**DECEMBER MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, December 8, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**NOVEMBER MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, November 10, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**OCTOBER MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, October 6, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**SEPTEMBER MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, September 8, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

LABOUR DAY PARADE

 

*REMINDER*

 

Sisters and Brothers of Local 1587,

 

The labour movement in Toronto has been parading since 1872 for fairness and workers’ rights. On Monday, September 2nd, working men and women will be taking to the streets in Toronto to celebrate their achievements.

 

Our Local will be taking part in this event and will be meeting at 9:00 am in the parking lot on the west side of Chestnut Street just south of Dundas Street West. We will join in the parade on the east (curb) side of University Avenue just north of Queen Street. The parade will start at 9:30 am sharp.

Those participating in the Labour Day Parade will receive a wristband granting them FREE entry into the CNE after the parade.

 

Together Fairness Works...

 

 

**JUNE MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, June 9, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

CALL ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TOUGHEN CRIMINAL CODE FOR ASSAULTS ON ON-DUTY TRANSIT OPERATORS

OTTAWA (May 7, 2013) – Thirty-one leaders with the Canadian Council of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) have come to Ottawa to convince the Government of Canada that their members – 30,000 strong – need more protection from a growing number of on-duty assaults.

 

“It’s becoming increasingly more dangerous for our members to do their jobs,” says Mike Mahar, Director of the Canadian Council. “The frequency and severity of attacks on on-duty transit workers continues to rise. In Canada, 40 per cent of bus operators are assaulted on duty during the course of their careers.”

 

The ATU wants the federal government to strengthen the deterrent against such violence through an amendment to the Criminal Code that would mandate that an assault on on-duty transit operators qualify as an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes.

 

ATU representatives will be discussing the issue with Members of Parliament and Senators today.

 

The ATU is supported in its campaign by the Canadian Urban Transit Association, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Police Associations, and numerous MPs and Senators.

 

Right now, the laws aren’t adequately protecting us,” says Mahar. “There have been cases where one of our members has been attacked by an assailant in the morning. The assailant has been arrested by police, released, and then has returned in the afternoon to assault the member again.”

 

Mahar believes “such individuals should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The change to the Criminal Code we’re requesting will ensure that they are.”

 

Mahar observes that transit operators frequently work alone, and during all hours of the day and night. They work in a compartment with no escape route, and many times are in complete or near isolation. All of this leaves operators far more vulnerable than the average worker.

 

Despite years of increased efforts by the transit industry to reduce the number of assaults through training, real time support and the installation of cameras, the attacks continue to rise. The assaults range from being spat on, to being punched, to knife attacks and sexual assault. Many of these injuries are life-threatening and career-ending.

 

All of them are degrading and criminal.

 

“The assaults on our members cannot be tolerated,” says Mahar. “At a time when public transit needs to grow to support commerce in areas like Toronto and Hamilton, many are leaving the industry because of these threats –and many are choosing not to enter it.”

**MAY MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, May 5, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**APRIL MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, April 14, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**MARCH MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, March 10, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

"RIGHT-TO-WORK" IS WRONG

Passage of so-called "right-to-work" legislation in Michigan, the birthplace of industrial unionism, has sent shockwaves across both sides of our border.  Conservative MPs are planning the same here, and Ontario Tory leader Tim Hudak has made it part of his election platform.  Canadians are about to experience an unprecedented level of aggression against the very foundations of collective bargaining.

We will soon be branding this anti-union offensive with a name that fits -- because what the elites mean by "right-to-work" is their right to have people working for poverty wages.  The entire labour movement is poised to take on this immediate threat.  The Labour Council will be launching a massive internal union organizing campaign on Saturday March 2nd.

More information and the full statement Right-to-Work can be found at www.labourcouncil.ca.

Please contact your Local Union office today to register for this event.

**FEBRUARY MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, February 10, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills

**JANUARY MEETING REMINDER**

General Meeting

Sunday, January 13, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Ontario Federation of Labour

15 Gervais Drive, Don Mills