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September 13, 2015 by 1996-O Executive

The Kiss of Life by Rocco Morabito.

This 1967 award-winning photo entitled “Kiss of Life” shows two power linemen, Randall Champion and J. D. Thompson, at the top of a utility pole.

They had been performing routine maintenance when Champion brushed one of the high voltage lines at the very top. These are the lines that can be heard “singing” with electricity. Over 4000 volts entered Champion’s body and instantly stopped his heart (an electric chair uses about 2000 volts).

His safety harness prevented a fall, and Thompson, who had been ascending below him, quickly reached him and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He was unable to perform CPR given the circumstances but continued breathing into Champion’s lungs until he felt a slight pulse, then unbuckled his harness and descended with him on his shoulder.

Thompson and another worker administered CPR on the ground and had moderately revived Champion by the time paramedics arrived.

Champion survived and lived until 2002 when he died of heart failure at the age of 64. Thompson is still living. The photograph was published in newspapers around the world.

Our job at BTS can be extremely dangerous as we have to climb ladders and poles and deal with live electricity. Always consider the risks before proceeding.  Never sacrifice your safety for speed or complacency.

Use your training and skills in the use, handling, maintenance, inspection, and transportation of an extension ladder, including how to safely arrange, set, and adequately support a ladder in a range of soil conditions. Wear safety boots in good condition that meet the standards and have non-skid soles. Inspect the route that you’ll travel to bring the ladder near the pole: Is it flat and without obstacles, holes or differences in ground level? Always use your personal protection equipment, anti-fall device or a safety harness, etc.

Technicians are highly qualified, skilled people who are well aware of the risks inherent in their work.

Always use training, experience and personal protective equipment to mitigate risk!

We risk our lives, limbs and health in the workplace; taking shortcuts to increase profits for employers eventually catches up with both workers and employers.

Filed Under: Workplace Safety Tagged With: Kiss of Life, Safety

September 8, 2015 by 1996-O Executive

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,

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

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

Twitter    :   https://twitter.com/SammySnyders

Filed Under: Current Issues, Events, President's Message

September 8, 2015 by 1996-O Executive

Change is coming!

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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 😉

 

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

 

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Filed Under: Current Issues, Events Tagged With: Jerry Dias, Josh Coles, Labour Day, Sam Snyders

September 6, 2015 by 1996-O Executive

Letter from Ron Hori, newly elected Associates Bargaining Representative:

 

“The first leg of this journey is now complete. The Ontario Associates of Bell Technical Solutions have at long last joined their counterparts in Quebec and technicians in both provinces, and are members of their union – Unifor. The inequities that we have endured here have gone on for too many years.

Very special thanks go to the collaborative work from Unifor members, especially Danny McBride – Organizing Representative, Sean Howes – National Representative, and Sam Snyders – Ontario Bargaining Representative, President of Local 1996-O, and many other titles. These three gentlemen were the anchor in getting us to victory with their ideas, support, persistence and positive attitudes.

My thanks go to the BTS Associates who have elected me (and Justin Wiggins) to represent them at the bargaining table. Justin and I will be reviewing the proposals that have been sent in and those discussed at the August 9th meeting.

The next chapter is the bargaining process. With Sam Snyders as Chair, Justin and I are confident in achieving the best possible and fair collective agreement for the members.”

~ Ron Hori

Filed Under: Current Issues, Events, Organizing Tagged With: Bargaining, bts associates, Sam Snyders

September 3, 2015 by 1996-O Executive

Local Union Membership Meeting

The next Local Union Meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30pm.

Location: 
Unifor Local 1996-O Office
358 Dufferin Street, Unit 109
Toronto, ON

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: meeting

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