Many times in the past I have heard people say that Unions had become redundant because many of the workers' rights were enshrined in law.
 

Now thanks to the sharply right turned Liberals federally and to the Tories provincially, those people have to rethink their position.
 

Federally, changes to laws like the old Unemployment Insurance Act, now called Employment Insurance Act, which has a less pessimistic connotation, makes things harder for unemployed workers.
 

The amount of benefits was frozen to the extent that, in our case, we receive less than 50% of our weekly wages.

The eligibility criteria have been made harder and are so ridiculous that two people who worked for the same employer, for the same wages for the same length of time may collect for a period dependent on the geographical area in which they reside.

And the least fair of them all is the 85%, rule which requires that 85% of the pre-work stoppage workforce or 85% of the production be resumed before there is any entitlement to receive benefits.

In our case, had we not successfully fought that rule, our laid off brothers and sisters would not be entitled to benefits yet.
 

Provincially the scenario is more dismal.

The Harris tories have attacked and continue to attack and weaken every piece of legislation that gave some form of protection to workers and their Union.

Additionally they have appointed their cronies to all boards and appeal tribunals making it harder to get a fair hearing or get a fair award.

In other cases the steps of appeal process have been removed to deter workers from lodging complaints.

With three years left in his mandate, it is scary to guess what Harris will do next.

Now more than ever there is a need for Unions.

Now more than ever there is a need for u to get involved in your Union.

Now more than ever Unions and their members have to become politically more active in order to bring back the protective legislation that the workers need and ought to have.
 

Joe Crugnale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There is a catch phrase that is reverberating throughout Parkdale Works. It is heard on a daily basis. It says a lot about our state of mind and the state of the business. It shows up in the finished product and in the bottom line. The customers feel it. The Corporation feels it. The Union feels it and you feel it.
 

"I don't care!" or it's expletive..."I don't give a S_ _ T!"
 

While you are reading this ask yourself how many times you heard this today, yesterday or this week. How many times have you said it?
 

We are getting the business rebuilt, albeit slowly. There are signs that there is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully the change in upper management will bode well for the opening of other departments.
 

However, we still have over 90 members laid-off, we have hundreds of rejected coils in the plant with more being produced every day. According to the Company absenteeism as at a high of 13% and tell us they will be cracking down(Dr.'s note program). Production rates are down so they are doing speed checks every day. They point out material that is being sent to shipping with ends hanging from the bottom of the carriers(safety). They point out that not only one coil is being drawn off- gauge by operators but as many as 15 in a row.
 

The Union points out that Production Planning, the lack of bodies and experience, not having the right tools for the job and Temporary Transfers as reasons for the above.

Can the business sustain itself? Probably.

Will the Corporation be patient enough to wait for us to turn the corner? Maybe. The recent departure of the General Manager suggests they are getting impatient.

Can we continue the way we are going? Not likely.
 

There are many people here who have been through Plant Closures at Canada Works, Swansea, Great Lakes Wire and Dosco. The former Frost Works in receivership - 270 jobs gone. Genfast (formerly Brantford Works) is on the brink. When the Stelco plants closed workers were able to move to other Stelco plants. We are running out of places to go.
 

I don't care!?! Well someone had better care. What would you tell your family if the place was to close...I don't care??? That doesn't pay the rent my friends. All of the parties; management, salary and shop floor workers, we are responsible for our own destiny.

Are we up to the challenge? Time will tell.

Darren Green