News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 June 29, 2007Ontario Government to Put $650 Million into Green Cars & Parts
Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced the Ontario government will establish a fund of up to $650 million for the development of Ontario-built green cars and parts. The Next Generation Jobs Fund was announced during a speech at the General Motors assembly plant in Oshawa recently.
The money is to be spent on developing hybrid and fuel-efficient technology as well as energy-efficient parts for larger vehicles to allow Ontario auto producers to remain competitive.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove hailed the announcement as good news for the automotive industry, the province's economy and the environment. He commended the Ontario government for taking aggressive action in leading the way in encouraging the development of more fuel efficient vehicles while boosting local industry.
"Domestic auto producers will now be able to develop more fuel-efficient engines and lighter materials in Ontario, which wouldn't have been possible otherwise," said Hargrove. "Governments must work with industry to create jobs while still protecting the environment."
The five-year 'Next Generation Jobs Fund' will be modeled after the province's $500 million Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy which has seen more than $400 million go into development projects at Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler and various auto-parts suppliers since its inception in 2004.
The fund has generated $7 billion in auto investment - the Ontario government is hopeful the Next Generation Jobs Fund will do likewise. The new initiative will replace the former auto investment strategy.
It is not yet clear if the fund will be set up before the October 10 provincial election.
Two New Agreements at Windsor Hospital
CAW Local 2458 members have voted overwhelmingly to ratify two-year collective agreements for two bargaining units at Windsor Regional Hospital, with a ratification vote of 92 per cent in favour for the skilled trades and 93 per cent for the service unit. Both unit agreements contain wage increases of 5 per cent over the two years, increases to premiums and benefits, as well as a 7th week of vacation after 28 years of service.
Tullio DiPonti, CAW Local 2458 Financial Secretary, said the agreements are two years in duration so they will expire at the same time as four CAW bargaining units at Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital, also in Windsor. "Between both hospitals, Local 2458 represents more than 1,400 members, and being at the bargaining table at the same time will be to everyone's advantage," said DiPonti.
"Our members who work at these two hospitals are the backbone of the health care system in Windsor," DiPonti said. "We intend to continue making their needs a priority - when health care workers are taken care of, the entire system works better."
The service unit, which covers 500 dietary and housekeeping workers, detox attendants, personal support workers and various other classifications, also saw significant improvements to job security language, an agreed remedy for missed shifts and a women's advocate trained to assist women who may be experiencing domestic violence. The skilled trade agreement contains language improvements for banked overtime, modified work and overtime distribution.
'Our committees were determined to bring back an agreement with solid language improvements that would make a real difference in the work life of our members - and they did just that,' said CAW National Representative Katha Fortier.
A third CAW unit at Windsor Regional Hospital covering the laboratory and x-ray technologists and other paramedical service providers is expected to reach an agreement soon. The Windsor Regional Hospital Board will vote on ratification later this month.
Right to Collective Bargaining Protected by Charter
A recent Supreme Court decision strikes down legislation aimed directly at taking away the rights of working people.
In a groundbreaking ruling extending the freedom of association provision of the Charter of Rights & Freedoms to include the right to free collective bargaining, the Court struck down key sections of a 2002 B.C. law that restricted and gutted the bargaining rights of health care workers. It's a decision that has widespread implications for unions across the country.
In a six to one decision, the Court ruled that the legislation trampled on the rights of health care workers in that province - in particular their right to freedom of association as guaranteed under the Charter.
The controversial and unprecedented law excluded health and community social services workers from labour laws that protect other workers in the province. And it eliminated collective agreement provisions that safeguarded workers and services from privatization.
The ruling means that workers' freedom of association includes the right to bargain a collective agreement - and that it cannot be ripped apart at a government's convenience.
Child Labour Laws Slackened in Alberta
The Alberta government has relaxed its employment standards to allow 12-year-olds to work in restaurants. A senior marketing executive at McDonald's has admitted that McDonald's asked the government for the change.
Formerly, a restaurant had to get a permit to hire a person under the age of 15. Since the rules have changed, most of the hirings have been by the company that holds the most McDonald's franchises in the province. That company is a major contributor to the Alberta Progressive Conservative party, currently in power.
A similar rule change in B.C. in late 2003 allows for children to work with just the approval of a parent and without the approval of the employment Standards Branch.
New Women's Health & Safety Survey in the Works
The CAW Health & Safety Training Fund is revamping the Women's Health and Safety survey, to be conducted at the Women's Conference this year. The first survey was conducted at the Women's Conference in 2002 in Port Elgin. Since then, the workplace environment and health & safety issues have significantly changed.
All women's advocates, employee equity, employee assistance plan/union counselors and CAW Women's Council representatives are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire which will guide the development of the new survey. The information gathered in the survey will later be used in the development and improvement of the Women's Health & Safety in the Workplace program.
All responses must be sent by June 28 to Ron Moisenko, CAW National Coordinator and Program Developer HSTF, via email moisenko@caw.ca or fax (519) 944-5248.
Wage Protection Law Closer to Reality
Protection of basic wages and pension contributions' for workers when their employer goes bankrupt recently moved a step closer to reality.
In early June, federal MPs passed amendments to a law that was originally adopted by the previous Parliament. CLC President Ken Georgetti urged the Senate to match the all-party agreement that made the progress possible and pass the amendment without delay.
"Finally, workers can look forward to desperately-needed protection of their wages and vacation benefits when their employer goes bankrupt, becomes insolvent or moves to restructuring," Georgetti said.
Georgetti, in a CLC press release, urged the federal government to quickly establish the new wage earners protection measures that, among other things, include:
- protection of wages - Guarantee payments to employees for any unpaid wages and vacation earned, but not paid, up to a maximum of $3,000 at the time their employer enters bankruptcy or receivership;
- protection of pension contributions - Ensure that arrears in regular pension contributions not remitted to the pension plan by the employer constitute a priority charge over all assets ahead of secured creditors.
The CAW campaign on pensions that urged federal legislation to protect and improve pensions for working people caught the attention of federal politicians. The campaign included the creation of the Canadian Pension Charter. The CAW campaign was intended to put an end to the kind of pension problems workers suffered at the Nackawic Pulp Mill in New Brunswick and General Chemical in Ontario.
CAW Retired Workers Western Council Established
The inaugural meeting of the CAW Retired Workers Western Council was recently held in Winnipeg.
Retired worker delegates from BC and Manitoba were in attendance to discuss issues important to Retirees in Western Canada and to hear from Paul Forder, Director of the CAW Retired Workers Department.
Jack Morrison, Chairperson of the Local 144 RW Chapter and Chair of the Winnipeg RW Area Council was elected to sit on the CAW Retired Workers Advisory Executive.
Workers' Compensation Conference
Entitled 'Long Term Injuries - Long Term Issues,' the conference will be held at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, September 21-23.
The conference will address the workings of the Ontario Board and Ontario legislation, with the objectives of increasing the capacity to deal with long term injuries and related issues, creating alliances and continuing to build the Take it Back campaign. The Take it Back campaign is the CAW's mission to make the compensation system more fair and establish dignity for injured workers, who under the current system, have been given reduced benefits and are forced back to work whether they are ready or not.
Along with the Take it Back campaign, this year's Workers' Compensation Conference will focus on return to work, labour market re-entry and compensation policy, with the choice of beginner or advanced workshops.
Registration deadline for accommodation and child care is August 31.
For more information, contact: Sari Sairanen, Health & Safety Director 1-800-268-5763 ext. 789 or On June 13th, CAW Local 111 President Steve Sutherland and Local 333 President Bill Young joined a number of other unions in Ottawa, calling for all-party support on a parliamentary motion that aims to protect transit operators from assault while on the job.
"Bus drivers in every major city in Canada are facing increasing numbers of attacks and something has to be done," Young said.
The motion, put forth by NDP MP Peter Julian, extends to bus drivers and transit operators, similar protections afforded to police and ambulance personnel by imposing stiffer penalties on anyone who assaults a bus driver or transit operator.
"This is a welcome initiative that we hope all parties in the House of Commons will support to reduce violence against transit operators', said Sutherland. The TransLink Board overseas the operation of B.C.'s Lower Mainland transit system, SkyTrain and SeaBus services. CAW Local 111 President Steve Sutherland said the Lower Mainland transit system is in need of additional funding to end overcrowding and pass-ups, which will include 400 new buses. Sutherland fears that reforming the TransLink board structure will do little to improve transit services."Having unelected bureaucrats in charge of TransLink won't put a single extra bus on the street," Sutherland said.
Currently, the TransLink board is comprised of locally-elected city politicians. Under the new legislation, the provincial government will be able to appoint officials to sit on the board. Opposition groups have expressed their concern over this reform, arguing that it is an attack on local democracy.
Over the past weeks, CAW representatives, along with other labour groups (including CUPE BC, COPE Local 378 and the BC Federation of Labour) as well as community groups, have launched a campaign to bring public attention to this issue. Since the beginning of June, these groups have distributed 50,000 leaflets and have run radio ads throughout the region. McCurdy said there are some shortcomings with details of the plan, but added the budget is sufficient to ensure the shortcomings are corrected.
Fish plant workers, who could not go to work because of severe ice conditions that kept harvesters from fishing, have been left out of the program and this problem needs to be fixed, McCurdy said.
He added that the May 6 start date means some harvesters will end up serving a three-week waiting period rather than the two weeks required by the program eligibility.
"We believe there are sufficient funds announced in the program's budget to fix these problem areas," said McCurdy. Hargrove also appointed Shannon Devine as the Assistant Director of Communications and Angelo DiCaro has been appointed temporary staff working in the Communications Department.
Both appointments were effective Sunday, June 24, 2007. # 12,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared in May. The total number of manufacturing jobs lost since January is 64,000. Over the last five years, more than 250,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost.
# paid full time employment dropped in May, despite the growth in self-employed workers;
# almost all of the new paid work created so far this year is in sales and services - 226,000 out of 229,000. A third of that is in the lowest paid industrial category of accommodation and food services;
# in May the number of Canadians who wanted work, but did not have a job reached 1,083,600. Enjoy a fun and safe summer and watch for the return of CONTACT on a weekly basis in September.
Over the summer, remember to check the CAW's website at www.caw.ca for up-to-date stories and news about the union.
Have you registered for e-News - the CAW's weekly electronic newsletter - go to www.caw.ca/register.asp
B.C. Transit Workers Fight for Safety Legislation
Mounting concern over the safety of transit workers has prompted CAW Locals 111 and 333 to take action.
Labour Unions Oppose B.C. Government Reform Bill
Union leaders from across British Columbia have pledged to fight the province's attempt to seize control of the Lower Mainland TransLink board through a piece of reform legislation known as Bill 36.
Ice Compensation Program Welcomed in Nfld
CAW/FFAW President Earle McCurdy is welcoming the $7.9 million ice compensation program recently announced by the federal government.
Staff Announcements
CAW President Buzz Hargrove is assuming the role of CAW Director of Communications on a temporary basis following the retirement of Jim Paré.
Canadian Job Facts
The Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey for May highlights employment trends in Canada that are cause for major concern:
CONTACT Summer Schedule
Just a reminder, that with the arrival of summer, the CAW's CONTACT newsletter has now moved to publication every two weeks.
Tory Glory
