Pledge for Canada
Circulated on behalf of VDLC
Workers know the power of solidarity, and in these uncertain times we need that power now more than ever. That’s why the VDLC has endorsed the Pledge for Canada, and we are encouraging you to do the same.
The Pledge offers a broad-based set of values, from which to work together to confront the threats to our economy and our sovereignty, and ensure that the future of Canada is determined by us – not by Donald Trump.
You can read the Pledge at https://engagement-canada-pledge.ca/, then join the tens of thousands of others who have already signed and are standing together for our future.
Conference on Relationship Violence May 15 and 16 – call for abstracts
Hello Colleagues,
The Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships (NEVR) is hosting its annual conference, “Resilience: Improving Futures,” and invites you to submit an abstract for presentation. This conference focuses on the various factors influencing relationship violence and strategies to enhance resilience. Relationship violence encompasses all forms of violence (physical, financial, emotional, sexual, and spiritual) between individuals who know each other, occurring in any setting. Examples include workplace violence, gang violence, cyberbullying, neglect, intimate partner violence, and violence against men. The root causes of relationship violence are linked to the social determinants of health (housing, income, social roles, gender norms, immigration status, race etc).
If you have conducted research on addressing these root causes to improve resilience or can facilitate a workshop to improve front-line staff skills, NEVR would be interested in having you as a presenter/facilitator. Please consider submitting an abstract by February 21, 2025. The conference will be held on May 15-16 at KPU Newton.
Organizing for Justice: Black Workers, Unions, and Racial Equity
Shared on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress
February 1 marks the start of Black History Month and the CLC’s theme is Organizing for Justice: Black Workers, Unions, and Racial Equity. In honour of this theme, the CLC is organizing a webinar featuring several Black labour leaders in conversations about the important role unions play in advancing the rights and opportunities for Black workers, the challenges and benefits of unionization for Black workers, and how unions help contribute to advancing racial justice and equity in Canada.
When: Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 1:00-2:30pm EST
Register here
Resources:
Factsheet on the issues Black workers are facing and how unions help address them
Statement
Ongoing Labour Dispute Between IAMAW and Kal Tire
Circulated on behalf of VDLC
We are passing along the following information from the BC Federation of Labour regarding the ongoing labour dispute involving IAMAW and Kal Tire. Please show your support for these workers by visiting them on the picket line, and in the ways described below.
The dispute involving members of IAMAW and KAL Tire continues. The employer locked out workers at unionized locations on October 31, 2024. The BC Federation of Labour announced a boycott of all Kal Tire locations on December 5, 2024.
In response to the ongoing dispute, Kal Tire has announced it will be permanently closing several locations. The company is closing the Grimmer Street location in Burnaby. Kal Tire also permanently closed two other profitable locations on Annacis Island leaving these “Team Members”, one with 37 years of loyalty, to fend for themselves.
Locked out workers at the other IAMAW locations need your support. The union is asking affiliates and their members to please increase their efforts to call on Kal Tire to negotiate a fair deal. Please post, repost, circulate IAMAW posts about the dispute, and the notice of boycott issues by the BCFED. Have conversations with friends and family to make sure they aren’t supporting Kal tire. Call Kal Tire’s Head Office in Vernon (250-545-2729) leave a voice message for Corey Parks (Pres). Send messages to hello@e.kaltire.com.
Further background from our strike coordinating call in November is listed below:
Background:
IAMAW has had an agreement with two Kal tire locations since 1960. These locations do both automotive and industrial tire servicing. The also represent a location in Sparwood that does tire repairs for the mining industry. IAMAW organized several new locations in the Lower Mainland and wanted to add these workers into the existing Kal Tire agreement. The employer has resisted these efforts insisting on two-tiered wages and benefits. IAMAW members are refusing to accept an agreement that would see them with wages as much as $4 an hour lower than the other unionized locations. IAMAW members issued job action notice and commenced job action with an overtime ban, escalating to a refusal to handle any tires marked as M/S. The employer locked out workers at the Grimmer location and then locked out workers at the other retail locations. On Cliveden Avenue the retail and industrial shops have a shared driveway though they operate as two separate businesses. IAMAW workers are honouring the retail lock out line at that location.
Main issues:
Two tiered wages for newly organized locations, want to pay workers as much as $4 less than existing locations, Pension, 40 Hour Work Week Guarantee
Job action start date:
Workers were locked out on October 31, 2024
Job action locations:
969 Cliveden Avenue, New Westminster, B.C. (2 locations)
1390 Boundary Road, Burnaby, B.C.
5390 Grimmer Street, Burnaby, B.C
2055 Clark Drive, Vancouver, B.C.
8130 Ontario Street, Vancouver, B.C.
Support requested:
Messages of support can be shared on X @iamawcanada.
Write customer reviews at the locked-out locations supporting the workers’ rights to a fair deal. You can find the locations here: https://www.kaltire.com/en/locations/ and click on the appropriate store, view details, and scroll down to leave a review.
You can also message Kal Tire on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551232316878X or on X @KalTire.
Early Bird Tickets for VDLC International Women’s Day Dinner
Shared on behalf of the Vancouver & District Labour Council
EARLY BIRD tickets are now on sale for our Annual International Women’s Day dinner. Early Bird ticket sales end at the end on January 31.
When: Saturday, March 8, 2025 – dinner buffet at 6:00pm, panel discussion starts at 7:00pm
Where: South Hall Event Centre at 8273 Ross Street, Vancouver
Purchase Early Bird tickets before January 31 here.
NWDLC Newsletter
Re-circulated by the New Westminster & District Labour Council
Picket support in our region. Please take a moment to stop by in solidarity and support these workers:
CUPW members have been in negotiations for over a year, and support for picket lines across the province is welcome, and supporters can use this link to find a picket line near them to visit. The union will update about possible future days of action through the BCFED and the CLC. Check out their Support Your Postal Workers Section.
IAMAW Automotive Local 1857 members at Kal Tire in Burnaby and Delta have been locked out by the employer, issue is 2 tier wages
When: Monday to Saturday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Where: 5390 Grimmer St., Burnaby
1390 Boundary Road, Burnaby
969 Cliveden Avenue Annacis Business Park, Delta
USW 2009 members on strike at Uni-Select since September 4, 2024, issue is fair wages
When: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Where: in front of WestCan at 91 Glacier St., Coquitlam
ILWU Local 514 members have been locked out by the employer. Binding arbitration was imposed in November.
Shared on behalf of the BC NDP
A provincial state memorial service will be held for former Premier John Horgan, who died following his third bout of cancer on November 12, 2024. The service will take place at 1pm on Sunday, December 15 at the Q Centre in Colwood.
The provincial state memorial service is open to the public. Tickets can be obtained online or by phone at 250-387-1616. Tickets will not be available at the door. The service will also be live-streamed online here.
A book of condolences will continue to be available in the Hall of Honour at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria until December 16. A book of condolences is also available online here.
Shared on behalf of Janet Routledge, MLA Burnaby North
We would like to invite you to our Winter Open House! Snacks and warm drinks will be provided, and we will be raffling off a few prizes! We are also accepting donations of non-perishable foods and warm clothing at our event.
When: Saturday, December 14, 2024, 1:30-3:30pm
Where: 4270 Hastings Street, Burnaby
RSVP by email to janet.routledge.mla@leg.bc.ca
Shared on behalf of the CLC
Stand with Postal Workers
Right now, more than 55,000 postal workers are on strike. Canada Post’s management and their allies want to close post offices, slash jobs, and make it harder to receive your mail. Canada Post is a public service and should not be parceled off to private interests. It belongs to all of us. We can’t let that happen.
If you agree that Canada Post is a public service that should be protected for all of us, not a for-profit business, stand with postal workers and send a message to decision makers now.
New Workshop at 2025 Winter School: Building a Just Economy for Workers
Join us during Week 3 (January 26-31, 2025) at the 2025 CLC Pacific Region Winter School for our new workshop where we’ll tackle critical issues like:
- Inflation and the rising cost of living
- The impact of tariffs on imported goods
- Misconceptions about the forces shaping our economy
We’ll strategize how unions can take action to create a fairer economy for all. Spaces are limited – register now!
Shared on behalf of United Way BC
There is one week until registration closes and there are still a few spots open for Labour Community Advocate Level 1 during week one of CLC Winter School – January 12-17, 2025. You can read more about the course here, and register here.
Shared on behalf of CUPE 23
CUPE 23 is currently on the lookout for a business agent. If you happen to know someone who might be interested in this opportunity, please reach out and the labour council will be happy to forward in information for application. Please note that the local constitution does not allow current or past CUPE 23 members to apply for this position.
Workers Together
Circulated on behalf of VDLC.
Workers across Canada are feeling the squeeze.
Rent is through the roof, groceries are breaking the bank, and paycheques aren’t stretching like they used to.
Too many workers are struggling – but they’re also fired up. Workers are ready to stand up to wealthy corporations and call out politicians who don’t have workers’ backs.
These are the real stories behind Workers Together. Now we need to make sure all of Canada hears them.
Will you watch this Workers Together video story and share it with one click?
In solidarity,
Vancouver and District Labour Council
Petition for Unite 40 Members at Harrison Hot Springs
Shared on behalf of Unite HERE Local 40
In ongoing efforts to reach a collective agreement at Harrison Hot Springs Hotel please see the attached petition, we are requesting that you distribute and help get as many signatures as possible for Unite Here 40 members.
Thank you for your support
VDLC’s 3rd Annual Webinar: Fighting Racism in our Cities
Fighting Racism in our Cities: the Roles and Responsibilities of Municipal Government
Just a reminder that the VDLC’s 3rd Annual Webinar will take place this Sunday September 15, 2024 from 11:00am to 1:00pm on Zoom.
This free webinar is for all workers who want to learn and share ideas about building anti-racist cities and workplaces. It will continue our discussions with labour and anti-racism activists about current civic policies in our cities in consideration of the impact these are having on Indigenous peoples and racialized minorities, to work with our allies to elect city councilors willing to fight racism, and to strengthen the labour movement’s solidarity with anti-racist action.
In this webinar, Am Johal (SFU Office of Community Engagement), Jennifer Reddy (VSB), and Sadie Kuehn (VPD African Descent Advisory Committee) will examine the role of municipal governments in advancing policies that fight racism by addressing poverty, inequality and discrimination.
You can register through our website on our Events page at Fighting Racism in our Cities You’ll receive the zoom link at the time of registration.
We hope you can join us!
Metro Vancouver HandyDART workers on strike
– Circulated on behalf of ATU Local 1724 –
Metro Vancouver HandyDART workers are on strike as of Sept 3, because Transdev, the French multinational contracted by Translink to operate the service, has refused to bargain a fair contract.
A central issue for workers is earning wage parity with HandyDART workers in the Fraser Valley. This is important for riders too, because the low pay at Metro Vancouver HandyDART causes severe turnover and staffing shortages, which in turn cause skyrocketing taxi use, long wait times, and difficulty booking trips. Under the current status quo, HandyDART service levels per senior are less than half of what they were in 2008. Service just can’t keep up with demand, because instead of paying workers fairly, Transdev has chosen to line its corporate pockets.
Transdev’s disregard for the public good is further demonstrated by their lack of urgency in negotiations. Although the Union has said that it is ready to bargain at any time, any place, Transdev announced that it would not be able to meet until September 12.
Send a letter telling Transdev to bargain a fair contract, and urging Translink officials to support workers and riders!
Send your message: http://www.bit.ly/handydartfaircontract
