November 2019 Volume 6, Issue 13 Unifor5555 UNIT 1 BARGAINING UPDATE

Dear Unit 1 members of Unifor Local 5555, This update is to inform you that on November 7, 2019, this Bill received Royal Assent, which As most of you are aware, our most recent round is the final stage in the approval of a Bill in the of negotiations was interrupted by the Provincial Legislature. What this means for the introduction of Bill 124 into the Provincial membership of Unit 1 is that the contingency Legislature by the Ford Government. The Bill increase of .5% will not be realized. It is titled, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for important to note, as I understand not future Generations passed the first reading on everyone has the time to take a deep dive into June 5, 2019, just one day prior to the Provincial the language of this Bill, that if we were not Government taking a 5-month summer break. subject to the terms of the 3-year moderation The content of this Bill was to impose a 3-year period now, our next agreement would have moderation period that prescribed a cap on total been subject to it. There is no way to know what compensation for Public Sector employees (in will unfold at the end of this moderation period, organizations that receive $1M in funding or but you can be assured that your local Union will more) at 1% over this period. Your local continue to fight against the Ford Government’s leadership sought out more information and went attempt to undermine our collective bargaining so far as to send delegates to the first power at the polls and in the halls of our consultation and a recent round of consultations Provincial Legislature. hosted by the Ford Government. What we knew was that this Bill was only in its first reading and In solidarity, that when we returned to negotiations after not reaching a deal in April of 2019, that we would Sarah-Kai Antanaitis fight it with all the support and knowledge from Unit 1 Chairperson our national office. When we reconvened for what turned out to be the final days of bargaining for Unit 1 in July 2019, the University made it clear that although this Bill had only passed the first reading, that they were not prepared to approve any deal that provided the membership with a total compensation greater than 1%. Needless to say, this was a frustrating time for your Unit 1 Bargaining Committee. Through the negotiation process, the parties agreed to a contingency plan for an additional .5% increase if the Bill did not pass its final reading. NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND ACTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

NATIONAL DAY OF December 6th began as a starting at the Student Memorial Garden in front day to remember the mass shooting of fourteen of MUSC. The first stop is the Nina DeVilliers women on December 6, 1989 at Ecole Garden in front of University Hall. The second Polytechnique in Montreal, in what became stop is at John Hodgins Engineering Building at known as the Montreal Massacre. At the school, the Memorial Stone acknowledging the murdered gunman Marc Lepine entered an engineering women at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. The class and separated the women from the men. final stop is in front of the Wilson Building at the Marc Lepin announced that he was “fighting Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls feminism”, ordered the men to leave and shot Memorial Stone. Each stop will be 5-7 minutes all nine women who were in the class, killing six in length, inviting participants to reflect in silence of them. He then started roaming through the or share aloud, then walk together to each school, targeting women and shooting them, location. before killing himself. By the end of his shooting spree, fourteen women were dead, ten women The third event taking place on Campus is injured, and four men injured. This was the sponsored by the faculty of Engineering and is deadliest school shooting in Canada. the 30th Anniversary Polytechnique Commemoration at the John Hodgins December 6th is now known as the National Day Engineering Building (JHE) Patio from 4-5:30pm. of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. At McMaster, December 6th is also a *Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report on day to remember the missing and murdered the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, who number in the Indigenous Women and Girls. thousands. In Canada, from 2001 to 2015, the number of Indigenous women who were victims of homicide increased from 9% of all homicide victims in 2001, to 24% in 2015.*

The Red Dress (or REDress) Project is a public art installation dedicated to the remembrance of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It consists of red dresses which will be hung and displayed around campus. Metis artist, Jaime Black began the project in 2000. There will be a commemorative event on Campus on December 6th from 11:30am to 1:30pm in CIBC Hall. The guest speaker will be Jaime Black, the Red Dress project artist. For program details, visit [email protected]/events.

There are two other events on Campus on December 6th. There is a Men’s Walk in Solidarity with the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The walk is from 10am to 11am, Men’s Walk December 6th- in the morning, every year.

On Dec 6. 1989, a young man walked into ’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, separated men and women and shot and murdered 14 women, injuring 14 other students, screaming that they were a “bunch of feminists”, before killing himself.

Each year, a group of men and male identified people gather on December 6th for a walk around campus on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to think about the 1989 massacre at “Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, gender-based violence and violence against women and how these matters relate to us and McMaster University.

At each stop one volunteer takes a rose and places it at the commemorative marker and is invited to share why they are here today. Each stop is ended with a moment of silence.

We gather…

Planter outside of Student Centre: John Hodgins Engineering Building: This is often where we begin the walk, Our next stop is the John Hodgins introduce ourselves to one another. We stop Engineering Building where we convene in to think about students who have passed from of the stone memorial at McMaster to away here at McMaster University. On this commemorate and remember those who day we think about the 5 women who have were murdered in 1989 at ‘Ecole been killed from McMaster specifically. Polytechnique, Montreal.

Prepared by: Ameil J. Joseph December, 2018 Rose Garden: Wilson Building: In September 1993, the Nina de Villiers Here, we gather to think about the over 1200 Garden was opened in front of Convocation Indigenous women and girls who have gone Hall. Twenty-year-old de Villiers was a missing or murdered in Canada over the last student at McMaster when she was abducted 20 years. and killed by a violent offender while jogging in Burlington two years prior. The solemn garden is a place to reflect on Nina’s memory, but also stands as a symbol of peace, compassion and understanding. A plaque in centre of the garden reads: “as the garden renews itself, let it remind us of what we can do to make the world a better place.”

After our shared walk, remembering, critical thinking and reflection, we gather for the McMaster December 6th commemorative events.

Prepared by: Ameil J. Joseph December, 2018 SECRETARY-TREASURER/EFAP REP. REPORT 2019

This year has been a very busy year for Local What Are Boundaries? 5555 and the Local Union Hall is a busy hub of Boundaries are guidelines, rules or limits that activities for many. Our local is very fortunate you can create to identify for yourself what are and therefore we are able to give back reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other financially to support our community. We have people to behave around you and how you will supported the following groups this year: respond when someone steps outside those limits. The easiest way to think about a United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, boundary is a property line. We have all seen Heart & Stroke Foundation, Alzheimer “No Tresspassing” signs, which send a clear Society, Royal Canadian Legion, Tee Off for message that if you violate that boundary, there Mental Health, Halton Women’s Place, will be a consequence. This type of boundary is Neighbour To Neighbour , Native Women’s easy to picture and understand because you can Centre, Good Shepherd Centre, Cancer see the sign and the border it protects. Personal Assistance Program, Hamilton Food Share, boundaries can be harder to define because the Mission Services, Rank and File, Workers Arts lines are invisible, can change and are unique to & Heritage Centre, City Kidz, Special Olympics each individual. – Draft and Athlete, Holiday Wish Hamilton & Threads of Life. Personal boundaries, just like the “No Tresspassing” sign define where you end and So the holidays are just about upon us again, others begin and are determined by the amount school will be out for the seasonal break and the of physical and emotional space you allow shopping lists of things to buy just keeps getting between yourself and others. longer. Please remember there is more to life than spending a small fortune on wants of our Physical Boundaries children and family. Take the opportunity to be Physical boundaries provide a barrier between there for their needs, listen to them, try to offer you and an intruding force, like a band-aid guidance and most of all be patient. This seems protects a wound from bacteria and physical to be the ideal time to review some healthy boundaries include your body, sense of personal boundaries for the holiday: space, sexual orientation and privacy.

Healthy Boundaries for the Holidays Emotional and Intellectual Boundaries Creating healthy boundaries is empowering. These boundaries protect your sense of By recognizing the need to set and enforce self-esteem and ability to separate your feelings limits, you protect your self-esteem, maintain from others. When you have weak emotional self-respect and enjoy healthy relationships. boundaries, it’s like getting caught in the midst Unhealthy boundaries cause emotional pain that of a snowstorm with no protection. You expose can lead to substance dependency, depression, yourself to being greatly affected by others’ anxiety and even stress-induced physical illness. words, thoughts and actions and end up feeling A lack of boundaries is like leaving the door to bruised, wounded and battered. your home unlocked: anyone, including unwelcome guests can enter at will. On the Financial Boundaries other hand, having too rigid boundaries can lead These boundaries also help to protect our to isolation, like living in a locked-up castle sur- self-esteem and self-worth and not just our rounded by a moat. No one in and you can’t get finances. It is easy to get caught up in the out! continued on next page... continued from previous page... • My gift needs to be of a similar monetary value to their gift pressures of/by media, advertising and family or • If you gift to one neighbour/teacher/ friends to buy beyond our means. Ever notice co-worker, you need to gift to all of them how the flyers we receive become thicker and thicker at this time of year encouraging us to But these rules are self-imposed; let’s give spend, spend and spend? ourselves permission to end excess. Setting boundaries for yourself while planning how Barriers to Boundary Setting to best use your dollars will help avoid being Most of us were never taught healthy boundaries caught off guard when you get your bank or and yet it seems obvious that no one would want credit card statement. It’s absolutely no fun to their boundaries violated. So why do we allow spend money over the holidays all well knowing it? Why do we not enforce or uphold our that the bills will be coming in January and could boundaries. Often it is out of fear of rejection be overwhelming. Having a set amount of and/or confrontation or guilt and ultimately, money to spend on your holiday celebration abandonment as we all want to be loved and will relieve stress by providing realistic liked. There are no easy solutions, no quick expectations for what you can afford to spend. fixes for setting boundaries for dealing with After you set your budget, call a family meeting family members or expectations at the holidays. to discuss how many gifts you want to exchange It is also important to learn how to take care of within your immediate family. The number is up yourself in practical ways and recognize when to you. If your family is in the habit of giving large and how you’re contributing to your family’s quantities of gifts, you may choose to make expectations. This isn’t about blaming yourself the change gradually, perhaps giving 5 gifts or them; it’s about knowing and accepting your per person instead of the typical 20, and then own role in your family dynamics. If you’ve re-evaluate before the following year. Another decided to “Go Simple” in gift giving this year, it’s possibility is to discuss your gift budget with the good to have a game plan on how to set those kids and say “we normally spend x amount of boundaries. Laying out a plan makes all the money per child. This year, instead of giving a difference in follow-through. bunch of gifts, I want you to think about what you would really enjoy for that dollar amount.” Some Being Realistic with Expectation of Gifts families may even decide to make donations to We all want to please our children/grandchildren organizations on behalf of an individual or take and you need to be honest with them. Let them trips instead of having gift exchanges. Therefore know what to expect for gifts this year. When depending on your budget, you can say, “this you can give your family a realistic view of what year instead of exchanging gifts, how about we they can expect for gifts (and stick with it) this do a family vacation or how about we donate to should curb the major disappointments when this very worthy cause and help others in need.” they don’t get all they imagined. When we How you decide to simplify the gift process is up expect very specific things and when life doesn’t to you and your family. I do encourage you to meet our expectations, we have to work through talk with the children (unless they’re too young to heavy emotions. Gifts are such a sensitive really understand) and allow them to participate topic. There are so many unspoken rules about in the decision. It’s easier for everyone to gifting: accept something if they are the ones who decided to do it. Just like adults, they resist • I have to reciprocate every gift I receive change but are more comfortable participating in • Once you start, you have to exchange boundaries of their own making. gifts with that person forever • Gifts should be close to the same amount in monetary value every year continued on next page... continued from previous page... for each of the younger ones (12 and under). It makes it easier on everyone both emotionally and financially. As parents, our attitude about simplifying the holidays is key. Kids take their cues from us, so if we feel guilty or uncertain about change, don’t be surprised if the children push in just the right way to amplify those feelings. When you sit down with your children and talk about what they can expect in gifts this holiday season, talk about your “why” behind simplifying the holidays. Bring them into the conversation and decision, like we talked about, and be firm that they may not hint, manipulate, or give guilt trips if their feelings change. Be very frank with your children about the way they are communicating. You are laying the foundation of good communication skills that they will use the rest of their lives. If they are hinting or trying to guilt, say: “by the way you phrased that, you are trying to make me feel guilty about this and that is not acceptable.” Be open to discussion but don’t allow people to emotionally manipulate you. I wish you peace and a joyous holiday season.

I know, for myself personally, my family In solidarity, exchange gifts playing secret Santa where all the adults purchase one $40 to $50 dollar gift Kim Sardella and we enjoy the company and laughs more Secretary-Treasurer & EFAP Rep. than the gifts. We continue to purchase one gift Unifor Local 5555

GREY CUP WEEKEND!

The just finished and we don’t know who The chalice was set on top of a wood base with silver won the cup, but, here’s some neat-o factoids. plates for each champion’s name to be inscribed. The trophy cost $48 - about $1,200 by today’s standards. The presents some quick facts about the Grey Cup: • The Grey Cup is not the only trophy donated for a sports championship by a Governor-General. There’s • In 1909, Lord Earl Grey - the Governor General at also the Stanley Cup, the Vanier Cup (Canadian the time - donated a trophy intended for Canada’s university football) and the Minto Cup (Canadian senior amateur hockey championship. When the Allan lacrosse). Cup took that designation, Lord Grey gave his trophy to the amateur rugby football champion of Canada. • The first Grey Cup game was played on Sunday, December 4, 1909 at Rosedale Field in in • The original Grey Cup was a 13-inch tall chalice front of 3,807 fans. The defeated made of sterling silver with the inscription “Presented Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 26-6. by His Excellency Earl Grey for the Amateur Rugby Football Championship of Canada.” RETIRED WORKERS CHAPTER UPDATE

The Retired Workers Chapter entered fall with a took note of some retiree questions and followed lot of momentum. The Yoga and Gentle Cardio up with emailed responses. This session was Balance and Strength classes and the Outdoor our most popular to date with over 40 retirees in Walking Club continued from summer straight attendance! into fall, with the Tai Chi also starting up again once September came around. Mid-September The Retired Workers Chapter members also saw an evening showing of the movie “On The kept active attending rallies this fall including: Basis of Sex” an American biographical legal the Nemak Canada Solidarity Rally in Windsor drama film based on the life and early cases of in early September to protest the plants closing Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal and moving to Mexico; and the rally by the rights, and the early cases of a historic career Health Coalition to “Save The Services that lead to her nomination and confirmation as That Save Us” at Nathan Phillips Square in U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice. Later in Toronto on a Saturday in early November. October, retirees attended Hamilton’s 99th Annual Fall Garden & Mum Show at the Gage Several retirees also participated in the Local’s Park Greenhouse. The theme for this year’s Recreation Committee events including the Blue show was “The Secret Life of Bugs”. Jays game in mid-September and the Wine, Brewery and Shopping excursion in late September’s event focussed on Emergency October. Preparedness with Hamilton’s Emergency Management Coordinator and Home Fire Safety And the next three weeks will see three more with a Fire Safety/Prevention Officer from the events: an origami workshop; a seasonal floral Hamilton Fire Department. October’s event arrangement workshop; and a Christmas was a review of retiree benefits and coverage luncheon … all to be reported on in a future and how they differ from the coverage of active article. members. The session was presented by Jim McAndrew, the Local’s Health and Safety In short, our retirees are keeping busy, active Coordinator and was attended by two and healthy! representatives from Human Resources who I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. ~ Anthony Bourdain

MEETINGS and OTHER THINGS

All Units - General Meeting I Love Beer + Mac & Cheese Holiday Festival Tuesday 11 February 2020 December 7 2019 12:00 noon to 1pm Hamilton Convention Centre CIBC Hall - McMaster Main Campus This Ugly Sweater themed event invites all food and drink enthusiasts to taste from some of the All Units - General Meeting province’s best breweries and restaurants. Wednesday 20 May 2020 https://iheartbeer.ca/hamilton/ 12:00 noon to 1pm CIBC Hall - McMaster Main Campus New Year’s Eve - Niagara Falls December 31 2019 Winter Festival of Lights Niagara Falls, Ontario On now until January 12, 2020 Free Outdoor Concert featuring Bryan Adams, and Niagara Falls, Ontario Walk off the Earth https://wfol.com/ https://www.niagaraparks.com/events/event/ niagara-falls-new-years-eve/ Bingemans Gift of Lights On now until January 4, 2020 Kitchener, Ontario http://bingemans.com/gift-of-lights.php

Note: Dates, times and/or locations of events are subject to change without notice. Watch your emails or this e-newsflyer for notices of events or changes. Contact [email protected] to check on status of events and/or to rsvp your attendance.