April 30, 2010
Volume 40, No. 17
Extendicare Breaks off Talks With the CAW
Talks between the CAW and Extendicare broke off April 26 after the company walked away from negotiations. The for-profit long term care home provider is demanding a two-year wage freeze, in addition to a number of other concessions.
This company is attempting to use the provincial government's wage freeze (Bill 16) despite the fact that it is not a government agency, but a for-profit provider. Extendicare made $2.2 billion in profits last year, according to its own figures.
"This company even admits that it is not covered by the provincial wage freeze, but is trying to take advantage of its staff," said CAW President Ken Lewenza. "This company's attitude and demands are wholly unfounded and are unacceptable to the workers and their bargaining committee.
"This company is highly profitable and workers deserve to be justly compensated for their efforts," said Lewenza.
The CAW will begin rotating protests on Thursday, April 29 in Oakville.
The CAW represents 1,200 workers at Extendicare at 10 homes in London (CAW Local 302), Port Stanley (CAW Local 302), Kingston (CAW Local 830), Windsor (CAW Local 2458), Sault Ste. Marie (CAW Local 1120), Oakville (CAW Local 504) and Ottawa (CAW Local 830).
Newfoundland Government Must Support Crab Fishery, CAW Says
| FFAW/CAW fish harvesters Jim Chidley (left) and Romuald Dalton (right) were among many who set up shop outside the provincial legislature on April 26, selling freshly caught crab to the public for $1.35 per pound - the price that harvesters are demanding government officials and processors adhere to in the province of Newfoundland. |
The Newfoundland and Labrador government must step in immediately with financial support to get the province's crab fishery started, CAW President Ken Lewenza says.
It's also critical the government play a role in finding long term solutions to the crisis in the crab fishery, which affects 20,000 harvesters and processing workers, Lewenza said.
Lewenza's comments were made after Newfoundland crab harvesters staged a protest outside of the Confederation building in St. John's recently to highlight the urgency of the crisis. The CAW/FFAW represents fish harvesters and fish processing workers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Several crab harvesters sold freshly landed crab outside the Confederation building for $1.35 per pound, which is same price that the province's fish price setting panel established recently. The problem is that most producers refuse to pay that much and the crab fishery remains stalled with a concern that producers are going to dump their product into the market driving prices down further.
"The provincial government has a responsibility to help get this fishery started and ensure a future for these hard working fish harvesters and processors," said Lewenza. "These workers are struggling with a major crisis and this is when they truly need government support the most."
"The government must stop hiding behind claims that taking action to help Newfoundland fish harvesters would somehow violate trade laws. Fish harvesters, their families and many Newfoundland and Labrador communities are suffering while the government refuses to act," Lewenza said.
Can YOU Live on Ontario Social Assistance? Do the Math.
The STOP Community Food Centre, located in Toronto's west end, has issued an online challenge to Ontarians to take action on inadequate social assistance rates in the province.
STOP's Do the Math challenge tasks individuals to manage a personal financial budget based on income rates that are currently distributed through provincial social assistance programs. Participants must account for housing expenses, transportation costs, food, health care and a variety of other standard items factored into a monthly budget.
Results and tabulations are done automatically in an easy-to-navigate, online calculator - with helpful tips along the way.
Visit: http://dothemath.thestop.org/
It takes approximately 6 minutes to complete. Over 5000 people have taken part so far.
One of Canada's first food banks, The Stop Community Food Centre has blossomed into a thriving community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, as well as foster social connections, build food skills and promote engagement in civic issues.
CAW Honoured at York Region Labour Awards
The 2010 York Region Labour Awards resulted in a number of honours for CAW members, locals and projects. York Region is located north of Toronto:
- Best Website Award: CAW Local 112's website at www.caw112.on.ca/ The Local 112 website was cited for being attractive, informative and exceptionally easy to navigate. It was also noted for making great use of interactive and multimedia functions, like video and online polling as well as practical, up to date information for members;
- Equity Leadership Award: Vinay Sharma, CAW National Director of Human Rights. Prior to his appointment as national director of human rights for the CAW, Vinay served as a full-time health and safety representative at York Region's Woodbridge Foam. He led numerous organizing drives at diverse workplaces across the region;
- Community Activist Award: Fa Lim, internal coordinator, Progressive Moulded Products (PMP) Workers Action Centre. Fa Lim was one of the 2,400 workers fired without warning from PMP in July 2008. The company owed workers approximately $30 million in severance pay. Fa Lim had worked at PMP for 13 years. The York Region Labour Awards honoured him for being a positive, inspiring force and leader in the establishment of a non-unionized picket against PMP. They also honoured him in the broader effort to encourage all workers - union and non-union - to act together in the mutual fight for change. CAW helped set up the action centre and supported PMP workers in their fight for justice.
The awards were presented by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council and Labour Community Services.
Restarted Ajax Parts Plant Brings Union Members Back to Work
After almost a year of being shut down, workers at the former BBI auto parts plant in Ajax, Ontario will be gradually returning to work.
Under new owners and a new management team, Acoustex International has taken over the parts facility and is scheduled to begin production of parts for General Motors in June of this year and potentially other major auto assemblers in the coming months.
In the process the company expects to potentially recall 120 former BBI workers and members of CAW Local 1090.
The union and company negotiated a new collective agreement, based on the previous agreement with now-bankrupt BBI in December 2009, that recognizes the current seniority and service dates for laid-off workers and maintains the contract wage rates.
"This agreement recognizes the hard work of our members and at the same time justifies the importance of well-paying, union jobs in our community," said CAW Local 1090 President Steve Batchelor. "Low-balling wages and exerting influence over lower-cost, non-union suppliers does more damage to business in the long-run, and it seems some employers are starting to get their heads around that."
The union also negotiated an order-of-hiring agreement that requires Acoustex to hire former BBI employees with recall rights first, followed by BBI employees whose recall rights have expired. The agreement also provides for preferential hiring of laid-off CAW Local 1090 members.
In June 2009, CAW members at BBI staged a two-week blockade of the parts facility after the company abruptly announced its closure, notifying workers that outstanding monies owed (including severance pay) would not be paid. The blockade resulted in workers receiving almost three-quarters of the severance money being paid.
Canada's Green Economy Network Launched
As the threat of irreversible damage to Canada's environment continues to loom large, a concerned group of major labour, environmental and social justice organizations, including the CAW, announced the launch of a newly formed Green Economy Network (GEN) on April 22.
The 21-member GEN aims to develop a series of research papers, on topics that include intra-city and inter-city high speed rail, public investment in renewable energy and building retro-fits and conservation - that will help guide public policy and union education work through the lens of job creation, sustainability and equity.
In the absence of a clear and ambitious strategy from the federal Conservatives to deal with the climate change threat we face, the progressive movement in our country is uniting like never before to develop strategies and political momentum to address environmental issues and create thousands of new good-paying jobs in our communities, said Peggy Nash, Assistant to the CAW National President.
"The work being done through this Network will certainly provide our union with additional tools and capacity to continue our community campaign, educational and political work in building an inclusive, healthy and prosperous economy for all."
For more information on the Green Economy Network, visit: http://www.greeneconomynet.ca/.
CAW Local 1917 Members Ratify New Agreement at Hitachi Truck
CAW Local 1917 members who work at Hitachi Truck in Guelph, Ontario have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective agreement which rejects concession demands and instead ensures wage, benefit and pension gains.
Workers at the truck maker voted 88 per cent in favour of the tentative agreement on April 25.
Despite company demands for concessions and a tough bargaining environment, the membership supported the work of the bargaining committee in negotiating the new agreement, said Robin Dudley, bargaining committee chairperson and CAW Local 1917 president.
There are wage increases of one per cent in year two and 1.5 per cent in year three of the agreement as well as an increase in the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. There were also gains in vision benefits and other areas. Recall rights were also extended for laid off members.
"This is a good three-year collective agreement considering the tough bargaining environment and a global economy that has hammered manufacturing in Canada including the auto sector," said Dudley.
Support the Robin Hood Tax
As governments around the world deal with the after effects of a massive economic meltdown caused by greedy financial speculators, money managers and irresponsible bank lenders, many are warming up to the idea of instituting a small tax on global financial transactions - a tax that would be paid by banks, not people.
A tax of this kind has the potential to raise $650 billion in revenue that would be earmarked to help fight global poverty and climate change.
Some have dubbed this the "Robin Hood Tax," since its aim is to take from the world's wealthiest banks and lending institutions and give to those most in need.
Social justice group At the Table is spearheading the Robin Hood Tax campaign in Canada, and is urging the Stephen Harper government to support this initiative. This campaign is supported by a number of organizations throughout the country, including the CAW.
Not surprisingly, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has publicly stated he will not support a global tax on banks - despite the fact that the House of Commons previously passed a motion to support a global tax on financial transactions in 1999.
There's still time to make things right. Canada is about to play host to world leaders at the G8/G20 summits in June of this year and citizens need to express their support of the Robin Hood Tax. Demand that our federal government lead the charge for positive change, and not be cast aside as an international laggard once again.
Make sure your voice is heard.
Learn more about the Robin Hood Tax campaign and find out how you can get involved. Visit: http://www.robinhoodtax.ca/.
CAW Women's Conference
The 2010 CAW Women's Conference will be held August 15-to-18 at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario.
The conference which is titled 'CAW Women - 25 Years of Activism: Looking Back to Move Forward' - will examine the struggles of the past and consider what can be learned in the on-going fight for equality. Through a combination of workshops, plenary sessions and creative activities, delegates will learn more about these struggles as they prepare for the challenges yet to come.
For more information on the conference contact the CAW Women's Department at 1-800-265-1891 ext. 2471 or email women@caw.ca.
CAW New Members
# Stock Transportation, Toronto, Ontario - 281 new members in CAW Local 4258;
# Sunrise of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario - 89 new members in CAW Local 2458;
# Hakim Optical Laboratory, Toronto, Ontario - 69 new members in CAW Local 303;
# Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital (Pharmacy Techs), Windsor, Ontario - 26 new members in CAW Local 2458;
ParliaANT Hill
Jim Sadlemyer is a CAW Local 114 activist in New Westminster, BC. To see more comics by Jim, please visit: http://parliamanthill.blogspot.com/
PEL SPRING 2010 SCHEDULE
PEL Spring 2010 Schedule Date Human Rights (Sign Language Available)
Stress: The Workplace Hazard
Introduction to ErgonomicsMay 16 - 21
May 16 - 21
May 16 - 21Time Study - Auto
WSIB - Medical Orientation (Ontario Only)May 30 - June 4
May 30 - June 4Building Strong Local Unions
Grievance Handling & Workplace LeadershipJune 20 - 25
June 20 - 25
To register for these programs, contact your Local Union Executive.
