Unifor Local 302 President’s Report- December 19, 2022

December 1 through the 3 the delegates from Local 302 headed to Toronto for the annual Ontario Regional Council. Delegates attended industry council meetings where plans for a heath care fight back campaign were discussed. More information will follow.

During Council delegates heard from many speakers including Shree Paradkar, a Toronto Star Columnist about their experience with the current harassment in Journalism and they hosted a panel discussion with other journalists about their experiences with harassment and racism in journalism. Delegates heard Ontario Regional Director, Naureen Riszvi, recommendations  on supporting media workers, reproductive rights, stopping the privatization of Health care and advancing Racial Justice in our workplaces. All the recommendations were carried. The delegates also voted on resolutions on further protecting workers to cytotoxic drug exposure, the Shingrix vaccine and its availability to more Ontarians, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act ensuring fairness for all, and a media campaign to support local news. All the resolutions were carried.

There were also nominations and elections for the next term of the Ontario Regional Council

Your elected Ontario Regional Council is:

 Chair: Shinade Allder, Local 6005

Vice-Chair: Brian Chapman, Local 27

Secretary-Treasurer: Balkar Bains, Local 4457

Members at Large: Marc Brennan, Local 707; Jordan Lennox, Local 199; Debbie Montgomery, Local 4268; Corey Dalton, Local 1090; Cindy Hasler, Local 504; Carleen Finch, Local 87-M; Dana-Anne James, Local 6006; Alicia Rivera, Local 1106

Committees were elected by the entire Council meeting.

EI/CPP: Stephan Cronin, Local 88; Dwayne Gunness, Local 40; Dan Cushenan, Local 504

Health & Safety and Environment: Brian Lowery, Local 1996-O; Paul McKee, Local 4268; Bonnie Nantais, Local 195

Political Action Committee: Melissa Holden, Local 636; Donovan Nezbeth, Local 26; Anees Munshi, Local 2002

Employee and Family Assistance Program Committee: Yolanda Cornwall, Local 2002; Mike Kemp, Local 200; Paulo Duarte, Local 26; Jessica Ridgwell, Local 1285

Workers' Compensation Committee:  Mike Kisch, Local 2458; Rob Gallace, Local 88; Ashok Venkatarangam, Local 100

The Council’s five equity-seeking committees were elected at caucus meetings of their peers.

Black, Indigenous and Workers of Colour: Dina Roushanroz, Local 2458; Carrie Moffitt, Local 229; Donovan Nezbeth, Local 26

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender: Dana Dunphy, Local 444; Deanne Smith Local 25; Denise Keefe, Local 222

Women’s Committee: Sarah-Kai Antanaitis, Local 5555; Emily Coulter, Local 1106; Melissa Wood, Local 598

Workers with Disabilities: Melanie Forget, Local 5025; Andrea Henry, Local 112; Jackie McIntosh, Local 79-M

Young Worker’s Committee: James Chilcott, Local 88; Angelyn Francis, Local 87-M; Heather Lenson, Local 200

# Bill124NoMore – Sticker Action

CUPE, SEIU, ONA, OPSEU, and Unifor are asking all our members to come together to loudly declare #Bill124NoMore. Tell the Premier to drop plans to appeal the Ontario Courts decision to strike down Bill 124. The court ruled the law violated collective bargaining rights. The Unions call on Ford and his government to respect workers’ rights and accept the court’s decision. It’s time to invest money into solutions, not fighting workers in court.

So, if you are a worker that was affected by Bill 124, we are asking that you wear a #Bill124NoMore sticker at work starting tomorrow December 20th. These should have been couriered to the Chairpeople in these workplaces by now. Wear your sticker in the workplace, take a selfie and tag Doug Ford and your local MPP with the hashtag #Bill124NOMore.

The sticker action is part of a larger call on the Ford government to move on the following solutions:

·         Respect workers – don’t appeal the court’s decision on Bill 124. Allow collective bargaining to determine wage rates to stabilize staffing levels.

·         Boost frontline staffing – provide responsive incentives to the current workforce and return to work incentives for those who have left.

·         Relieve administrative pressure – hire new support staff.

·         Invest in People not profit.

·         No privatization

Local 302 was honoured along with other Local representatives to attend various Women’s shelters in Southern Ontario to deliver donations from the Unifor Social Justice Fund to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Each year Unifor donates to women’s shelters across the country to support women and children escaping violence. This year, the Social Justice Fund will be donating $158,000 among 79 shelters.

Negotiations

Upcoming:  Vision Retirement Home, Avon Maitland District School Board and Waterloo Catholic District School (local issues)

Tentative agreement: Avon Maitland District School Board and Waterloo Catholic District School Board. (Central Issues).

Ratified: Dearness, and Crescent

Care Courtland.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Phillips

President

Unifor Local 302