Posted by SBW
on 12/6/2004, 1:44 am
216.168.107.177
I was at the union meeting in Oshawa on the last Sunday in November. Mr. John Montgomery was there along with Rob Edwards. John Forester was also there from the "national" union. Let me tell you first hand these guys didn't seem to optimistic. Whenever someone asked about making a change they just said they didn't think that was possible or they just couldn't see it happening. They also stated that the changes that have come into affect over the last few contracts were all made for the right reasons. If that is the attitude they are going in with then be prepared to be screwed for yet another contract.This spring will be my 10 years with this company. And by no means am I trying for sympathy. But at this meeting Mr. Motgomery himself stated that back in '92 the company and the union agreed to hire a large number of employees at that time and in return the company would have a "hiring freeze". Which in turn lasted almost 10 years. Temps working in logistics suffered the most from this. In the Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville area other than two guy that were recently hired fulltime and have a seniority date in 2003, there is only one guy that has his name on that list between 1992 and 2003 in logistics. The only reason he is on that list as being in logistics is because he originally was hired in retail and transferred. So there is proof right there. What kind of representation are we getting?
Unions are a business. They want your money. Be thankful you have a job. If you don't like it go somewhere else. How many you have heard this? So be it. Unions are a business, but I would rather buy my representation elsewhere. The UFCW will try and tell you anything to get you NOT to sign the partition to de-certify because they are loosing your money. Millions of dollars are at stake if they loose us. Even at the meeting they were telling us how bad things would be if we didn't have them. But when a union brother stood up and said,"Let's say for example we did de-certify, don't you think the CAW, for example , would be tripping over there own feet to get to us?" And the response was," they wouldn't doubt it". Don't think for one minute that we would go unprotected. I have heard some people say they would at least want to be covered by another contract before anything were to happen. Well duh! Once they sign on the dotted line we are locked in for whatever duration of time that is negotiated. Thats why legally to de-certify you have to do it 90 days before the end of the present collective agreement.
So far the the only people that haven't signed this partition are some of they $24+ an hour people and people that are afraid for their jobs because someone has told them it's illegal or they can get fired for this. Well for the people that are making their $24+ an hour, live life in the $8 to $13 an hour range and see how long you make it without a struggle. And for the people who have been told lies or misleading info on what is going on, it is your RIGHT to be able to sign on such things as this. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and thoughts. If you are not happy then its time for change. What have the temps gained in the last ten years?
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