April 2, 2000
Volume 30, No. 13
OLRB Decision Supports Labour Movement Democracy, CAW Says
A landmark Ontario Labour Relations Board decision on April 6 is an important step toward allowing thousands of workers the right to democratically choose their union. The OLRB decision dismissed Service Employee International Union (SEIU) objections to 41 applications by the CAW to represent workers at hospitals, nursing and retirement homes in Ontario. The OLRB had sealed these 41 ballot boxes where the CAW had applied to represent workers until the board heard the SEIU's objections. "We're elated the board saw through the continuing attempts by the Washington-based SEIU to deny thousands of workers the right to democratically choose a union," said Ken Brown, former elected president of Local 210 in Windsor, who was removed from office by SEIU leadership in Washington. Since March 1, the CAW has applied to represent workers in scores of Ontario workplaces, where the workers no longer want to be part of the SEIU. The applications come after the SEIU went to court in late February to stop eight of its locals in Ontario, which represent 30,000 workers, from leaving their union. On February 21, 800 elected union represent- atives from the eight locals unanimously voted to leave the U.S.-based SEIU and join the CAW. The OLRB's April 6 decision is an important victory for thousands of workers, who are facing a continuing campaign from the international SEIU to prevent them from joining the union of their choice. "The membership and leadership of these locals must have the right to self-determination and be allowed to go to the union of their choice," said Bob Chernecki, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "This decision paves the way." The written decision of board vice-chair Laura Trachuk indicates the board wants the members' decisions to be upheld. "However, the act, and the board, are concerned in these cases with employees' wishes to be represented by a trade union of their choice during the period in which it is open to them to change their representation. There is no suggestion that the votes in those boxes do not represent the employees' wishes."
MPs Support Plan For Shipbuilding Policy
In a significant step forward for Canadian shipbuilding jobs, a private members bill to establish a shipbuilding policy in Canada has received an initial round of support from a majority of MPs. After the March 30 vote, Bill C213 will now be reviewed by a parliamentary committee before it comes back to the House of Commons for a final reading and vote needed to make it law. "We are obviously very pleased that the bill passed and although there is more work to be done, it is another step in the direction of establishing a shipbuilding policy in this country," said Les Holloway, executive director of the CAW/Marine Workers Federation, which represents shipyard workers in Atlantic Canada. The CAW/MWF, along with the Shipyard General Workers Federation and Federation de la Metallurgie Inc. CSN, launched a campaign last year to highlight the need for a shipbuilding policy that creates jobs and economic growth in Canada's coastal, St. Lawrence and Great Lakes regions. The private bill was brought forward by Antoine Dube, MP for Levis-Chutes-de-la-Chaudiere, in Quebec.
CAW Support For Flooding Victims In Mozambique
Even though it's no longer on the front pages of newspapers and CNN has moved on to other stories, life has not returned to normal for families in Mozambique. Many hundreds of thousands lost everything and are facing disease and malnutrition for the foreseeable future and last week again another cyclone was pounding the coast. Although the CAW national union and CAW social justice fund have already made a preliminary donation of $200,000 to OXFAM for farming supplies, every new donation means that additional seeds can be bought and livestock replaced. Carol Phillips, director of the CAW International Department, said recent discussions with aid workers on the ground in Mozambique indicate the situation for many hundreds of thousands is desperate, but things can be made a lot better if crops can be put in the ground for the next growing season. Those wanting to help can make a cheque out to the CAW-SJF for flood relief in Mozambique, for which a charitable receipt will be issued. Cheques should be sent to CAW Canada, International Department, 205 Placer Court, Toronto, ON, M2H 3H9.
Hargrove Urges Charges Against Social Activist To Be Dropped
CAW president Buzz Hargrove is urging Ontario Attorney General Jim Flaherty to stay or drop charges against Ontario Coalition Against Poverty organizer John Clarke. Clarke was arrested February 10, 1999, on Parliament Hill when an OCAP organized delegation of homeless people and their supporters attempted to speak to Prime Minister John Chretien and press demands for immediate federal government action to end homelessness. The OCAP group was stopped by the RCMP and Ottawa police and Clarke was arrested. He's scheduled to appear in an Ottawa court on May 18. Hargrove urged Flaherty to withdraw the charges against an activist fighting for social justice and fighting to defend those without power, privilege or even shelter. "Homelessness could be ended if your government and the federal government were to change course and restore programs to build non-profit housing, raise the minimum wage, restore effective tenant protection to stop economic evictions, and reverse the cuts to income support programs including UI, social assistance and disability benefits for injured and disabled workers," Hargrove said.
More New Members Join CAW
The following workers recently decided to join the CAW: - at Mother Jackson's Open Kitchen in Port Perry, ON. A unit of 159 CAW members becomes part of CAW Local 370; - at Willmar Windows/Jeld Wen in Winnipeg, MB, a total of 414 workers join the CAW. The company is a window maker; - 22 new members at Broadway Driving School (Young Drivers of Canada) in Vancouver, BC, will become part of CAW Local 3000; - at Executive Marketing Services Inc. in Windsor, ON, sixty workers have joined the CAW. The company provides database development and management.
Bulletins
Day of Mourning Activities CLC secretary-treasurer Nancy Riche is the guest speaker at The Oakville and District Labour Council's Day of Mourning event Friday, April 28 at 3:45 p.m. at the Oakville Public Library, 120 Navy Street at Lakeshore. The event features a rededication of the Workers' Monument, for workers' killed or disabled while on the job. For more information contact Scott McColeman, CAW Local 707, OLDC Day of Mourning Chair (905) 403-1488. For more information on Day of Mourning Activities check out the CAW webpage at www.caw.ca and click on Calender of Events.
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 World March of Women 2000 dated March 30, 2000
CAW Video News
Kangaroo Court SEIU Style dated March 30, 2000
CAW Video News
Air Canada Canadian Airlines dated April 3, 2000 For the full text, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, under What's News - CAW Video News.
