- We start out discussing an article about PEIUPSE (PEI Union of Public Service Employees) strongly opposing a two-tier minimum wage. What good is it having a minimum wage if you can pay below it?
- Discussion on a report by ROC Michigan worker center on the Restaurant industry, Bad Jobs, and lots of them! ROC-Michigan's study is entitiled: Behind the Kitchen Door: Inequity and Opportunity in Metro Detroit's Growning Restaurant Industry.
- We discuss an article from Labornotes.org about the retreat of Pattern Bargaining, what it meant in the past and what it has evolved into today.
- The UAW-Ford workers are still feeling the high from their NO vote in October 2009 against concessions, the feeling lives on even now when management is trying dirty tricks, the workforce is emboldened by their win against concessions, giving them a feeling of power workers have not felt in a long time.
- We give a quick update on the Ontario College Teachers looming Strike, looks like we are still in limbo on the ballot count, we will keep you posted.
- We wrap up the show with an article posted on the Sudbury Star by USW local 6500 President John Fera rebutting the Vice President of Vale-Inco John Pollesel's comments towards International President Leo Gerard's statements in the media about Vale's unparalleled behaviour leading up to and durring the strike.
PEIUPSE strongly rejects two-tier minimum wage
http://www.nupge.ca/content/peiupse-strongly-rejects-two-tier-minimum-wage
Worker Center Reports on Restaurant Industry: Bad Jobs—and Lots of Them
http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2010/02/workers-center-reports-restaurant-industry-bad-jobs-and-lots-them
A Pattern of Retreat: The Decline of Pattern Bargaining
http://labornotes.org/2010/02/pattern-retreat-decline-pattern-bargaining
Ontario college strike possibility in limbo
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/02/17/ontario-college-strike-postponed.html
UAW–Ford 'No' vote still echoes through plants
http://labornotes.org/blogs/2010/02/october-uaw%E2%80%93ford-%E2%80%9Cno-vote%E2%80%9D-still-echoes-through-plants
What happened to 'prized nickel producer?' -Column by USW Local 6500 President John Fera
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2450804
WOHIS Health and safety Minute:
According to the Worker's Health and Safety Centre, "large numbers of Ontario workers are exposed to cold work environments with the potential for developing a serious and even fatal injury. These workers include individuals who work outside in the winter months such as construction workers, firefighters, traffic police, forestry, postal and utilities workers to name a few. There are others who work indoors in artificially cold environments year-round such as workers in meatpacking plants, slaughterhouses, food processing plants, and dairies. Individuals working in garages and warehouses where the doors are left open in the winter are also exposed to cold, damp air."
Exposure to too much cold can cause bodily or mental strain. The most dangerous and rapid heat loss occurs when clothing is wet, wind is high, surrounding surfaces are cold, or when the body is immersed in cold water. Various studies on effects of cold on workers show cold stress is a safety hazard. It impairs performance of both manual and complex mental tasks.
Workers exposed to cold environments are at risk. Unfortunately, Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act only has a general duty clause which requires employers to "take every precaution reasonable to protect worker health and safety." This would include working in cold environments indoors or outdoors.
The best way to prevent cold stress is to avoid, whenever possible, work in cold, damp environments and direct contact with freezing cold objects. However, for many workers these conditions cannot be avoided.
For continuous work in temperatures below the freezing point, heated warming shelters such as tents, cabins and rest rooms must be made available. The pace of work must not be so heavy as to cause excessive sweating. If such work is necessary, proper rest periods in a warm area must be provided. Further, time must be allowed for changing into dry clothes. New workers must be given enough time to get accustomed to cold and protective clothing before assuming a full work load.
The risk of cold injury can be minimized by: proper equipment design, protective clothing, training, and safe work practices.
For more information on working in cold environments, contact WOHIS - Windsor Occupational Health Information Service - at 519-254-5157 - or visit us at 3129 Marentette Avenue - behind the theatres at Devonshire Mall.
Visit our website at: www.wohis.org
Remember, you have the Right to a safe and healthy workplace!
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