News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 September 21, 2007New Agreement at University of Windsor
CAW Local 2458 members at the University of Windsor have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three year collective agreement. The new agreement covers full time office and clerical units and contains wage increases, improvements to health care benefits and enhanced job security language.
The agreement covers 300 workers who provide services throughout the university. Local 2458 Chairperson Mike Kisch said that the negotiations continued throughout the summer for the agreement which expired on June 30.
'We were extremely determined to bargain a fair collective agreement, and we were able to do that because the membership was behind the negotiating committee throughout the entire process,' said Kisch. 'We were very pleased to be able to do this without any disruption for the students.'
Local 2458 Financial Secretary Tullio DiPonti credits the relationship between the university and the union for the progress in this agreement. 'There is a mutual respect that is apparent between the university and the CAW that goes a long way in negotiations.'
The CAW represents more than 3,500 workers in the education sector, including workers at seven universities across Canada.
Strike Over at Great Blue Heron Charity Casino
CAW Local 1090 members have voted in favour of a new collective agreement at the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino ending a strike that began September 7 at the Port Perry, Ontario gaming facility.
The membership voted 58 per cent in favour of the agreement at a ratification meeting September 18.
The new contract includes a minimum wage increase of $2.20 per hour over the life of the agreement. It also includes signing bonuses of up to $2,000, increased dental coverage, gains in bereavement, short term disability, vacation, patron behaviour language, as well as benefits for part-timers.
There are also strong gains in language covering dealer issues and also improvements in dealer training that for the first time makes it possible for all dealers to progress to the highest dealer wage classification.
CAW Local 1090 President Steve Batchelor said the solidarity of the membership and the strong strike vote of 92 per cent made the new agreement possible, despite many tough challenges.
"We've achieved an important new agreement that helps move working conditions and wages a long way forward for our membership at the Great Blue Heron Casino. In the face of strong opposition from management, the determination of our bargaining committee was key to this success," Batchelor said.
"We likely would have had a higher percentage at ratification but some of our members remain apprehensive about the company's commitments."
CAW Local 1090 represents 825 workers at the casino, including dealers, slot attendants, food and beverage, and maintenance employees.
Soaring Dollar is Killing Manufacturing Sector
The Canadian dollar's continuing climb to over 98 cents following an interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board is troubling news for manufacturing workers across the country.
The latest increases in the value of the Canadian dollar will further erode the Canadian manufacturing sector, said CAW President Buzz Hargrove after the September 18 hike in the loonie. 'The Bank of Canada and the Federal Government must not sit idly by while our manufacturing sector is hollowed out and tens of thousands or more jobs are lost,' said Hargrove.
'In the last five years alone over 300,000 manufacturing jobs have disappeared. How many more businesses will be destroyed and how many more people have to be put out of work before this government will act responsibly?'
CAW Economist Jim Stanford called on the Bank of Canada to match or even exceed the half point interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve. 'Lower U.S. interest rates will stimulate their economy, but we'll forfeit any benefit for Canada if we allow the dollar to continue rising.
'The U.S. Fed is taking the broader view, recognizing that central bankers have responsibility for the whole economy, not just inflation. It's time the Bank of Canada took a similarly broad view.'
Air Canada: Off-Shore Work Comes Home
CAW Local 2002 President Leslie Dias announced September 12 that a key work grievance had been resolved in the union's favour and that Air Canada was returning call service work from India and Romania to Canada.
To cut costs Air Canada had previously outsourced this call centre work to India and Romania. Air Canada's decision to bring the work back means approximately 2500 calls per day will be repatriated to CAW members in Canada.
Dias said it's an important decision for CAW members. "Bringing this work back to Canada will end one of the long standing irritants between Air Canada and CAW members. In a climate where many companies move work off shore to reduce costs, we are extremely pleased that Air Canada is bringing work back to Canada where it belongs," she said.
Approximately 80 jobs will be repatriated in phases.
Male Volunteers Raise Funds for Women's Shelter
| Retired CAW Staff Representative Bob McKay |
The male volunteers were stationed outside various business locations across the county seeking donations from the general public in support of the Women's Shelter and its' various counselling services and anti-violence programs.
The event, which was organized and spearheaded by retired CAW National Representative Bob Mckay, raised $3,400 as well as increasing the level of awareness of the issue across the community.
"It's long past the time when more men have to recognize violence against women is not just a women's issue and men have to join in the struggle, because without more active male supporters involved, then the high rates of violence against women will persist," Mckay said.
CAW Retired Workers Council and Conference
| Roxie Baker, recipient of the 8th Outstanding Retired Worker of The Year award, pictured with Paul Forder, CAW Director of Retired Workers Department, Stuart Baker and Len Harrison, Chairperson of CAW Retired Workers Advisory Executive. |
The Conference began on Labour Day with a large parade down the main street of Port Elgin.
Buses from around Ontario arrived to swell the numbers to over 1800 people joining the march.
Former CAW and CLC President Bob White delivered a passionate Labour Day address and reminisced on the 50th anniversary of the Education Centre.
The delegates debated and endorsed resolutions on pension improvements, health care, the environment and support for the manufacturing sector. The recipient of the 8th Outstanding Retired Worker of The Year award was Sister Roxie Baker.
Elections were held for the Retired Workers Advisory Executive, Len Harrison, Barb Abrams, Eric John, Tom McSwiggan and Joe McCloskey were re-elected for a three year term. New members elected to the Advisory Executive, Marg Arnone, Mary Strauss and Len Hope.
Dana Workers
| Dana Canada workers in Brantford, Ontario (seen here) voted overwhelmingly to join the CAW. Along with 70 Dana workers in Oakville, Ontario, the 140 workers at the Brantford location were recently certified after a neutrality agreement granted to the CAW by the company. |
The campaign involves a five point platform which would involve allowing arbitrators to rule on overtime and job postings, first contract binding arbitration, automatic certification, anti-scab laws and putting public and private sector workers under the same labour code.
Dale Hauck, President of CAW Local 350 at Coca-Cola in Edmonton, admits these goals are ambitious, but would give the province's labour laws a much needed update.
The Progressive Conservative party, in power since 1971, has lately seen their support slipping, with 36 per cent of voters undecided according to a recent poll. The number of undecided is up from 17 per cent only months before. It's an indication that Albertans are getting fed up, said Hauck.
As part of the campaign, the AUPE will be dropping off leaflets at 300,000 households across the province. Hauck has been volunteering on the campaign trail, making follow up calls to places that received the leaflets. "Roughly 3/5 of the changes affect workers in the private sector too, so we all have a stake in this reform."
For more information, visit:
http://aupe.org/changethelaw/index.html
New Contracts for Greyhound and Gray Line Workers in BC
Over 200 bus drivers, skilled trades' workers and office employees at Greyhound and Gray Line of Victoria have ratified new collective agreements following several months of bargaining. These workers are represented by CAW Local 114 in British Columbia.
Both agreements include wage increases and benefit improvements for CAW members. Negotiators also bargained a reduction in step rates, resulting in major gains for junior members.
"The motor coach industry is very competitive," said CAW national representative Gavin McGarrigle. "Through the strength of our negotiating committees we've managed to bargain two very good agreements that our members can be proud of."
Prior to 2005, both Greyhound services on Vancouver Island and Gray Line services in Victoria operated under the Gray Line banner. On May 1st of that year, the company divested its operations which split the bargaining units into two separate entities. The recent negotiations were the first to occur since the split.
Both contracts are set to expire in 2009, just before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Activists Prepare to March Against Poverty
As election campaigning heats up in Ontario, hundreds of local activists from the Greater Toronto Area are marching to Queen's Park on September 26, demanding immediate action to eradicate poverty in the province.
The event entitled "March Against Poverty" has been organized by Toronto Anti-Poverty (TAP), a non-partisan coalition of community organizations, labour unions, health providers and low income people.
The group has four key demands: More decent affordable housing, a forty per cent increase of welfare and disability benefits, an immediate raise in the minimum wage to $10 per hour and a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy for non-status people to access government services.
TAP coordinator and alternate committeeperson for CAW Local 1285 in Brampton, Jim McDowell said the march is part of a broader movement to build a fairer and more just society for future generations.
"Important support networks that have been set up for the poor are collapsing all around us, thanks in part to the loss of good manufacturing jobs," McDowell said. "We have to stop and ask ourselves is this the kind of society we want for our children?''
Labour Activists Prepare for First Ever Online Strike
| CAW online correspondent Dexter Teichmann at the virtual headquarters of UNI on Commonwealth Island in Second Life |
RSU union members (in the real world) have been locked in a bitter contract dispute with IBM for months. Workers have refused to accept a wage concession proposal brought forth by the company and decided to take their fight to the streets of Second Life (the virtual world).
For those of you unfamiliar with Second Life, it is essentially a large and sophisticated computer software program that provides users a virtual 3D landscape to create an alternative world, much like our own. Participants can purchase virtual land upon which they can construct virtual buildings that you can furnish with virtual sofas and chairs.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you visit the Second Life homepage you will find a complete list of economic statistics that deals with everything from currency exchange rates to population demographics.
With over 9.5 million "residents" in this virtual world, a number of multi-national corporations (including IBM and HP) are investing tens of millions of dollars to scoop up virtual market share, tapping into this vast consumer marketplace.
"There is definitely a growing market for companies looking to sell their virtual goods and services online", says Second Life resident and CAW online correspondent Dexter Teichmann (a pseudonym used by a current CAW activist). "An online strike could definitely have real world consequences on a company's bottom line. This is much more than just a video game."
UNI has sent a call out to its international networks, encouraging activists to take part in this initiative that could spur a new form of activism for labour unions to consider. After setting up an online character (or avatar), participants are asked to attend UNI's virtual headquarters on Commonwealth Island (a virtual island) to receive their strike resource kit.
More information on this event can be found at:
http://www.uniglobalunion.org/SecondLife
Bud Jimmerfield Health & Safety Award
The CAW's Health & Safety Department is now accepting nominations for the Bud Jimmerfield Award for outstanding contributions in the fields of workplace health, safety, environment or workers' compensation.
Named in honour of Bud Jimmerfield, a tireless health & safety activist and workplace cancer victim, the award is made once a year at the December CAW Council.
Eligible health, safety, environment or workers' compensation activists must be CAW members, nominated by their local union leadership or local workplace leadership. All nominations must be received by November 2, 2007.
For more information or nomination forms, please contact Vicky Sullivan in the CAW Health & Safety Department at 1-800- 268-5763 ext. 558 or cawhse@caw.ca.
