Public demand will end gender violence
This week many Canadians paused to remember December 6, 1989, the anniversary of what has come to be known as the Montreal Massacre.
The lives of fourteen women, including CUPE member Maryse Laganière, were ended in that historic act of gender violence. Across the country, in small gatherings and large, women and men will join together to pay their respects to these women and others who have died since as a result of such violence.
Canada’s federal government continues to cut financial aid to organizations dedicated to the eradication of violence against women.
So, more than ever, it is important for CUPE members everywhere to make donations and call on our parliamentarians to restore funding that will contribute to stopping violence against women in Canada.
Apply to sit on CUPE’s national committees
CUPE is asking members to apply to sit on 15 national committees and working groups.
The committees advise CUPE’s national leadership on their area of involvement.
CUPE has the following national committees and working groups on: Aboriginal issues, pensions, political action, privatization, environment, global justice, health and safety, health care, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, racism, women’s issues, issues of disability, child care, young workers and literacy.
Ask your local for the application form or apply on line at:
http://www.cupe.ca/about/Apply_to_sit_on_CUPE.
CUPE 4823 settles with Kids and Company
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has reached a tentative agreement with Kids and Company. About 120 early childhood educators will vote on the deal this week.
The local organized an online campaign which saw hundreds of messages pour into the inboxes of Kids and Company management.
“We couldn’t have done it without you,” says their website, http://4823.cupe.ca.
CUPE Newfoundland launches website
CUPE Newfoundland launched their division website last week. The site features news, events and photos from Newfoundland and Labrador’s 6,000 CUPE members. The site is at http://nl.cupe.ca/.
Toronto Holiday Inn workers win
A hotel union has won big against Toronto’s Holiday Inn on King Street.
The 135 UNITE-HERE Local 75 members were locked out September 28 by the hotel, which is owned by the Westmount Hospitality Group, one of the world’s biggest hotel operators.
CUPE gave the locked out workers a boost in October when the union cancelled room reservations made for its national convention. The Star reports the “dramatic move” cost the hotel tens of thousands of dollars.
Convention delegates also took their October 17 anti-poverty rally to the hotel in support of the workers.
Journal de Québec workers get international boost in Peru
Locked out Journal de Québec workers told their story to an international gathering of journalists this week and won support and new friends.
The conference of the Uni Graphical, the international union representing journalists and printing trades people met in Lima, Peru last week.
CUPE sent Denis Bolduc, spokesperson for the three locked out CUPE locals as well as Jocelyne Martineau, another locked-out worker, and Jean Chabot from TVA to the conference to share experiences about Québecor, a home-grown company that now behaves (badly) on the world stage as well.
“What I’ve heard about Quebecor throughout the world is not at all reassuring,” Bolduc said. “What saddens me most is that there’s the word “Quebec” in Quebecor and that’s affecting Québec’s international reputation.”
Saskatchewan university strike ends
CUPE 1975 members at Saskatchewan’s universities were back at work December 3, after both sides agreed to refer two outstanding issues - regular increments and benefit plans - to binding arbitration.
“It’s not the resolution we wanted, but the government’s threat of back-to-work legislation meant “arbitration” was the only topic of discussion at the conciliation table,” says CUPE 1975 bargaining chair Brad McKaig.
Quebec court throws out health care re-org law
Quebec’s superior court has thrown out a provincial law that re-organized all bargaining units in the health care sector.
Bill 30, was designed - the Charest government claimed - to reduce the number of bargaining tables the province needed to sit at. But Québec’s labour centrals argued it was designed to make it easier to privatize health care and served to deny workers their right to choose the union that represents them.
The court agreed.
The Québec government now has 18 months to figure out what to do next.
Oxford County lays off overly-effective staff
Management at Oxford County in southwest Ontario are laying off five social service staff because they’re too good at their jobs.
The CUPE 1146 members work for the county’s welfare office, helping clients find work.
“Our members feel like they are being punished for doing their job well,” said staff representative Linda Thurston-Neeley.
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