Please join us for a look at the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Specifically Article 6: Union Representation

There will be time for any Collective Bargaining Agreement Related Questions

Followed by a General Meeting and Update from our Local Executive Committee

3^rd Floor, Rm. 4, 815 Danforth Ave, Wednesday, May 9^th

Contract Session Starts at 5:30 pm

General Meeting at 6:00pm

* Additionally, we welcome the new PSW staff from the former CCEY and will be spending time meeting with any PSW’s to answer any questions since transitioning to WoodGreen and to our Local 154 Workers United.  We will be there between 4:00 and 5:00 on the 3^rd Floor, Rm. 4, 815 Danforth Ave.

If you have any questions please send an e-mail to workersunitedwoodgreen@gmail.com

UNION UPDATE: 110 Former CCEY Workers to Become Workers United Members

Your WoodGreen Team and Workers United union are pleased to announce that 110 former CCEY workers will become Workers United members working for WoodGreen Community Services.

Click here to download a copy of the update.

April 16, 2012

Dear Membership

I have decided to resign from my position as President of Local 154 Workers United.  It was a difficult decision but at this time I need to spend more time with my wife and newborn.

When I look back over the time I have served as President I am very proud of what the Local has been able to accomplish. Although I have done a significant amount of work in my position I would never have been able to do what I did if it wasn’t for the great people that committed their time and their efforts to establish a strong union presence. I especially want to thank the Stewards and the Executive Committee for everything they have done in representing members through grievance proceedings and answering general questions and concerns that members have. The Stewards are the ones that uphold the integrity of the Collective Bargaining Contract and remind us all of why a strong presence is needed.

I also want to thank John Helson and Fil Falbo who were our Union Representatives during my time as President. Whenever I needed clarification on policy or needed a different perspective on issue they made themselves available and provided great advice and guidance.

I also want to thank the membership for their support through the bargaining process and to the super Bargaining Committee for all the hard work they put in to bring you our most recent contract. Without the support of the committee the local would not have been able to keep past gains and continue to make gains at the bargaining table. I also want to thank the membership for their questions and interest in issues that affect us as workers and for supporting their coworkers in any way they could.

I know that the Local is in great hands with the current Executive Committee and team of Stewards.  They are a proven and reliable group of individuals that have shown how to be a strong team that works well together. I know that they will continue to be strong representatives for the membership and will continue to work hard for us all.  At the most recent Executive Committee and Steward meeting, Darryl Langendoen, a steward and Secretary for the Executive Committee who has been filling in as Interim President while I was on leave, was nominated and accepted the task of finishing out my term as President of our Local until the next election.

Here are my last parting words: a fair workplace is a healthy work place and a healthy work place is a fair workplace.

Take Care,

Chris James

President Local 154
Workers United Canada Council

At a time when Ontarians are in need of economic recovery, Premier McGuinty put banker, Don Drummond, in charge of recommending cuts to social services and jobs in Ontario. Drummond’s report suggests the way to balance the provincial budget is to make deep cuts; everything from health care to pensions to full-day kindergarten are on the chopping block. Meanwhile, rich corporations will continue to enjoy large tax breaks, which are starving the province of billions of much needed dollars.

The Drummond report is a report by the 1% for the 1%. Premier McGuinty and PM Harper are looking for the same thing: balance the budget at the expense of working people, without calling for an ounce of sacrifice from bankers or CEO’s. Working families have been bearing the brunt of the financial meltdown for years now – lost jobs, shop closures, wage cuts, wage freezes, elimination of pensions and benefits, and other concessions to collective bargaining agreements. Ontario needs job creation, not cuts.

Join the rally on April 21, 2012 at Queen’s Park and tell Dalton McGuinty that he can’t cut his way to prosperity!

Transportation will be available. Speak to your union rep or email info@workersunitedunion.ca.

On April 28, 2012 Canada will honour the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, injured or made ill on the job

The labour movement, communities and individuals across Canada will mark the Day of Mourning to remember and pay respect to those who have been injured and killed on the job. Just about every Canadian is connected to someone who has been killed, injured or made ill on the job. Although we have made gains toward stronger Health and Safety regulations, workplace injuries and workplace related diseases are still all too common.

Unions have long fought for employer responsibility and accountability to maintain safe and healthy workplaces. And provincial safety boards train, investigate and lobby for better safety laws. Provincial safety and insurance boards have put systems in place for workers to obtain information about their rights and employer responsibilities. Workers in Canada have the right to refuse unsafe work and Canadian employers have an obligation to meet safety regulations. Yet employers often fail to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act – the results are worker injuries, illnesses and death.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Westray coalmine tragedy; 29 miners were killed in an explosion caused by a deadly mixture of methane, coal dust and negligence. Since then, many more Canadian workers have been killed or injured in mining accidents.

This year Canada will experience dozens of work related accidents. Each month, the Ministry of Labour publishes Court Bulletins, which site all employers that have been fined for violations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Accidents happen in all sectors, from manufacturing to retail to agriculture. Just last month Tupling Farms, a potato harvesting company, was fined $90 000 after a worker was killed while at work. In the month of March alone, the MOL has fined 5 Ontario companies for violations to the Occupational Health and Safety Act – resulting in 3 injuries and 2 deaths.

On April 28, 2012, we remember the tragedies suffered and the triumphs achieved.

Downtown Toronto Locations – National Day of Mourning

Woodbridge Location – National Day of Mourning

More remembrance locations to be posted soon!

More about health and safety