UNIFOR 594 APPAREL
Letter on Women and Public Transit
Letter on Women and SK Public Transit
Friends,
Please read and share the attached and linked letter to Federal Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould and Federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau over the closure of the STC by the Sask Party government.
The letter has been written and endorsed by a number of groups concerned about womens’ safety flowing from this arbitrary and short-sighted action by the government.
Larry Hubich
President
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
Unifor Wants Wholesale Changes to NAFTA
BNN interviewed Jerry Dias earlier today re: NAFTA, please find link below to view the video:
http://www.bnn.ca/video/no-twists-or-tweaks-unifor-wants-wholesale-changes-to-nafta~1165341
Budgets Are About Choices
Budgets are about choices.
The Saskatchewan government promised “transformational change.” Instead we got a mean-spirited austerity budget that requires sacrifices from the many and delivers benefits to the few. It doesn’t have to be this way. For a government that prides itself on making “tough choices” this doesn’t seem that tough.
Please share on Facebook and retweet!
This video was made possible by donations from supporters. Please donate what you can so we can continue making these kinds of projects happen.
SaskForward releases video challenging budget cuts
SaskForward, a coalition of Saskatchewan-based civil society groups, has released a new video that challenges the Saskatchewan government’s claim that deep cuts to public services and programs are inevitable. By reversing the 1% corporate tax cut announced in the last budget, the video shows that $67.5 million could be recuperated and used to restore funding to many services and programs including the STC, a variety of post-secondary education programs, funeral services, parks, the hearing aid plan and much more.
In the winter of 2017, SaskForward heard from over 100 individuals and organizations as part of its consultations on the Saskatchewan government’s promised ‘transformational change’. In these consultations, groups proposed numerous ideas that could reshape public services through new investments while avoiding austerity budgets that harm the most vulnerable in our province. The new video exposes the government’s deliberate decision to increase the profits of corporations at the expense of the services and programs that Saskatchewan residents cherish.
Peter Gilmer, of the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry, a participating organization in SaskForward, is enthusiastic about the message in the video. “It is encouraging to know that we could maintain so many needed benefits and services for Saskatchewan people by simply reversing the 1% corporate tax cut. I believe that such a return would be in line with the values of the vast majority of Saskatchewan residents” he says.
The video can be viewed online at:
For more information about SaskForward see: https://saskforward.ca/
Media Contact:
Peter Gilmer
306-550-8949
Outlook Care Workers Locked Out!
Sask Party Poll
Came across this online poll:
So far the YES vote is winning. Let’s put it over the top!
http://www.yorktonthisweek.com/
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
NAFTA and Unifor
| To all Local Unions and National Staff Representatives
Dear sisters and brothers, I am writing to you today with important news that reflects the stature and strength of our union. The voice of Unifor is well-respected and it is an important one that continues to help shape both political dialogue and government action in Canada and on an international scale. I know this, because today I held a private meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Washington. On behalf of Unifor members I relayed concerns about the current state of affairs with bilateral trade relations between Canada and the United States. This meeting was timely as trade tensions continue to escalate. I delivered a message of urgency to Mr. Ross. With the recent re-introduction of duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports that will endanger upwards of 25,000 good jobs in nearly every region of the country, action is needed right now. I urged Mr. Ross to help play a role to ensure a fair trade pact is settled On NAFTA renegotiation, I made clear that any resulting deterioration of jobs and work standards – for all workers across the continent – will not be tolerated. I also spoke to Mr. Ross about the challenges facing the highly-integrated auto industry, and the need for greater balance within North American, and with the rest of the world. Despite some of the current challenges before us, there is an opportunity to fix the imbalances in trade relations with the renegotiation of NAFTA, and today I sent an important message to an arm of the U.S. government to do just that. In the days and weeks ahead our union will continue to push for a fair trade future. I will continue to take the voices and needs of Unifor members and all Canadian workers to decision-makers in both Canada and the U.S with one message – better trade deals must begin with putting workers and communities first.There is much work to do, but I am confident that together our union can continue to lead the way and make a difference for workers. In solidarity, Jerry Dias National President |
Province-wide Initiative Announced to Combat Workplace Injuries Due to Violence
Go to the Leaderpost website:
Province-wide initiative announced to combat workplace injuries due to violence
The Leaderpost Article below:
Violence is the fifth highest cause of workplace injuries in Saskatchewan. On Thursday, the
“Workers shouldn’t go to work and feel threatened by violence,”
In 2016,
The WCB and SASWH presented the initiative to leaders in key industries at a meeting in Regina on Thursday. The Provincial Violence Prevention Framework includes a toolkit that will be piloted in facilities in Saskatchewan health regions. Tools include information, training, manuals, web content and videos for employers and workers.
The development of the provincial violence framework will be lead by
“Violence in the workplace, whether it is a physical attack or psychological or verbal violence, is a threat to Saskatchewan workers, and a growing problem for supervisors and employers,”
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour has said it is supportive of the initiative.
“Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. This initiative is an important step to raising awareness about the issue of violence in order to prevent these injuries,” said Lori Johb, chair of the SASWH board of directors and SFL secretary-treasurer.
Posties Win Big: Tory Back-to-Work Legislation Ruled Unconstitutional
Thursday April 28 2016
For Immediate Release
OTTAWA – Postal workers are cheering today’s ruling that the former Conservative government violated its members’ freedom of association by legislating them back to work on June 26, 2011.
“This is a win for workers everywhere,” said Mike Palecek, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
“In 2011, Canada Post and the Conservative government gamed the system by first locking postal workers out and then forcing us back to work. This interference was completely unfair and meant we could not freely bargain.”
The ruling by Ontario Superior Court Justice Firestone declares that the Conservative legislation, which also imposed an offer on the postal workers, “violates the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression” under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms sections 2d) and 2b), and that it is “unconstitutional and of no force and effect.”
“Let this be a warning to Deepak Chopra and his 22 vice presidents that the legislation trick won’t work this time,” said Palecek.
CUPW is currently in negotiations and Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra, who shut Canada Post’s doors nation-wide and locked out the postal workers in 2011, remains at the helm. The Crown Corporation management has applied for conciliation and refuses to entertain any of the postal workers’ demands for improved services and an end to concessions.
“Canada Post is already trying to push things by starting the countdown to a lockout,” said Palecek.
“This time, they won’t be able to count on the government to make it easy for them.”
For more information, please contact Aalya Ahmad, CUPW Communications, 613-327-1177 or aahmad@cupw-sttp.org.