5th Estate Severance, Termination Pay, Alumetco

The 5th Estate does a credible job following the bankruptcy of Edscha with additional commentary from Alumetco (CAW) closure in Brantford.

This is a must watch.

http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/the_education_of_brian_nicholl/

In 2007, the Ontario Liberals refused to help. It's no different in 2009.

The Ontario Liberals turned their backs on saving our jobs, our severance and our termination pay. Since 2007 the former employee of Genfast continue to hold the Federal and Provincial Governments accountable.

Since our closure, the Wage Earner Protection Act has come into law. Too late for Genfast Employees, however, this legislation helps those whose companies have declared bankruptcy or used bankruptcy provisions to continue global operations and avoid their legal obligations in Canada and Ontario.

As long as our governments allow the pillaging of our industrial sector, closures and orchestrated bankruptcies will remain to be a monthly occurance.

There is little indication that the government realizes the technology that is leaving and let alone the jobs that are lost.

Brantford District Labour Council

Brantford District Labour Council has a new website.

Check it out here.

http://www.brantfordlabourcouncil.ca/

Here are the thoughts of my friend Marc Laferriere after dropping into the Steelworker Action Centre on Friday.

http://www.brantmarc.ca/

I was visiting a packed house at the Steelworkers Action Centre BBQ today. I met with and heard some of the concerns of many of the recently and not-so-recently laid off in our community when the news hit. 350 more jobs lost as Raymond Industrial closes.Greg McMillan wrote a spot on piece (See Brantford.com blog)

http://brantford.com/columns.cfm?page=columns&section=read&titleId=363

that really looks at the effect on the workers and their families. I highly recommend it to get a sense of the human impact this closing had and will continue to have on our community. Here is a small taste:"I am guessing that just about everyone reading this knows of someone affected by the Raymond closing. That’s how much these workers are entrenched in the community...I hazard to guess that not since the major farm equipment manufacturing meltdown have we witnessed anything similar to this. It’s not pleasant to point out, but isn’t it a fact?

"The comments at the BBQ said it all. “I thought this recession was supposed to be over?” said a friend of mine. In Brantford the recession is definitely not over.

Food bank use increased 28% and continues to rise this year.

Local unemployment is at 13% and the national average sits at 8.7%. The gap between the local and national numbers is troubling. Big shiny cheques are delivered on the front pages of our local newspapers while the smaller cheques, the ones our workers used to feed their families are disappearing or moving to other countries. We paid into EI for years just to help us transition out of messes like this one.

It came off your pay cheque every payday. You paid for it, created a surplus for just such an occasion and they took it from you.

Tax cuts are made for businesses with no strings attached. They have used that money to set up shop overseas. We paid for that too.

I would much rather have had the wages that were taken from me go to help out the families of laid off workers. I don’t mind paying taxes if it means sustainable growth and if the money goes to the things we want it to go to like better health care, and a higher quality of life for our communities.

We need a prudent sensible plan. The NDP has one and I would invite you to read our platform on “Creating Jobs and Innovation in a New Energy Economy.”

In it we show how a Green-Collar Jobs fund is a sensible investment for our economy and our environment. How a Job Protection Commissioner is needed to investigate major layoffs and shut downs like the Raymond Plant or the many others that have hit us in the last several years.

It outlines a way to add pro-active measures to provide the right kind of atmosphere for job creation and innovation in all sectors not just for the oil companies and the banks. Sectors based strategies in manufacturing; petro-chemicals; environmental technologies; tool and die; machinery and equipment; tourism; media; telecommunications; and agriculture.Big shiny cheques are nice for those who get them but sustainable, forward thinking strategies are better for everyone.

Thanks Marc

We need a plan, tax cuts and trade agreements aren't plans.

Brian

Raymond

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1759761

Raymond Industrial Equipment, a manufacturer of forklifts and related equipment, is closing, putting several hundred people out of work, sources said Friday.
Employees were met by the news of the Elgin Street plant’s closure early Friday morning.
It is expected the plant will move its operations to the U.S. over the next several months. The plant’s parent company, Raymond Corporation, is headquartered in Greene, NY.

Raymonds to Close

I just got off the phone with a former Genfast Employee who had been working at Raymonds.
They announced their intention to close the operations.

Action Centre Usage RISES DRAMATICALLY

Hello all former USW workers. The Steelworker Action Centre is seeing unprecedented traffic. From other plant closings, walkin traffic and some of us who made it home free are getting caught in the next wave of closures. There may be no escaping what is happening out there. In another note. Alumetco should catch the attention of any former Genfast Worker. Locked out since November and then the company declares Bankruptcy.

Howard Hampton Coming To Brantford

The Campaign is gathering Momemtum. This is very Clear.

Howard Hampton Will be coming to Brantford,
Thursday October 4th,
2pm at Tim Hortons265 King George Road. (the newer one by Food Basics)

You are all welcome to come and join the campaign.

For more Info Call 519 751 9111 (Brant NDP)

Ontario Manufacturing Being Pillaged

Here is the Labour Day Article from the Brantford Expositor.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=678641&catname=Local%20News&classif=News

If the link doesn't work, just use the search feature and type in

Labour Day

Labour Day Parade a Success

Last year, 3767 took our Labour Day activities to Hamilton to experience the massive 12,000 to 15000 person labour day parade and engage in their park activities.

This year, there was no 3767 and I am certain everyone from Genfast went their own ways.

Today some People wore 3767 shirts and marched with the NDP. There were also some from Easton Coatings who joined us with the NDP.

The Parade ended at Brandos and Ian Deans and me spoke to our Brothers and Sisters from the other unions.

Ian Deans explained them to support the NDP. That only the NDP was going to put forward Labour Issues.

I spoke about the future of the labour market if we do not act.

Will they support us?

Temporary Agencies, Job Protection, Manufacturing, Wage Earner Protection,

Hello all Former Genfast and Easton Coatings Personell & Readers and Guests.

The Election is coming upon us and if the above issues are those you want addressed then I am going to ask for you help and I encourage you to volunteer for this campaign.Your ability to volunteer and join the campaign is going to make the difference.I am not impressed by these temporary agencies and I am not impressed by the actions of our government in addressing manufacturing issues, including Wage Protection and Job Protection.

We can use all the help we can get :

Sign Crews, (this is always fun)
Leafleting, (This is fun with exercise)
Going around with the Candidate. (This is also an enjoyable experience) (Ok its fun too)Telephoning supporters and informing the public. (This is one of the most important aspects to a successful campaign)

Find people with similar values and let them know that they can help too.A sign, A donation, and the ability to volunteer will be an excellent grassroots style campaign.

We have a Former Genfast Employee volunteer to help with the Web.

To Offer your help.Campaign Office Address: 105 Charing Cross, Brantford, ON, N3R2H8 Campaign Office Phone: 519 751 9111 Phone Anytime They are working year round.email Brian@brantndp.ca

NDP OFFICE OPENSMONDAY SEPT 3rd after the Labour Day Parade. (We will begin setting up) Furniture and help required, similar to how we set up the action centre. Lots of volunteers bringing in things to make it work.If you want, you can contact me personally, that's ok too.

Ontario NDP Commercial

The Ontario NDP are working on a commercial for the upcoming Campaign. They have asked me if I know anyone affected by the manufacturing job loss that would like to be part of their commercial.

I am not going to make this decision for you. If you want to be on Television, you know how to get in touch with me.

I will be forwarding a list of people I can get in touch with who are game.

This will take a bit of time, so if you read this late, contact me.
I will be sending in a list early tommorrow of anyone who is interested.

I have never made a commercial before, I don't have the details.

Contact me, via, phone or email ASAP, and I will make certain you are on the list.

Campaign School

To win the Provincial Election in September, we are going to need a strong campaign team.

I invite you to attend our Campaign School.

Saturday August 11th
1Pm to 6Pm
Echo Place Family Restaurant
781 Colborne St

(By Tellys Variety, the old Butches)

Thank You.

For more information
Dial 519 751 9111
www.brantndp.ca

USW Plant Takeover Videos on U-Tube

You may find these videos interesting.

WE travelled from Genfast to Koolatron and then to Masonite?

Here is the video. (You may see yourself in the video).
Masonite was the profitable company moving south.



There is also a video of the Collins and Aikman plant takeover.

And Finally there is a video of Bill Baker coming out of Hamilton Specialty Bar with the chains he used to fasten himself to the equipment.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mjmarty