News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 March 23, 2007Harper Budget Doesn't Do The Job For Working Canadians
The March 19th Stephen Harper budget appears to be a budget structured to avoid an election," says CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "The budget recognizes problems but fails to address them. There is a nod here and a wink there, but no real solutions."
For instance, the government applies a band-aid to the hemorrhaging manufacturing sector. There is tax support for manufacturing investment, but only for the next 18 months. It does nothing to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs - some 200,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared in Canada over the last two years. It does nothing to address our growing trade deficit in manufactured goods. In a similar vein, the government acknowledges poverty, but does very little to help Canadians escape the poverty trap. It provides a $500 tax credit to single individuals, but only if their net income is below $12,883 - single parents, might get up to $1000.
"A tax initiative combined with introducing a $10 minimum wage would have not only acknowledged poverty, but would have done something about it," said Hargrove.
"The budget admits that what the Harper government has done with the child care issue has been inadequate. This time they tried to fix the problem with a tax credit of a few hundred dollars for children under 18. What working families really need is the national child care program the Harper government scrapped when they came to power."
In terms of the environment, there is some good rhetoric, but too many of the programs are either inadequate or wrongheaded. For instance, the government has announced a program to get older vehicles off the road, but with a financial commitment of only $30 million over two years, it won't retire many vehicles. Instead of providing an incentive to made-in-Canada green automotive products that would strengthen our most important industry, the Vehicle Efficiency Incentives will instead open the door even wider to imports from countries which limit access to their markets.
CAW Reaches Tentative Agreement at MTS Allstream
CAW Local 2000 members who work at MTS Allstream across Canada are voting on a tentative three-year agreement with the Winnipeg-based telecommunications company.
The CAW bargaining committee has unanimously recommended acceptance of the agreement, which covers 800 CAW members. Results from the mail-in balloting will be completed within a few weeks.
Details of the agreement will be released after ratification ballots are counted. The CAW represents technicians at Allstream.
Bill C-257 Rally in St. Catharines
Two hundred supporters of Bill C- 257 -- a proposed federal anti-scab law -- demonstrated at a Liberal Party meeting in St. Catharines, Ontario, on March 17 to demand Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and Liberal MPs support the bill on the third reading vote as they did on second reading.
The demonstration was organized by the St. Catharines Labour Council after it was learned that the Liberal Party leader had reversed his support for the federal anti-scab law and that he was to speak in St. Catharines. Dion told a labour delegation that he had concerns about essential services not being covered in Bill C-257 and that the Liberals would introduce a new bill that addressed their concerns.
The delegation pointed out to Dion that essential services are already covered by the Canada Labour Code under other sections.
Supporters of the anti-scab law handed literature out and spoke to individual Liberal party members as they arrived to hear their leader. Many individual party members were disappointed Dion changed sides on the bill.
CAW Education Conference in Port Elgin
The CAW is holding an Education Conference at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, May 4 to 6. The theme of the Conference this year is "Mobilizing Through Education" with a specific focus on building education into every aspect of the union. The conference will equip education activists with tools to assist in utilizing openings and education resources, to mobilize and inspire members and standing committees in our current struggles.
Rick Rose, Director of the CAW Education Department said "We are facing tough challenges; job less, aggressive employers, cuts to public programs and government attacks on equality. With this conference, we are challenging our education committees to take on additional responsibilities and play an expanded role in education.
This conference is designed to reconnect and revitalize CAW Education Committees and activists. The registration deadline for the Conference is Friday, April 20, 2007.
Budget Fails First Nations
CAW president Buzz Hargrove is expressing disappointment that the Harper budget makes no real effort to address the needs of First Nations peoples.
In a recent letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hargrove calls on Harper to make a real difference for First Nations peoples by implementing the Kelowna Accord.
Hargrove's letter to Harper follows:
"I was very disappointed to learn that the budget presented to Parliament on March 19th, made no real effort to address the needs of First Nations peoples in Canada. It is extremely frustrating that First Nations have been left out of the "stronger, safer, better Canada" envisioned by Minister Flaherty.
While the Minister of Finance recognized the fiscal imbalance with the provinces, the federal government has once again failed to make a commitment to correct the gross under-funding of First Nations communities. It's shameful to see anyone in this country living in such third world conditions today.
There should have been financial commitments in the budget that would have effectively addressed fundamental needs like access to housing, health care, education and settlement to land claims.
On behalf of CAW members from coast to coast to coast, I urge your government to fully implement the Kelowna Accord, and ensure that there is a sustained investment for the revival of the economic, social, cultural and health status of First Nations Communities."
Staff Appointments
CAW President Buzz Hargrove has made the following staff appointments:
JERRY DIAS, national representative has been appointed to the position of Assistant to the President, working out of the President's office, effective Sunday, March 25, 2007.
RICK GARANT, President, CAW Local 1941 has been appointed national representative, working out of the Halifax office, effective Sunday, March 25, 2007.
JIM WOODS, Chairperson - Lear, CAW Local 1524, National Executive Board member and IPS President has been appointed national service representative, effective Sunday, April 1, 2007. He will be working out of the CAW's Kitchener office.
