link to - strikes are local events Re: [news] IWW Vancouver Strike Support Committee Report - July 14, 2004

Wed Jul 14 21:27:34 PDT 2004

Gordon Flett <gflett1 at shaw.ca> wrote:
IWW Vancouver Strike Support Committee Report - July 14, 2004

Current Lower Mainland Disputes

1. 100 members of CEP Local 1129 have been on strike against the Norampac recycling papermill in south Burnaby since April 10 of this year. They are striking for the pulp and paper industry pattern settlement and against a series of company concession demands. Of 23 CEP pulp and paper locals in BC, theirs is THE ONLY ONE that has not achieved the pattern settlement. Further information on the dispute can be found at: http://www.cep1129.ca/ 

Two members of CEP Local 1129 were arrested on June 9 for blocking a truck carrying rolls of paper out of the plant. These two members plus their local president are currently back east, where they confronted Norampac management and spread their message to fellow workers. To read about their exploits go to: http://www.cep1129.ca/archives/Roadtrip.htm and http://www.cep1129.ca/archives/Roadtrip1.htm

Support is requested at their picket line, which runs 24/7. To get to their line you have to get to Marine Way which runs parallel to the Fraser River in south Vancouver and south Burnaby. If you're coming from the west (Vancouver), go past Boundary Road and Byrne Road, then turn right on Marshland. Follow it until it turns into Wiggins St., at the end of which you will find the picket line. If you're coming from the east (New Westminster), Marshland is the first traffic light after you come down the s-turn from the Queensborough Bridge. For a map showing the picket line's location go to: http://www.cep1129.ca/images/millmap.gif 

On the company's "contact us" page on their website: http://www.norampac.com/cas/en/1_0/1_0_1/1_0_1_2/1_0_1_2_7.jsp they state: "You have something to tell us? Do not hesitate, we welcome your comments." Who can resist an invitation like that?

Further contact information for Norampac is:

8255 Wiggins Street, Building B, Burnaby, British Columbia V3N 2V7
Telephone: (604) 521-0741
Fax: (604) 521-8671 

Messages of support to the strikers can be emailed to: President at cep1129.ca

__________

2. The 46 members of USWA Local 2952 at Modern Auto Plating Ltd. in Vancouver have almost reached the two and a half year point in their strike, which began on January 24, 2002.

All they want is basic improvements of horrific workplace health & safety conditions, while asking for modest increases in wages and benefits. WCB inspectors have found numerous violations in the plant and Modern Auto was fined $12,000 and ordered to correct the violations. 

12 members heeded their master's voice and have crossed their own picket line and are scabbing on their fellow workers, thereby prolonging the strike. Such sad souls, oh me, oh my. No brains, no heart, they're much too shy! The Great Oz refuses to negotiate, content with this sorry lot as subjects, while his best workers patrol outside the Kingdom, glad they aren't inside it as things stand now. When the WCB inspectors pulled down the curtain, it wasn't a pretty sight! 

As always, picket support is requested at Modern Auto, at 60 East 5th Ave. (at Quebec St.), to bolster the spirits of these exploited, mostly immigrant workers from Eastern Europe, and remind them that they are not alone. They picket from 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday to Friday, and from 8:00 to 11:00 AM on Saturdays. Refreshments and food are always welcome, as are union/organization banners, flags, and signs.

A special thanks goes out to the women of CEP Local 465, employed by the Health Sciences Association, who came out to the picket line on July 6, bringing flags, signs, food, refreshments, and most importantly themselves. Just what was needed to boost the strikers' spirits, and it's hoped others follow their shining example! Solidarity works!

For further information about the strike, and/or about how you can help, please contact Local 2952 President Scott McRitchie at 604-525-7481. The company's # is 604-876-4161. Messages of support to the strikers can be sent to: lu2952 at telus.net 

__________

3. Another long running dispute is the Unstrike (strike on the job) that the members of CAW Local 3000 commenced against Starbucks on May 13, 2002. The major issues are job security, concessions, and seniority, and Starbucks still refuses to negotiate. For further information go to: http://www.cawlocal3000.ca/units/starbucksgen.html . Messages of support to the Unstrikers can be sent to postmaster at cawlocal3000.ca . Please contact Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz at hschultz at starbucks.com  and tell him you support the union. And while you're at it, you can tell him you support the union in New York City too. Workers at a Starbucks in NYC are making history by unionizing the first store in the United States with the IWW, and they are currently awaiting their upcoming National Labour Relations Board certification election. For complete information on this struggle go to: http://www.starbucksunion.org/  . You can send messages of support to the members of the IWW NYC Starbucks Baristas Union
 to starbucksunion at yahoo.com .

Meanwhile, the Unstrikers here are asking that we patronize only their unionized Starbucks locations:

2531 East Hastings
Vancouver

1702 Robson Street
Vancouver

811 Hornby Street
Vancouver

#150-1055 West Georgia Street
Royal Centre Vancouver
Vancouver

1752 Commercial Drive
Vancouver

1015 Denman Street
Vancouver

3451 Kingsway
Vancouver

1095 Howe Street
Vancouver

1641 Davie Street
Vancouver

1395 Main Street
Vancouver, BC 

#222-3645 Gossett Road
Westbank, BC 

If you have a Starbucks card, that you maybe received as a gift, please use it up at one of the unionized Starbucks, otherwise it's a donation to the company.

"AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL"

IWW  IU 450

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