Negotiations Update

Woodbine and the Union have exchanged opening positions and have meetings scheduled for January.
The parties will be in a legal strike/lock-out position as of 12:01 am Wednesday, January 28.
The parties have indicated a willingness not to initiate a labour dispute as long as the bargaining is progressing toward an agreement.
We anticipate calling a membership meeting when we have a sense of how the talks are going.

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Elimination of “Elect To Work” Exemptions

The Ontario Government has introduced Bill 139, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Temporary Help Agencies), 2008, and also announced related changes to the ESA regulations. These changes will affect any employer or organization that:
(1) employs “elect to work” or casual employees;
(2) is a temporary help agency; or
(3) uses the services of a temporary help agency.

While the focus of Bill 139 is on temporary help agencies, the government announced related changes that affect all “elect to work” employees. Elect to work employees are those who are employed on a casual basis, and have the ability to refuse work assignments offered by their employers, without suffering negative consequences. Currently, elect to work employees are exempt from the public holidays provisions of the ESA, and are exempt from the requirement to provide notice of termination (or termination pay in lieu of notice) and severance pay.

The government announced that it has already passed a regulation that will eliminate the elect to work exemption that relates to public holiday pay, as of January 2, 2009. This means that, beginning with Family Day next year, elect to work employees will be entitled to public holiday pay under the ESA, just like any other employee.

The government also announced its intention to pass a regulation that will eliminate the elect to work exemptions related to notice of termination and severance pay. When this regulation is passed, it will mean that elect to work employees will be entitled to notice of termination (or termination pay in lieu of notice) and severance pay under the ESA. At this time, it appears that the Government will wait until Bill 139 is passed (and possibly until it comes into force) before it eliminates these exemptions.

Click the link below for more details.

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2132

Negotiations Update - November 27, 08

Greetings

On November 20, our Mutuel's Bargaining Committee met with Woodbine. At the Meeting WEG CFO Stephen Mitchell reviewed the financial status of WEG. Woodbine also presented written proposals for a new collective agreement. CAW National Rep. Brian Stevens outlined the Union's bargaining issues.

The parties scheduled meetings for December 17 and January 8.

On November 26, WEG filed for conciliation.

Brian Henderson
CAW Local 2007 President

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Challenges Ahead - “The Opportunity We Face”

Click here for an open letter from John Aman, CAW National Director of Organizing

Interested in Applying for the Eligibility List ??

All applications for the Eligibility List must be made by Dec. 3rd.

Click here for a copy of the application (Schedule F, Collective Agreement)

Click here for a copy of Schedule E "Eligibility List" (from the Collective Agreement)

Applications can be sent by fax to WEG at 416-213-2140

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Mohawk Christmas Party

Click here for the Poster/Invitation to the Mohawk Christmas Party, hosted by our CAW brothers and sisters in Food & Beverage, set for Dec. 17th at the Mohawk Inn.

See Poster for more info.

FYI - Recent Alberta Arbitration Decision re: Employer Attendance Policies

For your information, a June 27, 2008 Alberta arbitration decision regarding employer attendance policies that addresses factors which determine whether such policies are reasonable.

Also of interest: In another Alberta decision, an Arbitrator held that an Employee's Hurtful Blogging Justified Firing

Local 2007 CAW Leadership Convention Delegates Determined

Our Local’s Delegates to the Special CAW Leadership Convention on September 6, 2008 at the Metro Convention Centre have been determined:

Susan Borbely: acclaimed

George Shepherd: acclaimed

Brian Henderson: alternate

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For Your Information:
Click here for Highlights of The Agreement between CAW and OLG recently ratified.

Please Note:
Our Documents & Reports page has been updated with the August 14, 08 Grievance Report.

CAW Members Ratify New 3 Year Agreement With OLG

Click here to read Joint Press Release

CAW Local 2007 Flying Squad to Support Toyota Strikers

The CAW Local 2007 flying squad is meeting at Mississauga Toyota on Wednesday, July 30.

Mississauga Toyota is located at 2215 Dundas St. E., Mississauga, ON (just west of Highway 427).

At 6:00 am we will be bussed to picket Toyota Canada head office at 1 Toyota Place in Scarborough.

All members are welcome to join us.

You may go directly to 1 Toyota Place which is north off Progress Road between McCowan Rd and Markham Rd. From Progress Road go north on Bellamy Rd.

We expect to arrive there at 7:00 am.

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Election for Delegates to Special CAW Leadership Convention

There is a Special CAW Leadership Convention on September 6, 2008 at the Metro Convention Centre. Our Local is entitled to two delegates who are to be elected by our Local’s Membership. The Member's receiving the 3rd and 4th most votes will be alternate delegates respectively.

Written nominations will be accepted until Sunday, August 3 and must be accepted or declined by Wednesday, August 6. Nominations and acceptances may be faxed (416-628-7959) or emailed to the Local Union office or given to any Local Executive Member.

The Election will be conducted Tuesday, August 19, times and places to be announced.