Workplaces

Voices from the Wal-mart warehouse

Sep 182012

Sixty-three percent of warehouse workers are injured on the job.

from Warehouse Workers United

Stand with these courageous warehouse workers and demand that Walmart executives hear directly from the people who move its goods.

Dear Walmart CEO Mike Duke, Board of Directors and Walmart Executives:

As warehouse workers who move boxes of goods destined for Walmart stores across the U.S., we and our supporters are asking Walmart executives to meet directly with us.

Marta injured her back because of the grueling pace inside the warehouses and now she is unable to work. Limber works under dangerous conditions, forced to use broken equipment and at risk of dehydration because of inadequate access to clean drinking water

Warehouse workers speak out the conditions inside the warehouses where workers move the mega retailers' merchandise

Our work is unsafe, injuries are common, and the pay is so low we cannot make ends meet. Right now, the temperatures in Riverside and San Bernardino top 100 degrees daily and inside the metal containers the temperature can get up to 120 degrees. There is little ventilation and the heat and pollutants we inhale can make us vomit and bleed from the nose. We face intense retaliation from management if we say anything about the conditions.

We have tried several times to reach out to you, writing letters and using the channels that Walmart provides in its “Standards for Suppliers.” Even after we filed official complaints about health and safety violations and notified Walmart directly about illegal working conditions, you have ignored us. But we are not an isolated problem that will just go away: there are thousands of warehouse workers in Southern California, Chicago, New Jersey and elsewhere who labor to stock Walmart shelves – all facing similar conditions.

We, and our supporters who have signed below, are asking you, Walmart executives and Board members, to sit down with us to learn about our experience moving your goods and to figure out how you can ensure all of Walmart’s contractors and suppliers follow the law and live up to your own standards. Walmart, you set the standards for the industry; with a little good will, you can help ensure humane working conditions for thousands of warehouse workers in your supply chain.

Sincerely,

Limber Herrera
Warehouse Worker

Marta Medina
Warehouse Worker

Labour news from around the globe

Sep 102012

Workplaces

Strikes loom in Ireland, Kenya; averted in Norway.

by Harry Kelber

South Africa drops murder charges against striking miners

Murder charges against hundreds of striking miners will be dropped, pending further investigation, the country’s top prosecutor announced September 2. The murder charge against the current 270 suspects, which was provisional anyway, will be formally withdrawn in court on their next court appearance.

BC Labour Day dampened by workplace deaths

Sep 102012

Workplaces

Better inter-agency talk might have prevented sawmill fatalities.

from the United Steelworkers

[Editor’s note: BC saw six workplace deaths in 2012, mostly at saw mills.]

In the wake of revelations detailing the lack of coordination between government agencies responsible for workplace safety at Babine Forest Products in Burns Lake and Lakeland Mills in Prince George, the provincial government must order a formal review into the jurisdiction and procedures for interaction between agencies, says the United Steelworkers union.

MP threatens law to stop unions endorsing candidates

Sep 072012

Workplaces

Canadian Labour Congress tells Pierre Poilievre to apologise.

by Ken Georgetti

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — September 6, 2012 — The veiled threats of a backbench Conservative MP to punish federal public servants for exercising their democratic rights as citizens has drawn the ire of the country's largest labour organization.

The president of the Canadian Labour Congress says Pierre Poilievre owes an apology to every public servant, especially to citizens of Quebec, for suggesting that a law be passed to deny them the same democratic rights enjoyed by other Canadians.<p><!–more–></p>

"Let's be clear about this. The MP for Nepean-Carleton is not interested in the rights or the freedoms of federal public servants. He's playing politics. He's trying to manufacture a crisis where none exists in order to justify what he really wants to do — and that's silence another critic of his government's agenda," said Ken Georgetti.

According to Georgetti, one of the services unions often provide for their members is to analyze the platforms of political parties and the records of candidates seeking election. Many organizations, private and public, offer a variation of this service to their members, subscribers and customers. And more often than not, that analysis comes with an endorsement or a recommendation. It's part of the democratic process.

This is about the Conservatives using the power they currently enjoy to hurt their political opponents.

"For a politician from Ontario — who has himself been endorsed in the past by the same process — to suggest that Quebec voters who belong to the PSAC should be treated differently is unfair. It also betrays a political ignorance that's unfitting of a Parliamentary Secretary not to mention stunning for an elected representative from the capital region," he said, adding that if Poilievre failed to apologize he should be stripped of his duties as Parliamentary Secretary by the Prime Minister.

Threatening legislation to impose rules on how a union serves and communicates with its own members — in this case a union with one of the most democratic structures and which is among the most accountable to its members because of federal law — is absurd and dangerously undemocratic. "What's next, Pierre? A law to stop newspapers in Quebec from endorsing the PQ?" chided Georgetti.

"Of course, that's not what this is all about," added Georgetti. "This is about the Conservatives using the power they currently enjoy to hurt their political opponents. It's the bully-state in action and apparently it's the labour movement's turn for a shakedown," added the labour leader.

Georgetti says it should come as no surprise that Canada's unions have a place on the Conservative hit list. Our history of standing up for fairness for working people stands in stark contrast to the unbalanced corporate agenda at play in Ottawa under the current government. "This isn't the first time that critics of this federal government have been singled out for special treatment. It won't be the last as long as politicians of Mr. Poilievre's caliber occupy seats in Parliament," he said.

No workplace pension for 11 million workers

Sep 032012

Workplaces

Workers are losing wages to national deficits, while corporate profits surge.

by Paul Moist and Charles Fleury

On Labour Day we take a moment to celebrate the important contributions of working people to our country. It is workers who build our cities, produce the goods we use day-to-day, and provide vital services that Canadians depend on.

We are proud of the work our members do every day to make life better for Canadians. CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) members are the backbone of health care, municipal and social services. We’re a vital part of our communities’ schools, colleges, and universities. Whether the job is providing senior care or child care, CUPE members are there — safeguarding our water, delivering power when needed and keeping passengers safe aboard airplanes.

Canadians benefit from these services. In fact, the value of these public services to the average Canadian family is nearly $17,000 every year according to a study by the CCPA. And these services and the workers who provide them are a reflection of our Canadian values.

The value of these public services to the average Canadian family is nearly $17,000 every year.

But there are many challenges facing working people. Workers are being told they must shoulder the burden of an economic crisis they did not create. We have paid the price in declining wages, less job security, worsening working conditions and persistent attempts to erode public and workplace pensions.

Meanwhile, Canada’s largest corporations are pulling in billions of dollars in profits. The OECD estimates that corporations are sitting on more than $500 billion — hoarding their winnings rather than investing it in our economy to stimulate growth and create jobs.

The OECD estimates that corporations are sitting on more than $500 billion — hoarding their winnings rather than investing it.

And, after a lifetime of work, everyone deserves to retire in dignity. Yet 11 million Canadians don’t have a workplace pension. We must continue to demand decent public and workplace pensions for everyone. We must demand that our federal government show leadership on this important issue that affects all Canadians.

Even the CD Howe institute — normally onside with conservative governments — has said that the Harper government should “rethink” strategy to introduce Pooled Registered Pension Plans. The financial security of Canadians in retirement is a looming crisis for governments and ultimately taxpayers.

Canadians deserve better.

It’s time to change the direction of our country. We must create jobs — good jobs with decent pay and benefits. We can do this by investing in public services that create jobs and provide services for Canadians. We must ensure that we are not faced with a population of seniors without adequate income and reliant on government income supports. We can do this by improving the Canada Pension Plan for all Canadians.

CUPE calls on the federal government to convene a national summit on pensions.

This Labour Day, CUPE is renewing its call on the federal government to convene a national summit on pensions. The summit would bring together business, labour, government and academia to confront the burgeoning economic crisis on retirement security. We have the knowledge and the financial capacity to ensure all Canadians can retire after a lifetime of work without the fear of poverty.

We can change the direction of our country – with political leadership that puts people first and by standing together to demand better. So, let us mark this Labour Day with renewed hope and a commitment to rebuild our Canada.

Canada’s Health Minister says asbestos deaths are not a health issue

Sep 032012

Workplaces

Leona Aqlukkaq refers asbestos questions to Natural Resources, the industry's biggest cheerleaders.

by Kathleen Ruff

Two women who lost their father to asbestos have invited Canada’s Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq to attend an event in Sarnia, Ontario to remember victims of asbestos, and to call for action to prevent any further people dying terrible and unnecessary deaths from asbestos, either in Canada or overseas.

Sarnia, an industrial city which used a great deal of asbestos in the past, has one of the highest rates of asbestos diseases and deaths in Canada. In addition, asbestos is the leading single cause of occupational death in Canada. The number of asbestos disease victims continues to climb each year.<p>!–more–</p>

Leah Nielsen and her sister, Stacy Cattran, are organising the 2nd annual Walk to Remember Victims of Asbestos in Sarnia on September 29, 2012. They are also calling for a public inquiry into the tens of thousands of Canadian asbestos deaths, many of which have not even been properly tracked.

They invited Canada’s Health Minister to attend the event and show her support for asbestos victims in their fight to protect the health of workers and their families.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is notorious for its promotion of asbestos mining

Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s Health Minister, callously rejected the invitation. She refused to acknowledge her responsibility to address the epidemic of asbestos-related deaths in Canada, saying that asbestos is an issue outside her concerns and one that “falls within the purview of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources is notorious for its promotion of asbestos mining . For decades, the Ministry has been the asbestos industry’s most dedicated supporter, and over the past 20 years has provided millions of dollars to the asbestos industry’s lobby group, the Chrysotile Institute.

The Minister of Natural Resources is not the Minister responsible for health issues, which “fall under the purview” of the Minister of Health. But Leona Aglukkaq washes her hands of responsibility for the asbestos issue. Thus, no-one in the Canadian government takes responsibility for the public health disaster being caused by asbestos across Canada, much less overseas, where Canadian asbestos has been exported. She has also refused meeting requests from asbestos victims.

Minister Aglukkaq is, however, seriously concerned about the health impact of wind turbines and is taking action. She has ordered a study to be carried out, saying “As always, our Government is putting the health and safety of Canadians first and this study will do just that by painting a more complete picture of the potential health impacts of wind turbine noise.”

Aglukkaq did not indicate the number of deaths across Canada caused by wind turbine noise. Nor did she indicate why she is concerned about the health impacts of wind turbine noise, but is not concerned about the health impacts of asbestos.

In Italy, asbestos magnates have been sentenced to prison for criminal negligence. Canada’s Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq, is showing similar criminal negligence.

Not golden handshakes

Aug 302012

Workplaces

Reports of rich public service severance packages exaggerated.

Dateline: Tuesday, March 20, 2012

by Andrew Jackson Canadian Labour Congress

The CBC have given a lot of play to a Greg Weston story that allegedly generous severance payments to public servants amounting to as much as $2 Billion will be triggered by job cuts in the upcoming Budget.

SG hosts urgent conference on reviving image of labour

Aug 242012

Workplaces

Unions need new ways to deflect constant attacks and win back public support.

by Straight Good News staff

On March 24, the day the NDP picked a new leader, the Globe and Mail ran a cover story about how bad the reputation of the labour movement has become. In "The sorry state of our unions," writer John Allemang lays out the extent of the crisis facing the movement that brought us fair pay, occupational health and safety, weekends, pensions, workers' comp and so much more.

Unions alarmed by police violence

Aug 222012

Workplaces

ITUC condemns killings at Lonmin Marikana platinum mine.

from the ITUC

Every worker should be able to go to work knowing that their life and physical safety is guaranteed.
– Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary

BRUSSELS, August 20, 2012 — The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), of which the National Union of Public and General Employees Union (NUPGE) is a member, has described the wave of violence at South Africa's Lonmin Marikana platinum mine as appalling, with as many as 36 killed yesterday when police opened fire on striking miners. Ten people had previously been killed in the past week as violence at the mine escalated.

5.8 unemployed workers for every job vacancy

Aug 192012

Workplaces

CLC's Ken Georgetti says government has no job creation strategy.

from the Canadian Labour Congress

The President of the Canadian Labour Congress says that new Statistics Canada numbers give the lie to the federal government's claim that unemployed Canadians do not want to look for work.

Ken Georgetti was commenting on the release by Statistics Canada of figures showing that between January and March 2012 there were 5.8 unemployed workers for every job vacancy in Canada.

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