Monday, April 20, 2009

And The CAW is to Blame......

Tired

"Our complaints are legitimate, but the complaints aren't changing anything. And the fat cats get fatter, and they scoff at our complaints like they're only a big fat joke. This is not a new problem. SO what can we do to actually change this stuff. It's time, and people the little people are listening. "

By Michael Brush - April 16, 2009

As millions of people cope with job losses and struggle to make ends meet, there's been only a little belt tightening in the corner offices.

Despite terrible performances that cost lots of jobs and produced huge shareholder losses, hundreds of CEOs pocketed millions in bonus pay last year -- thanks to good friends on company boards.

Consider the Ryland Group (RYL.N) CEO whose bonus went up in 2008 compared with 2007, though more than a third of the homebuilder's employees got the boot. Or the Honeywell International (HON.N) chief who missed the benchmarks for his annual bonus -- and got $3.5 million anyway.

All told: CEOs earn big bonuses for bad year

* Among all the Fortune 1,000 companies, nearly 400 CEOs got bonuses last year, taking home $402 million in annual bonus pay, according to Equilar, an executive compensation research firm. But that's only part of the picture; more bonus pay figures will roll in as additional companies file reports on 2008.

* These privileged CEOs got an additional $66 million in "discretionary" bonus pay. Annual bonuses are linked to some performance target, while boards can hand out discretionary bonuses for whatever reason they choose.

* These bonuses topped off already-large pay packages. CEOs at larger companies earned about $10 million on average last year, according to Equilar.




Sunday, April 19, 2009

(CBS) The effects of the current economic crisis have touched everyone. Even if you still have a good job and a paid up mortgage, chances are your monthly 401(k) statement will remind you that you've lost a good chunk of your savings.

Trillions of dollars have evaporated from those accounts that have become the prime source of retirement funds for a majority of American workers, affecting their psyche and their future. If you are still young enough, there's time to rebuild and recover, but if you are in your 50s, 60s or beyond the consequences can be dire, and its drawing attention to the shortcomings of a retirement system that has jeopardized the financial security of tens of millions of people.

Retirement Dreams Disappear With 401(k)s

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Hot Air on Wind Energy

Don't expect wind power to replace coal as the nation's main source of electric power, whatever Obama's interior secretary said.

Summary

Friday, April 17, 2009

Day Of Mourning

April 28, 2009 is the 25th anniversary of
the founding of the International Day of
Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured on
the Job. Initiated by the labour movement
through the Canadian Labour Congress in
1984, the day has taken on more significance
and is marked around the world.
Thirty one workers were killed on the job
in Saskatchewan during 2008. Ceremonies
to honour those killed and injured on the job
will take place at the following:


Estevan & District Labour
Committee Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00
pm at the Estevan provincial courthouse
lawn in front of the Coal Car Memorial.
Call Delaine Turner at 306-634-5268 or
306-421-8333.

Humboldt & District Labour Council
Call Bryan Barnes at 306-682-4466.

Moose Jaw & District Labour
Council Tuesday, April 28th at 6:00 pm
at the Moose Jaw Union Centre (1402
Caribou St. W.) Call the office at 306-
692-8046.

North Battleford & District Labour
Council Contact Colin Lemauviel at
coconb@sasktel.net.

Prince Albert & District Labour
Council Tuesday, April 28th at 5:00 pm
at the City Hall courtyard. Call Faye Hill
at 306-922-0600.

Regina & District Labour Council
Tuesday, April 28th at 5:30 p.m. in front
of the Caron in the City Hall courtyard.
Call the RDLC office at 306-757-7076 or
rdlc@sasktel.net.

Saskatoon & District Labour
Council Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m.
at the Francis Morrison Library (311-23rd
Street East). Call Kelly Harrington,
president at 306-384-0303.

Weyburn & District Labour Council
Monday, April 27th at 6:30 p.m. behind
the TC Douglas Calvary Centre (400-
10th Ave. SE). Call Wanda Bartlett at
306-842-7938.

Yorkton & District Labour Council
Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. on the
front lawn of A-180 Broadway St. W. in
Yorkton. Call Maryann Federko at 306-
621-8948.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Friday's With 2067

IBEW manager says agreement was no behind the scenes deal

By Norm Park - Estevan Mercury

Contrary to what appeared in an April 9 press release from the CBC, stating that a deal between a union and Bruce Power was being crafted behind the scenes, the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2067 said it just isn't that way at all.

"There's no closed door, conspiracy thing going on at all," said Neil Collins. "That's not how I work, that's not how the IBEW works," he said.

In fact, he said the membership of the IBEW local that represents about 1,600 workers, has been kept abreast of unfolding scenarios surrounding the possibilities of nuclear power generation in Saskatchewan since talk about it irst began in earnest.

Bruce Power is considering construction of a nuclear power plant while IBEW Local 2067 represents employees at SaskPower's coal-fired power plants.

Copies of the agreement signed by Bruce Power president Duncan Hawthorne and Collins were sent to IBEW members a couple of weeks ago.

The letter of agreement notes that if a nuclear power plant(s) does eventually get a green light to produce up to 2,200 megawatts of electrical power in Saskatchewan, the IBEW will be the integral part of the operations and maintenance of the facility while not negatively impacting any of the existing generating facilties or their IBEW employees.

The union, in the letter, also agrees to work with Bruce Power on nuclear advocacy and development of a communications protocol with regards to nuclear power.

According to Collins, the discussions and their results have been made known to the IBEW membership all along.

If approval is gained for a nuclear plant, probably located somewhere between Lloydminster and Prince Albert near the Saskatchewan River, construction could begin as early as 2017 or 2018.

"I'm just looking after the interests of the union members, the future," said Collins. "If a nuclear plant is going to be built here, who would you like to have operating it? Do you want the local guys or someone from somewhere else? If it is going to be Local 2067, then it will involve extensive and intensive training for a few years."

Collins denied that he or anyone else is undermining the coal generating plants in the SaskPower system by climbing into an agreement with the nuclear front runner company.

"Coal is in the future. There is a 300 year supply of it around Estevan. Clean coal projects will move ahead. We can be a global leader with clean coal. If we develop nuclear, I would guess that as much as 70 per cent of it might be exported. They'd probably have to do that to make the nuclear argument," said Collins.

"I see Boundary Dam and Shand being retrofitted for clean coal once it's proven. We can advance that technology with the Boundary Dam Unit 3 retrofit and there would be nothing stopping Saskatchewan from building the first greenfield clean coal power plant. So for anyone to suggest that I, or anyone in the union is talking about coal being on the way out, it's just not correct," said Collins.

When asked why there was a type of negative news tone to the information that was released to the public, Collins said he was not sure as to what was going on there.

"There are no games being played here, not on my part anyway," he said. "I'm just looking out for our members. We operate an electrical grid system already. If you're coming to Saskatchewan to make power, we have the expertise to assist you. If someone wants to operate it, maybe you'd want our guys, well trained, upgraded skills and tested.

If our union has the opportunity, I want to tell our union members they are in the mix. Heck, we've been discussing this for over two years now. I've never hidden that fact. We all knew discussions were going toward such a deal. I've talked with The Mercury and other news organizations about this," Collins added.

"I don't mind getting hammered if I make a mistake, but I haven't hidden anything here like that news story suggested. The membership knows we've been talking about this for years, including all the coal options. We've been talking with the United Mine Workers too ... long before this letter was signed. We're not selling the farm or backing away from coal fueled power generating plants," Collins said.

The IBEW business manager said that instead of looking for a conspiracy scenario, perhaps people should be looking on the bright side of resource development in the province.

"Look at all the forms of power generation we have already. We can do small or large projects, but we know that in the future there will be a huge demand. If oil and potash keep moving forward, they'll require power. It's a supply and demand world and if the supply side becomes limited then we'll have rolling brownouts and stalled building projects. That's why we'll always need the coal and we'll have to build on coal. Demands will double in no time. Electricity can be used as a commodity itself. Sell it."

Collins said that since Bruce Power is a private company, they will operate differently than a Crown corporation like SaskPower. They'll be looking at best value for the dollars invested and "I want my membership to have an opportunity to speak up if a private company comes here to make power and to sell it. I just figure that all the smart people will continue to look at all kinds of options. We're already blessed with what we have.

"I hate it when we sell ourselves short because we choose to be negative with anything that might be new or different from what we've had. We can compete with anyone on this globe. We just have to get on with it. We have the technology, the intellectual firepower, the knowledge from the past. Look at the PhD crowd we could attract here to tie into this mix, if we'd only just look at all our assets and get moving. We don't need to be constantly negative, we should be excited about the prospects. Let's ship our clean coal technology around the world, let's be cutting edge with clean coal," Collins said in conclusion.

The provincial government has just released information with regards to the panel that will be formed to conduct a series of hearings throughout the province that will ask Saskatchewan's citizens to respond to the concept of a nuclear power generating plant within its boundaries. The series will take the committee, headed by Dan Perrins, to nine centres within the next few weeks with one of those stops being Estevan.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I.B.E.W. Local 2067 supports nuclear and other future electricity generation options.

For Immediate Release

REGINA Apr 9th – I.B.E.W. Local 2067 has signed a letter of agreement with Bruce Power in support of the further development of the nuclear option in Saskatchewan. The agreement was delivered to the I.B.E.W. Local 2067 membership, along with other information, on April 3, 2009.

“This is an opportunity for our Local to expand on our expertise as the biggest union in the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity in the province of Saskatchewan,” said Neil Collins, I.B.E.W. Local 2067 Business Manager & Financial Secretary. “We look forward to continuing to work with Bruce Power and with our membership as the development of nuclear power continues in Saskatchewan.”

In addition to nuclear power, I.B.E.W. Local 2067 also continues to support the development of other forms of generation supply.

“We have been active supporters of the development of clean coal in the province, and that support remains,” Collins said. “We support the Government of Saskatchewan’s view that a diverse generation mix is in Saskatchewan’s best interests.”

I.B.E.W. Local 2067 members currently work at all of SaskPower’s power stations, which include coal, wind, natural gas and hydro generation.

“As Saskatchewan continues to grow and prosper so will our need for clean electricity,” Collins added.

A copy of the letter sent to the Union membership is attached.

For additional information contact:

Neil Collins
Business Manager & Financial Secretary
I.B.E.W. Local 2067
(306) 352-1433

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2067 has 1690 members throughout Saskatchewan. Our Local Union represents electrical workers in the operating, maintenance & line staff with SaskPower, mine operating and maintenance staff with Sherritt Coal in Coronach at the Poplar River Mine and electrical workers with the City of Swift Current Light and Power.

IBEW Local 2067 Encouraged by Bruce Power Feasibility Study Findings

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Ontario court says RCMP officers entitled to a union

The existing RCMP Act 'interferes with the freedom of members of the RCMP to engage in collective bargaining.' - Justice Ian MacDonnell.

Toronto (8 April 2009) - Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have the right to form a union, an Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled in what may become a landmark decision for labour rights in Canada.

In a ruling this week, Justice Ian MacDonnell struck down a section of the RCMP Act that precludes unionization on grounds that it violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He gave the federal government 18 months to alter existing legislation and bring its practices into conformity with his ruling.

Read More HERE