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Mine
Mill 598/CAW Organizing Report
Wednesday April 27, 2005
Dear
Brothers and Sisters
Mine
Mill 598/CAW and our National Union recognize that in this climate we must make
organizing a priority.
I
am pleased and excited to inform our members that we have several active
campaigns underway. We have begun
to distribute leaflets at Com Care, Canadian Blood Services and Day
Construction and several other campaigns underway.
To
begin an organizing drive in any workplace you have to convince the workers
that Mine Mill 598/CAW can and will make a difference in their workplace. With
a Union, they will have a grievance procedure to resolve workplace issues. With
a Union, fairness, not favourtism, rules the day.
With a Union, management cannot make up the rules as they go along. With
a Union, their contract will set out the rules governing seniority, scheduling
of work, job posting procedures, layoff and recall rights, hours of work,
transfers and promotions.
With a Union, their co-workers and themselves will have a say in their workplace. You must listen, share
personal experiences, return phone calls promptly, provide confidentially,
honesty and listen some more. Showing
a genuine concern about their working conditions and guiding them form
committees, inside committees make a much stronger campaign.
Many
workers who I speak to are fearful of their future, or losing their jobs if the
company finds out they signed a union card.
Section 5 (Membership in a Union) and Section 72 (Employers not to interfere with employees rights) under
the Ontario Labour Relations Act is Law and protects unorganized workers.
I
meet with people one on one or a small group approach at their homes or in
coffee shops. They begin to share
information about their workplaces, the owners/corporations and the issues and
concerns and then we research. This
groundwork is important. We direct
and support the workers because they own their organizing drives and make their
own choices.
We provide information about our Union including who we are, what we do and how it works. We
form a bond with the workers, continue to educate and keep their spirits and
interests up. John Aman, National CAW Organizer, provides us with tremendous
support and resources.
We
have begun a leaflet distribution at Com Care, Canadian Blood Services and Day
Construction. We have several other “drives” and if any one wishes to know more
information, call the numbers listed below.
Our Mine Mill 598/CAW active and retired members have shared their time and
important tips, you know who you are and I am sincerely grateful.
WHEN
A UNION IS ORGANIZING THE WORD SPREADS!
In
Solidarity
Anne
Marie MacInnis
Mine
Mill 598/CAW
Community
Based Organizer
Work
(705) 673-3661 (ext 30)
Cell
(705) 698-7655
From
- CONTACT VOLUME 35, No. 14
Buzz Hargrove urged Ontario local Unions to
lobby their provincial MPPs in support of restoring a card check union
organizing system and restoring anti-scab legislation Bill 144.
The card check system allows workers to become unionized automatically if a majority sign union cards.
The current vote-based system forces a vote even if a majority have already signed cards.
This give employers more time to intimidate workers against voting for the Union. Delegate
after delegate spoke at the microphones about the importance of restoring a
card check system and the importance of bringing back anti –scab legislation in
Ontario.
Paul Forder, CAW director of membership mobilization and campaigns, said the majority of provinces and the
federal government had a card check system. New
legislation giving card check only to construction workers in Ontario must be
expanded to cover everyone, he stressed.
Forder said workers are intimidated in an organizing drive and there is nothing democratic about holding a vote
to join a union on the employer’s property, under the watchful eye of the
workers’ employer.
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