Canadian Youth Delegation to COP 14 (Poznan, Poland)

CAW members Stephan Cronin (Local 88 - Ingersoll) and Steven El-Helou (Local 444 - Windsor) have been selected to participate in the fourteenth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference (COP 14) in Poznan, Poland as members of the Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD). COP 14 will take place from December 1-12, 2008.

The Canadian Youth Delegation is a project of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition and TakingITGlobal that seeks to engage Canadian youth in the international climate policy process. We are a non-partisan team of 26 young leaders from across Canada who have come together to share the voice of Canadian youth with policymakers and connect young people across this country to the international community at this historic juncture.

Keep checking this site for further information in the coming weeks

Cami Workers Approve Rotating Shifts

CAW Local 88 members at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario have voted overwhelmingly to support a program of rotating layoffs in an effort to share the pain caused by announced job cuts.

CAMI, a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki, announced plans to temporarily stop production of the Suzuki XL7 vehicle and to eliminate the second shift at the facility in 2009 resulting in 600 job cuts.

After weeks of negotiations, the union and company agreed to a program of rotating layoffs between January and April, effectively keeping workers employed but at a reduced work schedule. Production at the plant is expected to pick up again in May 2009 following the launch of a new vehicle.

Workers voted 99 per cent in favour of the program at a membership meeting held on November 23. Had the plan been rejected, 600 workers would have faced a four-month layoff.

CAMI Plant Chairperson Mike Van Boekel calls the positive response from his members a bittersweet reward, as auto workers in Canada continue to struggle with an industry in rapid decline and an uncertain future.

"The auto industry is central to our economy and CAMI plays an important role in our community," Van Boekel said. "We absolutely need a viable long-term strategy to help solve this current crisis that will move our industry forward and government has to be the driving force behind that."

The Ingersoll facility employs 1,700 workers and produces the Pontiac Torrent, Chevrolet Equinox and Suzuki XL7 vehicles.

New Book Out - LABOUR AND THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION

That's the title of a brand new book which critically examines the responses of unions to the challenges posed by the neo-liberal restructuring of the global economy. (Some of those responses appear below.) It includes country studies from India, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil. Books like this one are not published every day and deserve to be read by trade union activists everywhere.

Blockade Comes Down

Today Local 222 G.M blockade came down. After a court injuntion Justice David Salmers ordered workers of the headquarters back into there building.CAW Local 222’s protest began 10 days ago when GM breached a 2-week-old contract. The contract guaranteed product allocation for the Oshawa Truck Plant beyond 2011, but on June 3, GM announced that they would close the Truck Plant in 2009.

The Fight will go on and the loss of respect towards General Motors from members of the local will take a long time before that tension disapates. Local leadership working closly with other CAW activists have designed plans of action and further events. Untill a resolve and a product is brought to Oshawa there maybe labour unrest.

MIKE EGAN FOR V.P

Looking forward to the election of Brother Mike Egan for the postion of Youth V.P of the CLC Youth Committee. Check out his brochure that will be in circulation at the convention. Mike has been a union activist on the shop-floor of his
workplace (the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Brampton,
Ontario) for over 5 years. Mike is a proud member of the
Canadian Auto Workers Local 973 and sits on his local
union’s executive board as a youth delegate. Mike is the
first chair of his local’s youth committee, an active
member of the CAW Youth Network and an elected
delegate to CAW Council – the parliamentary body of our
union.

Resistence to Two -Tier Wages

The Big Three Negionations were able to resist two-tier wage scales for the automotive industry in this year’s bargaining. A fantastic agreement for the labour movement in Canada. Great for young workers and great for all new workers in Canada.

A Great Read for All Committee's

An interesting article that was covered by Labour Notes they covered a story about Youth Committee's at Local 88 a great read.

Manufacturing Matters

There will be events taking place throughout Canada by the Canadian Auto Workers. As they enter phase two of the Manufacturing campaign. There is a real concern on the part of workers in this sector who are facing devastating losses in this sector.
On June 1st workers in Oshawa will stage a rally to bring awareness to there community that manufacturing matters.

CLC Planning Meeting

CAW Youth Network Strategy Session re: CLC Convention

When: Saturday May 10, 2008
Time: 11am - 2pm EST
Where: Fairfield Inn & Suites (Marriott) 150 Westcreek Boulevard: Brampton, Ontario.

Direction: (Click Here for Maps)

Hwy 401 to Hwy 410 North
Exit 410 North on Steeles
East on Steeles until you hit Tomken Road
Make a right on Tomken (going South)
Make a right on Advance Boulevard (it may also be called Westcreek Boulevard)
End at 150 Westcreek

Moving Along and Building the Movement

Fantastic work is being done all over the country. From coast to coast Youth in the labour movement are building contacts and pushing back against some of the most eliteists policys that we've seen in some time.

Well how's it look??

Began sometime ago and wanted to make this for everyone in the Network. A place where you can find valuable information. I hope this space can allow for some great discussion on topics of interest.

Johnny