Monthly Archives: September 2018

News from the North Bay and District Labour Council

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Until Mr. Fedeli and the PC caucus introduces legislation that takes the legally scheduled bump to $15 away from those who need it most, nothing has changed. If anything, the ‘Hands Off Our Rights’ campaign needs greater support by contacting MPP Fedeli to say, “leave the ESA alone, two thirds Nipissing residents need it to pay for the rising costs of living.” Send a letter, make an appointment to speak personally, send an email, all actions you can do to to Mr. Fedeli ‘Hands off’. Click here to send a form letter to your MPP.
‘Wear it and share it’ the Day After
If and when the PCs introduce anti-worker legislation to strip the bump to $15 or claw back changes to bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, please wear your union best and put on a $15 and Fairness sticker or button!
“What we’re looking at is the minister making an announcement about something that they are planning to do, but until an MPP like Mr. Fedeli has an opportunity to put his hand up to say, ‘No, I agree or disagree with a bill that repeals Bill 148 and the minimum wage change, nothing has changed.” Jared Hunt, North Bay Labour Baytoday  Read more reaction to Min Scott’s anti-people announcement. Nugget
Recent Action
Emergency Solidarity Meeting to talk collaborative strategy. The Emergency meeting last week was really amazing. The meeting room at OPSEU was filled with community and labour people. Folks had an opportunity to share perspectives about what we’re seeing coming out of Ford administration. There’s no question, Mr. Ford and Mr. Fedeli will stop at nothing to push their neo-liberal agenda. The group resolved to stay focused on speaking to community and government in strategic and intelligent ways. The next meeting, for example, will involve letter writing training and mapping allyship of the Nipissing region. Stay tuned.
Read Shawn Moreton’s letter to the editor here Shawn attended the meeting.
Rally for Rights, a huge success!
A group of very concerned Amelia Rising agency workers, lead by Mary White, organized a rally to stand against the recent Ford Government changes to the Health and Physical Education curriculum and Ford’s claw-back of planned writing sessions for Indigenous curriculum. The Friday lunch time rally was an excellent way for people to voice their concerns about serious equity and social issues. Mr. Fedeli appears to be in full support of Ford’s far-right neo-lieral agenda. Mr. Fedeli stands in full contrast to the majority of Nipissing constituents. After the rally, Mary and a few others delivered 45 signed letters to the desk of our MPP.
What’s your local doing to help?
All year long local unions and bargaining units find important ways to give back to the community. Local leaders and rank and file members give back because its the right thing to do, but they don’t always share these success stories. What’s your local doing? We’d like to hear from you to feature a story about the amazing social justice and charitable work your members do everyday. Let us know and we’ll share through our social media, email, and other communicative means. Unions are an amazing force in the community, let’s show this. Below are a few examples of the important work locals do to help members and their communities.
UNIFOR Local 103 supports P.L.A.Y.S.

P.L.A.Y.S. is a locally and 100% charitably driven organization that helps families with autistic children enjoy fun gatherings throughou the year. UNIFOR local 103 is a proud sponsor of many activities, including the annual Glow in the Dark golf event, the annual Open Your Heart to Autism Gala. UNIFOR local 103 members take part in awareness activities and generally lend volunteer time to PLAYS events. This coming Saturday, for example, is a fun rock concert at the Capitol Centre in North Bay called Rock for PLAYS. Two famous tribute bands, Saturday Night Special and Heart of Gold go head to head in a fun classic rock filled night of support for PLAYS. To learn more, visit the Capitol Theatre website here.
OPSEU Local 608 helps organize the Annual North Bay Terry Fox Run
Members of OPSEU local 608 take on an organizing role each year to help promote the Annual Terry Fox Run in the North Bay community. They do this because it’s important work, and leadership of OPSEU Local 608 supports the Terry Fox movement and encourages their members to be involved.
Annual Health and Safety Awards
It’s that time of year again, time to think about your health and safety champions. Please think about nominating a member who helps to build Health and Safety awareness in their work space. These representatives of the labour movement often work unseen, quietly attending meetings, keeping an eye on the workspace for everyone. Health and Safety reps are vital to every union and their contribution is worthy of honour and celebration.
The 2017 Health and Safety Awards Dinner. Janice Martell, founder of the McIntyre Power Project was our amazing guest speaker.