Dear Local 79 Sisters and Brothers at TCHC:

TCHC management and the leadership of Local 416 held a secret meeting with part-time members in the Local 79 Bargaining Unit at the end of March. Immediately following the meeting, TCHC posted positions, with Local 79 duties, in the Local 416 Bargaining Unit. At the meeting, Local 79 members were told that they could apply for the posted positions – at a significantly lower level of pay. Local 79 has spent significant time and resources working on the terms and conditions of employment for part-time members at TCHC. An arbitrator awarded terms and conditions which were amended at the bargaining table. Local 79 considers the actions taken by TCHC and Local 416 an egregious violation of the Labour Relations Act and the Collective Agreement. We have filed charges at the Labour Board against both TCHC and Local 416, filed grievances under the Collective Agreement, and we are considering other actions on behalf of our members.

Following our review of Alternate Rate, Temporary Employee, and Vacancy, Local 79 recently sent a letter to TCHC requesting a copy of their Budgeted Complement, broken down by Division and Sector by Local 79 classification.

Local 79 understands that TCHC is in the process of restructuring the Finance Department, including the Procurement Section, and has asked that TCHC schedule a meeting with us as soon as possible to discuss any proposed changes.

At the end of last month, Local 79 sent more than a dozen members to the Municipal Political Action Conference. Organized by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the event focused on the importance of electing City Councillors in October who will support strong public services, healthy communities, and good jobs. Local 79, along with other Unions, can have a significant impact on the composition of the next Toronto City Council.

A Provincial Election is still a distinct possibility in the upcoming months and I hope that all Local 79 members will help to elect a government in Ontario that supports public services, respects bargaining rights, and gives people a clear path out of poverty. Local 79 will be putting together information for our members, if and when an election is called, so please check our website regularly.

As part of Local 79’s on-going engagement with our city’s communities, we sponsored the recent 2014 City Ball Hockey Tournament. While delivering some remarks, I was pleased to see so many young people from the diverse communities across Toronto enjoying the event. Local 79’s involvement with this exciting sports initiative helped provide a fun and safe environment for Toronto’s children to further develop their athletic and life skills.

April 28^th is the National Day of Mourning, when we pause and remember all workers who have been injured, made sick, or killed on the job. The 2014 service will be held on Monday, April 28^th at 12 noon at Larry Sefton Park, Bay and Hagerman Street. (Behind Toronto City Hall)

We work hard at Local 79 to get our members special offers and savings from different businesses in Toronto. Please visit the Members’ Portal from the Local 79 website to find out the latest information on companies that want Local 79 members as customers, and are offering us discounts as an incentive.

The month of May provides several occasions to celebrate the rich diversity of Local 79 and the City of Toronto. May is Asian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario, and May 17^th is the International Day Against Homophobia. 

Applications for the 2014 Alex Gregory Memorial Scholarship will be accepted for students who are in their final year of secondary school in Ontario, and are registered in a post-secondary institution this fall. Five scholarships for $500 each will be awarded to children of current or retired members. Please contact (416) 977-1629 extension 250 for more information.

Tired of the winter cold? Be sure to mark these events in your calendar and don’t miss the summer fun! WorldPride 2014 Parade on Sunday, June 29^th, Local 79’s second “Old-Fashioned” Picnic on Saturday, June 21^st at High Park, the Local 79 Annual Picnic on July 23^rd and 24^th at Wild Water Kingdom, Scotiabank Caribbean Festival on Saturday, August 2^nd, Labour Day on Monday, September 1^st. Keep a look out for more details in the next President’s Report and on our website.

In Solidarity,

Tim Maguire

President