October 29, 2000
Volume 30, No. 31
Norwegian Union Strikes In Support Of CAW Members At Falconbridge
The Norwegian Chemical Workers Union, NKIF - Local 40 has voted over 90% in favour of declaring a sympathy strike in support of CAW members, Local 598 at Falconbridge in Sudbury starting Sunday, November 12th. The Norwegian workers are also employed by Falconbridge. They refine material produced by Falconbridge in Sudbury and from other company locations around the world. More than 500 union members work at the Norwegian refinery, which is one of the world's largest. The Norwegian union has taken the unprecedented action because the company is attempting to force the Sudbury workers to take major concessions in their collective agreement. In addition to the 5-day strike action the NKIF has also decided to: * use all international channels to increase pressure on the company to support the strikers; * prepare for new sympathy actions in the future if the conflict continues; * continue their financial support each week and gather moral and economic support from other trade union members in Norway. Hemi Mitic, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove, said that this is the first time he can recall this kind of international solidarity being implemented in support of workers in another country.
CAW Local 4401 (Canadian Maritime Union) Members Ratify New Two-Year Contract
Unlicenced crew members of Upper Lakes Group Inc., members of Canadian Auto Workers union Local 4401 in Thorold, Ontario, have voted to accept the terms of a new two-year contract by an 80 percent margin. Upper Lakes CAW members operate 22 vessels carrying a wide variety of goods through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. The new contract covering 500 sailors, was finalized in late September, with the "on-board" and mail-in ratification process taking three weeks to complete. Acceptance of this contact averts a strike that would have shut down one of Canada's major marine shipping companies and disrupted the transport of goods through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal. Wage rates will increase by 3 percent in each year of a two-year agreement and will be paid retroactively to April 1, 2000. Additional wage increases of up to 2 percent each year will be made if inflation exceeds negotiated wage increases during the life of the agreement. Many other pay and benefit related contract items will automatically increase by identical percentage amounts. Other contract changes include stronger language in areas such as health, safety and seniority rights, and a joint policy designed to eliminate workplace harassment.
CAW Part Of New Shipbuilding And Marine Industry Project
The CAW is a key part of an important new project seeking to establish a meaningful policy for Canada's shipbuilding and marine industries. Federal industry minister Brian Tobin announced on October 20 in St. John's, Newfoundland, the creation of an industry-wide National Shipbuilding and Marine Industries Partnership Project. Les Holloway, executive director of the Marine Workers Federation/CAW, was named a co-chair of the labour-industry group that will come up with recommendations. "For the first time we heard a federal industry minister - Brian Tobin - indicate the importance of this industry to Canada and his commitment to adopting a national shipbuilding policy in this country," Holloway said. A two-day conference was also held where more than 250 delegates from labour, industry and government came together and reached consensus on the major issues facing the industry. CAW president Buzz Hargrove spoke outlining the importance of the industry and the need for government to take action. "The amazing thing is that with more than 250 delegates in the room there was consensus on the major policies needed to re-establish a strong Canadian marine and shipbuilding industry," said Holloway. "Following a long struggle and continuing campaign there is clearly an opportunity through the forum that was held and the establishment of the committee to put a shipbuilding policy in place that will result in jobs for workers in their communities in the shipbuilding industry," said Bob Chernecki, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. At the same time the CAW/MWF will continue its shipbuilding campaign during the federal election to ensure ongoing support is built for this important initiative, he said. Holloway and Philipe Tremblay, executive director, Federation de la metallurgie, Confederation des syndicats nationaux, along with industry representatives will report to Tobin by January 15, 2001, with recommendations to the federal government on policies to revitalize the Canadian Industrial Marine sector.
CAW Supports Technology Contact Winners
Mines Action Canada, a Canadian coalition of groups working on the issue of landmines, has awarded first prize for landmine removal technology to Carleton University in Ottawa. The prize money of $5,000 comes from the CAW Social Justice Fund. The winning project was designed in response to a request from deminers in the Sudan for the most appropriate type of rechargeable batteries to use with their metal detectors and to build a solar battery charger system to charge and test batteries. "We are proud that our union could be involved with an innovative technology project where bright young people can apply their skills to a project that is environmentally friendly and of humanitarian use," said CAW-SJF representative Annie Labaj. The CAW Social Justice Fund supports international demining work and community development projects in affected communities. Engineering graduate student award winners: (l-r) Mike Botting, Giuseppe Agnello, Annie Labaj (CAW-SJF Representative), Dave McPhee and Anne-Marie Dawson
Bulletins
Leftwords Festival of Books and Ideas The CAW is a sponsor of the 2nd annual Leftwords Festival of Books and Ideas, which runs Sunday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at New College, University of Toronto, just south of Harbord on Spadina in downtown Toronto. Last year more than 750 people attended the Leftwords Festival of Books and Ideas, where 30 exhibitors took part. The festival features authors, writers, publishers and activists. It also included debates, readings, panel discussions and more. For more information on Leftwords on the internet look up www.leftwords.org
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 Air Canada Ratifies Contract dated October 11, 2000 Air Canada Ratifies Contract Toronto Sept 29, 2000 The 4,800 members of Local 2213 representing CAW workers at Air Canada have ratified a new agreement with the company, which extends their existing contract until March 2004... For the full text, go to the CAW web site, www.caw.ca, under What's News - CAW Video News.
