Ontario Labour Relations Board Orders Automatic Certification of CEP Bargaining Unit in Groundbreaking Decision
TORONTO (March 11, 2010) -- On March 3, 2010, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) issued an important and far-reaching decision which may fundamentally change the approach employers in Ontario take in responding to future union organizing drives. (More)

Employees in two Ontario workplaces vote overwhelmingly to join CEP
MISSISSAUGA, ON (November 30, 2009) --The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) has organized a group of Operating Engineers employed by Greenfield Ethanol in Chatham, Ontario. (More)

CEP helps publicize funding crisis to mark National Child Day

CEP Ontario Region Administrative Vice-President Barb Dolan (second from left) participates in a news conference at Queen’s Park on Nov. 17 calling for proper funding.

TORONTO (November 18, 2009) – Staff and management at children's aid societies and children's mental health agencies will be marking National Child Day this Friday, Nov 20, by wearing blue ribbons and distributing message bookmarks to the public warning that children are in danger if the government does not act soon. (More

One year after the Sunrise Propane explosion, "the towns and cities of Ontario are still full of ticking time bombs", says union
TORONTO, ON (August 7, 2009) -- "One year after the deadly explosion at the Sunrise Propane Facility, we still have a lot of ticking time bombs in the towns and cities of Ontario, and employees and members of the public are as at risk as ever," says Bob Huget, Ontario Region Vice-President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.  The CEP represents over 5,000 members who work in industries regulated by the Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA), such as natural gas and petroleum, propane fuels, boilers and elevators etc. (More)

Forest workers have paid enough –Gov’t must address energy costs
THUNDER BAY (August 5, 2009)  --  "Today's announcement by AbitibiBowater that it intends to indefinitely shutdown paper machines #4 and #5 is yet another cruel blow to our members, their families and the community of Thunder Bay." That statement from Bob Huget, the Ontario Vice-President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, representing the more than 400 employees at the mill. (More)

Gov’t action needed to keep G.E. jobs, ‘green’ technology in Ontario
OAKVILLE (August 4, 2009) -- Canada’s largest energy workers’ union says the Ontario Premier should hang his head in shame at his government’s lack of action to keep jobs in the province, following today’s announcement by GE-Canada that it will cease all operations at its Oakville Lamp Plant. (More)

Local votes to support new ownership of CHCH-TV
HAMILTON, ON (July 31, 2009) -- CEP Local 1100 members working at CHCH-TV in Hamilton have voted to support the conditional sales transaction between Channel Zero Inc. and Canwest-Global Communications Limited announced June 30th, but the union has grieved Canwest-Global’s plans to wind up the present pension plan. (More)

Labour Day Parade in Toronto

June 2nd Day of Protest in Ottawa
Hundreds of CEP members, activists, pensioners, and supporters from all sectors in the Ontario Region joined thousands of CEP members from across Canada at the CEP National Day of Protest in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 2, 2009.  Members gathered outside the Minister of Natural Resources office and marched to the Prime Minister's Office on Parliament Hill in a Mass Rally to “wake up Stephen Harper” to the impact of the forestry and pension crisis on families and communities across Canada.  CEP members in Ontario came to Ottawa from all over Ontario, including Kapuskasing, Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Espanola, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Dryden, Kenora, Fort Frances, Ear Falls, Sarnia, and London; to St. Catharines, the Greater Toronto Area, Trenton, Napanee, Belleville, and the Outaouais region.

"What is happening to our forest workers in this country is a national disgrace", said CEP Ontario Region Vice-President Bob Huget in his speech to the protestors.  "Families who have lived and worked in our single-resource communities for generations are losing their jobs, their pensions, and their homes.  Communities are decimated."

Politicians from affected communities in Northern Ontario also joined the Rally in support, including Ron Bergman, Mayor of Ear Falls; Mike Wood, City Councillor from Dryden; Yves Forget, Mayor of Iroquois Falls; Yves Carrière, City Councillor from Iroquois Falls; and Joe Virdiramo, City Councillor from Thunder Bay.  Other events held in support of the Rally in Espanola, and in Dryden--where members took their concerns to the highway--were well attended.

Many thanks to all of our Ontario Region members for taking the time and making the effort to come to Ottawa for this important Rally. [click here for link to full story and photos of rally on CEP National website]

Forest workers occupy Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's office
WHITBY, ON, May 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Lack of leadership in handling the forestry crisis has led forest workers to take matters into their own hands. (More)

REPORT FROM HISTORIC STEWARDS ASSEMBLY
Many thanks to our over 100 CEP union leaders, staff, stewards, and activists who turned out for the first-ever Stewards Assembly held May 7th, 2009 at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.  The Assembly was attended by 1,600 participants from across the labour movement.  The CEP played a key role in organizing this historic event, with National Representative Josephine Petcher coordinating the activities for the Region.  The Stewards Assembly is part of a campaign by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council and its affiliated unions to fight for good jobs and a decent quality of life for all; and to build solidarity at a time when most unions are under attack.  Prior to the event, CEP members had an opportunity to gather at a dinner at the Steelworkers Hall in Toronto hosted by the Ontario Region; and at a barbecue co-hosted by CEP Local 27 and Local 6006 and the Ontario Region at Local 27's office in Scarborough.  It was an opportunity for our members from different sectors to get to know each other, and to share their experiences.

CEP Ontario Region Administrative Vice-Presidents Kim Ginter and Barb Dolan attended the Assembly, with Brother Ginter giving the pledge on behalf of the CEP that we will stand together with all other workers in this time of crisis.  Local 6006 Vice-President Pearl Almeida spoke eloquently and movingly to the Assembly about the human impact the mass layoffs at Bell were having on her and her members.  Many CEP members were new to attending this type of event, some travelling to Toronto from Brampton, Mississauga, and even London.  Members spoke afterwards about how inspired they were by the speakers, and how they were going back to their workplaces more motivated than ever to fight against the employers' relentless attempts to take advantage of the economic downturn, and hack away at our Collective Agreements. 

The Stewards Assembly is part of a longer-term initiative to keep up the pressure on these issues.  More actions and rallies are planned.  Union members were asked at this Assembly to follow through on four tasks, which we would urge all members to do:

1. Take the "Fix EI" petition back to your workplace, get your members to sign it, and and return it to our Regional office so that we can deliver it to the Labour Council by Friday May 29th.  It's the least we can do for those workers who have lost their jobs. [click here for Fix EI petition]
2. Put the "Solidarity Checklist" poster up on every union bulletin board. [click here for Solidarity Checklist]
3. Talk to your fellow members about the issues raised in the Solidarity Checklist.
4. Mobilize your fellow members for a great turnout at the "Good Jobs for All! Make E.I. Work! Protect our Pensions!" Rally Saturday June 13th 1:00pm at Metro Hall, King Street between University Avenue and John St., Toronto. [click here for Jobs,! EI! Pensions! June 13 Rally flyer]

Our sincere thanks once again for your participation and interest.

In solidarity,

Bob Huget,
Vice-President - CEP Ontario Region

Union demands direct government oversight on health and safety
Cites listeria outbreak and Sunrise Propane explosion as proof current system doesn’t work

TORONTO, ON (December 4, 2008) -- The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada called on Premier McGuinty today to support the NDP's demand to replace the self-regulating Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA) with direct government oversight.  "It is time that the government of Ontario brought back the protection of public health and safety back into public hands," says Bob Huget, CEP Ontario Region Vice-President, in the CEP's presentation to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs for pre-budget consultations. (More)

Convention delegates return Huget as Ontario VP
Bob Huget was acclaimed as Ontario Regional Vice-President at CEP’s 8th National Convention, held in Montreal, Oct. 26-30.  Kim Ginter was acclaimed as Administrative Vice-President, and Barb Dolan was elected as Administrative Vice-President.  Click on the photos to read their biographies.

Bob Huget	Kim Ginter	Barb Dolan

For convention highlights, including video footage, click here.