NOTICE OF MEMBERSHIP MEETING

TO: ALL MEMBERS OF CANADIAN RACETRACK WORKERS UNION

A MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE HELD ON:

SUNDAY, February 18, 7:45 pm. at the

Holiday Inn Toronto Airport East - 600 Dixon Rd;
- located east of Carlingview and Hwy 27 and just west of Martingrove on the north side of Dixon Rd.

RE: Vote on proposed CRWU - CAW Merger Agreement

Hello Brothers and Sisters:

Since our lengthy labour dispute with Woodbine in 1996, we have been on quite a journey to exercise our democratic right to belong to the union of our choice. In year 2000, we unanimously voted to merge with the CAW. Our will was compromised. In year 2003, we petitioned the Canadian Labour Congress for the opportunity to choose our own union. Again, our will was compromised. In 2005, we voted to join our own Canadian Racetrack Workers Union. As an independent union, which has negotiated its first collective agreement, we are now in an ideal position to merge with any union.

There are many different processes to select a union. After much consultation and consideration, our Executive has decided to make its recommendation and have our Membership vote on that recommendation. After interviewing many unions our Executive is recommending a merger with the CAW.

According to our CRWU Constitution, the merger vote is restricted to CRWU Members. Members of our bargaining unit are eligible to join CRWU by completing a membership application. Applications for membership must be accepted by the CRWU Members at a Members Meeting or by the CRWU Executive. Applications will be available at the Meeting.

Our struggle to have a voice in the future of our jobs is about to enter another era.

In solidarity, CRWU


ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call of Officers

3. Reading of Minutes of the previous Meeting

4. Vote on applications for new members

5. Vote on CRWU - CAW Merger Agreement

6. Financial Report

7. Vote on collecting back union dues from January to June 2006

8. New business

9. Adjournment

Labour Management / Scheduling Committee Update

The next Labour Management /Scheduling Committee meeting will be held February 12, 2007.

Please forward any concerns or suggestions to:

Brian Henderson
Tel: 519-856-0295
email: putz@cogeco.ca , or

CRWU
email: crwu@sympatico.ca

The minutes from the last Labour Management /Scheduling Committee meeting are now available for download.

Double click link(s) below to view or right-click to download and save.

Minutes - Labour Management /Scheduling Committee meeting November 6, 2006

MS Word Format
Acrobat Format

Information Updates and Grievance Report

WORK ACCOMMODATIONS

WEG has granted several work accommodations, which have allowed employees to opt out of working some shifts.

Under many circumstances, the employer is obligated by Provincial and Federal Legislation (see links below) to provide a worker accommodation if they posses a disability that prevents them from performing their duties. The same applies if a worker has obligations to care for a disabled, infirmed or elderly family member.

Ontario Human Rights Commission:
POLICY AND GUIDELINES ON DISABILITY AND THE DUTY TO ACCOMMODATE

Ontario Ministry of Labour:
Job-Protected Family Medical Leave Now Includes Relatives And Close Friends

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COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

Our collective agreement, which has been proofed and signed, is being printed in booklet form. It will be distributed ASAP.

It is now available for download.
Double click above link(s) to view or right-click to download and save.

Collective Agreement 2006
MS Word Format
Acrobat Format

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GRIEVANCE REPORT

The Union has withdrawn a policy grievance that each Seniority List should be entitled to twelve (12) one day/shift SU’s for calendar year 2006.

WEG has agreed to allow employees to choose less than three shifts when making themselves available for the seventh day of the week.

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UPDATE on FSCO order to include Non Seniority List employees in Pension Plan

WEG has sent another submission to the Commission. In their submission dated December 12, 2006, WEG restates its displeasure with the decision and closes with the following statement:

" As you can undoubtedly appreciate, there would be tremendous practical difficulties associated with implementing any such orders, particularly on a retroactive basis. In such circumstances, it may be necessary for the Company to seek direction from the courts."

We await the Commission’s response.

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Voluntary Resignation With Severance Payment Calculation Forms

Employees have been able to obtain Voluntary Resignation With Severance Payment Calculation Forms from Jessica Luddington and Julie Morano of WEG Human Resources Deparment.

Can You Believe It >>>> CRWU Marks Our 1st Anniversary

Yes, it's true.
We received our certification one year ago today.

We wish one and all the very best over the holidays and into the New Year.

Your CRWU

Information Update

It has come to our attention that WEG customer service employees were selling dollar pick-7 quick picks directly to the public yesterday (Friday, Nov. 24/06).

The Union is in the process of filing a policy grievance against WEG, as well as filing complaints with the Ontario Racing Commission and the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) for violating their respective regulations.

UPDATE on FSCO order to include Non Seniority List employees in Pension Plan

Here is the latest news on this issue.

Please refer to our posting of Friday, July 21, 2006 -

"Woodbine ordered to include Non Seniority List employees in Pension Plan"

CLICK TO VIEW



The letter above from FSCO in - Adobe format

Double click link to view or right-click to download and save.

Grievance Report

WEG has agreed not to require employees to work Statutory Holidays unless they have requested to do so.

The Union has filed a policy grievance that each Seniority List should be entitled to twelve (12) one day/shift SU’s for calendar year 2006.

The Union has filed a grievance regarding WEG’s policy of requiring any employee who indicates they are available to work a 7th day, be available for all three shifts on that 7th day. It is the Union’s position that any employee who is available for six (6) full days should be allowed to select one or more shifts on the 7th day of the week.

The Union has filed a policy grievance regarding WEG’s unreasonable shortage guidelines and related discipline. WEG has no specific shortage guidelines and some of the discipline is, in our view, outrageous. For example, a Seniority List employee was given the following suspension:

“Your shortage record for the month of September totaled $14.00 and you were short 11% of the time you worked……You are to serve a one day suspension…“

The Union has filed for arbitration where WEG has not allowed employees to return to work at specific teletheatres for strike related activity.

The Union has filed for arbitration for a case where WEG has required a teller to pay $500 for a ticket a customer did not want. A successful resolution to this case may have a huge bearing on the inherent unreasonable risks related to our jobs.