OLG Security at Woodbine Bargaining Update

Our Brothers and Sisters in the CAW unit of Security at OLG-Woodbine Slots are bargaining for a new Collective Agreement. Please be advised that there could be job action as early as the end of this month. We will endeavor to keep you posted of further developments.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Documents and Reports page has been updated.

REMINDER OF UPCOMING MEMBERSHIP MEETING

A MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE HELD ON:

TUESDAY, April 15, 7:45 pm. at the

Comfort Hotel (Humber Room) at Rexdale Blvd. and Hwy 27 (South-East corner)

This meeting has a full agenda (CLICK here for copy) .

The main item is the election of the Bargaining Committee:

Nominations will close on April 22, 2008. All nominations must be accepted by this date either orally at the Meeting, in writing and given to any local Union representative, or by email to admin@cawlocal2007.ca, or by fax at 416-628-7959 to the Local Union office.
The nominator is responsible for notifying the member or members they have nominated so they will be aware of their obligation to accept or decline the nomination by April 22, 2008.

Elected Bargaining Committee members will have the opportunity to attend a one week Collective Bargaining course at the CAW Family Education Centre in Port Elgin this spring and the Local will be sending representatives to the CAW National Collective Bargaining Convention, June 10, 2008 to June 13, 2008 at the Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pension Complaint Update

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has reversed its original position on the case.

Go to PENSION COMPLAINT FILES to read their letter of March 4, 08.

The Local, with assistance from the CAW National's legal department, are preparing an appeal of this decision.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please Note: New Grievance Report posted on Documents & Reports Page

2008 Family Education Program - Apply by March 7th

This is a reminder that the deadline to apply for the 2008 Family Education Program is Friday, March 7th.
Information and applications are available here as a pdf, as well as available online at www.caw.ca/education.

Please submit your applications as soon as possible by fax to 416-495-6554.

In solidarity,

RICK ROSE
CAW Director of Education
(416) 495-3790
rickrose@caw.ca

New Form to Record Tote Incidents - Pension Case Files Now Available

There have been many incidents reported due to the recent implementation of WEG's new tote system.

In our ongoing effort to monitor this new installation and protect ourselves from any adverse effects going forward, we encourage all members to document any incidents that you become aware of.

To this end, we have initiated an online Tote Incident Report Form.

CLICK HERE > Tote Incident Report Form

A printable version is also available. (Click on above link)


The Union has had discussions with the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency regarding un-cancelled incorrect tickets, problems with the new Am Tote system, shortages and other regulatory issues affecting mutuel employees. These discussions are ongoing.


REMEMBER .... the RIGHT TO REFUSE unsafe work is YOUR RIGHT


(Click image above to enlarge)
___________________________________________________________________

Pension Case Files Now Available

The Documents and Reports page has been updated with the latest Grievance Report and

a new section > PENSION COMPLAINT FILES

CAW Local 2007 Issues Media Release

Media Advisory - Racetrack workers fight unfair practices

TORONTO, Jan. 2 /CNW/ - The Canadian Auto Workers Local 2007 has launched a campaign to stop what the union calls "unreasonable rules and practices" for racetrack workers held responsible for the payment of incorrect betting tickets.

The most recent example of this occurred on December 1, when a betting clerk at the Greenwood Teletheatre in Toronto mistakenly issued an incorrect ticket to a patron. The patron had asked to place a $500 bet on a number 5 horse to win, but the final ticket read number 6.

The race started before the betting clerk was able to cancel the ticket and correct the error. The patron refused to accept the incorrect ticket and refused to pay the $500 that was owed. As is common practice with Woodbine Entertainment Group it then becomes the betting clerk's responsibility to pay the outstanding $500 fee.

As it turned out, the incorrect ticket became a winning ticket paying out $7,825. Rather than allow the betting clerk to collect the winnings an employer representative confiscated the winning ticket and subsequently reimbursed the $500 fee. Woodbine refuses to turn over the full proceeds of the ticket, which was in the teller's possession.

Based on past practice at the racetrack, the union believes that had the ticket lost, the betting clerk would not have been reimbursed the $500.

Hemi Mitic, Assistant to the CAW National President, considers this a blatantly unfair practice for betting clerks.

"Our members are being told to foot the bill for incorrect tickets, regardless if they are responsible for the error or not, and then told that they can't share in the rewards," Mitic said. "This is a double-standard that our union simply won't stand for."

CAW Local 2007 represents over 500 workers at Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks, as well as more than two dozen off-track Teletheatre operations in the GTA.

For further information: Brian Henderson, CAW Local 2007 President, (519) 856-0295

In Further Developments

Read this article published in Friday's Toronto Star Race clerks can't win for losing

and from Standardbred Canada: Ticket Issue Leads To Comments From CAW, WEG

Seniority List Employees’ Weekly Union Dues Deduction for 2008

As per our Merger Agreement and the CAW Constitution, the union dues payable by Seniority List employees is based on two hours and twenty minutes straight time pay:

(2 hours and twenty minutes times the hourly terminal operator rate of pay times12 months) divided by 52 weeks

(2 1/3 X $22.50 X 12) / 52 = $12.12 per week

WEG has indicated that payroll will implement the new deduction beginning in the 3rd week of January.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank You, Brothers and Sisters

Local 2007 extends our sincerest thanks to all those who assisted during the Bartenders and Servers Strike.

In particular, CAW Local 252 and Local 112 extended logistical and picket line support that contributed greatly to a satisfactory resolution.
>>> Click here to view Letters of Thanks

Bartenders and servers ratify new deal with Woodbine Entertainment

Less than 24 hours after reaching a tentative settlement, members of the Canadian Auto Workers union have overwhelmingly ratified a new 3-year agreement with Woodbine Entertainment.

The new agreement, which covers 185 bartenders and servers working at the Greenwood Teletheatre in Toronto as well as Woodbine and Mohawk racetrack and slots, was ratified by 90 per cent and includes wage and benefit improvements for both full-time and part-time employees in addition to new job protection and workplace safety language along with many other gains.

Contract talks between the CAW and Woodbine Entertainment broke down in early December over a number of important issues, including the company’s demand to scale back wages, resulting in a 17-day strike.

“Right from the outset we told the company there will be no wage concessions for these workers,” said Hemi Mitic, Assistant to the National President. “Our members showed tremendous courage and willingness to fight this issue as a matter of principle, and we won.”

CAW national staff representative Brian Stevens acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the membership and the bargaining committee in negotiating a very good settlement.

“This contract not only improves the lives of our members at the racetracks and slots, it also helps establish a standard for the entire gaming industry,” Stevens said. “This is a testament to the idea that fighting back really does make a difference for working people.”

This is the workers’ first contract negotiation since joining the CAW in August of 2007. The CAW represents over 7,500 gaming sector workers across the country.