LOCAL EVENTS WINNIPEG:

PENSION DEMONSTRATION THIS THURSDAY:

This Thursday, August 5, the provincial premiers will be meeting in Winnipeg. Canada's labour federations will also be in town, and there will be a demo to demand improvements to Canada's pension system. Here's the info from the Manitoba Federation of Labour.

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Rally For Public Pensions August 5
Provincial premiers from across Canada will be meeting in Winnipeg during the week of August 2. The presidents of Federations of Labour from across the country will also be in Winnipeg for meetings during that time.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour, our sister Federations from across Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress and Manitoba's Labour Councils and Labour Coordinating Committees think it will be a great time to speak out on the importance of improving Canada's public pensions.

A rally for public pensions will be in front of the Hotel Fort Garry, 222 Broadway, to deliver the message of the need for a sound public pension policy at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 5.

Anyone concerned about the effectiveness of the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement programs is urged to participate in this rally. Retirement should not be impoverishment. When the Premiers come to town make sure you're there too!!!

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

MANITOBA PENSION FORUMS:

Molly has blogged frequently on the matter of pensions and their protection in Canada. Next month the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) will be holding public forums in Winnipeg and Brandon on this subject. Here's their announcement.

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Pension Forums in Winnipeg and Brandon:
CLC organized forums are open to everyone.
After a lifetime of work, everyone should be able to look forward to retirement security. But with the global economy suffering its deepest downturn since the 1930s, many Canadians are fearful that they may retire without adequate pensions or even fall into poverty. Canada's 'fend for yourself' approach to pensions has created a patchwork system that is failing Canadians.

Did you know eight million Canadian workers have no pension or RRSP savings? And even workers with enrolled in a workplace pension plan can't be confident their pension money will be there when they need it. Unfair bankruptcy rules and unscrupulous employers have cost thousands of workers their jobs and their pensions.

Pensions are some help, but their benefits fall short of needs. The low benefits afforded by OAS/GIS makes seniors vulnerable, especially single women, First Nations, and seniors with disabilities. Seniors deserve better. It is unfair to ask those who built this country to live meagre lives in retirement.

Public forums being held by the Canadian Labour Congress during February in Winnipeg and Brandon will give you an opportunity to learn more about pensions and give you a better understanding of why the retirement savings of countless workers have been put at risk. Discussions at the forums will include what can be done to create a pension system where no one is left behind.

Everyone is welcome to attend these forums so that together, we can move forward towards retirement security for all workers and their families. The Winnipeg Forum is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 22, in Room 2C of the Union Centre, 275 Broadway. The Brandon forum is on Tuesday, February 23, at 5:30 p.m. in the UFCW Training Centre, 530 Richmond Avenue East.

Forum admission is free and members of the general public are welcome. For more information about these forums, you can phone Deborah Jamerson in Winnipeg at 947-9494, or email her at djamerson@clc-ctc.ca.

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

BIKES FOR FARM WORKERS:

As Molly reported earlier on this blog the UFCW Union recently won the first recognition of a farm workers' union in Canada, and it happened here in Manitoba. The migrant workers, located in Portage La Prairie, still have many difficulties, however, as the following item from the Manitoba Federation of Labour website makes clear. If you live here in Manitoba help out if you can.

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Bikes for Farm Workers:
UFCW Local 832 recently ratified a first collective agreement with the migrant agricultural workers at Mayfair Farms in Portage La Prairie. They are a group of approximately 50 seasonal farm workers from Mexico who come to Manitoba each year to work in the vegetable fields sending money home to improve the lives of their families.

Local 832 is trying to assist these people in more ways than just protecting their new rights in the workplace. They are also trying to assist them with their transition into the community.

Most of these Mexican workers came to Canada with little or no basic amenities. They live and work several kilometres outside of Portage la Prairie. Their transportation options are extremely limited and many walk into town each week for shopping, banking, etc.

These people would benefit from having access to bicycles. Union members who have a bike that is simply taking up space in the garage or shed are asked to consider donating it to this cause. It would be greatly appreciated and put to very good communal use on the farm.

The hope is that through this drive migrant agricultural workers can be provided with much needed transportation and a compassionate example of what being a member of the labour movement in Manitoba is about. If you can donate a bicycle, please contact Jeff Traeger at UFCW Local 832, phone 786-5055 in Winnipeg or 1-888-UFCW-832 from elsewhere in Manitoba. Or email Jeff.