Checkout Winter 2002

20
C C H H E E C C K K O O U U T T The Newsmagazine for Members of UFCW The Newsmagazine for Members of UFCW Locals 175 and 633 Locals 175 and 633 Volume X, No. 3 W olume X, No. 3 Winter 2002 inter 2002 Negotiations Update Negotiations Update pages 6 to 9 pages 6 to 9 Organizing V Organizing V ictories ictories page 6 page 6 Union Drug Stores Union Drug Stores page 10 page 10 Scholarship W Scholarship W inners inners pages 1 pages 11, 12, 13 1, 12, 13 Dental Fraud Dental Fraud page 14 page 14 Y outh News outh News page 16 page 16 Canada Post Corporation Publication Agreement No. 40064671 L L O O C C A A L L S S 1 1 7 7 5 5 A A N N D D 6 6 3 3 3 3

description

Read the Winter 2002 issue of Checkout magazine

Transcript of Checkout Winter 2002

Page 1: Checkout Winter 2002

CCCCHHHHEEEECCCCKKKKOOOOUUUUTTTTThe Newsmagazine for Members of UFCWThe Newsmagazine for Members of UFCW Locals 175 and 633Locals 175 and 633

VVolume X, No. 3 Wolume X, No. 3 Winter 2002inter 2002

Negotiations UpdateNegotiations Updatepages 6 to 9pages 6 to 9

Organizing VOrganizing Victoriesictoriespage 6page 6

Union Drug StoresUnion Drug Storespage 10page 10

Scholarship WScholarship Winnersinnerspages 1pages 11, 12, 131, 12, 13

Dental Fraud Dental Fraud page 14page 14

YYouth Newsouth Newspage 16page 16

Canada Post Corporation Publication Agreement No. 40064671

LLLLOOOOCCCCAAAALLLLSSSS 111177775555 AAAANNNNDDDD 666633333333

Page 2: Checkout Winter 2002

2

On The CoverSince October 1, 2001 the members of Local 175 who work at Canada Safeway storesin Thunder Bay have been on strike. Featured on the cover and above are shots ofmembers on the line. For more information on the strike see President’s message.

Page 3: Checkout Winter 2002

Wayne Hanley

President’s Message

Since October 1, more than300 members of UFCWCanada Local 175 whowork at the three CanadaSafeway stores in ThunderBay, have been on strikeafter the company refusedto acknowledge proposalsfrom the Union negotiatingcommittee at the bargainingtable.

The Union negotiating com-mittee has worked hard tobring about a solution to thislabour dispute. They evenpostponed strike action fora week when it was felt thatit would be in the best inter-est of the membership tosee if further discussionscould lead to an agreement.When it became clearSafeway was not respond-ing to the concerns of ourmembership seriously, andit was only then that Local175 used the last negotiat-ing tool available - strikeaction.

Our members' resolve tohave the company addresstheir concerns and theircommitment to solidarity willensure an agreement whichwill benefit them and sharein Safeway's success.

Since the tragedy at theWorld Trade Centre onSeptember 11, the world aswe know it has changed.For most, work or travel haschanged. Victims struggleto cope, as do some compa-nies whose businesseswere affected by this sense-less act of violence. It isimportant to have compas-sion for the victims and theirfamilies and understandingfor those companies whoare also suffering. At thesame time, however, wemust be aware of compa-nies or businesses that willunfairly use the events ofSeptember 11 to theiradvantage. Daily we hearof companies who are usingSeptember 11 as an excusewhen it comes to dealingwith their employees.

In negotiating with compa-nies on behalf of our mem-bers we will show under-standing if a company hassuffered as a direct result ofthe World Trade Centretragedy, but we will not letcompanies use September11 as an excuse for renego-tiating or demanding con-cessions from our mem-bers. Local 175 will show lit-

tle sympathy for companieswho cry wolf at the bargain-ing table or who use theSeptember 11 tragedy asan illegitimate tool at negoti-ations.

We should however notlose sight that outside ofNew York there are manypeople in our own commu-nities who are also sufferingfor other reasons. Peoplewho have lost a loved one,children who have lost aparent, or families who aresuffering financially. At thisparticular time of year, don’tbe afraid to show your kind-ness and compassion forthe less fortunate.

As we prepare to facethe challenges of 2002,on behalf of the Hanleyfamily, I would like tooffer our best wishes forPeace on Earth in thenew year and for manyyears after.

3

Page 4: Checkout Winter 2002

Educational CalendarThe Locals 175 and 633 Training and Education Departments in Mississauga and Hamiltonalways have something new and exciting going on. Find out when the Mobile Computer TrainingUnit is visiting your community, when the next Scholarship Training or Stewards Seminars aretaking place, or simply which courses fit best with your schedule!

Training & Education CenterCourse Days Dates Times

ABC’s of Computers Saturdays Jan. 12 – Feb. 2 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.ABC’s of Computers Wednesdays Jan. 16 – Feb. 13 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Windows Mondays Jan. 14 – Feb. 11 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Word Processing Tuesdays Jan. 15 – Feb. 12 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Desktop Publishing Thursdays Jan. 17 – Feb. 14 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Internet Sundays Jan. 13 – Jan. 27 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

ABC’s of Computers Sundays Feb. 3 – Feb. 24 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mABC’s of Computers Thursdays Feb. 21 – Mar. 21 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Email Saturdays Feb.9 – Feb. 23 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mEmail Mondays Feb. 18 – Mar. 18 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Word Processing Wednesdays Feb. 20 – Mar. 20 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Making a Web Page Thursdays Feb. 19 – Mar. 19 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.ABC’s of Computers Saturdays Mar. 2 – Mar. 23 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mDesktop Publishing Sundays Mar. 3 – Mar. 17 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mABC’s of Computers Tuesdays April 2 – April 23 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.ABC’s of Computers Sundays April 28 – May 12 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m

Windows Wednesdays April 3 – May 1 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Internet Saturdays April 6 – April 20 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m

Making a Web Page Sundays April 7 – April 21 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mExcel Thursdays April 4 – May 2 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Word Processing Mondays April 8 – May 6 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Word Processing Saturdays April 27 – May 11 9 a.m. – 2:30p.m

Email Tuesdays May 7 – June 3 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Windows Thursdays May 9 – June 6 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Excel Wednesdays May 8 – June 5 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.Desktop Publishing Saturdays May 25 – June 8 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m

Windows Sundays May 26 – June 9 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.mABC’s of Computers Mondays May 27 – June 24 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Word Processing Tuesdays & Thursdays June 11 – June 25 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Hamilton CalendarCourse Days Dates Times

Level 1: Intro to Computers Sundays Jan. 6 – Feb. 3 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Level 1: Intro to Computers Tuesdays & Thursdays Jan. 8 – Feb. 7 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.Level 1: Intro to Computers Mondays & Wednesdays Feb. 11 – Mar. 13 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.Level 1: Intro to Computers Tuesdays & Thursdays Mar. 12 – April 11 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Mobile CalendarCourse Dates Place Contact

ABCs Jan. 14 - Jan. 17 Collingwood Nadine 1-800-728-8902ABCs Jan. 28 - Jan. 31 Belleville Nadine 1-800-728-8902ABCs Feb. 11 - Feb. 14 Scarborough Nadine 1-800-728-8902ABCs Mar. 12 - Mar. 15 London Nadine 1-800-728-8902ABCs Mar. 18 - Mar. 20 Windsor Nadine 1-800-728-8902

4

Page 5: Checkout Winter 2002

5

son, putting her energies in agood direction was very refresh-ing, and encouraging to knowthat our future is in the hands ofpeople like her.

I took advantage of this time toget to know about the otherwomen that I encountered. Thedifferences in their workplacesas well as their family lives andof the beautiful parts of ourcountry that they live in. I alsogot to know my colleagues fromthe Target Equality Group that Iwent on behalf of. When I seethese ladies in November, I willbe greeting them as friendsrather than mere acquaintanc-es.

In closing, again I thank you forgiving me this wonderful oppor-tunity. I will have good memo-ries from this experience for along time to come.

Sincerely,Fay BoucherLocal 175 Vice President

To: Officers Staff and Membersof Locals 175 and 633,

Thanks to all of you!Could look the whole world overand never find a nicer group

Wayne HanleyPresident UFCW Local 175

Dear President Hanley,

I would like to take this time tothank you for sending me to theUFCW Women's Conferencein Winnipeg, Manitoba, inSeptember. I really enjoyed theexperience of talking withwomen from across the country.I found that I was very muchsheltered from knowing aboutthe ways and lives other womenand tend to take for granted thatwe are not the only U.F.C.W.local across Canada, justbecause we have the largestlocal. This conference hasopened my eyes to many thingsthat I have not really thoughtabout. When I get back to work(on strike) I am looking forwardto putting some of the things Ilearned to good use.

I enjoyed listening to speakerslike Gregory Murray, on“Rethinking OrganizingStrategies”. Marianne Cerilli,from the N.D.P., talking aboutthe great strides that the NewDemocrats have made and areplanning to make in theirprovince, Nathalie Doerth andthe unsuccessful campaign atBrooks meat processing plant,and Denise Cameron, whospoke of the atrocities of a work-place in Quebec, where theworkers went through abuseand violence.

The speaker who made thegreatest impression on me wasMichelle Williams. It was greatto see such a young person withdetermination to make a differ-ence for not only herself, but herco-workers as well as the wholemall that she works at. To seethe enthusiasm of a young per-

than you! Nice to meet every-one! Thanks for your support.

From all your brothers and sis-ters on strike against Safewayin Thunder Bay.

Wayne HanleyPresident UFCW Local 175

Dear Brother Hanley,

Please pass along our bestwishes and solidarity to yourmembers on strike in ThunderBay.

We are all aware that your success will directly benefit our members who work forSafeway.

I have enclosed a cheque for$1,000 for now, but do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything we can do to help including pressuring theemployer here in B.C. money,staff, etc.

In Solidarity,

Brooke SundinPresident Local 1518

ed. note - this is just one ofmany donations from UFCWLocal Unions across Canada.

Page 6: Checkout Winter 2002

6

NegotiationsUPDATE

cont’d. next pg.

New Agreement at Amity Goodwill

Local 175 members atAmity Goodwill in Ham-ilton, Brantford, Water-down and Stoney Creekhave ratified a new collec-tive agreement. The newcontract includes wageincreases, better benefitsand stronger job security.

Highlights of the newagreement include anacross the board payincrease of 6% over thelife of the contract andimprovements to the mem-bership dental plan. A sub-stantial gain for our mem-bers is an assurance fromAmity that all parties willwork cooperatively inupcoming restructuring,recognizing seniority andcertain employment barri-ers through superior nego-tiated severance packagesand job transfers. Seniorityand bumping languagehas been improved aswell.

After prolonged negotiationsthroughout the summer, theOntario Labour RelationsBoard ordered the mem-bership to vote on the com-pany's latest offer in

Organizing Victory at Price Chopper

UFCW Canada Local 175 has successfully unionized 56 newmembers at a Price Chopper grocery store in Mississauga.On November 1st, the Price Chopper employees voted over-whelmingly in favour of joining our Union. Local 175 alreadyrepresents members at 8 other Price Chopper outlets inSouthwestern Ontario. Our new members at the Mississaugastore were motivated to join our Union because they werefamiliar with our high level of membership servicing and rep-resentation in the Price Chopper chain.

The new members at the Mississauga Price Chopper viewedjob security and just cause protection as two of the main rea-sons for joining Local 175. They joined our Union becausethey know we protect our members from unjust termination ordiscipline and we negotiate strong collective agreements thatimprove job security.

Organizing Victories at National Car Rental

Local 175 has successfully organized two new outlets ofNational Car Rental in Toronto. On September 18, NationalCar Rental employees at Union Station also voted to joinLocal 175. On September 27, employees at the Yonge Streetunit overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining our Union.

Many National Car Rental outlets across Ontario are union-ized by Local 175. This is a primary reason why our newmembers at Union Station and Yonge Street joined. In thecase of Union Station, employees contacted Union Rep LinvalDixon who services National Car Rental. The new memberswere also attracted to the Union for our longstanding recordon job security and seniority. Local 175 represents membersat many other rental car companies as well, including Budget,Avis and Thrifty.

“Our Union is leading the way in the car rental sector, becausewe negotiate strong collective agreements, personal servicingand excellent job security to an often vulnerable serviceindustry. Local 175 is proud to represent employees in rentalcompanies like National, where the membership is verydiverse and needs a strong union like ours to fight for theirspecific interests,” says Local 175 Organizing CoordinatorMark Flannigan. “Congratulations to our new members atNational Car Rental and welcome to your Union!”

Page 7: Checkout Winter 2002

Benefits Reps Never Give Up!

Any member of UFCW Canada Locals 175 and 633 whohas ever been injured on the job, will know that ourBenefits Reps are some of the hardest working and mostpersistent people around. That's because our Union willdo absolutely everything we can to help a member whohas been injured at work receive the compensation theydeserve. This often means that our Benefits Reps contin-ue fighting on a member's behalf for many years, long aftertheir dues payments stop. Locals 175 and 633 stand byour members in this way because we believe that an injuryto one is an injury to all.

If you are ever injured on the job, our Benefits Reps willgive you the support you need to make your case at theWorkers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Our Unioncan also represent members with WSIB appeals andCanada Pension Plan enquiries at Human Resources andDevelopment Canada (HRDC), as well as rehabilitationand return to work programs. For any individual who hasbeen injured at work, the WSIB and HRDC will seem likemammoth and uncaring government bureaucracies. Butwith the representation Locals 175 and 633 have to offer,we can help you cut through the red tape and get the com-pensation you deserve.

“You really need our Union to help you wade through theWSIB claims and appeals process,” says Locals 175 and633 Benefits Coordinator Herb MacDonald, “So long asyou supply us with the necessary medical information weneed to fight your case, we will not give up until we haveachieved the maximum compensation available.”

Two recent cases demonstrate our Union's commitment tosupporting members who are injured at work. The firstexample involves a member who filed for disability com-pensation under the Canada Pension Plan. The memberwas injured at work in June 1999, shortly before they weredue to retire. HRDC first denied the member's claim, butour Benefits Reps saw the merits of the case and keptworking on it. The HRDC Review Tribunal also rejectedthe claim, but our Union kept supporting the member and

7

Negotiations cont’d...

cont’d. next pg.cont’d. pg. 8

September. Our membersrejected that offer since theirUnion Negotiating Commit-tee believed they couldreach a better settlement.Sure enough, Local 175bargained a much betteragreement and our mem-bers ratified it on Monday,November 5th.

Negotiating the agreementfor the members at Amitywere Dorothy Passamore,Ted Hammond, RobertDolan, Jennie Phillipe,Sonia Voyich, Bill Smith,Linda Slack, Janet HamiltonUnion Rep Chris Fuller and Central West DirectorHarry Sutton.

Members at BataShoe Get NewAgreement

Local 175 members whowork at the Bata Shoe man-ufacturing and warehouseplant in Batawa recentlysigned a new three-year collective agreement, whichincludes numerous im-provements over the previ-ous agreement.

Highlights of the new agree-ment include anti-harassment language, im-provements to bereavementlanguage, an increase in the

Page 8: Checkout Winter 2002

8

Negotiations cont’d...

boot allowance, increase in thevision plan, an increase inevening and night shift premi-ums and a $10.00 weeklybonus for perfect attendanceon the evening and night shifts.

A guaranteed severancepackage for the members atBata was a major highlight ofthe agreement. As a result offree trade and Bata movingmuch of it's production offshore or to the U.S., the pop-ulation at the plant has beenreduced from approximately1,300 employees ten yearsago to the current 20 employ-ees. Under current employ-ment standards legislation acompany with only 20employees, if they were toclose the plant would nothave to give severance to theemployees. The union nego-tiating committee was suc-cessful in ensuring that aseverance package would beavailable to the members inthe event of a plant closure.

Also in the new agreement,seniority will now be plantwide for all members andmembers called into work willnow receive a minimum fourhours pay. There will also bea wage increase of 1.5% ineach year of the agreementon all rates of pay.

Negotiating the agreementfor the members at Batawere Doug Zadworny, CherylBinklow and Union RepsMarilyn Lang and RayBromley.

helped them appeal the Review Tribunal's decision.Finally, in November 2001, HRDC sided with our appealand will now pay the member a disability pension retroac-tive to June 1999.

Another recent case involves a member who was injuredon the job and filed a WSIB claim in March 1997. Themember had fallen down at work and suffered extensivepain and bruising to one leg. Doctors could not confirm adiagnosis, so they told the member to take pain killers andkeep a bandage on the leg. As a result of inconclusive evi-dence, the WSIB denied the member's claim.

However, Local 175 believed in the member and saw howmuch pain they were suffering since the injury occurred.Sure enough, an orthopedic surgeon finally discoveredexactly what was stopping the member from working - atorn Achilles tendon. Our Union helped the member appealthe original WSIB decision and asserted that the memberwas entitled to compensation for Future Economic Loss,since they were close to retirement, still experiencingextreme pain and also suffering from depression due totheir inability to work. In June 2001, the Workplace Safetyand Insurance Appeals Tribunal ruled in favour of the mem-ber and granted full disability and lost time compensation,as well as 100% retroactive compensation for FutureEconomic Loss.

Our Union is here to support you in the good times and thebad times. When you dedicate so much of your time andenergy to work, you deserve fair and just treatment whenand if an injury occurs. Our Benefits Reps are here toserve you in some of those more difficult times of yourworking life. When employers fail you and governmentinstitutions disappoint you, Locals 175 and 633 are here tosupport you until your life is back to normal. We can helpyou get the compensation you need, get you back to workor build the security you deserve when you retire.

Our Union also offers easy-to-read literature to helpyou understand the WSIB claims and appeals process.Contact the Local Union Office for more information.

Never Give Up cont’d!

cont’d. next pg.

Page 9: Checkout Winter 2002

Negotiations cont’d...

9

New CollectiveAgreement atMinute Maid

Members of UFCW CanadaLocal 175 at Minute Maid inPeterborough recently rati-fied a new collective agree-ment. The new contractincludes substantial gains inshift scheduling, wage in-creases, holidays and ben-efits.

A major highlight of the newagreement is a ContinentalShift Equalization Premium.The Premium is set at 11%on a 36-hour work week,with an additional premiumon all Saturday shifts. OurUnion Negotiating Commit-tee was also successful ineliminating all mandatoryovertime. There is an acrossthe board wage increase of$1.55 over the life of theagreement. Improvementshave also been made to thevision plan, boot allowanceand holidays. The newagreement also contains in-novative language around“honesty days.” This clauseentitles each member to 7personal sick days whichthey can use at their owndiscretion.

Negotiating the agreementfor the members at MinuteMaid were Paul Hardwick,Susan Longhurst, AndyWaudby, Marc Duquette andUnion Rep Ray Bromley.

Members from UFCW Locals175 and 633 attended theUFCW Canada WomenWorking Together Confe-rence in Winnipeg this pastSeptember 23 and 24.

The conference, held in con-junction with the UFCWCanada Youth Conference,was an opportunity for ourmembers to get together withother UFCW working womenand men from acrossCanada and the UnitedStates and exchange experi-ences from their variousworkplaces.

Speakers at the Conferencevaried from ProfessorGregory Murray of theIndustrial Relations Depart-ment of Laval University dis-cussing where unions standstatistically in Canada, toMichelle Williams of UFCWLocal 400 in the UnitedStates who told how herwork place, a Body Shopstore, was organized; toDenise Cameron a Health

and Safety Rep from Local500R in Quebec who sharedher experience of workingon a Health and Safety caserelated to psychologicalabuse.

In addition to the manyspeakers there were work-shops on violence in theworkplace, sharing house-hold work and organizing.

One of the other highlightsfor the attendees was aluncheon bus tour of thesites of the 1919 WinnipegStrike. A strike which manycredit as the birth of theLabour Movement in Can-ada.

As Local 175 ExecutiveBoard Member June Towlersummed up the conference.“Overall it was a very busyagenda and I was prettyexhausted by the time I gothome but it was well worthtaking the time to attend.Had a great time and I amgrateful for the opportunity toattend.”

UFCW CANADA WomensConference Report

Local 175 Director Sharon Gall in centre of picture leads in thesinging of trade union songs.

Page 10: Checkout Winter 2002

10

Your Local Union Drug StoresNo matter where you live inOntario, there's probably aunionized drug store nearyou. Current trends in theretail food sector haveseen the largest grocerychains opening pharma-cies in most of their stores.Since UFCW CanadaLocal 175 is the leader inorganizing grocery storesin Ontario, our Union nowrepresents pharmacyemployees in manyLoblaws, Zehrs, FoodBasics, A&P, Fortinos, NoFrills, Zellers, Ultra Martand Dominion stores. Thisis in addition to our mem-bers working in PharmaPlus and Hy & Zels drugstores across the province.

Can you guess how manyunionized drug stores thereare in Ontario? 450 to beexact. Now guess howmany of those unionizeddrug stores belong to your

Union - 363! That'sright, Local 175represents morethan 80% of union-ized drug stores inOntario, includingpharmacies inunionized grocerystores.

Our Union is espe-cially prominent inservicing our mem-bers in 131 PharmaPlus stores acrossOntario. Local 175membership in OntarioPharma Plus stores hasexpanded by 26% since thelast round of negotiationswith our Union in 1999.Ninety five percent of ourmembers working at

Pharma Plus alsobuy all of their ownpersonal prescrip-tions at PharmaPlus.

There are only twonon-union drug storechains in Ontario -Shoppers Drug Martand Wal-Mart. Withso many unionizedpharmacies and gro-cery stores to

choose from in Ontario, whowould want to go to Wal-Mart or Shoppers DrugMart?

“It really is easy to support

Local 175 members and getthe friendly service you wantin a drug store,” says Local175 President WayneHanley, “So next time you'rein a unionized drug store,say hello to your sisters andbrothers.”

Remember:Shop our Local Union DrugStores …and definitely don't shopat Wal-Mart!

Angela Merike who also works at theRichview Pharma Plus at the Richview Mall.

Carolyn Pedersen another Local 175 memberwho works at Richview Pharma Plus store inToronto.

Locals 175/633

Using Our

Strengths

to Build

Your

Future

Page 11: Checkout Winter 2002

11

Scholarship WinnersTo: UFCW Locals 175 and 633

On beha l f o f my daughter StephanieMacDonald and myself , I would like to thankUFCW Local 175 for awarding Stephanie witha McKay, Thompson, Hoebink and GibsonScholarship worth $750.00.

Stephanie is presently enrolled in a Bachelorof Commerce program at McGill University inMontreal. The scholarship will be used to helpfund her tuit ion fee.

Sincerely,Francesca Hunaresand Stephanie MacDonald LOEB Greenbank, Nepean

To Mr. W. Hanley, President, UFCW Local 175

Dear President Hanley,

I would like to say how thrilled I was to receive the McKay-Thompson-Hoebink-Gibsonscholarship. It is an honour to be selected and I know it will be very helpful in reach-ing my educational goals.

I am currently enrolled in my first year of the Hon. Kinesiology/Physical EducationProgram at Wilfred Laurier University. As a senior co-op placement I spent a semes-ter working with a grade 7 class at a local elementary school. I taught math and phys-ed and enjoyed the experience so much I feel i t helped lead me to the program I amnow studying. After completing my Bachelor of Science degree I plan to attendTeacher 's College to obtain my teaching degree.

I have achieved honour roll status each year and was oneof the top five students of my graduating class. I receivedan Ontario Scholars Award, the Aiming for Top TuitionAward (based on graduating grades) as well as a ServiceAward “for contributing to the education of fellow stu-dents” (tutoring).

In closing I would like to say how much I appreciate thegenerous award your union has sponsored.

Thank you,Natalie S. Hulme

Page 12: Checkout Winter 2002

12

Annually, Locals 175 and 633 award 56 McKay, Thompson, Hoebink, Gibson Scholarshipto young members and children of members pursuing post secondary education.Following by region are the names of the recipients of this year’s scholarships.

South Central Region

Allister Cini who works at FoodBasics in Mississauga

Kristen Koopmans who worksat A&P in Whitby

Krista Lambert whose fatherDoug works at A&P in Strathroy

Mary-Beth O'Hara who works atFood Basics in Scarborough

Kristine Pleau who works atFood Basics in Welland

Joshua Povelofskie who worksat Food Basics in Guelph

Carisa Silva who works at UltraFood Mart in Burlington

Peter Sirmis who works atDominion in Toronto

Giuliana Spagnuolo who worksat Fortino's in Hamilton

Michael Tinnes who works atFood Basics in Cambridge

South Western Region

Timothy Angel who works atBetter Beef in Guelph

Leah Boutros who works atZehrs in Kingsville

Emily Brodhagen whose fatherJohn works at Food Basics inHanover

Ashley Doswell whose motherLynn works at Zehrs in Sarnia

Melanie Hogeveen who works atPharma Plus in Kincardine

Jennifer Horvath whose motherDebbie works at A&P in Windsor

Jason Howe whose motherSuzanne works at Nabisco inExeter

Mohammad Saad Mehmoodwhose father Nazakat works atWatson Foods in Guelph

Derek Silva whose motherMargaret works at Maple LynnFoods in Strathroy

David To whose father Phuworks at Cuddy Foods in London

Eastern Region

Mirna Absi who works atMcDaniel YIG in Ottawa

Lacey Anderson whose fatherPhil works at MinuteMaid inPeterborough

Thomas Basinger whose moth-er Barbara works at Weetabix inCobourg

Tyler Dumouchel who works atLoeb Pembroke in Pembroke

Gregory Linforth whose fatherSimon works at Hendriks YIG inPerth

Stefanie MacDonald who worksat Loeb Greenbank in Nepean

Mandy Michaud whose motherHolly works at Super C inCornwall

Jason Mills whose motherRoseann works at Picton ManorNursing Home in Picton

Monique Robert who works atLoeb Pembroke in Pembroke

Rebecca Strople who works atLoeb Southgate in Ottawa

Northern Region

Jake Gallinger who works atA&P in Thunder Bay

Peter Labine who works atBeaver Lumber in Thunder Bay

Dianne Longe who works atBirchwood Terrace in Kenora

Page 13: Checkout Winter 2002

13

Mark Lucas who works atCanada Safeway in Thunder Bay

Amanda Liddicoat whose fatherBradley works at MacDonald’sConsolidated in Thunder Bay

Brian Olynyk whose motherMarjory works at Westfort Foodsin Thunder Bay

Central West Region

Chris Blair who works at SoundBites in Toronto

Evan De Jesus whose fatherJose works at Quality Meats inToronto

Kelly Dowhaniuk who works atZellers in Brantford

Delbert Depaepe who works atGood Humor Breyers in Simcoe

Tomasz Majewski whose fatherJanuz works at Bick’s Pickles inMississauga

James Muste whose motherSylvia works at Pinty’s PremiumFoods in St. Catharines

Heather Scroop who works atAmity Goodwill in Brantford

Laura Stone who works at IGARidley Square in Thorold

Jennifer Wright whose motherShirley works at Pharma Plus inNiagara Falls

Jennifer Young whose motherSheri works at Good Humor-Breyes in Simcoe

Central East Region

Erin Bland whose motherDebbie works at Canex in NorthBay

Laura Glynn who works atPharma Plus in Toronto

Julie Birkle who works at Zellersin Barrie

Jacob Fox who works at A&P inCollingwood

Charles Gobeil whose fatherWayne works at A&P in Timmins

Andrew Hanna who works atIGA Constantines in Pickering

Natalie Hulme whose motherBirgit works at Pharma Plus inHillsburgh

Lisa Rout who works at theHoliday Inn in Oshawa

Steven Talunay whose fatherFrancisco works at BallPackaging in Whitby

Eric Tindale who works at FoodBasics in Perkinsfield

Page 14: Checkout Winter 2002

14

Negotiating a dental package andwhat it may cost over the life of a col-lective agreement is tricky at the

best of times because of the way in whichdental rates in this province are set.

In Ontario, dentistry is a self-regulating pro-fession, which means the only accountabili-ty dentists have, are to other dentists. Theresult is that annually dentists through theOntario Dental Association (ODA) write acatalogue of charges for dental charges,which invariably increase above the rate ofinflation.

Dentists once saw dental benefit programsas a means by which to increase theirincome and standard of living. They nowargue because of improvements to the den-tal hygiene and dental care of their patients,they now need to see their patients more tomaintain their income. To address this mat-ter in 2002, the ODA will begin to unbundleservices, which would normally be per-formed in a recall visit. The end result ismore cost to the consumer and their dentalplan because of greed not need. Theresult of these dental increases and themove to unbundling of services will result ina projected extra cost of $1.21 million to theUFCW Trusteed Dental plan over the next 5years.

Fraud by dentists also has a major impacton the cost of providing a dental plan. Theadministrators of the UFCW plan havereported instances where denied claimshave had the procedure code on the dentalclaim form changed by dentists using white-out and resubmitting the claim. Increases indental fraud cost us all, for every dollarspent inappropriately as a result of fraud isa dollar that could have been used to

improve benefit coverage in the plan.

To prevent dental fraud and to stop increas-es to what patients or members will have topay as a result of fraud and increasingcosts, members should be asking dentistswhat procedure they performed prior toleaving the dentists office and checking itagainst what procedures the plan has paidyour dentist. You should report any and allabnormalities to the Dental Plan administra-tor

Will the ODA move to correct these irregu-larities by restricting what dentists cancharge or will they move towards the trendset in Alberta, where there is no fee guidemeaning no one regulates a dentist excepthimself or herself? They are free to chargewhatever fee at your expense!

We hope the ODA will choose the formerrather than the latter, for a no fee guide willhave a major impact on our dental plan andresult in a bigger bite being taken out of ourmember’s wallets.

Dental Fraud Costs Us All!!!

UFCW Locals 175 and 633 HumanRights Committee commemoratesthe United Nations InternationalHuman Rights Day on December 10,2001.

“Human rights are your rights.Seize them. Defend them. Promotethem. Understand them and insiston them. Nourish and enrichthem…They are the best in us. Givethem life.”

Kofi Annan Secretary General of the United Nations2001 Recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace

Page 15: Checkout Winter 2002

15

Local 175 Union Rep Monitors Elections in Sri Lanka

Kevin Shimmin, a member of UFCW Canada Local 175 and our newest Union Rep, is cur-rently monitoring the general elections in Sri Lanka. He was invited to be an InternationalObserver by a group of trade unions and human rights organizations in Sri Lanka. SriLanka is a small island country of close to 30 million people, located off the southern tipof India. The country has been torn by civil and ethnic war for the past 20 years, withmore than 60,000 civilians killed and close to half a million people internally displaced.Elections in Sri Lanka are often plagued by extreme violence and corruption.

From 1996 to 1997, Shimmin worked with grassroots human rights activists in the warzones of Sri Lanka and with local union organizers in the so-called “Free Trade Zone.” Itis in this Zone where unions are prohibited, workers face extremely dangerous andexploitive working conditions and union organizers are often persecuted or killed. Thecompanies that operate these factories under extremely repressive conditions, supplyproducts to multi-national corporations like Wal-Mart.

Upon his return in December 2001, Shimmin will be very enthusiastic to share his expe-riences with the members of Locals 175 and 633, especially our members who are fromSri Lanka. Shimmin also volunteers as a Sri Lanka Coordinator for the internationalhuman rights movement Amnesty International and works closely with Sri Lankan com-munities here in Canada.

Stewards SeminarsA Success!Locals 175 and 633 Fall Stewards Seminars continueto be a success with stewards in the Eastern, SouthWest and Northern Regions receiving education andtraining at weekend seminars held in LondonKingston and Thunder Bay. More than 450 new andreturning stewards attended courses dealing withComputers Level 1 and Level 2, Public Speaking,Stewards Training Level 1 and Level 2, Beyond the Bargaining Table, Health and Safetyand Collective Bargaining.

Courses for stewards in the Toronto area willbe held on February 9 and 10, and in theNiagara Falls area on March 9 and 10, nextyear.

Featured in the pictures above and to the sideare stewards from the South West Regiontaking part in courses at the London Seminarheld last October 19 and 20.

Page 16: Checkout Winter 2002

16

UFCW Canadian Council YouthConference - Winnipeg, Manitoba:September 23 and 24By Mike Walton

On September 22 and 23, youths from allover Canada came together in WinnipegManitoba to attend a youth conference heldby the United Food and CommercialWorkers of Canada. The days included skill-building workshops, which included publicspeaking, knowing your rights and how toinform others of their rights, how to getinvolved in political campaigns, etc. Theseworkshops were put together by youths foryouths to help them better understand therole of the union and their role in the union.The youths also had the pleasure of hearingguest speakers from the U.F.C.W and otherorganizations such as the N.D.P. At the endof the speeches the participants had theopportunity to ask the speakers questionsto find out their views on certain issues andhow they are going to go about theseissues. There were draws for prizes thatwere donated by many of the differentlocals, in which proceeds went to help thecause of the people in New York. Theevenings consisted of social gatherings

where the participants could meet eachother and talk about different experiences indifferent workplaces. In my opinion theYouth Conference was a complete success.It was well organized and I’m sure it wasenjoyed by all. I’m glad I had the pleasure ofexperiencing such an event.

Mike Walton is a member of the UFCWLocals 175 & 633 Youth Committee and aUnion Steward at Food Basics

Young Members, New Ideas

This past summer, internet graphic designerand young member Jason Fonceca, helpedthe UFCW Locals 175 & 633 YouthCommittee launch its new youth logo.Jason’s fresh look for the Union and theYouth Committee has in turn been used todevelop new flags for the Union. Theseflags have been created to help identifyyoung members and activists at variousLabour events, parades, and conferences.

Enclosed: From left to right - Picture of YouthCommittee Members, Matthew Davenport (Ultra Food& Drug #055) and Timothy Deelstra (Nabisco inExeter) at the 2001 Steward’s Training Seminar inLondon on October 19 and 20.

For more information about youth eventsand the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 YouthCommittee, e-mail [email protected] orwrite to the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Training& Education Centre, 700-1450 MeyersideDrive, Mississauga, ON, L5T 2N5.

Youth News

L to R; Local 175 member Kelly Provost with PascalGendron, a youth member from TUAC Local 503 inQuebec.

Page 17: Checkout Winter 2002

17

The Local 175 and 633 Niagara Peninsula Retirees chapter held their inaugural meeting onSeptember 24 at Locals 175 and 633 Union office at 412 Rennie Street in Hamilton.

To date there are 45 retired members involved in organizing the chapter and they arealways looking for more members. Aside from conducting business at the meeting, mem-bers have the opportunity to swap stories and get caught up on news over a game ofeuchre.

The retirees are planning a bus trip to Ottawa for the tulip festival in April. Computercourses for retirees will be starting in the new year.

The next retirees meeting will be at the Hamilton office on January 23. For more informa-tion on the Local 175 Retirees Chapter, please call Jim Montgomery at (905) 732-7444.

Local 175 Retirees Chapter Update

Local 175 President WayneHanley recently announcedthe appointment of TeresaMagee as the Director for theSouth-West Region. Teresahas been a long time repre-sentative working out of theMississauga office of theLocal.

President Hanley also an-nounced the hiring of RoyReed, Anthony DiMaio, KellyTosato, Simon Baker andKevin Shimmin.

Prior to their appointments,Roy, was the Recorder forLocal 633 while Anthony hadserved as a Vice President ofLocal 633. Kelly was a VicePresident on the ExecutiveBoard of Local 175. Simonwas a member of Local 175who worked at Loblaws Bell’sCorner store in Ottawa. Priorto being hired by the Local hehad been working for theUnion as a Special Projects

Union Representative. A re-cent graduate of the LabourStudies Masters Program at McMaster University, Kevin Shimmin, had previ-ously been working for theLocal on a temporary basis in the Communications De-partment. Prior to coming toLocal 175 Kevin had workedas a Union Organizer andHuman Rights Activist in SriLanka.

“With the growth of our Local,and the hiring of additionalstaff increases the profile andpresence of the Union in the units and improves representation to the mem-bership.” Said President Hanley. “The hiring of Roy,Kelly, Anthony, Simon andKevin shows we are commit-ted to doing what needs to bedone in order to make ourmembers the best repre-sented in Canada.”

Staff Appointments

Recently appointed UnionRepresentative Anthony Di-Maio is seen receiving con-gratulations from PresidentWayne Hanley on becomingthe first person from theunion to graduate fromGeorge Brown College with aLabour Studies Certificate.

The Union in conjunction withthe Labour Education Centreoffers courses throughGeorge Brown and MohawkColleges which lead to aLabour Studies Certificate.

All courses offered throughLocals 175 and 633 Trainingand Education Centre andStewards Training Seminarsare credit courses towardsthe certificate and all coursesoffered through the TrainingCentre are paid for by theLocal Union.

Page 18: Checkout Winter 2002

18

Change of Address?Don’t leave it up to your employer...advise us of your address changeIf you are moving or planning to move, please fill out the form below and mail it to us at UFCW Locals 175and 633, 2200 Argentia Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 2K7. Or call us at 1-800-565-8329.

Name........................................................................... Unit Number............................New Address..............................................................

...............................................................

..............................................................Phone.........................................................................E-mail.........................................................................

Education NewsThe fall season for the Training and Education Department of Locals 175 and 633 is a busy timeas Stewards Training conferences are held through the province. In addition to the weekend con-ferences, the week long Fall Member Scholarship and Fall Stewards Programs are held at theLocals Training and Education Centre in Mississauga. The staff in the Training and EducationCentre have also been busy updating and developing new courses which will be offered in theNew Year. For further information on courses which will be offered by the Training Centre in 2002,contact the Centre at 905-564-2500 or Toll free at 1-800-728-8902.

Locals 175 & 633 Member Scholarship ProgramNovember 4 to November 11

Back Row (l-r): Nadine Lazzari, HaroldDriscoll, Chris Beer, Ed Murray, BarbaraValente, Bill Myers, Rose Damm, VictorCarrozzino, Sharon Burgher, ElizabethLundmark.

Front Row (l-r): Cathy Smit, SallyWinters, Shirley Williamson, SandyProulx, Vivian Dunse.

Steward Scholarship Program

Front Row (l-r); Randy Valdez, SharonPrice, Pam Thompson, PasqualeCinerari, Gerald Clark, Paul Hardwick.

Back Row (l-r); Thomas Sheratt, DeanMcLaren, Dave White, Chuck Molnar,Rick Uhrig, Victor Carrozzino, HeidiPineau, Scott Johnstone, ShaneBailey, Fern Newland.

Page 19: Checkout Winter 2002

19

SecretaryTreasurer’s

MessageJim AndressFor many people in On-

tario the biggest andbest news to recently

come from the Ontario Pro-gressive Conservative Gov-ernment is the forthcomingresignation of Premier MikeHarris. No doubt this is bignews. But again before his de-parture from the Tory Govern-ment he made another attackon workers rights with changesto the Employment StandardsAct.

On September 4, 2001 oneday after Labour Day, the newEmployment Standards Act,2000 was proclaimed alongwith seven regulations to theAct. The new Act now allowsfor a 60-hour workweek with-out overtime pay and for workers in retail business establishments that are hiredafter September 4, Sundaywork is no longer voluntary unless there is languagespecifically in your collectiveagreement.

Although the new Act statesthat an employee shall bepaid overtime for each hourworked in excess of 44 hoursper week, an employer maynow average the hoursworked over a period of notlonger than four weeks. Thismeans that an employeecould work 28 hours oneweek then 60 hours the nextand would not have to be paidany overtime.

For new workers to the retailsector, although the Act statesthat an employee shall not re-fuse to work Sunday if theyagreed to work on Sunday attime of hire. If a person re-fused to work on Sundays atthe time of hiring what are theirchances of being hired?

These two sections of the newEmployment Standards Actunderline the importance ofbelonging to a Union. In aunionized workplace a collec-tive agreement can provide a

better benefit than the Em-ployment Standards Act bydefining the hours of work andwhen overtime will be paid.With respect to Sunday work,Locals 175 and 633 alreadyhave several collective agree-ments with language that per-mits workers the right torefuse Sunday work.

Locals 175 and 633 will con-tinue to fight on behalf of themembers ensuring that theEmployment Standards Actprovisions such as these donot become part of our col-lective agreements and willwork to organize more unor-ganized workers so they toocan enjoy the benefits ourmembers already have.

With the new year upon us,may I take this opportunity towish all the members and theirfamilies Peace and Prosperityin 2002.

CHECKOUT is the Official Publication of The United Food and Commercial Workers Union,Locals 175 and 633, 2200 Argentia Rd., Mississauga, ON L5N 2K7

Chartered by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Wayne E. Hanley, President Betty Pardy, RecorderJim Andress, Secretary-Treasurer Bob Linton, Editor

Kevin Shimmin, EditorTelephone ....................................................................(905) 821-UFCWFrom outside Metro Toronto call toll-free.....................1-800-565-8329

LOCALS 175 AND 633

Page 20: Checkout Winter 2002

Return postage will be paid by:

United Food and Commercial WorkersLocals 175 and 6332200 Argentia Road,Mississauga, Ontario L5N 2K7

Address Correction Service Required

More Money Saving Benefits For Members of Locals 175 and 633

By presenting your Union membershipcard or this advertisement at any FinchCentre Jewellers store location you willreceive a 25% discount on all regularlypriced watches and jewellery.

C&G Electronics

331 Evans AvenueToronto, OntarioTelephone 416-253-1811

Name brand consumer electronicsat warehouse prices.

Save Up To 40%

Big Screen TVs, TVs, Home Theatre,DVDs, Cordless Phones, StereoEquipment and more.

• Toshiba• Panasonic• Zenith• Kenwood• RCA and more

Marks ElectronicsMembers who are new customers tothe Star Choice satellite system cansave a further 10% in addition to thecurrent Star Choice system.

Marks will ship for free anywhere inOntario and customers outside ofMarks install area can arrangeinstallation with their local installer.

Marks is located at the intersectionof Hwy 7/8 in New Hamburg. For fur-ther information contact TraceyImlau at 519-662-9002 or 1-888-705-5581 or through their website atwww.markselectronics.com

EFL

2375 Finch Ave. W., Toronto .............416-745-333031 Colossus Dr. #104, Woodbridge..905-264-66692563 Major Mackenzie Dr., Maple .....905-832-2753