January 15, 2010
Volume 40, No. 2
Urgent Call for Haiti Relief Fund
CAW President Ken Lewenza has issued an urgent call to all CAW local unions, staff and co-ordinators to donate to the union's Social Justice Fund Haiti Relief Fund, set up on January 13 to respond to the devastation wrought by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
In a letter to local unions across the country, Lewenza said that the CAW has a long history of working with Haiti and the Haitian people through projects of the Social Justice Fund and the Quebec Federation of Labour.
"We want to express our profound condolences to those affected and their families," wrote Lewenza. "We pledge to help those in Haiti who are in need."
Specific projects and aid agencies the fund will support will be communicated shortly. Cheques can be sent to the national office care of the CAW SJF. The CAW plans to donate a total of $250,000.
CAW-SJF Haiti Relief Fund
CAW National Office
205 Placer Court, Toronto, ON M2H 3H9
Save the Met Site Coalition Formed
A Timmins, Ontario area coalition has been formed to fight for the 670 jobs at the Xstrata Kidd Metallurgical site, the many indirect jobs it supports and to stop Ontario's natural resources from being shipped out of the province.
Mayors from many Northern Ontario communities, union and business leaders, as well as concerned citizens have formed a coalition called the 'Save the Met Site Coalition.' The slogan 'Our Resources Remain Here' was selected at a closed door meeting January 11.
Xstrata Copper Canada announced December 7 it planned to permanently shut down its copper and zinc metallurgical plants at the Kidd Site in Hoyle in May 2010. CAW Local 599 represents 615 workers at the facility.
CAW Local 599 President Dennis Couvrette said there was tremendous support expressed at the January 11 meeting. "Everyone recognizes what this means to Timmins, the surrounding communities and the region."
"People from all walks of life are rallying to fight with us like I've never seen before," Xstrata Chairperson Ben Lefebvre said. "I think we're going to win this battle!"
The public is being urged to come out in support and to get involved in the fight back. A public meeting is planned for the McIntyre Arena ballroom in Timmins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 17.
The coalition wants to make sure the Ontario government is held accountable for how its resources are developed. MP Charlie Angus also said there is a petition circulating that requests that the signed agreement between the federal government and Xstrata be made public.
"This is going to be because of the will of a region saying enough is enough," Angus, NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, told the Timmins Daily Press.
For more information, please visit: http://www.caw599.ca/
Training and Respect for Airport Security Workers
Amid the debate over privacy and changing airport security measures, the concerns of frontline workers have been absent, says CAW President Ken Lewenza. These changes are of particular relevance to workers employed in airport security, who face the brunt of passenger anger at long line-ups and what some might perceive as invasive practices.
Airline passengers face increased line-ups as changes to security measures are ironed out. Lewenza urged Canadians not to take their frustrations out on the security staff or other airport or airline workers, who have been caught up in changing work practices.
It is critical that frontline workers receive the appropriate training and airports and airlines ensure the necessary staffing levels," said Lewenza. "Airlines in particular have cut staff so much that if any crisis should occur, such as what we saw over the holidays, the handful of existing staff is unable to cope with the overwhelming level of demand."
The CAW represents approximately 1,500 airport security workers and up to 10,000 airport and airline workers across the country.
Public Inquiry Needed into Construction Worker Deaths
CAW President Ken Lewenza is calling on the Ontario government to reverse its decision not to hold a full public inquiry into the deaths of four Toronto construction workers on Christmas Eve. Lewenza spoke out after Ontario Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca said that no public inquiry would take place. Lewenza called this decision "shameful."
"The government of Ontario must respond responsibly and hold a public inquiry into both the accident and the factors that allowed it to happen," said Lewenza, reiterating earlier calls by labour leaders for a public inquiry.
"There should be no excuse for such an accident to happen, after years of improvements to health and safety standards and legislation. Even the strongest of legislation will not protect workers if they are unaware of their rights or unable to exercise them and I fear this was the case."
Lewenza expressed grave concerns that the workers were uninformed on their right to refuse unsafe work, a fundamental right under the province's health and safety legislation.
In a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty, Lewenza urged that a public inquiry must also reveal how common the disregard for basic safety rules actually is in the non-unionized construction industry, the same industry where many new Canadians find themselves working.
"There are a number of systemic issues which led to the circumstances of this tragic accident and the terrible disregard for human life," said Lewenza, "and they must be thoroughly investigated in a transparent and publicly accountable manner."
Canadian Workers Abandoned by Tory Government, CAW says
Hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers continue to suffer the lasting effects of a deep and damaging economic recession, yet they have been abandoned by the federal government, says CAW President Ken Lewenza in response to the latest dismal jobs report released by Statistics Canada.
"It's outrageous that with an 8.5 per cent unemployment rate and more than 300,000 Canadians out of work in just 12 months, the Harper government decides to take a prolonged holiday," Lewenza said. "For the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Canadians, the next three months until Parliament resumes will be no holiday - this is a travesty to workers in Canada and an embarrassment to our nation's democracy."
The Labour Force Survey reports that Canada dumped another 17,000 jobs in the month of December (partially offset by a jump in workers joining the self-employed ranks, with 2,600 net jobs lost), bringing the running total of job losses since the start of the economic crisis to 323,000.
Not surprisingly, the manufacturing sector took the biggest hit among the major industrial sectors shedding nearly 10,000 jobs.
"Communities across the country are being destroyed because of our government's lack of any vision for the future of our economy," Lewenza said. "These workers and their families are looking to Ottawa for leadership and it's clear that this government simply doesn't care. Instead, the government is distracted by petty political choices."
Transport Minister's Turn to Fly it Right
After months of work on the Air Canada Fly it Right campaign, top CAW officials met with federal Minister of Transport John Baird in Ottawa to present him with more than 2000 petitions signed by CAW members at Air Canada and Air Canada retirees.
The January 5 meeting was attended by CAW President Ken Lewenza, Assistant to the President Peggy Nash, CAW Local 2002 President Leslie Dias, CAW National Representative Carlo Levore and a number of the 2002 executive.
"We made it clear that our membership want and deserve a flag carrier they can depend on to provide stable employment and long term job security," said Dias, after the meeting. "The Minister said that he wants to see Air Canada return to stability and better health. Our recommendations are clear and attainable steps which will make that a reality."
The CAW spoke to Baird about the urgent need to re-regulate the airline industry and to get our national carrier, Air Canada, back on track. The brief presented to Baird outlined a number of key recommendations that would help manage the industry in a more sustainable fashion.
These include:
- Introducing regulatory limits to manage overall capacity growth and executive compensation;
- Public investment into Air Canada to stabilize the national carrier;
- National commitment to retirement security (across all industries);
- Creating a tripartite taskforce on the airline industry, including labour, government and business participation to develop long term solutions and viable industrial policies for the airlines;
- Addressing trade imbalance in air travel with better reciprocity in bilateral air negotiations.
CAW Members Ratify Pacific Coach Lines Agreement by 88%
CAW members who work at Pacific Coach Lines have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their new collective agreement. Workers at the bus company voted 88% in favour of the new contract at a series of meetings held January 7 and 8.
The CAW and PCL reached the agreement New Year's Eve after a marathon 30-hour bargaining session at the BC Labour Relations Board. The CAW had served 72-hour strike notice for a deadline of January 2 and the company responded by serving lockout notice.
"The members wanted us to deal with key issues including wages, benefits, retirement contributions and job security and we're happy to report good progress on all of those fronts," CAW National Representative Gavin McGarrigle said.
CAW Local 114 represents a bargaining unit of 127 workers at Pacific Coach Lines including drivers, mechanics, service staff and ticket agents.
Pacific Coach Lines provides scheduled cross-water bus service from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver on board BC Ferries and also through to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Pacific Coach Lines also has an exclusive contract to transport passengers from the Vancouver Airport to Whistler in a service branded as Whistler Skylynx.
CAW Local 114 Contributes to Long Standing Event in B.C.
| New Year's Day poor people's levee tour in British Columbia. |
Just as Local 114 was gearing up for a strike at Pacific Coach Lines, they were still helping the less fortunate in Victoria, B.C. The local made a donation to assist organizers of the 13th Annual New Year's Day Poor People's Levee Tour.
Every year since 1998 Art Farquharson (Chairperson Grayline West) has joined with other anti-poverty activists and taken Victoria's poorest citizens and elders on the tour. The tour feeds these folks on a day when soup kitchens are closed and reminds the privileged that poverty doesn't take a holiday.
Levees are a tradition that date back to the 17th century in Canada. In Greater Victoria various Mayors and the Lieutenant Governor receive all citizens and offer refreshments to start the New Year. This year's Levee Tour visited Victoria, Saanich and Sidney City Halls and Government House. "In keeping with my CAW Labour Music School training (1994) we sang zipper lyrics to the tune of "Let It Snow", said Farquharson.
CAW Family Education Program
Some consider it the best kept secret in the CAW - the Family Education Program.
It's like taking a family holiday with your union at the CAW's beautiful Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario on the shores of Lake Huron. The CAW provides, free of charge, food and lodging to each participant (and family) during their stay at the Education Centre.
You will meet people from all across Canada and will get to discuss current economic and social issues from a worker's viewpoint as well as learn more about your union. Guest speakers will raise topics that touch the lives of workers every day including our changing society, globalization, our health care system, human rights and equality issues, to name a few.
To top it all off at the end of the day you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
While you're in the program qualified childcare staff care for and entertain your children.
There are three sessions this year:
- Saturday, July 10 to Saturday, July 17 - a new one-week program;
- Sunday, July 18 to Friday, July 30;
- Sunday, August 1 to Friday, August 13.
You are eligible to apply for the Family Education Program if you are a CAW member in good standing. (You do not require PEL in your contract).
For more information visit www.caw.ca/education for application forms and information packages. Applications should be returned by mail to Michelle Barrett, Education Department, CAW-Canada, 205 Placer Court, Toronto, Ontario, M2H 3H9 or by fax at 416-495-6554, before Friday, March 19, 2010.
Sault Area Hospital Agreement Ratified
CAW Local 1120 members who work at the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario area hospital have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new three-year collective agreement that provides wage and benefit gains.
CAW Local 1120 represents approximately 600 workers including service workers, RPNs, and office and clerical. The office and clerical bargaining unit voted 84 per cent and the service unit 78 per cent in favour.
There were a range of wage increases, but the majority receives wage increases of two per cent each year or more. Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive a four per cent wage increase in each year. Skilled trades receive eight per cent over three years.
CAW national representative Andy Savela said "As the new hospital is a private/public partnership model, it was key the union protected the integrity of the bargaining unit, including those who will be administered under the private umbrella."
"The new agreement protects and preserves all the terms and conditions for all those implicated by this."
Benefit gains include improvements in vision care as well as gains for skilled trades including a $300 tool allowance.
The agreement also provides a process to deal with the issue of RPNs who have been going through a transformation to be utilized at their full scope of practice. "Not only did we obtain a process to help facilitate this we also got RPNs compensated for it and they will finally be at parity with their peers across the region," said Local 1120 President Janice Pettalia. Petallia also noted there was a breakthrough as Personal Support Workers "were also recognized for the increased demands they are facing."
Education Update!
New! One-Day Collective Bargaining Course.
This new one-day course features a video "It's not a Game, Version 2" on bargaining at a small workplace and introduces the process to beginners. Experienced bargainers will also find it very interesting. Participants see a set of negotiations through the eyes of Monique, a new member of the committee. We also meet Beryl, the local union president, Terry, the union staff representative, and Drew, the member who has been through past negotiations. Participants see the steps from the first union caucus meeting to ratification of a new contract, the debates both in the union and management committees, and all the essential elements of the collective bargaining process. Participants see how they can draw on their own strengths to make a contribution, why contract language is so important, and what resources the CAW National union provides. Everyone gets a chance to practice speaking to issues.
For information on how to register or how to book this course in your area, check the CAW web page at http://www.caw.ca/, click on Education or contact the CAW Education Department at educate@caw.ca.
Staff Appointment
As a result of Alex Keeney's retirement, CAW President Ken Lewenza has appointed national representative DEBBIE FIELDS, Windsor Area Director, working out of the CAW's Windsor area office, effective immediately.
