directions - UFCW Canada

Weekly bulletin from
UFCW Canada National President
Wayne Hanley
Vol. X No. 1
January 11, 2010
www.ufcw.ca
DIRECTIONS
®
Conflict ends at Olymel
UFCW Canada Local 1991P members on strike since October against major pork producer Olymel in Saint-Hyacinthe,
Que., got a happy new year message with a settlement on
Dec. 27 to end the protracted dispute.
When negotiations began, Olymel made several concessionary demands, including a freeze on wages and the
surrender of one paid holiday. Local 1991P President Mario
Maisonneuve says the employer was trying to bring the
working conditions of the Saint-Hyacinthe plant down to
the level of two other Quebec plants where workers are
represented by a different union. “UFCW Canada members
in Saint-Hyacinthe could not accept this,” he says. “The outcome of the strike was that the workers made no concessions
on any of the monetary clauses of the contract.”
The contract contains increases of 20-25¢ each year over
the course of the agreement, and a commitment by the employer to invest $1-million in the the plant. “We are happy
about Olymel’s announced investment,” Maisonneuve says.
“It guarantees the future of the jobs of our members.”
Of the 450 workers at the plant, 220 returned to work on
Jan. 5, 2010, and the remainder were scheduled to be back
on the job by the beginning of March.
Solidarity from south of the border
After 13 weeks of lockout, and with the pressures of the holidays and the full force of a Saskatchewan winter bearing
down on them, some Moose Jaw members of UFCW Canada Local 1400 got a timely and much-appreciated helping
hand from their American UFCW brothers and sisters.
On Dec. 18, locked-out packinghouse workers at XL Beef
were on the receiving end of an approximately $85,000 donation to their hardship fund, presented by UFCW International Vice-President Mark Lauritsen on behalf of a number
of U.S.-based local unions. Lauritsen is also the director of
the UFCW food processing, packing, and manufacturing
division based in Washington, D.C.
“It may seem at times this is a fight you’re taking on by
yourself, but you’re not by yourself,” Lauritsen told picketers
with media recording the presentation on the picket line.
“We stand with you in solidarity.”
Local 1400 President Norm Neault added, “This cheque
provides the hardship fund a huge boost, of course, but it
also sends a very powerful message to XL Foods. It tells the
employer that when you pick a fight with UFCW Canada
members in Saskatchewan, you are picking a fight with
1.3-million United Food and Commercial Workers across
North America.”
Lauritsen was accompanied by a small delegation from
the U.S. for the presentation, pictured with local union
members and national staff. From left to right: Daniel
Hoppes, president of UFCW Local 22, Nebraska; Lauritsen; Mike Marty, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 22,
Nebraska; Brian Schwisow, president of UFCW Local 271,
Nebraska; Darren Kurmey, Local 1400 secretary-treasurer;
Gord Miller, Local 1400 XL shop steward; Neault; Paul Meinema, UFCW Canada executive assistant; and Curt Brandt,
assistant to the packing division director.
BDM scholars picked for 2009
The 18 winners of the Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu Scholarships for 2009 were recently picked by the UFCW Canada
National Council. National President Wayne Hanley says
the students are a symbol of the union’s future. “The union’s
chief role is to help members, and being able to provide
scholarships is a meaningful – and popular – way of helping
achieve that,” National President Hanley says. He notes that
the scholars – randomly chosen by region from amongst
qualified applicants – represent a cross-section of UFCW
Canada’s membership.
There are five winners from the western provinces, six
from Ontario, five from Quebec, and two from the Atlantic
provinces. The annual bursaries of $1,000 each honour three
builders of UFCW Canada, William Beggs, Fred Dowling, and Roméo Mathieu. To learn more about them or the
scholarship program, please visit our website.
Applications are available from your local union or
online at www.ufcw.ca/scholarships. Applications for the 2010
program must be submitted to the National Office no later
than Sept. 30, 2010. More photos of scholarship winners will
be published in DIRECTIONS as they become available.
The 2009 BDM Scholarship winners are (15 are listed
here; three more are pending final documentation):
• Ruth Andres of Niagara Falls, Ont., is a member of
UFCW Canada Local 102 who works at the Outback Steakhouse in Niagara Falls. Ruth is in the third year of a concurrent Literature & Education Honours program at Brock
University, St. Catharines, Ont.
• Jennifer Bhambra of Surrey, B.C., is the daughter of
UFCW Canada Local 247 member Kalvinder Bhambra,
who works at Real Canadian Superstore #1526. Jennifer is
in the first year of a Psychology major at Langara College in
Vancouver, B.C.
• Sophie Boissonneault of Montreal, Que., is a member
of UFCW Canada Local 500R who works at Provigo #8830
Henri-Bourassa. Sophie (pictured)
is in her first year of study towards
a Bachelor in Literary Studies at the
Université du Québec à Montréal.
• Brenda Campbell of Edmonton,
Alta., is a member of UFCW Canada
Local 401 who works at the Palace
Casino. Brenda is in the first year of
studies in Therapeutic Recreation at
Edmonton’s Norquest College.
• Christopher Coccimiglio of
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is a member of
UFCW Canada Local 1000A working at Romes YIG #871 in the Sault.
Chris is in the second year of studies
at the University of Windsor working
towards a Master of Arts in Political Science.
• Sara DaRosa of Kitchener, Ont., is a member of UFCW
Canada Local 1977 who works at the Zehrs HiWay Centre
store. Sara is in her first year studying Radio Broadcasting at
Conestoga College in Kitchener.
• Adam Fleming of Kingston, Ont., is the son of UFCW
Canada Local 12R24 member Sean Fleming, who works at
The Beer Store’s Kingston cross-dock facility. Adam is attending St. Lawrence College in Kingston, in the second year
of the Culinary Arts program.
• Jessica Fontaine of Moncton, N.B., is the daughter of
UFCW Canada Local 1288P member Jean Guimond, from
Maple Leaf Consumer Foods (formerly Hub Meats) in
Moncton, and president of Local 1288P. Jessica is in the second year of the Psychology program at Université de Moncton.
• Shauna Foster of Penticton, B.C., is the daughter of
UFCW Canada Local 1518 member Dave Foster, who works
at Save On Foods #962. Shauna is in her second year of study
at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, where she
is studying English, History, and Anthropology.
• Karolann Lachance, of Saint-Robert-Bellarmin in Que-
For more information,
please visit us at
www.ufcw.ca
bec’s Eastern Townships, is the daughter of UFCW Canada
Local 509 member François Sirois, who works at Acier
Canam in nearby Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce. Karolann is
studying Home-Care Assistance at the Centre de formation
professionnelle Pozer in Saint-Georges, Que.
• Jillian Larkin of Kinkora, P.E.I., is the daughter of
UFCW Canada Local 864 member Myron Larkin, who
works at Cavendish Farms in New Annan, P.E.I. Jillian is in
her second year studying Medical Laboratory Technology at
New Brunswick Community College in Saint John, N.B.
• Jérôme Poirier of Rimouski, Que., is a member of UFCW
Canada Local 503 who works at Maxi Rimouski. Jérôme is in
his second year of Civil Engineering at Cégep de Rimouski.
• Stéphanie St-Cyr of Laval, Que., is the daughter of
UFCW Canada Local 501 member Linda Hanley, who is a
steward at Pâtisserie de Gascogne production division as well
as a vice-president of the local union. Stéphanie is in her first
year of Integrated Studies at Collège Rosemont in Laval.
• Asha Siad of Calgary, Alta., is the daughter of UFCW
Canada Local 1118 member Mohidin Siad, who works at
Cargill Foods in High River, Alta. Asha is in the first year
of the Bachelor of Communications program at Calgary’s
Mount Royal University, majoring in Journalism.
• Dasiga Sundaralingam of Scarborough, Ont., is the
daughter of UFCW Canada Local 206 member Thurairajah
Sundaralingam, who works at G&K Services (Anchor Textiles). Dasiga is in her first year studying Life Science at the
University of Toronto’s St. George Campus.
DIRECTIONS going paperless
In February 2010, DIRECTIONS will cease publication as a
printed document, but will continue to be published online
at www.ufcw.ca, with a thumbnail synopsis sent to our email
subscribers. If you currently receive DIRECTIONS in its
email version, no action is required to continue your online
subscription. If, however, you normally receive a printed
copy, you will still be able to access the online version at our
website – but you will need to send a valid email address to
directions@ufcw.ca to be added to the notification list.
Calendar
—2010—
Jan. 14-15: UFCW Canada Election Training, Winnipeg
Jan. 15: UFCW International Scholarship application period
opens
Jan. 25-26: UFCW Canada Election Training, Niagara Falls
Jan. 28-29: UFCW Canada Election Training, Halifax
Feb. 4: Ontario byelection, Toronto Centre
March 8: International Women’s Day
®
®
Wayne Hanley, National President, UFCW Canada
300-61 International Blvd Toronto ON M9W 6K4
416.675.1104 • fax 416.675.6919 • www.ufcw.ca
UFCW Canada DIRECTIONS is published by the United Food and Commercial Workers in Canada.
©2009 UFCW Canada unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. For further information,
contact Mike Freeman. ISSN 1496-9009. CALM member publication.
DIRECTIONS directions@ufcw.ca
UFCW Canada National Communications: Anouk Collet, Michael Forman,
Mike Freeman, Derek Johnstone, Josefina Moruz, Edie Parker
Translation: Zahia Badaoui, Sylvia Waller
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