USW fund gives $72,000 for COVID fight; Bee-Clean workers join UFCW
MAGNETAWAN, Ont. — The Ontario Labour Relations Board certified the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Sept. 9 as theunion for more than 150 workers at Youthdale Treatment Centres, a youth and family mental health agency operating in Toronto and Magnetawan, Ont.
“This is a strong and dedicated group of workers who are looking forward to having a stronger voice in their workplace,” says Craig Saunders, a CUPE representative who was involved in the drive.
USW fund gives $72,000 for COVID fight
TORONTO – In August and September, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) contributed $72,000 to organizations supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Canada, Chile and Brazil who were already facing hardship and systematic inequalities at the onset of the pandemic.
In Canada, migrant, poor and racialized communities were among the worst affected by the economic downturn. The SHF’s response includes funding for Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC), the Migrant Rights Network and Canada Without Poverty (CWP), says the union.
SHF funds also were granted to a coalition of exiled Chileans living in Canada to support 10 grassroots women’s organizations across Chile in building a nationwide solidarity network that will provide basic assistance to affected communities, says the United Steelworkers (USW).
“It is clear that everyone does not fare the same through COVID-19, from one country to another but also within Canada,” says Ken Neumann, USW national director and president of the SHF.
More workers from Berk’s Intertruck join IAM
NANAIMO, B.C. – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) gained 13 new members from Berk’s Intertruck in Port Alberni, B.C. on Sept. 11.
The local currently represents the main group under a collective bargaining agreement in Nanaimo, so they will already have a contract, says the union.
The British Columbia Labour Relations Board contacted IAM, District 250 because the employer preferred to add the Port Alberni group to their existing contract in Nanaimo, rather than negotiating a new contract, says IAM.
“Although the request was unusual, we went ahead and planned for the vote,” says Al Cyr, IAM organizer and business representative.
IAM made an application to include the 13 employees from Port Alberni. The vote was held electronically, says the union.
“We were successful with a 10 to three vote for the IAM,” says Cyr. “The new members now enjoy the benefits and wages of the current agreement as the Port Alberni location has been added to the existing certification.”
Bee-Clean workers join UFCW
ALGOMA DISTRICT, Ont. – Following a three-week organizing campaign, workers at Bee-Clean Building Maintenance in Ontario’s Algoma District are the newest members of United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) Locals 175 and 633 after voting to join the union on Sept. 12.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, it became apparent to many of the employees at Bee-Clean that their voices were not being heard, says UFCW.
As the amount of work the employer tasked them with increased, employees received no additional compensation. In addition, the employer allocated wage rates inconsistently and employees had no clear trajectory for job advancement
