Unifor Local 302 president’s Report- November 27, 2023

Unifor Local 302
Presidents Report
General Membership Meeting

November 27, 2023.

Bill C-58

November 9,2023 marks a significant victory for Canadian workers as new federal anti-scab legislation ensures workers' right to strike without the threat of employers using scab labour to needlessly extend labour disputes or attempt to starve workers out.

"Working people and unions have organized and fought for this moment for decades," says Unifor National President, Lana Payne. "Generations of workers have stood courageously on picket lines in this country defending their right to strike and to fair and free collective bargaining. Some have paid a hefty price. This legislation is for all those workers who never gave up. When we organize. We win."

The new legislation comes after Unifor, and other labour organizations advocated for the Liberal government to make good on its promise to ban the use of replacement workers.

Shine The Light

November 15, 2023, was the day to wear purple as part of the annual 'Shine the Light on Woman Abuse' campaign by the London Abused Women's Centre. People were asked to wear purple and share a photo or video on social media with #ShinetheLight and @endwomanabuse to bring attention to the issue.

'Shine the Light' runs for the month of November to raise awareness about violence against women and to support those who have been abused.

Health Care Townhall on Privatization

On November 22, 2023, Local 302 hosted a Townhall on the Ford government's plan to move some of the publicly funded services to private clinics. Premier Doug Ford announced plans on January 16 to transfer thousands of surgeries and diagnostic tests from local public hospitals to for-profit hospitals and clinics. This decision carries significant implications for community hospitals, as it worsens existing staffing shortages and diverts essential resources away from public healthcare institutions, resulting in reduced staff, services, and resources.

Unifor has been working along side CUPE, SEIU, OPSEU, and ONA on this initiative.

Bill 124

We have finished up with the Bill 124 wage reopener for McCormick Home and McCormick Rec Specialists.

Avon Maitland and the Waterloo Catholic District School Boards have made application to exercise the "MeToo" clause and the Crown has accepted our application.

December 5th Rally

There will be a rally on December 5th at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe from 11:00am — 1:00pm. We want the Employer to come back to the bargaining table instead of forcing workers into interest arbitration. We are fighting for fair wages and benefits that match the industry standard. The Employer won't even offer what other Ontario Hospitals have been awarded or negotiated.

December 6th National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

It has been over 30 years since the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal (December 6, 1989). This act of violent misogyny shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

As we mourn their loss and remember their lives, we reaffirm our commitment to fight the hatred that led to this tragedy, and the misogyny that still exists today. In Canada and around the world, women, girls and 2SLGBTQl+ individuals face unacceptable violence and discrimination. Gender-based violence in Canada has been magnified and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been reports from police services, shelters, and local organization of an increase in calls related to gender-based violence across Canada during the pandemic.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it. It is also a time to act. Achieving a Canada free from gender-based violence requires everyone living in this country to educate themselves and their families and communities on gender-based violence, center the voices of survivors in our actions and speak up against harmful behaviors.

This year we are hosting the event from 11:00am — 1:00pm. Lana Payne our National President and Samia Hashi the Ontario Regional Director will be in attendance along with several other distinguished guests.

Bargaining

Tentative:     Marshall Gowland Manor, voting on December 7th

Ongoing:       Medavie.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Phillips
President
Unifor Local 302