Tag Archives: bonfield

Bonfield workers get strong show of support

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By GORD YOUNG, The Nugget

Thursday, September 12, 2013 7:13:11 EDT PM

1297466215765_ORIGINAL             Paul Moist, CUPE National President representing 627,000 CUPE members in support of Bonfield Civic members locked out by municipality over a month ago.

BONFIELD – The 627,000 members-strong Canadian Union of Public Employees is digging in its heels following the firing of five striking municipal workers here this week.

The 16 picketing employees were buoyed Thursday by a strong show of solidarity from their national and provincial presidents and other unions and labour groups during a rally outside the municipal office, where they were promised the support needed to outlast the will of the town’s mayor and council.

“I don’t know how long this dispute will go on . . . but we will last one day longer than you to get a collective agreement,” said CUPE national president Paul Moist, his comments directed at Mayor Randy McLaren.

Moist, who was joined at the rally by CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn and Ontario Federation of Labour president Sid Ryan, described the dismissal of five striking workers over allegations of illegal confinement as an “outrageous” tactic.

And he vowed that CUPE would not settle a collective agreement that does not include the reinstatement of those employees.

The forcible confinement allegations stem from strife between the two sides Aug. 15 outside the parish hall where a special meeting of council was scheduled to take place.

The meeting was cancelled due to protesting picketers and residents upset about the timing and notice of the gathering. And the town claims two councillors and others were prevented from leaving the building for about an hour because the exits were being blocked while the mayor was held up outside. Ontario Provincial Police is investigating, but no charges have been laid. The union has also filed an unfair labour practice complaint regarding the matter.

Both Hahn and Ryan lashed out at McLaren, accusing the mayor of using the dismissals to scare the workers and unnerve the union. But they suggested the move has had the opposite effect, and has served only to strengthen their resolve.

“Someone has decided they’re going to make an example of this round of bargaining,” said Hahn, suggesting the town is upping its tactics and warning that CUPE will follow suit.

He told the striking workers that they’re not alone on the picket line and that CUPE members and those in other unions across Canada are behind them.

In addition, Henri Giroux, president of the North Bay and District CUPE Council, told the workers they can expect more members to support them on the picket line and that

other locals and unions will be asked for donations to help beef up their war chest.

The strike, which rolled into its sixth week Thursday, affects services such as road maintenance, tax payments, building permits, inspections, planning services and general inquiries.

CUPE says key issues are the threat of contracting out and a list of concessions demanded from the municipality including attacks on seniority, training, employment security, scheduling, vacations, sick leave and benefits.

“My message to the mayor is to get back to the bargaining table,” said Ryan, suggesting McLaren is mistaken if he believes he can starve out workers on the picket line or scare them with extreme tactics.

Moist said the union has no intentions of accepting the concessions being sought by the mayor and council. But he suggested the labour dispute could be resolved within hours if a status quo collective agreement, including a fair wage increase, were on the table.

McLaren, however, said the status quo is no longer workable and that the proposal tabled by the town is aimed a changing how it functions. He said Bonfield’s workforce has doubled over the past 15 years and that there still aren’t enough employees to go around due to the entitlements such as sick leave and vacations they receive under the existing collective agreement. He said CUPE argues the town should hire more workers but McLaren said that’s not feasible for a small municipality like Bonfield.

McLaren said he is still hopeful that the union will be forwarding a proposal this week. But he was disappointed to hear that CUPE wants to make the dismissal of the five workers part of the overall bargaining, suggesting the town sees it as a separate issue. McLaren said the town does not want to contract out work. But if the union is digging in for long dispute, he said the town will also have to soon start considering issues such as winter road maintenance.

Two orders issued at Bonfield landfill

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By GORD YOUNG, The Nugget    Tuesday, August 20, 2013

The Ministry of Labour issued two orders last week regarding the operation of the Bonfield landfill site, including one requiring workers to be properly trained.

Ministry spokesman Matt Blajer confirmed Tuesday that the orders were issued following a site visit under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Blajer said the municipality was also ordered to ensure workers are outfitted with the proper personal equipment. But he said the ministry did not issue any stop-work orders.

Bonfield council members had been operating the landfill while the community’s 16 municipal employees are on strike. But members said last week they would not be opening the site Saturday due to escalating strife at the picket line.

Mayor Randy McLaren said Tuesday that the decision to close the landfill due to concerns for the safety and security of council members was made before the ministry orders were issued.

“It was more coincidental than anything,” he said, noting council members agreed to close the landfill after protesting Thursday forced the cancellation of meeting at the parish hall.

Deputy Mayor Tamela Price-Fry and Coun. Jane Lagassie say they were “held hostage” inside the parish hall while the mayor was being questioned by striking workers and ratepayers in the parking lot.

Price-Fry said she was inside the building with her husband, Lagassie and a person brought in to act as clerk for the meeting, but was unable to leave for about an hour because the exits were blocked.

Steve Boyle, a national representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the striking workers, responded, saying he was not aware of any CUPE members blocking the exits. He said union members were busy speaking to the mayor outside the parish hall. He also noted that police were on the scene and that the gathering dispersed peacefully.

On Monday, the union issued a release suggesting the closure of landfill is creating a bear problem.

“Closing the landfill, with no outlet for the community’s waste to be stored safely will not only prolong this unnecessary strike, but it is also already attracting bears to our community, and this is definitely not safe for the residents,” said Boyle, in the release.

He said CUPE members know what it takes to keep the landfill operating safely and want to resolve the strike.

McLaren said keeping the landfill site closed long-term is not an option. And he said arrangements will likely be made for residents to dispose of their garbage Saturday.

He one option is to ensure adequate security to allow council members to resume operating the site. He said members will be trained to use fire extinguishers and bear spray – as per the ministry order.

McLaren said the municipality can also rent a large bin to be placed in a central location that can later be taken to the landfill.

The municipality’s 16 workers have been off the job since Aug. 1, affecting services such as road maintenance, tax payments, building permits, inspections, planning services and general inquiries. CUPE says key issues are the threat of contracting out and a list of concessions demanded from the municipality including attacks on seniority, training, employment security, scheduling, vacations, sick leave and benefits. McLaren has said there are some 40 outstanding issues and the municipality is seeking changes to the existing collective agreement, including reducing the number of bankable sick days to which employees are entitled, increasing the length of service required for additional vacation entitlement and extending the probationary period for new hires.

He has also acknowledged the municipality has proposed language that would allow it to contract hire. But McLaren has said there is no intention of contracting out core services.

gord.young@sunmedia.ca

Bonfield mayor’s decision to close landfill will not end strike

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http://cupe.ca

Aug 19, 2013

Instead of closing Bonfield’s landfill, the mayor should be back at the bargaining table to resolve a strike that he caused. Sixteen Bonfield municipal workers have been on strike since August 1.

“Closing the landfill, with no outlet for the community’s waste to be stored safely, will not only prolong this unnecessary strike, but it is also already attracting bears to our community, and this is definitely not safe for the residents,” said Steve Boyle, CUPE National Representative. “Our members know what it takes to keep the landfill operating safely for our residents, and we want to resolve this strike so we can serve the community, but we need a willing employer to resolve this strike. We also understand the mayor has left town and gone to Ottawa for a conference while the community is without public services when he should be right here trying to find ways to end this strike.” 

“Citing safety concerns for the mayor and council as the reason for closing the landfill is a bit of a stretch,” said Boyle. “As elected leaders of this community, they should be more worried about the safety of the community from bears looking for garbage than being concerned about their own ‘safety’ from residents unhappy about the mayor’s actions that are prolonging the strike.” 

“If they had not cancelled public meetings and caused this unnecessary strike, they would not be in this situation,” continued Boyle. “The mayor and council must face the public and should be held accountable for their actions.” 

Boyle also noted that the mayor decided to close the landfill after a safety inspection from the Ministry of Labour’s health and safety officers. The workers have been on strike for a fair contract since August 1. In addition to pushing for concessions, including plans to contract out public services, the mayor threatened to impose new terms and conditions forcing the workers into a defensive strike. 

For further information, please contact:

Steve Boyle, CUPE National Representative, 705-662-5975
James Chai, CUPE Communications, 905-739-3999