• Current News
• Press Releases
• Opinion Pieces & Letters to the Editor
• Video News
• Audio News
• Speeches & Briefs
• Events
• Archived Newsletters
• Newsletters

Home  News & Events  Archived Newsletters  CONTACT  2000  February 27, 2000

February 27, 2000

Volume 30, No. 9

SEIU Members Show Support


SEIU Canada members have overwhelmingly supported a decision by their elected local union leaders to leave their Washington-based union and join the CAW. The workers, members of eight local unions seeking to withdraw from the U.S.-based union and representing 30,000 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members in Ontario, endorsed the move at meetings held in locations across Ontario on March 2. Of the 10,916 members attending meetings around the province, 10,788 stood with their former leadership in expressing their desire to leave the U.S.-based SEIU and join with the CAW. "This is democracy in action," said Ken Brown, former SEIU International vice-president and former elected president of Local 210 in Windsor, recently removed from office by the U.S.-based leadership of SEIU. "The International went to court to stop our people from voting. These meetings with 10,916 attending, send a signal to the U.S.-based SEIU, that regardless of their legal challenge, the will of the Canadian membership is not with the U.S.-based SEIU." Brown said the move last week by the American-based union to use the Canadian courts to stymie the wishes of the membership, boosted the turn out at meetings and the vote itself. CAW president Buzz Hargrove said he was not surprised by the strong show of support, citing the February 21 unanimous vote by elected local union leaders in favour of the move. "When you've got 800 elected union representatives who work closely with union members every day, unanimously in favour of a proposal, you know the membership is there as well," Hargrove said. The eight local unions represent workers in health care, education, service, hospitality, racetracks and light manufacturing.



CAW Says Budget Moves Away From Liberal Promises


CAW president Buzz Hargrove denounced the heavy emphasis on tax cuts in Paul Martin's 2000 federal budget - a big shift from the Liberal's 1997 pledge to reinvest half of future budget surpluses in social programs and public services. With taxes cut by $58 billion over five years, more than half the expected future federal surplus will be dedicated to tax cuts, with billions more set aside for debt repayment. "Ask anyone if they want more money in their pocket, and naturally they will agree. But ask them what's more important, a tax cut or a hospital emergency room, and they almost always choose the hospital emergency room," Hargrove said after the budget's release. For years the federal government said they simply didn't have the money whenever there were protests about their cutting and slashing of social programs and public services. But this recent federal budget, planned at a time when there are billions of surplus dollars available, gives a clear picture of what really matters to the Chretien Liberals. The Chretien government has sided with business. Those who need help the most are getting the least: - The budget announcement of a one-time-only payment to prop-up Canada's crumbling national health program is but a temporary infusion of cash when permanent long-term funding improvements are required. This payment does nothing to deal with the dangerous structural damage caused by years of slashes and neglect. - Despite Liberal promises during the 1993 election campaign, despite Canada's dismal standing in the world on family policy (among the worst in the industrialized world), despite Quebec's example to help lead the way, and despite very successful European programs, there is no plan from this government for a well-funded national child care strategy. "Even for relatively well-paid Canadians, like many auto workers, there's a strong feeling that our network of social institutions, like health care and education, is falling apart. Our top priority, after years of damaging cutbacks, must be to fix those programs -- not cut taxes and have the benefits go mostly to the wealthy," said Hargrove.




CAW First Hand Account Of Floods In Mozambique

A group of five CAW leadership have just returned from flood ravaged Mozambique where they were on a mission to monitor the landmine removal project being funded by the CAW Social Justice Fund. The delegation consisted of National Executive Board members Mike Shields (President of local 222), Julie White (President of local 27) Richard Fournier (President of local 1163), Carol Phillips (Director of the CAW International Department) and Frank Luce (Legal Department). The CAW, along with support from the Canadian International Development Agency, is supporting a four year project of landmine removal and post de mining development that includes a women's sewing co-operative, schoolhouse building and rehabilitation for the disabled. Mozambique is one of the worlds poorest countries and it's people have been putting up an inspirational struggle to get back on their feet but these past few weeks of cyclones and floods will set them back years. While in Mozambique the delegation presented a cheque for $10,000 US to the Mozambican Trade Union Central which is raising funds for the Red Cross relief efforts. In addition, the radio equipped vehicles used in the CAW de mining process were put at the disposal of the relief effort, so that information on villages isolated by the floods could be gathered and transmitted to authorities. There are plans for the CAW to join with other Canadian NGOs in helping with flood relief and rebuilding once the emergency is over and further information on this will be forthcoming to CAW local unions.



March 8 - International Women's Day


Around the world and from coast to coast in Canada on Wednesday, March 8th, women will hold marches and community events to mark International Women's Day. The focus of events this year is the launch of the World March of Women. CAW members will be taking part in events across the country. For more information contact Cheryl Kryzaniwsky, CAW Women's Department at (416) 718-8484.




Big Three COLA

There will be a COLA increase at General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler for the first pay period on or after March 6, 2000, of 1¢ to add to the current .21 COLA float. Total straight time earnings for an assembler at GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler will be as follows:

Total straight-time earnings for an electrician at GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler are as follows:

Print   Send to a friend   Feedback