Sunday, August 29, 2010
LOCAL EVENTS MANITOBA:
TWO SPIRIT GATHERING COMING SOON:
The 22nd annual 'Two Spirit Gathering' is coming to the Manitoba town of Beausejeur next weekend. Here's the promo.>>>
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22nd Annual International Two Spirit Gathering
The 22nd Annual International Two Spirit Gathering will take place on September 3-6, 2010 at the Dr. Jessie Saulteaux Resource Centre, Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada (64 kilometers or 40 miles) northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Aboriginal/Native American gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender people, their partners, friends & families are invited to gather in the land of the Cree, Dene, Dakota, Inuit, Metis, Ojibway-Cree and Ojibway.
This is an alcohol and drug-free event sponsored by Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. (“Those Who Lead”) and the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba.
To register for the gathering, visit the International Two Spirit Gathering website.
For information about registration, accommodation and travel, contact Albert McLeod at 204-783-6424 (in Canada) or by email at twospiritedmanitoba@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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Here's a brief description of what the Two Spirit Gathering is all about from their website.
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Executive Summary
Ka Ni Kanichihk (KNK) and the Two-Spirited People of Manitoba (TSPM) have partnered to host the twenty-second annual gathering of Two Spirit people in North America, A Gathering of Medicine Stones. The following definition of Two Spirit people is found in Manitoba’s Aboriginal Strategy on HIV/AIDS:
Two Spirit People – a term used to describe Aboriginal people who assume cross -, or multiple gender roles, attributes, dress and attitudes for personal, spiritual, cultural, ceremonial or social reasons. These roles are defined by each cultural group and can be fluid over a person’s lifetime. Modern terms like gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, [GLBT] transsexual and intersexed (in combination with, or exclusive to, Two Spirit) may be adopted by some Aboriginal people to define who they are.
This special gathering began in 1988 in Minnesota when a local group of Native American gay and lesbian community members saw the need to launch a cultural revitalization movement that was based on the principle of being alcohol and drug-free. The world-wide HIV pandemic had also reached the Two Spirit community at this time galvanizing many local activists to become involved in the HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention movement.
The Minneapolis gathering was organized with the support of allies such as the Minneapolis American Indian Center, Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council, and the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department, along with community businesses and private donors. For the past 21 years annual gatherings have continued to be supported by various levels of government, Aboriginal organizations, foundations and private donations. There is also a component of regional and local fundraising and in-kind support for this event.
TSPM hosted the gathering in 1990 and 1998 with approximately 125 participants at each event (a full report on the 1998 gathering is available). TSPM will host the 20th anniversary of their first gathering on Labour Day Weekend, September 3-6, 2010 at a retreat centre outside of Winnipeg. The theme, “A Gathering of Medicine Stones” is reflective of the spiritual and ecological nature of this gathering. Approximately 125 participants representing various Aboriginal and Native American nations and tribes from across Canada and the US are expected to attend. The four-day agenda will include cultural activities, health and wellness sessions, leadership building, anti-homophobia and human rights training, and networking opportunities. A Two Spirit youth life-skills component and panel session will be included. Youth will be one of the priorities for travel scholarships.
Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., the auspicing body for this project will provide administrative support, financial accounting and will function as the central coordination and planning site. A joint committee of Ka Ni Kanichihk and TSPM representatives will lead the planning and coordination, and oversee fundraising efforts and the successful delivery of the project. A project financial audit will be included in Ka Ni Kanichihk’s annual report. As a registered charity Ka Ni Kanichihk will provide tax receipts for individual and corporate donations.
Contact
Albert McLeod, Co-Director
Two-Spirited People of Manitoba Inc.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
T: 204-783-6424 E: twospiritedmanitoba@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Labels: aboriginal, gay rights, local events, Manitoba, native issues, Two Spirit gathering
Saturday, July 24, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR MANITOBA:
UNION BUSTING MANITOBA STYLE:
This one is probably a bit dated. The relevant events belong to last month, and it was duly reported in the local press, at least briefly. The story is an old and hoary one about how management fends off union organization by declaring portions of their employees as "managers" even if their supervisory actions rarely extend beyond seeing that their shoelaces are tied. Managers, of course, are out of the sphere of union bargaining, and they can be squeezed to the hilt if they are actually workers who have taken this legal loophole on the chin. The case, however, is hardly over as can be seen from below where , at least in my mind, there could be some doubt about the legality of what the real management has done in the face of a Labour Board ruling that authorized the MNU to represent the people involved. Still, you have to hand it to those "caring" social service bureaucrats for trying every possible avenue to avoid disgorging a few more shekels. Oh, they "care" so much. here's the story from the website of the Manitoba Nurses' Union.
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Nurses lose jobs after Union obtains certification
Nine nurses from the Kildonan Personal Care Centre have had their positions eliminated after seeking representation from the Manitoba Nurses Union for the purpose of collective bargaining. MNU is taking legal action against the employer. During an initial meeting in November 2009 with representatives of the MNU, the Centre’s Resident Care Coordinators, raised concerns about workload issues, salary, lack of shift and weekend premiums as well as proper overtime provision.
MNU agreed to represent the nurses and on January 8,2010 filed an application for certification pursuant to the provisions of the Labour Relations Act, in order to obtain an automatic certification to bargain a collective agreement for these nurses.
The employer claimed that the Resident Care Coordinators were in fact managers and were not appropriate to be unionized because they were performing “primarily management” functions.
The MNU disputed this allegation and description of the work actually being performed. Hearing dates were set by the Labour Board to determine whether the nurses were eligible to join the MNU for collective bargaining and representation rights, but shortly before the scheduled hearing the employer withdrew their objection to the application.
On May 17, 2010 the Labour Board issued a certification order enabling these nurses to be represented by the MNU. After a five month ordeal, the nurses had a victory – or so they thought.
Three days later, on May 20,2010, Revera Living, the corporation that runs Kildonan Personal Care Centre, eliminated the position of Resident Care Coordinator, thereby terminating all of the members of the newly certified bargaining unit, effective August 20,2010.
After terminating these nurses the employer posted Resident Care Manager positions which contain many shifts, duties, and responsibilities which appear similar to those of the eliminated positions.The terminated nurses have been offered the chance to apply for these positions, but there is no guarantee that these nurses will even be considered for the newly created positions.
The employer alleges the new “manager” jobs will meet the test to keep these positions excluded from being unionized in the future. The MNU shall continue to monitor and communicate with all nurses in the eight Revera Living workplaces and requests that all interested nurses continue to communicate with us in regard to representation.
Nurses lose jobs after Union obtains certification
Nine nurses from the Kildonan Personal Care Centre have had their positions eliminated after seeking representation from the Manitoba Nurses Union for the purpose of collective bargaining. MNU is taking legal action against the employer. During an initial meeting in November 2009 with representatives of the MNU, the Centre’s Resident Care Coordinators, raised concerns about workload issues, salary, lack of shift and weekend premiums as well as proper overtime provision.
MNU agreed to represent the nurses and on January 8,2010 filed an application for certification pursuant to the provisions of the Labour Relations Act, in order to obtain an automatic certification to bargain a collective agreement for these nurses.
The employer claimed that the Resident Care Coordinators were in fact managers and were not appropriate to be unionized because they were performing “primarily management” functions.
The MNU disputed this allegation and description of the work actually being performed. Hearing dates were set by the Labour Board to determine whether the nurses were eligible to join the MNU for collective bargaining and representation rights, but shortly before the scheduled hearing the employer withdrew their objection to the application.
On May 17, 2010 the Labour Board issued a certification order enabling these nurses to be represented by the MNU. After a five month ordeal, the nurses had a victory – or so they thought.
Three days later, on May 20,2010, Revera Living, the corporation that runs Kildonan Personal Care Centre, eliminated the position of Resident Care Coordinator, thereby terminating all of the members of the newly certified bargaining unit, effective August 20,2010.
After terminating these nurses the employer posted Resident Care Manager positions which contain many shifts, duties, and responsibilities which appear similar to those of the eliminated positions.The terminated nurses have been offered the chance to apply for these positions, but there is no guarantee that these nurses will even be considered for the newly created positions.
The employer alleges the new “manager” jobs will meet the test to keep these positions excluded from being unionized in the future. The MNU shall continue to monitor and communicate with all nurses in the eight Revera Living workplaces and requests that all interested nurses continue to communicate with us in regard to representation.
Labels: Canadian labour, labour, local news, managers, Manitoba, Manitoba Nurses' Union, Winnipeg
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:
MANITOBA WORKERS AGAINST THE WAGE FREEZE:
Here in Manitoba the provincial NDP government has recently announced a wage freeze for the public sector. The ostensible rationale of this policy is that in a "recovery period" from the recent recession/depression government spending will have to be curtailed both in order to recover from a deficit position and to act as a brake on inflationary pressures. All of this, of course, depends upon some pretty 'ify' projections concerning the speed of recovery, inflationary pressures and how much provincial policy can influence the latter-if at all. It also depends on what is probably a "worst case" scenario in terms of government revenue (which depends not just on the rate of recovery but also on its qualitative aspects). What is not "ify" is that the government has determined to set their wage freeze in stone rather than await the unknown future.
During times when the "health" of our managerial economy demands that ordinary workers sacrifice it is very often the social democrats such as our provincial NDP (or even more obviously the "socialist" government of Greece) who lead the lambs to the slaughter. Unfortunately public memory is short, and ordinary workers often give their support to such parties because the alternatives seem worse.
No doubt they are ! This is not, however, an argument against a policy of distancing the unions and other working class organizations from such social democratic parties---if for no other reason than to hold a threat over the head of the parties. It is even less of a reason for people not to look into non-statist, cooperative ways of achieving social goals, ways that depend less on government and more on popular initiative. Even should there never be a society free of bosses, both public and private, this Independence would serve ordinary people well. This latest attack on public service workers in Manitoba is best situated in the long historical tradition of thousands of such attacks on ordinary people by social democrats in power.
Here's the story from the CBC about how the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) is planning a public relations campaign against the wage freeze.
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Wage freeze sparks MGEU ad campaign
CBC News
The MGEU's ads feature profiles from people like Ryan Espy, a correctional officer who works with youth at a provincial jail. (MGEU) The union representing more than 32,000 public-sector employees in Manitoba has embarked on a campaign to win public support in the wake of an announced wage freeze by the government.
On Monday, the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) launched TV advertisements under the title of Your Province, Your Services.
The ads introduce the public to civil servants who do everything from test water quality to guarding offenders in provincial jails. Currently, the union has produced five such profiles for the ads.
MGEU spokeswoman Lois Wales suggested it's important the general public realize that wage freezes will have an impact on the provincial economy and the services people receive.
"If you're cutting back on the public service's spending power, then you're stalling out the whole recovery of the recession," Wales said.
"Because the private sector is just starting to come back, people need to have money to spend to keep that economy going, and that's what our members expect," she said.
Freeze part of long-term plan
The government announced in its recently tabled 2010 budget that it would incur heavy deficits for five years before returning to surplus.
A two-year wage freeze for government employees was announced as a cost-cutting measure.
Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk has defended the wage freeze, saying the government could have laid off workers and cut programs in order to balance the budget, but instead decided to go ahead with deficits to preserve front-line programs such as health care.
The wage freezes would be rolled out as collective agreements expire, Wowchuk previously said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/05/03/man-wage-freeze-mgeu-ads.html#ixzz0mzFQhrqK
Wage freeze sparks MGEU ad campaign
CBC News
The MGEU's ads feature profiles from people like Ryan Espy, a correctional officer who works with youth at a provincial jail. (MGEU) The union representing more than 32,000 public-sector employees in Manitoba has embarked on a campaign to win public support in the wake of an announced wage freeze by the government.
On Monday, the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) launched TV advertisements under the title of Your Province, Your Services.
The ads introduce the public to civil servants who do everything from test water quality to guarding offenders in provincial jails. Currently, the union has produced five such profiles for the ads.
MGEU spokeswoman Lois Wales suggested it's important the general public realize that wage freezes will have an impact on the provincial economy and the services people receive.
"If you're cutting back on the public service's spending power, then you're stalling out the whole recovery of the recession," Wales said.
"Because the private sector is just starting to come back, people need to have money to spend to keep that economy going, and that's what our members expect," she said.
Freeze part of long-term plan
The government announced in its recently tabled 2010 budget that it would incur heavy deficits for five years before returning to surplus.
A two-year wage freeze for government employees was announced as a cost-cutting measure.
Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk has defended the wage freeze, saying the government could have laid off workers and cut programs in order to balance the budget, but instead decided to go ahead with deficits to preserve front-line programs such as health care.
The wage freezes would be rolled out as collective agreements expire, Wowchuk previously said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/05/03/man-wage-freeze-mgeu-ads.html#ixzz0mzFQhrqK
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Now here's the story from the horse's mouth so to speak. Here's the MGEU on their campaign.
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Campaign Highlights Importance of Public Sector Workers
To highlight the importance of Manitoba’s public sector employees, the MGEU is launching a public campaign to remind Manitobans just how critical public services are, especially during tough economic times.
“Too often, when economic times are tough, talk turns to cuts to public services. But at what cost?” asks MGEU President Peter Olfert. “Right now many departments are struggling with unacceptably high vacancy rates. We need to start talking about what’s at stake here.”
Two ads will be running on local television stations throughout the month of May, aiming to remind Manitobans that a strong public service is key to keeping our province going and growing.
“These are the men and women who get us through the tough times, whether its flood protection, or making sure kids are safe when their families are in crisis,” said Olfert. “And now is not the time to scrimp on our safety standards, whether it’s making sure our water is free of e-coli, or striving to keep young offenders from returning to gang life.”
Olfert pointed out that while most Manitobans know public sector workers are there to protect our quality of life, they may not consider their role in keeping our economy as stable as possible.
“Take the current workforce shortages in certified trades,” Olfert said. “We’ve currently got Aboriginal Apprenticeship Coordinators throughout the province working to get young Aboriginal Manitobans into apprenticed trades like carpentry and plumbing. If the government needs to make up for cash shortfalls, are public programs like these really what we want to take the hit? When the private sector is struggling, we need the public sector to help make sure we don’t stall altogether.”
The Provincial government is currently at the bargaining table with over 14,000 public service employees. So far, the Province has essentially said accept an across-the-board wage freeze or there will be cuts such as reduced work weeks or lay-offs.
As you may have already noticed on our website, the MGEU is profiling the many different jobs of provincial public sector workers – highlighting what they do and how it affects Manitobans. Over the next few months, the union will continue to feature different members every week who are the faces behind Manitoba's civil service.
“Let’s remember: a public sector wage freeze would mean significantly less buying power for thousands and thousands of middle class families across our province,” Olfert said. “And cuts would mean the loss of critical services that most Manitobans take for granted.”
Watch Ad #1
Your Province Your Services Ad schedule
Read Profiles of Civil Service Members
Campaign Highlights Importance of Public Sector Workers
To highlight the importance of Manitoba’s public sector employees, the MGEU is launching a public campaign to remind Manitobans just how critical public services are, especially during tough economic times.
“Too often, when economic times are tough, talk turns to cuts to public services. But at what cost?” asks MGEU President Peter Olfert. “Right now many departments are struggling with unacceptably high vacancy rates. We need to start talking about what’s at stake here.”
Two ads will be running on local television stations throughout the month of May, aiming to remind Manitobans that a strong public service is key to keeping our province going and growing.
“These are the men and women who get us through the tough times, whether its flood protection, or making sure kids are safe when their families are in crisis,” said Olfert. “And now is not the time to scrimp on our safety standards, whether it’s making sure our water is free of e-coli, or striving to keep young offenders from returning to gang life.”
Olfert pointed out that while most Manitobans know public sector workers are there to protect our quality of life, they may not consider their role in keeping our economy as stable as possible.
“Take the current workforce shortages in certified trades,” Olfert said. “We’ve currently got Aboriginal Apprenticeship Coordinators throughout the province working to get young Aboriginal Manitobans into apprenticed trades like carpentry and plumbing. If the government needs to make up for cash shortfalls, are public programs like these really what we want to take the hit? When the private sector is struggling, we need the public sector to help make sure we don’t stall altogether.”
The Provincial government is currently at the bargaining table with over 14,000 public service employees. So far, the Province has essentially said accept an across-the-board wage freeze or there will be cuts such as reduced work weeks or lay-offs.
As you may have already noticed on our website, the MGEU is profiling the many different jobs of provincial public sector workers – highlighting what they do and how it affects Manitobans. Over the next few months, the union will continue to feature different members every week who are the faces behind Manitoba's civil service.
“Let’s remember: a public sector wage freeze would mean significantly less buying power for thousands and thousands of middle class families across our province,” Olfert said. “And cuts would mean the loss of critical services that most Manitobans take for granted.”
Watch Ad #1
Your Province Your Services Ad schedule
Read Profiles of Civil Service Members
Labels: Canadian labour, labour, Manitoba, manitoba labour, MGEU, social democracy, wage freeze
Saturday, March 13, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-WINNIPEG:
CNIB WORKERS SET TO STRIKE ON MONDAY:
Nineteen employees of the Canadian national Institute for the Blind (CNIB), represented by Local 832 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), are set to strike this coming Monday, March 15. Contract negotiations have been dragging on for almost a year, and management has proved intransigent despite offers of concessions from the union. Here's the story from the CBC. Many thanks to the Winnipeg Wobbly Blog who alerted Molly to this development and plan to be following the situation as it develops.
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CNIB workers prepare to picket
Workers at Winnipeg's Canadian National Institute for the Blind are preparing to walk off the job on Monday.
CNIB workers prepare to picket
Workers at Winnipeg's Canadian National Institute for the Blind are preparing to walk off the job on Monday.
Union members on Thursday voted down the CNIB's final contract offer, after negotiating with management for close to a year.
The union is willing to accept a wage freeze in the first year of a new deal but not the proposed reductions to paid sick leave and long-term disability, said United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 832 president Robert Ziegler.
'The company has taken a hard line on a non-issue.'—Robert Ziegler, union president
"The membership is outraged that after spending nearly a year at the bargaining table and being understanding on monetary issues that the company would force a reduction in their health and wellness benefits when it has never been a problem," Ziegler said.
The 19 union members who work at the CNIB perform various duties assisting people living in the province who have visual impairment.
Contract negotiations started in April 2009 and in July 2009, a government-appointed conciliator was brought on to try helping the two sides reach a deal.
"The company has taken a hard line on a non-issue and unfortunately they are demonstrating to the people in the province who need these services that they would rather force our members on a picket line instead of helping them," said Ziegler.
There are no plans to continue negotiations as the company stated this was their final offer, he added.
However, the union is willing to meet with the company over the weekend prior to the Monday morning picket, if they are willing to move off this issue, Ziegler said.
There's been no comment from the CNIB.
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Here is a posting from the website of Local 832 from which much of the article above was derived. Keep tuned to the union's website for further news.
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CNIB members in Manitoba set to strike on Monday
Company pushes members to the streets over non-issue.
UFCW Local 832 members working at the Winnipeg Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) at 1080 Portage voted down the company’s final offer on March 11.
Company pushes members to the streets over non-issue.
UFCW Local 832 members working at the Winnipeg Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) at 1080 Portage voted down the company’s final offer on March 11.
“The membership is outraged that after spending nearly a year at the bargaining table and being understanding on monetary issues that the company would force a reduction in their health and wellness benefits when it has never been a problem” said UFCW Local 832 President Robert Ziegler.
Negotiations started in April 2009 and have been assisted through a government appointed conciliation officer since July 2009 with all the items being agreed upon, including a wage freeze in the first year but the members refuse to budge on CNIB’s stance to change its paid sick leave.
“Our members have been very understanding to the financial constraints that CNIB is currently under. They are long standing employees have been with the company for many years. They have agreed to take a wage freeze and a small increase in the second year of the contract. The only outstanding item is the company’s stance to reducing its sick time pay, which the company admitted during negotiations hasn’t been abused,” said Ziegler.
The 19 members working at the CNIB perform various duties assisting people living in the province who have visual impairment.
“The company has taken a hard line on a non-issue and unfortunately they are demonstrating to the people in the province who need these services that they would rather force our members on a picket line instead of helping them,” said Ziegler.
Currently, members who have five years of service or more are entitled to 15 weeks of 100 per cent paid sick leave should they need it. The company wants to reduce it to 10 days at 100 per cent then whatever days that member has not used to-date under its “sick time cushion” 100 per cent of a potential 10 days but the remaining time will be at 67 percent. Currently, if a member does not use their sick leave it’s not carried over or can be cashed out. The company also proposed a reduction to the long term disability from 67 per cent to 60 per cent of their eligible earnings.
There are no plans to continue negotiations as the company stated this was their final offer. The union is willing to meet with the company over the weekend prior to the Monday morning picket, if they are willing to move off this issue.
Labels: Canadian labour, CBC, CNIB, labour, local news, Manitoba, strike, UFCW, UFCW Local 832, Winnipeg, Winnipeg Wobbly Blog
Friday, March 12, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE:
PORTAGE POSTIES PROTEST PUBLIC PULL-OUT:
Postal workers in Portage la Prairie Manitoba, a small city about 50 kms west of Winnipeg, are protesting the recent decision by Canada Post to reduce public service at the main office in Portage. As the following from Portage On-Line makes plain this will not save Canada Post any money, but it is definitely in line with the long standing desire of the Federal Conservatives to destroy Canada Post, however much inconvenience that may cost smaller communities. Or, of course, is could be simply an example of "management muscle-flexing" whereby managers, who are usually as useful as tits on a boar, try to justify their existence by making a change, any change whatsoever whether it makes sense or not. Truly wise managers realize the futility of their work existence and cruise through to retirement while doing as little as possible and letting those who know the job get on with it. The Portage posties are represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
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Postal Workers Union Upset With Service Cutback
The recent decision by Canada Post to reduce the hours of its "Call For" services at Portage's main post office isn't sitting well with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Postal Workers Union Upset With Service Cutback
The recent decision by Canada Post to reduce the hours of its "Call For" services at Portage's main post office isn't sitting well with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Todd Jarema, regional union representative for all CUPW offices in Manitoba, says they've been told the move is to bring the service in line with other offices around the province, but notes the union sees it instead as a blatant service cutback.
Jarema notes the folks who had been handling the "Call For" service will still be working in the building during those hours, so closing the wicket is of no real financial benefit to Canada Post.
He adds rural customers and business people who can't make it to the main post office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. no longer have the opportunity to get parcels, registered letters or C.O.D. items after hours.
Jarema says CUPW has put together a mailer for affected customers, asking Portage-Lisgar MP Candice Hoeppner to try and reverse Canada Post's decision.
Labels: Canada Post, Canadian labour, conservatives, labour, Manitoba, Portage la Prairie, postal service, postal workers
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:
WHO (IF ANYONE) WILL OWN THE PINE FALLS PLANT ?:
Since the announcement of Tembec's intention to sell their paper plant in Pine Falls Manitoba an initial three groups "interested" in the purchase has dwindled to two. One, as previously reported here at Molly's Blog, is an ex-manager who has spun his managerial power through various other corporate entities to the point where he feels that he can raise enough of other people's money to make a bid on his old workplace. Sorta like an upstart bourgeois in 18th century England purchasing a landed title. Mr J.P. Bradette, the potential purchaser in question, has offered to give employees an "equity share". My spider sense starts tingling at this. First question-how many employees ? Mr. Bradette has stated very bluntly that he intends a large number of permanent layoffs (one of the reasons why the present workers are not keen on his plan). Seems more like an attempt to divide the workforce and undercut worker opposition to his proposal than a serious offer.
One also has to ask how much such equity shares would amount to, both in terms of magnitude, in terms of type of share and in terms of relative percentage of the total shares in the company. Anyone with as long a corporate managerial career as Mr. Bradette is, of course, very familiar with how managers often go against the interests of their shareholders. The reason he feels comfortable in this offer, besides the fact that he hopes to pull the teeth of his competitors for the mill, is that he is well assured that any such equity will be both a minor component of the total equity and potential profit and also leave the workers, should they accept such an offer with no control over the future direction of the plant-which might be important if the way od making such a profit involves either selloffs to others or actually making a profit by declaring bankruptcy. It's been done before.
The other proposal on the table, a joint buyout on the part of the workers involved and the nearby Sagkeeng First Nation. This is much more to Molly's liking. An actual producers' co-op seems an impossibility at this time, and this proposal would be optimum in that it would leave control in the hands of local people who would obviously want the mill to stay. I would suggest that the local municipality should also consider joining this partnership. On the part of the First Nation it would be obvious that they should demand preference in future hirings, There should, however, be no layoffs that the other partner to the deal, the present workers, would have to suffer. I would also hope that only a realistic proportion of the $1 million that the Province has promised to the community for the "transition" will be spent on any "feasibility study" ie one that somebody's friends or those that the government of the Province hopes to make their friends will latch onto like leeches. Sorry to say it, but it's my humble opinion that the "consulting" industry is, in the vast majority of cases, smoke mirrors and pickpocketing.
I would also hope that proper legal guarantees be put in place so that there could be no future selloff of the plant, like what happened in the 1990s when it ceased to be worker owned, for temporarily attractive terms. The mill may, indeed, have to be sold in the future no matter who owns it, but this should be only when it is plain that there is no chance of it being self-supporting. For now I would also suggest that the asking price might be diminished by pointing out that any attempt remove portable assets might run into difficulties. No advocacy of anything, of course, aside from the possibility that public peaceful protest might occur in such an eventuality. It should also be made plain, probably by the municipality, that the buildings would not be allowed to sit derelict and rusting away forever. It is within the mandate of a municipality to access penalties and even expropriate any derelict property in their jurisdiction. I'd suggest that such a plain pointing out of the facts might reduce the desire of Tembec's present management to try and charge an inflated price to whomever may buy the plant.
But enough of my own opinions. Here's the story of how things stand today from the Lac Du Bonnet Leader, a local area newspaper.
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Battle for mill begins
Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz
A battle for ownership of the Tembec paper mill in Powerview-Pine Falls has begun, the Leader learned this week.
Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz
A battle for ownership of the Tembec paper mill in Powerview-Pine Falls has begun, the Leader learned this week.
Cam Sokoloski, president of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3-1375 which represents over 250 mill employees, said the union submitted a letter of intent to Tembec this week notifying the company of the union's employee buyout proposal.
The union, in partnership with Sagkeeng First Nation, is also submitting a proposal to the town's Community Development Committee in an attempt to conduct a feasibility study that's intended the bring the buyout to fruition.
"We're going ahead with it — we think this is best option for all involved," Sokoloski said.
Mike Fontaine, economic development officer for the First Nation, said he's excited at the prospect of the mill being community-owned like it was in the 1990s when the first employee buyout took place, prior to the mill being sold to Tembec.
"Sagkeeng is a part of this community and this could be beneficial to everyone," Fontaine said. "We were asked awhile back if we would be willing to explore this and we jumped at it and said absolutely."
Tembec recently put the mill up for sale. It has set a deadline for Feb. 1 for serious purchase offers, with the end of March being its final sale deadline.
If the mill isn't sold by then, the plant will be mothballed, Tembec has said. (Ah, as I said above, "derelict property"-Molly )
John Valley, Tembec's executive vice president of business development and corporate affairs, said the company will only be considering offers that have "real potential" to lead to an eventual takeover.
He did not elaborate as to the criteria the company is using to determine that potential, except to say time is of the essence and anyone putting an offer forward must consider that.
"If someone were to come along and say 'by golly, I want to buy the mill but I still have to get my advisers together and I have no money yet,' obviously we'd have to look at that very carefully," Valley said.
Sokoloski said if the feasibility study goes ahead, the funding for it will come out of the $1million fund recently set up by the provincial government to help the community deal with the aftermath of the recent Tembec labour dispute, which saw nearly 300 mill employees locked out by the company Sept. 1 of last year.
The lockout officially ended Jan. 13 after the Manitoba Labour board intervened. However, the workers are still out of a job and are now attempting to apply for retroactive Employment Insurance benefits.
Bradette's plan a go
As the union prepares its buyout proposal, former Tembec Vice President of Sales J.P. Bradette is also going ahead with his own purchase plan, Bradette told the Leader this week.
"In addition to offering employees a significant ownership stake in the new company, this proposal will create roughly 180 well-paid union jobs and some 20 staff positions, not to mention the benefits to the community as a whole," Bradette said in a statement written for the Leader.
"The reality at this point is that the employees will have no jobs, no wages, no benefits, and certainly no ownership in the mill, unless a viable offer can be made to Tembec by Feb. 1."
Bradette recently came to Powerview-Pine Falls to meet with the community's chamber of commerce and the union membership as well. His plan, of which no details have been made publicly available, was overwhelmingly rejected by the union membership last weekend, Sokoloski said.
Bradette said he's disappointed the union did not accept his offer.
"My understanding is that the issue was not even put to a vote; a decision as important as this one should be put to a secret ballot," he said in his statement. "I understand that my proposal may not fit with every union member's beliefs. To them I say that your support does not obligate you to accept the equity share and the well-paid jobs that will be created. Out of concern and respect for your colleagues and neighbours however, give them a choice."
Sokoloski recently told the Leader that Bradette's offer was "worse" than the Tembec concessions that led to the original lockout last year.
Bradette said support from the union is key to making his plan a success.
"The support of the employees is only the first of many steps required before the mill can be restarted. Without this support there can be no viable offer, and my concern is that the mill assets will be sold off to cover the shutdown costs, with no hope of a restart," Bradette said.
"I urge all employees and members of the community to think long and hard before ratifying such an important decision. There is still time to act, although the window is closing quickly."
Labels: Canadian labour, labour, lockouts, Manitoba, Pine Falls, producer co-ops, self management, Tembec, Tembec lockout
Sunday, January 24, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:
WORKERS DISPLEASED WITH PINE FALLS MILL PURCHASE OFFER:
Since the provincial government ruled that the present lockout at the Tembec plant in Pine Falls Manitoba should end and become a "layoff" (see earlier here at Molly's Blog) there have been various offers and suggestions as to how to save the mill. The most prominent has been from a former managerial employee who has managed to leverage his various managerial positions and perks with various companies into real liquid wealth. He, of course, demands at least as many concessions from the workers as Tembec has done.
The other contenders include the Sagkeeng First Nation, the town of Pine Falls and the Tembec employees themselves. The provincial government has committed over a million dollars to "study" the future of the mill (ie throwing/wasting good money at its managerial friends with no expected result). In the end, if there is to be an alternative to the most prominent item on the table it would pretty well have to be a multi-stakeholder partnership including Sagkeeng, Pine Falls, the employees and, yes, the provincial government (such a partnership would be a better place to park money than "studying" the feasibility. Whether such a thing is feasible should be the judgement of one properly qualified government employee working for 2 to 3 weeks (at government speed, less out in the real world) and costing nothing extra because they would simply be diverted from other duties. The proportions of who owns what and who takes on what liabilities would be the main subject of negotiations.
In better times the mill could have easily been purchased by the workers and run as a producers' coop. In actual fact it was once exactly that before it was sold to Tembec in a moment of greed and lack of foresight. The best mixture, in my opinion, for such enterprises is a mixed partnership between a local community and a workers' cooperative. Given the present situation other players, such as private equity and the province will pretty well inevitably have to be signed on if the mill is to viable at all. Once more I emphasize that conversion to producers' coops is best done at times that lack crisis, and that such conversion should be part of the policy of pretty well every union (yes-including the public service one ala the anarchosyndicalists in Spain).
Until that great utopia of foresight...here's the continuing story of the Pine Falls plant from the pages of the Lac Du Bonnet Leader.
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Union not impressed with mill offer
Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz
The president of United Steelworkers Local 3-1375 says an offer put forward last week to buy the Tembec paper mill in Powerview-Pine Falls is "worse" than the original concessions that led to the recent employee lockout at the mill.
Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz
The president of United Steelworkers Local 3-1375 says an offer put forward last week to buy the Tembec paper mill in Powerview-Pine Falls is "worse" than the original concessions that led to the recent employee lockout at the mill.
Cam Sokoloski said J.P. Bradette's offer, put forward at a closed-door meeting Jan. 13, was nothing to get excited about.
"It's worse than what Tembec's offer was," Sokoloski said. "We're still looking at the numbers, nothing's been decided yet. We have a ways to go yet."
Tembec's original concessions included a 35 per cent cut to the union compensation package, including an immediate 25 per cent wage reduction.
Bradette is a former Tembec VP of sales. He currently serves as "principal" for Toronto consulting firm BSC Communications. Prior to his term with Tembec, he served as VP of sales for Ontario Power Generation for four years.
Sokoloski would not give specifics on Bradette's offer, first reported in last week's Leader, but said the union is keeping all its options open. It's working jointly with Sagkeeng First Nation on a feasibility study to see if the mill could become community-owned.
In the meantime, less than half of the mill's 275 workers are still walking the picket line. The lockout officially ended last week, and since then many have left to look for work elsewhere.
Mill workers like Dorian Trethart are sticking around for the time being. The workers officially began applying for their Employment Insurance benefits this week, something they were unable to do because of the lockout.
The union is working with the Community Unemployed Help Centre in Winnipeg to try and convince Ottawa to help the workers obtain retroactive EI benefits to Sept. 1 of last year, the day the lockout started.
If that happens, each worker could get up to $7,000.
Still, Trethart and fellow union member Jeff Dugard aren't holding their breath.
"EI is like an insurance company — they love to take the premiums, but they don't want to pay out," Trethart said. "Been there, done that."
Dugard agreed.
"Just because they're letting us apply is no guarantee they'll give us anything," he said.
In the mean time, Tembec has pushed its purchase deadline back to the end of March. It recently put the mill up for sale, and said if it didn't get purchased by the end of January, the mill would be mothballed.
Ed Gaffray, acting president of the Blue Water Chamber of Commerce, said that's encouraging. The chamber met with Bradette last week.
"It was more of an information meeting to let people know he was serious," Gaffray said.
"Pushing the deadline back does show there's a serious offer there, but time will tell.
Buying a mill isn't like buying a car — there's a lot involved, and it's even more complicated right now what with the economy and all."
The USW picket line headquarters across from the mill will come down in about a week, the union said.
Labels: Canadian labour, labour, local news, lockouts, Manitoba, Pine Falls, Tembec, Tembec lockout, United Steel Workers.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:
TEMBEC LOCKOUT ENDS:
The lockout at the Tembec plant in Pine Falls Manitoba, which has been ongoing since last September 1, is now over. Molly has blogged multiple times on the subject of this dispute. Today the Manitoba Labour Board ordered Tembec to end its lockout. It is expected that layoff notices will be issued to the workers involved, allowing them to collect EI. This marks the sterling failure of the claims of both our provincial government and local Conservative MPs that they might influence the federal government to allow the Tembec workers to collect EI. Another thing that Molly is at pains to point out is, while the idea of any "influence" over the feds to persuade them to actually help rather than harm workers is ludicrous, it has always been in the domain of the Province to do what they have done today. The Conservatives make no claims about being a friend of labour. Our provincial NDP does. Why wasn't this action taken long ago ? Here's the story about today's ruling from the CBC.
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Lockout at Pine Falls plant ends:
The Manitoba Labour Board has ordered an immediate end to a prolonged lockout at the Tembec newsprint mill in Pine Falls, Man., CBC News has learned.
Lockout at Pine Falls plant ends:
The Manitoba Labour Board has ordered an immediate end to a prolonged lockout at the Tembec newsprint mill in Pine Falls, Man., CBC News has learned.
The mill has been idle since Sept.1 after the Montreal-based company locked out more than 250 unionized workers and stopped operations. Prior to closing, the company had said it needed "an immediate and significant reduction" in labour costs to stay competitive in the newsprint market.
The United Steelworkers union had applied to the labour board for arbitration in the labour dispute. This morning, the board ordered Tembec to end the lockout, the union said.
Employees on the picket line have just learned of the new development, United Steelworkers union spokesperson Wayne Skrypnyk said.
Not going back to work
However, unionized employees will not be going back to their jobs in the wake of Wednesday's announcement.
Tembec announced in December that it was putting the mill up for sale and would not be resuming operations even if the lockout was ended.
Skrypnyk said the lockout's end isn't considered a victory for the union workers, but will come as some relief to them as they'll now be issued layoff notices and become eligible for Employment Insurance benefits.
An arbitrator will still be appointed to try and resolve outstanding issues between labour and management, Skrypnyk said.
The mill is about 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
Labels: Canadian labour, conservatives, labour, local news, lockouts, Manitoba, NDP, Tembec, Tembec lockout, United Steel Workers.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
LOCAL NEWS MANITOBA:
FIRST NATIONS PROTEST MISSING WOMEN DURING TORCH RUN:
Well, it looks like the province of Manitoba will let the Olympic Torch run pass with very little in the way of protest. On its first pass through the city of Winnipeg little happened in the way of 'anti-Olympics' besides the appearance of what is apparently a "travelling PETA" protest that follows the torch run from city to city. I hardly want to even begin discussing those people. The Winnipeg Sun reported that there were "a small group of other protesters" but that nobody was able to ascertain what they were protesting.
The only place where any significant protest took place was in eastern Manitoba when the torch first entered the province. The protest by a number of native activists was not about the matter of unceded native lands on the west coast and the seemingly eternal wrangling about land claims in Canada. It was, however, about an issue equally as important, the hundreds of native women who have disappeared over the years in Canada, presumed victims of fatal violence. If the reader wishes to follow this issue more closely I can suggest the website of the Native Women's Association of Canada. Each year, on October 4, the NWAC holds the 'Sisters in Spirit' vigils in numerous communities across the country to remember this missing and murdered women. Last year the event was held in 72 different Canadian centres.
The demonstration in the east of the province got little publicity. Here is one item from the CTV Olympic coverage that gives an idea of what happened.
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Murdered and missing women a ‘national disgrace’:
The Globe and Mail
By Susan Krashinsky
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF REYNOLDS, MAN. - The Olympic torch trucks whizzed along the Trans-Canada Highway into Manitoba yesterday, but as they crossed over the Whitemouth River and flew past a remote junction, a slower and more sombre procession took place.
The Globe and Mail
By Susan Krashinsky
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF REYNOLDS, MAN. - The Olympic torch trucks whizzed along the Trans-Canada Highway into Manitoba yesterday, but as they crossed over the Whitemouth River and flew past a remote junction, a slower and more sombre procession took place.
Horses. Seven of them, carrying leaders from native communities as nearby as Roseau River and as far away as the Canupawakpa Dakota Nation near the Saskatchewan border. Those who didn't ride walked along the shoulder. They came to this stretch almost 100 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, in cars and vans and buses, to draw attention to the plight of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.
The demonstration was peaceful, and did not disrupt the torch's progress.
Allan Courchene, the principal of the high school at the Sagkeeng First Nation brought a gaggle of teens on the 90-minute trip in the early morning. "I brought our students to support the cause of our females that have gone missing," he said, adding that such cases need to be investigated with more urgency.
"We are not protesting the athletes," said Chief Terrance Nelson of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation. He organized the demonstration. "We welcome them. But we want to remind people ... what's happening to our people."
Labels: 2010 Winter Olympics, aboriginal, anti-olympics, feminism, local news, Manitoba, olympic torch, protests, sport
Monday, January 04, 2010
CANADIAN POLITICS-ONTARIO/MANITOBA:
MORE OLYMPIC TORCH PROTESTS:
The Olympic Torch continues on its tortuous way across the frozen north, as our local federal ruler, Sneaky Stevie, shuts down Parliament until shortly after the Games, no doubt hoping to bask in reflected glory when it is reconvened. Too bad there isn't an Olympic Shot Shovelling event, as our dear Prime Minister and his government would be assured of all the places on the podium. Meanwhile, the torch continues to be met by protests in community after community. Last Saturday it was the turn of Espanola Ontario, as reported briefly in the following from our local Winnipeg Free Press.
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ESPANOLA, Ont. - The Olympic Torch ran into yet another protest in Ontario Saturday as protesters briefly blockaded the Trans-Canada Highway.
Members of several different First Nations say they occupied a bridge on the Trans-Canada west of the community of Espanola.
The protesters say they wanted to try attention to a number of grievances including the environmental damage that the Games are causing and the displacement of homeless people in Vancouver.
A news release from the protesters says police cleared the bridge, arresting eight demonstrators who were later released.
A lawyer for the protesters say police didn't lay any charges.
The Torch has run into protests in Toronto and other communities in Southern Ontario as various protesters try to draw attention to their concerns.
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Here are much more detailed reports from the No 2010 website, including the all important press releases from the protesters, press releases that never seem to make it to the mainstream "press".
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8 Protesters Arrested Attempting to Block Olympic Torch in Ontario:
January 3, 2010 - 07:43 — no2010
ORN-O Blockades Olympic Torch Relay, 8 People Arrested During Shut Down of Trans Canada Highway
For Immediate Release, January 2, 2010
Contact: Attorney Davin Charney – 226 747 2317 or No2010@peaceculture.org
Aboriginal protesters counter Canada and VANOC’s claims that the 2010Games are supported by First Nations
Nairn Centre, Ontario—Today just before 1pm a group of aboriginal youth and allies briefly blockaded the Trans Canada Highway bridge over the Spanish River (west of Espanola), disrupting the Olympic Torch Relay on its way from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie. Youth from several different First Nations attempted to erect a 20ft tripod to block the Torch Relay. All eight have been arrested by local police.
Today’s blockade was to draw attention to the real injustices being perpetuated by VANOC and the IOC for the 2010 Olympics; to draw attention away from the sanitized and greenwashed version of Canada that the government and the Games are trying to present. Olympic Resistance Network protests across the country have highlighted the ongoing colonization of unceded Indigenous territories, environmental destruction caused for the Games, and the displacement and criminalization of the urban poor in Vancouver, the squandering of public resources to pay for the Games, and the instigation of a contemporary police state to secure them.
Anishinabe youth Mark Corbiere, said that, “VANOC and the government of Canada can no longer whitewash Canada’s brutal legacy of ongoing colonialism, nor its abysmal environmental record; these are the things Canada and VANOC really represent, and we will not let them use the Olympic spotlight to put their lies unchallenged before the global public.”
This peaceful blockade, conducted in solidarity with communities affected by the Olympics in British Columbia, comes on the heels of direct actions across southern Ontario, including at Torch Relay stops in Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, Six Nations, Oneida, London, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph and Barrie. At all of these stops, one of the main messages has been, “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land.”
The group explains that this anti-Olympic slogan counters recent media claims that Canada’s aboriginal communities support the Games: “VANOC and the government of Canada want Canadians and the world to believe that they have worked with First Nations people in allegedly meaningful ways to create a so-called joint partnership for the Games,” said Corbiere.
All Eight people have already been released. ORN-O’s legal and media teams are waiting for updates.
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PRESS RELEASE
Olympic Protesters Released without Charges after Blockade of Olympic Torch Relay on Trans Canada Hwy:
For Immediate Release, January 2, 2010
Contact: Alex Hundert - 519 500 1878,
No2010@peaceculture.org
*Indigenous youth demonstrate that 2010 Olympics are opposed by grassroots First Nations people.*
M’Chigeeng, Ontario—Today, a group of Indigenous youth and allies were arrested by OPP while setting up a blockade of the Olympic Torch Relay onthe Trans Canada Hwy as it travelled from Sudbury to Sault Ste Marie.Algonquin, Anishnabe and Haudenosaunee youth united today to confront VANOC’s 2010 Torch Relay, a symbol of colonial injustice. All who attended the blockade were arrested during the process of setting up an elaborate ‘lockdown’ blockade that was to include a climber scaling the bridge over the Spanish River to ‘drop’ an anti-Olympic banner. The activists were released without charges, and all the blockade gear was returned by police.
Mark Corbiere, a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation said that the point of the blockade was “to challenge the idea being rolled forward by VANOC that Canada has a respectful and progressive relationship with Indigenous people and their nations.” Corbiere continued, “The truth is that Canada has a legacy of colonialism as brutal as any in history—of cultural genocide, and in fact, colonialism is ongoing in this country, and so is Canada’sattempted genocide of Indigenous nations.” He was arrested and released today without charges.
Anti-Olympic and solidarity activist Dan Kellar, who was also arrested today while covering the event for Canadian independent media, says that the reason charges were not laid is because VANOC is reeling from the attention that Olympic protesters have drawn to the Olympics’ and Canada’s shameful record of abusing First Nations Peoples and their cultures. “VANOC has had the Olympic spotlight shone on the lie that Canada and BC are engaged in meaningful partnerships with First Nations,” said Kellar. “The truth is though, that despite the endorsement of the ‘Four Host First Nations’corporation, the Provincial representative body, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs has gone on record as considering a formal protest of the Games,” he said.
“Even Phil Fontaine, in 2008, while still head of the AFN, during the Beijing Torch Relay, said that the world should expect protests similar to those conducted by Tibetans and their allies against China’s 2008 Olympics,”says Mark Corbiere. “Fontaine said then, that people should be just as outraged at Canada’s treatment of First Nations as China’s treatment of Tibet—today he is a paid advisor for Olympic sponsor RBC, helping direct the whitewash of Canada’s ongoing colonialism.” Corbiere concluded, “From Tibet to Turtle Island colonialism is a crime.”
ORNO contingencies conducted anti-colonial demonstrations against the Olympic Torch Relay in a dozen cities across the Province this month. The predominate theme of those protests is encapsulated by the chant which rang through the downtown streets of Kitchener and Toronto, with each of those events drawing in excess of 200 people, “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land.”
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Police arrest eight over attempt to delay Olympic Torch in Ontario:
Saturday, January 2, 2010,
CBC/THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/100102/n010265A.html
ESPANOLA, Ont. - The Olympic Torch ran into yet another protest in Ontario Saturday as protesters briefly blockaded the Trans-Canada Highway.
Members of several different First Nations say they occupied a bridge on the Trans-Canada west of the community of Espanola.
The protesters say they wanted to try attention to a number of grievances including the environmental damage that the Games are causing and the displacement of homeless people in Vancouver.
A news release from the protesters says police cleared the bridge, arresting eight demonstrators who were later released.
A lawyer for the protesters say police didn't lay any charges.
The Torch has run into protests in Toronto and other communities in Southern Ontario as various protesters try to draw attention to their concerns.
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Eight protestors arrested on torch relay route:
By Susan Krashinsky, The Canadian Press, Saturday, January 2, 2010
ESPANOLA, Ont. - They wanted to disrupt the torch relay's progress across Northern Ontario and the rest of Canada, but in the end the latest protesters didn't even manage to slow it down.
Less than a week after a torchbearer was knocked down during a protest in Guelph ( not the true story protesters claim-see earlier on this blog-Molly ) in a move that sent the torch tumbling to the wet ground, a group of eight protesters were hustled off the road before they could even put their banner up.
The Ontario Provincial Police arrested the young people for mischief just before 1 p.m. at the Spanish River Bridge on the outskirts of Espanola, a town approximately 60 km northwest of Sudbury. They were found there with ropes, road flares and climbing equipment, which they intended to use to erect a 20-ft. tripod in the middle of the bridge.
"We were out here today because the Olympics are taking place on unceded indigenous territory out in B.C.," said Mark Corbiere, a spokesperson for the group. "It's a land grab from the colonial history of the Canadian government."
Mr. Corbiere is originally from the Anishinaabe community on Manitoulin Island, and now lives in Kitchener, Ont. He is a member of a protest group called the Olympics Resistance Network.
Had the protestors succeeded, a banner would have hung there that read "No 2010," with a symbol of the thunderbird, which the group has used as a logo in past protests.
"Our goal was ... to peacefully disrupt the torch relay," Mr. Corbiere said. "We were caught red handed by the police."
On Monday, torchbearer Cortney Hansen was knocked down as the relay passed through Guelph, Ont. Protesters denied that they had pushed Ms. Hansen.( Once more see earlier on this blog- Molly ) A Kitchener woman was charged with assault after the incident, and police with the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit said they would review security procedures around the relay.
Extra police officers were on duty to monitor any possible disturbances along the relay route, said Sgt. Mike Pollock of the Sudbury detachment of the OPP. Because the roadway is narrow by the bridge, the protesters represented a public safety issue, he said.
"We promptly removed them," he said. "There's always a plan in place in the case that there are any incidents."
The protesters were held for about an hour before they were released and allowed to leave together in the white van they had used to travel to the bridge with their equipment.
"I don't even think the relay was delayed at all," Sgt. Pollock said.
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Finally, the torch is due to arrive here in Manitoba tomorrow, and, as usual, it will be greeted by protest. In the morning it will pass through Treaty One land on the Rousseau River First nation. The protesters there will have their own concerns ie hundreds of native women who have gone "missing" over the years. This has its own importance in addition to the land claims issue. The story that follows is originally from the Winnipeg Free Press. It comes Molly's way, once more via the No 2010 website.
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Manitoba Natives to Focus on Missing/Murdered Women When Torch Relay Arrives:
January 1, 2010 - 06:00 — no2010
Manitoba First Nations to highlight murdered women during torch run
By Carol Sanders, Winnipeg
Free Press, December 31, 2009
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2010wintergames/First+Nations+highligh...
WINNIPEG -- The Olympic torch will be welcomed with the usual hoopla and fanfare when it arrives in Manitoba next week, but when it crosses into Treaty One territory on Tuesday, it will face a stern reminder of Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women.
"Our intention, basically, is to drive home this message what's been happening in Canada and to give information out," said Roseau River Anishnabe First Nation Chief Terry Nelson.
"I am inviting a lot of the families of murdered and missing women to be standing on the road with pictures of them," he said by phone Wednesday.
Treaty One territory begins in eastern Manitoba where the Whitemouth River crosses the Trans-Canada Highway, about two kilometres east of where Highway 11 crosses the Trans-Canada.
"People need to be reminded that these women were not treated with the same respect. ... You look at the response to the death of one white woman on the road. It's not the same thing," Nelson said.
Nelson expects at least two other chiefs from the treaty area to take part in the event near the eastern boundary of their territory.
The Roseau River chief was in Ottawa earlier this month for a special chiefs' assembly. He was among several native leaders who warned Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl the year ahead could see blockades and other forms of economic disruption until more money and support are provided for native education.
On Wednesday, Nelson said there are no plans to trip up any of the torch bearers or disrupt any other community celebrating the arrival of the Olympic flame in Manitoba next week.
"We don't want to interrupt someone else's event," said Nelson, who has orchestrated blockades and demonstrations over the years. "Out of every protest we've been involved in, sometimes we've made white people late for lunch."
The Olympic torch leaves Treaty One territory - which covers close to 43,250 square kilometres - on Jan. 8 near Brandon.
First Nations should welcome Olympic athletes from around the world, but "we cannot allow those athletes to go home believing that Canada is a bastion of human rights," Nelson said in a news release. "We, as indigenous people, are not terrorists. There is no list of over 500 murdered and missing white women killed by indigenous men, there is however a list of over 500 murdered and missing indigenous women, most of those women were killed by white men.
"In Vancouver where the Olympics will be headquartered, 49 women were killed, murdered, terrorized and desecrated after death by one white man. Police failed to take the murders seriously because the murdered (mostly indigenous women) were considered by police to be the lowest of the low."
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the torch run and the Olympics are about "peace and unity," and more First Nations are involved than ever.
"This Olympics, First Nations are hosting the torch run from one end of the country to another," Grand Chief Ron Evans said in a statement. "As Grand Chief, I will have the honour of bearing the torch, along with others on Jan 7."
Evans said games traditionally played an important role in uniting First Nations.
"The Olympics gives us a forum to showcase our talents, our skills and our diplomacy on an international stage. Games in First Nations' history went beyond simple sports competition.
"They have always been key to the holistic development of individuals and a crucial element to ensure the health and development of our communities," Evans said.
Labels: 2010 Winter Olympics, demonstrations, Espanola, local news, Manitoba, No 2010, olympics, Ontario, protests, sports, Terry Nelson
Friday, December 25, 2009
CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:
TEMBEC LOCKOUT CONTINUES AS WORKERS REJECT OFFER:
The lockout of workers at the Tembec plant in Pine Falls Manitoba seems set to continue into the New Year as workers there have rejected an offer on the part of the company to change their status from "locked out" to "laid off" in return for concessions that would essentially give up all other rights that they are entitled to. Here is how the matter was reported by the Winnipeg Free Press.
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Union rejects layoff offer at Tembec's newsprint mill in Manitoba:
By: THE CANADIAN PRESS
PINE FALLS, Man. - Hundreds of locked-out workers at a Tembec forestry mill in Pine Falls, Man., rejected Wednesday a company proposal to change the terms of their severance and employment security.
By: THE CANADIAN PRESS
PINE FALLS, Man. - Hundreds of locked-out workers at a Tembec forestry mill in Pine Falls, Man., rejected Wednesday a company proposal to change the terms of their severance and employment security.
During a meeting Tuesday with two conciliators from the Manitoba Department of Labour, Tembec had proposed changing the lockout to a layoff, an idea the union supported because it would allow its members to collect Employment Insurance.
However, the union said Tembec's offer was conditional on workers agreeing to defer severance pay and give up their employment security rights unless the operations were running at 100 per cent capacity.
"It is clear Tembec has no interest in ending this dispute because it tabled proposals it surely must have known would be rejected outright by their employees, our members," said United Steelworkers union area supervisor Wayne Skrypnyk.
In all, 280 workers have been on the picket line since September in a dispute over wage cuts, and their union has now applied for provincial arbitration.
The union said the company had been seeking wage and contract concessions that exceed 35 per cent.
Tembec announced earlier this month that it was putting the plant up for sale and was prepared to end the lockout, subject to an agreement on some local issues.
Before it locked out the workers, Tembec said it needed immediate and significant cuts in labour costs at the mill to keep it competitive.
Demand for newsprint has dropped across North America because of the recession and changes in newspapers affected by the migration of news and advertising to the Internet.
Tembec is one of Canada's largest forestry companies, with operations in Quebec and other parts of the country, and in France.
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Meanwhile the United Steel Workers have issued a press release which goes into more detail as to why the workers rejected the offer. It also mentions that the rejection was unanimous. To my knowledge no mass media outlet has picked up on this press release. Here it is from the Canadian Newswire.
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Tembec Denies Pine Falls Workers Severance, EI and Workplace Rights:
WINNIPEG, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - Locked-out members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3 - 1375, at the Tembec Manitoba Newsprint operations in Powerview-Pine Falls, unanimously rejected a company proposal Tuesday to change the lockout to a layoff if workers agreed to defer severance pay and give up their employment security rights unless the operations were running at 100 per cent capacity.
WINNIPEG, Dec. 23 /CNW/ - Locked-out members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3 - 1375, at the Tembec Manitoba Newsprint operations in Powerview-Pine Falls, unanimously rejected a company proposal Tuesday to change the lockout to a layoff if workers agreed to defer severance pay and give up their employment security rights unless the operations were running at 100 per cent capacity.
USW negotiators and Tembec met Tuesday with two conciliators from the Manitoba Department of Labour to possibly end the lockout that began September 1, 2009. Two hundred and sixty USW members and 20 members of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union are on the picket line in rejection of wage and contract concessions that exceed 35 per cent.
"It is clear Tembec has no interest in ending this dispute because it tabled proposals it surely must have known would be rejected outright by their employees, our members," said USW area supervisor Wayne Skrypnyk.
The USW has applied to the provincial labour board for Interest Arbitration.
Despite imposing the lockout, earlier this month Tembec admitted to the Manitoba government and the unions that it intends to either sell the newsprint mill or close it down.
"If Tembec agreed to change its lockout to a layoff, our members would be able to collect Employment Insurance," said Skrypnyk. "This would have helped the workers and the community weather the economic storm that has hit the industry."
He added: "Tembec's denial of a workable agreement that would provide workers and their families access to Employment Insurance is heartless, especially at Christmas time."
The USW represents 250,000 workers in all sectors of the Canadian economy.
For further information: Wayne Skrypnyk, USW Area Coordinator, (204) 232-7335
Labels: Canadian labour, Canadian Newswire, labour, lockouts, Manitoba, Pine Falls, Tembec, Tembec lockout, United Steel Workers., Winnipeg Free Press
