October 1, 2000
Volume 30, No. 27
CAW Reaches Tentative Agreement At Air Canada
As Contact went to press the CAW had reached a tentative agreement covering its 4,800 members at Air Canada. The agreement, which is being unanimously recommended by the bargaining committee and local leadership, provides a two-year extension to the current contract and gives a 2.5 per cent wage increase in each of the two years of the extension, substantial pension improvements, benefit gains and includes important job security language. The CAW is the first union to negotiate agreements at the former Canadian Airlines and at Air Canada which mirror each other with common expiry dates. Members will be voting on this tentative agreement in the coming weeks with vote results expected October 9.
CAW Avon Maitland School Custodians Ratify New Contract
Former SEIU members, now part of the CAW, who work at the Avon Maitland District School Board ratified a new collective agreement on September 23, that provides strong wage and benefit increases. The custodial and maintenance workers voted 96 per cent in favour of the new agreement that provides average wage and benefit increases of 6.7 to 8 per cent over the life of the contract, which expires August 31, 2002. The 117 full-time, part-time and casual workers employed at 30 Avon Maitland board schools in southwestern Ontario joined the CAW earlier this year after leaving the Service Employees International Union. The new contract provides their first wage increase since 1993. The new agreement also provides for the first time contract language on health and safety and also language to deal with workplace harassment. Among the 30,000 members of the eight former SEIU locals in Ontario who have opted to join the Canadian Auto Workers union, this was the first group to vote in favour of taking strike action if necessary.
Strike Over, New Contract At Reynolds-Lemmerz
After a 10-day strike, CAW Local 1995 members at auto parts maker Reynolds-Lemmerz in Collingwood, Ontario, have voted in favour of a new contract with significant wage increases and a pension for the first time. The more than 500 workers at the aluminum wheel maker won a defined pension plan of $24 per month times years of service for production employees and $26 per month for skilled trades. Production workers also earned three per cent wage increases in each year of the three year contract, while skilled trades received 2, 2 and 2.5 per cent - the difference coming as a result of the higher skilled trades pension. The contract also states that the current schedule for hours of work won't change for the next 15 months and after that period will only be changed following consultation with the union. Production workers voted 67 per cent in favour of the contract while skilled trades voted 77 per cent.
CAW Donates $20,000 To Walkerton Water Relief
The CAW has presented $20,000 to the Bruce-Grey United Way to help with the ongoing relief effort in Walkerton, Ontario, where residents are struggling to cope with the massive problems caused by the E.coli contamination of the municipal water system. Julie White, CAW Local 27 president and a CAW National Executive Board member, presented the United Way with a cheque from the CAW's social justice fund. She said the CAW is an active part of the Bruce community and it is important for the union to participate in the relief effort. The CAW's Family Education Centre is located in Port Elgin, Ontario, which is near Walkerton. The CAW's Social Justice Fund was developed in 1990. Approximately 15 per cent of the fund is spent annually on Canadian projects, while the remainder is spent helping out in the developing world.
More Workers Join The CAW
Here are some of the locations where workers have recently decided to join the CAW: * at Aradco Management Limited in Windsor, a group of 110 workers have joined the CAW. The plant handles metal stamping, welding and assembly; * in Surrey, BC, a new unit of 36 members at McAllister Springs Ltd. become part of CAW Local 114; * in Wingham, Ontario, 51 workers at Bi-Ax International Inc., who produce plastic packaging materials. They are part of CAW Local 4207; * at D.H. Howden in London, Ontario, a group of 170 warehouse workers are now part of the CAW; * at the Bread Garden Bakery Kitchen in Vancouver, B.C., a new unit of 116 members become part of CAW Local 114; * at Crown East Steel Fabricators in Mississauga, Ontario, a new unit of 59 members are now part of CAW Local 1256.
Plant To Remain In Winnipeg
A troubled plant that was set to move to the United States by its owners will remain in Winnipeg, after a deal was spearheaded by the CAW and the NDP provincial government. Coldmatic out of Concord, Ontario confirmed to the CAW that the workplace will not be moved as rumoured prior to the sale. The new owners plan for new machinery and more workers at this freezer firm. One of the immediate challenges will be to replenish the company's near empty inventory of parts. Coldstream Products is a 51 year-old company that manufactures commercial refrigerators and walk-in boxes for the food industry. At one time the company employed 200 workers. Today there are approximately 70 employees with 35 on layoff. The workers are members of CAW Local 144.
Bulletins
CAW Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference The CAW Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference will be held at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario on November 24, 25, and 26. The theme for this year's conference is Strategize, Mobilize for Change. The deadline for reservations is November 10, 2000. For more information contact CAW Human Rights Department director Raj Dhaliwal at 1-800-268-5763. Pacific Smoked Salmon The UFAWU-CAW is offering for sale Pacific smoked salmon. The fish is caught by union fishermen and smoked and packaged by union members. If orders are placed by November 11 delivery can be arranged to locals on or before December 8. The delicious smoked salmon is pre-sliced and frozen and comes vacuum packed on a gold board, which makes it a perfect gift. It is the same product sold to premium smoked salmon markets in Europe and Japan. The price is $15 for each side (each side averages 1.2 lb.) For more information or to place an order call Dave Watt or Gary Prisner at (604) 255-1336.
WEB PREVIEW: CAW Web Page
Here's a brief look at just some of the information available on the CAW home page. SEIU and the CAW - Taking Charge Newsletter For the full text, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, under Newsletters - Taking Charge Newsletter.
