About 70 full and part-time jobs will be lost if Zellers carries through with its announced plans to close one of its three stores on May 15, 2004.

Union Rep Archie Duckworth says the local union will be doing everything possible to persuade the company to reverse its decision. “Zellers management has told us the store isn’t losing money,” he says. “But they say it’s not as profitable as they would like it to be.”

If the store is forced to close, Local 175 will coordinate an adjustment program to assist the laid-off workers to secure new employment. Under the terms of the collective agreement the members will receive an enhanced severance of one week’s pay for each year of service, up to five years, and then one and a half week’s pay for each additional year of service

“This will be a difficult time for these workers,” says Duckworth. “Which is why we’re committed to doing whatever we can to ease their transition.” Duckworth says most workers today will have several jobs in their working lives and a good adjustment program will provide new skills and knowledge to help them to cope with the changes.

Locals 175 & 633 members working in the poultry and health care sectors may see new workplace health and safety precautions in the near future due to the discovery of the Avian (Bird) Flu virus on a B.C. poultry farm. While it is unlikely that the virus will spread, it is also important to follow guidelines properly to avoid illness.

“The health and safety of our members is paramount,” says President Wayne Hanley. “We will continue to monitor the situation as it changes and inform members of any and all information they need to perform their jobs safely.”

In the unlikely event that the virus, or any flu virus, does spread to humans here in Canada, Health Canada has issued a Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan specifically for health care workers, emergency workers, health care officials and departments of health. Anyone requiring more information can visit the Health Canada site for details on this plan or for up to date facts on the Avian Flu.

It is important to note that the strain of Avian Flu found in B.C., the H7 strain, is different from the one causing human illness and death, the H5N1 strain, in Asia. Health Canada confirmed last Friday that five of nine workers from the farm in B.C. report mild respiratory symptoms that may be a sign of infection. Those exposed, who have symptoms, are receiving antiviral drug treatments and they have also been offered influenza vaccination. Health officials assure the general population that the food system is safe and that the risk of infection is extremely low.

UFCW members in Southern California just entered their fifth month of strike action against supermarket giant Safeway/Vons and lockout from supermarkets Kroger/Ralphs and Albertson. Workers are passionately protesting the company’s attempt to eliminate their health care benefits.

Affordable, quality health care is not optional for these workers – or any workers – it is a necessity. Americans are particularly vulnerable when it comes to health care given the high costs of medical services without a public health care plan to help out. You can view a video at www.ufcw.org that shows you why these workers are so adamant in their fight.

Coast to coast, union and community supporters are showing their solidarity with these workers by picketing in front of these stores across the nation. These workers have the support of Locals 175 & 633 and we ask that you do your part here in Canada to help Hold the Line for Health Care. Local 175 Executive Board recently approved a $100,000 US donation toward the workers’ strike fund in order to help them through this ordeal.

February 29, 2004 is Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs) Awareness Day. RSI is a term given to a group of injuries affecting muscles, nerves and tendons. You may experience aches, pain, tingling, swelling and loss of regular joint movement and strength in areas affected by repetitive tasks. Most commonly, these symptoms cause afflictions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and tenosynovitis.

Many people across Canada, in a variety of different occupations, suffer from these injuries and don’t realize they are preventable. If left untreated or if tasks are left unchanged, these injuries can lead to debilitating disorders affecting your ability to perform everyday tasks.

Please tell your workplace Health & Safety representative or your Union Steward if you feel you are at risk for developing this type of injury. About 2.3 million Canadian adults experience serious limitations to their normal activities due to RSIs – don’t be one of them (Stats Canada/WSIB).

Approximately 1,000 Ontario union members working full-time and part-time at eight Barn Markets achieved a new three-year contract. Members ratified the agreement at a Hamilton membership meeting last night on February 15, 2004.

“The negotiating committee’s hard work succeeded in achieving significant improvements,” says President Wayne Hanley. “It gives us a solid agreement, which we can continue to build on in future negotiations.”

Highlights of the agreement include wage increases for all workers and benefit enhancements for part-timers. Most full- and part-time workers gained wage increases of 85 cents per hour, bringing the highest hourly rate, in the last year of the contract, to $14.60 and $11.82 respectively. Specified positions, such as Bakers and the Bakery Department Head, have a new higher pay scale. Department Heads and Assistants earn up to $19.85 per hour. The company continues to increase its contributions to fund the existing pension plan, which is the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan. For 2004, this will result in a defined monthly benefit of $46.50 for each full year of credited future service.

Part-time workers will now be covered by a prescription drug plan. The optical plan, for both members and dependents, also improves.

A new scheduling improvement gives 25 per cent (based on seniority) of employees working at the front-end of the store a four-day workweek.

There are also improvements to bereavement leave and language regarding recall rights. All bargaining unit members will be assured expedited investigations regarding harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination and other types of human rights violations. For as long as the company policy requires workers to wear black pants, the company will provide them to union members, on request.

The Barn Markets, owned by the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company of Canada (A&P), have six stores in Hamilton, one in Dundas and one in Oakville. The chain was purchased by A&P in 1999. Five of the original stores closed between 2001 and 2003.

Dance the Revolution is a new musical by Doug Massey that addresses the difficulties in organizing retail workers. One hundred per cent of the proceeds raised from ticket sales will be donated to The Beads of Hope Campaign, a charity dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS.

The Hamilton Place Studio Theatre in downtown Hamilton hosts the musical through March 26, 27 and 28, 2004. Tickets are $20 each and are on sale now through Ticketmaster, Copps Coliseum or by phone at 905-527-7666.

The public is encourage to participate in a discussion forum on current human rights issues in Sri Lanka. Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae will be a guest at the meeting on Saturday, February 7, 2004. Topics will include human rights violations, minority rights, the attack on political pluralism, the future of grassroots organizing and alternative and federalist models of governance for the Sri Lankan people.

Saturday, February 7, 2004
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Meeting Room 304
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
(Between York St. and Bay St.)

For more information on what happened at the discussion forum, please contact:

UFCW Local 175 Organizer Kevin Shimmin
at 416-577-1158
or kshimmin@hotmail.com

We need teams to play in this year’s fundraising hockey tournament in support of the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada (LRFC). This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1. The entry fee is $675 per team and all proceeds go to the LRFC. Teams are accepted on a first come first serve basis and must be entered prior to April 1, 2004.

Thanks to all our sponsors and participants from last year’s tournament! We hope to see you again this year.

Check our events section for more information on location, registration and payment.