ISSUES
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contents)
LETTERS
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contents of letter)
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November 29, 2006 -
Letter to Premier
McGuinty regarding shutting down the public hearings on Bill 107, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Code
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November 29,
2006
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Room 381
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79
represents more than 18,000 full and part time employees of the
City of Toronto, Bridgepoint Hospital and Toronto Community
Housing Corporation. CUPE Local 79 is the largest municipal
local in Canada and our members accurately reflect the diversity
of the City of Toronto. CUPE Local 79’s workforce is not only
composed of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, but the
range of the work that we do ensures that our members come in
contact with the city’s diverse communities on a daily basis.
CUPE Local 79 has a strong commitment to human rights and to
ensuring that all people are treated with respect and dignity.
On behalf of CUPE Local 79, we are writing to express our
outrage that you and your government have chosen to abruptly
shut down public hearings on Bill 107, An Act to amend the Human
Rights Code.
We expressed our objections to you about this proposed
legislation in May 2006 and voiced the hope, at that time, that
you would hold proper, open, accessible consultations before
proceeding further.
When Bill 107 was referred to the Standing Committee on Justice
Policy in June 2006, it was our expectation that the groups and
individuals who articulated concerns about Bill 107’s
privatization of the human rights system would be provided the
opportunity to present to the Committee. In fact many of them
were scheduled to speak through to the end of December. Your
Attorney General even went so far as to promise to listen to our
communities for “however long it would take”. CUPE Local 79
recently responded to the public invitation, issued by the
Standing Committee on Justice Policy, to make a deputation. We
were informed that we would indeed be heard sometime in the New
Year.
Premier McGuinty, your subversion of the democratic process,
by cutting off debate on this crucial piece of human rights
legislation, is shameful.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
Livingstone (Livy) Holder
President
Vice-President-Equity
cc: Howard Hampton, Leader Ontario NDP
Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario
Federation of Labour
cope343/la
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November 28, 2006 -
Letter to Premier McGuinty regarding
the financial hardship incurred by injured workers
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November 28, 2006
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Room 381
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
CUPE Local 79 is the largest municipal local union in Canada. We
represent more than 18,000 full and part-time employees at the
City of Toronto, Bridgepoint Hospital and Toronto Community
Housing Corporation. Many of our members work in jobs that pose
a high risk of injury due to the nature of the work. We have a
significant number of members who work in the essential service
field. Our members often receive injuries at work which are so
serious that they never return to the workforce.
In April 2003, you stated: “injured workers and their dependents
should not have to rely on their pensions being topped up by
welfare payments ….. We are also studying an approach to
introduce a fair inflation factor to protect worker benefits
from inflation.”
It is now more than three and a half years since you made that
declaration but you and your government have still not resolved
this crucial issue!
Injured workers have only received an increase of 2.8% in
compensation in the last ten years while the cost of living has
risen 23.1%. The value of their benefits has been decreased in
purchasing power by more than 20%.
Injured workers and their families are forced in increasing
numbers to rely on welfare and on food banks. In many cases
families cannot withstand the pressures and family breakdowns are
the unfortunate result.
Employers, on the other hand, have received a windfall benefit
of a 24.7% rollback in their costs for workers’ compensation
coverage in the last ten years. It is estimated that in the last
10 years, over $2 billion have been taken away from benefits and
diverted into the pockets of employers.
Workers who are injured, and their families, should not be
doomed to live in poverty because their compensation is not
adjusted for inflation. Full cost-of-living protection must be
provided to all injured workers across this province.
CUPE Local 79 demands that you and your government take
immediate action to alleviate this financial crisis faced by all
our injured workers in Ontario. Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Howard Hampton, Leader Ontario NDP
Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
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November 27, 2006 -
Letter to Prime
Minister Harper regarding the Supporting Communities Partnership
Initiative Program
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November 27,
2006
Right Honourable Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Parliament Hill
Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister Harper:
As you know, the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI)
program will run out in March 2007, and to date, there has been
no word on its future. SCPI provides funding for a number of
vital programs focused on the homeless. As the union that
represents the City of Toronto frontline caseworkers who
administer services under the Ontario Works Act, Local 79 would
like to raise a number of concerns regarding these federal
funding cuts.
The organization Partners for Access and Identification (PAID),
which receives SCPI funding, provides vital assistance for
homeless people in obtaining identity documents. The loss of
federal funding will have a devastating impact on homeless
people in the City of Toronto and their ability to obtain
critically important identity documents.
Homeless people are at increased risk for the loss or theft of
identity documents. Without the necessary identity documents,
the homeless cannot access services that, step-by-step, assist
them in building a path to housing. There are many other
services that also require identification documents, including
social assistance, housing, health care, food, and employment
and employment training programs.
Ontario Works, the municipal social assistance program, also
requires identity verification. Partners for Access and
Identification operates in clinics throughout the City of
Toronto, to assist homeless people in obtaining the identity
documents they require to access Ontario Works. In many cases,
the situations are quite urgent, and PAID provides applicants
with assistance in completing the application process for
identity applicants.
For example, PAID can help expedite an application for a person
who needs immediate assistance from Ontario Works in order to
secure housing from a landlord who expects an immediate, timely
decision. PAID can also offer vital support for a person with a
disability who, because of the nature of the disability,
requires assistance in navigating the complicated application
process for identity documents. In cases such as these, a
successful outcome is only possible with PAID’s aid and
assistance.
PAID provides supports that are crucial to ensuring that
residents of the City of Toronto have access to Ontario Works,
which is often a gateway for vital services such as identity
verification, the Ontario Disability Support program (ODSP),
housing, and others. If people cannot access Ontario Works,
access to these other services may be severely limited.
A funding commitment is immediately and urgently needed from
your government to continue the crucial work of PAID. The ending
of PAID will mean a devastating loss of access to services for
homeless people in the City of Toronto, and will prevent many
people from successfully obtaining housing.
We urge your government to ensure the continuation of the SCPI
program and funding agencies such as PAID. We believe that the
homeless people of Toronto deserve no less.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP
Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party
Bill Graham, Leader of the Liberal Party
Mayor David Miller
Councillor Joe Mihevc, City of Toronto
Heather MacVicar, Director, Social Services, City
of Toronto
cope343/la
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November 15, 2006 -
Letter to Sid
Ryan regarding Speakers for Educational Tour on Resolution 50
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November 15, 2006
Mr. Sid Ryan
President
CUPE Ontario Division
305 Milner Avenue, Suite 801
Scarborough, Ontario
M1B 3V4
Dear Brother Ryan:
We have received the flyer from CUPE Ontario
calling for speakers to be trained to take part in an
educational tour of Ontario on Resolution 50.
Local 79 will not be sponsoring or endorsing
any participants in that effort, nor utilizing them once they
have been trained. The reason is that Resolution 50 fails the
test of even-handedness and fairness and has discredited CUPE’s
reputation in Ontario. We are distressed to think that the
educational tour will now add fuel to those fires.
In solidarity,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Paul Moist
cope343/la
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October 6, 2006
- Letter to
Premier regarding Bill 140, The Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2006
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October 10,
2006
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Room 381
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
CUPE Local 79 is the largest municipal local union in Canada. We
represent more than 18,000 full and part-time employees of the
City of Toronto, The Bridgepoint Hospital and Toronto Community
Housing Corporation. We work in many locations including the ten
City of Toronto Homes for the Aged (HFA).
CUPE Local 79 recalls the promise you made during the 2003
election campaign to reinstate a minimum standard of care and
three baths per week for seniors living in long-term care homes.
CUPE Local 79 shares the concerns of our members working in HFA
that the new legislation, the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2006,
which you introduced on October 4, 2006, does not deliver on
your promise.
Bill 140, The Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2006, fails to set
minimum staffing standards for long term care homes. CUPE Local
79 strongly urges you to amend Bill 140 and introduce a minimum
staffing standard of more then 3 hours of care per day, per
resident. Last spring, an Ontario Coroner’s Jury made
recommendations supporting a regulated standard of 3.06 hours of
care per day per resident. Labour organizations, seniors’
advocacy groups, and the Ontario Health Coalition all agree that
a minimum standard of 3.5 hours of care per day per resident
will ensure that a humane standard of living can be provided at
all times to our seniors living in long-term care facilities.
CUPE Local 79 is also concerned that more than half of Ontario’s
publicly supported long term care beds are in for-profit homes.
This gives Ontario the dubious distinction of supporting the
highest number of for-profit beds in Canada using public funds.
This despite the fact that for-profit beds have been linked in
numerous studies to lower levels of staffing and inferior health
outcomes compared to public beds. Bill 140 does nothing to
change this.
CUPE Local 79 strongly recommends that you hold province-wide
public hearings on this new legislation. This would guarantee
that not only will you be affording stakeholders the opportunity
to comment, but you will receive valuable input to help you make
the necessary amendments to Bill 140.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
c.c Mayor Miller
Howard Hampton
cope343/la
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September 26, 2006 -
Local 79 and Local 416 Jointly Request Mayor Miller and City Council
to defer item -
September 25, 2006 -
CUPE, OSSTF & OPSUE
write joint letter to Premier regarding OMERS -
September 20, 2006 -
Mr. Bruce Farr, WES - regarding
Media Relations
-
September 20,
2006
Mr. Bruce K. Farr
Chief and General Manager
Works and Emergency Services
Emergency Medical Services
4330 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 5R9
Dear Mr. Farr:
Local 79 has concerns regarding recent comments made by EMS’
media relations officer Larry Roberts related to one of our
members. These comments raise serious issues for Local 79 and
for our members.
Mr. Roberts was commenting to the media on September 11 and 12,
2006 regarding an incident involving one of our members, who
works as a dispatcher. Apparently, Mr. Roberts is quoted as
saying “this is a fairly senior dispatcher and she’s made a
mistake.”
This incident involved a number of complicated circumstances
which are currently under investigation by the City of Toronto.
It is not appropriate for the EMS media representative to issue
such statements regarding staff members until all the facts and
circumstances of the incident have been properly investigated.
We believe his remarks should have been limited to stating that
the incident would be fully investigated.
These comments have had an immediate and negative impact on the
morale of the EMS dispatchers. They feel that EMS management
will not support them in situations such as these, and will be
overly quick to criticize staff before a proper investigation is
completed. Therefore, Local 79 requests that EMS issue an
apology for Mr. Roberts’ comment. This is essential in order to
restore the morale of the EMS dispatchers and their confidence
in their managers.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Sue Corke Deputy City Manager
Mike Neill, Deputy Chief/Director, Program
Development and Service Quality, EMS
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-
September 19, 2006 -
Paul Moist, CUPE
National President, Inquiring about
Brother Ryan's Legal Costs being Paid by CUPE
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September 19,
2006
Mr. Paul Moist
National President
Canadian Union of Public Employees
21 Florence Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0W6
Dear Brother Moist:
On behalf of Local 79, I am writing regarding Brother Sid Ryan’s
announcement, on September 11, 2006 about the legal action that
he has launched. Local 79 is sympathetic to Brother Ryan’s
issues: an individual should not be subjected to libel or life
threats just because they choose to run for public office.
Media reports imply that Brother Ryan’s legal costs are being
paid by CUPE. This has resulted in Local 79 members asking for
clarification about who is paying for these expenses. Our
members wonder why the NDP is not funding litigation that arose
as a direct result of Brother Ryan running as an NDP candidate
in the Federal Election.
Local 79 would like CUPE to provide information and
clarification on this matter as soon as possible. We would like
to be in a position to give our members accurate facts about
this topic. This would ensure that our members would not have to
rely on flimsy media information which may not be accurate.
It is detrimental to CUPE, and in fact to the entire labour
community, to have this type of ambiguity remain without
explanation. I look forward to your response.
Yours in solidarity,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Claude Généreux, Secretary-Treasurer CUPE National
Fred Hahn, Secretary-Treasurer CUPE Ontario
cope343/la
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September 19, 2006 -
Manager, Employee and Labour Relations
Unit, Video
Surveillance Policy
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September 18,
2006
Mr. Michael Wiseman
Acting Director
Employee and Labour Relations
5th Floor
Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Mr. Wiseman:
At the meeting held on September 18, 2006 with Local 79
representatives, in regard to the Video Surveillance Policy, a
number of commitments were made by City of Toronto staff. This
letter will outline what was agreed to at the meeting.
Within the next 3 to 4 weeks, Local 79 will be provided with
current information on the number, and placement, of
surveillance cameras in all City of Toronto workplaces including
Toronto Community Housing Corporation. This data is to include
information about camera replacements and removals.
At a meeting with Local 79 in April 2006, our representatives
were assured that the only purpose of video surveillance cameras
was for “protection of premises”. Our representatives are now
being told that the video surveillance tapes could be used for
discipline purposes. Local 79 is asking for clarification on
this issue.
Local 79 shared information about current initiatives in Parks,
Forestry and Recreation and in Solid Waste Management that have
a Video Surveillance component. City staff agreed to follow up
to ensure that all staff is aware of the City Video Surveillance
Policy and the compliance requirements before cameras are
installed. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) must include a clause
about compliance with the City Video Surveillance Policy.
Local 79 is in complete agreement with the Director, Corporate
Access and Privacy when she stated that her office, Corporate
Security and Local 79 need to be informed about City initiatives
that have a Video Surveillance component. The Local also agrees
with her assertion that the Video Surveillance Policy will be a
“lame duck” policy unless all Divisions have a thorough
understanding of the requirements of the policy.
Guarantees were made to Local 79 that appropriate training will
be given to all staff who require knowledge of the policy.
Everyone was in agreement with Local 79 that if there is one
Corporate Video Surveillance Policy, the compliance has to be
uniform across all Divisions in the City.
In conclusion, Local 79 would like to re-state, from our letter
to you dated April 27, 2006 our minimum requirements for the
Video Surveillance Policy protocol to discuss and provide notice
to Union representatives of the addition of security video
surveillance cameras.
“The policy should provide a process whereby Local 79 is
notified prior to the implementation of a video surveillance
system. The assessment should include a process which would
allow Local 79 to object to a particular instillation. The City
would provide Local 79 with a copy of the Surveillance Video
Security Threat Assessment to Determine the Requirements for a
Video Surveillance System form (Appendix # 5). Local 79 would be
given a period of time during which an objection could be raised
about the implementation of a specific system.”
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Suzanne Craig, Director, Corporate Access and Privacy
Christine Basdeo, Consultant, Employee and Labour
Relations
Dwaine S. Nichol, Manager, Security and Life
Safety
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September 12, 2006 -
Parks, Forestry and Recreation Safety and
Security Plan
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September 12,
2006
Gloria Lindsay Luby, Chair
And Members, Economic Development and Parks Committee
c/o Clerks Office
City of Toronto
City Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Councillor Lindsay Luby and Members, Economic Development
and Parks Committee:
Re: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Safety and Security Plan
Operation and Capital Funding Requirements (All Wards); Item
#31, Economic Development and Parks Committee Agenda, September
12, 2006.
This confidential report deals with the security of City of
Toronto property, Local 79 has concerns that this report is
being held in-camera.
Security related issues are significant issues for Local 79 and
our members, particularly in Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
Many of them are involved in providing programs and services in
high-risk neighbourhoods, where they face potential security
risks on a regular basis. Additionally, our members have been in
the proximity of a number of violent incidents that have taken
place on or near Parks, Forestry and Recreation property. While
our members are committed to the communities that they serve,
and are proud of the work that they perform, the risks that they
face are real.
We are also concerned for the safety of the members of the
public and the communities that our members in Parks, Forestry
and Recreation serve. If the staff are unsafe, then the public
are unsafe as well.
A report that deals with funding the Parks, Forestry and
Recreation security plan is naturally of significant concern to
us, and we believe it should be provided to Local 79.
The security and well-being of our members is of vital concern
to Local 79, and we have raised worker safety as a priority
issue in the Mayor’s health and safety initiative.
We request that any information that deals with our members’
health and safety, such as this report, be shared with the union
that represents them.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
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August 28, 2006 - Senior Coordinator, Employee and Labour
Relations, Information Regarding Injured/Disabled City of Toronto Employees
-
August 28, 2006
Ms. Catherine
Bossuyt
Senior Coordinator
Employee and Labour Relations
Corporate Services
City of Toronto
5th Floor, Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Ms.
Bossuyt:
Local 79 is
following up on our previous request to you for information
regarding injured/disabled City of Toronto employees who require
accommodation. Local 79 requires the following additional
information:
1. A
list of known City of Toronto Local 79 injured/disabled workers
who are in need of accommodation/modified work.
2. All
lists of anyone else, including non-union or excluded
employees, being accommodated because of a disability in the
Local 79 bargaining unit.
3. The
lists requested in paragraph 2 should include for each
individual identified, the date that accommodation commenced,
the position into which the employee has been placed, and
whether the accommodation is permanent or temporary.
Our goal is to
achieve a positive outcome regarding this matter for both the
City and for our members, and to facilitate the effective return
to work of our injured and disabled members.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc:
A.Anderson
S. Pitters
S. Corke
S.Hoy
Mayor David Miller
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August 17, 2006 - General Manager,
Water Meter Replacement
and Fixed Area Network (FAN) Automated Meter Reading Project
-
August 17, 2006
Mr. Lou Di
Gironimo
General Manager
Toronto Water
City Hall 24th. Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2N2
Dear Mr. Di
Gironimo:
Re: Water Meter Replacement and
Fixed Area Network (FAN) Automated Meter Reading Project
At the meeting
held on July 11, 2006, Tim Maguire and other Local 79
representatives, expressed apprehension with respect to the
Water Meter Replacement and Fixed Area Network (FAN) Automated
Meter Reading Project. These concerns were also articulated in
a deputation to the Works Committee on July 5, 2006.
A commitment
was made by you, to Local 79, that a follow-up meeting on this
issue would be scheduled sometime in August. We are anxious to
continue discussing this matter and would appreciate receiving
notice of the date and time of the proposed meeting as soon as
possible.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc:
Councillor Carroll, Works Committee Chair
Bill Taylor
Alex Marich
cope343/la
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August 11, 2006 - Manager, Employee and Labour Relations
Unit, Video
Surveillance Policy
-
August 11, 2006
Mr. Michael
Wiseman
Manager, HR Division
Employee and Labour Relations Unit
5th Floor
Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Mr.
Wiseman:
Re:
Video Surveillance Policy
On July 25,
2006, City council adopted the following recommendation from the
June 6, 2006 Administration Committee:
“That
City Council request the Chief Corporate Office, in
consultation with Union representatives, to develop a
protocol to discuss and provide notice to Union
representatives of the removal or addition of security video
surveillance cameras.”
Local 79 would
like to ensure that the protocol developed takes into
consideration a number of concerns raised by our representatives
at a meeting held on April 3, 2006, and in a letter to you dated
April 27, 2006. We therefore request a meeting as soon as
possible to discuss this. Please contact my office at (416)
977-1629 extension 229 to arrange a convenient date and time.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
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August 10, 2006 - Homes for the Aged Division,
Divisional Health and
Safety Committee
-
August 10, 2006
Ms. Sandra
Pitters, General Manager
Homes for the Aged Division
City of Toronto
11th Floor, Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Ms.
Pitters:
I am writing to
respond to your letter dated July 19, 2006, regarding Joint
Health and Safety Committees. There appears to be a
misunderstanding of Local 79’s goal concerning Terms of
Reference with respect to the Homes for the Aged. As you state
in your letter, a representative of Local 79 is on record
affirming our preference for formal Divisional Terms of
Reference. I have met with our Corporate Health and Safety
Representatives and at no time did they agree, on behalf of
Local 79, to work on what you refer to as, “the guidelines
approach.”
Local 79 is
committed to maintaining high standards complemented by
consistency of practice when addressing Health and Safety across
the entire City. This can best be achieved by Formal Terms of
Reference. It should be emphasized that a significant majority
of Departments, with signed Terms of Reference, have Divisional
Committees. In fact, nowhere in the City structure do these
Health and Safety Committees operate under guidelines only. No
committee in the City has the authority to alter negotiated
Terms of Reference.
Local 79 is
committed to establishing one single, functional Homes for the
Aged Divisional Health and Safety Committee comprised of
labour/management co-chairs from each of the Homes. This would
improve communications between all Health and Safety Committees
in the Homes for the Aged as well as meeting goals of the Best
Practices initiative. We believe this Divisional Health &
Safety Committee should replace the Networking Committee, which
is currently meeting without any Local 79 Corporate Health and
Safety representatives or input from Local 79.
The intention
of the Mayor’s initiative on Health and Safety, and the spirit
and cooperation established during the Joint Health and Safety
meeting in May, must not be lost. Local 79 is requesting a
meeting, as soon as can be arranged, to discuss this further.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Shirley
Hoy
Cindy O’Brien
Sue Corke
Catherine Bossuyt
cope343/la
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August 9, 2006 - Ms. Stav Andrea,
Bridgepoint Hospital
Labour Management Committee
-
August 9, 2006
SENT BY FAX
AND MAIL
Ms. Stav
D’Andrea
Director of Human Resources
Bridgepoint Hospital
14 St. Matthews Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4M 2B5
Dear Ms.
D’Andrea:
Please be
advised that at this time CUPE Local 79 will no longer be
participating in the Bridgepoint Hospital labour management
committee.
Local 79
believes that the labour management meetings are no longer
productive. Under the current labour relations climate, our
issues are not treated seriously. We believe that the
Hospital is not interested in working with Local 79 in a true,
meaningful partnership.
While there is
no shortage of issues that are of interest to our members, we
believe that they will not be dealt with in a meaningful way
through the labour management process.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
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August 9, 2006 - Manager, Employee and Labour Relations Unit,
"Continuous
Improvement - Occupational Health and Safety"
-
August 9, 2006
Mr. Michael
Wiseman
Manager, HR Division
Employee and Labour Relations Unit
5th Floor
Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Mr.
Wiseman:
The Joint
Occupational Health and Safety Planning Meeting, held on May 3,
2006 was a good opportunity for Local 79 and City staff to
follow-up on the Mayor’s initiative on Health and Safety. The
day-long session allowed all of us to begin working together to
ensure that all workers can enjoy the safest possible working
environment. The discussions during the course of the day
permitted many positive ideas to be aired and the cooperative
atmosphere left all of us with feelings of optimism. I was
encouraged by a strong public commitment made that day, by Sue
Corke, to hold similar meetings on a regular basis.
On May 29, 2006,
I wrote to Catherine Bossuyt requesting that a schedule of
meetings be arranged and that a staff person be identified to be
the liaison with Local 79 on this very important initiative. I
sent a copy of this letter to Sue Corke.
Local 79 has
been unable to participate in any discussions, due to the fact
that insufficient notice was given of a proposed meeting in a
letter from you, dated July 5, 2006. I was shocked when, at a
Divisional Meeting on August 4, 2006, you distributed a
completed document, entitled “CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT –
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY”, without any prior consultation
with Local 79.
The success of
Mayor Miller’s admirable initiative depends on the joint
cooperation between the City and Local 79. To exclude Local 79,
while developing the document in question, flies in the face of
all good intentions established on May 3, 2006.
On behalf of
Local 79, I am requesting an immediate meeting to discuss the
content of the document. Please contact my office, at (416)
977-1629 ext. 231, to arrange a date and time.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: C.Bossuyt
S. Corke
S. Hoy
cope343/la
July 27, 2006 - Ms. Stav Andrea, Bridgepoint Hospital,
President Ann Dembinski
responds to correspondence from Bridgepoint Hospital
-
July 27, 2006
OPEN LETTER
Ms. Stav
D’Andrea
Director of Human Resources
Bridgepoint Hospital
14 St. Matthews Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4M 2B5
Dear Ms.
D’Andrea:
Re: Local 79 – Bridgepoint Hospital Nurses and Paramedical
Bargaining Units
Local 79 has
received your letter dated July 21, 2006 and your memorandum of
July 26, 2006 to our members in the Nurses and Paramedical
bargaining units. I would like to briefly respond to both.
As the union
that represents the Nurses and Paramedical bargaining units, our
primary goal remains and has always been to achieve the best
possible collective agreement for our members, and to do that
without concessions and through a negotiated settlement. This
is our first priority as a union, and it is the most essential
task that we undertake on behalf of all of our members,
including Nursing, Allied Health, and Full-Timers and
Part-Timers.
Your recent
correspondence contains information that is not true – they
do not state that the Hospital is seeking concessions, and that
the Hospital is not offering wage parity with ONA for all
members of the bargaining unit in 2006. However, we are not
interested in conducting collective bargaining through memos and
letters. This is not productive for anyone.
We are prepared
to resume negotiations at any time, and your correspondence
indicates that the Hospital is also willing to resume contract
talks. We are more than willing to accept your offer and
return to the bargaining table at any time, day or night,
including weekends, to resume negotiations and to continue until
they are successfully completed.
We believe that
the services of a mediator would be greatly beneficial to our
efforts. If you are in agreement to using a mediator, please
contact me directly to discuss possible mediators.
I look forward
to a return to the bargaining table.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
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July 25, 2006 - Deputy City Manager,
Toronto Infrastructure
Asset Data Standard (TIADS) Project - Contracting Out Local 79 work
-
July 25, 2006
Mr. Fareed Amin
Deputy City Manager
24th Floor, East Tower
City Hall
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 1X9
Dear Mr. Amin:
This letter is
to confirm the meeting held on July 24, 2006 between
representatives of Local 79 and the City of Toronto, regarding
the Toronto Infrastructure Asset Data Standard (TIADS) Project.
At that
meeting, Local 79 made clear our position that the City’s
proposal to contract out the final TIADS conversion is in fact
contracting out Local 79 work. We stated that this is work that
falls within the jurisdiction of our collective agreements and
should be performed by our members.
You proposed a
plan to place a number of the Survey and Mapping staff into
permanent positions. You also proposed placing other Survey and
Mapping staff into temporary positions while at the same time
looking for permanent positions for them. In principle, Local 79
agrees with this proposal on a without prejudice basis, and
reserves the right to pursue the contracting out issue through
the grievance process.
We also raised
the issue of an audit of the skill sets of the staff in Survey
and Mapping. This information is essential for Local 79, and if
such an audit has not already been performed, we request that
one be undertaken as soon as possible and that the results be
provided to Local 79.
In addition,
we also request the history of decisions made by Toronto City
Council regarding TIADS, especially regarding any decisions to
contract out work.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
July 21, 2006 - Dr. Mitchell Kosny, Chair and Members, TCHC
Board of Directors,
Children and Youth
Strategy
-
July 21, 2006
Dr. Mitchell E.
Kosny, Chair
And Members, TCHC Board of Directors
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
931 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 2H2
Dear Dr. Kosny,
and Members, TCHC Board of Directors:
Local 79
understands that TCHC is considering a proposed Children and
Youth Strategy, as outlined in Item 2 of the July 24, 2006
agenda of the TCHC Board of Directors meeting. This strategy
raises a number of issues that concern Local 79.
Local 79 is
supportive of initiatives that provide positive programs and
opportunities for youths. As the union that represents members
working in Parks and Recreation, we understand the importance
and effectiveness of such programs. However, because we have
not been consulted on this issue, we cannot realistically
determine if the proposed TCHC strategy is the best fit.
Page 10 of the
report states that “the recommendations proposed are based on
extensive research and consultation.” However, at no time was
Local 79 consulted on this issue. This proposed strategy will
have a real impact upon a number of our members – Local 79
should have been included in the planning stage, and provided
with a meaningful opportunity to provide input. Instead, we are
only learning of this proposal in its finalized form, as a fait
accompli.
In effect, this
strategy will contract out the work of our members. The work
currently performed by TCHC staff in the Children and Youth
section will instead be provided by non-TCHC community
partners. We believe that the TCHC tenant community would be
better served if resources were invested in developing and
strengthening TCHC’s own capacity to deliver improved,
appropriate youth services, rather than contracting them out.
In fact, improving TCHC’s own internal programming would improve
its ability to coordinate and cooperate with other agencies.
As the union
that represents TCHC workers, we know that our members will be
affected by this strategy. Therefore, we request further
information to enable us to assess the extent of the impact,
specifically the number of Local 79 members who are currently
working to provide programs for youth within the TCHC community.
We urge members
of the Board to defer implementation of this strategy pending
meaningful consultations with Local 79 on this issue.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
July 21, 2006 - Ms. Heather MacVicar,
Social Service
Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Group
-
July 21, 2006
Ms. Heather
MacVicar
General Manager
Social Services
Metro Hall, 12 Floor
55 John Street
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Ms.
MacVicar:
Thank you for
your letter of June 26, 2006 regarding the establishment of a
Social Service Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Group to
the General Manager’s Office. This is a welcome initiative that
will further ensure the health and well being of our members
working in Social Services.
As you quite
rightly point out in your letter, Toronto Social Services does
indeed have a long history of dealing with staff health and
safety. There are a number of programs that go back several
years that have been implemented and that have improved the
workplace health and safety of our members. This new initiative
will complement these previous valuable programs.
Local 79
appreciates the spirit of co-operation that Toronto Social
Services has consistently displayed during our discussions
regarding this initiative. TSS has provided us with ample
opportunity to offer meaningful, timely input on this issue, and
the outcome of this initiative certainly demonstrates that our
voices have been heard. This has been a very positive
experience for Local 79, and is an excellent example of how
management and labour can work co-operatively to improve
workplace health and safety for City of Toronto employees.
We look
forward to the implementation of the new Advisory Group, and the
valuable work it will do in promoting staff safety and providing
expertise, advice and representation on a Divisional level.
Local 79 has
designated Wolf Keplin as our representative to co-ordinate the
first meeting of the Advisory Group.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Sue Corke
Cindy O’Brien
Brenda Nesbitt
Mayor David Miller
Catherine Bossuyt
cope343/la
July 14, 2006 - Derek Ballantyne,
TCHC - HIS Youth
Employment Partnership
-
July 14, 2006
Mr. Derek
Ballantyne
Chief Executive Officer
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
931 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4W 2H2
Dear Mr.
Ballantyne:
Local 79 has
been advised by TCHC of its planned HIS Youth Employment
Partnership. This initiative raises a number of issues that
Local 79 would like to address.
We understand
that TCHC created a similar program with Carpenters Local 27.
However, that program was a genuinely joint program that was
negotiated and initiated between TCHC and Local 27. However,
there have been no negotiations between TCHC and Local 79 for
the proposed Youth Employment Partnership. It was presented to
Local 79 without any consultation or talks with us. There
will have to be real, meaningful negotiations with Local 79
before we take part in this program.
The proposal
indicates that there are at least three different stages in the
program, with different pay levels for the participants at each
stage. For example, under the Pre-Employment training program
they will be paid minimum wage; as trainees they will be paid
$15 an hour. It is unclear how this pay level was derived. We
believe that it is more appropriate that participants would be
paid whatever the going rate is for the job that they are
performing. Local 79 has always taken the position that the pay
rate for any member must be tied to a wage rate set out in the
collective agreement. We ask that you review the pay levels
indicated for each stage of the program.
The proposal
also states that six youths will gain permanent, full-time
employment at the end of the training period, and the remaining
six will receive part-time work. It appears that these
positions are being set aside for this program. This will
circumvent our collective agreement – if positions are
available, they should be posted and open to anyone interested
in applying for them. Also the participants in this program
will have an unfair advantage if these jobs are posted, as they
will have been working in positions designed to prepare them for
just these positions.
We recognize
the value of providing employment opportunities for at-risk
youth. However, it is important to Local 79 that the
objectives of this program would not create conditions where
individuals will perform work of our bargaining unit before they
become members of Local 79, and that they would not displace any
existing employees.
These are
significant issues for Local 79. They will need to be fully
addressed and dealt with before we are able to participate with
TCHC on this initiative.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
July 12, 2006 - Ms. Stav Andrea,
Bridgepoint Hospital
Layoffs
-
July 12, 2006
Ms. Stav D’Andrea
Director of Human Resources
Bridgepoint Hospital
14 St. Matthews Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4M 2B5
Dear Ms. D’Andrea:
Bridgepoint Hospital is laying off two
RNs. Under the Nurses and Paramedical Units’ collective
agreement, the Hospital is required to disclose relevant
information to Local 79 regarding layoffs. Therefore, Local
79 is requesting the following information:
1. The
Hospital has provided the Ministry of Health and Long Term
Care with a document indicating that while staff are being
laid off, beds are not being closed. Local 79 requests a
copy of the document that was provided to the Ministry.
2. During
meetings related to this issue, Hospital representatives
have informed Local 79 that the Hospital has undertaken
research comparing the Hospital with other health care
institutions. Local 79 requests copies of those documents,
including the Hospital’s research documents comparing
staff/patient ratios from other health institutions with
Bridgepoint Hospital, as well as comparisons regarding death
rates. We also request descriptions of the palliative care
services the other comparator health institutions provide.
3. Local
79 requests the total expenditure the Hospital makes on
salaries. This information should be broken down by
classification; by categories of senior and middle
management; and by the total amount of management salary
that has been expensed in the past six months. Local 79
also requests the total amount spent on salaries for front
line staff.
4. Local
79 requests the Hospital’s line by line budget.
This information is necessary for Local
79 to fully review the issues related to the layoff of our
members. We would appreciate receiving this information as
soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cc: Councillor
Paula Fletcher
cope343/la
July 7,
2006 - Letter to Toronto Star,
re: Toronto Must Curb
its Unions
- Pitfield doesn't understand unions
Jul. 7, 2006. 01:00 AM
Toronto must curb its unions
Opinion, July 6.
Someone should tip Jane Pitfield off that the politics and strategies of the "common sense revolution"
have little traction with voters in Toronto in 2006. Certainly two of the key planks of her hard-line
mayoralty platform — cracking down on the homeless and bashing unions — are the failed and discarded
ideology of governments gone by that Torontonians largely rejected.
Clearly, Pitfield has misinterpreted the current pulse of Toronto. And she evidently doesn't
understand the role of unions generally in a global economy or, specifically, in Toronto. Pitfield's
bizarre comment that union leaders not be allowed to run our city and her myopic understanding of
why maintaining good paying jobs is important to the local and provincial economy, show a lack of
analysis of complex issues.
Pitfield would benefit from a basic understanding of labour relations. City unions negotiate
collective agreements jointly with city administrators. When management and civic workers collaborate
to improve the quality of services, the people of Toronto benefit directly.
Municipal employees take pride in doing the best job possible. This despite consistent attacks by
factions of city council, who think they can score political mileage by publicly bashing city workers.
If Pitfield were genuine about valuing city employees and bettering morale, perhaps she could,
for a change, show a positive example — give city staff a well-deserved and public pat on the
back for a job well done — by voting against contracting out of city workers' jobs. Now that
would be a novel idea indeed.
Brian Cochrane, President, CUPE 416;
Ann Dembinski, President CUPE 79, Toronto
July 6,
2006 - Councillor Lindsay Luby and Members, Economic Development
and Parks Committee,
After School Recreation and Care Program; Item #15, Economic Development and Parks Committee, July 6, 2006 Agenda
- July 6, 2006
Gloria Lindsay Luby, Chair
And Members, Economic Development and Parks Committee
c/o Clerks Office
City of Toronto
City Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Councillor Lindsay Luby and Members, Economic Development and Parks Committee:
| Re: |
After School Recreation and Care Program; Item #15, Economic Development and Parks Committee, July 6, 2006 Agenda |
Funding
This report provides details regarding the City of Toronto’s development of an After School Recreation and Care (ARC) Program, providing programs for school age children during out-of-school hours, including Professional Development days and holidays. This raises a number of issues for Local 79.
We are concerned regarding how the ARC program will be funded, as it appears that Children’s Services will be at least partially subsidizing the program. Children’s Services is already facing budget pressures of its own, especially since the current federal government has moved to cancel the national child care program funding negotiated with the previous federal government.
The ARC program should not run at the expense of Children’s Services. Safeguards should be put in place to ensure that the quality of care provided by Children’s Services is not diminished or undermined by transferring budget dollars to the ARC program.
Child Care Professionals
The ARC program is intended for school age children aged from six to twelve years old. Given the young age of these children, it is essential that each ARC site will be supervised by a child care professional with training and experience in working and dealing with groups of children of this age group. They should have an understanding of the issues involved in school aged children’s programming and in interacting with groups of children.
Local 79 has heard that staff for the ARC program may include students who are enrolled in fields related to child care. If this is the case, it is even more important that a child care professional is in overall charge of each site to provide the necessary guidance and supervision that is needed when dealing with groups of children of this age.
Future Developments
Currently, the ARC program is designed to provide services after school, and not during the day. This is an important principle, and one that should be strictly observed in future. Children’s Services already provides quality, daytime child care through its directly operated child care centres. At no time should the ARC program be expanded to include daytime programming that would compete with Children’s Services.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
July 5,
2006 - Councillor Carroll and Members, Works Committee,
Water Meter Replacement
and Fixed Area Network (FAN) Automated Meter Reading Project
- July 5, 2006
Councillor Carroll, Chair
and Members, Works Committee
City of Toronto
City Hall
Toronto, ON
Dear Councillor Carroll and Members, Works Committee:
On behalf of Local 79, I wish to express our concerns regarding the Water Meter Replacement and Fixed Area Network (FAN) Automated Meter Reading Project.
Local 79 members, who work in Toronto Water and are responsible for water meter reading, could be significantly affected, yet Local 79 has been excluded from any discussions to date on this project. The City needs to talk to Local 79, especially when partnerships or technological change are being considered. The nature of the work done by Local 79 members who are employed in Toronto Water could change considerably. The question of re-training and skill sets must be addressed. Continued consultation with Local 79 is crucial in this regard.
The changes being considered, including the partnering with Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas, signify a considerable shift in the way that the City carries out water meter reading. However, it has yet to be demonstrated if this type of consolidation of meter reading services will benefit the City or the people living in Toronto.
Local 79 is troubled that the City will only make a decision on its water meter reading needs after Toronto Hydro selects its meter reading system/vendor. Local 79 questions whether it is in the City’s best interests to partner with Toronto Hydro.
Toronto Hydro has very specific obligations under Bill 21. The legislation empowers the Minister to set the minimal standard technical specifications for both the smart meters and the reading infrastructure required to read those meters. The meter reading system would be selected and installed by Toronto Hydro. By allowing Provincial legislation to dictate and constrain decision making in this way, it appears that the City is moving backwards after trying to gain significant measures of self-determination through the new City of Toronto Act. Local 79 is strongly opposed to the notion that the City would be forced into this type of partnership, particularly when the other partner is making all the important decisions.
In view of the potential impact on our members working Toronto Water, Local 79 must be included in all future discussions on water meter reading installations. The City must make a commitment, as per the language of the collective agreement, to offer re-training to Local 79 members who may require a different set of skills if Toronto Water consolidates water meter reading with other utilities.
Local 79 looks forward to being part of these important discussions.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
June 20,
2006 - Paul Moist CUPE National President
and Sid Ryan, President CUPE
Ontario, Resolution 50
-
June 20, 2006
Mr. Paul Moist
National President
Canadian Union of Public Employees
21 Florence Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0W6
Mr. Sid Ryan, President
CUPE Ontario
305 Milner Avenue, Suite 801
Scarborough, Ontario
M1B 3V4
Dear Brother Moist and Brother Ryan:
This letter is about Resolution 50, adopted at the last month’s CUPE
Ontario convention.
I am writing in the name of Local 79 which is CUPE Ontario’s largest
affiliated local (and CUPE National’s largest chartered local), and
represents approximately 18,000 members.
Local 79 believes that provincial divisions of CUPE have a right to
express themselves about international issues.
In doing so, however, divisions need to be careful to ensure that
the views they express on international issues:
• Do
not overshadow CUPE activities which are more immediately relevant
to the members in the workplace, such as collective bargaining, and
in the community, such as protecting public-sector services and
jobs. Those activities reflect the union’s legal mandate and are the
principal source of the union’s credibility in the eyes of the
members and the public.
• Do not enflame tensions, or cause
avoidable division among the members of CUPE’s chartered
organizations.
• Do not discredit CUPE’s reputation in the
eyes of the members or the public.
• Are not at variance with CUPE National
policy.
• Do not fail the test of even-handedness
and fairness – a proud tradition within CUPE and within Canada
itself, which expresses our deep desire as Canadians to assist
peoples in conflict to find peaceful solutions.
All of the problems which divisions need to be careful to avoid have
arisen in relation to Resolution 50. As a result, much damage has
been done to CUPE’s reputation in the eyes of the members and the
public, and CUPE Ontario finds itself in an unprecedented crisis.
Local 79 is deeply concerned about this and believes that the crisis
urgently needs to be dealt with and resolved.
To that end, Local 79 believes that:
• CUPE Ontario needs to take responsibility for
dealing with and resolving
the crisis.
• As part of this, CUPE Ontario needs, at the very
least, to seriously reconsider
the appropriateness of carrying out the actions
contemplated by Resolution 50.
Local 79 also calls upon CUPE National to provide all necessary
assistance and support.
Yours in solidarity,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
May 24, 2006 - Mayor David
Miller, Joint Occupational
Health and Safety
-
May 29, 2006
Mayor David Miller
City of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Mayor Miller:
On behalf of Local 79, I am writing to follow-up on the
Joint Occupational Health and Safety Meeting held on Wednesday May
3, 2006.
Local 79 is very supportive of your initiative and
believe that the meeting was a good starting point. The
discussions during the course of the day allowed for many positive
ideas to be aired. It is clear from the reports back from the small
group discussions in the afternoon, that City management and staff
share many of Local 79’s concerns about occupational health and
safety.
As I stated in my summary remarks at the end of the day,
these discussions and meetings only serve a useful purpose if there
is an on-going process to address the issues raised. I was
encouraged by a strong public commitment made that day, by Sue Corke,
to hold similar meetings on a regular basis.
I have written to Bill Adams requesting that a schedule
of meetings is arranged and that a staff person is identified to be
the liaison with Local 79 on this very important initiative.
Thank you for creating this opportunity to ensure that
the City of Toronto’s workforce is protected by the strongest
possible Health and Safety standards.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
c.c
Sue
Corke
May 15, 2006 - Premier Dalton McGuinty,
expressing our objections to
Bill 107, An Act to amend the Human Rights Code
-
May 15, 2006
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Room 381
Legislative Building
Queen’s Park|
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
On behalf of the Canadian Union of Public
Employees (CUPE) Local 79, we are writing to express our
objections to Bill 107, An Act to amend the Human Rights
Code. CUPE Local 79 believes that if this proposed
legislation is passed into law, the results for Ontario will be
devastating.
CUPE Local 79 represents more than 18,000
full and part time employees of the City of Toronto, Bridgepoint
Hospital and Toronto Community Housing Corporation. CUPE Local
79 is the largest municipal local in Canada and our members
accurately reflect the diversity of the City of Toronto. CUPE
Local 79’s workforce is not only composed of people from a wide
variety of backgrounds, but the range of the work that we do
ensures that our members come in contact with the City’s diverse
communities on a daily basis. CUPE Local 79 has a strong
commitment to human rights and to ensuring that all people are
treated with respect and dignity.
This proposed legislation is a disaster for
human rights in Ontario. Your government is privatizing a
publicly-funded human rights system. Under the current Ontario
Human Rights Commission (OHRC), there is no charge for the
support and services received. Bill 107 allows the Tribunal to
charge the complainant for costs attached to their case.
Right now, each human rights complaint that
goes to the Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing is publicly
prosecuted by the OHRC. Bill 107 gets rid of the guaranteed
right to legal counsel when pursuing a case at the Tribunal. If
Bill 107 passes, the right to an investigation is lost – it will
be left up to the Tribunal as to whether or not an investigation
is done.
This poorly drafted legislation will hurt
those who need protection the most. It does nothing to improve
the system, but takes away guaranteed rights to investigation
and legal support and allows the Tribunal to charge user fees.
Premier McGuinty, you should withdraw this
bill and hold proper, open, accessible consultation before
proceeding further.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski, President and Livingstone
(Livy) Holder, Vice-President Equity
c.c Wayne Samuelson, President, Ontario Federation of Labour
May 11, 2006
- Ms. Cindy O'Brien,
Protective
Equipment, Protective Clothing and Wearing Apparel Policy
-
May 11, 2006
Ms. Cindy O’Brien
Manager
Occupational Health, Safety & Workers Compensation
Metro Hall, 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Ms. O’Brien
Re: Canadian Union of Public Employees,
Local 79 and City of Toronto – Protective Equipment, Protective
Clothing and Wearing Apparel Policy
Thank you for forwarding a copy of the most
recent draft Policy. Please be advised that Local 79 agrees
that the proposed amendments to the Policy accurately reflect
the award of Arbitrator Armstrong.
I understand that there is one further
agreement with respect to Support Services employees in Homes
for the Aged that is not yet reflected in the Policy. Support
Services employees may substitute one pair of shorts for one
pair of pants. I suggest that the Policy be amended as follows,
by inserting the following point immediately after the reference
to the four pairs of pants:
Staff may substitute one pair
of shorts for one pants.
Finally, there are a number of protective
equipment and protective clothing concerns that have arisen
during recent months while the Policy was being finalized.
These are as follows:
First, the issue of safety shoes for Support
Services Employees in the Homes for the Aged. Is the position
of the City that the wearing of safety shoes is mandatory? If
it is, Local 79 believes that is should be specifically
identified in the Policy. To not have it specifically
identified in the Policy will simply create confusion with
respect to this issue.
Second, the Cell Phone Policy on page 7 makes
reference to Home Visitors. The Policy specifically references
Home Visitors (Public Health). It is the understanding of Local
79 that the Cell Phone Policy is being applied outside of Public
Health. For example, Local 79 understands that this Policy may
be applied to Social Services Caseworkers who do home visits.
Can you advise of the scope of the application of this Policy.
Local 79 recommends that the Policy be rewritten to apply to all
Home Visitors, and further also specifically reference the
Social Services Caseworkers.
Third, the Policy limits entitlements to
personal protective equipment to full time employees in certain
sections (for example, on page 2 or page 6 ).
It is the position of Local 79 that all of
these limitations should be reviewed, and it is likely that most
should be removed, as safety concerns are of equal importance
whether an employee is part-time or full-time.
Fourth, Local 79 wishes to pursue the
discussion of the provision of N-95 respirators. It is Local
79’s position that this discussion should be placed in the
context of the agreed upon section of the Policy that concerns
respiratory protection.
Thank you for your time and attention with
respect to these issues. Local 79 would appreciate receiving
your response to these issues in writing. Also, could you
please forward a copy of the finalized policy to Local 79.
Local 79 recommends that a meeting of the
Protective Equipment, Protective Clothing and Wearing Apparel
Committee be scheduled in order to address these concerns.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
May 2,
2006 - Councillor Sylvia Watson, Chair,
expressing concerns on
de-certification of construction trade unions
- May 2, 2006
Councillor Sylvia Watson, Chair
And Members, Administration Committee
c/o City Clerks
City Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Councillor Watson and Members,
Administration Committee:
On behalf of Local 79, I wish to express our
concern with the proposal being presented to the Administration
Committee on de-certification of construction trade unions.
Unionized construction trade workers are trained
at the highest level and are required to have a licence or be part
of an apprenticeship programme. The benefit of having unionized
workers is obvious. The public gets quality workmanship and a
project is completed on time at the contracted price. The
community gets fairly compensated workers who will not be forced to
rely` on welfare programmes, and the individual worker receives a
living wage, health and pension benefits and a decent standard of
living.
Failure by non-union contractors to comply with
fair wage and labour legislation is almost universal. Awarding
contracts to non-union companies, because they are the lowest
bidder, has generally resulted in a lowering of construction
standards with substandard work, in jurisdictions where attempts
have been made to use non-unionized construction companies. The
result is often cost overruns and missed project completion dates.
The construction trades unions that do work for
the City of Toronto are all based in the City, contribute in many
ways to our communities and are regarded as good community
citizens. They significantly enhance our local economy.
Encouraging non-union construction will only stimulate the
underground economy.
Attempting to de-certify these trades is totally
contrary to the City of Toronto’s commitment to building a strong
public service of the highest quality. Local 79 would oppose any
ill-conceived proposal to do so.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
April 27, 2006 - Mr. Michael Wiseman,
City Wide
Surveillance Policy
-
April 27, 2006
Mr. Michael Wiseman
Manager, HR Division
Employee and Labour Relations Unit
5th Floor
Metro Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Mr. Wiseman:
Re: City-Wide Video Surveillance Policy
Following the recent meeting on the City-Wide
Video Surveillance Policy, Local 79 reviewed the documents and would
like amendments made to the proposed policy.
The policy should provide a process whereby Local
79 is notified prior to the implementation of a video surveillance
system. The assessment should include a process which would allow
Local 79 to object to a particular installation. The City would
provide Local 79 with a copy of the Surveillance Video Security
Threat Assessment to Determine the Requirements for a Video
Surveillance System form (Appendix # 5). Local 79 would be
given a period of time during which an objection could be raised
about the implementation of a specific system.
Local 79 believes that both the interests of our
members and of the City would be best served by the suggested
changes being incorporated into the proposed City-Wide Surveillance
Policy.
I look forward to your response.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
March 10, 2006 -
Premier Dalton McGuinty,
Local 79 writes again to
Premier McGuinty regarding National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) "Clawback"
- March 10, 2006
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Room 381
Legislative Building}
Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1
Dear Premier McGuinty:
On behalf of CUPE Local 79, I wrote to you in June 2005 expressing
concern about the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) and your
government’s "clawback" from welfare cheques. CUPE Local 79 urged you to
keep your promise from the last provincial election and end the "clawback"
in Ontario.
In your reply, you assured CUPE Local 79 that your government is
working to build a province that offers a high quality of life for all
Ontarians. You also stated that you valued our views and would take them
into consideration. It is, therefore, disappointing that you have not yet
stopped the "clawback".
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is now proposing a bill that would give
parents $1,200 a year for each child under age six, meant to help pay for
child care. It is troubling that your government has refused to rule out
the possibility that it might deduct the federal funding from social
assistance funds for the poor or disabled. This would represent another "clawback".
CUPE Local 79 does not support this Federal proposal and we have
written to the Prime Minister urging him to honour the child care deals
made between the Federal Government and the Provinces. However, if the
Prime Minister’s plan becomes law, CUPE Local 79 once again urges you to
do what you promised in the last provincial election. You acknowledged
that the NCBS "clawback" was wrong and made a commitment to end it in
Ontario. Vulnerable Ontarians deserve nothing less. They also deserve your
assurances that no other "clawbacks" will be instituted by your government
to undermine their much needed income supports.
Families on social assistance can never enjoy the high quality of life
that you say your government is committed to providing, when funds
intended to help them are undermined. We urge you to act immediately. All
of our children deserve to grow up in families who can enjoy an acceptable
standard of living.
Yours truly,
Ann Dembinski
President
cope343/la
March 8, 2006
-
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- Local 79 Urges Prime
Minister not to Cancel Child Care Agreements
- March 8, 2006
Right Honourable Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Parliament Hill
Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister Harper:
On behalf of the Canadian Union of P |