Friday, November 21, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
BOYCOTT PETRO-CANADA IN SUPPORT OF LOCKED-OUT
MONTREAL WORKERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Regina, SK) – Members of Canada’s largest energy workers’ union are picketing selected Petro-Canada gas stations today in support of locked-out workers at the Montreal refinery.
Petro-Canada locked out 260 workers of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) on November 17, 2007, refusing to give them the same contract it has already agreed to with its workers in other provinces.
To mark the first year of the lock-out, CEP has declared today a National Day of Action and urges motorists to boycott Petro-Canada gas stations until the end of the lock-out.
An information picket line will go up today at: Regina, Saskatchewan
November 21, 2008 8:00am-4:00pm
481 Albert St. North-Northgate Mall
2020 Coleman St.
November 22, 2008 10:00am-4:00pm
481 Albert St. North-Northgate Mall
2020 Coleman St.
"With record profits, this lock-out is not about money", says CEP President Dave Coles. "This is an attempt to break the union – in particular of pattern bargaining in the energy sector. "
Over the last year, Petro-Canada has been found guilty of operating using illegal scabs, of intimidating and threatening workers and of ignoring orders to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.
"Running a refinery on a skeleton staff, who are working extremely long hours is a recipe for disaster", says Dave Coles. The Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Workers Health and Safety Commission and the City of Montreal have launched inquiries about disturbing safety and environmental incidents.
The Canadian Labour Congress and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have called for a national boycott campaign of Petro-Canada until the company ends the lockout.
"We will stand by our 260 colleagues for as long as it takes" says CEP Local 594 President Kevin Bittman. "We hope for a fair settlement soon."
CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of workplaces which includes most of Saskatchewan’s Crown Corporations, the petrochemical industry, pulp and paper plants, the television industry, the printing and graphical sector and the hospitality industry.
MORE INFORMATION:
Kevin Bittman
CEP Local 594 President
529-0322
BOYCOTT PETRO-CANADA IN SUPPORT OF LOCKED-OUT
MONTREAL WORKERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Regina, SK) – Members of Canada’s largest energy workers’ union are picketing selected Petro-Canada gas stations today in support of locked-out workers at the Montreal refinery.
Petro-Canada locked out 260 workers of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) on November 17, 2007, refusing to give them the same contract it has already agreed to with its workers in other provinces.
To mark the first year of the lock-out, CEP has declared today a National Day of Action and urges motorists to boycott Petro-Canada gas stations until the end of the lock-out.
An information picket line will go up today at: Regina, Saskatchewan
November 21, 2008 8:00am-4:00pm
481 Albert St. North-Northgate Mall
2020 Coleman St.
November 22, 2008 10:00am-4:00pm
481 Albert St. North-Northgate Mall
2020 Coleman St.
"With record profits, this lock-out is not about money", says CEP President Dave Coles. "This is an attempt to break the union – in particular of pattern bargaining in the energy sector. "
Over the last year, Petro-Canada has been found guilty of operating using illegal scabs, of intimidating and threatening workers and of ignoring orders to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.
"Running a refinery on a skeleton staff, who are working extremely long hours is a recipe for disaster", says Dave Coles. The Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Workers Health and Safety Commission and the City of Montreal have launched inquiries about disturbing safety and environmental incidents.
The Canadian Labour Congress and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have called for a national boycott campaign of Petro-Canada until the company ends the lockout.
"We will stand by our 260 colleagues for as long as it takes" says CEP Local 594 President Kevin Bittman. "We hope for a fair settlement soon."
CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of workplaces which includes most of Saskatchewan’s Crown Corporations, the petrochemical industry, pulp and paper plants, the television industry, the printing and graphical sector and the hospitality industry.
MORE INFORMATION:
Kevin Bittman
CEP Local 594 President
529-0322
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Health And Safety
By George Brailean, OH&S Co-chair
When I first saw the cartoon and caption that was added to the January Conciliator article
submitted by OH&S Rep Wade Hillmer, my initial reaction was that it’s a little much and
not a true reflection of what I knew as the safety standard of our workplace. The most
recent incident in the Coker of February 7th, makes me think that the cartoon captioned
"We'll fix the machine after the next worker gets hurt" was more appropriate for this
situation than I would have liked. We accepted the existence of a known hazard within
the confines of a Isolation and could not conclusively assure all the condensate was
removed.
There were several efforts made to resolve this by the work groups involved, and OH&S
Reps on both sides of the table. Not to mention our OH&S Officer was told on 2 separate
occasions that I know of, that the matter was to be resolved "within the week". All I can
say is Coop luck has struck again and we are fortunate that this latest incident did not
result in a injury.
The matter was resolved in mere hours, with the fabrication and installation of spool(s).
Obviously this modification was known of and available all along, because few things get
done that quickly. But only in reaction to the Decokers being exposed to yet another
incident, was it decided to be worth pursuing. This incident would have never occurred if
the matter had been resolved satisfactorily as requested. Our Maintenance and/or Process
Departments decided it was not imperative that the modifications be made at this time
and would wait for Turnaround. That’s a pretty easy decision to make if you are in an
office considering there is zero chance you would be directly involved should things not
go as you anticipate. Risk management I guess. Apparently, we aren't as good at it as we
think.
That being said, I have every reason to believe that Safety is Priority 1 as mandated by
our Plant Manager. The Coker saga and how it has been drawn out, makes one wonder if
everyone's understanding of 'Safety First' is the same? And yes, safety can get in the way
of getting things done, as well it should. Until I hear different from the corner office, it's
Safety First.
The bottom line is this is ‘Our’ Safety Program. Without us, it’s just hype and paper. We
get paid by the hour to work, and to work safely. The Company is without a doubt
committed to safety and one would be a fool to say otherwise. We, the workers, have the
final say by refusing to perform unusually dangerous work. Ideally, it should never be
required, but it is our right as provided in Section 23 of the OH&S Regulations.
If You have any comments, questions or concerns, please contact myself or any one of
Your OH&S Committee Reps. Thanks and let's continue to look out for one another.
When I first saw the cartoon and caption that was added to the January Conciliator article
submitted by OH&S Rep Wade Hillmer, my initial reaction was that it’s a little much and
not a true reflection of what I knew as the safety standard of our workplace. The most
recent incident in the Coker of February 7th, makes me think that the cartoon captioned
"We'll fix the machine after the next worker gets hurt" was more appropriate for this
situation than I would have liked. We accepted the existence of a known hazard within
the confines of a Isolation and could not conclusively assure all the condensate was
removed.
There were several efforts made to resolve this by the work groups involved, and OH&S
Reps on both sides of the table. Not to mention our OH&S Officer was told on 2 separate
occasions that I know of, that the matter was to be resolved "within the week". All I can
say is Coop luck has struck again and we are fortunate that this latest incident did not
result in a injury.
The matter was resolved in mere hours, with the fabrication and installation of spool(s).
Obviously this modification was known of and available all along, because few things get
done that quickly. But only in reaction to the Decokers being exposed to yet another
incident, was it decided to be worth pursuing. This incident would have never occurred if
the matter had been resolved satisfactorily as requested. Our Maintenance and/or Process
Departments decided it was not imperative that the modifications be made at this time
and would wait for Turnaround. That’s a pretty easy decision to make if you are in an
office considering there is zero chance you would be directly involved should things not
go as you anticipate. Risk management I guess. Apparently, we aren't as good at it as we
think.
That being said, I have every reason to believe that Safety is Priority 1 as mandated by
our Plant Manager. The Coker saga and how it has been drawn out, makes one wonder if
everyone's understanding of 'Safety First' is the same? And yes, safety can get in the way
of getting things done, as well it should. Until I hear different from the corner office, it's
Safety First.
The bottom line is this is ‘Our’ Safety Program. Without us, it’s just hype and paper. We
get paid by the hour to work, and to work safely. The Company is without a doubt
committed to safety and one would be a fool to say otherwise. We, the workers, have the
final say by refusing to perform unusually dangerous work. Ideally, it should never be
required, but it is our right as provided in Section 23 of the OH&S Regulations.
If You have any comments, questions or concerns, please contact myself or any one of
Your OH&S Committee Reps. Thanks and let's continue to look out for one another.
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