News & Events Archived Newsletters CONTACT 2007 December 14, 2007
| CAW National President Buzz Hargrove addresses the over 800 delegates to CAW Council on December 7. |
Delegates representing workplaces from coast to coast to coast attended CAW Council in Toronto December 7 to 9 to debate the key issues facing the union. More than 800 delegates took part in the debates and discussion.
The lengthy debate on the Framework of Fairness Agreement with auto parts maker Magna was impassioned and thoughtful. Other key discussions focused on manufacturing job loss, the struggle to rid the world of landmines, violence against women and increasing staffing levels in long term care centres. Delegates also spoke out on the need to fight "the Delphi Disease" of two-tier wage structures and no pensions or benefits for new hires in the auto sector.
Guest speakers talked about the importance of organ and tissue donation, the fight to end homelessness, preventing drug and alcohol abuse among youth, as well as taking action against the deplorable level of poverty among many First Nations peoples.
Many Challenges, Many Victories
In his wide-ranging speech to delegates, CAW President Buzz Hargrove highlighted the many challenges the CAW continues to face in workplaces across the country.
Strikes at the Great Blue Heron Casino in Port Perry, Ontario and the University of Manitoba resulted in important gains and strong settlements. Bargaining with employers including Alcan, KFC, auto parts maker Magna, A&P stores, John Deere and others were highlighted by Hargrove, showing the diverse range of bargaining successes the CAW has recently made.
Hargrove reviewed the many years of efforts by the CAW to organize Magna and the recent Framework of Fairness Agreement with the auto parts maker. He outlined the many benefits Magna workers will receive by joining the CAW under the agreement.
He took on critics who claim the CAW's efforts to organize the 18,000 workers at Magna is a dues grab. "No, this is about the right of a wonderful group of workers to make a decision on whether or not they want a union," Hargrove said.
Delegates overwhelmingly approved a recommendation to welcome Magna workers into the CAW under the Framework of Fairness Agreement. After a lengthy and passionate debate, approximately 25 of the 800 delegates to council voted against the agreement. Hargrove praised the openness of the CAW and the long-standing CAW union culture that resulted in a full debate with detailed information available and a vote on the Magna agreement.
Delphi Disease
He also outlined the many challenges that continue to affect the auto industry. Unfair trade, lack of action by the federal Conservative government, the high value of the Canadian dollar, and the sub-prime mortgage crisis in the U.S. are all having a negative impact on the Canadian auto industry. Hargrove discussed the many layoffs, restructurings, closures and shift reductions that continue to tear through auto assembly and parts facilities in Canada.
In light of the tough times in Canadian manufacturing including the auto sector, the Delphi Disease of two-tier wages and benefits and the recent two-tier UAW settlements in the U.S. are major concerns, Hargrove said. The recent UAW agreements mean "non-core workers" at GM and Chrysler and the first 20 per cent of workers hired at Ford will receive $14.25 an hour, the same rate of pay Big Three workers received 20 years ago.
Hargrove stressed these two-tier settlements are disastrous and a real concern. But he also stressed the CAW will resist this trend in Canada. "I want to send a message, through you, to General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that there will be no two-tier system in the fall of 2008 coming out of our bargaining," Hargrove said to a loud round of applause.
CAW Council President Ken Lewenza urged delegates to go back to their workplaces and outline to members the importance of fighting the 'Delphi Disease' and two-tier wage structures.
Lewenza, who is also president of Local 444, said the next six months are a vital time. He said this is a key struggle that must be won with the membership as the CAW heads into the next round of Big Three bargaining in the fall of 2008.
Campaigns
The CAW's many campaigns have resulted in strong gains for many workers, their families and communities.
The federal government's attempt to negotiate a free trade agreement with South Korea has been put on hold in the face of the ongoing CAW campaign to highlight the negative impact such an agreement will have on the already beleaguered Canadian auto industry.
The CAW's Manufacturing Matters campaign has raised public awareness of the ongoing loss of manufacturing jobs and the federal government's refusal to stem this destructive tide. Hargrove urged delegates to continue the fight back.
"This morning's paper reports that 16,000 jobs in manufacturing were lost last month for a total of 100,000 manufacturing jobs lost this year alone, and 350,000 jobs since 2002," Hargrove said. "This government does absolutely nothing and we have to protest that. We need the leadership, the delegates, the UPC committees, and the activists in the local unions to join us in the Manufacturing Matters campaign."
Delegates approved a recommendation calling for a major demonstration in early 2008 when Parliament resumes to highlight the ongoing destructiveness of manufacturing job loss.
CAW Local 199 President Wayne Gates stressed the importance of promoting fair trade policies, defeating Tories especially in auto ridings in the upcoming federal election, and the importance of buying domestic products, whether its autos, buses, ships or other products.
'There are lots of things we can do to fix the manufacturing crisis,' Gates said. 'We need all levels of government to buy Canadian.'
Hargrove said another example of a successful CAW campaign is the work done to ensure renewed government investment at VIA Rail. He said the billboards, leaflets, and lobbying resulted in a right-wing Tory government putting $800 million more into VIA Rail.
The CAW should also be very proud of its nomination for an international award for its campaign to raise awareness of the health dangers of asbestos. Among many other successful CAW campaigns Hargrove highlighted the positive impact of the CAW's pension reform efforts and the struggle on the west coast to end violence against bus drivers.
Federal Politics
Hargrove outlined concern about plans to restructure the way new seats are established in the federal Parliament. With B.C., Alberta, and Ontario experiencing huge population increases they should have increased representation in the House of Commons.
But with Harper strong in B.C. and Alberta he's planning to create a new seat for every 105,000 increase in population, while in Ontario, where he's weaker, Harper wants to give one extra seat for every 115,000 people. Hargrove said this unfair formula will result in Ontario being cheated out of 10 seats.
A recommendation calling for fair treatment for Ontario with new MPs added on a one for 105,000 population increase, exactly the same as B.C. and Alberta, was approved.
CAW Council Delegates Vote in Favour of Magna Agreement
Delegates to CAW Council overwhelmingly endorsed the union's Framework of Fairness Agreement with auto parts maker Magna. After a lengthy and passionate debate with 32 different speakers coming to the microphones, CAW Council delegates voted overwhelmingly in support of a recommendation endorsing the Magna agreement. Of the more than 800 delegates from across the country, approximately 25 were opposed.
The recommendation encourages Council delegates to welcome Magna workers into the CAW under the recently negotiated Framework of Fairness Agreement.
Delegates debated the issue for four hours on December 7 with impassioned, thoughtful speeches. Several speakers outlined strong concerns regarding the Magna agreement, including its no strike-no lock-out clause. But delegates from across all sectors of the union spoke in favour of providing Magna workers with the opportunity to join the CAW and make progress through collective bargaining.
During his opening address, Hargrove said the agreement with Magna provides the union with an important opportunity to bring 18,000 new members into the CAW.
"At a tough time for auto assembly, auto parts and manufacturing workers in Canada this decision creates a new window of opportunity for workers to be able to join our union," Hargrove said. "We must push to maintain a strong level of union density within the auto sector in Canada. Keeping union density high within the auto sector is critical to the future bargaining success for all workers."
Union density in Canada's private sector has been cut in half since the early 1970s and as of 2006 was at 17 per cent - following the path of steep decline of U.S. unionization. In the U.S. private sector union density is now below 8 per cent.
In November, more than 250 workers at Windsor Modules, a division of Magna, voted overwhelmingly in favour of a first collective agreement negotiated by the CAW and to join the union under the Framework of Fairness Agreement. The Windsor, Ontario plant is the first of more than 40 plants in the Magna auto parts system to vote to adopt the Framework of Fairness and the new collective agreement.
Moe Soydanbay, new chairperson/employee advocate at Windsor Modules, was one of the last speakers during the Magna debate. He said he was ecstatic to have become part of the CAW. He said Magna workers need the help that the CAW will bring its members.
"I'm looking forward to our future within the CAW," said Soydanbay to loud applause.
CAW Presents Award to 'Youngest' Union Organizer
| CAW Sudbury native Jack Quenneville gives CAW Council delegates the thumbs up after receiving his lifetime achievement award. |
CAW President Buzz Hargrove presented Sudbury, Ontario resident and retired worker Jack Quenneville with an award of lifetime achievement for his commitment to social justice and workers' rights.
Quenneville, 81, is a lifelong activist whose union activities recently took an unlikely turn when he signed up the workers in his Sudbury retirement residence where he lives with his wife Lillian. Once he learned that they were not unionized and had numerous workplace concerns that were being ignored by the employer, he contacted CAW Local 598 and met with a local community based organizer and proceeded to sign up the workers there, who voted to join the CAW in October.
Quenneville, a former Mine-Mill worker and WWII veteran, addressed the more than 800 delegates gathered at the council meeting.
Quenneville was an active union member and one of the casualties of a wildcat strike at Inco in 1967. This past summer, he supported women strikers at TD bank and despite his limited mobility and poor health, he spent many days on the picket line.
Local 444's Gary Parent Wins Bud Jimmerfield Award
The winner of the 2007 Bud Jimmerfield Award is Gary Parent of CAW Local 444 in Windsor, Ontario.
CAW Health and Safety Director Sari Sairanen announced Parent as this year's recipient of the award for his tireless efforts on workers' compensation claims on behalf of injured workers.
In addition to his ongoing work on health and safety in the community and within Local 444, Parent has served on various committees dealing with Workers' Compensation over the years. He's currently chairperson of the CAW Council Workers' Compensation Committee.
"To say I'm overwhelmed would be an understatement," said Parent. "I just hope in some small way I've made a difference in the lives of those who have been injured in the workplace needlessly."
Parent said he was particularly honoured by the presentation because he had worked on Bud Jimmerfield's compensation claim. He said the settlement that eventually resulted was because workers compensation officials knew the CAW would not give up until true justice was achieved for Bud's wife and children.
The award is named after Bud Jimmerfield, President of CAW Local 89, who passed away from cancer of the esophagus caused by exposure to metalworking fluids. At the December 1997 CAW Council, Bud challenged CAW members to go back to workplaces and locals to prevent occupational and environmental cancers.
Parent, who is also Financial Secretary of CAW Local 444, challenged young delegates to CAW Council who are workers' compensation advocates to work hard and to remain dedicated to the cause of helping injured workers. He reminded them that the fruits of their efforts could well mean much better lives for injured workers and their families.
Decade of Progress for De-Mining Effort in Mozambique
| Handicap International Mine Action Coordinator Aderito Ismael makes a presentation to over 800 delegates at CAW Council. |
CAW Council welcomed special guest Aderito Ismael, Mine Action Coordinator for Handicap International, who reported on the progress of de-mining projects currently taking place in Mozambique ten years after Canada initiated the historic Mine Ban Treaty.
In 1997, the CAW endorsed the Mine Ban Treaty and has supported the global de-mining efforts of aid agencies and solidarity groups working in Mozambique through the Social Justice Fund ever since. Council marked the launch of a 10 year anniversary commemorative booklet on de-mining in Mozambique, available through the CAW International Department.
To assist in the de-mining process, the CAW Social Justice Fund recently purchased a remote controlled machine called a Tempest, which eases and accelerates the process of clearing brush.
"We can now clear about one million square meters of landmines per year thanks to the support of the CAW," reported Ismael.
Carol Phillips, Assistant to the National President, called Ismael an important ally for the union and commended his tireless fight for social justice.
Handicap International is an international solidarity organization that works alongside disabled, landmine victims and vulnerable populations throughout the world.
CAW Council Honours George Chuvalo
| Honourary CAW member George Chuvalo shows off the commemorative ring presented to him on behalf of CAW Local's 200 and 444 in Windsor. |
Canadian boxing legend and long-time friend of the CAW, George Chuvalo was presented with an honourary union membership at CAW Council.
After losing his first wife and three sons to drug abuse and suicide, Chuvalo launched Fight Against Drugs, a drug intervention and prevention program designed to reach students in Grades 6-to-12 and teens who have left school.
The CAW has been a supporter of Fight Against Drugs since 2005.
Chuvalo, who recently turned 70, was also presented with a commemorative CAW ring by Local 200 Vice President David Crosswell on behalf of Locals 200 and 444 for his work in the Windsor-Essex community.
"Through his efforts, George Chuvalo has saved the lives of thousands of Canadian children," Crosswell said.
"His words are a true inspiration for those having to deal with drug addiction."
Chuvalo's honourary membership was unanimously endorsed by the over 800 delegates to CAW Council.
CAW/ITF Seafarer Efforts Recognized
| CAW/ITF labour inspector Gerard Bradbury is being denied access to crew members working aboard sea vessels off of Canada's Atlantic coast. Bradbury spoke to Council delegates, highlighting the union's concern over some Atlantic port facilities' refusal to allow inspectors to properly represent these seafarers. Bradbury's speech followed the screening of a video entitled 'The ITF Struggle,' that explained the union's campaign. |
Homelessness Activist Pushes for National Housing Strategy
Speaking to Council delegates, housing activist and Toronto street nurse Cathy Crowe challenged CAW members to commit their efforts to eliminating poverty.
For more than 18 years, Crowe has been nursing and mobilizing those who live on the street, in shelters, drop-ins and outdoor squats. Crowe co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) in 1998, a coalition group providing advocacy on homelessness and housing issues.
She stressed that nine years after the group declared homelessness a national disaster, the country still has no national housing strategy. Recently she published the book, Dying for a Home, featuring photos and testimony from 10 homeless activists and former residents of Toronto's Tent City.
During her speech, Crowe also presented CAW Local 1285 member and activist Jim McDowell with a token of appreciation for his assistance preparing for the March against Poverty on September 26. McDowell spent nearly two months off the job, working to plan what Crowe called the largest anti-poverty march the city has seen in this decade.
"For every homeless person you see on the street, there are a thousand more people who are suffering and living in poverty behind closed doors," McDowell told delegates.
For more information, visit:
http://tdrc.net/index.php?page=cathy-crowe
CAW Recognized for Organ and Tissue Donation Efforts
| CAW National President Buzz Hargrove accepts a recognition award from Frank Merkel, President and CEO of the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) for the union's efforts in raising awareness of organ and tissue donation throughout Ontario. Council delegates were encouraged to sign a donor card and to tell their families about their decision. For more information on the Trillium Gift of Life Network please visit: http://www.giftoflife.on.ca/. |
Online Service Helps Women Escape Violence
More than 100,000 women and children escape to shelters each year, fleeing violent homes. Yet, another fifth of women who attempt to leave abusive partners are turned away from shelters because of overcrowding caused by underfunding, according to Executive Director of London-based Women's Community House Jan Richardson.
Richardson is also a founding member of Shelternet, a national online shelter directory and resource centre for abused women and children. The service assists women in locating the closest available shelter to them. She spoke to CAW Council on December 8.
Over the course of the weekend, CAW members recommitted themselves to ending violence against women, as dozens of delegates got up to tell of the friends, sisters, daughters, co-workers and other loved ones they have lost to such violence. Speaker after speaker urged delegates to go back to their workplaces and educate members on the need to end to male violence against women and challenge all levels of government to address the economic and social inequalities that prevent women from escaping violent partners.
The CAW Council also made a $10,000 donation to Shelternet. For more information, visit:
www.shelternet.ca
The Right to Strike for N.S. Health Care Workers
The campaign to maintain the right to strike for Nova Scotia health care workers was a focus of discussion at council.
Shauna Wilcox, President of CAW Local 4600, highlighted the important fight back CAW members and other health care workers in Nova Scotia are conducting.
The CAW, along with six other unions in Nova Scotia are members of the Right To Strike Coalition. Both the NDP and the Liberals in Nova Scotia are opposed to Conservative Premier MacDonald's bill. The CAW represents 3,700 workers in the Nova Scotia health care sector.
Delegates voted to support the efforts of the CAW and other health care unions in Nova Scotia as they fight to retain the right to strike.
To find out more please visit:
http://dontmakehealthshortagesworse.ca/
Phase Two of Manufacturing Matters Campaign
To date, sixty-seven Members of Parliament have pledged their support to the CAW Manufacturing Matters campaign and have joined the union's call for a Federal Parliamentary Task Force on manufacturing job loss.
According to the CAW pledge sheet, the Taskforce's mandate will be to examine the challenges facing Canada's manufacturing sector, develop recommendations to government and report back to Parliament at the earliest possible date.
This initiative is a cornerstone for Phase 2 of the campaign, which was officially kicked off in the summer at the CAW Joint Council in Newfoundland.
Delegates to December Council were urged to take an active role in Phase Two of the campaign. Hargrove recommended CAW locals prepare for a demonstration in January or February next year when Parliament resumes to highlight the continuing inaction of the Harper Conservative government on the loss of manufacturing jobs.
Minimum Staffing Standard for Ontario Nursing Homes
Several council delegates, including Marg Arnone, a retiree from Local 229, and delegates Shelley Smith and Terry Vetor from Windsor, spoke about the urgency of pressing the Ontario government to honour its commitment to provide a regulated minimum staffing standard in nursing homes.
CAW national representative Ken Brown reminded the council delegates of the Ontario Health Minister's promise of a 'revolution' in nursing homes only years ago.
Retirees committed to work with the Ontario Health Care Council to further their campaign 'Dignity is a Minimum Standard' realizing that often the public perception is that such homes are the last place seniors wish to be because of the present understaffing and poor quality.
CAW members working in these homes emphasized how difficult it is emotionally, as well as physically, to try to provide quality care when there is simply not enough staff; simply not enough hands or minutes in the day to do what is required.
Did You Know?
Did you know that you can watch video coverage from Council on the CAW National website?
You can find Video News at:
http://www.caw.ca/news/videonews/index.asp
