July 16, 2010
Volume 40, No. 26
Bargaining Impasse: St. Marys Cement Strike Appeal
Despite two-and-a-half days of further negotiations and after 18 weeks on strike, St. Mary's Cement continues to refuse to bargain a fair and equitable agreement with CAW Local 222 members who work at its Bowmanville, Ontario facility.
"We remain at a clear impasse with this arrogant corporation," said CAW President Ken Lewenza. "St. Marys Cement is foreign-owned by a Brazilian Corporation that is making completely unacceptable demands on these workers, including an attack on their defined benefit pension plan, which has been in effect for 66 years," he said.
"This is a critical fight for all workers who deserve to receive secure retirement income," Lewenza said.
CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley said the CAW will continue to press the company for a fair agreement in order to end this dispute.
Buckley blamed all levels of government for allowing foreign-owned companies to buy up Canada's natural resources and facilities and gut our hard-earned collective agreements.
"What is even more disgusting is the fact the current government allows this company to hire scab labour to perform our jobs during this dispute. We are encouraging consumers not to buy St. Marys products during this dispute," he said.
Paul Sowden, CAW Local 222 unit chairperson thanked all local unions across the country for their generous financial support for these workers and their families during this struggle.
"It remains our objective to bargain a fair and equitable agreement on behalf of our members and end this dispute which has gone on far too long," Sowden said.
Lewenza, in a July 12 letter, is again calling on all CAW local unions to provide as much financial and picket line support as possible to these workers.
Cheques should be made payable to CAW Local 222 and sent to: Chris Buckley, President, CAW Local 222, 1425 Phillip Murray Avenue, Oshawa, ON, L1J 8L4.
CAW Joins Call for Public Inquiry into G20 Police Actions
| CAW members march through the streets of downtown Toronto during the G20 Summit on June 26. |
The CAW has joined with dozens of progressive organizations in condemning the curtailment of civil liberties during the G20 Summit and calling for an independent public inquiry into police actions in an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The detention of over 1000 citizens, many of whom were innocent bystanders, has been the subject of intense public criticism levied at the federal and provincial governments in recent weeks in the wake of G20 meetings held in Toronto on June 26-27. Of primary concern is the arbitrary nature in which these arrests took place, the extension of power granted to police in and around the security perimeter, along with the excessive force used by police and unsanitary and unsafe conditions for those detained.
The actions of police and a small group of protestors, unconnected with the People's First rally, and the excessively strong-armed police actions marred what was a very large and peaceful demonstration in Toronto that involved tens of thousands of labour union, student and social justice activists, including hundreds of CAW members from all across Ontario.
Demonstrators, representing a wide cross-section of Canadian civil society organizations and various progressive causes, called on G20 leaders to ensure the issues of decent work, environmental sustainability and action against global poverty were at the top of their meeting agenda, including the need to promote more extensive economic recovery efforts and prevent future economic crises by adopting a global tax on financial transactions.
A large contingent of women activists lead the peaceful march, demanding that Stephen Harper reverse his decision to exclude abortion among the various maternal health-promotion measures that G20 nations will support in developing countries around the world.
CAW President Ken Lewenza, who participated in the demonstration, called the rally a tremendous success. "I'm always inspired by the resolve of our activists who are willing to stand up against injustice and raise their voices to demand a better, more equal and humane world - especially in the face of an intimidating police presence."
Most national and international media attention of the day focused on events that transpired after the peaceful demonstration had wound its way back to Queen's Park, when a small group of protestors and self-identified anarchists were shown participating in acts of vandalism.
A full copy of the open letter can be found on the Canadian Federation of Students website: http://www.cfs-fcee.ca/html/english/campaigns/g20inquiry.php
Tentative Agreement at VIA Rail
CAW leadership at VIA Rail have voted unanimously in support of recommending a new three-year collective agreement to CAW membership.
Fifty elected workplace union leadership reviewed the tentative agreement in Montreal and the agreement is now being voted on by the membership in a series of meetings.
After a difficult set of contract talks the CAW and VIA Rail reached a tentative agreement on June 26. The tentative agreement came one day before the strike deadline. Details of the collective agreement will be released after ratification.
The CAW is VIA Rail's largest union, representing 2,200 workers in customer service, on-board service and maintenance.
Mass Demonstration at Siemens Canada Head Office
| CAW members demonstrate outside Siemens Canada headquarters in Burlington, Ontario. |
CAW Local 504 members who work at Siemens Canada's gas turbine facility in Hamilton, Ontario held a mass demonstration outside the company's headquarters to protest plans to close the plant and move work to North Carolina.
They urged the highly profitable company to reverse the decision or find alternate work for the long-time Hamilton facility. Failing those options they demanded the company sit down with the CAW to finalize an equitable settlement.
The company has announced plans to close the gas turbine plant in July 2011.
"We're getting increasingly frustrated at this company's callous attitude towards its workforce, so this could be the first of many similar events if things don't change," said CAW Local 504 President Randy Smith. "We continue to receive strong support from our brothers and sisters at IG Metall in Germany, the metalworkers' union which represents Siemens workers there, who believe there remains a strong future for the Hamilton facility as well as gas turbine facilities in Germany."
"After more than 100 years of commitment from this workforce in Hamilton it's a disgrace the way the company is treating these highly skilled workers," said CAW National Representative Tom Rooke. "They should treat these workers with the dignity they deserve - this is a corporation that's making billions in profits each year worldwide."
"It's time for this corporation to come back to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable agreement for these workers," said Rooke.
CAW President Ken Lewenza said Siemens is a world-wide producer that has benefitted from government support and procurement contracts, including here in Canada. "Siemens should not forget that it owes its success to its productive workforce, including our members at the Hamilton facility," Lewenza said.
Failing the possibility of finding alternate work to keep the plant running, Lewenza said the union is demanding a fair settlement agreement, that to date Siemens has been unwilling to consider.
CAW Local 504 represents approximately 350 hourly and salaried members at Siemens in Hamilton.
Newfoundland and Labrador Crab Harvesters Stand United
After resisting demands for lower crab prices from seafood producers, Newfoundland and Labrador crab harvesters remained united, fighting to get a price of $1.35 per pound, ensuring the provincial crab fishery got underway this season.
"Clearly $1.35 is not a feasible price for crab going into the future, but we needed to get this fishery started and harvesters are to be commended for standing united on this issue and allowing that to happen this year," said CAW/FFAW President Earle McCurdy.
After a back and forth struggle between the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and CAW/FFAW negotiators the crab fishery is now moving ahead bringing tremendous relief to rural Newfoundland and Labrador communities dependent on the fishery.
McCurdy urged more provincial government involvement including improved marketing and a better overall sales structure in the industry.
In future, better and more organized ways of doing business are needed when it comes to assessing market situations and marketing products to ensure everyone gets the best possible return from the fishery, McCurdy said. He stressed the union is committed to finding solutions before the start of the next season.
"Harvesters and plantworkers, as well as those working in associated industries suffered a great deal of stress and uncertainty this year and we need to avoid that in the future," McCurdy said. The CAW/FFAW represents thousands of harvesters and plant workers across the province.
Ontario Premier's Letter on Navistar
The following is an excerpt from a July 5 letter to CAW President Ken Lewenza from Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty regarding the future of the Navistar truck facility in Chatham, Ontario:
"My colleagues and I are concerned for all workers and their families who will be affected by Navistar's strategy to move production components out of Chatham to Mexico. We understand that the employees at Navistar are talented, experienced and highly skilled with a record of high quality production, and we regret that the company had to make this decision - one which will not only affect the livelihood of the workers, but of the whole community of Chatham."
To read the full letter - visit: www.caw.ca/en/7606.htm
Toronto Pride Parade
| CAW members join in the festivities at the 2010 Toronto Pride parade on July 4. Members snaked through the downtown core holding banners and handing out stickers that read: "Proud to be Political," "Our Pride Includes Free Speech," and "Workers of the World.Caress!" among others. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Toronto Pride parade, known for its fun-filled celebratory atmosphere and infused with strong progressive politics that support the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. Organizers estimated this year's parade was attended by 1.3 million people. |
Agreement at BC Transit in Victoria
CAW Local 333 members who work at B.C. Transit in Victoria, British Columbia have ratified a new two-year agreement.
The new contract covers 680 transit operators and skilled trades workers and expires March 31, 2012. It resists concession demands and provides benefit gains, while eliminating a tier in the wage schedule, now ensuring that after two years everyone is at the top rate.
This round of bargaining occurred in a particularly tough environment with the provincial Liberal government mandating a zero cost agreement over two years.
"It is very disappointing that the right to free collective bargaining was denied by this legislation," CAW BC Area Director Susan Spratt said. "Some of our members made gains at the expense of others. I'm very proud of our members who sacrificed to give newer members of our union a wage increase to get them to a living wage in Victoria."
"We truly hope that in the next agreement transit workers can be recognized for the service they provide to the public in Victoria and we can move forward," Spratt said.
Opening of Bargaining at Lower Mainland Ports in B.C. with CAW-Container Truckers
The Vancouver Container Truckers Association-CAW Local 2006 will officially open bargaining July 22 with a group of separate companies engaged in moving containers to and from the various lower mainland ports.
VCTA-CAW Local 2006 represents the largest group of container truck drivers at lower mainland ports in British Columbia. The membership is seeking an agreement that provides stability and puts an end to undercutting owner-operator rates.
"We can't have stability at the ports with an increasing number of unscrupulous container truck companies competing in a race to the bottom," said VCTA-CAW Local 2006 President Paul Johal.
Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) terminals saw a massive withdrawal of service by 1200 owner operators in 2005 to protest working conditions and a race to the bottom on rates. The dispute disrupted port operations and cost the provincial and national economies hundreds of millions of dollars.
As a result, the federal government amended the Port Authorities Operations Regulations to set up a licensing system with benchmark and minimum rates for applicable owner operators. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure also set up a program to investigate and make recommendations to PMV to enforce the correct rates. PMV can sanction, suspend, or cancel the licenses of offenders.
"It seems the Ports aren't that interested in rate enforcement as they won't name companies with suspended or cancelled licenses" said CAW National Representative Gavin McGarrigle.
BC Labour Minister Murray Coell expressed concerns about the lack of timely action on the Ministry of Transportation recommendations in a letter sent to PMV June 3: "Since December 2007, approximately $645,765 has been collected on behalf of 351 owner-operators". Minister Coell added "If actions are not taken on offenders swiftly, I believe the effectiveness of the program will be seriously undermined."
"The Ports need to be ordered to do a better and more transparent job of rate enforcement. The Port regulations need to be changed to provide for true stability instead of the fake appearance of stability that we are left with today," said McGarrigle.
"If the federal government doesn't make these changes soon, the bargaining environment will be difficult and the current rate system at the Ports could fall apart leading to massive instability - this is an outcome that nobody wants to see, especially our members," McGarrigle added.
Further bargaining is scheduled for August 4 and 5.
New Contract for Coca-Cola Workers in Brampton
CAW members at the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Brampton, Ontario ratified a new three-year agreement by a margin of 69 per cent on June 27.
The new agreement includes pension improvements, new workplace training commitments, and enhanced job security language among other gains.
"This was a very challenging round of negotiations that pushed our bargaining committee right to the eleventh hour," said CAW Local 973 President Tony Di Bartolomeo. "It was the resolve of our committee and our membership that enabled us to make the gains we did. We will continue to build on this contract moving forward."
Bargaining committee Chairperson Ryan Parson said the union fought back company demands to drag down wages and work standards, which would have eroded the Brampton workers' contract - widely considered to be the Cadillac agreement for Coke workers in Canada.
"The aggressive approach taken by this company to demand concessions is further proof that as a union we must remain vigilant in how our in-plant leadership administer and defend this important contract, for the benefit of all workers at Coke," Parson said.
CAW Local 973 represents over 500 production, delivery and skilled trades workers at the Brampton bottling facility.
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