World Leaders Fail to Make Real Progress in Climate Talks

CAW President Ken Lewenza says he is gravely concerned about the state of international climate negotiations following the uneventful end of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen and questions the commitment of world leaders, specifically Stephen Harper, to take seriously the threat that climate change poses.

"I'm not at all convinced that Stephen Harper fully understands the scale of the climate crisis and appreciates the opportunity this presents to meaningfully re-invest in our economy," Lewenza said. 

"The Conservative government's inaction on climate change is leading Canada down a very dangerous path, both environmentally and economically. Our government clearly has no vision for a sustainable economic future and Canadian workers stand to suffer most."

Global climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) closed in Copenhagen on December 18 without coming to terms on a new legally binding international climate treaty.  

In place of a new global climate treaty, government negotiators at the annual UN climate summit came to terms on a political accord (the Copenhagen Accord), that outlines the international community's desire to combat harmful global warming but does not outline any concrete steps as to how that goal will be achieved.

Over the course of the two week summit, Canada faced intense criticism from environmental advocates, Indigenous groups and trade union leaders for obstructing negotiations and allegedly weakening its own industrial emission reduction targets.

Canada was awarded the dubious Fossil of the Year award by the Climate Action Network for doing the most to obstruct progress on climate negotiations.

Structured more as a pledge for action on climate change, the Copenhagen Accord states countries should continue to work cooperatively in the long term to ensure, among other items, that global temperature increases do not exceed 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. The three page document also includes new financing commitments that support climate change efforts in developing countries.

The Accord, unlike other global climate efforts, was agreed to by all major world economies including the United States (one of the major countries not to have ratified the Kyoto Protocol). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has urged all countries under the UNFCCC to sign on to the voluntary Accord as quickly as possible.

Further climate negotiations are set to take place throughout 2010 with the next climate summit (COP16) to be held in Mexico City at the end of the year.

Higher Canadian Content Rules for TTC Bus Purchases

The Dec 16, 2009 Toronto Transit Commission decision requiring 50 per cent assembly labour in Canada for new public transit buses is an important step forward in creating good, green jobs for Canadians, the CAW says.

The new policy also requires a minimum of 40 per cent overall Canadian content in a standard diesel bus.

CAW President Ken Lewenza applauded TTC chair Adam Giambrone and the City of Toronto led by Mayor David Miller for standing up for stronger Canadian content rules, more direct assembly in Canada and for creating more green jobs.

"Other levels of government must adopt the same policies," Lewenza said. It's vital that our elected leaders make the same commitment to using public dollars to create Canadian jobs and to building a stronger economy for all," Lewenza said.

Government has an important role to play in helping build the Canadian economy, especially at a time of economic hardship, said Jenny Ahn, CAW director of membership mobilization and political action.

"After thoroughly examining this issue, the TTC has taken a very important step in ensuring that when local government buys public transit buses with public dollars, those funds will be used to maintain jobs in Canada," Ahn said.

Many governments around the world including those in Europe, Asia and the United States recognize the importance of domestic procurement policies. In the U.S. "Buy America" rules have been in place for more than three decades - these rules mean that public transit purchases must have 60 per cent domestic content and final assembly in the U.S.

The TTC's decision will help create jobs in the Canadian manufacturing sector which has been hard hit in recent years and especially during the current recession. 

The CAW represents workers at Orion Bus Industries in Mississauga, Nova Bus in Quebec and New Flyer in Winnipeg.

Workers Receive Owed Monies Following Plant Occupation

Workers at M&I Air Systems received their pay cheques in the days following a plant occupation and demonstration by the workers and supporters, held on December 21.

The Mississauga, Ontario plant suddenly closed its doors on December 15, throwing 180 people out of work, 150 of which were members of CAW Local 252. The employer refused to pay outstanding monies owed to the workers following the closure, which prompted the workers to take immediate action.

"The action taken by these workers was absolutely necessary, as the employer refused to have any dialogue with the local union and/or the local plant committee," said CAW Local 252 President Abbot Harvey. "This situation underscores one more time, the importance of legislative protection for workers and their families."

The union is still working on securing vacation pay, as well as an additional week's pay.

"Without the show of solidarity and support, the workers here would have never seen the money that was owed to them," said Sukhvinder Johl, CAW national representative. "It's an important reminder that even when the situation looks bleak, our actions as a union do make a difference."

The workforce is primarily first generation Canadians with a range of seniority from a few years up to 20 years. The company has not filed for bankruptcy protection and there is still hope that it will re-open.

M&I Air Systems manufactures air handling and ventilation units.

CAW to Represent Gibraltar Mine Workers

The CAW has won a vote to represent the 315 workers at Gibraltar Mine just outside of Williams Lake, British Columbia.  The vote was between the CAW and CLAC, with members voting by more than two thirds in favour of joining the CAW. CLAC is the Christian Labour Association of Canada.

The members will be represented by CAW Local 3018, which already has an office in Williams Lake.

"We believe the change in union representation will not only have a positive impact on members but also the surrounding area as the local union will once again be able to support local community groups," said CAW National Representative Murray Gore, an organizer for the union who worked with the group at Gibraltar.  

Tentative Agreement Ratified at Jazz Air

CAW Local 2002 members at Jazz Air have voted 79 per cent in favour of a tentative agreement reached with the regional air carrier.

The three and a half year agreement covers customer service and aircraft services employees and comes after talks with a federally-appointed mediator. CAW Local 2002 represents 950 customer service and aircraft service workers at Jazz. In November, an earlier agreement was rejected by the membership, as was an initial agreement back in August. 

"We thank the membership for their patience throughout the challenging process of negotiating and ratifying this collective agreement," said Shirley Anderson, Jazz Air service chairperson. "We heard clearly from our members that they wanted the week's vacation back that we all had to give up during the CCAA process and no-one wanted to be forced into a rigid work hours structure. I think we were able to accomplish both of these goals."

The agreement includes a cash/vacation bank which sets aside a percentage for each hour worked into a bank that can later be either taken as cash or vacation. It also includes a two per cent wage increase in each year of the agreement and changes to the part-time language which allow for minimum guaranteed hours, to be voted on base by base.

"While the process was long and at times frustrating, it did afford us the opportunity to communicate directly with our members during the ratification process and a special leadership meeting," said Bob Orr, Assistant to the CAW National President.

"That allowed us to ensure we bargained the right agreement. The committee worked extremely hard and had to deal with the pressure of bargaining under enormous scrutiny and external factors present in the airline sector. I'm pleased we were able to reach a deal that was approved by our members without a work stoppage and the hardship that creates."

In September, Jazz's technical service workers also ratified a three year agreement. CAW Local 2002 represents 900 workers in the technical services department. They voted 61 per cent in favour of the agreement. 

Need for Tougher Laws after Vancouver Bus Driver Attacked

CAW Local 111 is calling on the federal government to introduce tougher legislation to protect transit drivers, following a vicious Boxing Day attack on a Vancouver bus driver.

In the attack the driver of a passenger vehicle refused to move his car from the clearly marked bus stop and subsequently boarded the bus and punched the driver in the face.

"In 2009 we have had nearly 150 assaults on bus drivers in Metro Vancouver - that is totally unacceptable and we need action from the federal government to make these attacks subject to tougher sentencing, including jail time," said CAW Local 111 President Don MacLeod.

MacLeod said the union continues to offer a $2,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in serious bus driver assaults. In this case police were able to arrest the attacker shortly after the incident, thanks to assistance from bus passengers and the driver.

"Public transit should be a safe way of travelling throughout Metro Vancouver and yet our drivers are being assaulted at a rate of one almost every other day.  This poses a significant threat to both members' and public safety," MacLeod said, as some of the attacks have happened while the buses were in motion.

"Punishing the offenders more severely is not the only answer but it certainly sends a message that these attacks will send you to jail, so think twice before you hit a bus driver."

The union continues to push for adoption of a private members bill introduced by Burnaby-New Westminster Member of Parliament Peter Julian to give bus drivers and transit operators the same protections under the Criminal Code afforded to police and ambulance personnel if they are assaulted while performing their duties.

Anniversary of Commitment to Support Auto Industry

CAW President Ken Lewenza is commending the federal and provincial government for taking dramatic action one year ago to support the domestic auto industry, which at the height of the financial crisis was on the verge of collapse.

In a joint press conference on December 20, 2008, the Ontario and federal government pledged, along with the U.S. government, to inject the necessary funds into both Chrysler and General Motors to keep the companies afloat and save tens of thousands of jobs. 

Lewenza said that although this year has been a difficult one for the auto industry, without government support, the industry would now be in ruins, including the immediate loss of thousands of jobs.

"The loss of North American producers would have had a devastating ripple effect right across the economy, making it that much more difficult to pull out of the recession as tens of thousands of jobs would be eliminated in communities across the country."

"Although supporting the auto industry came at a seemingly high expense, the cost of doing nothing would have been much greater. Workers in these value-added jobs make important contributions to our communities - in the form of taxes which go towards the strong public services upon which all Canadians rely and value.

The CAW represents approximately 8,000 Chrysler workers, 12,000 General Motors workers, including at CAMI in Ingersoll and 25,000 independent parts supplier workers.

Highest Paid CEOs Pocket Average of $7.3 Million in 2008

The 100 highest paid Canadian CEOs took home an average of $7.3 million in 2008, which is 174 times more than the average Canadian wage, a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives states.

This came at a time when the recession was hitting working Canadians hard, CCPA economist Hugh Mackenzie said.

He said average compensation for the top CEOs outpaced inflation by 70 per cent between 1998 and 2008. During the same period, those earning the average income lost six per cent to inflation, he said.

Canadians will work full-time for a year to earn the national average of $42,305, Mackenzie said. "The top 100 CEOs pocket that amount by 1:01 p.m. on Jan. 4 - the first working day of the year," he said.

To read the full CCPA study, please visit www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/soft-landing

Members Ratify Agreements at Leamington Hospital

CAW Local 2458 members at Leamington District Memorial Hospital in Ontario have overwhelmingly voted to ratify three-year collective agreements covering 50 workers in the Lab/x-ray tech unit and 70 workers in the service unit.

The service agreement was ratified by 83 per cent and the tech agreement by 93 per cent.

The service agreement includes a two per cent wage increase in each year with wages retroactive. There is also a special RPN adjustment of 0.15 cents per hour in each year of the agreement. There are shift and weekend premiums increases, an increase in bereavement leaves, as well as other monetary and working conditions gains.

The tech unit agreement includes a 2.5 per cent wage increase in the first and second years and a two per cent increase in the third. Also included are shift premium increases, an increase in bereavement leave and gains in other monetary and working condition issues.

"These two agreements mean these CAW members have made important progress in this round of bargaining," said CAW national representative Jack Robinson.

Local 2458 President Bruce Dickie said many Ontario hospitals settled contracts prior to Christmas which include modest wage increases. But he said Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj continues to play scrooge with more than 700 Local 2458 health care members at that facility by demanding wage freezes. "After Musyj's wages increased by 81 per cent over the past few years he can hardly claim to be the poster child for wage restraint," Dickie said.

Skilled Trades Support

Labour Activist Recognized

Robin Dudley, president of CAW Local 1917 and chairperson of Hitachi Truck in Guelph, Ontario was named Activist of the Year by the Grey-Bruce Labour Council.

Since being elected CAW Local 1917 president in 2008, Robin has started up a flying squad at the local, led the local union to a number of demonstrations on pensions and Employment Insurance as well as other workplace support measures across south-western Ontario. Robin is an outspoken advocate on issues of EI, Canadian procurement requirements and a number of other issues affecting working people across the country.

Robin is also the president of the CAW Truck, Bus and Specialty Vehicle Council. He lives in Hanover, Ontario.

Nova Scotia Must Support Yarmouth Ferry Service

The Nova Scotia government's decision to no longer provide funds for the Yarmouth ferry service should be immediately reversed, CAW Atlantic area director Les Holloway says.

Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter has indicated his government will no longer provide ongoing funding for the high speed Yarmouth ferry service that connects Nova Scotia to Maine. CAW Local 4315 represents 50 workers on the Yarmouth ferry service.

"The immediacy of re-establishing the funding cannot be overstated as we are already seeing the negative economic impact this decision to cut funding is having," Holloway states in a December 23 letter to Dexter.

"The ferry services throughout our province are an integral and important part of our province's transportation system and as such, they require and deserve this government's support no less than other modes of transportation." Holloway stressed that the province's decision could also negatively effect federal funding for other Nova Scotia ferry services.

Holloway also urged Dexter to set up a discussion/consultation process with all parties on a long-term viable option to ensure ongoing ferry service in Yarmouth.

CAW Connected

Ever wish you could get up-to-the minute campaign information, leaflets and links to resources sent right to your inbox?  Well. have you heard of CAW Connected? 

CAW Connected is an exciting new communication system which allows activists right across the country to keep in touch with current campaigns and important issues in the union and find out how to get involved.  It's the first of it's kind of any union in the country!  

After you sign up, you'll hear from us once or twice a month with the latest information on campaigns and how you can get involved.

The success of CAW Connected depends on you!  So sign up today! Visit: www.caw.ca/connected

Making Green Jobs Happen

On January 30 the Centre for Civic Governance at the Columbia Institute is organizing an afternoon forum at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto entitled Making Green Jobs Happen. The forum is designed to look at practical strategies for green job creation in the province of Ontario, and includes workshops on financial municipal retrofit programs, green schools as well as green jobs strategies for Ontario communities.

For more information, and to register online for the Conference, visit: www.civicgovernance.ca/ontario.  Conference registration is $75.

CAW Welcomes New Members

Gibraltar Mines Ltd., McLease Lake, BC - 315 new members in Local 3018;

GOVERNMENT BENEFITS 2010            

as of January 1, 2010

Note:    * Manitoba has a "maximum insurable earnings" for 2010 of $89,000 for the purposes of calculating the premium that an employer has to pay but there is no "maximum compensation rate" when calculating a claimant's wage loss.

              Extreme caution should be used when comparing these numbers as the information is not directly comparable between WCBs