News - October 2011                         Previous Month         Following Month

Headlines of the current month's news items are listed immediately below. Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.

All members stand to gain as dues increase arms Agriculture Union

for challenging times ahead

Agriculture food safety message reaches huge newspaper audience

Labour College 2012 Intensive Program now open for applications

All members stand to gain as dues increase arms Agriculture Union for challenging times ahead

(Posted October 25, 2011)

For the first time in a long while – since 2002 in fact – Agriculture Union dues are increasing beyond the rise linked to negotiated wage settlements.

Delegates to last August’s National Convention thought long and hard before making this decision. Presented with a thought out and realistic budget by our Finance Committee, they realized our Union has no choice if we are to tackle the immense challenges to job security posed by a majority Conservative government.

Specifically, the approved dues increases will be applied as following:

          • for 2012, the average increase is $5.62 (on average dues are $29.71 per member per month = 0.6951%);
          • for 2013, average increase is $0.10 (on average $29.81 per member per month = 0.6922%); and
          • for 2014, average increase is $0.23 (on average $30.04 per member per month = 0.6921%).

A look back over the past several years shows why the Agriculture Union must continue to aggressively defend its members’ interests. And not just in such traditional areas of workplace representation, grievance handling, health and safety, human rights and labour-management consultation. But, increasingly, through political action, lobbying and media outreach to the broader public.

It is a fact of life that these more forceful and effective campaigns – such as GrainAction and Food Safety First – are costly. Yet, they have succeeded in protecting the jobs and working conditions of thousands of our members. As well, they have positioned the Agriculture Union as a major player in the ongoing public debate over the safety and security of Canada’s food chain.

Now, with Departments and Agencies preparing major cuts to jobs and services to meet the Harper government’s politically-motivated deficit-cutting crusade, the challenges awaiting us are very much greater. It was this recognition that led our Convention delegates to beef-up funding for similar issue campaigns, lobbying, coalition-building and communications.

New funding was also provided for such equally important membership-focused activities as:

          • National Office expenses to meet the growing demand for membership services;

          • more financial support for rank-and-file educational and organizing Conferences across the country;

          • the enhanced ability for our Regional Vice-Presidents and National Directors to expand their contact with

                 Local officers and members; and

          • backing for the Association of Public Service Alliance Retirees.

The Agriculture Union realizes the value of our members’ dues and manages those funds prudently. The monies allocated to the expenses of our two full-time officers – the President and First National Executive Vice-President – have been reduced. While other decisions resulted in an increase in expenses, Convention delegates overwhelmingly passed the 2012-2014 budget.

From the top down, each Agriculture Union member pays his or her fair share so that everybody gains. Unlike the case for business and government, our union is directly and democratically accountable for the way these monies are spent. And, as always, our goal is the best in service and representation!

Agriculture food safety message reaches huge newspaper audience

(Posted October 24, 2011)

Sometimes, even for unions, it does indeed pay to advertise.

So it was for the Agriculture Union when we joined with Canada’s leading unions in placing an ad in a special September 30 supplement to the National Post newspaper.

Our theme, not surprisingly, was centred on food safety and security, issues central to the employment security of all our members. A copy of the ad can be seen directly below. In addition a PDF format collage of all other union advertising in this supplement can be downloaded and viewed HERE.

We took the cost-effective opportunity to reach a large national audience at a time of year, following Labour Day, when public interest is most focused on unions and their causes and concerns.

The fact that our ad appeared at a time when provincial elections were occurring in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta was an extra-large bonus.

This was yet another example of our Union’s determination to use all reasonable means at our disposal to combat policies of the Harper government that undermine both the public’s right to secure and safe food products and the jobs of our members.

Labour College 2012 Intensive Program now open for applications

(Posted October 8, 2011)

For close to half a century, the Labour College of Canada has provided an intensive college-level educational opportunity to successive generations of up-and-coming union leaders.

The College – sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress and supported by all major unions across Canada – is now receiving applications for its Intensive Program. Labour College students will be chosen by and financed by their unions after meeting national standards set by the College's Board of Governors.

(Please note that the Labour College operates in English. Francophones residing in Quebec may be interested in a similar educational opportunity offered by the Quebec Federation of Labour: the Collège FTQ-Fonds. Information on the Collège can be viewed HERE.)

The Program consists of two weeks in an in-residence session, followed by a three-month interim in which students will conduct a project in conjunction with their union. Having completed this project, participants will reconvene for a final two week, in-residence session.

The first in-residence period will be held May 5-18, 2012 and the final residency period on August 19-31, 2012. Detailed course information can be found HERE.

Unlike traditional educational institutions, the Labour College does not have stringent academic entrance requirements. Admission is based on the premise that practical experience in the labour movement and motivation will enable workers to meet the challenge of the College’s program.

Deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday, November 4, 2011.

An application form can be found on the College’s general information page HERE. As per the revised application process, Labour College students will be chosen by and financed by their unions after meeting national standards set by the College's Board of Governors.

Marianne Hladun, Regional Vice-President for our members in North Saskatchewan, was among the graduates of the 2011 Labour College of Canada program. Meraiah Krebs, Agriculture Union Fourth National Executive Vice-President, graduated from the 2010 program. We encourage all interested members to submit an application for this worthwhile educational experience.