January 22, 2016 by Sam Snyders

Come One, Come All

Your time is valuable. You know that. We know that. And the team at the Local 1996-O office make every effort we can for Bell to realize it. Your opinions are also very valuable. The membership meetings are an opportunity for us to see the strength of our numbers and to glean the collective wisdom of our crowd.

With your engagement and participation at the local level, we will share committee updates and Executive reports. We will listen to you, and it will inform how we structure our agenda to collectively act. How we move forward together. We must build a strong solidarity and be ready to act.

We ask that you participate and have your voice heard at the following Local Membership meetings:

Tuesday March 29, 2016
7:30-9:00
Grand Prix Kartways
75 Carl Hall Rd.
Toronto, M3K-2B9

Tuesday June 28, 2016
7:30-9:00
RCL
9 Dawes Rd.
Toronto, M4C-5A8

Sunday Sept 18, 2016
7:30-9:00
Local 252
1343 Matheson Blvd E.
Miss, L4W-1R1

Friday December 9, 2016
7:30-9:00
RCL
9 Dawes Rd.
Toronto, M4C-5A8

The dates and locations for this years meetings have been chosen to to make it easier for more of us to attend. We’ve spread the meeting locations out, and we’ve included two weekend meeting dates.

In Solidarity,

Sam

Sam Snyders
President, Local 1996-O
416 Health and Safety Co-Chair
Unifor Chairperson Workers with Disabilities
LRC Committee and JSDC Committee
Ont. Bargaining Rep
Telecommunications Industry Council Representative

Office 416-237-1996 cell 416-839-8151
samdances@hotmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Unifor1996?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Twitter : https://twitter.com/SammySnyders

December 14, 2015 by Sam Snyders

Food + Pride = $1.00

This week the staff of UNIFOR Local 1996-0 participated in our annual volunteer day at St. Francis Table, a local destination for hundreds of our community members every day.

St. Francis Table opened its doors December 1987 in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.

With seating capacity for 40 people, serving an average of 250 meals per day, they’ve served over 500,000 meals to date.

Half of the patrons are post-psychiatric patients who are unable to work due to their illness. St Francis Table also provides meals to single parents, refugees, the unemployed, transients, ex-convicts and people living on our city’s streets, in our parks and alleys.

Many of the patrons spend most of their meager income on accommodation. About one-quarter of St. Francis Table’s patrons are senior citizens who come for nourishment and companionship.

In keeping with the Franciscan heritage, no one is turned away without the offer of a meal.

We live in an era where there are no more “gold watches” for years of loyalty and service to corporations. Where workers must unite and fight tirelessly for fair wages, benefits–and even decent support for differently-abled team-members. When society is just beginning to get past the stigma associated with mental illness.

At a time when, despite all we have, we can’t seem to figure out how to distribute our success more evenly, thank goodness for organizations like St. Francis Table. They are an essential, binding element in the fabric of our society.

And they do it for a dollar.

Hungry guests who depend on the ethos and work of the Capuchin order are requested to make a small donation of one dollar. A meal can deliver more than charity. It can deliver a dose of dignity.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that helping St. Francis Table do their work brings returns for volunteers as well. A meal at St. Francis Table is an opportunity for community, advocacy, and friendship.

If you would like to join local 1996-o next year, please let us know, there’s always a need for another pair of helping hands.

October 19, 2015 by Sam Snyders

federal elections

Federal Elections 2015

On October 19th, federal elections will be held. In accordance with the Canada Elections Act, all employees are entitled to three (3) consecutive hours to cast their vote during voting hours on polling day, from 9:30AM to 9:30PM.

For this reason, by October 9, Workforce Management will adjust the schedule of regular full-time technicians to respect these arrangements. The release period will be coded POP and employees will be released for these hours only, without a pay reduction. The schedule of part-time employees will be set on DD-1.

Only these shifts need to be adjusted:

o 8AM to 7PM (a 30 minute release is necessary)

o 10AM to 7PM (a 30 minute release is necessary)

o 10AM to 9PM (a 2:30 release is necessary)

The following shifts do not need to be adjusted:

o 8AM to 5PM

o 9AM to 6PM

o 1PM to 9PM

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Can an employee request a different shift modification than the one planned on his schedule? No, the planned schedules were made in consideration with business needs and the obligation for employees to have three (3) consecutive hours to cast their vote during voting hours on polling day. The time coded as POP cannot be changed nor postponed.

Am I going to be paid if my schedule is modified to go vote? Yes, even if you are released to go cast your vote, you will be paid for the entire shift, like any other day.

If an employee has questions, to whom should they ask them? The employee can address his questions to his manager.

If a manager has questions, to whom should they ask them? The manager can contact his Labour Relations consultant.

September 8, 2015 by Sam Snyders

We need your involvement!

Local 1996-O wants your participation! To support the goals of our union and members we need to engage the members. We must build a strong solidarity and prepare for the future. It is a valuable time, and we need to be smart, strategic, so we can get our slice of the pie.

As a union, we need all of the members support in order to accomplish the ultimate goals. Engagement and education of the membership will be this Local’s priority moving forward.

How we structure our movement, our agenda, our goals, will be decided by you…..the membership!

That said,

I invite you to participate and join us at the following Local Membership meetings.

Tuesday Sept 15, 2015

Unifor Local 252

1343 Matheson Blvd. East

Miss, Ont

730-900pm

Sunday October 25, 2015

Grand Prix Kartways

75 Carl Hall Rd.

Toronto, Ontario

730-900pm

Tuesday Nov 24, 2015

Royal Canadian Legion

9 Dawes Rd.

Toronto, Ont

730-900pm

In Solidarity,

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Twitter : https://twitter.com/SammySnyders

September 8, 2015 by Sam Snyders

Change is coming!

Labour Day is all about family & working for a better future for all. For thousands in downtown Toronto, it’s about the march in the annual Labour Day parade.

Labour Day is an occasion to celebrate workers’ rights and celebrate the strength and solidarity of workers.

The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to April 15, 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada’s first significant demonstration for worker’s rights. The aim of the demonstration was to release the 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day. At this time, trade unions were still illegal and striking was seen as a criminal conspiracy to disrupt trade. In spite of this, the Toronto Trades Assembly was already a significant organization and encouraged workers to form trade unions, mediated in disputes between employers and employees and signaled the mistreatment of workers.

Canadian trade unions are proud that this holiday was inspired by their efforts to improve workers’ rights.

Labour Day is one of Ontario’s nine public holidays. This means many employees will receive the day off with holiday pay. It also means that many businesses and city offices will be closed.

But this Labour Day felt different to me. It was a day of political action. It was a day of calling for action on the Syrian Refugee crisis; calling for action on minimum wage and the expansion of CPP; calling for an end to precarious work and the deepening of income inequality; and calling for a return to an economy that serves more than the 1%. It was a call for CHANGE! No…a DEMAND FOR CHANGE!

There is no question that change is in the air, and BTS is no different. I can feel it! Change is coming!

And yet with all this, retail stores wanted to remain open on OUR Labour Day, requiring employees to work. They claim it is for our convenience, but in reality, we know it is for their profit.

Bottom line: if I forget the hot dog buns on Labour Day, shame on me 😉