Lana Payne, Unifor national Sect-Treasurer, and locked-out members of Local 594 in Regina
REGINA – Unifor is launching a National Solidarity Action in support of the locked-out Brothers and Sisters of Local 594, at the Co-Op refinery in Regina.
“Co-op will not bust our union by using profits only made possible by your hard work. We are going to hold them to their pension promises. Our union will intensify our campaign to achieve a fair collective agreement for our members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.
Payne told locked out Local 594 members that locals across Canada will mobilize and send members to Regina as the union ramps up the fight for a fair deal. Continue reading →
Local 191 is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Scholarship Essay Competition:
Emily Gauthier (daughter of Mike Gauthier, Winnipeg Free Press), Dara Rosdobutko (daughter of Jamey Rosdobutko, Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal), and Crystal Wade (daughter of Jim Wade, Winnipeg Free Press).
Continue reading →
REGINA—As a result of Co-op Refinery’s lockout of nearly 800 workers trying to protect their pension plan, Unifor is calling for a nationwide boycott of all business and services of the Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), the refinery’s owner.
“If Co-op wants to hit refinery workers with a lockout, it’s time to hit Co-op where it hurts,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Local co-ops must speak out to the FCL board and use their power to end this lock out and get refinery workers a fair contract and the pension they were promised by FCL just two years ago.”
FCL is owned by more than two hundred co-op retailers across the country that are now profiting from the use of scab labour. Unifor’s boycott campaign will involve television ads, radio ads, billboards, direct mail, a petition, and secondary pickets at retail locations across Canada. Continue reading →
Jill Wilson
Brother Aldo Santin is resigning as president of Local 191 and will be replaced by 1st Vice President Sister Jill Wilson.
Brother Santin (Winnipeg Free Press/Editorial) has been the Local’s president for nine years, winning the election in December 2010 and acclaimed twice since then.
Aldo Santin
The change in the top position of the board will occur at the board’s monthly executive meeting on Dec. 1.
Sister Wilson (Winnipeg Free Press/Editorial) was appointed 1st VP by the board at its October meeting following the resignation of Brother Jamey Rosdobutko (Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal/Circulation).
Brother Santin’s resignation was prompted by his pending retirement from the Winnipeg Free Press, where he has been employed as a reporter for 33 years. Brother Santin will remain on the board until his official retirement in mid-February.
Sister Wilson has been employed as a copy editor/writer at the Winnipeg Free Press for 16 years. She represented the newsroom in collective bargaining in 2017 and 2019.
In other board news, Sister Chelsea Kemp recently left the board after she resigned her position as reporter with the Brandon Sun. Sister Kemp is returning to her home province of Alberta.
Joining the board is Gord McLeod (LGM/Transcontinental).
Just a reminder that the deadline for the 2019 Local 191 Scholarship Essay Competition is Friday, Nov. 8, 5 pm
Download the Application and the Essay Competition Notice.
This year’s question is: Have unions improved working conditions enough since the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike took place 100 years ag0? Why or why not?
Three winning entries will each receive an $1,800 scholarship towards their post-secondary studies. The competition is open to Local 191 members and their children pursuing full-time studies.
Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019 — Winnipeg Free Press Inside Workers voted 98.3 per cent in favour of merging their pension plan with the Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology (CAAT) plan.
The results of the vote will be presented to the Local 191 executive board at its meeting Dec. 1, where a formal decision on whether the affected unionized members at WFP should merge their plan with CAAT.
As per the rules set out by CAAT, the Local executive board will decide on behalf of the members on the merger.
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To encourage as many members as possible to vote on the pension question, Local 191 will be holding ADVANCE POLLS on Nov. 6, 7, 13 & 14, between the hours of 10 a.m. – 12 noon, and 2 pm to 4 pm, at the Local office, 675 Berry Street
Download the Advance Poll poster
Download the CAAT Merger Vote Notice poster
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019
WHERE: Local 191 offices, 675 Berry St., Unit 1-A
TIME: 1 pm – 4 pm
Continue reading →
Before You Fill Out Your Ballot On Election Day
The Unifor Media Council reviewed the platforms of the federal parties and their position on media issues
Elections often end up in a discussion about “what’s in your wallet?”
Download the Federal Election Platform Review
If you work in the media, this federal election doubles down on pocketbook issues. It’s more like “what about my job?”
Continue reading →
Marco Rubio found a subscriber in medical distress, contacted 911, and stayed with the subscriber until help arrived
Marco Rubio, left, with Local 191 Staff Rep John Webster
As union members we often find ourselves maligned by the uninformed public who are unaware of the contributions the Labour movement has made to society and our efforts to reach out to those in our community in need.
A most recent example happened in the early hours of May 5, when Winnipeg Free Press carrier Marco Rubio heard a customer in distress, contacted 911 and stayed with the individual until paramedics arrived.
This is not the first time that a Local 191 member has gone out of their way to help a stranger or a colleague in medical distress.
Brother Rubio’s actions on May 5 demonstrated the best of who we are and for that, the executive board of Local 191 presented him with a cheque of $250 and a letter of appreciation on behalf of all members of the Local.
I have heard from some members in the media sector, in particular journalists, who do not like our union’s involvement in politics. I am writing as a courtesy to share with you our plans to aggressively fight to stop a wave of anti-worker conservatives from taking away our rights and your jobs.
Unifor’s elected National Executive Board has decided we as a union must defend workers in all sectors.
We do not tell members how to vote but I will be speaking out against the Conservative Party. Continue reading →
UPDATE — Recognizing the cost of post-secondary is always increasing, the board of Local 191 recently voted to increase the amount of the school bus drivers scholarship to $500 and to provide an additional $300 to this year’s winner, Sydney Freeman. The scholarship had been established years ago by the LSSD school bus drivers when they belonged to an independent association. Upon merger with Local 191, there was an agreement to maintain the scholarship. The board decided at its July meeting to increase the amount going forward and to top up the cheque already provided to Sydney.
Local 191 Board member Claude Gervais presents the Local’s Annual School Bus Drivers (Lord Selkirk School Division) 2019 bursary award to Grade 12 student Sydney Freeman during award ceremonies June 5 at Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School. The $200 award is given to a senior graduating student from the division’s high school in Selkirk. (Submitted Photo)
