May 7, 2010
Volume 40, No. 18
Auto Parts Workers Say "No More Cuts"
Auto parts workers represented by the CAW are sending a strong message to major auto manufacturers that the union will not tolerate any further downward pressure on parts workers.
"Under the threat of closure or moving work to other plants, employers are coming to our members with outrageous demands and attempting to pit worker against worker," said CAW President Ken Lewenza.
More than 250 CAW elected workplace and local union leaders from the auto parts sector, along with the bargaining committees from each of Chrysler, GM and Ford, met April 30 - May 1 in Port Elgin, Ontario to discuss the challenges facing auto parts workers.
"We are leaving this conference united in sending a clear message to auto parts companies and auto assemblers that enough is enough," said Lewenza.
Lewenza said that auto workers have delivered top levels of quality and ever-increasing productivity to the industry, and have also provided significant and painful cost savings for auto assemblers and parts companies during the turbulence of the past few years to help ensure the survival of the industry.
"We are being told by some auto parts companies that in order to secure future work at our plants that we must make dramatic cuts to wages - in one instance to as low as $9 per hour," said Jerry Dias, assistant to the CAW President, in charge of the auto parts sector." That is not only outrageous, but also illegal as it's even below the Ontario minimum wage. Clearly, we're going to have to stop this downward spiral," Dias said.
Delegates to the conference discussed and debated the situation in the auto industry, and the challenges ahead. In charting a way forward delegates endorsed the development of a plan with a number of measures. To read the full article, please visit: http://www.caw.ca/en/8889.htm
CAW Protestors Urge Extendicare Back to Bargaining
| CAW Local 504 President Randy Smith addresses a throng of union demonstrators outside Extendicare's Wyndham Manor long term care home in Oakville on April 29, calling on the company to drop its wage freeze demands on workers and get back to bargaining. Local 504 represents 100 workers at Wyndham Manor. |
Hundreds of CAW activists staged a lively demonstration outside an Oakville, Ontario Extendicare facility on April 29, fighting back against employer demands to unfairly freeze wage rates and force other concessions on workers.
The demonstration outside Oakville's Wyndham Manor long-term care facility is the first in what the union promises will be a series of rotating protests at Extendicare facilities throughout Ontario.
The CAW has adamantly rejected the company's argument that newly introduced public sector wage restraint legislation in Ontario (Bill 16) applies to its employees.
"We are in contract talks with Extendicare - a private and hugely profitable corporation, not the Ontario government," said CAW national representative Robert Buchanan. "It is ludicrous to think this company, that turned profits of $2.2 billion last year, is trying to use government legislation to short-change its employees."
Even though workers at Extendicare do not have the legal right to strike under Ontario law (as is the case with most health care workplaces), this has not deterred CAW members from taking action and making their voices heard, said CAW Local 302 President and CAW National Executive Board member Nancy McMurphy.
"Our members will stand united against employer injustices, and trying to steal away wages from our members is a major injustice," McMurphy said.
CAW Local 504 members at Wyndham Manor worked their regularly scheduled shifts during the protest, while several hundred members from health care sector locals and other CAW-represented sectors demonstrated outside.
"Through these demonstrations, our intention is not to disrupt or compromise the important care our members deliver to residents," McMurphy said. "But we will find ways to deliver our message, loud and clear."
The CAW represents over 1,200 workers at 10 Extendicare facilities in Ontario.
Gun Control Lobby Gets Boost
Twenty-eight medical, nursing, health and suicide prevention organizations and 33 professionals in these fields have released an open letter to all Members of Parliament, calling on them to vote against Bill C-391, the bill to eliminate the long gun registry. The April 28 letter highlights the importance of the gun registry in helping to prevent domestic murders, accidents and suicides.
At a press conference in Ottawa to publicly release the letter, Dr. Alan Drummond from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and assistant coroner in Perth, Ontario said that as a rural coroner, he has never seen a handgun injury. "I have however seen my share of injuries and deaths inflicted by rifles and shotguns," said Drummond.
"I have felt the pain of investigating a double murder-suicide as a result of escalating domestic violence. Suicide, contrary to public opinion, is often an impulsive gesture. Keeping guns away from depressed people is essential."
Since December, the CAW has been working in coalition with Canadian Labour Congress to lobby Liberal and New Democratic Party MPs to ensure that the long gun registry stays intact and is not destroyed by a Conservative attack.
"CAW activists lobbied, emailed and called Liberal and NDP MPs across the country who voted to support Bill C-391, a Conservative-lead private members bill to dismantle the long gun registry. This pressure is beginning to work," said Julie White, CAW director of women's programs.
With the recent announcement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff that the party would vote en masse against Bill C-391, it's now possible the NDP alongside the Conservative Party could be responsible for eliminating the gun registry.
The CLC will be targeting 12 NDP MPs urging them to change their vote. NDP leader Jack Layton will also come under pressure to whip his caucus and follow the lead of the Bloc and the Liberals to defeat Bill C 391.
"Women and children of this country need leadership from the NDP today more than ever. It took great courage years ago by a small group of concerned citizens who pushed for gun control with the vision that Canada could be free from violence," said White. "Today the NDP has an opportunity to be a leader on this important public safety issue."
White urged CAW members and other activists to contact Jack Layton and the 12 NDP MPs who supported Bill C-391 and urge them to vote no when the bill returns for third and final reading.
For the list of NDP MPs, please visit: http://www.caw.ca/en/8907.htm.
Servantage Workers in B.C. Approve New Contract
Workers employed by Servantage Services in British Columbia have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new three-year collective agreement. CAW members at the province's second largest commercial janitorial cleaning company voted 99% in favour of the new contract at a series of meetings held April 25.
CAW Local 3000 represents 475 workers at Servantage, including light and heavy duty cleaners. Many of these workers clean a large number of office towers in downtown Vancouver.
Workers at Servantage will see wage increases of between 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent in each year of the agreement, improved benefits, and an innovative escalator clause tied to any future increases in the provincial minimum wage.
"In addition to the negotiated wage increases, all wage levels at Servantage will rise by a further 60 per cent of the value of any future minimum wage increase," said Jean Van Vliet, CAW Local 3000 President and CAW National Executive Board member. "It's disgraceful that there have been no raises to the provincial minimum wage for eight years. Our union is prepared to take action at the bargaining table if the government won't do the right thing and raise wages for low income earners," she added.
Wages at Servantage now range between $10.18 per hour to $16.95 per hour and benefits are fully paid for by the company. Many non-union workers in the commercial janitorial sector earn much less and would greatly benefit from this type of union agreement which provides additional increases over and above any minimum wage increase.
"The workers are very happy with this contract" said Paramjit Birak, Chief Shop Steward. "We're inviting all workers in this industry to join the union so that we can continue the fight to raise wages and benefits for janitorial workers" he added.
CAW Presidents Conference
More than 200 local presidents and staff came together from across the country, including Quebec, for the CAW Presidents Conference April 27 -29 in Port Elgin, Ontario. The conference was the first of its kind for the CAW in nearly 20 years.
In his opening address, CAW President Ken Lewenza outlined some of the key issues facing the union, including a drop in members due to lay-offs and closures. Lewenza also highlighted recent organizing successes and stressed the importance of building diversity within local unions, particularly among elected leadership. He urged local presidents to think of their vision for the union's future, particularly on the eve of the CAW's 25th anniversary -to be celebrated at the CAW Joint Council in August.
CAW Secretary Treasurer Peter Kennedy spoke about the union's finances and said that while the union is taking measures to adapt, both the national and local unions will have to increasingly be creative, particularly in outreach to members.
Bill Murnighan, CAW national representative in Research, also did a presentation on the make-up of CAW local unions. According to Murnighan's research 95 of the 236 CAW local unions have less than 200 members (four in 10 local unions), containing only four per cent of total CAW membership. Meanwhile 44 per cent of CAW members belong to very big locals of more than 3,000 members, of which, there are 15 locals. In the CAW, there are 137 amalgamated locals and 99 single-unit locals.
Attendees took part in workshops and regional discussion groups, where local presidents hashed out plans for greater collaboration across local unions, particularly in their geographic region. Area Directors will now be in charge of holding regular regional meetings to facilitate greater communication between the national and local branches of the union.
"The most interesting part for me was the chance to network with other local presidents, you could see that you're not alone in the issues that you face," said Rob Giles, CAW Local 4503, located in Valley, Nova Scotia, an hour and a half north of Halifax. Giles said that the regional meetings were also a great opportunity to meet local leaders in the same area and to find out what services and products are provided by CAW members.
CAW Local 111 President Don MacLeod said the conference was helpful in opening the door to discussion and communication between presidents. "Often we don't have the time or don't make the time to meet," said MacLeod, who represents public transit workers in B.C.'s lower mainland. "If local presidents work together on issues or campaigns, it makes us all stronger."
The idea for the Presidents Conference has been in the works since Lewenza was elected national president in September 2008.
Pension Information Picket Downtown Toronto
| CAW members from across the Greater Toronto Area held an information picket downtown Toronto, outside the site of federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's speech at a symposium hosted by the Institute for Research on Public Policy on May 4. Local affiliates also lent a hand in giving out the leaflets. As workplaces emptied out downtown, passersby were treated to a brief information sheet on what can be done to reform the country's pension system. Many people indicated that they did not have a workplace pension and were indeed concerned about retirement. The CAW was protesting the very limited number of public consultations on pensions. The union is calling on Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to expand the public consultations so that Canadians right across the country can have their say on what pension reforms are needed. For more information on the ongoing pension campaign, please visit: http://www.caw.ca/en/7978.htm. |
Celebrating the 40th Birthday of Earth Day
| More than 50 volunteers helped plant trees near the Windsor Assembly Plant on April 18. The event was supported by CAW Local 444, CAW Local 195, ERCA, the City of Windsor, the Chrysler JWEC, high school students and even some neighbours who came by to help out. |
Earth Week is continuing to grow at the Windsor Assembly plant, says CAW Local 444 Joint Workplace Environment Representative Richard St. Denis.
Earth Week activities kicked off for Windsor, Ontario activists with Phase Three of a community tree planting program. With this event a total of 157 trees have been planted by volunteers around the Windsor van assembly facility.
The group's long-term goal is to plant trees in all the green space around the plant. The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) made arrangements to deliver the native trees and volunteers handled the planting. Several high school students earned volunteer hours for helping out and neighbors also contributed their efforts.
During Earth Week, the Joint Workplace Environment Committee (JWEC) set up educational displays at 12 different locations around the facility to reach as many of the 4,600 members who work on three shifts as possible, said St. Denis. The JWEC also arranged a raffle with 62 prizes, donated from different sources such as Local 444, Local 195 and the Windsor Assembly Plant.
Solidarity for St. Marys Workers: Rally on May 18
CAW members in Ontario are being urged to take part in a rally on Tuesday, May 18 in Bowmanville in support of St. Marys cement workers on strike against company demands for concessions.
The employer refuses to negotiate a fair and equitable settlement and is demanding that workers give up their pension plan and move to a company contribution plan. CAW President Ken Lewenza is calling for a mass demonstration in support of these Local 222 members on May 18 at 11 a.m., 400 Waverly Road South in Bowmanville, Ontario.
CAW local unions are also being asked to provide financial support to the 87 members of CAW Local 222.
The workers went on strike March 14. The employer is demanding the elimination of the pension plan in addition to other workplace and benefit concessions. "Despite the enormous profits of this Brazilian corporation they are determined to break this group of workers and eliminate their hard earned gains over the years," said Lewenza.
Lewenza urged local unions to provide their maximum financial support and messages of solidarity. Cheques should be made payable to CAW Local 222 and sent to:
Chris Buckley, President, CAW Local 222, 1425 Phillip Murray Avenue, Oshawa, Ontario, L1J 8L4.
CAW's Heslop Named to College of Trades, Appointments Council
CAW Skilled Trades Director Colin Heslop has been appointed subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies to Ontario's College of Trades, Appointments Council.
The College puts skilled trades on a similar footing with teachers, doctors and nurses who have their own regulatory colleges. The College was established after reviews and public consultations. It became law on October 28, 2009 and will be implemented in phases, becoming fully operational by 2012.
The nine-person Appointments Council will act as the Board of Governors during the transitional phase. The College of Trades governance structure includes Board of Governors, four divisional Boards (construction, industrial, service and motive power), Trade Boards and a roster of adjudicators for review panels. Members of the College will include journeypersons, apprentices and employers.
CAW's Holloway Named to N.S. Premier's Council on the Economy
CAW Atlantic area director Les Holloway has been named to Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter's Council on the Economy.
Holloway is one of 19 Nova Scotians from labour, business and the voluntary sectors who were named to the council. The council will provide advice to government on strategies to build the economy and also act as a sounding board on government initiatives for labour force development and fiscal management.
The council will meet a minimum of three times a year.
