October 15, 2000
Volume 30, No. 29
New Agreement At Air Canada
Members of CAW Local 2213 at Air Canada have voted 79 per cent in favour of a new contract, which extends their existing collective agreement until March 2004. The new contract provides for a 2.5 per cent wage increase in 2002 and a 2.5 per cent increase in 2003. The agreement, which covers 4,800 CAW members at Air Canada, also provides substantial pension improvements, benefit gains and includes important job security language. The new contract provides a common expiry date with the current ontract with CAW members at the former Canadian Airlines. Members of the bargaining committee and local leadership had unanimously recommended acceptance of the contract. Sean Smith, president of CAW Local 2213, said the last 13 months have been tough and more work needs to be done. But Smith said the agreement is a step forward.
Falconbridge Strikers Bring Message To Company Headquarters
Striking CAW Local 598 members from Falconbridge in Sudbury brought their message to company headquarters in downtown Toronto October 12. With the strike at Falconbridge entering its 11th week, a group of striking CAW members picketed and handed out leaflets outside the company's headquarters at Wellington and York Streets. With Falconbridge making well over $300 million in profit in the last year the workers wanted to know why they were being treated like this and why the company continues to demand concessions? On October 13, a large community-based rally in support of the 1,250 striking CAW members at Falconbridge was held in Sudbury outside the smelter. The protest was sponsored by local labour and social action groups. Three weeks ago politicians who sit on the Sudbury Regional Council unanimously voted to send a message to Falconbridge to stop using scabs and get back to the bargaining table.
CAW Discussion Groups On Politics Gearing Up
More than 30 discussion groups made up of CAW members from across the country in every economic sector get underway at the end of the month. The discussion groups are part of the CAW Taskforce on Working Class Politics. To ensure a random selection process an independent research firm, the Institute for Social Research at York University in Toronto, is choosing CAW members who are being asked to take part in the day-long sessions. The goal of the groups is to generate open and honest discussion by CAW members about what issues are important to a good quality of life for themselves, their families and communities. "Just being asked for your views really empowers and sparks people to participate," was just one comment from a pilot project discussion group run by the Task Force earlier this year. When participants were asked to evaluate the pilot project discussion groups 90 per cent said they thought it's a good idea for the union to hold these discussions across the country.
Boliden Westmin Strike Brings Gains
After a two-day strike by 350 CAW Local 3019 members at Boliden Westmin's mine on Vancouver Island, workers recently voted 80 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement. It brings important gains in wages, benefits, pensions and early retirement provisions. CAW staff representative Jef Keighley said the solidarity shown by the strikers was key to winning a good agreement with no concessions. "The membership were satisfied with the substantive gains in pensions and early retirement," Keighley said. The agreement provides approximately a 9.5 per cent increase in wages and benefits over the three years. Boliden mines zinc, copper, gold, silver, lead and cadmium at its Myra Falls operations.
Sterling Trucks Workers Vote No To CAW
Workers at the Sterling Truck plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, have voted not to join the Canadian Auto Workers union. After an intense organizing campaign that has been ongoing for several months at the plant, workers voted October 12. The need for greater job security was a major issue highlighted by workers at Sterling Truck, which until recently employed 1,700 workers. The company announced 692 layoffs August 14 in the middle of the CAW organizing drive at the plant. The company moved the layoffs ahead from their original December 4 implementation date in an effort to undermine the CAW drive. Other issues included the need to negotiate a collective agreement that could not be unilaterally changed by management. The plant manufactures transport trucks and is owned by vehicle manufacturer DaimlerChrysler.
Bulletins
National Hospitality Sector Conference The next CAW National Hospitality Sector Conference will be held December 10 to 12 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. The conference is designed for CAW members and staff representing hotel, restaurant, catering and casino/gaming workers. Workshops will cover workload issues, workplace harassment and health and safety, job income and job security. The deadline for registration is November 17. Labour Demo At Ontario Tory Convention CAW locals in the greater Toronto area are being urged to take part in a demonstration Saturday, October 21, to protest Ontario Tory government assaults on social, economic and workplace rights. The rally will be held at 1:00 p.m. October 21, at Simcoe Park in Toronto, on the north side of Front Street, directly opposite the Tory Convention being held at the Metro Convention Centre. The rally is being organized by a coalition of unions and teachers and will feature cultural entertainment organized by the Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts. The rally is intended as a platform for the community voices Harris is trying to silence or ignore -- the people of Walkerton, Kirkland Lake, First Nations, the family of Dudley George, parents concerned about education cuts, workers in low wage and unorganized workplaces, health care workers on the front line of the crisis in health care and many others.
