with dignity and respect,' said CAW Human Rights director Raj Dhaliwal.
Skilled Trades News
CAW Skilled Trades Continues Katrina Relief
A new group of CAW skilled trades volunteers will travel to New Orleans at the end of March to give badly needed reconstruction support.
The group of seven will continue the work of previous CAW volunteers in rebuilding five houses in the New Orleans 9th Ward, an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Since the program kicked off in August 2006, nearly 70 CAW skilled trades members have volunteered their time and holidays, working alongside members of the New Orleans-based ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Two more CAW groups will go in April.
CAW Local 199 President Wayne Gates and the union membership recently presented certificates of recognition to the seven Local 199 workers who have participated in the Katrina relief work to date.
British Columbia Apprenticeships
CAW National Skilled Trades Director Colin Heslop has been appointed by the B.C. Federation of Labour to the Board of Directors of the newly established Industry Training Organization.
Industry Training Organizations are being set up by a B.C. government agency to improve training in specific sectors of the B.C. economy.
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF)
CAW Skilled Trades National Representative Pat Blackwood has been appointed by the Canadian Labour Congress as a labour representative to the CAF Board of Directors. The appointment recognizes CAW's achievements in improving apprenticeship training programs across Canada.
CAW Meets With Transport Canada Over Rail Safety
Taking concerns of railway workers to the table, CAW Rail Safety representatives met with the Transport Canada Rail Safety Directorate on March 13 to raise ongoing rail safety issues.
The CAW used the opportunity to voice concerns about derailments, shipping dangerous commodities and negligent safety inspections. The CAW has repeatedly warned Transport Canada that a lack of standardized rules, few inspections and excessive railway safety exemptions could lead to dangerous deficiencies in rail safety, evidenced by derailments in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec between 2005 and 2006.
"There have been many rail accidents lately and Transport Canada is now looking for answers," said CAW National Representative Brian McDonagh. "The meeting was much more productive than usual." Transport Canada has agreed to meet the CAW at least once a year over rail safety - the next will take place in September.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the International Transportation Federation's 8th International 'Railway Worker's Day of Action.' CAW Secretary-Treasurer Jim O'Neil is the Canadian executive board member for the ITF. On this day, the CAW joined labour unions in 60 countries across the globe in advocating improved rail safety standards.
Staff Appointment
CAW President Buzz Hargrove has appointed DIANE MIMEAULT, who was a temporary staff representative, former president and bargaining committee member at CMC, CAW Local 2889, as a service representative working out of the Montreal office effective Sunday, March 5, 2007.
