Sensient Flavours

Effective November 5, 2004 (unless otherwise indicated), the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:

• Effective December 1, 2004, wages increase by 3 per cent across the board.

• Shift premiums increase to:
  * 50 cents per hour for the 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mixers
  * 55 cents per hour for the 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. shift
  * 75 cents per hour for the 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. shift

• Boot allowance of $150 per year.

• Vacation entitlement improvements relevant to years of work with the company.

• Vision care coverage of $200 every 24 months.

After four weeks on the picket line, unionized workers at the Quality Meats processing facility in Toronto, voted on Sunday, by a strong majority, to accept the company’s third offer.

“Because of the resolve and solidarity of the membership, they were able to achieve an improved contract, which is above the industry settlements,” says Local 175 President Wayne Hanley.

The new contract includes wage increases of up to $1.05 per hour in the first year and as much as 70 cents per hour in the second and third years. By the end of the contract, the employer will contribute 95 cents per hour, on behalf of each worker, up from the current 40 cents, to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industrial Pension Plan. The employer’s dental plan contributions also increase to 30 cents per hour, per worker. Additional improvements include hours of work and collective agreement language, with the plant chair now being assured four hours per shift to work on union business. Additionally, workers gained $300 in economic adjustments and the annual attendance bonus has been boosted from $150 to $750.

The mechanics are back on the job today and other workers will be called back, over a period of time, as hogs are ordered and shipped to the plant. The employer has advised the union that it expects to be back to full production over the next couple of weeks.

The more than 500 workers, who had been on strike since November 1, 2004, rejected the company’s earlier offers on October 28 and November 13.

Negotiations for a renewed contract commenced on September 7, 2004. On October 16, 2004, workers voted to give their negotiating committee a strike mandate.

More than 500 Local 175 members at Quality Meats in Toronto continue their strike this week after rejecting the company’s second offer for a new collective agreement at a meeting held November 13, 2004. Workers, on strike for two weeks now, will only accept an agreement with improvements to wages, pensions, hours of work and contract language.

Following a round of negotiations, beginning September 7, 2004, the workers voted to give their negotiating committee a strike mandate on October 16, 2004. On October 28, they voted down the employer’s initial offer and began legal strike action the following Monday.

Eastern Regional Steward’s Seminar – November 5-7, 2004
Kingston, Ontario

This past weekend, more than 200 Stewards from across the Eastern region of Locals 175 & 633 attended a Steward’s Training conference. Members attended courses on Steward Level 1 and 2, Preparation for Arbitration, Understanding Arbitration, Introduction to Health & Safety, Musculoskeletal Injuries Prevention Program (MIPP) and an information course on Bill C-45.

In addition to the regular schedule, several young members of the Local attended as part of the ongoing popular theatre Youth Arts Project. During the lunch hour on Saturday, this group performed skits addressing issues that young people face in the workplace.

Over the course of the weekend, members helped raise $10,000 toward Leukemia research through a silent auction and buying prize draw tickets.

Over the past two years, a number of Local 175 & 633 youth have been working on the Youth Arts Project (YAP). On Saturday, November 6, 2004, stewards in attendance at the recent Eastern Region Steward’s conference were the first to see the results of this endeavour.

YAP brings together young members from across the province to discuss youth, their role in Unions and the labour movement. Working with two popular theatre artists, this group took their experiences at work and developed skits to illustrate the struggles of youth at work. Each skit is based on actual occurrences young Local members experience(d) at work.

Performing these skits at Steward’s Seminars allows young members to reach other members and let them know that the youth in this Local want to, and can be, involved in their Union. Youth issues are similar in nature to traditional workplace experiences and yet also unique because of the workers’ ages, perspectives and the way they choose to deal with those problems. The four skits presented, out of 13 developed, address discrimination, harassment and job posting issues.

The eight young members present to act out the skits, out of 20 involved with the project, were: Marco Pitino, Tammy Burd, Sacha Minor, Darren Mullin, Mike Rozic, Mark Stockton, Ashleigh Vink and Joe Zuvic.

As more young members get involved in their workplace and their Union, the labour movement strengthens.

At 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2004, approximately 600 members at the Quality Meats processing facility in Toronto began legal strike action. The striking workers are out to demand fair and just improvements in wages, pensions, hours of work and collective agreement language.

Negotiations for a renewed contract commenced on September 7, 2004. On October 16, 2004, workers voted to give their negotiating committee a strike mandate. On October 28, they voted down the employer’s offer.

“The members voted, almost unanimously, in favour of strike action,” says Local 175 President Wayne Hanley. “They are prepared to stay out until Quality Meats offers a fair and just contract. They are determined and in very combative spirits and the Union fully supports their decision to strike.” Hanley says the workers are frustrated about wages and working conditions.