Local 26 Rejects “Latest And Worst” Offer

TORONTO – Machinists Union Local 26 rejected the latest offer from management Sunday night. “It’s insult after insult,” said Gary Hynes, Business Representative for District 78. “They virtually took off the table everything that was up for discussion. Although there are a host of important issues, the major one throughout this strike has been “equal wages for equal work.”

The 300 plus members of Local Lodge 26 are in the process of renegotiating their collective agreement – their second since they received their charter from the Machinists in 1999. The workforce consists primarily of workers of colour and new Canadians.

This latest “offer” gave members a base rate, which 90% of members are already earning. Management also took away 5¢ out of the fourth-year offer, took away 10¢ away from the pension offer, took out the scope clause, took away the sunset clause, removed the job evaluation committee agreement, took away the agreement on temporary workers becoming members of the union after 90 days, took away job posting and red circling and took away the agreement on retroactive pay. “This isn’t an offer”, said Hynes. “Sounds more like bargaining in bad faith,” he concluded.

“The wage discrepancy has a long history at the company,” says Colin Cherry, Grand Lodge Representative for the Machinists Union. “Present wages are based on whether or not the supervisor likes you. Difference in wages can be as high as $8 per hour! Can you imagine two people working side by side, doing the same job and getting paid at those radically different rates? It’s outrageous,” Cherry said.

“With the history of troubles we’ve had with our employer, this isn’t such a big surprise,” said Jaglall Rabindrana, Vice-President of Local 26. “This offer is the latest and the worst one we received to date,” he said.

Slotex Inc. is a manufacturer of store fixtures, shelving and related products. It is a division of Legatt and Platt.

SOURCE:
Gary Hynes (416) 225-9003 (District 78 office)