Bill 124 Statement
Bill 124 was designed to injure the ability of unions to represent their members. It was also designed to prevent workers from achieving decent wages and working conditions. Now it is gone, thrown out by the courts of Ontario and mercifully laid to rest by the Legislature. But the damage is still to be repaired. The challenge now is to win back what could have been ours were it not for this legislation. Currently, we are in negotiations with Nellie's and with Red Door, two of our bargaining units badly injured by Bill 124. We are centering our compensation demands around the damage done by Bill 124. At WoodGreen Community Services, we concluded an agreement one year ago which began the process of repairing the losses. But we have much further to go. In order to repair the damage, the government of Ontario will have to come up with money to chase past losses. Social service agencies are only funded for the future, not the past.
March 15, 2024
Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy Minister of Finance Minister.fin@ontario.ca
Hon. Caroline Mulroney President of the Treasury Board minister.tbs@ontario.ca
Dear Ministers,
As you know, Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act has been ruled by the Ontario Court of Appeal as unconstitutional. AB a result, your government has made the decision not to appeal the ruling and has repealed the legislation.
WoodGreen Community Services and Worker United Canada Council (WUCC) Local 154 call on the government to invest in the sectors severely impacted by Bill 124. The Bill limited multi-service community agency’s ability to recruit and retain workers due to three years of wage constraints.
WoodGreen and WUCC Local 154 entered into negotiations in the summer of 2020 under the constraints which limited increases to compensation and benefits to no more than 1% for each of the following three years. These constraints limited WoodGreen's ability to address priority changes to the terms of the Collective Agreement and restricted the Union from advancing their members' position that higher wage rates were necessary to address the widening gap between themselves and workers performing similar work.
The Ontario government has been addressing the impacts of Bill 124 with their workers, and those within the hospital and education sectors. This is a good first step to address the impacts that Bill 124 has had with unionized workforces that were adversely affected with this legislation. However, the Ontario government must also act to address the impacts that Bill 124 has had on our recruitment and retention challenges.
We are encouraged that the province has repealed the legislation and now has the opportunity to truly help sustain and expand community and social sectors.
WoodGreen and WUCC Local 154 call on the Ontario government to provide multi-service community agencies with unionized staff retroactive payments in form of base funding, that can be dedicated to address wage constraints that were in place for the past three years.
Sincerely,
Randall Freeborn
Senior Vice President of People &
Strategic Initiatives
WoodGreen Community Services
Allyson Cullen
Workers United Canada Council WoodGreen Community Services
Local 154 President
March 18, 2024
Statement from Workers United re: Starbucks
Workers United Statement
Workers United and Starbucks share a commitment to developing a productive relationship in the best interests of Starbucks partners. During mediation discussions last week over ongoing brand and IP litigation, a constructive path forward emerged on the broader issues of the future of organizing and collective bargaining at Starbucks.
To build on that path, Workers United and Starbucks have agreed to begin discussions on a foundational framework to achieve collective bargaining agreements for represented stores and partners, the resolution of litigation between the union and the company, including brand litigation, and a fair process for workers to organize. As a sign of good faith, Starbucks has agreed to provide workers represented by Workers United with credit card tipping and benefits announced by the company in May of 2022.
While there is plenty of work ahead, coming together to develop this framework is a significant step forward and a clear demonstration of a shared commitment to working collaboratively and with mutual respect.
February 28, 2024
Use of Robot Servers in Niagara Region
Article about the use of robot servers in Niagara Falls
February 28, 2024
Starbucks Workers United Red Cup Rebellion
Starbucks Workers United: Red Cup Rebellion!
Workers at hundreds of Starbucks stores started walking off the job in protest on Thursday November 16th on Starbucks promotional "Red Cup" day.
Starbucks Workers United: Red Cup Rebellion!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/starbucks-strike-1.7030043
November 16, 2023
President Lynne Fox Receives 2023 Debs Award
On October 28th Workers United President Lynne Fox received the 2023 Debs Award.
November 03, 2023
Collective Bargaining Victories 2023
Aramark Markham Facilities recently ratified their agreement achieving a Health and Welfare Spending Fund.
Braids and Laces recently ratified their agreement achieving an increase to the Health Care Spending Account.
1 year extension at Robert Sopers. The members received a 6.8% wage increase for the 2024 season.
October 26, 2023
Indigenous Workers of Colour 2023 Conference
Workers United Canada Council Staff Attending the Indigenous Workers of Colour 2023 Conference.
October 24, 2023
Statement on Starbucks from President Lynne Fox
President Lynne Fox:
Starbucks is Exploiting the Violence in Gaza and Israel to Attack Its Union.
https://inthesetimes.com/article/starbucks-israel-gaza-lynne-fox-palestine
October 23, 2023
2023 Barry Fowlie Scholarship
It's Time to Apply! |
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Are you, your child or grandchild entering your/their first year in College, University, or Trade School? If you or they are eligible, we highly encourage you to apply to Workers United Canada Council's, Barry Fowlie Scholarship Fund!
To download an application, follow this link:2023 Barry Fowlie Scholarship Fund application.
Submissions must be submitted to [email protected] via email, couriered, hand delivered, or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Lisa Rosa Workers United Canada Council 2800 Skymark Avenue, Unit 10A Mississauga, ON L4W 5A6
For more details, please see the poster below. |
July 20, 2023
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