IAM District 78 News | March 26, 2020
| IAM District 78 is here to help |
| IAM District 78 is providing a dedicated person, on staff, to assist IAM members with the Employment Insurance process, to answer questions around Personal Protective Equipment and to answer general questions regarding COVID19. Allison is available during regular office hours by phone at 416-729-5563 or by email askinner@iamdl78.org It Pays to Belong. |
On behalf of GVP Stan Pickthall
To: All Staff, Districts and Local Lodges in Ontario
Dear Sister and Brothers,
While we’re advising members of the different measures being taken by the federal government and the EI program, please note that additional financial help is available through Ontario Works. Members in Ontario can contact Ontario Works in their city for help with food, shelter and other costs.
Note that the link takes you to the Toronto page, please advise members to find information about Ontario Works in their city. Ontario Works is advising that only three offices will remain open, and that questions will be handled online or over the phone. Applications are dealt with electronically.
This link provides an overview of financial help that is available; it’s a lengthy list, please take the time to read carefully.
In solidarity,
Stan Pickthall
COVID-19 and Healthcare – FAQ for IAM Members
In instances where a member is assigned to work with a client who is confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, you have the grounds to invoke your right to refuse unsafe work. We are asking employers to conduct risk assessments, and advise workers of risks involved with their work.
In non-confirmed cases, we are urging employers to develop policies based on the precautionary principle and ensure all workers have adequate protection. Not only do employer policies protect workers and residents, they are part of social policies that can help protect the greater public. Should you show up to work, we are recommending that you request PPE. Even if a case is not confirmed, the employer should provide disposable gloves and hand sanitizer.
Once a possible case is confirmed, and it happens to be a client you visited, you should follow public health guidelines and be in self-isolation for 14 days. We are asking the employer to not penalize individuals who are following government issued guidelines. If you develop symptoms, contact your family doctor and follow further instructions.
Given the evolving nature of circumstances, we are asking employers to abide by the precautionary principle, and even in suspected cases, provide PPE up to and including N-95 masks. Employers are legally obligated to provide workers with the appropriate PPE and protect against workplace dangers and hazards.
Guidelines issued by Health Canada apply to the general public and not those who work on the frontlines where the nature of their work exposes them to the virus. The IAMAW is advocating for a different standard and advocating for the use of PPE in all circumstances, up to and including the use of N-95 masks. READ MORE
Covid-19 Protecting yourself
As per Ontario Public Health – Four moments of hand hygiene https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/4-moments-poster- series.pdf?la=en
As per Toronto Public Health
When clean running water is available, wash your hands with plain soap and water and dry thoroughly.
Follow these steps for perfectly clean hands:
- Wet hands.
- Apply soap.
- Lather for 15 seconds. Rub between fingers, back of hands, fingertips, under nails.
- Rinse well under running water.
- Dry hands well with paper towel or hot air blower.
- Turn taps off with paper towel, if available.
Black History Month
It is the month in which we bear witness to the progress, richness and diversity of African-Canadian achievement. Read more http://www.iamaw.ca/february-is-black-history-month-2/
Meeting schedule for IAM Local 1231
Each month there will be a monthly membership meeting for any member who wishes to attend. Starting in March the meetings wlll be held on the third Thursday of the month. These meetings are not mandatory but are open to all members to attend if you wish. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and generally last about one hour or so.
The next meeting is scheduled for:
Monthly Members Meeting
March 19th (7:00 p.m.) 2020 CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Location:
District Office
557 Dixon Road, Unit 102
Etobicoke, M9W 6K1
Labour Day Parade 2019
2019 TORONTO LABOUR DAY PARADE
Monday, September 2, 2019
Local Lodge 1231 members on route to the CNE
Local Lodge 1231 participated in what would be its inaugural Labour day parade. Here is what the Local president Merry St. Bernard had to say: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rft5o78e3h12gsi/Labour%20day%20parade%202019.mp4?dl=0
100th Anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike
Winnipeg, MB – Over the weekend, organized labour in Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. The Immediate post-World War 1 period in Canada was not a time of peace. Soldiers returned home wanting jobs and a normal lifestyle again, only to find factories shutting down and soaring unemployment. Corporate profiteering fed inflation and a high cost of living. Poor factory working conditions caused worker unrest.
The Value of member engagement!
“IAM political action committee members know the value of member engagement,” explains Derek Ferguson, IAM Special Representative for Political Action. “The more members who are actively engaged in our workplaces – the more power we have at the bargaining table. The more members who speak up on issues that matter in our communities, the more power we have to get our governments to prioritize the needs of working people.” Often it is hard for members to grasp that there is a connection between collective bargaining and political action. There is a direct connection between negotiating a pension into your collective agreement and lobbying the government to protect that pension if the employer goes bankrupt, as an example.
The full story (with photo) is here: