News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 October 5, 2007MPs Urged To Support Manufacturing Job Taskforce
As the CAW's Manufacturing Matters campaign continues to build momentum a new component has been launched that targets federal Members of Parliament across the country, demanding their commitment to protect Canadian manufacturing jobs.
Each MP has received a package of materials including a pledge sheet that urges them to support the establishment of a Taskforce on Manufacturing as a special committee of the House of Commons.
The Taskforce would examine the challenges facing Canada's manufacturing sector and develop recommendations for government action to protect and expand jobs in the sector.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove, in a letter to CAW Local Presidents, has urged local union leadership to raise the issue with their MPs and ask them to support the call for a taskforce. The CAW will track the responses on the national website.
More than 300,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost over a wide range of industries in the last five years. For more information on the Manufacturing Matters campaign visit www.caw.ca.
Windsor Arena Named After Gary Parent
| CAW President Buzz Hargrove congratulates Mayor Gary Baxter, Gary Parent and his wife Arden Parent. |
A new Windsor area arena has been named after Gary Parent, CAW Local 444 financial secretary.
The new LaSalle Recreation Rink arena, located at the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex, will be officially named the Gary L. Parent CAW Arena. The new complex includes two arenas, aquatic centre, indoor track, soccer fields and a wide array of programming for young people. It opens in December.
"We are not just celebrating a man who has fought for the rights of workers, we are recognizing someone who understands community," said CAW Local 444 President Ken Lewenza.
CAW Local 200 President Mike Vince said the automotive industry has been hit hard, but it remains important to celebrate working class heroes. "We want our members and future generations to remember the key role that labour has played in this area," said Vince.
CAW President Buzz Hargrove said Parent is known throughout the CAW for his tireless commitment to a wide array of issues that impact working people.
Poverty Activists March to Queen's Park
| Poverty activists march down Yonge Street toward Queen's Park in downtown Toronto on September 26. |
Over one thousand poverty activists marched on to the grounds of Queen's Park, demanding the provincial government take immediate action to eradicate poverty in Ontario.
The event entitled "March against Poverty" was organized by grassroots anti-poverty activists through the Toronto Anti-Poverty (TAP) coalition, and endorsed by 106 organizations including labour, social support, student, community and faith-based groups.
Demonstrators highlighted four key demands as part of a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy for Ontario: an immediate raise in the provincial minimum wages to $10 per hour, a 40 per cent increase in social assistance, more affordable housing and a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for non-status immigrants to access government services.
Activists from across the province are encouraging all party candidates to make poverty eradication a priority issue in the election on October 10.
Gap in Women's Wages Pose a Barrier to Equality
Working women still have many gains to be made and politicians must take note, according to the Equal Pay Coalition. The coalition has launched an information campaign intended to remind voters of the importance of pay equity to women's equality and eradicating poverty.
According to the coalition's research, women are twice as likely to earn minimum wage as men and earn 29 per cent less than men on average. This wage gap is even larger for racial minority women, Aboriginal women and women with disabilities.
Women have significantly less money to raise a family on -37 per cent of single mothers earn less than $10 an hour -and have less money to retire on -a lifetime of lower wages mean that women have less income to save for retirement and a smaller pension.
Pay equity is the law in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, while Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and British Columbia have only developed policies dealing with public sector employees, while Nunavut is in the process of doing so. Alberta has no pay equity framework. Yet, in many cases even in places with pay equity legislation, the laws are not enforced.
The CAW is among the 39 unions, community groups and professional organizations that make up the Equal Pay Coalition.
For more information, visit: www.equalpaycoalition.org.
CAW Local 1256 Mourns Loss of Anne Nguyen
A tragic car accident claimed the life of CAW Local 1256 member Anne Nguyen, who worked at Mississauga Seating in Ontario. Her husband Chi Thien Nguyen, also a worker at Mississauga Seating, sustained life-threatening injuries and is still currently in the hospital.
CAW Local 1256 President James McKenzie worked with Anne for many years and described her as a compassionate, family-oriented person who always had a smile on her face.
Members will be collecting funds at the plant's main gate this week which will go towards the education of the couple's two sons. The total will be matched by the local union. If other local unions are interested in contributing, contact CAW Local 1256 at (905) 844-6628.
Mike Vince - Chairperson of Ford Master Bargaining Committee
CAW Local 200 President Mike Vince has been acclaimed chairperson of the CAW-Ford Master Bargaining Committee.
"It's an honour and privilege to be selected by your peers," said Vince. "There are many challenges at Ford Canada including Windsor, St. Thomas, Oakville and the Bramalea, Parts Depot - we need to secure new investment to ensure strong future products and jobs for our members," said Vince.
Vince replaces Whitey MacDonald, who recently joined the staff of the union. CAW Local 707 President Gary Beck was acclaimed vice chairperson of the CAW-Ford Master Bargaining Committee.
Staff Appointments
As a result of Stu Shields' request to transfer back to New Westminster, CAW President Buzz Hargrove has appointed national representative TOM MURPHY, as MANITOBA AND SASKATCHEWAN AREA DIRECTOR working out of the Winnipeg office, effective Sunday, November 4, 2007.
ANDY SAVELA, President CAW Local 229 has been appointed national service representative, working out of Thunder Bay, Ontario office, effective Sunday, November 4, 2007.
SHANNON DEVINE, has been appointed Director of Communications effective Sunday, September 30, 2007.
