Goderich Ontario

- value-added plant

e joins Local 500

Tt wasn’t long ago that they became
peed members of I.W.A. Canada

ocal 500, after leaving the
Carpenters union. Things were
looking up. They finally got a new
union to defend their interests ina
workplace that really needs
representation.

‘hen, in late September, their
employer announced the termination
of employment of 13 workers. Among
them are 5 of 7 union representatives
employed in the plant; plant
chairperson Debbie Littlechild, shop
steward Al Cannon, recording
peeeeery Lisa Rodgers; committee
member Haydn Thomas and pension
trustee Ian Kerr. The two remaining
union reps are shop steward Henry
Bakker and treasurer Gary Hakkers.

For Sister Littlechild, the
termination notice, handed to her
and others just after the I.W.A.
convention in mid-September,
marked the end of nearly 13 years
of employment at the Dufferin Cue
(formerly Selinger Wood) plant in
Goderich, Ontario.

Whether or not the company was
trying to rid itself of its strong pro-
union faction is not known. The
terminations were without notice
and are permanent.

Under Ontario’s Employment
Standards Act, the company has to

ay out lieu of notice pay (1 week

for each year of service to a maximum
of 8 weeks) and can’t hire any new
workers for a one year period. If the
workers don’t get recalled within
one year they are eligible for
severance pay, payed out at one
week’s salary per year of service up
to a maximum of 26 weeks.

The company has shifted much
work to a non-union affiliate in
Etobicoke (Dufferin Games) and
continues to operate its Goderich
plant with 33 workers, producing a
range of products, including kiln-
dried hardwoods for pool cues, pool
table rails, legs, flooring products,
brush blocks and drawer slides.

Sister Littlechild has words of
advice for the remaining workers.

“They should stick with the
LW.A.,” said Littlechild. “It’s a great
union that really listens to workers.”

In periuber of 2000 the workers,
who had decertified from Local 3054
of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, joined the
1.W.A. by an. ppeioa ming majorit ;

When they contacted the I.W.A.
the previous year, the union tried to
steer the workers to stay within the

¢ Plant chair and trim saw operator
Debbie Littlechild.

Carpenters and resolve their
internal problems.

Union organizer Mike Hunter met
with workers and heard stories that
many felt they weren’t being
properly popresented by the
Carpenters. The trust fund for their
benefit plan was seized by the
Carpenter’s Toronto office without
notice and they eventually had to go
to court to get the plan returned to
them.

“We sept pushing them off and
pushing them off and we finally saw
they were going to go non-union or
join the Labourers International

Mion,” said Hunter.

Local 500 president Bruce Weber
said the union stepped forward
because all workers have a right to
be properly represented.

“This (bargaining) unit was ina
real mess,” said Brother Weber. “In
our opinion they weren’t receiving
the level of service that the workers
want and deserve. That’s why we
organized them into the I.W.A.”

Before the certification took place
the I.W.A. assisted the workers in
their legal battle to recoup trust
fund premiums.

“They (the I.W.A.) convinced
everyone that they were going to be
there for us,” said Sister Littlechild.

One hundred per cent of the
workers, with 6 abstentions, voted
to go I.W.A. Local 500.

Littlechild was amazed at the
way their new union operated. They
were provided with information on
the I.W.A. and the union movement,
they were informed how they could
make positive changes in their
workplace and were informed how
they could get involved.

“They (the I.W.A) actually valued
our opinions. We held meetings and
they listened to us,” she added.

“The I.W.A. is so much different.
For education. For democracy,” she
said. “I’ve never know this kind of
security (to speak out) before.”

Her attendance at the first I-W.A.
constitutional women’s conference
in Richmond, B.C. in May, 2001 was
a “powerful experience.” There she
participated in public speaking,
effective speaking and parlia-
mentary procedure.

“Obviously (other I.W.A.) women
have been used to being listened to
and not shoved to the side,” Sister
Littlechild observed. “They have
been told they are important.”

Her attendance at the union’s
national convention in September
was also clearly a new experience.

“J don’t think that I truly believed
that you would go through every
resolution that everybody put in,”
she said. “Every one (resolution)
was looked at and each was valued
and not shoved-aside or put under a
mat.”

Back at the plant before the I.W.A.
came long, Littlechild and others
felt the wrath of the employer and a
situation that had deteriorated.

She said there were actually
“violent attitudes and comments”
from both management and
employees. It was, at times, an
unhealthy labour relations
environment.

When the plant went I.W.A. those
attitudes mal comments stopped.

The union negotiated a three year
contract which went into effect on
October 6, 2000. Each yest has wage
increases of between thirty-seven to
forty cents per hour, depending on
the class of the job. Top trades now
get $13.90 per hour with a ten cents

‘courtesy ILW.A. Local 500

¢ Outside the plant are, front row I. to r. health and safety rep Haydn
Thomas, recording secretary Lisa Rodger and plant chair Debbie
Littlechild. Back row, l. to r. are shop steward Henry Bakker, shop
steward Al Cannon, benefit trustee Shawn McLennan and treasurer

Gary Hakkers.

per hour bonus for those with ten
years service. Base rate stands at
$12.78 per hour.

Brother Weber said the loss of 13
people at the plant is suspicious,
although he said the union doesn’t
have proof that the terminations
are, in any way, related to union
activity.

At the same time that there has
been a decline in orders for the
Goderich plant’s production, the
company continues to ship jobs to
its non-union operation.

“We'll be keeping a close watch on
the company’s hiring practices,”
said Weber.

The union is also looking at
organizing the non-union plant in
Etobicoke.

At the Goderich plant, the local
union intends to solidify support
with the remaining crew.

“We think the remaining people
in Goderich will rally behind the
union and build on the work we
have done so far and make it a better
place to go to every day for both the
workers and the company,” said
Weber.

For Sister Littlechild the last
couple of years have been tough.
She and others who have been
terminated have fought hard to find
better union representation and
now she has been let go. Still she
remains convinced going I.W.A. was
the right decision.

“Hopefully wherever I go I will be
with the I.W.A.,” she said. @

e Above is Local 500 member and lift truck driver Terry Sowerby. Below
are, |. to. r. molder set-up and operator Bryan Wilson and labourer Glen

Lamont.

LUMBERWORKER/NOVEMBER 2001/13