Contract by the
Government of Canada to purchase the F-35
``Lets assure ourselves that Quebec will obtain the maintenance of the
F-35`` David Chartrand
Rally August 2010
In front of a hundred members of the Trade union of the
Machinists, the President of
the Quebec Machists Council David Chartrand requests from the
governments s' to imply to attract investors in Canada and
Quebec in the field of aerospace, as the Mexicans do it. He
added he will continue the fight at all levels to keep our jobs
and to ensure a future of our children
Our Governments Failing to Promote Canadian Aerospace!
Montréal, QC – Members of The International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers will take to the streets of Montréal at 11:30 am
this morning to protest the lack of support for Canada’s aerospace
industry by federal and provincial governments.
The focal point of the protest will be the Mexico Now aerospace
symposium at the Marriot Hotel in Dorval, sponsored by the Mexican
government. “This symposium is a clear example of what’s wrong in our
industry today,” explained IAMAW District 11 Directing Business
Representative Dave Chartrand. “While Mexico comes into our backyard to
promote its own aerospace industry - inviting Canadian aerospace firms
to move their facilities south of the border – our governments sit of
their hands and do nothing.”
“It’s a question of survival for the aerospace industry in Quebec,” said
Chartrand. “Bombardier already has facilities in Mexico and it doesn’t
take much imagination to think that other Canadian firms won’t benefit
from the tax incentives and cheap labour that Mexico offers.” More than
45,000 workers are employed in the aerospace industry in the Montréal
area including 13,000 Machinists members at companies such as
Bombardier, Rolls Royce and Messier Dowty.
“I have nothing against the Mexicans trying to promote their industry
but not at our expense. We will demonstrate our competence, our
expertise and our willingness to fight for our jobs and our industry,”
declared Chartrand. “I have only one question for our governments, why
aren’t they conducting trade symposiums like this in other countries to
bring more aerospace companies to Quebec and Canada.”
For further information:
David Chartrand – IAMAW District 11 Directing Business Representative
514-956-1578/514-914-1677
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext# 6331/416-735-9765
LETS EXPRESS OURSELVES TO SHOW OUR COMPETENCES, OUR EXPERTISE
AND OUR
INTENTION TO FIGHT LIKE PROUD MACHINISTS!
Date: August 26 2010
Time: 11:00 am
Date: 26 Aout 2010
Heure: 11:00
Gathering: Place Côte Vertu shopping center Corner Beaulac and Côte
Vertu (parking of shopping mall), near Zellers.
IT IS A QUESTION OF SURVIVAL FOR AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IN QUEBEC…
The Quebec Machinists Council
anxious of “great the Mexican seduction”
The industry of the aeronautics of Mexico, whose size has
tripled in five years and who ambitionne to assemble planes to
compete with Seattle, Toulouse, Sao Paulo and Montreal, is in
full period of “recruitment” to attract Quebeckers and American
manufacturers.
Two events
under the Mexiconow topic, presenting the tax incentives and
economic to be established in this country of Latin America,
will take place on August 24 (in Texas) and August 26 (in
Dorval).
That
highly worries for the president of Quebec Machinists Council
(14 000 workers) and director for the IAMAW-QFL District 11,
Dave Chartrand. He promises himself to present himself to this
“conference” in company of a group of Quebeckers Machinists to
launch a message… to the governments of Quebec and Ottawa
“Our governments remain the arms
crosseds”
“While
Mexico makes the promotion of its industry and tries to bribe
our companies to encourage them to invest in its country, our
governments remain the arms crosseds. We have the impression
that nobody, both in Ottawa and in Quebec, takes care in our
interests to give more muscle to our industry and to attract
companies from abroad”, entrusts the trade unionist in interview
to RueFrontenac.
According
to him, it is necessary to take “seriously” the ambitions of
Mexico to become a player of gauge in the industry of the
aeronautics dominated by the giants Boeing (in Seattle), Airbus
(in Toulouse) and Bombardier (in Dorval, St. Laurent and
Mirabel, where one must assemble the planes of CSeries), without
forgetting the Embraer giant (in Sao Paulo).
Mexico is
still far behind the group, but its progression is astonishing.
“Between
2004 and 2009, the number of companies evolving/moving in this
industry passed from 100 to 300, and Mexico wishes to assemble
planes, of A to Z, while misant on the low costs of production
and the wages ridiculously low granted the workers”, notes it.
Attempt the Mexican experience
Bombardier
Aéronautique belongs to the giants of industry to try the
“Mexican experiment”. The avionnery has installations with
Quérétaro, in the north of Mexico City, as well as Cessna,
Honeywell, GE, Textron and Pratt & Whitney.
“Of other manufacturers of our industry could imitate
Bombardier to benefit from the tax incentives and the
Mexican cheap labor if one does nothing to retain them.
We built in Quebec, in particular in the area of
Montreal, an industry of foreground (with 45 000
employment, including 13 000 at Aeronautical
Bombardier), and we must continue to feed it by there
grafting new players who come besides”, insists Dave
Chartrand.
He
wishes to see the governments “praising competences and
the expertise” on the industry of Quebec aeronautics.
“It is not
normal to let Mexico come to play in our court to try to bribe
our own companies in a great seduction, the purpose of which is
to only transfer from the uses of quality, remunerated well. The
wages practised on our premises are raised and one would not
have that becomes an argument to transfer part of the production
abroad”, makes a point of specifying the president of the trade
union.
Record Net Earnings Push Share
Value Up 9.5% and Shareholder Base Reaches New High
Montréal,
July 5, 2010 -
For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 2010, the owner shareholders of the Fonds de
solidarité FTQ (the “Fund”) saw their share value rise 9.5% to
$23.84, an increase of $2.06 over July 2009 and $0.33 over
January 2010. Net earnings set a new record at $600 million, and
net assets reached $7.3 billion.
“This is a great performance,” said Fund Chairman and FTQ
President Michel Arsenault. “First, we now have 577,511
shareholders, a record high that shows just how much faith
Quebecers have in the Fund. Second, we issued $660 million in
shares, an increase over last year. And third, the Fund
continues to demonstrate tremendous discipline, trimming its
operating expense ratio by 0.2% from last year, bringing it down
to 1.5%.”
“Thanks to dynamic management of our development capital
portfolio and a solid performance by our private partners, we
achieved an 11.0% return for this sector, which is our core
business. Our marketable securities portfolio, which seeks to
ensure that our assets are well diversified, returned 11.2%,
fuelled by the rebound in the stock markets and reduction in
credit spreads. We are very satisfied with this year’s
performance, which positions the Fund as an indispensable growth
lever for businesses,” affirmed Fund President and CEO Yvon
Bolduc. “The professionals at the Fund and at our regional and
local funds supported close to 300 companies this past year, and
with the $501 million we invested in 2009-2010, we are still the
largest purveyor of development capital in Québec,” added Mr.
Bolduc.
A RRSP that pays off
At a time when
Quebecers are saving less and less every year, the Fund’s
mission is more relevant than ever. The Fund is pleased to be
able to count on the unwavering commitment of close to 2,050
local representatives, who show workers that the Fund RRSP is an
interesting and profitable retirement savings product. For
instance, when the tax credits are factored in, a Fund
shareholder who has invested the same amount each year by way of
payroll deduction earned a compounded annual return of 11.5%
over 7 years and 7.8% over 10 years.
7-Year
10-Year
Compounded annual return
when tax credits are factored in.*
11.5%
7.8%
*Does not take into account
RRSP tax deductions.
Québec’s leading investor of
venture and development capital
This past fiscal
year, 71 new partners joined the Fund and its network of
regional Funds. True to its mission to back SME growth, more
than 82% of Fund’s and regional Funds’ partner companies have
fewer than 100 employees. Together with its entire network, the
Fund has 2,052 partner companies that have helped create,
maintain and preserve nearly 181,000 jobs in Québec.
Consolidating the activities
of Québec’s flagship companies
During this last
fiscal year, a number of SMEs consolidated their activities by
making strategic acquisitions with the Fund’s backing. Totalling
$123 million, these types of investments included $30.8 million
in
Stella-Jones,
a company that produces, among other things, railway ties, to
acquire a U.S. company.
GLV,
an international provider of technological solutions used in
water treatment, secured $38.5 million from the Fund for a major
deal involving the acquisition of an Austrian company.
Specializing in agriculture and horticulture, industrial
equipment and environmental technology,
Premier Tech
purchased an Ontario company with $10 million from the Fund,
while
Groupe Bermex
was able to take a
majority stake in Shermag thanks to a $6 million investment from
the Fund.
Flexible business solutions
In response to the
issues confronting SMEs, the Fund and the 16 regional Solidarity
Funds have developed financing products tailored to their needs.
For instance, the Competitiveness Loan, with its optional single
end-of-term repayment, is an extremely flexible solution. This
past year, sawmill
Scierie Dion & Fils
took
advantage of this type of loan, borrowing $8 million to boost
productivity and buy equipment to set up new equipment. For
their part, the regional funds developed two new solutions – the
Stabilization Loan and the Performance Loan – both of which
offer a reduced interest rate tied to the achievement of
business objectives.
Energizing the wood and
furniture industry
In a bid to
preserve jobs in a still fragile sector, the Fund injected $68
million into the wood and furniture sector in 2009-2010,
including $15 million to allow
Fortress Paper
to reopen the Thurso pulp mill and recall nearly 300 employees,
and $5.5 million in the expansion projects of
Foliot Management,
a company that builds furniture for student dormitories.
The Fund also backed the forestry industry through
Solifor
(Société de gestion
d’actifs forestiers Solifor s.e.c.), which picked up three new
properties. Created by the Fund and capitalized with $150
million, this investment fund owns 157,000 hectares of
forestland. Its mandate is to finance the purchase of forest
properties, to keep their ownership in Québec, and to ensure
they are developed in a sustainable manner.
Year ended May 31,
2010
Year ended May 31,
2009
Net assets
(in $ millions )
7,294
6,375
Revenues
(in $ millions )
222
239
Net
earnings (loss) (in $ millions )
600
(919)
Fund
Return
9.2%
(12.6%)
Net assets
per share (in $)
23.84
21.78
Change in
share value
9.5%
(13.1%)
The members of the technical Association
of Metso Minerals decided in favour of the employers' offer
The projecting points of the new agreement are:
Improvement of the premiums to $1.10 for the evening shift and $1.35 for
the night shift.
Safety shoes paid at a 100%
IPC (Cola) twice per year with an improvement (rise) on the level of the
rate (0.066 instead of 0.135)
Wage increase: 0%; 1.0% and 1.5%
Duration of the collective agreement: October 1st 2009 to September 30
2012
Upholding and improvement of the Mode of retirement. Raise payment for
long state of service to 10$, number of payment passes to 120,
improvement of the percentage for revenue to the surviving spouse
Addition of a 5th floating day
Yves Raymond
Business Rep.
Back to top
The members of local section 1660 accept
offers of the new purchaser Metso Minerals
The members brought together in assembly
accepted the offers of the employers'.
'' Many modifications were brought forward in the collective
agreement at this negotiation to reflect the new product that
our members will have to produce in the futur`` said Denis
Longtin Business representative.
Metso Minerals is the purchaser of part of the G.E. Hydro
factory which manufactures parts for the mining sector.
The discussions concentrated mainly on the reorganization of
work and the contents of certain occupations.
Although disappointed by the wage increase, our members
took into account the current economic situation and nevertheless
accepted the offers of the Employer in a proportion of 80%. They took
into account the other improvements such as maintain of benefits, mode
of retirement, adjustment of cost of life.> > explain Denis Longtin
Businees represntative
A wage increase of 2.5% will be distributed over three years.
Other improvement to be underlined is the article concerning the payment
and vacation taken for members on sick leave or on working accident and
one additional day.
In conclusion Denis Longtin Business representative wants to thank the
members of the committee for their work during this negotiation and time
they devoted to it.
Montreal accepts and Quebec rejets the offers of
Avery Weigh-Tronix
Montréal
Members of Local Lodge 1660 Workshop - Montreal accepted at 58% a new
Collective agreement of a duration of one year with Avery Weigh-Tronix.
Gains obtained:
Safety shoes: from 150 $ to 160 $ (+ 10 $);
Glasses: 100%, maximum of 600 $ (+ 350 $);
Employers' Contribution to the group insurance: passes from 28 $ to 30 $
per month (+ 2 $);
Forecast to pay bank holidays if they occur in the thirty (30) days of
the
lay off (recovery)
Québec
On the other hand the members of Avery Weigh-Tronix - Service - Quebec
rejected the employers' offer at 100%, and voted in favour of the strike
at 100%.
Point of contention:
Wage Parity with the fellow-members of Montreal
Yves Raymond
Business representative
IAMAW
Blood Donor Clinic: a success!
On March 19, the IAMAW held its 4th Blood Clinic in collaboration with
Héma-Québec.
Contrary to past years, the Blood Clinic was held one day only at the
Place Vertu Shopping Center in St. Laurent.
That day was a success, since there was a total of 140 donors! Each
blood donation can help up to 4 people; which means that 560 patients
will receive blood products thanks to generous donors who have at heart
the well-being of unfortunate people.
We would like to point out the participation of many volunteers, among
which members from local lodges 1751, 712, 1660 and 869, as well as the
unquestioning support of District 11.
We would like for this social and humane activity to become an annual
event to show the significant implication of the labour movement in our
society.
Thanks again to all those who participated directly or indirectly to
this annual event.
Denis Yelle
Robert Savoie
EAP National
Coordinator Organizer
District 140
District 140
Every year on the month of May, the International day of
workers is underlined by a walk on the streets of Montréal,
Organised by the Regional Montréal Métropolitain Council QFL.
When: Friday May 1st
Where: Préfontaine parc (near Préfontaine métro)
Time: 6:30pm
The Québec Machinist Council as reserved a bus to transport the
members who desires to participate at this walk.
For information: Denis Longtin
(Public relations Director of the Council) (514) 956-1578
Reserve your seats as soon as possible, limited places
National Day of Mourning, April 28 Watch in front of the Québec National
Assembly
A rally will be held at the Québec National Assembly
starting at 0 h 01 on April 28 to remember the lost of our
brothers and sisters dead in their working place and also to
denounce the laxity of the employers and the government on the
prevention of professional injuries. Will be followed by a press
conference by the leaders of the QFL. The activity should be
finished around 10 h, April 28 2009.
The Montreal metropolitan regional Council QFL invites you for
11:45pm in front of the QFL tour at 565, Crémazie boulevard East
in Montréal, on the night of April 27 to 28.
Use the bus or metro to come the QFL tour. The Crémazie station
is at a short walk of the QFL.
Two buses will be available to go Québec so that we can join the
other demonstrators of the region that will already be on site
at midnight. To join this activity, you must subscribe as soon
as possible, by calling the Council at 514 387-3666. The limite
to subscribe is Thursday April 23 2009 at 5:00pm.
We wish to see you in great numbers.
The members of Local Lodge 1660 extend agreement with Dominion Sample
At a general meeting held Thursday Mars 12 2009, the members
working at Dominion Sample accepted at 62% the employers offer to extend
the collective agreement of 3 years and de letter of agreement on the
complementary work force.
The contract is for a duration of 5 years and includes wage increase of
16.5% for the duration of the agreement.
Bonus of reopening the Collective agreement is by seniority.
20 years and over $400
10 years to 19 years $250
5 years to 9 years $150
1 year to 4 years $100
A premium of fidelity of $100 is added at the anniversary of the
signature in 2011.
Complementary work force
A floor of permanent positions is increased at 70 members and becomes
the basic personal as established at appendix 5.
The employer will be able to use a maximum of 40% of the complementary
work force the 1st year, after a maximum will be established at 35%.
This work force will be unionized.
"This agreement is fonction of the creation of positions and the
acquisition and installations of new production equipment and the
enlargement of the actual floor space." told us Pierre Brisebois
Business representative.
This new agreement is necessary to maintain and create jobs in Québec.
We would like to thank the negotiating committee for their excellent
work Gloria - Oscar - Richard
Back to top
The NAFTA Shuffle
Nearly 15 years after the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) became law, the global recession is exposing a new dimension of
the controversial trade accord.
High unemployment is on the march in Mexico, where manufacturing
companies are moving abroad in search of lower costs and even cheaper
labour. Sound familiar?
Recent statistics show the Mexican economy in tatters, with auto and
manufacturing workers suffering a fate not unlike Canadian and U.S.
workers who saw tens of thousands of their jobs fly south in the wake of
NAFTA.
More than a half-million Mexican workers lost manufacturing jobs since
November 2008, as the official unemployment rate climbed to 4.3 percent.
The actual unemployment rate is much higher, as the Mexican government
counts anyone working even one hour a week as being employed.
With Canadian and U.S. unemployment hitting record highs each month,
Canadian and U.S. workers may be slow to sympathize with Mexican workers
losing jobs that were once performed north of their border, but workers
in all of North America now share something besides a similar former
occupation: They’re all casualties of NAFTA.
The migration of Canadian and U.S. manufacturing jobs to Mexico was
initially touted as necessary to jump start the development of new
industries in all three countries. But with corporations now looking
beyond Mexico to China, South Korea and Indonesia, it’s increasingly
clear that whatever NAFTA may give, NAFTA can also take away.
As the years pass and workers in one country after another feel the pain
of NAFTA, the question to ask is not who’s losing, but is anyone really
winning?
Stop buying le journal get the news on
the site: ruefrontenac.com For
updated news
As you Know by now, le Journal de Montréal as
locked-out is workers.
The workers have created a web site that gives the same
information as the Journal de Montréal, the same as they were
doing when they were working at le Journal, with the same
professionnalisme.
Instead of buying le Journal de Montréal to get the daily news,
go and get your free information on the site
ruefrontenac.com.
You will get all the news free. This gesture will show our
support to those workers.
253 members of the information workers union of the Journal de Montréal
on the street
As you now know, the King of lock-outs (13 lock-out in 14 years), Pierre
K. Péladeau, as thrown on the street 253 members of the information
workers union of the Journal de Montréal, as he as done with the workers
of
Vidéotron (SCFP-FTQ) and recently, with those of the Journal de Québec (SCFP-FTQ);
those conflicts lasted over a year each.
Vidéotron is presently in negotiation and we have to watch out for
Péladeau that the only way he knows how to negotiate is by a lock-out.
We have interest to unite our forces and fight together this despicable
employer. The CSN and other unions supported us in the Petro-Canada
lock-out, it is now our turn to have solidarity.
The Directing office of the Council invites you to take these mesures :
• Stop buying the Journal de Montréal;
• Cancel subscription toi the news paper;
• Stop buying adds or any kind of publicity;
• Refuse to give interviews or tolerate representatives of the Journal
de Montréal, of Canoë or of 24 heures to your presse conferences;
• Refuse to give interviews to columnists that keep on collaborating
with the news paper (Martineau, Facal, etc.);
• To publicise this conflict around.
We have learned with the conflicts at Vidéotron, Journal de Québec and
Petro-Canada, the only way to win against those financial empires, is
that all the unionized members stick together to win the fight.
The members of Local Lodge 1660 accept new agreement with ABB Lachine
December 2008,
The members of Local Lodge 1660 were called in an extraordinary meeting
to vote on ABB Lachine offers
After presentation and explanation by the negotiating committee of the
employers offers, the members were called upon to vote by secret ballot
on those offers.
The members accepted by a margin of 88% the new agreement.
The important changes in the collective agreement:
A 3 year agreement
Wage increase of 3% per year which is 9% for the duration of the
agreement
Signature bonus
New classification ``Fitter``
Creation of a summer schedule
3 sickness day paid at 80% (If days not used days will be paid at 130%)
Congratulation to the negotiating committee for their work..
Machinists present at rally to support the coalition at the federal
level
December 6 2008
Many unionists and the machinists were present at the rally to
support the coalition between Libéral party, NPD and supported
by the Bloc Québécois to replace Harper's government (Conservator)
after is speech on economy in parlament.
The 3 parties concluded an agreement to have a stabile
parliament in Canada and to take care in priority of the
economic crises that is feeling Canadians and it could get worst
in the next months ahead.
The IAMAW canadian General Vice-president Dave Ritchie asks that
all the machinists support this coalition for the welfare of
working canadians.
Coalition government
November 30, 2008
To: Canadian Locals and Staff
From: Dave Ritchie, GVP
After pushing an early $300 million election on Canadians this October,
the Harper Conservatives have shown that they are incapable of governing.
Instead of focusing on the needs of Canadians, reversing our economic
decline, stimulating our economy and creating jobs, the Harper
Conservatives have come forward with a cynical and partisan attack on
workers and communities.
In response, there is a strong possibility that the minority
Conservatives will be defeated in a confidence vote on December 8. A new
coalition government would then be formed by the Liberals and New
Democrats, with Bloc Quebecois support. This coalition, representing a
majority of Canadians, is an opportunity to deal with the crisis and
take back our government.
The Conservatives will no doubt mount a desperate campaign to cling to
power. Over the next week, the Canadian Labour Congress will join with
many other groups to mobilize support for the Coalition. There will be
rallies in major centres, a public awareness campaign, and programs to
ensure that Members of Parliament understand where the Canadian people
stand.
I am asking you to assist in mobilizing IAM members to participate in
this campaign to secure our future. The Canadian Office will be sending
out more information in the next couple of days.
I look forward to your support and full participation.
Dave Ritchie, GVP
Back to top
A meeting was held on October 28 2008. The subject of
the day was:
The reform of the Quebec pension plan.
As I said in my last report, the Quebec government wants to present a
project to reform the Quebec pension plan (R.R.Q). Two objective where
aimed.
The first is an increase of the percentage of the contribution and the
second a reduction of benefice.
To follow the project of reform, la Régie des rentes du Québec is having
private consultations with all of the participants in the circle of
employers, financial and union. The unions, as the QFL were invited to a
meting on October 27 to give their point of view on the proposed in the
consulting document of 69 pages, entitled « Vers un Régime de rentes du
Québec renforcé et plus équitable » that we can consult on the R.R.Q web
site.
http://www.rrq.gouv.qc.ca/NR/rdonlyres/1AA39F77-4714-4795-A3F8-7B13F8B268E0/0/consultation_2008.pdf
In brief, the document propose fifteen changes of solutions that you can
find at page 53 of the document, here are the principals :
• La Régie wants to fill a gap of 0,8%. to do so, it proposes: first
increase the contribution from 9,9% to 10,4% starting 2011, at the rate
of 0,1% per year, for a total increase of 0,5 point of pourcentage and
secondly decrease the benefice of 0,3%
• Change the calculation of the retirement annuity that will drive a
maximum lost of 10% for a total of 40% for those who take their
retirement at 60. Presently the penalty is 6% per year for a maximum of
30%.
• On the other hand la Régie would eliminate the condition of stoppage
of work to be able to ask is annuity before 65, that means, to allow
workers to ask their annuity of retirement before 65 , wile staying at
work for the same employer without agreement of progressive retirement.
• Increase the retirement annuity of 0,5% to 0,7% per month for each
person that differs is retirement over 65.
• Eliminate the definition of invalidity for the subscriber aged between
60 to 64 that means incapable to occupy is normal work, to replace by a
total invalidity.
Maybe we will know the next step after the election.
Thursday october 8 2008,
Called in a general meeting, the members of Local Lodge 1660 accepted
the last Robco offer by a margin of 78%.
The collective agreement will be of a duration of 5 years and includes a
wage increase of 3% per year, retroactive to February 1st 2008.
More than the wage increase here are other gains obtained in this
negotiation:
- Improvements in the grievance procedures
- Prevision on health and safety
- The hiring rate is now $11.00 hres
- Allocation for meals passed from $10.30 to $14.50 spread out during
the duration of the collective agreement.
- The team premium as also improved with an increase of $0.10 hre.
- A provision of remoteness was added to the mourning holiday, a paid
day and a possibility to transfer a day or days for activity related to
the mourning.
- Life insurance was doubled at $36,000.
The members supported massively the negotiating committee.
After having rejected the first proposition in the same proportion the
members recognised the great work of their negotiating committee, Oscar
Moscayza and Alain Massé, by ratifying the employers proposition.
Well done to the negotiating committee for their fine work.
Well done to the members for their great support.
September 2 2008
The members of Local Lodge 1660 rejected the Robco compagnies offer.
The members rejected the 5 year offer after explanations and discussions
The meeting was held in all respect and calm.
It is with a majority vote of 75 % that the employers offer was rejected.
The parties should meet again to try and resolve the matter.
Sigh of relief for the 450 unionized workers of the IAMAW at GE Hydro,
in Lachine : the company, had planned to close is doors at the end of
June, was sold to a austro-finn group and are ready to continue the
manufacturing activities.
« It is a happy conclusion », recognized yesterday the union business
representative in the case, Denis Longtin.
GE Hydro had announced the union on September 2007, their project to
close the turbine factory near the highway 20.
However in the last weeks, the union was told that negotiations with
potential buyers were positive.
Finally two buyers concluded the transaction with GE Hydro -Andritz Va
Tech Hydro (Austria) and Metso (Finland).
The factory will specialize in the manufacturing of crushers and
crushing cylinders for the mining industry.
« The new owners have met with the workers. WE have learned that Metso
will take care of the factory, meanwhile Andritz will concentrate in the
laboratory and research and development », as declared Denis Longtin,
business representative of the (IAMAW-QFL) District 11 of the Machinists
union.
30 $ hourly wages
The workers paid up to 30 $ hourly - have an average of 45 year old.
« They are good jobs. we expect the new owners give a new energy to the
old building (the factory was built in Lachine over 89 years ago», said
the union leader.
The terms of the agreement between GE Hydro and the new owners are kept
confidential. the transaction should be finalized at 100% by the end of
August.
Lets recall GE Hydro had announced to is employees, 250 in the factory,
that it would cease is activities after the expiration of the contracts
of hydroelectric turbines..
Hydro-Québec
GE Hydro, is own by the American group General Electric, produced over
50 % of the turbines for Hydro-Québec, for the bay James dam.
The factory also constructed hydroelectric turbines for China ( the
central of Trois-Gorges) and California.
The business representative Denis Longtin said, «its in part the
decision of Hydro-Québec to do business with Brasil and Mexico (for the
turbines that caused the lost of the factory in Lachine».
« We could question the attitude of Hydro-Québec that is state-owned
that deals with Brazil, when our factories have all sort of
difficullties», as concluded the union leader
Back to top
Friday June 6 2008
The members of Local Lodge 1660 accepted the offers of
Metso de St-Laurent.
The new collective agreement will be of a duration of 4 years with wages
increase over 11%.
More , Denis Longtin Business representative mentioned that the members
had other gains. Her are some gains obtained in this negotiation:
Increase in benefices when lay off
Increase in teams premium
vacations
April 30 2008.
The members of Local Lodge 1660 met in an extraordinary assembly to vote
on ABB St-Laurent considered as final.
After explications by business representative Alain Rouleau the changes
inserted in the new offer, the members where called to vote.
The offer was accepted by a great majority of the members.
The gains won:
3 year contract: increase of wages of 3% per year for a total of 9% the
duration of the collective agreement.
Vacations: 20 days holiday after 9 years of services. No more shutdowns.
The members will have to chose 2 weeks consecutive and the excess of
days left if any could be taken one day at a time.
Working schedules: The members will start 10 minutes earlier.
Banked hours : 40 hours concurrent. Could be taken 8 or 4 hours at a
time.
Increase of meal compensation.
Increase of lay off compensation.1 week 1/2 of the basic rate for every
year service for a total closing or partial (new).
Avril 2 2008
The members of Local Lodge 1660 met in a general meeting to pronounce
themselves on ABB St-Laurent offers.
The negotiating committee is composed of:
Alain Rouleau Business representative
Ginette Dugas President of the shop committee
Alain Bellefeuille shop delegate
Alain Rouleau passed the proposition article by article explaining to
the members the changes to the new proposed collective agreement.
After a period of questions, the members voted on the employers offers.
The members decided to reject those offers unanimously (100%)
The points in dispute:
No back time provided
New calculation for overtime
Cut back on percentage of payment on health care
The committee will meet in a few days with the representatives of the
employer to try to get an agreement.
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS CELEBRATION
GREAT WALK IN MONTREAL
THEME: TOGETHER FOR OUR HEALTH
WHEN: MAY 3rd 2008
WHERE: LAFONTAINE PARC
TIME: NOON
Lets us be in great number to show our
government that we want
to keep our public health care.
The management of GE Hydro, a subsidiary of the multinational General
Electric, has decided to move its hydro-electric equipment manufacturing
operations and its research laboratory to Brazil.
Please send an email to
your federal representative, as well as the leaders of the Québec
Liberals, Parti Québecois, and the ADQ.
THE QFL ASK TO BOYCOTT PETRO CANADA
Stop buying gaz at Pétro Canada
Montréal, November 26 2007.
The company Pétro Canada ¨Montreal's¨ refinery as put 260 brothers and
sisters members of SCEP-FTQ Local Lodge 175 in lock-out,
Pétro Canada persecute to break the (pattern) established by the SCEP in
the industrie (on the duration of the collective agreement, the wages
increase and the team premium)
Pétro Canada wants to take the union rights acquired to the
representative of health and safety and dose of the union President.
Pétro Canada wants to impose a formation program excessively fast
without thinking of security, at the end a worker could lose is job if
he fails one or the other steps of this program.
Pétro Canada wants to permit transfers of personnel when he wants.
Pétro Canada wants to reduce the rights of workers in regards to working
and schedules and assignments.
Pétro Canada refuses all union demand
The workers are determined to resist to this stage to Pétro Canada
WE AK TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES NOT TO BUY GAZ AT Pétro Canada AS
LONG AS THE CONFLICT IS NOT SETTLED
In solidarity with the members of C=SCEP-FTQ Local Lodge 175
Closing of the GE plant in Lachine
In video, the reaction of Claude Dauphin who is a mayor of the Lachine
borough where we find the factory.
MEMBERS OF LOCAL LODGE 1660 DOMINION SAMPLE ACCEPTED A 5 YEAR AGREEMENT
Wednesday May 2 2007 in a general meeting members of Local Lodge1660
accepted the offers of Dominion Sample.
Here are the major points of this 5 year agreement.
10 people will progress to a higher classification
A 0.75$ hourly premium for 3rd shift workers
A new working relation committee was formed to settle complaints and
harassment issues
5 week vacation for people having 21 years and over of seniority
A 5 year agreement increase wages of 4% - 3.50% - 3% - 3% - 3% (full
retroactivity)
Back to top
A new collective agreement for the members of Local Lodge 1660 working
at Weigh-Tronix (shop)
The members accepted, by a vote of (75%), the employers proposition for
the renewal of the collective agreement The new collective agreement
provides:Wage increase of 2.5% for each of the two year agreement. The
amount of purchasing safety shoes and safety glasses were increases.
An important provision was negotiated concerning payment to the long
term collective insurance or members lay off for a duration of 24 months.
The employer will pay is part as long as the members maintain theirs.
Increase Lead hand premium also added premium for supervisor of welding
and automatic machine operators'. Last improvement, the employer will
purchase winter coats for members working on lifts and working in the
yard.
Congratulation to the committee!
Demonstration in support of Goodyear
employees
The Machinists and other Unions were present at the
demonstration of support for the workers of Goodyear organised by the
QFL Saturday February 3rd, 2007 at Sauve Park in Valleyfield.
The goal of the demonstration was to protest against the plant closure
and to assert a claim for a relaunch plan to save the 800 jobs.
The assembly was followed by a march through the streets of the city. We
all wanted to demonstrate a show of solidarity, since none of us are
safe from such decisions. We only have to think of the transfer of work
of Bombardier to Mexico, or the intention of Air Canada to transfer the
maintenance of its’ Airbuses to South America, or of G.E. workers
confronted by Chinese competition, etc.
Congratulations to Cedric Poulin who becomes the new Local Lodge
Recording-Secretary, elected by acclamation during the regular meeting
of Tuesday, September 19th.
The technical personel of G.E. Hydro have decided to
join the ranks of Local 1660, who represent the members in the plant, as
well as the Security Guards. Well wish them a hearty welcome into the
ranks of Local Lodge 1660.
On August 31st, Local Lodge 2133 merged with our Local Lodge, which
represents the 48 employees of Peerless Electric. We wish them welcome
to Local 1660.
Resignation of our Recording-Secretary To all members
interested in a position of Recording-Secretary, we currently have the
position available due to the resignation of our Recording-Secretary.
For more information, contact the Local Lodge.
On June 27th, workers of Alstom Power had rejected a first offer,
the employer was demanding important concessions on group insurance and
overtime, members were dead set against these demands, in no way were
they ready to let go acquired benefits !
The negotiation committe returned to the table with a clear mandate
supported by a strong strike vote.
This second round of negotiations yielded expected results : the
employer withdrew his demands pertaining to the group insurance premium
and overtime rates.
The 36 members accepted a new 5 year contract containing raises of 2.75%
- 2.75% - 3% - 3% and 3% plus raised benefits on pension and added
vacations.
Congratulations to the negotiation team composed of brothers Roland
Robitaille, Denis Breton and Jean François Tremblay.
Why not become the world leaders
in
wind energy production?
Hydro Quebec’s Unions invite you to become aware of the
different publications, the press release and documentation
which will allow you to better understand the major stakes of
the privatisation of wind energy in Quebec.
Wind
energy, complimented by hydro-electricity places us
advantageously in the greenproduction of electricity. In stride
with the Kyoto protocols, why not control this network of the
future.Water and wind, which belongs to everyone, should benefit
all Quebecois. In nationalising wind energy, in keeping public
control of dams, we are assured of the of the profits of this
energy source remaining in Quebec, instead of watching the
profits being monopolised by private enterprise, more often than
not foreign. In this scenario, we would be left blowing in the
wind…
Montréal,
July 5, 2010 -
For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 2010, the owner shareholders of the Fonds de
solidarité FTQ (the “Fund”) saw their share value rise 9.5% to
$23.84, an increase of $2.06 over July 2009 and $0.33 over
January 2010. Net earnings set a new record at $600 million, and
net assets reached $7.3 billion. 
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