Brinks workers welcomed to Local 112

Local 112 welcomed Brinks workers in Toronto and Barrie as our newest members bringing our total workplace units to ten. The membership voted unanimously to accept the 530 Brinks workers at our January Membership Meeting. Brinks workers, formerly represented by the Teamsters, voted overwhelmingly to join the CAW and the Toronto and Barrie Units asked to come to Local 112 because of our activism and strong representation. The leadership of Local 112 attended an enthusiastic Brinks Unit meeting Feb 21st to welcome the new members. Elections for Bargaining Committee and Unit Chair took place March 3 and 4 (see bulletin for election results), followed by a Proposal meeting March 7th to adopt bargaining demands for negotiations which opened March 10th. National president Ken Lewenza issued a bulletin on the master bargaining now under way with all of the Brinks units in the CAW.

Rolly Kiehne elected to NEB

The CAW 9th Constitutional Convention was a memorable one for Local 112 with the election of our president Roland Kiehne to the National Executive Board (NEB) as a Trustee. As Aerospace Director Dawn Cartwright told the Aerospace Council, which unanimously endorsed Roland’s candidacy the weekend before, “Although we have had other Aerospace leaders on the NEB this is historic because it is the first time a spot has been designated for Aerospace." Local 112 and Aerospace Council have been advocating for this for many years. It was Aerospace Council President Merv Gray who nominated Rolly at the convention. National president Ken Lewenza welcomed Rolly to the NEB citing the valuable experience he brings from leading important political campaigns and from the Local’s work our community.

Local 112 wins top CALM awards

CAW Local 112 won top awards at the annual Canadian Association of Labour Media awards contest for its website and magazine. Our recently redesigned website won top honours for Best Overall Website and tied for Best Website Design with CUPE Local 1169. Congratulations to Webmaster Sherry Hillman for the website's first ever awards. Many thanks to our very talented web designer Margaret Hall-Yousefi for her endless patience in making numerous changes until we were completely satisfied and training us to maintain the site ourselves. Our magazine Aircrafter took home awards for Best Layout and Best Photo again this year. Congratulations to Editor Nick D'Alicandro, the Aircrafter Editorial Committee and Suzanne Murphy at Thistle Printing for their creativity, hard work and well deserved awards.

CAW - Bombardier Action Centre opening July 13

The CAW-Bombardier Action Centre will open July 13th in CAW Local 112's Hall to assist laid off members. Come and join us for coffee & donuts and check out all the resources and information available to you. The Centre's Coordinator and Peer Helpers will be available to help you every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For more info see the first issue of the CAW-Bombardier Action Centre News.

Toromont Workers Ratify New Deal

CAW Local 112 members at Toromont CAT in Concord, Ontario have ratified a new three year agreement by 89 per cent. The deal was reached after workers rejected the company's final offer on July 5.

"There’s no question this deal was made possible by the determination of the workers who rejected Toromont CAT’s attempt to extract major concessions," CAW Local 112 President Roland Kiehne said.

"As a result, we were able to protect our members’ wages, benefits, pensions and seniority rights when the Toromont CAT relocates the facility sometime in the future,” said Kiehne. “This was the number one priority of the bargaining committee.”

First Roy Scott Bursary recipient

Monica Sanh, a graduating student at CW Jeffrys Collegiate Institute, is the first recipient of Local 112’s Roy Scott Memorial Bursary. Local 112 established the annual bursary to honour the memory of Local 112 member Roy Scott who was the first person of colour appointed to the UAW-Canada staff. The bursary is awarded each year to a graduating student at CW Jeffrys, a high school in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood a few blocks from the union hall. The $1000 bursary was presented by Financial Secretary Sherry Hillman at the Graduation Ceremony June 25th. Monica was selected to receive the bursary on the basis of the essay she wrote on social justice and her activism in her school and community.

New Contract with Bombardier Ratified

CAW Local 112 members ratified a new collective agreement with Bombardier June 28 after hearing detailed reports from National President Ken Lewenza, Asst. to the President Jerry Dias, Local 112 President Roland Kiehne, Plant Chair Merv Gray and Skilled Trades Rep Phil Fryer. Production workers at the deHavilland plant voted 84% in favour of the new contract. Skilled Trades members endorsed the deal by 89%. The specifics of the new collective agreement are posted on this website. See article "Tentative agreement reached with Bombardier" below and click on Memorandum of Settlement. The messages from CAW President Ken Lewenza and Plant Chair Merv Gray are contained here in the CAW-Canada/Bombardier Bargaining Report which was distributed at the ratification meeting at the Toronto Congress Centre.

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