News
Deceiving Divas
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Announcing a fund raiser for Kincardine Pride. The Deceiving Divas, presented by the Grey Bruce Labour Council will perform in Kincardine on September 4th, 2022. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. $50 dollars per ticket, cabaret seating (four seats at at a table, 27 tables). Table reservations are not available and all tickets are purchased general admission. A Kincardine Pride partner, the Grey Labour Council is pleased to present this event. Amongst many that make such an event possible, special thanks to Kincardine Centre for the Arts, Grey Matter Beer, The Bruce, Affiliates and friends of Grey Bruce Labour Council.
1st Annual Grey Bruce Labour Council Golf Tournament July 30, 2022
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Greetings GBLC Affiliates;
The Grey Bruce Labour Council is planning to host its first (and hopefully annual) golf tournament this summer! This fun-filled day will take place on July 30, 2022 at the Ainsdale Golf Club, Kincardine. In lieu of a prize table, we are hoping to give each golfer a grab bag upon arrival that day. Our request is that some of our Affiliate Unions donate items to give each golfer. We are hoping for a minimum of 72 golfers (18 teams) and a maximum of 144 golfers (36 teams). Some example items could be: · Sleeve of golf balls (with your logo on the balls/or the box) · Golf towel · Powerade/Gatorade/snacks with your logo · Hats · Water bottle · Your own creative idea
Items for bags can be delivered to Chris Stephen. Please email [email protected] (Chris) or [email protected] (Amy) to make arrangements for drop off/pick up. We also hope that you or some of your Members will participate in this fun-filled day of golf and comradery, and a chance to win the Affiliate Cup! Included in our day, there will be some extra fun and games; any additional funds raised will be donated to a Ukrainian relief organization, yet to be determined. Please see the attached poster for more details, and use this link to register a team: Thank you, and we hope to see you on the golf course!
Sincerely, Chris Stephen GBLC Vice President, Grey |
South Bruce Peninsula Locks Out Outside Workers
April 5, 2022
Grey Bruce Labour Council-For Immediate Release
South Bruce Peninsula Locks Out Outside Workers
Surely congratulations from former Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, is on its way to the Mayor and Municipal Council of South Bruce Peninsula. In 2011 the Conservative Harper government locked the workers of Canada Post and members of CUPW out and then ordered them back to work. All done in some misdirected and misguided attempt to convince Canadians that Harper and his cronies were exhibiting some form of genius in the world of labour relations. Of course, it was a bombastic attack on workers for some imaginary and hollow belief that team Harper would be seen as “tough on strikers”. “Just as Harper and his cronies were seen as impotent in their make believe and hollow actions, Mayor Jackson and the rest of the council of South Bruce Peninsula will be seen as tone deaf regressive thugs who are too timid to get down to the meat of intensive and good faith bargaining”, says Kevin Smith, President of the Grey Bruce Labour Council.
Dave Trumble, Grey Bruce Labour Council VP for Bruce, recognizes that the tactics undertaken by the South Bruce Peninsula Council and under the leadership of Mayor Jackson are the symptoms of people with an absolute disdain for their employees. Trumble is hoping that any contractors showing to work for the municipality while the workers are locked out will understand that they will not be treated any better by the employer. Further, “any workers taking on the work of the locked out workers must understand that this is scabbing, and it is hoped that South Bruce Peninsula will hear only crickets when the call goes out for contractors, or scabs if they show up”.
Grey Bruce Labour Council VP for Grey, Chris Stephen, knows the tactics used in bargaining with municipal employees. Stephen has vast experience and knowledge through his years of experience as an active member of CUPE. Stephen is clear in his view on the situation. “The only way to meet an employer, an employer entirely responsible for the situation, is to meet them head on”. Under no illusions about the work required to get people to bolster the picket line, Stephen has already volunteered to start the work of getting Labour Council affiliated unions and friends of labour to the picket line and to make noise all the way to the election this fall when this council will have to answer for needlessly taking the food of the tables of their employees and their neighbours”.
The negotiating position of the union members, members of SEIU Local 2, was reasonable. As with most anti-worker and anti-union employers the strategic value of paying a reasonable wage is overlooked. The workers of South Bruce Peninsula would be plowing their money right back into their municipality. What better way to generate more economic activity as so may communities are attempting to recover from the pandemic?
Mayor Jackson is quoted in a press release as being concerned about a strike during the peak summer season and then also refers to being worried about the workers striking at any time. Of course, we are nowhere near the summer season and a strike vote mandate is not a guarantee of a strike and if Mayor Jackson were remotely knowledgeable about negotiations it would have been known that this is anything but unusual in bargaining across Canada and throughout the union movement. There was ample time for negotiations to continue, but myopia won out at municipal council for South Bruce Peninsula.
Please bear this staged attempt by municipal council of South Bruce Peninsula to look tough and diligent and see it as the regressive bully tactics it really is and please do not forget to boot municipal council for South Bruce Peninsula to the curb on election day this fall.
The Grey Bruce Labour Council has been the voice of workers in our region since 1956 and welcomes all media inquiries.
Labour Council 2022-2024 Executive
Grey Bruce Labour Council
For Immediate Release-March 1st, 2022
February 2020 was the last time that the Grey Bruce Labour Council Delegates met and were invited to meet in person. Since that very day the labour council has been, with the support of the labour council executive, delegates, members and friends of labour, led effectively and vigorously by President Kevin Smith. The Grey Bruce Labour Council been a clear and loud voice for workers in our region while experiencing the same uncertainty that all of us have undergone as a result of the global pandemic. Smith has kept the council an active, operational and a cohesive entity continuing the relentless battle to prevent the gross and profound erosion of the rights of workers that profiteering corporations and regressive governments at all levels and their allies have undertaken while vast swaths of society have been subject to the tragedy and vulnerability associated with a virus that has devastated so many.
In a very clear endorsement of this leadership, Smith, the labour council executive and the trustees were installed at the February 28th meeting by acclamation. Smith and the executive have all been returned. The trustees, all acclaimed, see a changes in two of three faces. “Workers in our region should feel proud of the work the labour council does and certain of the commitment as the executive combines over one-hundred years of cumulative experience in helping workers, voicing the needs of workers and leading the struggle against those that would turn the pandemic into the greatest takeaway of the rights of workers in more than a generation-going back to the horrific days of the Harris Tories!” says Smith.
Pictured, Karen Gventer (Trustee), Kevin Smith (President), Andrea Graham (Trustee), Anna Morrison (Sergeant at Arms), Gord Cale (Treasurer), Gogi Bhandal (CLC Staff), Amy Stephen (Secretary), Dave Trumble (VP-Bruce County), Chris Stephen (VP-Grey County). Not Pictured, Krista McCormick
The Grey Bruce Labour Council has been the voice of workers in our region since 1956 and welcomes all media inquiries.
Grey Bruce Labour Council 2022 Day of Mourning Awards
February 1, 2022
Attention: Affiliate Presidents
Please find attached, a copy of the 2022 application form for the Day of Mourning
Award. This annual award is sponsored by the Grey Bruce Labour Council and Bruce
Power and is awarded to three high school students in Grey and Bruce who will be
selected to deliver a presentation that shares, through their experiences, an awareness
and knowledge of workplace health and safety issues. The value of each Day of
Mourning Award is $250. All high school students in Grey and Bruce Counties are
eligible to apply.
In your capacity as Affiliate President, you know the importance of workplace health and
safety. We are asking for your support in making this award opportunity available to the
children of your members.
For more information about the Day of Mourning please contact:
Grey-Bruce Labour Council – [email protected]
or
Anna Morrison, GBLC Sergeant at Arms
908 Brownell Dr.
Kincardine, ON, N2Z 1N2
Thank you for your support.
This Award is Sponsored by
Bruce Power
Grey-Bruce Labour Council
Day of Mourning Contest – Three $250 Prizes
2022 Award Application
Sponsored by the Grey-Bruce Labour Council
April 28th is recognized each year as a National Day of Mourning to remember and honour workers
who have been killed, injured or are suffering occupational disease in the workplace. As the
community voice for workers and working families, the Grey-Bruce Labour Council is pleased to offer
all high school students in Bruce and Grey an opportunity to submit a presentation for our annual Day
of Mourning Contest.
Applicants must prepare a 2 to 3 minute visual or audio presentation (eg. could include oral essay,
video, multimedia) detailing their experiences and knowledge of the importance of workplace health
and safety for young workers in our community. Student employment includes part time, co-op and
volunteer work, including farm and home locations. Successful applicants will deliver their
presentation as part of the Day of Mourning Ceremonies on or around April 28, 2022.
Applicant’s Name _________________________________________________________________
Applicant’s School ________________________________________________________________
Home Phone Number ________________ Home email address ___________________________
The value of the Day of Mourning Award is $250 each. Three students from Bruce and Grey Counties
will be selected as award winners. Transportation to the ceremonies can be arranged if needed. All
high school students throughout Bruce and Grey are eligible to submit their presentation.
Young workers need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health
and Safety Act.
Students are also encouraged to visit www.whsc.on.ca for information on the Workers Health and
Safety Center Post-Secondary Scholarships.
Applications must be received by March 25, 2022. The application form must accompany the
presentation.
Return applications to: Anna Morrison, Grey-Bruce Labour Council
908 Brownell Dr., Kincardine, ON, N2Z1N2
Please send by attachment to [email protected]
This Award is Sponsored by
Bruce Power
Grey-Bruce Labour Council