CHECKOUT MAGA ZINE
SUMMER 2019 - VOL XXVIII NO 2
Bylaw & Policy Conference page 11
Health Care Conference page 8
Notice of Nominations for Local Union Elections page 18
What’s Inside UFCW LOCAL 175
UFCW LOCAL 633
President Shawn Haggerty
President May Chalmers
Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Tosato
Secretary-Treasurer Marylou Mallett
Recorder Karen Vaughan
Recorder Brian Kozlowski
Executive Assistants Sylvia Groom Luc Lacelle Jim McLean HEALTH & SAFETY: Health & Safety Representatives: Ron McGuire, Mary Shaw
145 Union News
206 Day of Mourning
77 Welcome New Members
108 Health Care Stewards Conference
11 Bylaw & Policy Conference
16 Negotiations
Rallies, Training,
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: Intake Representative: Georgina MacDonald; Workers’ Compensation Representatives: Joanne Ford, Phil Hames, Sarah Neath LEGAL: Director: Fernando Reis; Counsel: Shauna Fabrizi, Mary Hurley, Matthew Jagodits, Jane Mulkewich, Avo Topjian ORGANIZING: Director: Rick Wauhkonen; Organizing Representatives: Linval Dixon, Tim Hum, Jeffery Lu, Meemee Seto, Amy Tran TRAINING & EDUCATION: Director: Rob Armbruster; Coordinator: Kelly Nicholas; Engagement & Media Relations Strategist: Tim Deelstra COMMUNICATIONS: Communications Representative: Laurie Duncan; Senior Communications Representative: Jennifer Tunney REGION 1: Director: Kelly Tosato; Union Representatives: Colby Flank, Tracy Stubbs REGION 2: Director: John DiNardo; Union Representatives: Farman Ali, Orsola Augurusa, Rick Daudlin, John DiFalco, Casey Magee, Christina Mayberry, Tony Nigro REGION 3: Director: Daniel Mercier; Union Representatives: Shannon Epp, Paul Hardwick, Dean McLaren, Jacques Niquet, Joe Tenn; Servicing Representative: Sandra Proulx
Maple Lodge Farms, Orbis, Taste of Nature...
REGION 4: Director: Chris Fuller; Union Representatives: Dave Forbes; Servicing Representatives: Colleen Cox,Virginia Haggith, Jennifer Hanley, Tim Kelly, Sabrina Qadir, Arlene Robertson, Chris Watson REGION 5: Director: Angela Mattioli; Union Representatives: Jehan Ahamed, Ashleigh Garner; Servicing Representative: Rolando Cabral, Joce Cote REGION 6: Director: Rob Nicholas; Union Representatives: Sam Caetano, Matt Davenport, Jason Hanley, Lee Johnson-Koehn, Lionel MacEachern, Mike Mattioli, Brad Morrison, Melody Slattery, Mario Tardelli, Fred Teeple REGION 7: Director: Sharon Kempf; Union Representatives: Diane Sanvido, Steve Springall; Servicing Representatives: Dan Bondy, Todd Janes REGION 8: Director: Sandra Rogerson; Union Representatives: Jeff Barry, John Beaton, Matt Belanger, Jim Hames, Derek Jokhu
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Training
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ISSN No. 1703-3926 CHECKOUT is an official publication of Locals 175 & 633 of the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW)
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OUTreach Gala, Scrapbooking Fundraiser
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President’s Message Our strength & unity can create change for the better Political action is key to how your Union protects and expands the rights of the membership and all working people. It’s important for all of us to be active and engaged at every level of our government. Changes don’t just happen on their own. Change is a direct result of groups, like your Union, that get involved. In the last few elections (provincial and municipal) Members assisted in campaigning door-to-door to speak with other Members about important issues facing working people. The involvement of Members in a number of campaigns and key ridings has shown how much we can do when we take action. The Union has made presentations to Federal Minister of Labour Patty Hadju on Pay Equity and Paid Sick Leave, and presented to Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Hadju on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Much of our economy and employment are driven by trade deals and legislation. The USMCA threatens supply management for the dairy and poultry sectors – where our Members work. Beyond the workplace, every one of us is affected in some way by the way that Doug Ford is dismantling what it means to be Ontarian. Our health care is a source of pride for all Ontarians and it is under threat from Ford. Ford has reduced funding for community health and changed the administration of emer-
Shawn Haggerty
gency services, which will have a direct effect on our Members, not to mention patients, in those fields. He also proposed scrapping out-of-province coverage.
able to secure many contracts with the better benefits and protections contained in Bill 148 before Ford repealed it. And your Union contract cannot be stripped away by Ford.
Since Doug Ford’s election less than a year ago, he has:
Several of our Bylaw & Policy guest presenters – from President Perrone and Secretary-Treasurer Barclay, to Gabrielle Carteris – spoke of improving public opinion when it comes to Unions. More and more people from all walks of life – Union and non-Union – are realizing the strength and benefits of belonging to the Labour movement
• Delayed minimum wage increases. • Taken away paid leave. • Made overtime harder to get. • Reduced access to unionization. • Gutted funding for social programs including autism care. • Slashed education and school repair funding while he increased class sizes. • Cut post-secondary education and library funding. • Eliminated funding for conservation and environmental programs. • Cut legal aid funding. And, in place of all that, we got... • Buck-a-Beer and tailgating. • ‘Open for Business’ signs at the border. • A new slogan for license plates. Ford’s goal is to underfund our public programs to the point that they don’t work for most people, and then those who can afford it choose private services – whether it’s health care, education, etc. Those who cannot afford it are left dealing with an underfunded system staffed by overworked, underpaid people. This is why belonging to a Union is more important than ever. We were
When Unionized employees in a workplace are connected and engaged, it creates a stronger Union with more power. These employees are harder to divide in tough times because they support and have a strong connection to one another and their Union. This same strength can be found in our communities and among all working people if we work together to raise each other up and stand up to protect the things that are important to all of us. We must see what’s happening for what it is: an attack on what it means to be Canadian. Let these attacks ignite a fire in you that will build our strength and momentum as a movement to empower all workers. It’s up to all of us to not let that fire die out. Let’s create the future we want and deserve for our families, our province, and our country. In Solidarity, Shawn Haggerty president@ufcw175.com
Secretary-Treasurer’s Message
Kelly Tosato
Ensuring safe workplaces & equity for all In March, I was honoured and humbled to attend the 63rd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference (UNCSW) in New York City on behalf of UFCW. More than 9,000 delegates from around the world registered to take part in the conference. Of those, 177 were trade union delegates representing 42 countries. The focus for this year’s session was social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. UN Secretary-General António Guterres indicated that his top priorities include eliminating all sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff against vulnerable people in places under UN peace-keeping operations; promoting the adoption of these priorities in other countries; and ensuring gender equality and human rights are present across all aspects of life. Guterres also aims to have gender-balanced leadership at the UN by 2021. I took part in several workshops focusing on gender, violence, human trafficking, and equity. In each workshop, representatives from different countries spoke of their experiences and the work they’re doing to combat gender violence and the oppression of women. Hearing first-hand of the day-to-day struggles faced by women and girls around the world was at times shocking and often 4
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heart-wrenching. Their words and their work inspired me. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) hosted a panel on Universal Child Care with speakers who are working to achieve this on a global level. The current system in many countries – Canada included – means that parents feel lucky to find affordable accessible child care. A representative from CUPW spoke about how that Union was successful at negotiating a Child Care Benefit Program funded by both employees and the employer. This program provides eligible members with access to funds to assist with child care costs. In the years that followed, CUPW also negotiated to have this program funded entirely by the employer. Currently, the employer contributes a yearly maximum of $2.5 million to the fund and approximately 500 employees access the program. Most of the funds accessed go toward families whose children have special needs, for whom it’s even more difficult to find affordable adequate child care. During the recent Bylaw & Policy Conference, we heard from Farrah Khan, who is a leading advocate against oppression and sexual violence. We live and work in a country where one in three women, and one in six men, report being sexually assaulted ever year. These numbers are higher for trans women and women of colour. Farrah pointed out several times that this violence and oppression is happening in Canada; not
somewhere else by somebody else, but right here. It’s happening to our family, our loved ones, our friends, and our co-workers. Your Union believes in empowering women in the workplace. We work to not only negotiate agreements that include pay equity, but we bargain to include gender neutral language, paid leaves that apply to all spouses and partners, and more. We work continuously to ensure that women make up a large part of our leadership team and staff as well. We must all do our part to ensure safe workplaces and lives for women and trans women, and to make sure their voices are heard. That means protecting accessible affordable quality health care, maintaining and improving social services like Legal Aid and affordable housing, and helping those women achieve Union membership whenever possible. Your Union membership is about more than a collective agreement. Our Union family protects each other and works to ensure a healthy and safe workplace for every member. Your Union Reps and Directors, any of the Executive Assistants, myself or President Haggerty – we are all resources for you. We also have a Members Assistance Program (see the back cover of this magazine) that can put you in touch with support in your community as well. In Solidarity, Kelly Tosato treasurer@ufcw175.com
Union News On April 30, 2019, members and staff joined an Ontario Health Coalition rally of thousands at Queen’s Park to call for Ontario to keep our health care system public. Alongside health care workers, community partners, labour allies and more, the group protested Doug Ford’s drastic health care funding cuts, restructuring plans and austerity measures. In addition, Ford has slashed funding for, or eliminated, other health services like mental health initiatives, autism support services, and more. President Haggerty spoke to the crowd: “Good, public health care is a cornerstone of Canadian society. The changes that the Ford government has revealed to our health care system will undermine that cornerstone. As a Union that represents thousands of workers in the health care sector, including EMS, and long-term and home care workers, among others, we are proud to make our collective voice heard and to support good, universal public health care in Ontario.” His plan to change how the paramedics system in Ontario works will have a direct impact on members of Local 175 working as Emergency Service Providers (EMS) and dispatchers. Visit ontariohealthcoalition.ca for more information.
Welcome New Staff In early May, the Union welcomed Colleen Cox to the staff. Colleen began her career in 1989 at A&P and became a Steward only a year later. She has been a Vice-President on the Local 175 Executive Board for 20 years and was always an active member for the Metro Payroll Deduction Program to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). In fact, in addition to campaigning in her store to get members to join the program Colleen has organized an annual event for her co-workers and community to contin-
ue raising funds for the LLSC after the close of the payroll deduction campaign. Last year, the Union brought Colleen into Region 4 to work as a Special Projects Union Representative (SPUR), where she will now continue working as a Servicing Representative. “It was my goal to work for this Union and to be able to be where I belong - servicing the membership,” said Colleen. “For many years, Colleen has shown that she is a dedicated advocate for workers’ rights,” said President Haggerty. “Her experience as an employee at Metro will be invaluable in her role as a Servicing Representative and I welcome her to the staff of the Union.” Summer 2019
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Day of Mourning Thank you to the members and families who attended this year’s Day of Mourning ceremonies across Ontario. The health and safety of every worker should be the most important thing to employers – but that is simply not the case. We continue to fight to improve health and safety legislation, increase fines against offending employers, and ensure that those workers who are injured or made ill on the job receive the compensation they deserve. Every day, Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSCs) members and Worker Representatives volunteer their time and care to help make all of our workplaces safer. Please let your Health & Safety reps know if you spot a hazard or fear that work you’ve been asked to do is a danger to yourself or others. Always ensure you wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever necessary, and take all precautions to make sure you get to go home safe and healthy at the end of the day. For photos from more Day of Mourning commemorations, visit myunion.ca or find us on Facebook and Instagram @ufcwlocals175633. 6
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Another organizing victory for Olameter workers
Maple Ridge Retirement employees join Union
Join us in welcoming more employees from Olameter to the Union! The most recent campaign, which lasted two weeks, brings more Olameter meter readers to our Union from the municipality of Chatham-Kent as well as Middlesex and Elgin Counties. These new members will join more than 140 other Olameter employees who gained the Union advantage by voting Union Yes back in December 2018.
In March, employees of Maple Ridge Retirement Services who work at Bayfield House Retirement Lodge in Penatanguishene voted to join UFCW Local 175.
Since that certification, the Union has been able to prevent changes to the working conditions of our members. Working conditions – including wages and other terms of employment – that exist at the time of application for certification are protected under Section 86 of the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA). Our newest members wanted that same protection for their current working conditions before any changes could be made. Employees cited similar concerns to the previous Olameter gas and water meter readers who joined UFCW Local 175. Those reasons included wanting to address health and safety issues, wages, pensions, vision care coverage, and management style.
Organizing Incentive Program Shirley Schueneman, pictured here at right, is a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and member of Local 175 from the Victorian Order of Nurses in Elgin County. Shirley and her co-workers joined the Union last year. The Organizing Team presented a cheque for $375 to Shirley for a lead she called in to the Team for Bonnie Place Retirement Home. The employees at that home celebrated their Union victory shortly after. Congratulations Shirley! Learn more about our Organizing Incentive Program at ufcw175.com/honorarium.
The new members provides Housekeeping and Kitchen services at the retirement facility, whose employees also belong to our Local Union. Not only did they see the benefits of belonging to the Union that the other employees at the home enjoyed, these workers specifically wanted to deal with scheduling issues to improve their quality of life. This victory brings 17 members to us, who work full and part-time, at the Penatanguishene retirement facility. Congratulations, and welcome to Your Union! There are many reasons that workers across the health care sector, in all types of jobs, choose to join a Union. Since the beginning of 2018, Organizers at UFCW Local 175 have assisted about 500 workers at health care facilities in gaining the Union advantage. View all of the Organizing victories we celebrate with workers at ufcw175.com/category/victories!
2019 Health Care Stewards Conference The annual health care conference hosts Stewards from addiction treatment centres, retirement homes, community health, long-term care facilities, emergency services, and more. The opening of this year’s conference coincided with the start of Nurses’ Week, which recognizes the dedication of our Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Every year, we feature photos of our nurses on our Facebook and Instagram pages – be sure to check them out. Canadians are proud of our public health care system. It’s not perfect, but it’s for every one of us – and it’s a cornerstone of our identity. Nurses are there for us and our loved ones from the beginning of life to the end, and all along the way. They care for our families and loved ones through difficult times, and often do so while understaffed and overworked. President Haggerty opened the conference and welcomed all the delegates. He spoke briefly about the need to stay active in politics at all levels to make sure our government hears the voices of working people and families. Patients and staff suffer when the government makes funding cuts to our health care system. Over the last several years, our Health Care Stewards have taken part in a number of training sessions about diversity, 8
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and Personality Dimensions adds yet another skill set in this area. Once participants identify their own traits, it becomes easier to understand what motivates others, which can be especially helpful when dealing with patients and families in our health care facilities. In addition, some Stewards (pictured on the cover & right page here) volunteered their time on the Sunday before the conference to take part in a session about Health Care and LGBTQQI2S inclusion. The course, facilitated by EGALE Canada, focused on how health care workers can ensure their facilities are welcoming, inclusive, and safe for all patients and clients, and their families. From understanding LGBTQQI2S language and identities, to reviewing some real life scenarios, the course used activities and in-depth discussion to focus on what identity means and how we can implement best practices to respect the identities of others. Both the pre-conference workshop and the Personality Dimensions training focused on how individuals can work toward enhanced communication and interaction with others through self-reflection and constant learning. Thank you to all the Stewards who took part in this year’s conference for sharing your personal experiences and for listening to others with respect. The conference was a great success because of your participation and dedication.
You can find more photos online at myunion.ca
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2019 Health Care Stewards Conference continued
2019 Bylaw & Policy Conference On May 4, 2019, more than 360 registered Stewards and Executive Board took part in the UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Bylaw & Policy Conference. This conference takes place every four years and is an opportunity for members to make proposals on their Union’s policies and procedures, and bylaws. In addition, the day featured presentations from President Haggerty, Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Tosato, and a number of guest speakers. UFCW International President Marc Perrone and UFCW International Secretary-Treasurer Shaun Barclay graciously assisted during registration to help get the Stewards all of their information and conference items. Following a traditional welcome by Wanda Whitebird of the Mi’kmaq nation Bear Clan, President Haggerty gave an in-depth presentation on what’s taken place at the Union over the last two years and what’s happening as we move forward. President Haggerty reinforced the Local’s commitment to servicing and negotiating strong collective agreements that include good wages, benefits, and working conditions, as well as better health and safety rights, anti-harassment and anti-violence policies, pension protection, and inclusive, gender-neutral language. In addition, he reported briefly on the work of each of the Union’s departments and committees as well.
Grievances
The Locals filed 4,493 in 2017 & 4,568 in 2018.
When it comes to helping workers win Union representation, President Haggerty spoke proudly of our Organizing Team, which boasts a 90% success rate despite employer-friendly legislation in this province. Over the last two years, our Team helped 3,112 new members from 37 workplaces gain the Union advantage as members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633. As our economy and industries shifted in the last two years, more than 780 members lost their jobs to closures. In addition, many members in the last two years have experienced layoffs and, especially in our retail workplaces, a drastic reduction in hours. The topic of politics took up a large part of President Haggerty’s presentation to the delegates. With a current provincial government that is decimating publicly funded programs, and an upcoming federal election too, it’s an
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important time for the Union, all members, and all working people to get involved. The Union is politically active in a number of ways. Through constituency lobbies, direct lobbying of Members of Parliament and Provincial Parliament (MPs and MPPs), and taking part in protests and days of action. The Union continues to fight for workers’ rights and more at every opportunity. Read more about how politics affect working people in President Haggerty’s message on page 3. n
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Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Tosato gave a detailed presentation on the assets, income, and expenditures of the Local Union. Since last reported at the Education & Finance Conference in 2017, the combined equity of the Local Unions has increased by more than $2 million. Secretary-Treasurer Tosato also reported that the Local 175 Strike Fund currently has assets totalling $8.4 million, putting us in a good position to support any members that decide to take strike action.
Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty
Local 175 Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Tosato
Local 175 Recorder Karen Vaughan
Wanda Whitebird
The audited financials for last year will be presented to members for approval at the upcoming June membership meetings. In conclusion, Secretary-Treasurer Tosato thanked the Union’s Investment Committee – comprised of nine Local Union officers, staff, and Executive Board members – who oversee the Local’s financial investments for their hard work. n
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This year’s conference included a number of guest speakers: UFCW International President Marc Perrone, recently elected UFCW International Secretary-Treasurer Shaun Barclay, and UFCW Canada President Paul Meinema. President Perrone thanked the members for their support during the recent Stop & Shop strike in the North East U.S. that saw 31,000 UFCW members take to the picket lines. Those workers “believed in something so basic, but so important,” said Perrone. “They believed that the hard work they do, the customer service they provide, is worth something. They believed that a company was successful because of their hard work – not in spite of it. They believed that proposing actual cuts to healthcare, wages, and benefits when the company you work for makes billions isn’t just wrong, it’s immoral.” President Perrone noted that Stop & Shop’s sales across all of its stores dropped by over 75% and as much as 90% in some areas. That’s the power of standing together. He spoke about the shared values of all UFCW members: To achieve dignity, respect, and justice. “These are not just mere words we use, but they define what we, as one united union family, stand for,” he said. n
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Secretary-Treasurer Barclay congratulated the Local Union on its outstanding organizing successes in the last couple of
Bylaw & Policy Committee Co-Chairs Sylvia Groom and Jim McLean
years. He noted that Locals 175 & 633 is among the very top percentage for organizing wins across all of UFCW. He applauded the diverse approaches our Organizers take to meet and gain new Members across many sectors of the economy. “I’ll always be an organizer at heart and I’m inspired by the great work Locals 175 & 633 are doing to grow our union family,” said Barclay. Secretary-Treasurer Barclay also spoke of changing opinions across the United States with regard to Unions: “In a recent Gallop poll in the U.S., 62% of the public had a positive view of Unions. That’s the highest rating in 40 years.” Further, he cited the recent Stop & Shop work stoppage as a great example of how public opinion can work in workers’ favour; the struggle for a better life resonated with many working Americans. n
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UFCW International President Marc Perrone
Locals 175 & 633 enforce over 400 Collective Agreements, for members at more than 1,100 workplaces.
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National President Paul Meinema spoke to the group about the political climate in Canada and the work being done across the country to lead the way in terms of job protection and transition, new forms of representation for gig economy workers, and continued pressure on our elected representatives to enact good legislation and policies to protect workers.
UFCW Int’l Secretary-Treasurer Shaun Barclay
UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema
President Meinema also spoke of the impressive recovery made in the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) over the last few years. In 2015, the CCWIPP Board of Trustees instituted changes to improve its standing with respect to a funding shortfall. Since then, our Local Union and UFCW bargaining units across the country, have been achieving good success in bargaining and within the membership’s ranks to secure a better financial position for the plan going forward. President Meinema thanked the Stewards who’ve been part of the negotiating committees achieving these successes for all of their hard work and dedication. n
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To end the morning portion of the conference, the Local Union’s Bylaw & Policy Committee took to the stage to go through the proposed amendments to the Policies and Procedures, and Bylaws. Your Committee is comprised of: •
Co‐Chairs: Sylvia Groom and Jim McLean.
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UFCW Local 633: May Chalmers and Marylou Mallett
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UFCW Local 175: Colleen Cox, Linval Dixon, Kim Hunter, Sharon Kempf, Joe Marteniano, Jim Montgomery, Guy Morrisette, Joy Searles, Leighton Stephenson, Rick Szyja, Karen Vaughan, & Byron Williams.
The amendments discussed and voted on were put forth by members at the November 2018 membership meetings. In addition, some Bylaw changes were suggested by UFCW International to eliminate old or redundant language and other housekeeping items.
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For each amendment, the Committee recommended concurrence or non-concurrence, which was then put forth to the delegates to vote. Several of the proposals brought Stewards to the microphones for respectful discussion and debate. The proposals will be brought to the membership at the June meetings for a vote as well. The afternoon was full of motivation and thoughtful discussions from Farrah Khan, Gabrielle Carteris, and Tanya Talaga. n
Farrah Khan
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Farrah Khan works to raise awareness about the intersections of gender-based violence and equity through education, policy, art creation and advocacy. She has founded and co-founded numerous initiatives, and is a member of the Government of Canada’s Federal Strategy Against Gender-based Violence Advisory Council. In 2018, Farrah was appointed to the Gender Equality Advisory Council for the G7 Summit. Currently, Farrah is the manager of Consent Comes First at Ryerson University. Three in 10 Canadians say they’ve been sexually harassed at work, but few ever report it to their employer. Sexual harassment takes many forms, including but not limited to:
Gabrielle Carteris
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Crossing Boundaries,
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Unwanted Flirting,
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Sharing Inappropriate Images,
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Degrading Jokes or Comments,
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Invalidating One’s Identity,
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Spreading Rumours about Someone’s Sexual Past, and;
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Intrusive Questions.
Farrah’s presentation to the delegates addressed a number of difficult issues. Using humour and her own personal experiences, she spoke about the vital importance of consent, and that consent is Freely Given, Informed, Reversible, and Engaged (FIRE). n
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The second guest speaker was actor, activist, and current SAG-AFTRA President, Gabrielle Carteris. “I had been an actor almost my entire adult life and I had always been a member of the union -- but I didn’t really understand what a union does,” said Gabrielle. It took an injury on set in 2006 for her to realize what it meant to be protected by a Union. Up until that point, Gabrielle admits she was someone who didn’t like to rock the boat. But, from the moment of that accident forward, Gabrielle has been an outspoken advocate and champion for workers’ rights.
Choir! Choir! Choir!
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“Our movement connects people on a deeper level and channels our collective strength towards the greater good. We inspire a sense of purpose and worth.” She was on the front lines last year in Missouri, talking with
Union and non-Union workers on what Right to Work (for Less) really means. The voters in that state voted 67.5% against the anti-worker legislation because of community members and labour advocates, like Gabrielle, on the ground going door-todoor to speak directly to the people the law would have impacted. “Never forget that unionism creates security, dignity, and ensures that people have a voice and that there is stability and certainty across industries and communities when they work with unions,” she added. n
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Next, delegates heard from Tanya Talaga, who is an award-winning journalist and author, and the First Ojibwa woman to deliver the CBC Massey Lectures. For 20 years, Tanya has worked as a journalist, and now columnist, for The Toronto Star. Tanya spoke to the crowd about the experience of Indigenous people in Canada and some of the hurdles she has faced as a journalist trying to tell their stories. She spoke too of the death of Tina Fontaine and how she called out media for not reporting her name, but instead calling her ‘dead girl’ in their headlines. Tanya hopes to build a better future through her work to humanize the stories, like Tina Fontaine’s, found in Canada’s history of cultural genocide and colonization of Indigenous peoples, and ongoing oppressive and degrading practices that still go on today. In her presentation, Tanya spoke of the amazing work done also by Cindy Blackstock, who works tirelessly to make sure Indigenous children get the same health care as non-Indigenous children. n
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Last, but not least, the afternoon ended with a funny and invigorating performance from Choir! Choir! Choir! This musical duo had the delegates laughing and up on their feet singing along to With A Little Help from My Friends by the Beatles. Thank you to all of the Stewards for making this year’s conference a wonderful success!
Negotiation Updates Members at Maple Lodge Farms in Brampton avoid strike; ratify new contract The 1,200 full-time employees at Maple Lodge Farms in Brampton ratified a new collective agreement on April 6, 2019. The members had rejected a previous settlement reached in early March and sent their committee back to the negotiating table with a strike mandate. The ratified agreement contains raises totalling $2.05 per hour over the term of the contract. Members will receive a retroactive lump sum payment of $600 effective as of ratification as well. Live Haul Drivers will get retroactive pay of $15 per load, and no Live Haul Driver will receive less than $600 for this payment. In addition, pay rates for Live Haul Drivers have been adjusted and improved following changes to the delivery and kill systems. A new premium provides all Live Receiving, Sanitation and VRT employees with an additional 65 cents per hour. Other existing shift premiums improve to 50 cents per hour as of ratification. Those premiums increase again in year two, to 55 cents per hour. In year two, employees will also benefit from a $25 increase to the annual boot allowance. Employer contributions to the pension plan improve by 5 cents per hour worked as of ratification, and another 5 cents per hour in October 2019. Previously, all employees hired after December 12, 2012 had to pay 30% of the cost of their health benefit plan premiums. The negotiating committee achieved new provisions that, as of the date of ratification, will see any employee hired after December 12, 2012, that has three or more years of service, have their 16
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New agreement ratified by members at Taste of Nature Members at Taste of Nature in Markham ratified a new 3-year collective agreement on April 15, 2019.
benefit premiums paid at 100% by the employer. This will affect 150 employees directly. Plus, any employee during the term of the contract who passes the three-year threshold will also see their benefits paid 100% by the employer Also, effective the date of ratification, vision care coverage will improve by $25. The workers’ dental plan improves to provide coverage in line with the 2017 Ontario Dental Association (ODA) guide. The plan will then follow the 2018 ODA guide next year, and the 2019 guide in 2021. The Union Negotiating Committee achieved important language improvements, which now make having Union representation during any discipline meeting mandatory. In addition, a new sunset clause will see the removal of discipline from an employee’s record after 18 months.
The parties met in conciliation to address wage increases, which the employer was hesitant to give to the lowest rated classification because of the provincial increase to $14 per hour. As a result, the new Taste of Nature agreement contains increases for all classifications, including retroactive pay for hours worked since July 1, 2018. Some classifications will receive an increase up to 6.7%, with all rates increasing by 1.3% in each of the three years in the contract term. The workers also benefit from an enhanced safety shoe allowance of $100, up from $75. Language improvements ensure that Union Reps have access to visit the workplace. Members will now receive two float days per year instead of one, and the negotiating committee achieved improved language around vacation as well. Lastly, the employer will contribute $500 toward the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC), and $500 toward the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund.
Other language amendments improve vacation scheduling and bereavement leave. The employer made a commitment to hiring more drivers as well. Union Negotiating Committee: Leah Alegre, Glen Avila, Rogelio Burdeos, Joel Guerra, Larry Mann, Felix Ramos, Brian Veenstra, Union Rep John DiFalco, and Region 2 Director, John DiNardo.
Union Negotiating Committee: Jeyakmar Arumugam, Andre Deschamps, and Union Rep Melody Slattery.
Negotiation Updates Direct Coil members achieve first agreement On April 6, 2019, employees at Direct Coil achieved their very first agreement as Union members with UFCW Local 175. The three-year contract covers 80 full-time employees at the Direct Coil facility in Kingston. The Union negotiating committee achieved raises of 1.5% in each year for all Direct Coil employees. Plus, shift premiums improve to 60 cents per hour for afternoons, and $1 per hour for midnights. In addition, a new training premium pays 75 cents per hour on top of an employee’s regular wage for all hours worked while providing training. Overtime will be paid after 42 hours per week in the first year of the agreement. Starting in year two, employees will receive overtime pay after 40 hours per week. A new RRSP will see the company match employee contributions of 50 cents per hour for a total contribution rate of $1 per hour worked. The employees maintained their benefits and added an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to the plan.
Orbis Canada members ratify
A grievance and arbitration procedure contained in the agreement will provide these new members with a strong voice in the workplace, and assist them in dealing with issues, such as health and safety concerns, and more. This first agreement includes a number of other provisions, including: •
Seniority rights for layoff, recall, and job postings;
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Seniority-based shift preference for those with seven years of service or more;
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A sunset clause for discipline on file;
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Union Steward training leaves of absence;
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Paid bereavement of up to five days;
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Enhanced layoff notice, and;
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A safety boot allowance.
Union Negotiating Committee: Ian Allen, Jason Cook, and Union Rep Paul Hardwick.
On April 4, 2019, the 75 full-time employees at Orbis Canada in Toronto ratified a new three-year contract with raises averaging 2.79% in year one, 2.72% in year two, and 3.16% in year three. Premiums paid for night shift work improve to 80 cents per hour, up from 70 cents. Dental coverage improves to $2,000 per year, up from $1,000. Massage therapy coverage increases significantly to provide $102 per visit, up from $25. Plus, the maximum for massage therapy improves to $500 per year, up from $250. Similarly, members now receive industry standard per visit coverage for Chiropractic care, up from $25 per visit, to a maximum of $500 instead of the previous $250. Vision care now provides $300, up from $200, toward the purchase of prescription eyewear. Employer-paid premiums to maintain the employee’s benefits will increase at no cost to the members. Additional improvements provide three days’ bereavement, up from two, and an enhanced safety boot allowance of $175 instead of $155. Language has been added to the agreement that the employer will recognize any statutory holiday announced by the provincial or federal governments going forward.
You can find more negotiations online at myunion.ca
Union Negotiating Committee: Mohammad Butt, Kevin Fabiculanan, Amarjeet Singh, Harpreet K Singh, and Union Rep Tony Nigro.
N O T I C E O F N O M I N AT I O N S The International Constitution and Local Union Bylaws require Officers of the Local Unions 175 & 633 to be elected every four years. The current term of office expires December 31, 2019. In the following pages, you will find the list of positions open for nomination, including the numerical designation (used only for nomination and election purposes) for each position, the relevant sectors, and signatures required for nomination. Please also refer to the nomination package, eligibility requirements, and deadlines on page 20.
The positions, sectors, and number of qualified nominators signatures required on the “petition� for nomination are as follows on these pages.
CENTRAL REGION Position
Sector
HOPE VP #2 All HOPE Sector VP #3 All HOPE Sector Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #7 Pork VP #8 Poultry VP #9 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #10 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #11 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry Retail Service VP #19 VP #20 VP #21 VP #22
All Loblaws Banners All Metro Banners Car Rentals Rexall/Pharma Plus All Pharmacies VP #23 All Retail Grocery VP #24 All Retail Service Vice President At Large VP #35 All Sectors & Units
EASTERN REGION Position
LOCAL 175 Position President Secretary-Treasurer Recorder VP #1 Executive Vice President
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Signatures Required 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100
Sector
HOPE VP #4 All HOPE Sector Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #12 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #13 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry Retail Service VP #25 All Loblaws Banners VP #26 All Metro Banners VP #27 All Other Retail Service not listed above Vice President At Large VP #36 All Sectors & Units
Signatures Required 15 15 15 30 30 30 30 30 30 10 25 30 30 40
Signatures Required 10 30 30 25 30 25 40
FOR LOCAL UNION ELECTIONS NORTHERN REGION Position
Sector
HOPE VP #5 All HOPE Sector Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #14 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry Retail Service VP #28 All Loblaws Banners VP #29 All Metro Banners VP #30 All Other Retail Service not listed above Vice President At Large VP #37 All Sectors & Units
WESTERN REGION Position
Sector
HOPE VP #6 All HOPE Sector Industrial, Meat & Poultry VP #15 Poultry VP #16 Non-Meat VP #17 Beef VP #18 All Industrial, Meat & Poultry Retail Service VP #31 All Loblaws Banners VP #32 All Metro Banners VP #33 All Other Retail Service not listed above VP #34 All Retail Service Vice President At Large VP #38 All Sectors & Units
Signatures Required 5 5 30 30 30 40
Signatures Required 10 15 15 15 30 25 30
FORMER LOCAL 1977 Position
Signatures Required
DISTRICT 1 VP #39 VP #40 VP #41 DISTRICT 2 VP #42 VP #43 VP #44
30 30 30 30 30 30
DISTRICT 3 VP #45 VP #46 VP #47 Vice President At Large VP #48 VP #49
30 30 30 40 40
LOCAL 633 Position
Signatures Required
President Secretary-Treasurer Recorder Vice President #1 Vice President #2 Vice President #3
8 8 8 8 8 8
15 30 40
Information on the nomination package, official petition forms, eligibility, deadlines, and notification of results continues on page 20. Summer 2019
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Nomination Package
Eligibility
A nomination package including Official Nomination Petition Forms will be available to any candidate for an elected position by contacting the Election Chairperson. The Election Chairperson is Harry Sutton.
To be eligible for election, a candidate must be nominated by the required number of eligible nominators.
Contact Harry Sutton for a nomination package at the Provincial Head Office of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 at 1-800-565-8329 or 905-821-8329 on or after July 8, 2019, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Petition Forms Nominations will only be accepted on an Official Nomination Petition Form which shall be prepared and provided by the Election Chairperson. All petition nomination signatures must be made by a member of that Local Union and such nominator must be from the designated region and sector (if relevant).
Deadline Properly completed official nomination forms must be returned to the Election Chairperson no later than 5 p.m. on July 19, 2019 for review and verification. Nominations post-marked no later than 5 p.m. on July 19, 2019 by Priority Post or received (and receipted) at the Provincial Head Office of the Local Union by the same deadline will be deemed properly received by the Election Chairperson. All official nomination petition forms submitted for review must be original documents and will not be valid if submitted by copy or fax.
Notification of Results The results of the nomination process, acclamations, disqualifications, and nominees to specific positions will be posted in units after the close of nominations in accordance with the Local Union Bylaws.
SOLIDARITY SCHOLARSHIPS Apply at ufcw175.com/scholarships. Deadline is August 1. 20
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WEEKLONG PAID TRAINING Apply at ufcw175.com/training. Deadline is June 30. Training & Education On April 13, 2019, a group of members from Ridgewood Industries and their family turned out to a First Aid course that took place in Cornwall. Following the class, we received the following email from Executive Board Vice President and Ridgewood Chief Steward, Jean Patenaude:
Kelly and Rob, On behalf of the members of Ridgewood Industries, I would like to Thank You for supplying us with the 1st Aid Training in Cornwall on April 13th. It was one of the most enjoyable training sessions that I have ever had the pleasure of attending, Chris and his team, made learning interesting and fun, there was never a dull moment. I know everyone had a great time, learning and listening to the experiences of the trainers, because of this knowledge, I know that it will make us all better trained in handling emergency situations at home and at work. Thanks You from us all. Jean Patenaude Chief Steward, Ridgewood Ind. Thank you to Jean for the wonderful letter. Courses available to Members can be found online at ufcw175.com/training.
Community Action Network & Fundraising OUTreach Committee at the Canadian Embassy in D.C. On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, the UFCW OUTreach Committee attended a screening of the Canadian documentary “The Fruit Machine”, and on April 11, the group attended a reception at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. “The Fruit Machine” takes a look into Canada’s history and the purge of LGBTQQI2S people from both the Canadian military and public service from the 1950s to the 1990s. The lives and careers of those citizens were destroyed. Michelle Douglas, who was present at the screening, was one of the persons dismissed from the Canadian Armed forces as “not employable due to homosexuality.” Michelle launched a lawsuit in 1990 which was subsequently settled when the military abandoned its policy of banning gays and lesbians. Michelle went on to be a LGBTQQI2S activist. Executive Board Vice President Shirley Hepditch, who works at Parkdale Community Health Centre in Toronto, along with Executive Assistants Sylvia Groom and Jim McLean, all attended the documentary screening.
Scrapbooking raises $1,600 for the LLSC On Saturday March 23rd, the annual Scrapbooking Crop for a Cure was held at the Cambridge office. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, the event raised $1,600 for life-saving research for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC).
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Legal Notes
“Vaccinate or Mask” Policy struck down In a recent decision, Arbitrator Kaplan struck down the “Vaccinate or Mask” (“VOM”) policy introduced at hospitals; he found that this policy was both unreasonable and that it violated the collective agreement. Implemented by employers in the health care sector, VOM policies typically require health care workers to either get the annual influenza (flu) vaccine, or accept wearing a surgical or procedural mask during flu season.
Facts In this case, the employer, St. Michael’s Hospital introduced and implemented a VOM policy at the hospital. Under this VOM policy, healthcare workers (including nurses) who did not get the annual influenza vaccine, were required, during all or most of the flu season, to wear a surgical or procedural mask in all areas where patients were present or where care was delivered.
sion—this was not enough to justify the policy. Arbitrator Kaplan wrote:
“Acting in good faith is not enough alone to establish that a unilateral employer policy is reasonable where, as here, it is inconsistent with the collective agreement and where it sits on a shaky evidentiary foundation.”
Implementing this VOM policy meant that health care workers at St. Michael’s Hospital could be forced to wear a mask for their entire shift for possibly months on end while being entirely free of symptoms. The nurses’ union grieved the VOM policy immediately.
Arbitrator Kaplan also found that the VOM policy breached the collective agreement. This VOM policy was found to be interfering with and undermining the nurses’ categorical right to refuse any unwanted vaccinations—a right under their collective agreement.
Decision
Takeaway
Arbitrator Kaplan noted that there was no persuasive scientific evidence establishing a conclusive relationship between the use of surgical and procedural masks and protection against influenza transmission. Also, no studies have definitively shown that mask use by either infectious patients or health care workers prevents influenza transmission. Arbitrator Kaplan found that the requirement for masking was a significant “ask” for these workers, and since the benefit it provided was so limited, it was not justified. The fact that there was no evidence that proved that these masks were effective to prevent transmission of the flu and because the VOM policy was a significant burden on these workers, the Arbitrator found the policy to be unreasonable. While the Hospital implemented the VOM policy in good faith, to promote patients’ health—a hospital’s mis-
The impact of this grievance award is that VOM policies and their implementation at Ontario hospitals (and potentially elsewhere) are now severely undermined. The effectiveness of masking to protect patients from influenza is not supported by sufficient scientific evidence. Despite their minimal benefit to preventing against influenza transmission, employers may still impose this rule on these workers. However, this decision shows, that when employers unilaterally impose these policies, lacking evidence of a benefit, such policies can be challenged for being unreasonable as well as violating the collective agreement. This decision could impact other healthcare workers in other healthcare settings, such as Long-Term Care or Retirement Homes, as well as workers in other sectors where employers may implement VOM policies.
M E M B E R S A S S I S TA N C E P R O G R A M CONFIDENTIAL REFERRAL SERVICES YOUR UNION OFFERS A M E M B E R S A S S I S TA N C E P R O G R A M ( M A P ) THROUGH LABOUR COMMUNITY SERVICES. The MAP is available to help members through difficult times by connecting you with the appropriate professional assistance close to your community as soon as possible. Locals 175 & 633 members can access this confidential service providing counselling referrals to professional services for: • • • • • •
Substance abuse Spousal abuse Depression Stress & anxiety Marital counselling Financial problems
• • • • • •
Legal issues Grief Anger Child care Affordable housing Other concerns
CALL SHARON LABOUR COMMUNITY SERVICES 416-977-6888 O R 1-877-801-7762 DES SERVICES EN FRANÇAIS SONT AUSSI OFFERTS
W W W.U F C W175.C O M/A S S I S TA N C E
Moving? Please make sure you notify the Union Office at membership@ufcw175.com or call 1-800-565-8329
Return postage will be paid by: United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 175 & 633 2200 Argentia Road Mississauga ON L5N 2K7
Canada Post Corporation Publication Agreement No. 40064671
MYUNION.CA
