President’s Report
October 6, 2010

Collective Bargaining

As you may be aware all 5 CAW collective agreements here at Ontario Northland expire at midnight December 31, 2010. We served notice to the Company on September 1st as is required by the Canada Labour Code that we wish to enter into negotiations. The Company replied a week later confirming receipt of letter and proposing dates to open negotiations. It looks like the opening of negotiations will be sometime in November.

When the first meeting take place all five bargaining units of our Local, Clerical, Stores, Express, CSU and CMC, On Board Services, Cochrane Station Inn and the Shops meet with the Company’s Bargaining committee to table your demands for a new collective agreement. The Company then tables their demands. Meeting dates are then set for each Agreement to discuss contract language changes. After those discussions have been finalized then the entire Union Committee meets with the Company to discuss monetary issues and any contract language issues that were not resolved in earlier discussions.

We will keep apprised as soon as meeting dates have been confirmed.

M of Way

Our Local was approached by a large group of Maintenance of Way Workers (Teamsters) seeking better representation for all their members. Members of our Local leadership met with this group to hear there concerns in mid August. It was agreed that we would work with Maintenance of Way Workers to get as many of them as possible to sign Federal Application for Membership Cards to begin the process that would allow a representation vote between our CAW Local and the Teamsters. After a successful vote the Maintenance of Way workers would be members of our Local.

The campaign has been a huge success and we are in the process to file all the signed cards to the Canada Labour Board to have them approved and a date set for a representation vote. M of Way workers are coming to our Local because this union has autonomy from our National Union; the local elected leadership are the people who handle all bargaining, grievances and arbitration without outside interference form Toronto or Ottawa National Representatives. CAW National representative assist but don’t dictate how the Local represents its members.

Refurbishment

The pre qualification process for the next GO Transit refurbishment project began in September it closes October 14th. Up to this date Metrolinx will accept documentation from interested company’s detailing that they meet certain requirements Metrolinx has established to be put on the short list of company’s that will be allowed to bid on the next GO Transit contract. . To make the short list an interested bidder must provide proof that it has the facility, workforce, expertise and experience to perform this type of refurbishment work. As well Metrolinx requires that bidders prove that they have the financial resources to perform the work if they were successful in being awarded the contract.

After the October 14th deadline Metrolinx has informed all interested parties that it will take three to four weeks to review the information provided and it is hoped a short list of potential bidders will then be released.

After this Metrolinx will release to all those short listed company’s the Request for Proposals for the next Refurbishment contract. Metrolinx believes it will be able to award the new contract to the successful bidder tentatively by spring of 2011. Metrolinx has informed everyone that the bidder with the lowest cost will be awarded the contract.

On another note we met with the Refurbishment Transformation Committee last week representatives from Deloitte were also present. We raised a number of the Refurbishment members concerns that we believe if not addressed could impact greatly on the efficiency gains everyone is striving to make. With the support of President Paul Goulet and Chief Operating Officer Corina Moore, Deloitte was asked to submit a report that would review those concerns and make recommendations on how to best address them.

ONR Financial Situation

On September 14th all the Unions at the ONR attended a meeting with ONTC Chairperson Ted Hargreaves and ONTC President Paul Goulet. At this meeting which we have previously reported on Mr. Hargreaves and Mr. Goulet presented the financial statements for the previous fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. The documents reported that the ONTC had lost $25,761,000 as well that the prospects for a better year this year were not good.

ONTC President Paul Goulet committed that he intended to work with all the unions at Ontario Northland to address the issues that are standing in the way of transforming this company into an organization that is efficient, profitable and one that all employees are proud to work for. This is a welcome breath of fresh air.

Succession Planning

Further to the above item ONTC President Paul Goulet has responded to concerns on the overall structure of the company and the effects of the demographic curve on all the departments in the months and years ahead, by proposing that we set up a joint committee to review all departmental positions that we represent members in. The plan is to determine what is the most efficient and productive way to move the company forward. Mr. Goulet suggested that we first begin in the rail/refurbishment departments of Agreement #12, we have agreed to his invitation to meet.

AfriGrand Caravan

A dedicated group of African grandmothers and granddaughters is travelling right across Canada, sharing their stories, their challenges and triumphs in dealing with the devastation wrought by AIDS.

The caravan, organized by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, will stop in more than 40 communities and kicked off in St. John's, Newfoundland on September 7. It was in North Bay Sunday October 3rd. The granddaughters on the trip have been orphaned by AIDS and in many cases, grandmothers take on the role of the primary care giver to their grandchildren after the death of their parents. The CAW contributed to making this voyage possible, by negotiating the donation of the van from Chrysler and providing the two volunteer drivers, one retired and one active CAW member. Our Local on your behalf donated $200.00 to this worthy cause.

Gun Registry

Last month a Parliamentary vote was held on a Conservative private members bill to repeal the Long Gun Registry. This is a very divisive issue in this country and that is exactly why the Harper government pushed it in Parliament.

I am not going to get into the debate pro or con on this issue. People had better understand that this was an attempt by the Harper Government to turn the channel away from the absolute failure of the right wing Tory agenda that has done nothing to address real concerns of Canadians. Far too many people have lost jobs throughout every region of this country. Here in the North one has to only look at the ONR freight traffic to understand something is very wrong. From Kidd Creek to Smooth Rock Falls and throughout the north the failed policies of the Harper Conservative government are having devastating lasting effects on our communities.

So don’t get fooled, keep your eyes on the real issues; jobs, education, the environment, health care.

Provincial Politics

Again the same thing can be said about the message of Conservative leader Tm Hudak. He has spent the entire year since he was elected Conservative Leader to slam the McGuinty Government on every front. Now some of the things the Liberals have been doing lately may or may not make sense. But again realize that Mr. Hudak is no friend of working women and men. He was a Cabinet Minister if the former Harris Government. How can we ever forget those days? For working here at the ONR just a reminder Mr. Hudak was the Minister of Northern Development and Mines who put the ONTC up for sale in December 2000.

Benefits

If you are experiencing any problems with the ONR or the Insurance Carrier about your benefits please contact your Unit Chair or the Benefit Rep Debbie Graham at 705-471-5265.

We wish to advise members that if the Insurance provider Oncidium contacts you about your Weekly Indemnity claim you are under no obligation to speak to them.

Joint CAW Council

Delegates from this Local attended the joint CAW –TCA Joint Council in Montreal on August 26 to 29th. President Ken Lewenza gave a speech detailing the challenges we face because of the economic downturn and its impact on workers across all sectors. He called upon all governments to continue the stimulus spending programs to keep priming the economic engine of the country.

He warned all in attendance that employers will use these hard times to tray and pressure members to relinquish hard earned gains. That the next round of negotiations was very important to move the agenda of workers forward to counter employers demands.

As well at the conference there were many testimonials and tributes paid on the 25th Anniversary of the formation of the CAW. Those speaking at the Conference, former CAW presidents Bob White, Buzz Hargrove, former CAW Financial Secretary Bob Nickison and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.

In Solidarity,

Brian Kelly
President

Past Reports:

Mar 30/11 | Jan 26/11 | Oct 6/10 | Apr 14/10 | Jan 27/10 | Sep 16/09