Steelworker Action Centre

The Steelworker Action Centre is tentatively confirmed to remain open for another 1 year contract.

VICTORY PARTY

Brian Van Tilborg / Brant NDP
Campaign Election Night Party
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Echo Place Family Restaurant
781 Colborne Street East (near Echo Villa Avenue) Brantford, ON

IF YOU ARE READING THIS......
YOU ARE INVITED....
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE THIS NIGHT
COME OUT AND HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH ME
BRIAN

Training Funds

If you are interested in College, Training, Specialty courses, and help with your current training program, come in to the Action Centre. We have a training fund for you. We are here to help.

Successful Move

We have moved into our new location.
Everything was set up and working within 22 hours.

Not bad at all. Traffic has been steady, and we haven't even had alot of opportunity to make it known that we have moved.

Make certain you pass around the info to anyone you meet, that we have moved.

Moving Date

We are moving FROM

44 Elgin ST

TO

249 Murray ST

ON

WEDNESDAY JULY 23rdS

Barbecue and Pot Luck.. Saturday June 21st

The Action Centre is having a Barbecue and Pot Luck Lunch
June 21st
11am to 2 pm
44 Elgin St.Brantford, Ontario

Welcome Saturday June 21st for a general get together for all the people of CRANE, AMCAN, EASTON COATINGS and GENFAST.

You are welcome to drop into the centre even if for the first time or to renew old aquaintances and networking.

Donations of Hotdogs, Hamburgers and Buns prior to this event will be appreciated.

PS. Prior to the Genfast Plant Closure, some of us were working on a Motorcycle ride. Your bikes are welcome Saturday, maybe an impromptu ride will happen.

Easton Coatings Severance Payout

Former Employees of Easton Coatings severance cheques went out before May 31st. If you are reading this and you are a former Easton Coatings employee, and have not received your severance pay,contact:

Rob Mason
USW Regional Rep.
905 545 3008

I want to thank Dale Rivers for putting in a lot of effort to make direct contact with many of the Easton Employees to make certain their contact information was accurate.

Provincial Liberals Stick it to Workers

http://www.thespec.com/article/351349

Derek Price forwarded this article from Hamilton.
The bill to protect wages, etc was to be debated and then go to a third reading.

The Committee shelved it....

Does this government do nothing to help secure the wages/severance/vacation pay of anyone but themselves?

Steelworker Action Centre

The Steelworker Action Centre will be in operation for another year.

If you are looking for
Receiver Information
Severance Information
Pension Information
Retirement Information
Career Information
Training Funds
Job Postings
Job Leads
Resumes
Computers
Faxes

and help from the friends you worked with...Drop in and see us

Bob Havens has offered to donate coffee. It's on him..... Free Coffee.

Who can use the Centre.
Anyone laid off within the last 2 years from ANY USW workplace.
You may use the services of the action centre even if you are working/retired/semi retired or in a training program.

Anyone Salaried, or Bargaining Unit from....
Genfast Manufacturing
Easton Coatings
Crane Canada

Action Centre and Job Finding Club

The Job Finding Club has been well attended. While doing this myself, and having my own doubts at the start. I am very encouraged. One member of the club has already been hired. Many of us have had interviews, some on their 2nd. So far so good.

The Action Centre has been steady as usual with only one slower day this week. Rob Abbott was a pretty lonely guy helping us out.

The rest of the week was pretty busy here.

Don't forget to drop in have a look while on your travells whether you are looking for a job or already have one or have retired.

I was just in contact today with Rob Rowe who I hadn't heard from since the closure.

I hope your reading this Rob, that way you can keep in touch with what some of us are doing.

And don't forget about Graham Jones Blog either. Genfast Updates.

Another thing, is that I have gotten to know alot of people from Easton Coatings, particularly this week. I hope others from there read here every now and again and know they are welcome to drop into the centre and use the services here. This is a place for you too and you can keep up to date on others.

The City of Brantford has contacted me.

Millrights, Machinists, Mechanics (skilled Trades) are in demand. I know that some of you guys are in school upgrading or maybe your new job is closing up shop too.

Keep your co workers in mind, let them know if you see them, to keep us informed of their current status.

Peer Helper Training

Peer Helper Training will be held for one day only.

Thursday January 10th 2008.Sign up is limited to 6 people.

If you are interested in becoming a peer helper, contact the action centre.

Christmas Party Reminder

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19th
12 NOON Till Close
44 Elgin ST
Brantford

519 752 3333

POT LUCK

NEVER TOO LATE !!!

Hello Dave

Thanks for coming out to the rally regardless of the bad weather. While you missed most of the festivities here is a quick rundown of what happened.

Well we did it again.

A successful rally, with supporters from various community groups managed to come out from winters blizzard and send a Seasons Greetings Messages to the Temporary Staffing Agencies.Also in attendance where a half a dozen former Genfast/Easton Coating employees, some who came in on the off shift of their new jobs, to show support in holding temp agencies accountable for their lack of holiday spirit.

Temporary Employment/Staffing Agencies do not pay stat holiday pay and some of those that do create rules that are below the minimum written in the Employment Standards Act.It was good to see men and women with their holiday festival red hats coming out to support the spirit of giving this Christmas/New Years Holiday.

Meanwhile, Labour Ready, the place we choose to bring our holiday cheer, were overcome by Scrooge like tendencies, heckling and cat calling us as we spoke. Their smiles turned to sneers and jeers when, we said that we hope they aren't engaging in acts that violate the employment standards. While reading various violations, that some temp agencies have been taken to task over, it appears we may have hit a nerve.

All in all a fun time was had by all.

Thanks to those who could come out under such difficult weather circumstances, and thanks to those who support us in the spirit of our actions and goodwill.

Oh Yes, and Dave, With that Red Hat on, I almost mistook you for someone else.... :)

Ho Ho Ho

Brian

Christmas Holiday Party REMINDER

This is a reminder that the Christmas Party POTLUCK LUNCH will be at the STEELWORKER ACTION CENTRE on DECEMBER 19th, 2007. We will be closed from December 20th until January 2nd.

519 752 3333
44 Elgin ST
Brantford

Job Finding Club

The action centre will be hosting a Job Finding Club in the new year.With EI soon to expire, we felt that it is in our best interest to take on this program. As of this moment we can accomodate only 12 people. The success rate of this program is excellent.

To Register or have your spot held...Contact

Steelworker Action Centre 519 752 3333
email:genfastajustmentcenter@bellnet.ca

Or come visit and we will register you here while you have a coffee
at
44 Elgin St.Brantford, Ontario

Holiday Party and Pot Luck

There will be a Christmas/Holiday Gathering at the action Centre.
All Former Genfast, Eaton Coatings Employees and Unemployed Steelworkers are invited.

WHEN : DECEMBER 19th, 12 NOON till.....
WHERE: 44 Elgin ST, Brantford
WHAT: POT LUCK, Good Times.

Worker Welcome Part 2

We are having another Worker Welcome to showcase our new location.


Feel Free to come out on

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24
44 Elgin St.
Brantford

10 AM till 2 Pm

Thank You

HelloI am back at the Action Centre today.

I want to thank all those from Easton Coatings and Genfast who took a sign, showed support, came out and volunteered, or just simply cheered me on in my bid for election.

We stuck to the issues, yet people have a right to be cynical. Almost half the voters stayed home, some 49%, which means those that didn't vote represent more people then voted for the incumbent. That is how turned off and disillusioned people have become. I understand this cynicism as I often share it, but I will vote, participate and do whatever is required, because it is important. Change can occur with the conviction to follow through and make your voice heard.

I rejoin you all as another former worker from a closed manufacturing plant, who is going to use the action centre services to find fulltime steady employment.Congratulations to all who have done so, in the meantime, don't forget about what we set out to do.

Shortly after the election another plant was occupied by workers trying to get severance from a bankrupt company. They were successfull in coming to a deal for 70% of their severance, whereas nothing was being offered by the company prior to the takeover.


Again, thanks for your support.


Well see what happens next time around :)

Brian.

NEW LOCATION For ACTION CENTRE

I dropped in yesterday to the new location of the Steelworker Action Centre. Everything has been moved and most everything is up and running. Really impressive for a one day move.

The New Location for the Centre is

44 Elgin St. Brantford.
On the Main Floor.
Call 752 3333

for more information.

Steel Worker Action Centre Coordinator

Linda Montgomery has accepted the position as the Action Centre Coordinator. Linda has participated as a peer helper at the action centre and has previous experience in 2 other downsizings and plant closures