Skilled Trades Association, CAW Local 199 St. Catharines (General Motors Unit) | ||||||
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To Gesele Nicholls MOL from CAW Local 199, Oct. 14, 2003 Dear Ms. Nichols I write to you requesting General Motors, St. Catharines location be prosecuted for violating the hours of work legislation outlined in the employment standards act. Over the past three years our Local Union’s position has been very clear to GM in writing, we do not support our members working over sixty hours a week. The issue of hours or work has always been sensitive to our Union due to the fact St. Catharines has over three hundred production and skilled workers on permanent layoff status. Local 199 and GM St. Catharines have a written contract (and) covered in our agreement (is the clause) that allows workers to voluntarily work fifty-six hours a week. As you are aware, the Ontario government allows employers to force workers to (work) forty-eight hours per week and allows sixty hours maximum, hours of work. Over the past several weeks our union has charted the number of hours worked over eight hours a day. As Chairperson, I have contacted all the appropriate levels of management stating the Union’s disapproval over the dramatic increase in members working more than eight hours a day. It was through these discussions that our Union noticed two things. The number of hours being worked was actually increasing each week and two; some members were working over the sixty-hour limit allowed under the employment standards act. This issue was raised to management with me promising to contact the MOL for prosecution if not corrected. GM’s position was “do what you have to do” Since this discussion, we have uncovered additional workers who have exceeded sixty hours of work per week. GM management has done nil to correct the issue and I personally feel they believe they are exempt from the law. As Chairperson, I could submit a grievance that would have no monetary impact on GM and would likely stay in the system unresolved for many months. Fines and a full audit of the workforce by the government would be a detriment. In short, I need government to help to force GM to honour the law. In closing, I am requesting that the employment standards act regarding hours of work be adhered to by General Motors and enforced by the Ontario government. GM does not have an agreement with the CAW or a government directors approval to work such (extended) hours. Your immediate enforcement and co-operation is appreciated. Sincerely, Doug Orr | ||||||
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