January 30, 2000
Volume 30, No. 5
Hargrove Calls For Improved Post-Secondary Education Funding
CAW members and activists joined students February 2 in protests, rallies and demonstrations across Canada in support of university and college students pressing for government investment in the post-secondary education system. CAW president Buzz Hargrove spoke at a Toronto rally calling on government to recommit to a genuine social program of support and funding for post-secondary education in Canada. Activities CAW members supported include helping with the shutdown of York University's Glendon College campus and at Ryerson Polytechnic University, members of CAW Local 707 and other CAW locals bolstered student demonstrations. As well, thousands of CAW members have signed petitions in support of decent funding for post-secondary education. The strikes and demonstrations held in more than 50 communities across Canada were organized by the Canadian Federation of Students.
The Sad Facts About Post-Secondary Education:
- between 1990 and 1998, average tuition fees for a general arts program increased $126 per cent (from $1,496 to $3,379); - by 1998, students graduated with an average debt of $25,000 (triple what it was at $8,000 in 1990); - some of the highest tuition increases and debt loads are happening in Ontario. At the University of Toronto, there's been a 500 per cent increase since 1992, for example, for some graduate students.
Closure Agreement At Ford Depots 
CAW members at Ford parts depots in Vancouver and Montreal have voted overwhelmingly in favour of an agreement that provides strong support to members in the face of the company's plan to close the two facilities, scheduled for the end of June. The agreement exceeds economic and non-economic gains made in the Fall 1999 round of Big Three bargaining and establishes closure and transfer protections. Ford announced in December it was closing the two depots in the summer of 2000. "This agreement was the best possible deal under very difficult circumstances for these workers and their families," said Bob Chernecki, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. Under the new agreement CAW members who want to transfer to other depots in Edmonton or Bramalea will be able to do so. If the company reestablishes parts distribution in Vancouver or Montreal employees who transfer have the right to transfer back. For employees who decide not to transfer the agreement provides SUB and other income protection of up to 65 per cent of their gross wage. This includes protection for those with less than five years seniority. The contract also guarantees no lay-off during the life of the current collective agreement including for those who transfer to the new location. The Vancouver workers are members of CAW Local 432 and the Montreal workers are members of CAW Local 1900.
Federal Marine Communications Group Vote To Join CAW
Members of the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Association have voted to join the CAW. In voting held over the last month, MCTSA members voted 62 per cent in favour of merging with the CAW. The MCTSA's 350 members are shore-based communications officers for the Canadian Coast Guard. They handle search and rescue communications, fishing, commercial fleet and pleasure craft traffic as well as monitor the marine environment from coast to coast to coast and on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway system. A major issue facing this group of workers is downsizing and the centralization of services by the federal government. Prior to joining the CAW, the MCTSA was an independent association of workers. They are employed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Hargrove Urges Calgary Herald Publisher To Bargain
CAW president Buzz Hargrove is urging Calgary Herald publisher Don Gaynor to get back to the bargaining table and deal fairly with striking workers at the paper. Hargrove, in a letter to Gaynor, urges the publisher to recognize the legitimate rights of workers to join a union and collectively bargain - a right that has been entrenched in Canadian law for decades. "It is appalling that in the year 2000, workers are still struggling for the right to bargain a first contract with such basic provisions as seniority recognition," Hargrove said. More than 200 people from the Calgary Herald's newsroom and distribution centre have been on strike for a fair first collective agreement since November 8. They are members of CEP Local 115A and GCIU Local 34M. In Windsor, leaflets outlining how CAW members can help the striking Calgary Herald workers were being distributed to members in Big Three plants, Local 195 plants and other CAW organized facilities.
Want to get the highlights of CONTACT by e-mail?
To get these e-mail highlights, as well as be informed about special campaigns, press releases and upcoming conferences, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, click on New This Week and scroll down to: Be Informed. Instantaneously. Fill in your e-mail address and find yourself on the CAW Local Union Media Association (LUMA) mailing list.
WEB PREVIEW: CAW Web Page
Here's a brief look at just some of the information available on the CAW home page. CAW Video News Versatile Rally Draws Government Support dated January 27, 2000 Winnipeg January 22, 2000 Representatives from all three levels of government promised they would do everything possible to save the jobs of 800 workers at the Versatile... For the full text, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, under What's News CAW Video News.
