August 13, 2010
Volume 40, No. 28
New Green Jobs Must Come to Hamilton, CAW Demands
Siemens' plan to build a new wind turbine blade facility in Southern Ontario, instead of moving these new "green jobs" into the company's soon-to-be-closed Hamilton facility, is outrageous, said CAW President Ken Lewenza.
The Hamilton community has been left reeling since Siemens announced plans earlier this year to shut down its gas turbine facility, slashing over 500 good jobs, and relocate work to a lower-cost jurisdiction in the United States.
"Our provincial government cannot subsidize a major green energy project knowing full-well that it will completely undercut Ontario workers," Lewenza said. "If this government wants to protect hard-hit manufacturing communities, create new green jobs, and tackle our environmental crisis, then why are they wasting this perfect opportunity?"
CAW Local 504 President Randy Smith called Siemens' decision a double slap in the face to its Hamilton workforce.
"There's no good excuse why this work can't come into Hamilton." said Smith. "With the proper retrofits and refurbishments, our members, who are the most highly skilled workers this company has, can maintain their jobs and contribute to the greening of Ontario's economy."
The company has shortlisted 16 possible locations for the new work with no guarantee it will be done in the Hamilton manufacturing facility.
The union is calling on the company and the Ontario government to show leadership and ensure that the new turbine blade work is brought into the existing Hamilton facility. Lewenza outlined the union's concerns in a letter that was sent to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty on August 10.
CAW Members at St. Marys Cement Ratify New Deal
CAW members at St. Marys Cement in Bowmanville, Ontario have ratified a new three-year agreement by 58 per cent, ending a bitter five month strike.
"This is a significant achievement for this group of workers to fight off the massive concessions demanded by this employer," said CAW Local 222 President Chris Buckley. "St. Marys Cement, now a Brazilian-owned company, was looking to eliminate the pension plan, slash wages, drastically reduce benefits and extend the current contract to five years, which would have set these workers back decades."
The new agreement includes a signing bonus in the first year, a lump sum payment in the second and a wage increase in the third, as well as improvements to training provisions. The CAW bargaining committee was also able to resist the outsourcing of major operations in the plant for the life of the agreement.
The agreement maintains the current defined benefit pension plan until September 2012 at which time it will change to a defined contribution plan.
"The situation we experienced at St. Marys Cement over the last number of months is just one example of how large foreign-owned corporations, in this case Votorantim Cimentos, have been allowed to buy up Canadian resource companies and wreak havoc on the workforce with few, if any, obligations to the country," said CAW President Ken Lewenza. "Congratulations to these workers for having the courage to stand up for their hard-earned past gains, including their pension, where our government has failed to do so."
"I want to extend my thanks, on behalf of St. Marys Cement workers, to all of the CAW members who offered their support during this difficult time." Buckley said.
Vancouver Pride Parade
| Photo by Vicky Browne) On August 1st, CAW 111 participated in the Vancouver Pride Parade, crowds this year were estimated at 500,000. Approximately 75 members along with their families enjoyed a great day in the West End of Vancouver walking the route. |
For more Vancouver Pride photos, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cawmedia/sets/72157624564270835/
CAW Reaches Tentative Deal with Toronto Terminals Railway
The CAW reached a tentative collective agreement with Toronto Terminals Railway August 9, just hours before a strike deadline.
"This is a deal that our bargaining committee is comfortable bringing to the membership and believe they will accept," said CAW national representative Bob Fitzgerald. "We are very happy that a deal was reached in time to avert any possible disruption for rail transit commuters."
Details of the agreement will be released after the deal is ratified by union membership.
The union represents 125 members at Toronto Terminals Railway, who perform maintenance-of-way, track protection and cleaning duties and are members of CAW Council 4000.
Expansion of New Brunswick Plant Good News for Local 2001
With the Old Dutch Foods potato chip plant in Hartland, New Brunswick operating at capacity the company is moving ahead with a $25 million expansion of the plant.
The company announced in early August that it will expand based on existing sales and intends to increase spending in the province by roughly $10 million per year on potatoes and other supplies. The provincial government is providing $15 million toward the expansion.
A new packaging line, new equipment and additional warehouse space will add approximately 40 full-time jobs to the 128 already at the facility. In addition there are 35-50 seasonal positions.
CAW Local 2001 President Tony Budrow said that securing the loan and the decision to expand was the result of hard work by the membership, company ownership and the provincial government.
"This announcement not only bodes well for our members, but also the spin off effect it will have on other sectors of the local economy such as trucking, farming and an increase in business for local merchants will be very positive," said Budrow.
CAW Atlantic Area Director Les Holloway said the membership has worked hard to ensure the plant has a strong future and that the expansion is a strong step forward for the local economy.
"This is great news for our members who produce a quality union made product, which is very popular - Old Dutch potato chips."
CAW Calls for a Reversal on Callaway Plant Closure Decision
CAW President Ken Lewenza is calling on the top executives of Callaway Golf Company to revisit a recent decision to close its Concord, Ontario assembly and distribution facility in the coming months.
"The union is obviously disappointed in the decision and the effect it will have on the lives of more than one hundred workers at that facility," Lewenza said in a letter to Callaway CEO George Fellows and Senior Vice President David Laverty on August 3.
"There are 63 CAW members there with as much as 28 years seniority who will see a long term employment relationship severed."
The golf club equipment manufacturer announced plans to close the facility, suddenly, on July 27 less than one year after negotiating a new three-year agreement with CAW Local 462 members that focused largely on job security. The facility is expected to close at some point over the next six to 14 months.
"This announcement was a shock to us all," said plant chairperson Balkaran Judisthir. "We are going to explore every possible option to save these jobs and ensure our members are treated fairly."
Lewenza has requested that a meeting between CAW representatives and the company's top North American officials take place as soon as possible. Union representatives are scheduled to meet with plant managers to discuss the closure announcement on August 19.
CAW's Family Education Centre Wins EatSmart Award
| Pictured above are Dr. Hazel Lynn, medical officer of health, Grey-Bruce; CAW Family Education Centre's Paul Johnston, executive chef; centre kitchen staff members Michael Desborough, Reid Lyons, Matt Allen, and Melanie Mitchell. |
The cafeteria at the CAW's Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario has been recognized for providing healthier eating choices.
On August 10, Executive Chef Paul Johnston and the centre's Executive Director Dean Fowler were presented with the provincial EatSmart! Award of Excellence. The award acknowledges workplace cafeterias demonstrating excellence in nutrition, food safety and a smoke-free environment.
The special recognition comes as a result of the hard work of the centre's joint health and safety committee. The cafeteria offers lower fat, lower salt and higher fibre food choices along with the chef's commitment to using local foods whenever possible. Johnston said he's also very excited to be using the centre's new fresh organic herb garden.
"This is a great honour as this award is very difficult to achieve and working with the Grey Bruce Health Unit has been a great asset to the CAW Family Education Centre," Johnston said.
"Healthy eating is the first line of defense against chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers," said Grey Bruce Public Health Dietitian Kathryn Forsyth. "We are pleased to see CAW make this commitment to creating a healthier eating environment," Forsyth said.
Building Hope One Home at a Time
The CAW Hammer of Hope is a week-long build of a Habitat for Humanity home in London, Ontario that will help one deserving family move into decent housing.
CAW locals, the CAW national union and others in the London area have pulled together to make the project a reality. The energy efficient two-bedroom bungalow will be constructed outside the John Labatt Centre and then moved to a vacant lot that was once a biker clubhouse.
"When we were approached on this project we were taken with the fact that the home was for a single mother and was being placed on a lot formerly occupied by a biker gang," said CAW Local 27 President Tim Carrie.
"Local 27 then approached locals 88, 1520, 302 and the National CAW and everyone was enthusiastic and supportive. We raised $40,000 in a week," said Carrie, also CAW Council president.
While the occupants of the new home are excited by the project's completion, so are local residents who told The London Free Press they are delighted by their new neighbours and the improvement in their community.
CAW Local 302 President Nancy McMurphy said her local is incredibly proud to be part of the project. "It's not only a new start for the family, but also revitalizes the community," said McMurphy, also a CAW National Executive Board member.
Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes for those in need who meet certain criteria. The mortgage-geared-to-income program requires those buying the home to put at least 500 hours of sweat equity into the property, while helping a Habitat team of builders and volunteers.
CAW Protests Cuts to Personal Support Worker Hours
CAW members and supporters demonstrated outside the Village of Wentworth Heights long term care home in Hamilton, Ontario, August 5, protesting the cuts to Personal Support Worker (PSW) hours.
The home, owned by RBJ Schlegel Long Term Care, has cut PSW services by 28 hours a month despite the fact that there have been no cuts to overall funding.
This reduction in hours places an increased burden on staff already working to their maximum," said CAW Kitchener Area Director Bill Gibson.
"The issue, aside from the monetary impact to our members, is quality of care for residents, who rely heavily on staff to attend to their basic needs. With fewer staff on the floor, this care will inevitably suffer which is both unfair and unnecessary," said Gibson.
Workers at the Village of Wentworth Heights are represented by CAW Local 504.
On the Road to Help Homeless Women
| (Photo by Jim Kennedy) Riding to Help Sisters: Pictured above are Patty Marshall of Local 27; Susan McPhail, Director My Sisters Place; Jim Kennedy, Local 27 Recording Secretary; Liz Overduin, Local 27 member from General Dynamics; Dani Bartlett of Local 27 and Ross Collishaw, Chairman of the Board WOTCH Community Mental Health Services. |
CAW Local 27 member Liz Overduin took to the road on a 14-hour bicycle trip recently to raise much needed funds for the My Sisters' Place women's shelter in London, Ontario.
On June 21, which is the longest day of the year, Overduin completed a 232 kilometre bike ride in southwestern Ontario and in the process raised $5,250 to help pay for air conditioning at My Sisters' Place new location in London.
Overduin sent letters to each of the units that belong to Local 27 seeking donations for the fundraiser, based on the notion that for the homeless, every day must seem like the longest day of the year.
"On the day of the ride, I cycled and people made donations," Overduin told The Londoner newspaper. "Each unit did its own type of fundraising. Some of them were really fun. Others did 50-50 draws. Others were just straight donations. I think it was really inspiring. I was so moved by how supportive everyone was."
Susan McPhail, director of My Sisters' Place, said the fundraising effort and support from Local 27 members was tremendous.
McPhail said there is great appreciation for the women's committee's support, Liz's creation of this idea about the longest day of the year, and for CAW members coming together to fundraise.
"Our women were really excited by it. It really captured their imagination. It is very empowering for them to see one woman take on such a project on their behalf."
CAW President Calls for Moratorium on Online Gaming
CAW President Ken Lewenza is calling for a moratorium on government-sanctioned online gaming sites until the issue can be thoroughly studied, including the effect on gaming behaviour and addictions and the economic impact on existing gaming locations.
"Internet gaming facilitates serious gambling addictions where participants can spend thousands of dollars without ever leaving their homes or coming into contact with another human being," said Lewenza. "This is very worrisome and could prey on vulnerable populations who could easily fall victim to gambling addictions."
"This issue is important enough that the people of Ontario should decide, in the form of a referendum as part of the 2011 provincial election," said Lewenza.
Lewenza also said neither the Ontario government nor the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation currently know to what extent the introduction of internet gaming will impact existing gaming facilities, some of which were set up in depressed areas to stimulate the local economy. "It could lead to a loss of jobs at a time when the province cannot afford it - this should also be taken into account."
The CAW is the largest gaming union in the country, representing more than 7,000 gaming workers, including nearly 1,000 members at OLG.
CAW Welcomes New Members
# American Airlines Inc., Calgary International Airport, Alberta - 16 new members in CAW Local 2002;
# Blomidon Court, Shannex Inc., Greenwich, Nova Scotia - 44 new members in CAW Local 2216;
# Ryan Hall, Shannex Inc., Bridgewater, Nova Scotia - 56 new members in CAW Local 1944;
# Vimy Court, Shannex Inc., Truro, Nova Scotia - 58 new members in CAW Local 4606;
