KDLC News Feb.3 2023
In this newsletter:
- Union victory at Canada Royal Milk
- Feb. 8: Kingston Coalition Against the Ford government: inaugural meeting
- Feb. 7: PSAC 901 rally
- Survey: Rural Regional Commuter Transit
- News Briefs
- KDLC meetings, dates, contact information
1. Union victory at Canada Royal Milk
After 33 grueling months of delays at the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the union at Canada Royal Milk (1680 Venture Blvd) has been certified in a 28-27 vote. The workplace has since grown and 150 employees will now have union representation.
Workers at the plant organized with UFCW Local 175 because of poor safety standards and a toxic work environment which led to many serious health and safety problems, some of them publicized in the media.
“This decision took a very long time because workers’ rights in Ontario continue to be delayed or set aside in the interest of business,” said UFCW 175 President Shawn Haggerty. “The system unfairly places the burden on working people to prove twice that they want to join a Union. When a worker signs a Union card, it should be enough. This province needs to bring back card-check certification.”
UFCW Local 175 press release: https://ufcw175.com/2023/01/11/canada-royal-milk-employees-join-ufcw-175
OLRB decision: https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onlrb/doc/2023/2023canlii785/2023canlii785.html
2. Kingston Coalition Against the Ford government: inaugural meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 7-830pm
Online Zoom meeting
“The PC government led by Doug Ford has been making changes in Ontario that make life harder for people to live life with dignity. They are shifting more wealth and power to those who are already wealthy while reducing the quality of life for most people and communities.
“Many individuals and organizations have been resisting these damaging decisions…This Coalition is designed to bring individuals and groups together to counteract the direction of this government.”
For zoom details contact: sayyida.jaffer@chco.ca
3. PSAC 901 rally to abolish graduate tuition
Tuesday, February 7, 11am, Richardson Hall, Queen’s University, Kingston
“Let’s make noise about graduate student workers earning less than minimum wage while facing rising rents, unaffordable housing options, and the cost-of-living crisis.”
PSAC 901 represents more than 1,400 Queen’s University Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, Research Assistants and Post-Doctoral Fellows. For more information visit psac901.org.
4. Survey: Rural Regional Commuter Transit
The City of Kingston, Town of Gananoque, South Frontenac Township and Loyalist Township have launched a study of rural commuter transit to explore the possibility of a regional rural transit system.
Kingston & District Labour Council urges residents to demand rural commuter transit be public, not contracted out to private bus services.
The survey closes Friday, February 15. Survey link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthFrontenacRuralTransit
5. News Briefs
- Conciliation at Strathcona Paper in Napanee
Conciliation is ongoing at Strathcona Paper in Napanee between Unifor 492 and the company. The union represents 120 workers. A 94% strike vote was delivered in late November 2022. Strathcona Paper traditionally follows pattern bargaining. The pattern follows the Unifor agreement with Resolute Forest Products in May 2022. - EV battery manufacturing certification program at St. Lawrence
The Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) has reported a partnership with Queen’s University and St. Lawrence College to offer North America’s first “EV battery manufacturing certification program” to serve the labour market needs of domestic EV battery manufacturing, including the Umicore factory soon to be built in Loyalist Township. - CarOne bankruptcy
CarOne dealerships closed abruptly in Belleville and Kingston. Employees received one-day notice that they had lost their jobs and numerous customers have reported deposits at CarOne over a $1,000 not being returned. CarOne is owned by Kingston businessman Trevor A. Cotton.
6. KDLC meetings, dates, contact information
Next KDLC General Meeting: February 13, 7pm
Meeting details and documents to come
Next KDLC News: February 22
Please send union reports and event listings to kingstonlabourcouncil@gmail.com before February 19
All official correspondence:
Please email: kingstonlabourcouncil@gmail.com
