MARCH 2006

Workers at another Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express shop have voted in favour of joining the UFCW. The votes were finally counted at the beginning of March following seven months of litigation and attempts by Wal-Mart to delay any certification.

I want to encourage every member of Locals 175 & 633 to remain vigilant against Wal-Mart and its unfair labour practices. Every worker has the right to unionize and we cannot allow Wal-Mart to continue its violation of Canadian laws and exploitation of workers.

The newest members of UFCW Canada Local 1518 are from Surrey, B.C. Surrey is the second BC Wal-Mart Tire & Lube Express (TLE) to be certified. Workers at a TLE in Cranbrook, BC were certified on September 7, 2005, and negotiations for a first contract have begun. Arbitration for a first contract at a Wal-Mart store in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec is also underway. Four other Wal-Mart locations in Quebec have been certified and an additional Quebec application is pending, as is an application for a Wal-Mart in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. 

Yours In Solidarity, Wayne Hanley President Local 175 UFCW Canada

Health & Safety

In February, our local provided Level 1 Health & Safety training to 14 members in the city of Thunder Bay for the North West Region. Participants represented a variety of workplaces including retail, long-term health care units, hotels, truck drivers and industrial units. The class ran from Jan 31 – Feb 06, 2006 and covered the basics of health and safety and developing committee tools needed to perform the functions of the safety committees.

In the second week, 15 members that participated in the Level 11 Law course. This 30-hour course expands on the level one program. The participants worked very hard – their commitment to a safer workplace for the members was obvious and appreciated. They all need to be congratulated for a job well done.
Both courses were co-instructed by Janice Klenot and Mike Johnston, our newly trained health and safety instructor union member from Aeroguard.

Thanks to the members who participated – you made it a great couple of weeks.

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The warmer temperatures of Spring also bring dangerous road and ice conditions.

Driving in the North West region can be particularly hazardous as animals both large and small begin to emerge. The number of accidents caused by avoiding or hitting animals on the road increases in the spring as well as in the fall because animals are active foraging for food and shelter.

Please drive with caution: Stay alert and scan the roads – especially at dusk and dawn. Pay attention to wildlife warning signs posted on roads. Remember that some animals, like deer, travel in groups, so when one crosses the road, slow down and anticipate others. Take your time – especially at night. You have more time to brake if you are going slower. Be particularly cautions when traveling past natural habitat, fields or forests. Do not litter and be wary of sections of road with litter – it attracts wildlife. If you hit an animal, inform the authorities so they can remove it. It is a hazard to other drivers.

Thinning ice is another concern at this time of year. The once thick layers of ice on ponds and lakes in the region are beginning to melt and that can be treacherous for those who participate in outdoor activities. Avoid driving and walking over any bodies of water as they may crack. Cold water rapidly absorbs body heat and wet clothing is a common cause of hypothermia. Casualties in lakes and rivers are often due to hypothermia, not drowning.

If you are snowmobiling:

• Ice conditions can be unpredictable and change quickly so avoid travelling on unmarked lakes and rivers;

• If you must ride on ice, always check ice conditions before going out and stay on trails that have been marked by the local snowmobile club;

• Wear a buoyant snowmobile suit and carry ice picks to improve your chances of survival if you break through ice or drive into open water;

• Avoid riding alone.

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New Training Centre construction complete

Construction has wrapped up on the new Training Centre at the Locals 175 & 633 head office in Mississauga. While there are still finishing touches to add including exterior landscaping and painting, students have been attending classes since in the new facility since January. We look forward to having even more students attend courses at our bigger and better site and hope to see as many of you as possible in the future.

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For a list of online courses available in the spring, please visit the Locals 175 & 633 Web site section on Course Descriptions and Course Schedules.

Mobile Training Lab

Emergency First Aid & CPR 'B'

Standard First Aid

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• Health & Safety
• Spring Hazards
• Training Centre
  Construction
• Courses

North West Region Staff

Shawn Haggerty
Director

Colby Flank
Union Rep


David Noonan
Union Rep