Checkout April 2007

T H E N E W S M A G A Z I N E F O R M E M B E R S O F L O C A L S 1 7 5 & 6 3 3 U F C W C A N A D AVOLUME XVINO. 2APRIL2007

Training & Education Centre: 10 years of Success!

32,736 participated in courses in last decade

48671-1 Checkout April07.qxd 3/20/2007 11:34 AM

Steward profiles.....................................Injured Workers Day...............................Fundraising............................................

President’s Message.............................................................................

Secretary-Treasurer’s Message.............................................................

CONFERENCESRecord attendance for Central East Stewards’ Seminar.........................

WORKPLACE NEWS

NEGOTIATIONS.................................

PAY EQUITY......................................

PEOPLE & EVENTS

LOCAL 175President

Wayne HanleySecretary-Treasurer

Shawn HaggertyRecorder

Betty PardyExecutive Assistants

Jim Hastings, Teresa Magee

UFCW Local 633President

Dan BondySecretary-Treasurer

Marylou MallettRecorder

Neil Hotchkiss

Provincial Office 2200 Argentia Road

Mississauga L5N 2K7 905-821-8329

Toll free 1-800-565-8329Fax 905-821-7144

Benefits RepresentativesSheree Backus, Emmanuelle Lopez

Benefits Intake RepresentativeLesley Flores

Benefits Legal Counsel Marcia Barry

Communications RepresentativesCheryl Mumford, Jennifer Tunney

Servicing RepresentativeLien Huynh

Health & Safety RepresentativeJanice Klenot

Senior Legal CounselNaveen MehtaLegal Counsel

Michael Hancock, Rebecca WoodrowLegal Representative

Fernando ReisOrganizing Coordinator & Pay Equity

Mike Duden Organizing Representatives

Steve Robinson, Kevin Shimmin

CENTRAL EAST REGIONDirector

Luc LacelleUnion Representatives

Jehan Ahamed, Mona Bailey, Judith Burch, Tim Deelstra,

John DiFalco, Anthony DiMaio, John DiNardo, Paul Jokhu,

Rob Nicholas

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONUnion Representatives

Sylvia GroomServicing Representatives

Angela Mattioli, Brenda Simmons,Mark Stockton, Mario Tardelli

TRAINING & EDUCATION CENTRE2200 Argentia Road

Mississauga L5N 2K7 905-821-8329

Toll free 1-800-565-8329Fax 905-821-7144

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CONTENTS

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Proudly introducing some of the TEC's most committed students.........

The child is growing up...

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Members at Trenton’s MFRC areready to provide help.........................

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TRAINING

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CAN reaches out...... 16

COMMUNITY

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Local 175 develops new WSIB-related program...Day of Mourning: April 28..................................

HEALTH & SAFETY

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cep Local 571


It was just over a decade ago that the elected Officersof Locals 175 & 633 determined that members neededgreater assistance with, and access to, training. At thattime, the UFCW was already a leading Union in pro-viding training and educational opportunities to mem-bers. It had established the National Training Programto help workers cope with the job losses caused byglobalization and corporate restructuring. But as gov-ernments continued to abandon their responsibilities fortraining, and workplace security became increasingly more precarious, your LocalUnion felt it was necessary to provide even greater resources and support.

Our vision was to create a Local Union training and education centre that would giveworkers the knowledge they needed to excel in their workplaces, but also the neces-sary skills to move to other careers if their jobs disappeared. The Layoff & Closure orLabour Adjustment program was, and still is, one of our most needed and successfultraining initiatives. When workers lose their jobs, the Locals 175 & 633 Training &Education Centre (TEC) assures they have access to information and counsellingrelated to employment insurance, career options and job search skills, as well as theactual training, which will enable them to find new employment. Our courses in com-puters, which are now available in class, online and through the mobile computer lab,are an important component in helping workers access new jobs.

But we don’t stop there. Through the foresight and commitment of the ExecutiveBoard’s Educational Committee, many Local Union staff and numerous key memberswho promote these programs, the TEC’s list of courses just keeps on expanding.Today, just a little more than 10 years after the establishment of our training program,we find it simply astounding that Locals 175 & 633 members and their families havenow taken almost 33,000 courses through the TEC.

We continue to provide courses because we feel it is essential that every one of our50,000 plus members has access to the training needed to improve their lives andthose of their loved ones. Members and their relatives have access to the widest var-iety of programs and learning locations through the Union. We have achieved themost democratic Union educational program in Canada because it is accessible andopen to all. Any member who wants to participate has both the right and opportunityto do so. Health & Safety, WSIB, Arbitration, other labour education courses plus awide range of personal and job skills programs are available.

In this issue you can read more about the courses offered by the TEC and how someof our members have benefited from these educational opportunities.

This is only the beginning. There are even more initiatives to come. If you haven’t yettaken advantage of the many free courses that we offer, please consider doing so. Youcan view the offerings online or by contacting the TEC directly.

April 2007

Training Centre Initiative just keeps gettingb i gge r a nd be t t e r

CENTRAL WEST REGION412 Rennie StreetHamilton L8H 3P5905-545-8354Toll free 1-800-567-2125Fax 905-545-8355 DirectorHarry SuttonUnion RepresentativesMatt Davenport, Joe DeMelo, Linval Dixon, Rick Hogue, Fernando Reis, Dan Serbin, Kelly TosatoServicing RepresentativeSam Caetano

EASTERN REGION20 Hamilton Avenue NorthOttawa K1Y 1B6613-725-2154Toll free 1-800-267-5295Fax 613-725-2328 DirectorDan LacroixUnion RepresentativesSimon Baker, Chris Fuller, PaulHardwick, Marilyn Lang, Daniel MercierServicing RepresentativeJacques Niquet

SOUTH WEST REGION124 Sydney Street SouthKitchener N2G 3V2519-744-5231Toll free 1-800-265-6345Fax 519-744-8357DirectorRay Bromley Union RepresentativesWendy Absolom, Kevin Dowling, Julie Johnston, Angus Locke,Roy Reed, Rick Wauhkonen

NORTH WEST REGIONLakehead Labour Centre21-929 Fort William RoadThunder Bay P7B 3A6 807-346-4227Toll free 1-800-465-6932Fax 807-346-4055 Union RepresentativesColby Flank, David Noonan

Published six times yearly. ISSN no. 1703-3926CHECKOUT is an official publicationof Locals 175 & 633 of the United Food & Commercial Workers.Web site: www.ufcw175.comE-mail: [email protected]

Director of EducationVictor CarrozzinoEducation RepresentativesGeorgina Broeckel, Gail Carrozzino, Kelly Nicholas,Ashleigh Vink, Dave White

Pres

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WAYNE HANLEY

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Locals 175 & 633 celebrate a decade of training

As a leader in Training & Education, the UFCW established the National TrainingProgram in the 1980s, to ensure access to training for members all across Canada.

It was not long after that, that our Local Unions started negotiating training contributionsfrom employers. By the early 1990s, plans were being developed to create a trainingcentre. The Locals 175 & 633 Training & Education Centre (TEC) was conceived asa place where members could come to receive the education they needed to help themand their families build more secure futures.

In 1996, space was leased in a building on Meyerside Drive in Mississauga. At that time, Michael Fraser was President of Local 175 and Wayne Hanley was theSecretary-Treasurer. The TEC officially opened in late 1996 but it wasn’t until early 1997 that the centre became truly operational.

The first director of the TEC was Dave Killham, who is now Executive Director of the Workers Health & Safety Centre.He was followed by Wally Lumsden, who made significant contributions to the growth of the centre. It was under thePresidency of Wayne Hanley, assisted by the current director, Victor Carrozzino, that the TEC really took flight. Victorjoined the staff of the TEC as a training representative in 1998. At the beginning of 2006, the TEC relocated to a newstate-of-the art training facility. It now occupies the entire first floor in a specially-designed building, which was con-structed adjacent to the Mississauga Provincial Office. In the last decade, the TEC expanded rapidly, to become the“Success Story” that it is today. You can read more about the TEC and some of its students in this issue of Checkout. Ifyou haven’t taken advantage of the many free courses offered by the TEC, I urge you to enrol in some in 2007.

Secretary-Treasurer’s Message

SHAWN HAGGERTY

Proudly in t roduc ing some of the TEC ’s most commit ted s tudents . . .

Walter Chatter isn’t quite surewhat the first TEC course wasthat he took several years ago.“It may have been the ABCs ofComputing, or something to dowith writing skills or first aid,”he says. But he does know thatit was a pivotal point in his life.

Walter had always had an interest in first aid soafter he completed the CPR and First Aid course,he just kept coming back. “The more practice youget, the better your skills become,” he says.Through the training, he got to know the para-medics that taught the course and before long thisincreased interest and knowledge led him to applyfor a two-year Humber College course in fire-fighting. He credits the many other TEC courses hecompleted, such as enhanced mathematics and

writing skills, with enabling him to win acceptanceinto the Humber program. “There were only 30spots and 500 applicants competing,” he explains.

Walter has now completed both his firefighter train-ing and co-op placement and is writing recruitmentexams. He says his employer and co-workers atDollar Thrifty Automotive, where he’s worked asa maintenance attendant since about 2000, are allrooting for him. He was able to switch to a part-time shift when he was in school and is allowedtime away from work when needed for interviews.“Before taking these courses, I thought I wouldalways be working in warehouse or restaurantjobs,” Walter says. “The training really inspired meto think about other possibilities. It enabled me todiscover and then focus on what I really wanted todo in life.”


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April 2007 5

Mary Hurley is a part-timecashier and steward at A&P #63in College Park in Toronto. Shehas completed a number of onlinecourses including Health & Safety(H&S), Stewardship, Safe FoodHandling and Labour History.

Mary says she enjoys the onlinecourses the most, especially being able to learnabout Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act.“It’s useful for picking up things you need to know asa steward,” she says. “It helps to learn about therights and benefits that apply to both workers andmembers. Mary is also a member of the Joint Health& Safety Committee (JHSC) in her workplace andsays she really enjoys having the knowledge to do thejob that needs to be done.

Alexander Banaag has workedat Maple Lodge Farms inBrampton for approximately sixyears. He started in the Cut-upDepartment, preparing wholesalecuts of drums and wings. For thelast two years he has worked inretail sales, servicing customers inthe factory outlet that’s adjacentto the plant.

He recently became a steward and appreciated thetraining he received late last year, at the NiagaraFalls seminar. He’s also done courses in Safe FoodHandling and ISO 9000, both of which he says havebeen a tremendous help in his job. When we caughtup with him during the Members Scholarship week-long training program he said:

“I would really like to thank the Union. My wife wasbusy for six years caring for our children and didn’twork outside the home. Fortunately she was able totake the free computer courses at the MississaugaTraining & Education Centre and also online. As aresult of these skills, she was able to obtain an inter-view and then a good-paying job with a majorbank.” He adds, “I have found all the Union coursesto be very informative and would encourage everyoneto explore all the opportunities the Local Union offers.I think it’s very important – not just to think – but alsoto move outside the box!”

Sharon Kirby, who works at Canex Pizza HutExpress at CFB Borden, describes herself as a per-

son “who loves to learn.” Andit’s certainly not an understate-ment given that she’s taken, asof February 2007, 77 onlinecourses through the TEC.Additionally she has taken theLevel I H&S course related tofederal legislation.

Sharon is the supervisor and the only full-time work-er at her restaurant location. She believes that edu-cation is extremely important for career advance-ment and good communication is another essentialskill, which has been enhanced through all hertraining. Sharon is on the JHSC at Borden, helpsout with the Special Olympics there and is also thechair of the Parent Council at her son’s high school.She says that everything she learns is useful andhelps in some area of her life. “You can alwaysadapt what you know to help you with the newchallenges that you take on,” she says.

Jeff Murphy has worked atSobeys Milton Retail Distri-bution Centre for approximate-ly five years. He does generalwarehouse work, includingselecting orders, shipping andreceiving.

After being asked to join theJHSC in March 2006, he felt he wasn’t knowledge-able enough, so he took a weeklong Level I H & Scourse later that year. Since that time, he’s alsocompleted the Level II H&S Law course and 20other online courses related to health & safety.These include topics such as Stress, Lockout,Confined Spaces, Flammables & Combustibles,Indoor Air Quality, Lighting Hazards, and a numberof First Aid courses.

Jeff says he’ll probably have completed even morecourses by the time the magazine comes out,because: “I loved all of them. They’re very educa-tional and 100 per cent useful. I can apply virtuallyall of the course material because it relates directlyto health & safety issues in my workplace.”

Do you or your family have a story you’d liketo tell about your experience with the Locals

175 & 633 Training & Education Centre? If so, please contact us for a possible profile

in a future issue of Checkout.


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The child is growing upBy Victor CarrozzinoTraining & Education Director

When a child reaches about ten years of age, we see defined traitsand can catch a glimpse of his or her future development into adult-hood. In 2007, just a little more than 10 years after the beginningsof the Locals 175 & 633 Training & Education Centre (TEC), wecan see its positive impact on the membership – and catch aglimpse of its bright, shining future development.

Just over 10 years ago, your Local Unions visualized a TEC with twogoals. The first was to increase and improve stewards’ training toserve and defend the membership’s interest better on the front lines.The second was to add more courses to serve the educational inter-ests of the largest possible number of members and their families.

In the area of stewards’ training, we have achieved what onceseemed an unattainable goal. Every year more than 1,000 stewardsattend the regional seminars in Thunder Bay, London, Kingston,Niagara Falls and the Greater Toronto Area. In addition, we haveexpanded the weeklong residential program to four times a year:twice in the spring and twice in the fall. Almost 100 stewards attendthese programs every year. And of course, when there are specificneeds, such as a new workplace being organized, then special train-ing is provided just for them.

A second area that has expanded rapidly is Health & Safety Trainingfor stewards, joint committee members and activists. Last year alone,almost 300 of these members were trained in weeklong programs toteach them how to build safer workplaces. In addition, we havemany specific workshops.

In the third area – online training – our Union made a historicalbreakthrough. Last year, this massive training effort enabled us tooffer online training to 4,483 members and their families. Theseindividuals benefited from any of 80 plus online courses, whichallowed them to study from the comfort of their homes and at theirown pace. Now the skills and knowledge required to become asteward or health & safety activist are within the reach of all. Thebulk of the courses taken were in health & safety and labour educa-tion. Members and their families can also prepare for better jobsand update their educational credentials. Through online programs,we reach thousands of members. No other union has even begunsuch a bold move. We can be proud of having the largest online

continues on next page

Continuation of Special Training Supplement: April 2007


Continuation of Special Training Supplement: April 2007 7

labour education program in the world!

Of course, we continue to supply courses and counselling in thearea of labour adjustment, ensuring that members have the skillsand support to move on to new careers when their jobs disappeardue to globalization or corporate restructuring. Across the province,we offer upgrading classes in mathematics and English. Literacy andnumeracy tutoring are also provided, when the needs are identified.These programs, combined with the many others, such as highschool credits and computers, enable unemployed members toidentify interests and build skills. The majority of workers who partic-ipate in a Locals 175 & 633-assisted labour adjustment programare successful in moving forward into new careers.

We are the only Union offering high school credit courses for mem-bers either in-class or online. Through our partnership with five dif-ferent school boards we offer classes in evenings and weekends indifferent communities near where members and their relatives live.That type of program, however, needs a “critical mass” of partici-pants and in many locations the school boards do not have adultprograms. So, again our Locals made history by offering highschool credit courses online for the first time in Ontario to adultlearners. We started with one course and now we have several run-ning for nine months of the year.

There is always great participation in the Locals’ computer courses.These are offered at the Mississauga or Hamilton TECs, throughthe mobile labs, which travel around the province, in temporaryclassrooms booked in various towns, or through the online pro-gram. Computer courses are always in demand no matter whenand how they are offered. We even created special courses to meetthe particular needs of the Hamilton Retirees’ Club. In today’sworld, computer knowledge is necessary for virtually everyone.

From surveys and feedback from members, we found out that CPR-First Aid courses were needed and wanted. Now there are almost1,000 members participating in these courses every year. Self-Defence for Women was another course identified by the member-ship as a priority. Now hundreds of members take it every year.

In the last ten years, almost 33,000 members have benefited fromthese courses. In 2006, 8,120 members and relatives have takencourses provided by the Locals. Our capacity is snowballing. Inaddition, in this very short time, Locals 175 & 633 have become thepioneers of online education in the labour movement and we aresetting the benchmarks for others to follow. The Local Unions & theTEC are truly coming of age.

The progress has been phenomenal and unparalleled. And thefuture is promising to be even better!

continued from page 6


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CONFERENCES

Record attendance for Central EastSteward’s SeminarTemperatures outside, which fell to almost minus 20 degrees Celsius dur-ing the day, were near a record low but the atmosphere inside was warmand charged with energy as nearly 300 Locals 175 & 633 stewards andstaff convened for the Central East Stewards’ Seminar. The conference,which is primarily for Toronto-area stewards, was held on February 3 and4, 2007, at the Sheraton Hotel in Richmond Hill.

These annual seminars normally attract about 1,000 stewards from acrossthe province. The other meetings are held in Thunder Bay, London,Niagara Falls and Kingston. Each seminar features 12 hours of educa-tional sessions, covering topics such as Stewardship, Arbitrations, Health &Safety, Collective Bargaining and Action Team Training. Added for thisseminar was Early and Safe Return to Work, which you can read moreabout on page 19.

The weekend enables stewards to learn more effective ways of interveningto advocate for members in the workplace. They gain skills through coursematerials presented by experienced instructors. And they also expand theirknowledge by networking with other stewards, both inside and outside theclassroom.

Central East Regional Director Luc Lacelle welcomed stewards and staff to the seminar.

Stewards listened to a keynote address from Secretary-Treasurer Shawn Haggerty, who urged them to reach out and involve all to ensure an inclusive Union and united membership.

Questions & Answers were an important part of theSeminar’s educational sessions.

A full complement of Cargill stewards attended the weekend seminar. They were, front row, from left: Magnola Richardson, Adebayo Mufutau, Ampeh Ohemeng, Mario DiMech, Ralph Hogan. Back row: RandyVan Sickle, Belal Mohammad, Tony Nigro, Union Representative Anthony DiMaio, Darrell Able, Pat Demarcoand Tej Bola. Absent from photo, but profiled on page 17 is Cargill Steward Surila Bennett.


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April 2007 9

Stewards attended classroom sessions all day Saturday as well asSunday morning. They worked hard . . .

Stewards enjoyed the Saturday night dinner,including a prize raffle that raised nearly $8,000for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ofCanada, as well as $900 for Nellie’s, a TorontoWomen’s Shelter.

. . . . and had fun too!

One of the "big" winners who took home a new 32-inch TV was Kamal Sengupta, (centre) with Union Reps Jehan Ahamed and Paul Jokhu.


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WORKPLACE NEW

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Tanya Parks feeds a young client in the respite care program.

Eve Lawrence is the Family Separation and Quality of Life Co-ordinator. She co-ordinates services and facilitates communications, such as video conferencing, withloved ones in Afghanistan.

“The repatriation ceremonies are the worst part of the job,”says Lesley Patterson. She is Daycare Director and Youth& Children’s Services Manager at The Trenton MilitaryFamily Resource Centre (MFRC) at Canadian ForcesBase in Trenton. The death of a husband or wife, who isalso a parent of young children, is undoubtedly the worstcrisis a military family can face. Leslie explains that theMFRC stocks backpacks, with age-appropriate toys andsnacks, so they can be ready on a moment’s notice toassist bereaved families. If the children are very young, theywill probably stay with a daycare worker at the centre. Ifthey are older, a worker may accompany them and theirparent to the military ceremony to honour the return of thedeceased loved one.

The MFRC strives to support its clients and deliver whatevertype of service that families may need. The daycare sectionof the centre employs approximately 30 workers to provideregular daycare service to families in the military and widercommunity. The other part of the centre employs about 10workers to provide other forms of assistance. This includesextra help for families with children, such as pre-school,

Union Steward and Daycare worker, Debbie Van Ooyen, in frontof the “I support Canadian Troops” boutique explains that workers wear red on Fridays to show their support.

Members at Trenton’sMFRC are ready to provide help . . .whenever and wherever it ’s needed


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Receptionist M.J. Lapointe welcomes visitors to the centre.

Employment Co-ordinator, Elizabeth Nicholas provides an essential job counselling service to military spouses.

Jodi Donly and Shannon Wiley (below) work in the Daycare Program.

Hélène Cadotte-Gagnon (far left) is an important resource for information, referraland education. Cook Christine Van Steinburg ensures that clients, staff and visitorsenjoy nutritious snacks and meals. Union Steward Denise Currie co-ordinatesChildren’s Programs as well as Emergency and Respite Childcare.

after-school, respite, emergency and drop-in programs, as well as youthservices. It includes assistance for career planning and job search. It alsohelps families who are suffering as a result of being separated when a hus-band or wife is suddenly deployed, or ordered to work at a location awayfrom home base. Family Separation & Reunion Services provides workshops,support and self-help groups for families coping with deployment. Currently,the most frequent destination where Canadian troops are deployed isAfghanistan. It’s a particularly distant and dangerous posting. “Deploymentcan be a very difficult and stressful time for families,” says Local 175 mem-ber Eve Lawrence. She is the Family Separation and Quality of Life Co-ordi-nator. “Separation is a fact of life for military families. Nevertheless, theMFRC is committed to doing everything possible to ease the pain andupheaval caused by these deployments.”


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NEGOTIATIONS

Primo Foods workersapprove new contractThe 87 workers at Primo Foods in Toronto weresuccessful in achieving a good new two-yearagreement on November 12, 2006, with: • A new letter of agreement stating that all

active employees as of ratification will not be required to work any non-trad-itional shifts unless they volunteer. This is particularly important because the company wants to run the plant seven days a week, 24 hours per day.

• Workers receive two lump sum payments, equivalent to 2.7 per cent, to be paid after ratification and again on the one-year anniversary.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase by 20 per cent.

Union Negotiating Committee: EnzoArboritanza, Aldo Gerbasi and Union RepAnthony DiMaio.

Members at OfficeClean ink new dealMembers working at Office Clean, formerlyNova Services, in Toronto, unanimously ratifiedan improved contract on November 25, 2006.Highlights include:• Annual hourly wage increases of 25 cents.• Workers receive two floater days per year.• Vacation entitlement improves.

Union Negotiating Committee: Manuela Soaresand Union Rep Joe DeMelo.

National Car members achieve historic agreement At a meeting held December 12, 2006, members at National Car who work at the PearsonInternational Airport garage voted “yes” to a one-year contract. The new collective agreementhas a first-of-its-kind clause giving workers two paid floater days off per year to cover entitlementunder the Human Rights Code to observe religious holidays. Other improvements include: • Hourly wage increases of 70 cents plus a $1,500 payment for red-circled workers.• The extra week’s paid vacation entitlement, earned after five and 10 years of service, may

now be taken anytime after the worker’s anniversary date.• New language establishes a payroll-error policy and improved language clarifies overtime.• The company agrees that part-time scheduling will not displace full-time hours between

Monday and Friday.• Accrued sick days shall now be paid out at 150 per cent. • Part-time workers completing six months coverage in a full-time position (except for

parental leave), will be reclassified to full-time.• Part-time workers can now carry their seniority over to a full-time position.• New language states the company will comply with the Occupational Health & Safety Act

(OHSA) and will provide WHMIS training for all employees and certify all committee members.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mohamed Minhas, Ali Muddei, Chris Christoff and Union RepJehan Ahamed.

Members at resource centre ratifyEmployees of the Military Family Resource Centre in London have a new two-year collectiveagreement, effective March 2007, which includes: • Annual increases of 2.5 per cent for all wage rates plus compensatory time off and paid time

off between Christmas Day and New Year’s

Union Negotiating Committee: Deborah Smith and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

Walfoods workers vote in favour of three-year agreementMembers from Compass Group Canada working at Walfoods in Ontario reached a new three-year agreement with the company on November 29, 2006. Improvements include:• Hourly wage increases of 25 cents per hour in both the first and second year of the contract

and another 30 cents in the third year. • Full-time workers receive a signing bonus of $50 and part-time receive $25.• Dental plan contributions increase to 32 cents per hour. • Effective January 1, 2007, vision care coverage increases to $150 for employees and $100 for

dependants.• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage both double to

$30,000.

Union Negotiating Committee: Teresa Van Pypen and Central West Director Harry Sutton.

For all the most recent UFCW news, including more up-to-date and d


Maple Leaf workers endorse new contractApproximately 250 members at the Maple Leaf Consumers Foods facility in Hamilton secureda new agreement at a meeting held October 27, 2006. Highlights include:• Immediate wage increases of 35 cents per hour for all active employees, retroactive to

September 1, 2006.• Full-time workers also receive hourly increases of 35 cents in both the second and third year.• Dental contributions increase to 30 cents per hour upon ratification and 32 cents in year three. • Over the course of the three-year contract, life insurance will increase to $30,000 and members

become part of a pay-direct drug plan, which includes 80 per cent coverage of prescription drugs, including all dispensing fees up to $8, to an annual maximum of $2,000.

• Beginning January 31, 2008, the company will contribute an additional amount to CCWIPP of 5 cents per hour, increasing to 10 cents on September 1, 2008.

• New and improved language covers separation pay in the event of a plant closure as well as steward representation and leaves of absence.

Union Negotiating Committee: Gerry Kirkwood, Ross Sardinha, Paul Weston and Union RepJoe DeMelo.

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April 2007 13

Thunder Bay hotel staff reach new dealOn December 14, 2006, members at the Comfort Inn in Thunder Bay voted for a new three-year agreement, which includes:• Annual wage increases of 3 per cent, plus an additional floater day beginning in the third year.• Contributions to the pension plan improve by 20 cents per hour. • Bereavement leave language improves.

Union Negotiating Committee: Amanda Moore, Brenda Strachan and Union Rep DavidNoonan.

Ball Packaging workers gain significantwage and benefit improvements On December 21, 2006, members working at Ball Packaging in Whitby approved a new three-year agreement. The approximately 114-member bargaining unit benefits from the following: • All classifications receive wage increases of 2.6 per cent in the first year, 2.8 per cent in the sec-

ond year and 3 per cent in the final year.• Annual company contributions to the Group RRSP increase to $1,500 by the third year.• Sickness & Accident (S&A) insurance provides a maximum weekly benefit of $485 effective

December 1, 2006 and $500 effective December 1, 2008; Life Insurance increases to $45,000.• Workers receive annual chiropractic coverage of $150. • Vision care coverage is $235 per 24-month period and eye exams are now covered.• Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by 2 cents per hour. • The post-retirement health plan includes a maximum monthly company contribution of $43 for

a single and $101 for a family, and also now includes a dental plan.• Improved language covers seniority, layoffs and overtime scheduling.

Union Negotiating Committee: Ray Layng, Steve Lucchi, Jerry Najduk, Brent Pittman andUnion Rep Anthony DiMaio.

Laidlaw driversapprove three-year settlementApproximately 200 members at LaidlawTransit in Welland have achieved: • Schedule ‘A’ increases of more than 8 per cent. • The hourly driving rate increases by almost

11 per cent. • Schedule ‘C’ workers exceed 9 per cent.• Signing bonus is $300 for Regular Drivers,

$150 for Monitors and Spares. • Drivers on overnight charters receive 10

hours pay, per 24-hour period and a meal allowance of $20 per day.

• The company will reimburse workers for medical exams pertaining to renewing required licenses to a maximum of $110, increasing to $120 in year two and $130 in the third year.

• Employees required to plug in buses during winter months receive $100.

• Improved language covers steward represen-tation, grievance and arbitration language and Leaves of Absence.

Union Negotiating Committee: Kim Gamble,Noreen Gallagher, Willie Hafter, JimMontgomery and Union Rep Kelly Tosato.

Havelock Foodlandworkers ratify Members at Havelock Foodland, formerlyHavelock IGA, approved a new three-year con-tract at their November 27, 2006 meeting.Highlights include:• Hourly increases of $1.95 per hour for

department heads, $1.45 for all other full-time workers and $1.05 for part-timers.

• The Relieving Rate increases to 85 cents per hour.

• The company contributions to CCWIPP will increase by 5 cents per hour.

Union Negotiating Committee: Michele Ellis,Priscilla Rodgers, Maureen Vincent andUnion Rep Chris Fuller.

d detailed information on negotiations, visit our Web site: www.ufcw175.com


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NEGOTIATIONS

Sobeys distribution workers approve wageincreases & compensation packagesThe more than 600-member bargaining unit working at the Sobeys Retail DistributionCentre in Milton ratified a new three-year collective agreement.• Workers receive wage increases of 3 per cent in each year of the

agreement.• Full-time workers receive a lump sum signing bonus of $650 and part-

time receive $300.• Company contributions to CCWIPP increase to 85 cents per hour over the course of the agree-

ment term.

Last fall, Sobeys announced its plan to open a new distribution centre in Vaughan, which wouldhave a huge impact on the workers at the Milton location. The new contract includes senioritybased severance offers, a shift-bid process, transition bonuses and severance packages.“It’s important that this agreement contain language covering severance pay and similar com-pensation for workers who will lose their jobs as a result of the new facility Sobeys plans to openin Vaughan,” says Local 175 president Wayne Hanley. “We want to ensure that each worker hasresources available to them.” In addition, the company agrees to contribute $150 per workertoward the Adjustment Committee, which will provide affected workers with job training, resumewriting, Employment Insurance (EI) assistance and other resources.

Sobeys Union NegotiatingCommittee: Included Mark Page, NickIoannou, Stephan Wright and BryceBlack (left), as well as Union Rep DanSerbin (below) and Central West DirectorHarry Sutton.

YM Inc workers winbig improvementsOn February 8, 2007, the bargaining unit at YM Inc in Toronto achieved a new three-yearagreement.

The employer has announced its intention tomove its distribution centre to Vaughan from itscurrent location in Toronto. The new contractincludes provisions so that the current collectiveagreement will apply to the new location. Thoseemployees not offered a position at the new facility will receive severance as laid out in thenew contract.

Workers will benefit from:

•Annual wage increases of 35 cents per hour. • Company contributions to the workers’ benefit

plan increase to $138 per month. • Improved language clarifies the use of casual

workers.

Union Negotiator: Union Rep Paul Jokhu.

For all the most recent UFCW news, visit our Web site: www.ufcw175.com

Funeral service workers vote for new contractOn January 22, 2007, members at Remembrance Services funeral home locations inMississauga and Toronto achieved a new collective agreement. The three-year term includesthe following improvements:• Wages increase by 1.5 per cent retroactive to November 1, 2006, plus subsequent increases of

2 per cent in both the second and third year of the contract.• The wage rate for the Para-Funeral Assistant classification increases by 25 cents per hour.• Increases in company dental contributions as well as health & welfare premiums. • Company contributions to the Training & Education Fund increase to 3 cents per hour.

Negotiating Committee: Robert Glen Cross, Sean Marenger and Union Rep Paul Jokhu.


April 2007 15

Local 175 achieves thousands of dollars in Pay Equity increases

Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Dieticians at GrandviewLodge won pay equity increases thanks to the work done by theirUnion. Local 175 President Wayne Hanley was enthusiastic aboutthe committee’s work. “It took a lot of time and effort to achievethe fair solution,” he says. “I congratulate the Union Committee forthe excellent job it did on behalf of the members.”

More than two years ago, Local 175 proposed a maintenanceupdate for the Pay Equity Plan at Grandview Lodge. The facility isoperated by the County of Haldimand, which is a new employerunder the Pay Equity Act, as Haldimand and Norfolk County hadsplit into two counties. The Union and employer formed a JointPay Equity Committee in the spring of 2005 to negotiate a newplan. The Joint Pay Equity Committee started by evaluating all jobsin the bargaining unit to determine if the pay was equitable. Beforethe results were finalized, members had an opportunity to reviewthe job scores, which are determined by the degree of skill, respon-siblity and effort, as well as by the working conditions of each job.For comparison purposes, the committee also had to evaluate the“male jobs” outside the bargaining unit, such as Lead Hand,Automotive Technician, and Landfill Site Attendant.

The employer maintained that little or no adjustment to job rateswas needed. The Union committee, however, was united in itsresolve to have a fair comparison for the bargaining unit job classi-fications. It struggled to come to an agreement on the calculationsof the job comparisons. With the assistance of an officer from theOntario Pay Equity Commission, the Union Pay Equity Committee

and employer reached an agreement.

It resulted in thousands of dollars of payequity increases realized through hourlyadjustments for two classifications and sev-eral time periods. These were more than:$1.21 for Registered Practical Nurses(RPNs) plus retroactive adjustments for theyears between 2001 and 2005 that rangefrom 44 cents to $1.42. The Dietary Aideclassification receives 9 cents with retroac-tive payment of 11 cents and 25 cents forthe years of 2005 and 2006.

All other classifications were found to haveequity.

The Union Pay Equity Committee members were,from left Local 175 Pay Equity Representative,Mike Duden, Judy Hare and Ingrid Finch, as wellas Kathy Mustard who is retired and absent fromthe photo.

Worke r s d e se r ve a be t t e r m in imum wage and fa i r o rgan i z i n g l aws

On January 24, 2007, Local 175 joined the Toronto & York Region Labour Council and its affiliates to launcha major campaign to raise the minimum wage and restore organizing rights. “We are 100 per cent in favour ofthis campaign,” says Local 175 President Wayne Hanley. “Working people deserve, at minimum, to earn $10 anhour and this would translate into a stronger economy and more secure work-places as a result. A return to fairer organizing laws would be an important firststep in getting better wages for all workers.”

Local 175 Servicing Representative Lien Huynh (right) spoke out at the York-South Weston Community Meeting. She said a workers’ signature on anorganizing card should be sufficient to request unionization. Requiring a latervote in the workplace is undemocratic because it enables employers to intimidateand terminate workers.

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CAN reaches out to community

On December 3, 2006, Local 175 Representatives Lien Huynh and KevinShimmin presented a Cantonese-language workshop at the Miliken CommunityCentre in Scarborough. The workshop focused on health & safety, such as “TheRight to Refuse” unsafe work. Emmanuelle Lopez of the Local 175 BenefitsDepartment provided information regarding the WSIB and the appeal process. Inphoto (right) Kevin demonstrates the proper lifting method, which should be used toreduce injuries.

“Gung Hay Fat Choy,” which means “Wishing you prosperity,” was an often-expressed sentiment at the Locals 175 & 633 Lunar New Year celebration. Theevent, sponsored and hosted by committee members of the Community ActionNetwork (CAN), was held on the eve of the new year, Saturday, February 17, 2007at the Mississauga Provincial Office. Many members, from companies such asCargill, Galco, Maple Lodge Farms and Quality Meats, attended with their fami-lies. Some were of Asian heritage while others simply wanted to participate and learnabout other cultures. Children were given traditional red envelopes known as “HongBao,” which contained chocolate coins as symbols of good wishes. The party was agreat success and we are looking forward to seeing even more members at nextyear’s event!

Local 175 Community Action Network (CAN) committee member and Executive AssistantTeresa Magee and Benefits Representative Emmanuelle Lopez, with the assistance of theToronto & York Region Labour Council, have enhanced the long-established Locals 175 &633 Membership Assistance Program (MAP). Counselling referral services are now available inseveral languages. These are Arabic, Cantonese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian,Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sinhala, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Twi andVietnamese. More information at www.ufcw175.com.

MAP is available to help members through difficult times by connecting them with the appropriateprofessional assistance as close to their communities and as soon as possible. Members haveaccess to this confidential service providing counselling referrals to professional serv-ices for issues such as substance or spousal abuse, affordable housing, daycare,grief and debt management.


rights, even before immigrating toCanada. He says management atMobile Climate was once proneto blame the workers for every-thing that went wrong, but it’sgetting better and becoming morewilling to solve problems withouthaving to go to arbitration. UnionRep Rob Nicholas says: “Diego isan amazing leader, bringingworkers together for the benefit ofall. Everyone appreciates the wayhe stands up to management anddefends the workers and their col-lective agreement.”

Mario Francomano has workedat La Rocca Creative Cakes for

about nineyears and beena steward sinceJuly, when theybegan negotia-tions on a firstcontract. Theplant has two

locations. It employs approximate-ly 140 members who make amaz-ing desserts, such as tarts,cheesecakes and specialty cakeslike “Strawberry Chocolate Mousse”and “Super Caramel Crunch.”

Mario says the workplace hasimproved since the workersgained Local 175 representation.He says that previously peoplewere unhappy about being trans-ferred from department to depart-ment at anytime and not having asay in where they worked orwhether they had to work over-time, which was especially difficultfor parents. Now, he says peoplecan speak up and know thatmanagement will listen to theirconcerns. Conditions in the work-

Surila Bennett has worked forCargill for 12 years as a scaler.

She weighs beefproducts andputs them intrays or bagsbefore they’reshipped out tocommercial cus-

tomers. She’s been a steward forsix years because she “likes tohelp and be able to resolve prob-lems.” Surila says because Cargillis such a multicultural environ-ment, some workers have prob-lems speaking out. She’s able tohelp and provide a much-neededvoice for them and she wants tocontinue doing so as long as sheworks at Cargill. Learning aboutthe Union is a side benefit whichshe also appreciates.

Union Rep Anthony DiMaio says“Surila is a fine example of astrong, confident and outspokensteward. She does an outstandingjob of defending her Union broth-ers and sisters.”

Diego Dias has worked atMobile Climate Control for 10

years. The com-pany employsapproximately300 workerswho fabricateand assembleheating and airconditioning

units for industrial transit vehicles.

Diego has been a steward forapproximately two years and acertified H&S rep for about oneand a half years. He has been alongtime advocate for workers’

place are starting to get better asworkers become more aware of theirrights and willing to file grievances.Union Rep John DiNardo says“Mario’s commitment to improvingworking conditions has made atremendous difference in helpingworkers achieve the improvementsthey gained in their first contract,which will provide an excellent basefor future negotiations.”

Cindy Miller has been a cashier atPrice Chopper in Oshawa for three

years and a stew-ard for just sixmonths. Shebecame a stewardbecause there was-n’t one in the storeand she was“brave enough” to

step forward. Cindy says: “I knew Icould speak up, voice an opinionand ensure our rights are enforced.”She adds that she found the recentweekend seminar to be extremelyinteresting and informative. Cindysays she’s learning a lot in her newrole and has already gone to arbi-tration. She had experience filinggrievances even before she was asteward, and happily most have nowbeen resolved. She likes learningabout the contract, having read it“backwards & forwards and I learnsomething new each time I read it,”she says.

Union Rep John DiNardo says:“Cindy is making a tremendous con-tribution on behalf of her co-work-ers. Because there was no steward inthe store for sometime, managementhad become accustomed to runningthings as they wanted to, even whenit meant violating the collectiveagreement. She is doing a great jobof ensuring that everyone’s rights areprotected.”

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

In 1994, Joe Pereira started as a“live-haul”driver at Maple LodgeFarms in Brampton. He was

responsible forpicking upcrates of livebirds from thefarms and deliv-ering them tothe processingplant.

He became a department stewardin 1997 and was elected chiefsteward in 2001, working with 19department stewards. He says:“My number one priority is to havea united and educated stewardbody. As front-line representativeswe need to be aware of all ourrights so we can educate ourUnion sisters and brothers abouttheir rights in the workplace.”

Union Rep Fernando Reis says:“Joe works tirelessly to defend theinterests of the members at MapleLodge Farms. He has taken ad-vantage of various courses toimprove his knowledge and hasencouraged others to do the same.He is a Health & Safety Instructorfor UFCW and the Workers Health& Safety Centre. The membershave benefited greatly from hisdedication, knowledge and unwavering commitment.”

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE: June 1 is Injured Workers Day.Please support these workers by participating in local events, or join therally scheduled to take place in front of the Ontario Legislative Buildingat Queens Park, starting at 12 noon.

You can also help by writing or calling your Member of ProvincialParliament or sending a letter to the editor of a newspaper. Anyone who isinjured at work deserves fair treatment. They should not have to suffereven more because governments have allowed the cost of living to erodetheir pensions or the WSIB to complicate the compensation process withlengthy delays and unrealistic requirements related to returning to theworkplace. United we stand, much stronger together.

It was a very COLDDDDD Sundayon February 11, 2007, when 35members drove to Little Britain foran ice fishing derby on LakeScugog.

This first annual event was a greatsuccess, despite temperatures hover-ing around minus 15 and evencolder winds whipping across thelake. Participants succeeded in

catching three“giant” perch, with$100 going to DougMcHarg for catchingthe biggest fish. TheLeukemia &Lymphoma Societyof Canada willreceive $1,100 fromthis event. Plans arealready underway fora second annualderby in 2008.

Members and management from L&V Poultry inBeamsville donated $650 in proceeds from theirannual Christmas party to the Leukemia & LymphomaSociety of Canada.

Steward profiles continued . . .

FUNDRAISING: Members raise even moremoney for leukemia research

Mary Brisbois, a member from PrinceFoods in Cornwall was the receipientof a Workers Health & Safety CentreActivist of the Year award.

Ice Fishing Derby raises $1,100


April 2007 19

Local 175 developsNew WSIB-relatedprogramThe development and presentation of Local 175’sEarly and Safe Return to Work (ESRTW) course hasproven to be very successful. Since its inception in2006 we have trained 170 members. The feedbackfrom those members has been very positive. Courseparticipants have the following comments about thecourse: “With a better understanding of the Returnto Work program, it will be easier to make sugges-tions and also to find different types of jobs withinthe workplace to assist co-workers. This course con-tained a great deal of information to put to use inthe workplace.”

Training Director Victor Carrozzino says: “This is areally great course. It is relevant to shop stewardsbecause they deal with return to work accommoda-tions on a daily basis. Some of the participants areinjured workers themselves; others have been direct-ly involved with helping co-workers. The coursegives meaningful strategies and practical tips toassist with accommodation issues, and outlines thelegal situation of accommodation. For example, wegive tips on how to communicate with the familydoctor who in turn becomes an advocate for theinjured worker. The course instructor said that theStewards were very engaged and inter-ested. The course gives the staff in theBenefits Department a chance to hearfrom stewards about what is really hap-pening at their workplaces, and helpsthem identify where earlier interventionmight help. Usually, The BenefitsDepartment sees the end result, oftenafter everything has gone wrong. Thecourse gives them a chance to hearmore about where things break downalong the way. Stewards give theminsight into the everyday problems thatthey and injured workers face.”

One purpose of the course is to lay thefoundation for the development ofReturn to Work Committees and tonegotiate language into collective

agreements. Sun Valley Foods has had an ESRTWcommittee since 1992. Betty Pardy, Recorder ofLocal 175 and Union Co-chair of the Sun ValleyFoods Return to Work Committee, had the followingto say: “It is not an easy job to sit on a committeedealing with return to work issues! The biggest chal-lenge is to have people understand the need forinjured workers to heal, along with an injured work-er’s need to co-operate with the system and complywith their obligations under WSIB.”

The course informs members of their rights andobligations related to return to work and accommo-dation under WSIB. The duty to accommodateunder the Human Rights legislation is addressedand discussed. We encourage the participants tolook outside the box in regards to the isolationsome injured workers face when they return to theworkplace and encourage a deeper, broader viewinto accommodation. So often things have beendone one way for so long that nobody questionswhy a task must be performed that way.

With the feedback and input from the course partici-pants, the Benefits Department will continue toaddress the needs of members by providing relevantand much-needed information. Local 175 PresidentWayne Hanley says: “The entire department did anoutstanding job working together to develop thiscourse. Congratulations to Legal Counsel MarciaBarry, Benefits Representatives Sherree Backusand Emmanuelle Lopez together with LesleyFlores and Roy Etling.“

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Return postage will be paid by:

United Food and Commercial WorkersLocals 175 and 6332200 Argentia RoadMississauga ON L5N 2K7

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Checkout April 2007

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Transcript of Checkout April 2007