September 1st marks the annual Labour Day holiday.
September 1st is also the finish line for 65 of the 75 members who signed up to retire or leave the CAMI plant. For those that have elected to retire, congratulations on making it across the finish line! For some it has been 37 years, while others that 30-year window has finally arrived. We wish all of you good health and a happy and long retirement as you begin the next chapter in your lives.
We will have an updated seniority list out this week reflecting all 75 that signed up to retire/quit.
We are expecting news this week to finalize line rates which will help determine our staffing levels. The battery department short term future also needs to be addressed at some point.
Labour Day has official been recognized since 1894 in Canada. There has been a long and dark history of labour practices in Canada and unions have certainly helped lead some of the critical changes that have taken place. Shorter work weeks and shorter workdays along with health and safety laws are likely some of the most important changes that have occurred over the years. Recently we made major SUB gains and EI improvements in our last contract to help weather this seemingly never ending down period we are in.
Very recently Canadian Whiskey brand Crown Royal announced they are moving from Amherstburg to Alabama – due 100% to one jackass sitting in power in the USA. 160 more jobs will disappear plus the spinoff jobs associated with those 160 families. A Canadian icon heading to the USA and taking all those jobs with them, that whiskey should be banned from Canada immediately!
Our membership has gone through some very tough times the last 5 years, to say the least. Let’s hope one shift returns soon and sales continue to pick up. We also need some form of investment; we need a lifeline to help us weather this storm and bring back our second shift.
On behalf of Local 88, enjoy the long weekend with family and friends. And if you’re driving your kids to college or university, all the best. Our 3rd and youngest child, Hannah, heads off to year 3 in university. That can be a tough drive for the parents as the house slowly becomes empty and the noise tapers off. Your glad to see them living their lives, but just like some heading off to retire, it can be very hard to say goodbye.
Happy Labour Day everyone! Mike Van Boekel