2004 TO 2006 ARCHIVES

Drug testing “an affront to dignity and privacy”
(2006) - CEP Local 900 members who work for Imperial Oil in Nanticoke, Ont. have won a landmark arbitration decision that says random drug testing has little if any place in Canadian workplaces, even safety-sensitive ones.

Though Imperial Oil had been forced to suspend random drug testing following a 200l Ontario court of appeal ruling, the company reintroduced it after discovering a newly-available swab test that could accurately measure marijuana levels in saliva. CEP challenged the employer’s action through a policy grievance.

Enough is Enough! MDS workers need CEP representation
LONDON (ONTARIO) (2006) - - Employees of MDS Diagnostic Services with the assistance of CEP Organizers have launched an organizing drive that is quickly expanding to more than 100 Patient Service Centres and Laboratories in Ontario. “ When we began organizing in our workplace in London, four weeks ago, we had no idea of the extent that MDS employees in other cities and towns across Ontario are experiencing the same unfair conditions at work as we are, says Cytology employee Lisa Carrothers. “But news of our organizing campaign spread like wildfire through our region and has now gone across Ontario.” (More)


CEP REMEMBERS DECEMBER 6th (Click on photo)

Remember and Act on Dec. 6
(2006) - December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, it is the sad anniversary of the death of 14 women who were tragically killed on December 6, 1989 at l’École Polytechnique in Montréal because they were women.

December 6th is also an opportunity for CEP members to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society, to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. CEP encourages all members to participate and get involved in local activities.

Happy Birthday CEP!
(2006) - President Dave Coles marks CEP's 14th anniversary on Nov. 28 with other officers and staff at the union's national office in Ottawa. The Canadian Paperworkers Union, the Communications Workers of Canada and the Energy and Chemical Workers Union merged to form the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada at a founding convention in November 1992.

Special meeting called for Eastern pulp and paper locals
Ottawa (Nov. 21, 2006) – President Dave Coles has summoned all CEP locals involved in the Eastern Canadian pattern bargaining program to a special meeting in Montreal on Dec. 4 and 5 to deal with “demands from employers to exploit the economic crisis in the pulp and paper industry…”

Ergonomics conference timely
(2006) - A special conference on ergonomics sponsored by the CEP’s Health, Safety and Industrial Relations Training Fund drew more than 130 participants to Winnipeg, Nov. 12-15.  CEP President Dave Coles and Secretary-Treasurer Gaétan Ménard were among them. “Ergonomic regulations are a growing part of today’s workplace and this timely conference shed some much-needed light an increasingly important health and safety issue,” said President Coles, who urged CEP members to read the main conference document.

Organize – Defend – Advance
By Dave Coles
President, CEP

(2006) - “We have come together at convention to re-establish our principles and policies to help us move forward as a union willing and able to meet the challenges that we will face together as we move into the future. (Read full text)

CAW solidarity for CEP Local 37-X
TIMMINS, ON (2006) -- Retired CAW members joined CEP Local 37-X on the picket line, Nov. 8, and gave them a $500.00 cheque from their retirees chapter, along with a $1,000 cheque from Mine Mill CAW 598 members. Local 37-X has been locked out since Sept. 9, 2006 by Grant Forest Products.

Keystone Pipeline
(2006) - The NEB hearing on the Keystone Pipeline has now adjourned.
Read CEP's argument to the NEB.

A public forum on the impacts of proposed Keystone Pipeline called, Down the Pipe, was held in Calgary Thursday November 2. Hosted jointly by CEP and the Parkland Institute the public forum in Calgary examined some of the evidence CEP has presented to the National Energy Board (NEB) as an intervenor. (Story and photos)

Anti-scab vote: 167-Yes, 101-No
(2006) - That was the breakdown in the House of Commons, Oct. 25, for the second reading vote on Bill C-257 - the legislation to prohibit the use of scabs during lockouts or strikes in the federal jurisdiction.

CEP played an active role in "pulling the vote" by lobbying MPs during the summer months and during the past few weeks and days leading up to yesterday's vote.

CEP President Dave Coles congratulated all those who took part in the lobby effort organized by the Canadian Labour Congress, calling this a victory for thousands of workers and their families across Canada. "We can't let up on the pressure though," he says.

Bill C-257 will not become law until after a third reading vote in the House of Commons, three votes in the Senate and then royal assent.

An Act to Amend the Human Rights Code
(2006) - CEP's Human Rights Director Gisèle Pageau, National President Brian Payne and National Representative Denise Norman met with the recently-appointed Chair of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, Michael Gottheil at Solidarity House, Sept. 19. The controversial Bill 107 has drawn much criticism from labour groups in Ontario including the CEP. This was a great opportunity for the CEP to provide input on what we see as the weaknesses and challenges with the current legislation and how we can improve the process for filing Human Rights claims.

Media concentration campaign
(2006) - As the House of Commons prepares to resume next week, CEP’s Vice-President of Media, Peter Murdoch says the recent Bell Globemedia-CHUM deal will be a test of whether Parliament and public interest can rein in a dangerously concentrated corporate media. 

The union has filed a complaint with the CRTC about CHUM’s cancellation of local newscasts, which put 271 people out on the street. Not only will CEP be fighting it at the CRTC, plans are also underway for a public campaign around concentration of media ownership.

"We've had all-party agreement in the House of Commons that media concentration should be stopped,” says Murdoch.  “The BGM-CHUM deal flies in the face of that.”

CEP is preparing another submission for late in September to the CRTC on its television policy framework and it is getting ready to join with its partners in other cultural sectors to fight the move to relax foreign ownership restrictions on broadcasting and telecommunications.

"If we sell off our key messengers, we will no longer have sovereign control of the message. It is an issue critical to the country," says Murdoch.

Getting ready for convention
(2006) - The CEP Officers’ Reports Committee is meeting at Solidarity House this week to review officers’ reports to the upcoming CEP national convention, Oct. 15-19 in Vancouver. Committee members pore over each document and report their findings and any recommendations to convention delegates.

Coordinated bargaining at Quebecor World pays off
Through national coordinated bargaining, CEP graphical locals successfully fought Quebecor World’s whipsawing bargaining tactics and recently improved several collective agreements with Quebecor World plants across Canada.

Negotiations were long and tough, but thanks to CEP’s coordinated action plan and the commitment, discipline and solidarity of the CEP graphical Locals and members, Quebecor eventually withdrew each and every concessionary demand and bargained collective agreements with many improvements for CEP members. 

The CEP graphical Locals, formerly the GCIU, merged with CEP in 2005.

“We chose to use this merger and the strength and resources of CEP to redefine and re-position ourselves in the industry,” says Duncan Brown, National Director of CEP Graphical.  It’s clearly paid off, especially in organizing and collective bargaining. Now we must work hard to build on this foundation.”

Anti-scab campaign underway
Ottawa (Aug. 17, 2006) - CEP is working to get scab labour or “replacement workers” legally banned during strikes and lockouts. Our union is part of a Canadian Labour Congress committee working to secure anti-scab legislation in this Parliament.

 “With a minority Parliament, and three opposition parties whose combined votes outnumber the government, there is a very good chance we could win this long-sought-after amendment to the Canada Labour Code,” says CEP President Brian Payne.

Major unions are lobbying MPs over the summer months to convince them to vote for the legislation when the House resumes this fall.  Find out how to become involved in this important campaign in the next issue of The Activist.  

CEP files NEB motion on Keystone
Ottawa, July 25, 2006 -- The CEP has asked the National Energy Board to postpone hearings into the transfer of ownership of the Keystone pipeline. Instead, we are asking the NEB to conduct much broader public hearings into the overall implications of the project, designed eventually to move a daily volume of 435,000 barrels of diluted bitumen from the tar sands in Alberta into the heartland of the U.S.

In a motion filed with the NEB yesterday, CEP says “the public interest requires thorough and comprehensive consideration of the environmental and energy security consequences of the Keystone Project at the earliest stage of approvals process.”

Otherwise, our Union contends, the public perception would be that subsequent hearings on the range of issues we raise would be “pro forma” and the broader concerns would be marginalized.

CEP supports women’s shelter
Thunder Bay, Ont. (July 18, 2006) Pictured are sisters Candace Lavalley, CEP Local 7-O and Joan Hand, CEP Local 191 who accompanied Ontario Region Vice President Cec Makowski in presenting a $2000 cheque to Patricia Jurivee,Executive Director of Beendigan Inc. which operates a 24 bed women's shelter in Thunder Bay.

The donation was raised by a raffle conducted during the CEP Ontario Region women's conference attended by over 60 delegates from across Ontario.  Delegates elected sister Lavalley to the Ontario Region women's committee representing Northwestern Ontario, replacing sister Hand who has stepped down.

CEP MEMBERS RATIFY HISTORIC PAY EQUITY DEAL
Ottawa (June 19, 2006) – Some 5,000 current and former mostly female telephone operators employed by Bell Canada have voted to accept a $104 million settlement of their 14 year old dispute over pay equity by 95%.

Members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, the operators voted over the last month in 25 separate meetings across Ontario and Québec. The vote was tabulated today at the CEP National Office in Ottawa.

“This result brings an end to one of the longest battles for pay equity in the private sector and I want to congratulate our 150,000 members right across the Union for their solidarity with the operators at Bell Canada,” said CEP President Brian Payne following release of the vote results.

“At the same time, on behalf of all of our members and the CEP leadership, I want to thank and congratulate the Canadian Labour Congress, the Federations of Labour right across the country and the many unions from coast to coast who helped us win this battle,” Mr. Payne added.

“This victory by telephone workers is a victory of the Canadian labour movement.”

CEP’s new Mentorship program is now open
for registration!
Ottawa (June 9, 2006) – Simply click on the revolving cube (top right of this page).  You’ll find an overview of the program, information on the program’s four levels, a description of the mentor’s role and a place to register.

CEP reaches $104 million pay equity settlement at Bell
(2006) - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Bell Canada have reached a tentative settlement of their 14 year-old dispute over pay equity for 4,765 telephone operators.

CEP President Brian Payne, in a statement released today, said the $104 million settlement “will bring closure to one of the longest fought struggles in the labour movement.”

CEP filed its claim for pay equity on behalf of the largely female operators, dining service and house services workers in 1992 with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The case was referred to a Tribunal but has been the subject of extensive legal challenges, including a challenge to the Supreme Court, over the years.

At the urging of the Commission, the parties agreed to mediation late last year. The proposed settlement, covering the years 1993 to 1999, was reached in mediation. Current and former employees affected by its terms will vote on acceptance or rejection at a series of meetings during May and June across Ontario and Quebec. Results are expected in mid-June.

“This is a very good settlement made possible by the strength and determination of CEP members over many years. We think it serves justice and provides fair monetary compensation to our past and present members at Bell Canada,” Mr. Payne added.

The settlement provides compensation in three specific categories:  settlement money; payment for pain and suffering (tax exempt); and adjustments to pensions.

For instance, an operator currently working at Bell Canada and who worked the full period covered by the settlement will receive $16,500 in settlement payment; $6,000 in pain and suffering (tax exempt); and a maximum of additional pensionable earning of $13,530.

The minimum payment will be $1,000 to those employed for less than one full year but more than six months.

The 150,000 member CEP is Canada’s largest union of telecommunications workers.
(Download printable pdf here)

CEP Convention Call
Ottawa (May 9, 2006) – The official notice informing CEP locals of the upcoming national convention is in the mail.  The Convention Call outlines procedures for locals to choose delegates and to submit proposals for constitutional amendments and general resolutions.

Secretary treasurer Peter Murdoch’s letter notes that the seventh national convention will open on October 15 and close October 19.  All accommodation and travel arrangements are being centralized and, for the first time, bookings can be made on line by clicking here!

Upwards of 1,000 delegates are expected at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  These are the leaders who are the ultimate authority of the CEP.  They will elect national and regional officers, establish policies and chart the course for the Union to follow in the next two years.

Labour forum at international gathering
Vancouver (May 5, 2006) – Union activists are expected to play an important role in a major international gathering here – the World Peace Forum which opens June 23.  President Brian Payne has sent a letter about the Forum to all CEP Locals.

One of the highlights of the week long gathering will be a three part Labour Forum where delegates will learn about the economics of war and peace, organizing for peace in the local union, and making future plans to promote peace locally and globally.

Energy bargaining conference
Montreal (May 4, 2006) -- More than 100 delegates from dozens of CEP locals in the energy sector across Canada are gathering here for a week-end conference to establish national bargaining priorities for the next round of negotiations.

CEP energy sector members work in the oil, gas, petrochemical and related industries and traditionally negotiate key items (usually monetary) as part of a National Bargaining Program.

Quebec Administrative Vice President Joe Gargiso has been named as the coordinator for national bargaining in the upcoming round, expected to get underway later this year.

Brabant workers accept deal
Hamilton, Ont. (May 2, 2006) --  CEP Local 87-M members ended their 17 month strike at HamiltonWeb/Brabant with ratification of a new three year collective agreement which gives production workers an option to return to work or accept enhanced severance pay.

The 53 members from the inserting department and pressroom struck in December of 2004 over contract issues including pay equity for the largely female inserters (a claim which is to be adjudicated by a provincial Pay Equity Review Officer).

The inserters have accepted an enhanced severance package as part of the settlement.

Local 87-M president Brad Honywill said the members were “glad it is over.  But I wish the result was better.”

12th Annual Media Conference

Montreal (April 21, 2006) – CEP activists in the media will be meeting in Montreal this weekend at the 12th annual Media Council Conference.

"The issues of concentration of ownership, Steven Harper's mindless closed-door policy, the CRTC television review, health and safety, organizing, and much more will all be on the agenda for a busy couple of days," said Peter Murdoch.

Murdoch said he expects close to 200 participants at the conference. The keynote speaker is Marc Raboy, chair in ethics, media and communication at McGill University.

"We fully expect to come out of the weekend with an agenda set to continue to move our membership forward. Technology is changing the media landscape quickly, unionists need to be able to adjust and flex in order to protect our members and Canadian culture," said Murdoch.

Spina Bifida

Winnipeg (April 18, 2006) --  CEP Western Region Administrative Vice President Wendy Sol, right, presents a cheque for $12,820 from the national union to Andrea Salmon, executive director of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada.

In thanking our Union, Ms. Salmon said the research and education work on this childhood disease is progressing and “we could not have achieved our success without the assistance and support of the CEP.”

CEP national and locals have adopted the Association as our charity of choice and have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.  Most of the money goes toward research into ways of overcoming the crippling disorder.

International solidarity
(2006) - The murder of Columbian trade unionist, Daniel Cortez Cortez, is startling reminder of the risks that trade unionists in other countries take in their efforts to defend workers’ rights. The active member of the ICEM’s Columbian affiliate Sintraelecol was gunned down on April 2. He leaves a wife and four children.

In a letter to ICEM Secretary General Fred Higgs, President Brian Payne writes: “This tragedy sends a clear message to all trade unionists about the need for stronger international ties in the labour movement. To coin a familiar adage “an injury to one is an injury to all.

“We fully support your calls for an urgent, full and open investigation into the circumstances of this brutal assassination and stand ready to offer whatever additional moral support that we can.”

Columbia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for trade unionists to do their work.

Local 255-G members get support
(2006) - Edmonton – Community support for 20 CEP Local 255-G members who have been put out of work by Ed-Web printers continues to grow.

The members were fired on Alberta’s “family day”, a statutory holiday when most of the members were at home enjoying time with their families.  To add insult to injury, the company shifted the CEP work to ia non-union shop nearby.  The Alberta Federation of Labour has asked the community to boycott the company.

Meanwhile, CEP continues its fight before the Labour Board to get the members, pictured here on the picket line set up outside their plant, back to work. Click here to go to Local 255-G Website.

In the photo are some of the key players in organizing drive. From left to right are: Danny McBride, Robin Ludlow, Sean McKibbon, Alan Tate, Dave Washburn and Holly Lake.

"We are pleased that our colleagues have voted for fairness, respect and a voice in the workplace," said Rob Ludlow, spokesman for the six-member organizing committee. "We look forward to working productively and in good faith with management on negotiating a first contract."

The exact number of employees in the bargaining unit is still in dispute but will not affect the outcome of the vote. Key issues are pay, benefits and job security.

The employees will be represented by CEP’s Local 87-M, the Southern Ontario Newsmedia Guild (SONG).

A message to Aliant/Bell CEP members
(2006) -BCE has announced that it wants to “spin off” parts of its empire into a new income trust entity which will impact CEP members and others currently employed at Aliant in the Atlantic Region and in the rural areas of Ontario and Québec.

Ervan Cronk, Atlantic Region Administrative Vice-President, John Edwards, Ontario Region AVP and Michel Ouimet, Québec Region Vice-President are working together on plans to protect our members interests.

You can view a message from the three officers by clicking here.

Hibernia one step closer
St. John’s, Nfld. (March 7, 2006) –  A first collective agreement for the 400 CEP members who work on the Hibernia oil platform here is one step closer as the union team pictured above presented final proposals to the government appoint arbitration board recently.

Pictured left to right sitting are Joseph Gargiso, Quebec Region Administrative Vice President who is CEP’s national coordinator of energy bargaining and National Representative Brian Campbell.

Standing (l to r) are Mike Cooze, CEP Counsel Jack Harris, Bill O”Neill, Sheldon Peddle and Gerard Ryan.

Telco locals to gather June 15
Ottawa (March 6, 2006) --  CEP President Brian Payne has asked leaders from CEP telephone sector locals and bargaining units to gather in Ottawa June 15 for a follow up meeting to January’s National Conference on Bargaining Strategies.

Delegates in June are expected to report on decisions made by their membership on the issue of establishing a National Bargaining Caucus (and its rules of order) for the sector and whether to pursue national coordinated negotiations or pattern bargaining in the future.

If the decision is to proceed, it is foreseen that a pre-bargaining caucus meeting for the sector would be held early in 2007.

Mentorship programme progressing
Ottawa (March 6, 2006) --  Recently appointed regional coordinators of CEP’s new Mentorship Programme gathered with head office representatives here last week to fine tune programme delivery and other details.

“ Our commitment is to have this exciting and innovative programme up and running before CEP convention,” President Brian Payne told the gathering.  “ I encourage all CEP members and leaders to look out for our programme launch in the very near future.”

CEP’s new electronic publication, The Activist, forms a part of the Mentorship programme and is already being met with critical favour by local leaders.

Telco locals deciding
Ottawa (Feb. 14, 2006)  CEP telephone locals across the country are being asked to form an industry wide national caucus for bargaining purposes.

In a letter to locals, President Brian Payne urges them to examine the results of the recent  Conference of  telephone locals which adopted a draft discussion paper calling for adoption of a national bargaining strategy.

In his letter, President Payne asks locals to:

1. adopt the rules which would establish a national bargaining caucus;
2. support the calling of a caucus meeting in early January of next year; and
3. select one of the bargaining strategy options presented in the document.

The options being up for consideration are Coordinated Bargaining or Pattern Bargaining. Locals are being asked to finalize their decisions in time for a follow up meeting in June of this year.

To view the discussion document, click here.

CEP CALLS UPON QUEBECOR WORLD TO CLEAN UP ITS ACT OUTSIDE CANADA
(2006) - The CEP has called upon Montreal-based Quebecor World to clean up its act outside Canada.

Commenting on the company’s poor labour conduct around the world, Duncan Brown, National Director, of CEP Graphical said, “Quebecor World has a double standard. While they respect the right of their employees to organize and bargaining collectively here in Canada and in Europe, their conduct in other countries shows a complete disregard for their employees and their rights.”

Pointing to recent decisions in the United States and recent strike action in Brazil, Brown, who is on the Executive of the global union, UNI Graphical, and chairs an international coalition of Quebecor unions said, “I have met with Quebecor workers from around the world and heard their stories, and I have been embarrassed that a Canadian company would operate in this way.”

“The right to organize and collective bargaining are fundamental rights, recognized by the UN’s International Labour Organization and international law and the CEP believes that good corporate citizens should respect those rights,” said CEP President Brian Payne.

Brown pointed to recent strike action at Quebeor World’s plant in Recife, Brazil, where the protesting workers shut down the plant. The company had been frustrating their employees’ rights by refusing to recognize their choice of union and firing their elected union representatives.

Brown represented the CEP, as part of a UNI Graphical delegation supporting the workers, and participated in the negotiations with Quebecor representatives, which resulted in the company recognizing the union.

Global support for CEP Local 972
Gent, Belgium (Feb. 9, 2006) – The struggle by CEP Local 972 members in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia to protect their jobs and gain the Eastern Canada pulp and paper pattern settlement with Stora Enso was front and centre here this week as 1,500 European trade unionists conducted a candlelight parade at the company’s offices.

Organized by CEP’s sister union in Belgium - ACCG - the parade was in protest of the firing by Stora Enso of union leaders there and to prevent contracting out of mill work, one of the key issues in the lock out of CEP members in Nova Scotia.

In the photo above, CEP President Brian Payne presents our union’s flag to ACCG union officers Katrien Van der Helst and Bruno Bachely who, in turn, carried CEP colours in the parade (second photo).  Our thanks to the ICEM for the photos.

H&S activism saves lives
Esterhazy, Sask. (Jan. 31, 2006) -- A pro-active health and safety prorgramme in the workplace saves lives. CEP members have always known that, but 72 members of Locals 890 and 892 are living proof.

The members were trapped underground earlier this week when fire broke out in the Mosaic potash mine here.

CEP Western Region Vice-President Dave Coles expressed the overwhelming thought of the day when interviewed in the media by stressing that it was the attention to safety and the following of established procedures that prevented disaster in Esterhazy.

At the same time, he also praised members of rescue teams made up of CEP members and others for their “great job.

CEP telephone leaders meet
Montreal (Jan. 25, 2006) – CEP local union leaders are gathering here this week for the first ever national conference on telephone industry bargaining.

Representatives from all of the major bargaining units in the sector will spend Thursday and Friday examining existing bargaining structures and discussing ways of improving our bargaining strength in the industry in the future.

CEP member elected to Commons
Hamilton (Jan.24) --  The efforts of hundreds of CEP activists and members across the country paid off in yesterday’s election as the New Democratic Party elected 29 Members of Parliament, including Wayne Marston, former president of CEP Local 42 here.

Marston, a former installer with Bell Canada, will represent the people in Hamilton East – Stoney Creek and will be in caucus with several other New Democrats who acknowledge that CEP members’ efforts got them elected.

Among them are new MP Catherine Bell in Vancouver Island North and sitting members Yvon Godin in l’Acadie Bathurst, New Brunswick, and Tony Martin in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  Literally hundreds of CEP members worked in other ridings from coast to coast to coast.

“ Congratulations to these MPs and to CEP leaders and members for sticking with their values in this election.  All of these efforts will serve our members’ interests well in the new House of Commons,” said CEP President Brian Payne.

CEP Board names Murdoch
Ottawa (Jan. 18, 2006)  --  The CEP National Executive Board has named Peter Murdoch as the interim Secretary-treasurer to replace Andre Foucault who has announced his retirement.  Brother Murdoch will also continue to fulfill his duties as Vice President, Media.

The interim appointment, in accordance with the Constitution, will last until the CEP convention to be held in Vancouver in October. 

A message about Brother Foucault and a partial report on the Board meeting can be found in the current President’s message which you can see by clicking here.

Click image above play the video

CEP sends a strong message
Ottawa (Jan 16, 2006) --  From Bathurst in the East to Vancouver in the West, CEP’s voice was heard across the country today as literally thousands of members and supporters participated in our union’s National Day of Action in support of saving jobs in the forest industry.

The photo above is from the demonstration held in Ottawa – Gatineau on the Chaudiere Bridge in front of the Domtar mill where more than 100 CEP members face the loss of jobs because of machine shut downs.  Domtar has announced closures affecting some 1,500 CEP members and has locked out our members in Lebel sur Quevillon, Quebec.

“ Stick with your Union, brothers and sisters, we will never give up the fight to revitalize our forest based industries and to save our members’ jobs.  Our communities and our families expect us to mount a fight and that is what today is all about,” President Brian Payne told the 250 demonstrators here.

Ottawa (Jan. 5, 2006) --  CEP President Brian Payne has declared January 16 a National Day of Action in support of saving members’ jobs in the forestry sector.

“ Our members in mills right across Canada are living through a level of economic uncertainty which is unprecedented and we want to deliver a strong message to politicians before the federal election that these are jobs worth fighting for,” Payne said in a message to locals.

“ Government support for our communities is urgently required but any financial aid offered to industry must be directly linked to maintaining jobs in mills right across the country,” he added.

Activities are planned for various locations including a march in Ottawa where Domtar has announced closure of the Chaudiere mill as well as its mill in nearby Cornwall. 

Locals across the union are being asked to participate in activities planned in their communities.  Further information is available from national representatives or regional CEP offices.

2005 ARCHIVES

CEP campaigns against violence
Toronto, 2005 --  CEP’s Ontario Region has launched a province wide campaign to end the violence against women.  Entitled “ A life free of violence, IT’S OUR RIGHT! ” the initiative comes from the Region’s Women’s Committee and was recently endorsed by delegates to the Ontario Federation of Labour convention.

“ Today (Dec. 6) was chosen deliberately as our official launch date because it was on this day 16 years ago that 14 young women were slaughtered at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal just because they were women,” said CEP Ontario Region Vice President Cec Makowski.

Port Alice mill saved!!
Port Alice, B.C. (Dec. 5, 2005) --  CEP Western Region Vice President Dave Coles says “it’s going to be a very special Christmas in Port Alice” as he announced results of a membership vote to approve a contract offer from a new owner of the long idled pulp mill in this Vancouver Island community.

“It’s been a long hard drive,” Coles added, referring to the years’ long struggle to re-open the mill and save hundreds of jobs. The new Swiss based owners of the mill predict that it will re-open fully in March, 2006 and, in the meantime, they will spend some $25 million on upgrades to the facility.

CEP members and community leaders carried out a massive campaign to save Port Alice, including at one point occupying mill property.

CEP delivers message to PM
Cornwall, Ont. (Dec. 1, 2005) – “The economy may seem like its booming from 30,000 feet up in the air, but here on the ground in mill towns like Cornwall, it is far from strong.”

Those were the words delivered to Paul Martin by Ontario Region Administrative Vice President Bob Huget as he and leaders from CEP Local 212 met the Prime Minister to talk about Domtar’s shut down of operations here, in Ottawa and at two saw mills in Quebec, putting some 1,000 CEP members out of work.

In the photo are Huget and some of the Local 212 members who greeted Mr. Martin during an election campaign stop in Cornwall.  Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister said the Canadian economy is strong.

“That is a strange message for thousands of CEP members who face mill closures right across the country to hear,” Huget told the media.

CEP invited to campaign launch
Ottawa (Nov. 29, 2005) -- CEP was front and centre as NDP leader Jack Layton officially launched the party’s election campaign here.

Mr. Layton called on Canadians to “keep Parliament honest and working” by sending more New Democrats to Ottawa, citing the need for programmes such as Pharmacare (a CEP priority issue) and affordable housing.

CEP gets support from Ontario Fed
Toronto (Nov. 24, 2005) – Delegates to the Ontario Federation of Labour convention here have unanimously declared the labour movement’s support for CEP efforts to save jobs and revitalize forest based communities.

“ What is particularly powerful about this message is that teachers, health care workers and others stood up and declared their support for CEP while expressing concern for the future of their communities and their children,” said Ontario Region Vice President Cec Makowski (shown in photo).

Global Solidarity
Brussels, Belgium (Nov. 21, 2005) -- CEP President Brian Payne represented our union at the recent meeting of the pulp and paper sector of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy Mine and General Workers (ICEM) to discuss co-ordinated action by unions in bargaining around the globe.

The ICEM has been particularly helpful to CEP members on various picket lines in recent months including Local 689 members in Miramichi, New Brunswick and Local 28-0 members in Maitland, Ontario.

In the photo from left to right are Brian Payne, Jouko Ahonen, newly elected chair of the ICEM’s pulp and paper sector and president of the Finnish paperworkers union, Paperiliitto, along with Petri Vanhala, Esa Maisti and Sauli Kovanen, also from Finland. (Photos)

Conference on World Climate Change
Montreal (Nov. 21, 2005) Unionists from around the globe, along with thousands of government and other delegations, will gather here next week for the 11 th United Nations sponsored Conference on World Climate Change.

Union delegates from 14 countries, including members of CEP, will meet with their own government delegations to stress our view that employment and social transition programmes should form an integral part of plans to implement green house gas reductions under the Kyoto Accord.

Of utmost importance, says the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), is worker participation in planning Kyoto implementation. The two week long Conference, known as COP 11, opens here Nov. 28.

Act now on worker protection -- CEP
Ottawa (Nov. 15, 2005) -- The Martin government needs to act now, before an election, on amendments to bankruptcy legislation to protect workers’ wages and pensions, says CEP President Brian Payne.

In an urgent message to Prime Minister Martin, Brother Payne said, “ the time is long overdue for this legislation……I want to stress that the issue is far too important to be lost in the winds of election campaigning.”

Legislation, entitled Bill C-55, is before the House of Commons. It would provide a measure of protection for wages owing and vested pension rights when an employer declares bankruptcy. NDP leader Jack Layton spearheaded an agreement amongst opposition parties to give the legislation immediate priority.

Canada – U.S. Relations
Ottawa (Nov. 3, 2005) – The Council of Canadians has just launched “Crossing the Line” a booklet subtitled A Citizen’s Inquiry on Canada – U.S. Relations in conjunction with its annual meeting here Nov. 4 – 6.

Marking its 20 th anniversary, the Council meeting will be co-chaired by CEP’s Fred Wilson, assistant to the national president.

The new publication examines issues of particular concern to CEP members including foreign ownership of telecommunications and media as well as an examination of energy policy, the status of trade relations, and integrated defense and security initiatives with the Americans.

Keep telcos Canadian -- CCPA
Ottawa (Nov. 1, 2005) -- The federal government will jeopardize Canadian culture by allowing foreign ownership of our telecommunications industry, says a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Authored by Julie White of the CEP, the study makes the case that common ownership and technological convergence in telecommunications and broadcasting have created a single industry.

“Lifting foreign ownership restrictions on telephone companies puts our broadcasting sector immediately at risk,” Ms. White comments…..”the carriers are now also the content creators……if Time Warner, for instance, were to buy one of our telephone or cable companies, it would only make economic sense, from their standpoint, to use their foreign produced programming in Canada.”

NAFTA not working – Brian Payne
Vancouver (Oct. 30, 2005) -- CEP President Brian Payne says that Canada should get out of NAFTA if it continues to stand in the way of our ability to set domestic energy policy and pricing that protects and creates jobs here at home.

Speaking to a special conference of energy sector locals here, Brother Payne told delegates that the growing value of the Canadian dollar, based largely on energy exports, is actually costing thousands of workers their jobs.

Conference delegates heard in depth reports on the state of the sector globally and nationally, including a discussion on national co-ordinated bargaining and organizing potential.

CEP Humanity Fund at work
Stephenville, Nfld.(Oct. 21, 2005) -- Atlantic Region Vice President Max Michaud announced here yesterday that the CEP Humanity Fund is donating $10,000 to help victims of the massive floods which hit the community earlier this month. Hundreds of people were forced from their homes as a result of the deluge and still need support.

Similar donations are also being made to relief efforts in Pakistan where tens of thousands of people have perished in earthquakes and to help recovery work in Guatamala.

Equality, justice and solidarity
Moncton, N.B Oct. 20, 2005) -- Delegates from CEP locals across Canada – 150 strong – literally marched through this city this week.

In town for the CEP’s National Women’s Conference, the delegates also spearheaded the World’s March of Women, joining delegates from other unions in the Atlantic in support of the eradication of poverty.

CEP Human Rights Director Gisele Pageau termed the march and the Conference “an effective show of solidarity”, adding that the underlying theme of both was justice, equality and solidarity.

A full report on the Conference and its workshops will appear in the near future on the Equality Committee and Women’s Committee pages of the CEP web site

Tax oil profits -- CEP
Ottawa (Oct. 6, 2005) Bob Huget, CEP administrative vice president for the Ontario Region called on the federal government to impose a windfall profit tax on oil and gas companies and to use that revenue to reimburse low income and other Canadians facing increased home heating costs.

Testifying on behalf of CEP, Huget appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry and stressed that one of the key factors underlying high energy costs is a lack of refining capacity in Canada and across North America.

Click here to see the full text of the testimony.

ICEM backs Invista strikers
(2005) - Brussels -- Leaders of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers have offered their support to CEP Local 28-O members in Maitland, Ontario who have been on strike against Invista since June 4.

CEP Ontario Administrative Vice President Bob Huget (pictured in the photo) told strikers on the picket line that he has had in depth discussions with the ICEM, the global federation of unions, on how the Invista struggle can be high profiled internationally.

Invista is owned by Koch Industries, a Witchita based multi-national, which bought the Maitland facility from DuPont Chemicals in 2004.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Algerian unionists visit CEP
Ottawa (Sept. 30, 2005) -- CEP President Brian Payne, far right, and Administrative Vice President Joseph Gargiso of Quebec, 3rd from right, hosted a visit to Solidarity House by a delegation of Algerian oil and chemical workers’ union leaders yesterday.

The group is in Canada, under the auspices of the CEP Humanity Fund, to study the structures and services of the CEP including local union democracy and health and safety on the job.

CEP forestry campaign builds
(2005) - CEP is calling for a national strategy to revitalize our forest based industries.

The call for Federal government action, to co-ordinate with various provincial initiatives spearheaded by CEP Regional Vice Presidents, has been reinforced in an information kit which has been sent out to more than 1,300 media outlets across the country.

Pictured here is the cover page of the kit. Click on the image to access the whole document, including policy recommendations being proposed by our Union.

The effort to preserve and expand forestry based jobs comes on the heels of a National Executive Board resolution earlier this year which described the situation being faced by CEP members and their families in dozens of communities as a “crisis.”

Two groups join CEP
Toronto (Aug. 16, 2005) -- CEP National Representative Danny McBride reports receiving two certifications today covering some 200 new members of our union here and in Sarnia, Ontario.

With the help of Local 500G vice president Mike Drimmie, more than 100 printing production workers at Printera, a label printing plant in Toronto, voted two to one to join CEP. This is the second graphical unit to join CEP in recent weeks as we become what Duncan Brown, National Director of CEP Graphical, calls “Canada’s printing union.”

In Sarnia, McBride reports another success at Bakor Inc., manufacturer of roofing products, where some 96 workers have joined CEP Local 914 with the assistance of National Representative Glenn Sonier.

“Our organizing initiatives are paying off in Ontario,” said Regional Vice President Cec Makowski. “ We plan to continue to strategically grow our organization to help both non-union workers and to solidify our existing strength in bargaining in our key sectors.”

Miramichi vote set
Miramichi, New Brunswick (Aug. 16, 2005) -- CEP Local 689 members will vote Friday, August 19 on a tentative agreement reached last week-end with UPM Kymmene. The 700 members have been on strike at the paper mill here since last Dec. 16.

The ratification vote will be preceded by a membership meeting Wednesday at which details of the settlement will be given to members. The tentative agreement meets the Eastern Canada pattern settlement for the pulp and paper industry and is being recommended for acceptance by the bargaining committee.

Toronto (July 25, 2005) – Workers of Atlantic Packaging’s Midwest plant in Toronto are the latest group to join Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union since the CEP became Canada’s printing union earlier this year. Last week, more than 100 Atlantic Packaging workers at this Toronto packaging plant voted two-to-one to join the CEP. “This decision makes good sense,” said Duncan Brown, National Director of CEP Graphical, “Not only is the CEP Canada’s printing and packaging union, we already represent Atlantic Packaging workers at several other locations in Canada. Bringing everyone together in one union can only serve to strengthen the workers at all Atlantic plants.”

July 14, 2005 – Toronto:  CEP strikers at Brabant Newspapers – Torstar Ltd were given a boost with solidarity from the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Canadian Autoworkers Union. 

Union members from several OFL affiliates turned out to the noon hour rally at Toronto Star offices in Toronto.

Earlier, Local 87 M President Richard Leitner and some Brabant strikers spoke to the convention of the Canadian Autoworkers Union.  CAW members then boarded busses and joined the rally.  CAW Assistant to the President Peggy Nash spoke to the rally outside the Torstar building.

Bell Pay Equity Update
Ottawa (June 28, 2005) -- The following agreed upon statement was issued by CEP today:

"Three days of an information mediation session were held in Ottawa from June 21 to June 23, 2005.  Mediation dates have been scheduled for the weeks of October 3 and October 24, 2005 in Montreal. The hearings will proceed as scheduled."

 

The hearings referred to in the statement are Human Rights Tribunal hearings on CEP's claim for pay equity on behalf of former and current telephone operators employed by Bell Canada.

CEP Young Workers Met
Ottawa (June 6, 2005) -- Almost 150 delegates from across the country gathered on the campus of Carleton University here this week-end for the first ever CEP Young Workers Conference.

Designed to expose young CEP members to the Union, the Conference was also featured speeches from president Brian Payne and Jack Layton, federal leader of the New Democratic Party.

President Payne told delegates that the National Executive Board and the Officers of CEP want young workers to take their place in leading the Union into the future.

One of the highlights of the week-end were workshops aimed at providing delegates with the means to increase their awareness, confidence and activity in CEP and the labour movement as a whole.

Organizing, jobs = CEP priority
Ottawa (2005) -- CEP’s National Executive Board is placing a major focus on two key issues for our union -- organizing non-union workers and saving forest industry jobs and communities across the country.

The 35 member Board, meeting in Solidarity House here for the second time this year, adopted a plan to bring attention to the crisis in the forest sector, including pulp and paper mills, saw mills and OSB plants where thousands of people have lost their jobs in recent months.

“This is about saving communities in the heartland of Canada,” the Board said. “CEP should lead the way in protecting our members’ jobs and in keeping our communities vibrant.”

At the same time, CEP Media Vice President Peter Murdoch has been charged to

Media delegates gather
Ottawa( May 12, 2005) -- Almost 200 CEP members working in the media across the country are gathering here this week-end for our Union’s annual Media Conference, chaired by Peter Murdoch, Media Vice President.

Delegates will participate in workshops on organizing new members, pensions, and collective bargaining amongst other issues as well as hear keynote speeches from Warren Edmonston, Chair of the Canada Industrial Relations Board, and CEP member Ken Peters of the Hamilton Spectator who will talk about protecting journalistic sources.

As part of the Conference this year, delegates from the new graphical locals, representing some 6,000 members, will convene on Friday for the first time ever under the CEP banner.

Co-ordinated bargaining and other activities will also be examined by delegates from individual locals whose members work for television networks and other nation wide employers.

Implement Kyoto now says CEP

Ottawa (May 3, 2005) CEP President Brian Payne and Research Director Keith Newman, pictured above, appeared today before the Parliamentary Committee studying the implementation of the Kyoto Accord for reduction of greenhouse gases.

Our Union made two strong points before the Committee: implement Kyoto fully now; and, incorporate CEP’s programme for just transition for workers affected by the implementation of the Accord.

Wake Up Bell!!

Toronto (April 28, 2005) -- Literally hundreds of CEP members and supporters descended on Bell Canada's Trinity Square offices here this week for a "Wake Up Bell" demonstration in solidarity with striking CEP members at Bell Subco (formerly Entourage).

Pictured above are CEP Secretary-Treasurer André Foucault addressing the crowd.  Beside him is Ontario Region Vice-President Cec Makowski who led delegates from the mid-term Ontario Region Conference to the demonstration.

CEP members at Bell Subco in Ontario last week rejected the latest company offer.

April 28 -- A Day to Remember

Ottawa (April 25, 2005) -- Watch your local television station this week for the CEP produced public service announcement commemorating the National Day of Mourning (April 28) for those killed and injured at work.

The 30 second message for safe and healthy workplaces was played by literally dozens of television stations last year with indications of even wider spread coverage this year.

You can view the message by clicking here.

Ottawa ( April 7, 2005) -- Members of CEP’s Mentoring Committee are pictured here (Click photo to enlarge) during a meeting at Solidarity House this week. Committee members include national officers and rank and file activists appointed by the National Executive Board.

Stemming from a resolution adopted at the CEP convention in Quebec City in October of last year, the Committee’s goal is to produce a Leadership and Mentoring Programme to ensure future education and development of union activists, local union leaders and staff.

Young Workers Conference

Ottawa (April 3, 2005) -- CEP's Young Workers Committee met here this weekend to put the final touches on their upcoming Conference scheduled for June 3 to 5. Registrations for this first ever gathering have already started to come in.  Full registration details can be obtained by clicking here.

The theme of the Conference is "Unite! In Force" and will focus on how to get more young workers involved in union activities as well as how to reach out beyond the Union to other young workers. It will be held on the campus of Carleton University.

Bell Pay Equity

Vancouver (March 16, 2005) – CEP’s years long battle for pay equity for some 5,000 current and former telephone operators employed by Bell Canada has moved across the Rocky Mountains.

The B.C. based initiative hinges on the fact that Bell has paid $200 million for the sponsorship rights to the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

“That money belongs to the telephone operators,” said Brian Payne here during the recent convention of the Telecommunications Workers Union which represents Telus employees.

Bell pay equity update

Ottawa (March 4, 2005) -- Lawyers for Bell Canada have informed CEP that the company will attend a “one day educational” session on mediation of our Union’s long standing pay equity claim on behalf of 5,000 current and former operators.

The “educational” -- an exploration of the mediation process in complicated, multi-party conflicts – was suggested by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal which has been hearing the complaint for some years.

The timing of the session has not yet been decided.

International Women’s Day

(2005) - Tuesday, March 8 is a busy day for literally hundreds of CEP activists set to participate in activities celebrating women’s achievements and supporting struggles for equity and equality in the workplace and in society.

The day will be celebrated in various ways across the country from marches and rallies to breakfasts and lunch time gatherings.

In a letter to all CEP locals, president Brian Payne and Lara Acheson, Chairperson of CEP’s Women’s Committee, encouraged all CEP members to “continue with the fight for equality.”

Clarification on Bell pay equity

Ottawa (2005) -- The Canadian Human Rights Commission on Feb. 24 proposed that the Tribunal hearing our long standing pay equity case against Bell Canada suspend its hearings until September and that Bell and CEP submit the dispute to mediation.

The proposal, which came during a regularly scheduled hearing of the Tribunal, was immediately accepted by Bell Canada who all along has held the view that the hearings must be suspended for any mediation process to take place.

CEP and Femme Action, however, while agreeing to mediation, opposed suspension of the hearings by the Tribunal. Our position was based on the fact that between now and September only 21 days of hearing are scheduled when combined with the summer recess provided ample opportunities for the parties to engage in mediated talks. Therefore, there was no need to suspend the hearings until September and further delay the proceedings if mediation did not work.

After hearing the submissions, the Tribunal itself ruled that it would not suspend hearings, noting that “momentum” in the case is now evident, and urged both sides to mediate the case. On behalf of CEP, President Brian Payne who was in attendance at the hearings accepted the suggestion by the Tribunal.

As the hearings concluded last week, Bell’s lawyers continue to take the position that the hearings must be totally suspended in order for mediation to take place.

Miramichi strikers holding solid

Miramichi, N.B. (Feb. 1, 2005) -- While members of CEP Local 689 employed by UPM Kymmene here are maintaining a solid picket line to back up our Union’s pattern settlement in the pulp and paper industry, other unions around the globe are supporting their efforts.

The 721 members at the mill here struck Dec. 16 following a refusal by the company to table the pattern settlement reached earlier in the year between CEP and Abitibi Consolidated. Miramichi strikers are being supported by their brothers and sisters in other CEP locals in the pulp and paper sector in Eastern Canada through the supplemental strike fund in place to enforce pattern bargaining.

UPM Kymmene is attempting to supply customers with fine paper from other mills around the globe but CEP has alerted our counterparts in the ICEM which are monitoring shipments and have said they will take “appropriate” support measures.

CEP Supports TWU

Edmonton (January 24, 2005) -- CEP administrative vice president Don MacNeil brought a strong message of support for members of the Telecommunications Workers Union seeking a contract with Telus, the phone company in Alberta and B.C. “We are with you in your struggle,” he said. “ The battle you are fighting with Telus is no different than the battle being fought by CEP members at telephone companies right across the country.” Click here for the full text of Brother MacNeil’s remarks.

The TWU has mounted a campaign to force Telus to obey various order of the Canada Industrial Relations Board in regards to their negotiations. They are asking union members to contact their Members of Parliament and the Minister of Labour, asking them to pressure the CIRB to enforce its order on Telus to take the years long bargaining battle to binding arbitration. You can do that by going to the TWU web site at www.twu-canada.ca

Medicinal drugs should be part of Medicare

Ottawa (January 21, 2005) -- CEP’s National Executive Board, meeting at Solidarity House this week, heard that Canada can afford to immediately implement a comprehensive national drug plan -- Pharmacare.

Dr. Joel Lexchin, an emergency room physician in Toronto and professor at York University, told CEP that such a plan should form a part of our existing Medicare system and fall under the same terms as the Canada Health Act.

CEP plans to make Pharmacare a priority issue in the coming months as pressure on existing benefit plans, largely because of enormous increases in the cost of drugs, mounts in bargaining across the country.

Click here to view the full presentation made by Dr. Lexchin.

Ottawa - CEP Media vice president Peter Murdoch appeared before the Senate Committee examining the state of Canadian media last night, accompanied by John Spears and Joe Matyas of CEP Local 87-M.

Our representatives presented CEP’s newly adopted Media policy to the Senate Committee chaired by Joan Fraser, stressing key points for immediate attention: protection against foreign ownership; regulations limiting ownership concentration; and, the need for community councils at each media outlet to ensure balanced and diverse coverage of news and events.

Click here to see CEP’s Media Policy or CEP's Media Monitor.

New CEP Executive meets
November 15, 2004

Ottawa - The newly elected National Executive Board held its first full meeting at CEP Solidarity House here this week.

The Board, which governs the Union between conventions, examined and adopted a budget for CEP for the coming year and began the task of implementing policies and directions set by convention in Quebec City last month.

Board members also extended further aid to campaigns to save CEP members’ jobs at mills in Port Alice, B.C. and Miramichi, N.B. Funds were also allocated towards protecting members’ rights in the face of the closure of the Celanese plant in Alberta.

While in Ottawa, the Board attended the Tribunal hearings into the years’ long claim by CEP for pay equity on behalf of thousands of telephone operators at Bell Canada.

CEP United in Progress

(2004) - The 6th national convention of CEP ended in Quebec City with delegates united in working towards our Union's Program for Progress for the next two years.

The foundation of the Program was adoption of an increase in per capita from .72 to .78 % per month of straight time hourly rate to the National Union.

" Adoption of the per capita increase means that CEP will be able to continue to lead the way in bargaining, in organizing and in building the kind of society we all want in our country," said President Brian Payne.

In his opening address to the more than 1,400 people in attendance, President Payne outlined plans to strengthen bargaining results; to increase funding for organizing new members; for leadership training of local union activists and officers; and, for spearheading a campaign for a national public pharmachare program within two years.

Click here to view daily bulletin reports of convention events.

CEP Leadership Elected

(2004) - Here's a list of the new CEP National Executive Board elected for a two year term at the 6th National Convention in Quebec City:

Brian Payne, President
Andre Foucault, Secretary-Treasurer
Peter Murdoch, Vice President, Media
Max Michaud, Vice President Atlantic
Ervan Cronk, Admin. VP Atlantic
Clement L'Heureux, Executive Vice President, Quebec
Michel Ouimet, Vice President, Quebec
Joseph Gargiso, Admin. VP Quebec
Cec Makowski, Vice President, Ontario
Bob Huget, Admin VP Ontario
John Edwards, Admin VP Ontario
Dave Coles, Vice President, Western Region
Don MacNeil, Admin VP Western Region
Wendy Sol, Admin VP Western Region

Rank and File Board Members

Atlantic
Brenda Dunn, Local 678N
Ron Beaton, Local 972
A.J. Dowling, Local 689
Rino Ouellet, Local 29

Quebec
Jacques Bouchard, Local 253
Lucie Marchand, Local 146-Q
Serge Dion, Local 7-Q
Pierre Dumont, Local 75

Ontario
Ted Dinning, Local 593
Brad Honywill, Local 87-M
Sue Slean, Local 975
Bill Webb, Local 39

West
Donna Fauchoux, Local 2-S
Greg Derouin, Local 630
Roland Lefort, Local 707
Wally Ewanicke, Local 855

Local 544 Helps Out

Oakville, Ontario (Oct. 8, 2004) - CEP Local 544 here has stepped front and centre in the global effort to ease the suffering of people in the Caribbean where hurricanes in recent weeks have devastated several countries.

Local 544 members work at General Electric's Lighting and MDC plant. They made a donation of $1,500 the the Red Cross administered relief fund and then approached the company to match their effort.

"They did so without any hesitation," report Ernie Dunkley on behalf of the Local.

CEP Supports PSAC

Ottawa (Oct. 5, 2004) -- CEP President Brian Payne, lower left, offered our Union's support to striking federal government workers, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, at a rally in front of Solidarity House today.

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