June 25, 2010
Volume 40, No. 25
CAW Members Demonstrate at Lanark Place for Fair Contract
CAW members at Lanark Place/Lanark Heights long term care facility along with residents, friends, family members and other supporters from local unions throughout the Kitchener region in Ontario held a lively three-hour information picket outside the facility on June 22.
Demonstrators urged the company to negotiate a fair contract with its 200 employees who are members of CAW Local 302. Negotiations between the CAW and Lanark have stalled, with the company refusing to drop demands for wage freezes and other concessions.
"This employer is trying to hide behind Bill 16, the Public Sector Compensation Restraint Act, and refuses to bargain a fair wage for its front line health care workers," said Bill Gibson, CAW Kitchener-area Director.
"Lanark is taking the unacceptable position of applying the legislated wage freezes even though they do not apply to the private sector. Meanwhile, the workers in this home are among the lowest paid health care workers in the region."
Similar demonstrations have already taken place across the province in response to a breakdown in negotiations between the CAW and Extendicare, another long term care provider operating facilities across Ontario.
New Contract Means More Jobs in Thunder Bay, Ontario
A $770 million light rail car order placed by the Metrolinx transportation agency means Bombardier will hire more than 200 additional workers for its Thunder Bay, Ontario plant.
The contract signed by Bombardier and Metrolinx, the transportation agency for the Greater Toronto Area, calls for 182 light rail vehicles, with the chance of a further 118, for use over the next 10 years in the GTA and Hamilton areas.
CAW Local 1075 represents workers at the Thunder Bay plant. When this most recent contract is added to existing streetcar and subway contracts for Toronto as well as construction of bi-level cars for other transportation services, the local plant should be operating near capacity of 1,500 workers.
CAW President Ken Lewenza said the announcement highlights the importance of Canadian content policies.
"This contract means investment in the Thunder Bay facility, which ensures greater job security and opportunity in the future for this community and the surrounding area, which have been so hard hit by job losses in other economic sectors," Lewenza said.
At a June 14 ceremony in Thunder Bay, Bombardier's North American president Raymond Bachant said the company plans to exceed the 25 per cent Canadian content requirement put in place by the province.
CAW Local 1075 President Paul Pugh said the new equipment and workforce means the plant is likely to land more contracts.
"Economies of scale kick in," said Pugh. "Once you have these assembly lines in place and the products being produced, it's not hard to pick up other orders. That's what's happened with the Bi-Level line, which now is the largest selling commuter vehicle in North America."
Overwhelming Strike Vote at Auto Parts Maker Wescast
CAW Local 4207 members who work at Wescast Machining in Wingham, Ontario have overwhelmingly rejected a forced final offer from the company.
The workers voted 78 per cent against the company offer in a Ministry of Labour supervised vote. The membership also voted 94 per cent in favour of a strike, if needed. CAW Local 4207 represents 88 members at the Wingham facility, which manufactures exhaust manifolds. The contract expires June 30.
Local 4207 President Mark Goetz said parts workers like those at the Wingham plant face increasing pressure from all sides in an industry that is undergoing a major restructuring.
"Our members work hard to make quality products and deserve fair and equitable compensation for the dedication they show the employer," Goetz said.
Plant chairperson Deb Van Beek said the membership have shown tremendous support for their bargaining committee.
"The membership have sent a clear message that their bargaining committee has a strong mandate to negotiate the best agreement possible," said Van Beek.
FFAW Recognizes Those who Helped Injured Harvester
The FFAW/CAW is crediting the selfless and fast-thinking actions of offshore oil industry workers and management, emergency responders, Search and Rescue and fish harvesters for recently helping an injured fish harvester get emergency treatment under perilous circumstances at sea.
"On behalf of the union and fish harvesters across the province, I wish to extend my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all those who went to great lengths to provide assistance to a seriously injured harvester last Tuesday (June 8) afternoon on the Grand Banks," said CAW/FFAW President Earle McCurdy.
On June 1, a crewmember onboard the Canadian Navigator II, based out of Port de Grave, was seriously hurt after his leg became entangled in crab fishing gear. The skipper, Matthew Petten, radioed for help to the nearby White Rose oil field.
The Maersk Chignecto supply ship, which is currently being contracted by Husky, launched a fast rescue craft (FRC) to pick up the injured crewmember. Bleeding and in significant pain, the man was taken back to the supply ship where he was stabilized.
He was then transferred to the hospital onboard the Husky-operated Transocean GSF Grand Bank oil rig where he was prepared for helicopter transfer by the rig's medic. A Search and Rescue Hercules aircraft was on the scene at 3:30 p.m. to check on conditions and shortly thereafter the injured man was winched up from the deck of the oil rig by a Search and Rescue Cormorant helicopter. He was immediately airlifted back to hospital in St. John's where he underwent surgery shortly after landing. He is currently recovering.
"All these actions . - all took place in very rough weather and heavy seas," McCurdy said. "The people who put themselves at risk to ensure the safety and well-being of the man who was hurt showed courage and certainly compassion for an injured colleague at sea."
New Leadership at UAW
| Incoming UAW President Bob King addresses UAW Convention in Detroit. Photo: Rebecca Cook, www.uaw.org |
Members of the U.S.-based United Auto Workers union elected a new leadership team at the union's Constitutional Convention on June 16.
Former UAW Vice President and head of the union's National Ford Department Bob King was elected to the post of International President, succeeding outgoing president Ron Gettlefinger. Dennis Williams, former director of UAW Region 4, was acclaimed as the union's Secretary-Treasurer, succeeding Elizabeth Bunn. Both Gettlefinger and Bunn announced their retirement from UAW prior to the Convention.
"On behalf of the CAW, I want to congratulate Bob, Dennis and the new UAW leadership on their elections," said CAW President Ken Lewenza. "We look forward to working in solidarity with the UAW to build a stronger and more effective labour movement in North America, and around the world."
CONTACT's Summer Schedule
With the arrival of summer, the CAW's CONTACT newsletter will be published every other week instead of weekly. However, due to our summer shutdown, the next issue of CONTACT will be on July 16.
CONTACT will resume its weekly schedule after Labour Day. Over the summer remember to check the CAW's website at http://www.caw.ca/ for up-to-date stories and news about the union.
