News
Historic Break Through! Agricultural Workers Win the Right to Unionize in Ontario
November 17, 2008 FYI. the ODLC Ruling allows farm workers in Ontario to unionize
Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2008 | 2:18 PM ET The Canadian Press Ontario’s top court has ruled that a provincial law meant to protect farm workers is unconstitutional because it infringes on their labour rights.
In a decision released Monday, the Ontario Court of Appeal declared the Agricultural Employees Protection Act invalid.
The decision orders the government to provide agricultural workers with sufficient protections so they can exercise their right to bargain collectively.
The court has given the Ontario government 12 months to find a way to protect the right of agricultural workers to engage in collective bargaining.
The act, which came into force on June 17, 2003, excludes agricultural workers from the Labour Relations Act but provides some protections for organizing.
Postal Worker’s Wages
Per Cent Change in Average Wage Between 1983 and 2000
Canada Post Operational Employees 45.2%
All Industries: Canada 57.6%
Transportation , Communications 58.7%
Public Adminsitration 57.3%
Manufacturing 73.9%
Consumer Price Index 63.6%
Source:Human Resources Development Canada
Our Sisters and Brothers in UPCE are now On Strike -We need to support them
Our Sisters and Brothers in the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE) are now on a legal strike as of November 17,2008. The union served Canada Post 72 hour strike notice as of Thursday, November 13, 2008.
If Canada Post doesn’t withdraw their rollbacks -especially around sick leave - we can expect to see picket lines in front of numerous post offices.
Who is UPCE and why are they striking?
Support Injured Workers
injured20workers20christmas20demo20dec20420flyer1
To see their flyer click on the link.
20th Anniversary of Hamilton& District Injured Workers Group
Hamilton & District Injured
Workers Group
Proudly celebrating the anniversary 20 anniversary of Hamilton and District Injured Workers Group
Come and join us at our
Christmas Open House
Saturday December 6, 2008
7th Annual Conference on Peace Eduction in Canada From-Sun Nov.21-23 at McMaster University
clinc on link for information
PICKET LINE PROTOCOL BETWEEN CUPW AND PSAC IN THE EVENT OF STRIKE ACTION BY PSAC - UPCE MEMBERS
RECOGNIZING that the purpose of strike action, including picket lines around postal installations, is to place maximum pressure on Canada Post Corporation to reach a just settlement with the Union of Postal Communications Employees - PSAC; and
List of Drugs Covered by Great West Life for Urban Operations
There is a list of drugs covered by Great West Life, as of January 1, 2008 for the urban operations bargaining unit. The list is at the union office and will be forwarded to stewards. We will try to obtain a new 2009 list when it comes out and forward that too. The Employer reserves the right to change the content of the drug plan list without notice but having the list may still be very helpful to members. To be certain before purchasing drugs check with Great West Life first.
The Activist Reborn
The local newsletter, the “Activist” will be published again for the first time this executive term. We will put out the local newsletter on a regular basis. Your input and contributions to it are welcome.
Please submit your inquiries and submissions to the union office or the newsletter e-mail address which is cupwtheactivist@yahoo.ca
Get Your Cameras Out - We Need Pictures
As part of our fight back to warn Mr. Harper and his government to keep his hands off our publicy owned post office, we are asking your for photos - post office photos.
Here is all you have to do:
Canada Post charged with unfair labour practices
Ottawa – Canada Post is resorting to unfair labour practices in its contract talks with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE), the union charges.
“Canada Post has issued misleading statements to its employees and is disregarding provisions of the Canada Labour Code,” says John Gordon, President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. PSAC is the bargaining agent representing the members of the component UPCE.
The misleading statements identified by Gordon appear in internal communications issued by the employer about a new short-term disability system that the corporation is trying to impose on its employees in order to replace existing sick leave and family leave provisions in the collective agreement.
PSAC-UPCE in a Legal Strike Position
The UPCE (Union of Postal Communications Employees) bargaining unit, affilliated to the Public Service Alliance Bargianing Unit is now in a legal strike position with Canada Post Corporation. The bargaining team has sent notice that Canada Post’s continued heel dragging and its refusal to compromise has brouht them to the brink of a strike.
Dues set to be deducted for the Cleaners
The members of the cleaning staff at HMPP, employed by Omni Cleaning Services, will soon have their dues deducted from their pays. The dues are set at $32.61/month but have not been deducted since the settlement of their new contract. The local office has been informed by our National Sectrtary/Treaurer that Omni has been notified to begin deducting dues immediately.
New Policy for Dues Waivers
Brothers and Sisters please try to apply for your dues waivers before you start your leave if possible. When applying for dues waivers because of reduced benefits, such as when sick benefits are exhausted or any benefits such as Sun Life - that pays 70% or less of your previous income/ pay period, then: please submit a copy of documentation of the reason for the leave along with the completed and signed leave form. An example could the SAP print out of exhausted sick credits and the start date for being off on leave. The documentation will satisfy the requirements of national office and save on possible mistakes and stream line the dues waiving process - ensuring the dues are waived and without delays. Your cooperation in this matter would be much appreciated.
Yours in Solidarity, Brother Dave Rennie Secretary/Treasurer of local 548 Hamilton
Reminders for November 2008.
Saturday Nov.8th Education Committee Meeting 1 p.m. at the Union Office
Thusday November 13th -Oakville & District Labour Council Meeting
Sunday November 16th - 5 Day Union Education Program Begins- London Ontario
Thusday November 20th -Hamilton & District Labour Council Meeting
Saturday November 29th -6:30 p.m. Hamilton local General Membership Meeting
at the Hamilton Public Library at Jackson Square
Significant Days in November
Nov. 7th Start of the Russian Revolution - 1917
Nov. 10th-Formation of the CIO-1935
Nov. 11th-Rememberance Day
Nov. 12th-Dr. Norman Bethune dies in China -1939
Nov. 16th-Louis Riel hanged in Regina-1885
Nov. 25th-International Day to End Violence Against Women
Nov. 27th-ThanksGiving Day (U.S.)
Nov. 28th- Birth of Frederick Engels
Nov. 30th-The “Battle in Seattle” 1999
Ratification of the RSMC Collective Agreement
The ratification vote for the RSMC tentative collective agreement took place from August 23 to September 28 2008 accross the country. We had 2,161 participants who casted their votes. There were over 200 more participants than during the vote that took place in 2006.
Our Ontario region voted 290 in favour and 84 against with one spoiled ballot.
Nationally the vote was 73.35% yes and 26.65% no.
For further details see national RSMC bulletin number 23.
Letter Carriers Voice Outrage Over Unjust Discipline Of Shop Steward At Depot 1
New appointee for the local disciplinary committee
Brother Ken Heydrich has been appointed the new executive appointee for the local disciplinary committee by the local executive, effective September 25th 2008.
Employee Dissatisfaction Surveys-Comments by 1st V.P.
By now many of you will have been asked to complete Canada Post’s annual survey on how they’re doing. The annual pat on the back management is seeking from us. This year they’ve decided to include time off the work floor and free food in some locations across the local in the hopes of extorting a sizable return on surveys. No doubt tied to their management bonuses.
The attack on Labour
Click on image to make it larger.
Collective Agreement Update-Five-Day U.E.P.
Five-Day U.E.P.
Collective Agreement Update
SUN NOV 16 thru FRI NOV 21
Radisson Hotel, London
Management’s Proposed Changes at HMPP
Management’s Proposed Changes
On September 4th members of the Local Executive and Regional Office met with management to consult on their proposed amalgamation of the current business units into one section as well as other staffing changes to the HMPP. In typical management fashion, they were dismissive and indifferent to the very human concerns addressed by the Local.
Some of the issues of specific concern included:
The Colour of Poverty- Making the Connection
The Colour of Poverty and the Ontario Federation of Labour
Present
A Symposium on Poverty Reduction
OFL/FTO
Poverty is colour coded. Between 1980 and 2000 in Toronto, the poverty rate for the non-racialized population fell by 28%, but poverty among raciallzed families rose by 361%. Even after 20 years, immigrants are more than twice as likely as someone born in Canada to have a low income. Working full-time all year, women of colour earn only 64% and Aboriginal women an appalling 46% as much as men. One in four First Nations children lives in poverty. These are the facts of poverty.
Public does not support the deregulation of Canada Post!!!
Public does not support the deregulation of Canada Post!!!
“We don’t want Canada Post to be deregulated” This is the message that a number of community groups, municipalities, and labour organizations are sending to the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review Panel. Deregulation would raise prices, reduce service, destroy jobs, hurt the environment and reduce the security and privacy of the mail
GRIMSBY
AUG, 2008
SHOP STEWARD GRIMSBY
CYNITHIA BOWMAN
In Solidarity, Local 548
LETTER CARRIER DEPT #5
AUG, 2008
SHOP STEWARDS LETTER CARRIER DEPT #5
NOREEN CAMPBELL
In Solidarity, Local 548
SHOP STEWARDS LETTER CARRIER DEPT #2
AUG, 2008
SHOP STEWARDS LETTER CARRIER DEPT #2
RICHARD ALLAN RANDY DREES
In Solidarity, Local 548
STEWARDS LETTER CARRIER DEPT #1
AUG, 2008
SHOP STEWARDS LETTER CARRIER DEPT #1
CATHERINE BAIRD PETER GLIGORIC
SOCIAL STEWARDS
SOPHIE KRUK JODIE-ANNE TAYLOR
In Solidarity, Local 548
HMPP Shop Stewards
HMPP SHOP STEWARDS
AUGUST, 2008
INTERNAL
SHIFT 1: WILSON CHEW
GREG DOHERTY JOSIE MOLNAR ALLAN STRAKER (EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
SHIFT2: ERWIN BOYAK
BILL LAIDLAW (EXECUTIVE OFFICER) DAVE RENNIE (EXECUTIVE OFFICER) MARLENE SALMON MARY SCHENK TOM VERNON
SHIFT3: HAZEL ARNOLD PATRICIA HANNERMAN
RON BRITT DAVID KRANGLE
ANNIE BROWN DORIS KOREN
BRUCE FRASER LEA ST. PIERRE
DOUG WOLGRAM JOETTE WADDELL
BECKY PETRO JEFFREY EDWARDS
TODD PEAVOY (EXECUTIVE OFFICER)
EXTERNAL
GREG NOONAN DON MIDDLETON
SOCIAL STEWARD< br />
DON WILLIAMS
ANYONE WANTING TO BECOME A STEWARD PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY/TREASURER
IN SOLIDARITY, LOCAL 548
Deregulation of Canada Post would hurt the environment
August 7, 2008
The federal government is conducting a review of our public post office called the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review (CPCSR). The CPCSR is considering deregulation of our universal public postal system. This is the fourth in a series of five bulletins on good reasons to oppose deregulation of Canada Post.
Deregulation of Canada Post would destroy jobs and transform good jobs into bad jobs
July 31, 2008
The federal government is conducting a review of our public post office called the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review (CPCSR). The CPCSR is considering deregulation of our universal public postal system. This is the third in a series of five bulletins on good reasons to oppose deregulation of Canada Post.
Compare Standard or First Class Letter Rates in 11 Countries
Bulletin no. 040 July 24, 2008
Standard or First Class Letter Rates in 11 Countries
2008 20 g rate
Domestic in Fully Liberalized
Rate Currency CAD$ Domestic Market?
Finland 0.70 eur $1.08 Yes
Italy 0.60 eur $0.94 No
Sweden 5.50 sek $0.92 Yes
Austria 0.55 eur $0.86 No
France 0.55 eur $0.86 No
Germany 0.55 eur $0.86 Yes
New Zealand 0.50 nzd $0.39 Yes
Japan 80.0 yen $0.77 No
United Kingdom 0.36 gbp $0.71 Yes
Canada 0.52 cad $0.52 No
United States*0.42 usd $0.42 No
Sources: Universal Currency Converter, 5/25/08; Postage rates worldwide, http://www.atms.ch/rates; United Nations: World Population Prospects 2006
Deregulation of Canada Post would result in higher prices, reduced service or both-national bulletin
URBAN UNIT
RURAL AND SUBURBAN UNIT
PRIVATE SECTOR UNITS
July 24, 2008
Deregulation of Canada Post would result in higher prices, reduced service or both
The federal government is conducting a review of our public post office called the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review (CPCSR). The CPCSR is considering deregulation of our universal public postal system. This is the second in a series of five bulletins on good reasons to oppose deregulation of Canada Post.
Many reasons to oppose postal deregulation-National Bulletin
URBAN UNIT
RURAL AND SUBURBAN UNIT
PRIVATE SECTOR UNITS
July 17, 2008
Many reasons to oppose postal deregulation
The federal government is conducting a review of our public post office called the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review. The government has given the review’s advisory panel a very broad mandate. It has ruled out privatization, but not deregulation of Canada Post. There are many good reasons to oppose deregulation.
This is the first in a series of five bulletins with five good reasons.
HEALTH & SAFETY-National Bulletin
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
JUL 22 2008
HEALTH & SAFETY
Bulletin no.39 July 14, 2008
DECLARE WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS
In a message included with the pay statement for June, Canada Post wrote: “How you can improve your bonus: Safety First - it pays!” The employer lists a number of things we can do to prevent accidents and says that by lowering the frequency of accidents by 7% this year over last year, we can add 10% to our CTI. The Corporation goes on to say that, so far, our accidents have gone up, not down, and asks us to help change that.
Updated RSMC Seniority Lists -National Bulletin
URBAN UNIT
RURAL AND SUBURBAN UNIT
PRIVATE SECTOR UNITS
July 16, 2008
Updated RSMC Seniority Lists
Lists to be updated every six months
On or about July 14, 2008, the new updated RSMC seniority lists were sent by CPC to all CUPW Locals and posted in your postal installations.
Worker’s Rights Before Profits!!
By now many of you will have read the insulting posting by manager Wai Chan criticizing you for exercising your right to a workplace free from harassment and discrimination and condemning you for daring to take time off work when you’re sick.
I, on the other hand, wish to congratulate each and every one of you for exercising your contractual entitlement to speak with a Union rep rather than sitting back and complacently accepting management’s egregious and repeated violations of your rights.
Local 548 Committee Election Results
Education: Dave Rennie (executive appointee), Robin Evans, Randy Drees, Maureen Langley, Ruth Otterman.
Disciplinary: Ken Heydrich (executive appointee), Mary Schenk, Ray Georgeoff.
Women’s Committee: Orla Stanziani (executive appointee), Hazel Arnold, 2 positions available.
Solidarity Committee (Entertainment): Todd Peavoy (executive appointee), Hazel Arnold, Lea St. Pierre, 3 positions still available.
Grievance Committee: Mark Platt, Bill Laidlaw and Jim Platt (executive appointees), Mary Schenk and Joette Waddell.
Human Rights Committee: Al Straker (executive appointee), Lea St. Pierre, Ian Dick, Pat Hanneman,Joette Waddell.
Trustee Committee: Don Williams, Ray Georgeoff, Lea St. Pierre.
Oranization Committee:Todd Peavoy,Banki Bankie Fergusson, I position available
Health and Safety Committees:yet to be determined under article 33 and the labour code.
Hamilton Local 548
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