Unifor Local 302 President’s Report- September 23, 2024

Unifor local 302
President's report
General membership Meeting

September 23, 2024

Family Fun Day

The Local is pleased to say that this year's family fun day was a great success. The weather was beautiful, and we had 759 people in attendance. Families enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, snow cones, pop and chips. Along with 5 tickets each for the amusements. This event is getting more and more popular as we see the numbers increasing every year.

Goodwill

We congratulate the employees at Goodwill who ratified their first collective agreement at 100% and become Local 302's newest members.

Today and tomorrow a court challenge will be held on the constitutionality of the Ford governments Bill 7, a controversial Ontario law that allows hospitals to place discharged patients into long-term care homes not of their choosing or face a $400-per-day charge if they refuse. The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and the Ontario Health Coalition argues the law, known as the More Beds Better Care Act or Bill 7, violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The province disagrees. The main item the court will address is whether the new law has fulfilled its purpose by improving the flow of patients. Documents filed with court reveal the two sides have reached different conclusions on that question. Premier Doug Ford's government rammed Bill 7 through the legislature within days in September 2022, bypassing public hearings. The law allows hospital placement coordinators to choose a nursing home for a patient who has been deemed by a doctor as requiring an "alternate level of care," or ALC, without consent. They can also share the patient's health information to such homes without consent. Patients can also be sent to nursing homes up to 70 kilometres from their preferred spot in southern Ontario and up to 150 kilometres away in northern Ontario. The law sparked outrage among seniors.

Canadian Council

Canadian Council will take place September 27th -29th, 2024 in Montreal Quebec. The Local will be sending 6 delegates.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day

The Indian Residential School system operated across Canada for well over 100 years, with the last schools closing in the 1990s. Indian Residential Schools were created to separate Indigenous children from their families and communities, and to systematically strip away their traditions, cultural practices and languages.

More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from across the country were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools, which were often located far from their homes. Thousands never made it home. Each year on September 30th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we reflect and honour Survivors, their families and communities affected by the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. The story of Indian Residential School Survivor Phyllis Webstad, who was 6 years old when she wore her new orange shirt for her first day at residential school. Her shirt was immediately taken from her by the school staff. To honour the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remember those who did not, many Canadians across the country wear an orange shirt.

National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

October 4th, we observe the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and

Girls, we add our voice to the collective call to bring an end to the injustices suffered by Canada's Indigenous Women and Girls. As Canadians, let's make a change. Let's take a more compassionate look at this issue and realize that everyone should be entitled to live free from violence. Unifor London area Locals and National Staff will be assembling at Spring bank park near the washrooms on Wonderland Road October 5th,2024. The 5km walk will start at 10:00am.

Healthcare Conference

The Healthcare Council will take place October 4th- 6th 2024 in Port Elgin. The Local will be sending 20 delegates

Bargaining

Ratified: Vision RN's, Goodwill, Chealsey Park/ Southbridge

Upcoming: Group of 11, Extendicare Port Stanley and London, St Mary's Hospital

Ongoing: Norfolk General Hospital

Thanksgiving

The Local 302 Executive Board would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Phillips
President
Unifor Local 302