CEP Ontario Council Conference 2001

Brothers and Sisters,

Jeff Belanger and I recently had the opportunity to attend the CEP Ontario Council Conference on March 30, 31 and April 1 2001 at St. Catherines.

Rick Williams, council president, welcomed us to the conference.We heard from Ces Makowski CEP Ontario Vice President. He spoke about the "Its all on the line campaign" and the desire of Trade Unionists in Ontario to challenge the changes to the Employment Standards and Labour Relations Acts.  He said that polling suggests that the people of Ontario view the changes negatively.  Specifically the regulations that permit longer working hours (up to 60 per week) and the ability of an employer to designate individual vacation days rather than vacation blocks of 1 or 2 weeks as major concerns.  Also overtime hours (over 48 I think) can be averaged over a period of weeks so that the effect will be to deny workers any premium rate of pay.  While we as Unionized workers may not feel the effects of these changes, it should be remembered that only about 27% of the Ontario labour force is unionized.  These changes could well effect our children and other family members.  They also tend to lower the floor of guaranteed working conditions making it harder for unions to negotiate better working conditions than now exist under current contracts.

Brother Makowski also spoke about union raiding that is continuing by the CAW, how this hurts the OFL and the Labour movement and diverts us from our true objectives. 

We also listened to the plans the CEP has to participate in the "Peoples Summit" in Quebec City.  The aim is to bring Union Activists together and to raise worker right's issues in the forum of free trade.  He said that free trade agreements have to recognize workers and environmental rights.  To this end the CEP is sponsoring a train, leaving Toronto at midnight on April 20, traveling though the night and arriving at Quebec City in time for the day of events, then returning to Toronto that evening.  The cost for a seat on the train is $220.00.

David Christopherson MPP for Hamilton spoke to the group about the Tory legislative agenda.  He said we are living in the worst climate for organizing workers since 1946.  He reminded us that in 1990 SCABS were made illegal and in 1995 the Tories rescinded the law.  He also reminded us that the Liberal platform in 1995 was the same as the Tories.

The minimum wage in Ontario is $6.85 and has not changed since 1995.

The Treasurer of the National Union, Brother Andre' Faucault, told us that the Unions funds are healthy and that all accounts are now operating in the black.  The strike fund is increasing gradually to the $20 million level.  It is at about $15 million right now and should reach the $20 million goal in the next 10 to 12 months with a corresponding reduction in our per capita levy at that time.

On Saturday Jeff and I attended training sessions.  Mine was on financial planning and Jeff attended "Innocent Absenteeism".

On Sunday Brother Wayne Samuelson the President to the Ontario Federation of Labour spoke to the conference about the activities and goals of the organization.  He felt the changes to Employment Standards and the Labour Relations Acts were an attack on fundamental rights.  Workers wages are being suppressed yet as an example of how the Tories manage things, he cited the income of David Williams the CEO of the WSIB who is paid $752,000/yr under the Tories while the NDP government paid the same position $150,000.

The government is creating a Mega-Tribunal system that combines 6 areas of administrative justice into one.  The plan is to fire approximately 150 adjudicators and replace them with 35 new ones.  It should be remembered that the government has made all of these changes, that effect the labour movement with virtually no consultation of those who will be effected.

Brother Samuelson concluded his talk by stating how important it is to organize for the next provincial election and to organize more people into unions.

I want to thank the members for sending me to this conference.  It certainly is worthwhile to touch base with other CEP members in the province and to become energized by the issues and leadership of the day.

Dan Hennaert