Local 736

The Labour Council is a group of people who comes together to learn, discuss, promote and react to labour issues.  The membership is made of delegates chosen by their local unions.  A membership fee is paid by the Local unions to be affiliated with the Council.

The delegates do not come from just one union, but may come from (including but not limited to)...
CUPW, PSAC-CEIU, OPSEU, COPE, CAW, UFCW, CUPE, USW/TCU, OSSTF, a Health and Safety Representative (WHSC), a CLC representative and many others.  During the meetings - information is shared on labour that affect those unions, feedback, action that may be requested to take, inform the labour movement of future requests, community involvement and campaigns to get information out to the public to better understand a situation.

September 24, 2009 - TBDLC is back from Summer!
Local information from the meeting.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Starting December 6^th is the 'Violence Against Women Postcard Campaign'. Since it is the 20th anniversary of December 6th, the campaign will inclide:

1. Funding for women's services, shelters and organizations;
2. pay equity, EI, social assistance, minimum wage, pensions;
3. housing, education, child care;
4. Aboriginal women, young women, women with disabilities;
5. violence in the workplace, good jobs, public services;
6. justice system and international solidarity.

We want to begin this postcard campaign 20 days before Defcember 6^th asking people to send a card a day to the Prime Minister.  Postcards are available from the TBPVSB OPSEU board or request from a steward.

Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL)

• The 10^th Biennial Convention Call to all unions to Register and send delegates. Takes Place November 23-27, 2009 at the Sheraton CentreHotel in Toronto. The dfeadline for receiveing resolutions is October 26, and the deadline to receive credentials is November 2. Registration fee is $250.00.


• 2009 United Way - The OFL is asking union members to be active in supporting the campaign o their local United Way.  The more successful the campaign, the more resourceswill be available in your community to assist those in need.


• BILL 183: College & Trades - changs to apprenticeship laws and effects on public and private sector unions.  An Act to revise and modernize the law related to apprenticeship training and trades qualifications and to establish the Ontario college of Trades. OFL is urging us, however to take a close look. Bill 183 is a sweeping piece of legislation affecting not only authentic trades, but dozens and dozens of occupations in both the public and private sectors. Unfortunately, Bill 183 proposes to lump certified occupations together with authentic trades. Moreover, it would dilute the presence of labour within the governing body, creating a structure in shich organized labour will be a permanent minority, out-outvoted by employers, non-union employees and representatives of the public who, by definition under the Act, must have no connection at all with the trades. A number of serious concerns with the medel established Bill 183.
  1. Nearly one-third of the Bill is directed at the disciplinging College members based on written complaints from "the public". No guarantee that employers who violate rules and regulations will be dealt with since there is no provision in the Bill for increasing the number of inspectors;
  2. Bill 183 redefines skill sets as "trades". There is no employer that will remain unaffected: municipalities, retail outlets, farms, greenhouses, restaurants, bakeries, call centres, racetracks, public schools, charitable organizations;
  3. Only a minority of trades legally require the use of certified journey persons in order to carry on work in that trade.
  According to Bill 183, only employers that are members of the College are allowed to hire certified journeypersons, regardless of whether or not the trade is compulsary or voluntary. Many employers voluntarily hire journeyperson. However to continue this practice, that employer would have to become a member of the College.  This will severely undermine the a[prenticeship system in Ontario as it will increase the scarcity of the authentic apprenticeships which, by definition, requires the mentorship and supervision of a qualified journeyperson.  The OFL is currently working on campaign materials and a more detailed paper.  We hope toy will read the Bill yourself and flag our concerns with your members and staff.  We also welcome your input in the materials we are developing.  Further information contact Pam Frache, Education Director at 416 443 7663 or pfrache@ofl.ca.

Social Justice

• Lakehead Social Planning council thanked Labour Council for renewing 2009 membership.


• Lieutenant General, Romeo Dallaire's story of courage and conviction - Community Auditorium


• Ontario Health Coalition newsletter issues "Action Call" to all members to contact their MPP's to insisit on a mroitorium on hospital cuts in small and rural hospitals pending the completion of the panel's work; task force must consult with public; and correspondence received mentioning the Ontario Health Coalition's 2^nd Annual Garlic Fundraiser.

New Democratic Party (NDP)
Ontario's NDP celebrating Howard Hampton's illustrious career as a leader of the Ontario NDP Septmeber 12, 2009 in Dryden, ON. Tickets are $30 each, or two for $50.

Miscellaneous

• Royal Canadian Legion Port Arthur Branch #5's Annual Poppy Campaign
• 34^th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Charity Auction, Oct. 22 at the DaVinci Cenre.  Tickets are $10.00, doors open at 6:00pm.
• Confederation College Foundation - Celebrating Strength in Community, 14th Annual Community Partners' Evening
• United Way Campaign Breakfast, September 11, Valhalla Inn and Bagel Day for the United Way, October 9.