Category: Labour News

Grievance Protocol

CUPW – 2016-07-06 – CUPW Files Unfair Labour Practice Complaint Against Canada Post

­

//

CUPW Files Unfair Labour Practice Complaint Against Canada Post

Share This

Wednesday July 6 2016
2015-2019/135
No 36

The Canada Labour Code provides that the parties have a duty to make every reasonable effort to negotiate a collective agreement and must bargain in good faith. Furthermore, employers are prohibited from interfering in the affairs of a Union. Today, CUPW filed a formal complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) that Canada Post management has failed to negotiate in good faith and is interfering with the Union’s right to represent its members.

The complaint covers both the Urban and RSMC bargaining units. It describes in detail the refusal of CPC to engage in any meaningful discussions or negotiations regarding the RSMC unit. With respect to both the Urban and RSMC units, CPC has refused to negotiate on their global offers which were submitted one week prior to the parties obtaining the right to strike or lock-out. CPC has also circumvented the bargaining process by negotiating through the media. An example is they claim our proposals will cost $1 Billion, which they repeatedly make to the media but refuse the Union’s repeated requests to justify their numbers.

Instead of bargaining, the employer has simply tabled offers that it knew would be totally unacceptable to the Union. Finally, management representatives have been communicating directly with Union members, making threats and spreading disinformation.

Once both parties have made all of their submissions, the CIRB will determine its procedure. We have asked that the complaint be heard immediately.

 

Negotiations Continue

As we previously reported, we met with CPC on July 4th, where they provided us with a written rejection of our global offer. Today, we met with CPC, in the presence of the mediators, to discuss several issues. Although we cannot report any major progress, we remain committed to the negotiations process.

We will continue to report developments as they occur.

 

 

As always, stay informed, stay united, and resist provocations.

Sylvain Lapointe
Chief Negotiator, Urban Unit
George Floresco
Chief Negotiator, RSMC Unit

The Leader Post from USW Canadian National Director Ken Neumann

Dear Leader-Post Editor,

The photo printed with the headline “Tory Candidates Laud Pipeline Industry” (Oct. 9) was carefully staged to show pipe produced at Evraz stored outside the fence of Tesco Mechanical, the company hosting this Conservative campaign stunt.

The story did not mention that Tesco itself uses pipe imported from China, which does not support employment at Evraz in Regina.

It did correctly report, “The candidates did not make any new announcements in regards to new projects or investments.” Certainly, the Conservative government has not done anything to prevent Chinese steel producers from exploiting unfair competitive advantages by undercutting internationally-recognized labour and environmental standards.

The new trans-Pacific trade deal negotiated by Conservatives in secret during the election campaign will facilitate importing pipe from Japan and Korea, as opposed to manufacturing pipe in Canada.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair has consistently supported a west-east pipeline, subject to a proper environmental review process. Unlike proposals running west or south from the Alberta oil sands, a pipeline going east would have the capacity to transport Saskatchewan oil and keep refining jobs in our country.

The Conservatives offer nothing but photo ops and empty rhetoric about pipe manufacturing jobs. By contrast, the NDP’s fair trade policies would limit the dumping of steel from offshore into the Canadian market, encouraging the use of pipe produced in Regina.

The NDP has better policies to support good Canadian jobs and is the only party that can replace Conservatives in Regina.

Ken Neumann,

United Steelworkers Canadian National Director and former IPSCO employee

A message from United Steelworkers District 3 Director Stephen Hunt

In recent times Labour Day has been seen as the last long weekend of the summer, but it should, and it does, mean so much more.  It’s a time to celebrate the sacrifices made by each generation of workers that have resulted in a better life for every Canadian.

By looking back we can appreciate how far we’ve come.  From the very beginnings of our union, Steelworkers have never backed down from a fight.  Emboldened by the strength and solidarity that has been the hallmark of the USW, our union has been at the forefront of every struggle to improve working conditions for women and men in Canada, and around the world.  And we know that our work is far from done.

This October 19th, working people have an unprecedented opportunity to elect a federal government that is truly on our side.  Voters from every part of our country are looking to the NDP like never before and we are set to make history.  We can elect Tom Mulcair as Prime Minister of the first New Democratic Party government in Canadian history.  But it will only happen if we work for it!

I know that Steelworkers are up to the task, so this Labour Day let us commit ourselves as never before.  Let’s talk to one more friend, knock on one more door, make one more phone call, put up one more sign and take one more person with us to vote.  In doing so, we will have honoured the workers that came before us and will have contributed to electing a government that will ensure a brighter future for working people everywhere.

Telecommunications Workers Union and United Steelworkers Announce Merger

 

TWU-USW-Photo-600-1

TORONTO – In a referendum vote counted today, members of the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) have voted 73.7% in favour of joining the United Steelworkers (USW).

The TWU represents 12,000 members across Canada who work for telecommunications companies including TELUS and Shaw Communications, as well as employers in related telecommunications sectors. Continue reading Telecommunications Workers Union and United Steelworkers Announce Merger

Buy Bottled Beer, Not Cans, Steelworkers Say

United Steelworkers launches biggest radio ad campaign in its history to end yearlong labour dispute at can-maker Crown Holdings

TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ – Today the United Steelworkers (USW) is launching a radio advertising campaign aimed at ending a yearlong strike at Toronto beer can manufacturer Crown Holdings.

Compelling, 30-second spots encourage consumers to “buy bottles, not cans” when purchasing beer, to support factory workers who have been on the picket line for 13 months. Continue reading Buy Bottled Beer, Not Cans, Steelworkers Say

Steelworkers Mourn Lynn Williams

B821602370Z.1_20140505095607_000_G5H1814HL.4_Content

Steelworkers across the continent today are mourning the passing of Lynn Williams. One of North America’s most influential and respected labour leaders of the 20th century, Williams, 89, died Sunday in Toronto.

Williams served as International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) from 1983 to 1994. He was the first Canadian labour leader elected president of a major international trade union. He led the Steelworkers union through one of its most difficult and turbulent periods, amidst dramatic industrial restructuring and upheaval in the 1980s and 1990s. He developed new bargaining techniques and played a leading role in the structural readjustment of the North American steel industry.

Lynn Russell Williams joined the Steelworkers in the late 1940s while working at the John Inglis factory in Toronto. He rose through the union’s ranks and served more than two decades in elected positions on the USW’s International Executive board, including Ontario Director and International Secretary. He was the first union leader to hold executive leadership roles with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

During his tenure as USW International president, Williams founded the Steelworkers’ Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) to harness the power and influence of union pensioners. SOAR has grown into a force of labour, political and social justice activism in Canada and the U.S.

Williams was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005. In 2007 the City of Toronto named a street in his honour, in the redeveloped former industrial neighbourhood where he began his career.

A private funeral service for Williams’ immediate family is planned. A date will be announced in the near future for a memorial service for friends, union members and the public.

USW Statement on Western Forest Products Tragedy

30 APRIL 2014 | STATEMENT

“On behalf of United Steelworkers members across the country, Director Stephen Hunt and I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of the two workers killed and the two workers seriously injured at Western Forest Products today in Nanaimo, B.C.,” said Ken Neumann, USW National Director.

“We are shocked and saddened by this terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured and in hospital today, as we struggle to understand what happened,” Neumann said.

“Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters at the sawmill, members of United Steelworkers Local 1-1937, as well as to the entire Nanaimo community. We should not have to mourn again so soon after recognizing all workers killed or injured on the job, as we did on Monday, the National Day of Mourning,” said Hunt, USW Western Canada Director.

The United Steelworkers Emergency Response Team is on the scene, responding to this tragedy and offering support to the workers, families and community.

Local 5890 Statement:

On behalf of this local and it’s members. I want to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families, our Brothers & Sisters at the mill and the community who are grieving after this troubling and senseless act of violence in the workplace.

Corey Liebrecht, President

USW District 3 Partners For Life Program

This year the USW District 3 HSE Committee is pledging to donate a minimum of 100 litres of blood. You can help.

To join our Partners For Life Team and have all your donations count towards our annual lifesaving goal of 100, please go to:           

www.blood.ca/joinpartnersforlife  and use PFL ID# UNIT 013969

 Fun Fact to share: Every blood donation saves three lives because each donation is split into its three components – red blood cells, platelets and plasma – so a single donation will go to three hospital patients. When you consider that one person can have such a huge impact, it’s easy to imagine what the entire District 3 team can do!

 *Individual Booking Process:

Please call 1.888.2.DONATE (1.888.236.6283) to book an appointment, and review questions and eligibility inquires.

Did you know that one in two Canadians will need blood in their lifetime?

Donating Blood

By donating blood, we can help cancer patients, premature babies, accident/injury victims, people undergoing surgery and transplants, as well as those suffering from blood diseases, burns and shock. A patient suffering from cancer can use up to eight units of blood a week in their treatment! The need for blood never stops, and you, and your team, can help.

 Donor Eligibility

 Canadian Blood Services has screening criteria for all blood donors, in place for the safety of the blood system.

 Basic Requirements for Donating Blood

 1. First time donors must be between the ages of 17 and 61

2. Donors must weigh at least 110 lbs

3. ID is required

4. You must wait 6 months to donate after having a piercing or tattoo

5. If you’ve travelled outside of North America within the past year, please call our toll free line, and speak to a clinic nurse to make sure you did not travel to what we consider a ‘malaria risk area’. 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

 For additional eligibility questions, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visit www.blood.ca