September 24, 2000
Volume 30, No. 26
Alberta Union Supports CAW In Dispute Over SEIU Members
The leader of Alberta's largest union has outlined his support for the CAW's stance on the democratic right of workers to choose their own union. Dan MacLennan, president of the 44,000-member Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), outlined his support for the principle at an Edmonton news conference September 19 he attended along with CAW president Buzz Hargrove. The AUPE is Alberta's largest union. Hargrove said MacLennan had taken an important step by publically outlining his support for the CAW's position. Although other labour leaders have privately backed the principle, MacLennan is the first to publically outline his support. MacLennan said if a group of workers aren't being serviced properly they should have the right to go and to independently select another union. The CAW has been expelled from the Canadian Labour Congress, provincial federations of labour and labour council events and structures for supporting eight Service Employees International Union locals in Ontario, representing 30,000 members, to democratically switch unions and join the CAW. So far in Ontario Labour Relations Board votes, 7,000 of those SEIU members and 80 bargaining units have voted to leave SEIU and join CAW.
CAW Leadership Meetings
In meetings from coast to coast CAW leadership and activists have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the CAW's support for eight SEIU locals in Ontario seeking the democratic right to join the CAW. Out of the 4,000 CAW leadership who attended meetings in Halifax, London, Windsor, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Edmonton, a total of 12 people have voted against the CAW's National Executive Board resolution on the issue. Many speakers outlined the need to fight for the fundamental democratic right of workers to choose their own union. Some highlighted the need to continue seeking solutions to the current dispute with the CLC, but many urged the CAW to explore alternatives to the CLC as well as alternative provincial and local structures. Some speakers discussed the history of alternative labour centrals in Canada and others stressed the need to take the time to properly look at options. CAW president Buzz Hargrove stressed the CAW has worked hard to find a solution, but cautioned there appears to be little chance of one. The dispute is about the right of workers who are dissatisfied with their union to democratically choose to go to another union. Hargrove said it's about principle and what the CAW stands for as a union. It's also about what kind of labour movement people want.
CAW On Strike At B.C.'s Boliden Mine
The 350 members of CAW Local 3019 at Boliden Westmin's mine at Myra Falls near Campbell River in British Columbia, went on strike September 20. CAW staff representative Jef Keighley said major issues include pension plan improvements for active employees and retirees, health benefits, wages and others. The Vancouver Island mine workers backed their bargaining committee with an 86 per cent strike vote earlier this month. The previous three year collective agreement expired August 14. Boliden mines zinc, copper, gold, silver, lead, and cadmium at its Myra Falls operations.
Strike Appeal For Falconbridge Members
CAW locals are being urged to help out with financial support and messages of solidarity as the strike by CAW Local 598 members at Falconbridge in Sudbury enters its eighth week. The 1,250 workers have been on strike against the Sudbury nickel, copper and precious metals producer since August 1, fighting company demands for concessions. The workers remain determined and won a court victory earlier this month when a judge dismissed a company request for an injunction to limit picketing. Workers at a Falconbridge refinery in Norway have declared that any materials coming from Sudbury during the strike are scab materials and have advised the company they don't want to handle them. CAW president Buzz Hargrove, in a strike appeal letter, said the membership is holding strong but urges supporters to dig deep since there is no settlement in sight. Those wanting to support CAW members at Falconbridge in Sudbury can send cheques to Marcel Brabant, Financial Secretary, CAW Local 598, 19 Regent Street South, Sudbury, Ontario, P3C 4B7.
Emergency Measures Needed On Violence Against Women
Women from anti-violence, labour, social justice, equality and neighborhood groups in Ontario pressed politicians from all political parties at Queen's Park to take action "on the brutal and unrelenting reality of violence against women." Members of all parties were presented September 20 with a package of "Emergency Measures for Women and Children" and they were asked to sign an all-party "Declaration of Commitment" to implement the measures in the fall of 2000. Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton and Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty signed the declaration. Premier Mike Harris didn't attend, nor did any cabinet minister and no Tory representative signed the Declaration. "With the Tory refusal to improve conditions there's unlikely to be any reversal in the current situation where 40 women a year in Ontario are murdered by their male partner," said Peggy Nash, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. Across Canada more than 70 women per year are murdered by male partners and many more are injured or abused. The group called for more money for emergency shelters, crisis lines, legal reforms including greater legal aid and greater workplace protections from abuse. The CAW was part of the coalition that developed the package and the Declaration of Commitment. In the summer the CAW's National Executive Board passed a statement condemning Violence Against Women and it committed to an ongoing CAW campaign over the fall.
Unionization: An Update
During the first half of 2000, union membership in Canada grew proportionately more than paid employment when compared with the same period last year. About 3.7 million workers belonged to a union during the first half of 2000, up from 3.6 million during the same period in 1999, Labour Force Survey data shows. The increase occurred in the private sector where the unionization rate rose from 18.2 per cent to 18.7 per cent, while in the public sector it fell from 70.5 to 69.9 per cent. During 1999, the average hourly earnings of unionized workers were higher than those of non-unionized workers: $19.43 an hour compared with $15.99 for full-time workers and $16.66 compared with $9.94 for non-union, part-time workers.
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 Labour Day 2000 A New Era dated September 15, 2000 Labour Day 2000 A New Era Toronto Sept 4, 2000 The rank and file members and leaders of the CAW celebrated Labour Day 2000 in a new and vibrant style at the Weston Harbour Castle in downtown Toronto, Ontario... For the full text, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, under What's News - CAW Video News.
