Breaking News!

April 20, 2005 Volume 6 Number 2

TK Fabco Signs Long-TermDeal to Increase Productionand Expand Workforce!

Butcher Engineering Strike .....................page 2

“It really goes back to concern about the futureof some of our older plants after seeing what hap-pened at Kendan in 2003. The Fabco Committeeposed the question: what does it take expandoperations and bring new business to the Windsorfacility?”

“After close to a year in bargaining and with thedirect intervention of our National Leadership, inparticular, Hemi Mitic and Buzz Hargrove, wehave a deal and one that our Plant Committeeand our members are very happy with.”

Mike Renaud, CAW 195 President

In this issue

CAW 195 Elections............................page 3Full Time Officer Reports.................pages 4-11Plant Profiles.....................................pages 12-14Retirees Chapter Report...................page 15Local News & Events........................pages 16-19Early Years - James Napier..............page 20

Story on Page 10

April 18 marks the start of the thirdmonth of the strike at Butcher Engineering.Two months of winter snow and blowingwinds, fire barrels, dozens of truckloads ofskids, foul smoke, hundreds of gallons of cof-fee, thousands of donuts and a massive numberof workers walking to and fro thinking, if notexpressly asking, what does it take to get a set-tlement which we can live with and will get usback to work.

From the get-go the equation did not bal-ance. On one side 300 decent workers makingless than $14/hr. and on the other, a multi-mil-lionaire who has made a fortune putting Big-3components into smaller packages and ship-ping them out. He is a very successful survivorin a niche market which is threatened by beingfarmed out to the lowest bidder, despite thefamily ties reputed to exist between Butcherand a member of the Ford dynasty.

The workers havethought a lot about this, and every-thing else during the enforced idle-ness and frustration that comeswith a protracted strike or lockout.They have wrestled with the logicthat if you don’t want to pay usmuch relative to what othersmake, rela-

tive to what we need to live respectably andrelative to normal expectations over theyears...then why not at least treat us better?

How can the word respect only applyto the relations of buyers and sellers of hisservices and not those who do the actual workwhich generates his many millions? Why notshow the respect for seniority, for union agree-ments related to job postings, for the very basicneed for job security and not some wretchedand divisive rotating “temp status” throughAdecco or some other modern monopoly slavetrader.

How is having one quarter of theworkforce second-class workers without unionprotection, comparable wages, and even theminimum dignity of a secure job justified?Management at Butcher has a lot more toanswer for than just their PR release whichalleges the union impugned their image bysuggesting indifference to the well being oftheir 300-plus employees.

No one in this dispute has expectedan easy or a quick solution. More importantly,however, perhaps many did not really grasp theability of the workers to stick to their guns and

stand up for their rights. Their persistenceand goodwill have won the sympathy of

a very broad section of the people inthe city besides their fellow trade

unionists.

Their all for one and one for allapproach has allowed them to stand firm oversome very trying times. I join many in wishinga solution comes soon which everyone can livewith.

It’s hard, as when a loved one is crit-ically ill or with some other personal tragedy,to get excited about a really cool new unionhall, or someone else’s successes. We’d all liketo see a solution to the Butcher struggle: partic-ularly for the women looking after kids, carry-ing them to and from the line and the meetings.for the families relying on both incomes fromtheir Butcher jobs and for the young workerwhose landlord used the lack of a regular paycheque to threaten eviction. Our Butcherbrothers and sisters have earned the respect oftheir employer but it has not been reciprocated.

A big salute to all the Butcher work-ers, to Cindy Jobin and her committee, toKevin Telfer and the Solidarity Committee, tothe CAW leaders working behind the scenesand everyone who are doing their part to winthis fight. Does Mr. Butcher want his “milliondollar baby” on Lauzon Parkway andHawthorne to win or has he some dark endinglike the Eastwood flick in mind? Or is his mil-lion dollar baby to become the “Champion”which left behind the empty building which hepurchased years ago to expand his operations?

It’s time to find a productive solutionto this dispute and a just settlement.

Our Brothers and Sisters at Butcher Deserve Better!

Commentaryby Bob Cruise

Elections for Executive Board andCAW Council Delegateswill be held on Tuesday, May 3rd and Wednesday, May 4th, 2005

CAW 195 Elections

Currently, 50 of our shops are organizing in-plant voting.For those shops which do not arrange in-plant voting, mem-bers may vote from 12:00 noon to 8 pm Tuesday andWednesday at the CAW Local 195 union hall. You musthave your union card to vote.

PRESIDENT1st VICE-PRESIDENT2nd VICE-PRESIDENT3rd VICE-PRESIDENT

TRUSTEE 1TRUSTEE 2TRUSTEE 3TOOL SHOP ADVISORY

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Mike DunningRECORDING SECRETARY Nick DolanskiSERGEANT AT ARMS Rob AssaricaGUIDE Bob MauriceSKILLED TRADES REP Paul AdamsUNION IN POLITICS Max NimmoWOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR Tammy Smith

8 Positions to be Elected

Elected by Acclamation

You must have your union card to vote!Remember

President’s ReportMike Renaud

ith the current term of office coming to an end soon, comes some reflectionover the past three years. There certainly have been some challenges but it has beenvery enjoyable working with the other full-time officers Mike Dunning, GerryFarnham, Randy St. Pierre and the entire Executive Board. Their contributions to get-ting the Local back on track and moving forward have been many. Our membershipnumbers and our finances are at a 20-year high.

The entire Board has been instrumental in helping to bring a major collaborative effort forward along withother Locals – our new building. We’ve been try-ing for 15 years to build a new Local Union Hall forour members and their families and the persever-ance of the current Executive Board has truly paidoff. We’ll soon be in our new facilities completewith an abundance of meeting space, parking foralmost 200 vehicles and a recreation green spacefor our members and their families.

The full-time officers and Board have been there toassist me with good advice in every difficult deci-sion we have had to take. It truly has been an hon-our to serve with them and together to serve ourmembership. With your blessings and continuedsupport I look forward to another 3 years.

BUTCHER ENGINEERING – We are, at the time of this report, in a major disputethat has been going on foreight weeks. The courage that the committee and membership have shown has been outstanding. The commu-nity support is very uplifting for the picketers.

We’ve been fighting for basic seniority rights and a fair increase. We’d really like to thank all those who’vedonated to lessen the financialhardship of our members, especial-ly Locals 444 & 200 who set up a$20,000.00 hardship fund. It ismuch appreciated.

We don’t know when this dis-pute will end but we do know this,the entire labour community willstand shoulder to shoulder withthese workers until a solution canbe found. A special thanks to BobChernecki who, on a weekly basis,pokes, prods and engages theCompany to try to find a solution.

Striking Butcher Engineering workers applaud the announcement of theHardship Fund at the Solidarity Rally on March 19th. Continued on next page...

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Continued from previous page...

BARGAINING HIGHLIGHTS

HIRAM WALKER-SECURITYOn Wednesday January 19, 2005, our members at Hiram Walkers Security ratified a new 3-year agree-

ment. Highlights include improvements to language benefits, wages and pensions. Basic pension to $58.00times years of service. Supplement to $19.00 times years of service. Wage increases .25 cents an hour in eachyear of the agreement taking wages (including COLA) to $26.99 an hour by the end of the agreement. $1000.00signing bonus. Congratulations to the committee Randy Vadnais, Chairperson, Michael Klimkowski,Committeeperson, Mike Dunning, Financial Secretary Local 195 and Ken Maheux, Nat’l Rep.

CHROMESHIELD - On Wednesday February 9, 2005 our mem-bers at Chromeshield ratified a new 3 year agreement by a marginof 77%.

Highlights include numerous language improvements.Improvements to Life Insurance, Dental, Vision, Health CareBenefits for Retirees, Shift Premiums, Holidays, R.R.S.P. as wellas new Skilled Trades language. Wage increases of $0.50 per hour

in each year of the agreement, plusCOLA (new) taking wages to $21.00 anhour (plus COLA) for an operator by theend of the agreement, $21.25 an hour(plus COLA) for a fork lift driver and$28.16 an hour (plus COLA) for a

skilled trades person plus a $550.00 signing bonus for all employees. Congratulations to the bargaining com-mittee Nick Dolanski, Chairperson, Rob Pelaccia, Vice Chairperson, Tammy Anger, Recording Secretary,John Bencak, Committeeperson, Brian Ferrari, Committeeperson and Ken Maheux, Nat’l Rep.

G.W. ANGLIN - On Saturday February 19, 2005 our members at G.W. Anglin (new unit) ratified a new 3 yearagreement. Highlights include good contracted language, health care benefits enshrined into the CollectiveAgreement, improvements in vacations and holidays. Wages $0.35 per hour in each year of the agreement plusparity adjustments giving some people additional up front increases of between $0.05 an hour and $3.65 an hour,taking wages to $13.35 an hour for a general labourer, $18.70 an hour for a blanking setup “A’ person and $26.45an hour for a fabricator “A” classification. Congratulations to the bargaining committee, Paul Alford, NinoPalazolla and Glen Myers, Windsor Area Director.

SIEMENS - On Saturday March 12, 2005 our members atSiemens VDO Automotive ratified a new 3 year agreement. 68%production, 88% trades. Highlights include language improve-ments, improvement to vacations and health care benefits.

Continued on next page...

SIEMENS...Continued from previous page

Increases to the pension plan includ-ing protection against inflation (new 80% ofthe C.P.L. to a maximum of 5% per calendaryear). $15,000.00 lump sum retirementincentive to employees who retire prior toOctober 1, 2005. Wage increase of 2% ineach year of the agreement for all classifica-

tions in addition to special increments for some classifications. (approx-.increase for operator 11.4% over the life of the agreement). Taking wagesto $19.00 an hour plus C.O.L.A. for operators (in two years), $25.13 anhour plus C.O.L.A for cell techs (in two years), and $30.96 an hour plusC.O.L.A. for skilled trades (in two years), plus a $1000.00 signing bonusfor all employees.

Congratulations and great job to the bargaining committee andmembership Max Nimmo, Chairperson, Kossi Dodjro, Vice Chairperson,Sophie Howe, Recording Secretary, Rick Chaborek, Skilled TradesRepresentative, Christine Powney, Committeeperson, Chris Hutnik,

National Representative, CAW Canada.

TK FABCOThanks to the hard work by the bar-

gaining committee for the past 9 monthsand the solidarity of the membership, we’vebeen able to secure a new agreement thatprovides for new work and new investmentinto this facility.

Special thanks to the National Union forall their assistance. Congratulations to thebargaining committee:

Paul Dubruiel, Chairperson, John Toth, Recording Secretary, Rob Kennedy, Committeeperson, Chris Yoell, Committeeperson, John Grant, Committeeperson and Ken Maheux, Nat’l Rep.

IN BARGAINING

Veltri Modular, Veltri Lakeshore, JFJ Mold, Morrice Transportation and Windsor Match Plate are all in bargain-ing.

In solidarity,

Mike Renaud

Chris Hutnik, National Rep

Ken Maheux, National Rep, discussing the details of the newThyssenKrupp Agreement with Mike Renaud and Gerry Farnham.

s we are nearing the end of ourfirst three-year term I would like tothank the membership for their supportand confidence. It has been extremelyrewarding working with everyone butin particular our other full time offi-cers.As I look back on the last threeyears there have been many highpoints and a few lows.

From the financial point ofview we are in better shape today thanany time in the recent past. In May of2002 when this administration took

office our general fund was below$10,000.00. Currently, as we reportedin our last financial statement, we havenow in excess of $300,000.00. Thiswas accomplished with hard work andattention to detail by the entireExecutive Board, the vigilance of ourthree trustees and the day to day moni-toring by the full-time officers.

It has been the expresseddesire of our membership for over adecade to sell the building on OttawaStreet and move into a new modernhall. As I write this report we are with-in one month of moving. In the pastyear we have met on an ongoing basiswith the architect and the general con-tractor to iron out the hundreds ofdetails in constructing the building. Iam happy to report we are still onbudget and on schedule. With ourpartners Local 2458 and our tenantsLocals 240 and 2027 we should be inthe new building by the first of June.

Our 70th Anniversary will bein 2006 and we are already in the plan-ning stages for this event. We have

much to celebrate, both past and pres-ent!

I would like to thank our morethan 7,000 members for allowing meto represent them for the last threeyears, and for showing their confi-dence in acclaiming me for the nextterm. I look forward to serving ourmembership for another term andworking with Mike, Gerry, and Randyfor three more years.

Mike DunningFinancial Secretary

CAW Local 195

Financial Secretary’s Report

Old concrete entranceway gets carted off as the builders prepare to lay the asphalt for the parking lot whichwill hold close to 200 cars including spaces for the big trucks popular with some of our members.

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Vinyl flooring, carpets & claddingare all being put in place.

Second Vice-President’s Report

n March 14th, anumber of labour leadersfrom around the city metwith the Minister ofLabour, Joe Fontana. Thismeeting was set up byGary Parent of theWindsor & DistrictLabour Council.

Some of the keyissues that were raisedwith the minister con-cerned the re-establish-ment of an Auto Policyfor Canada and theurgency of a solution forthe transportation delaysat the Windsor Detroitborder. There was a num-

ber of other importantconcerns raised by labourincluding child care,affordable housing andthe need for changes tothe unemployment insur-ance Act.

CAW Local 195raised the issue of the lackof protection for workerswhose plants go bankrupt.Recently SheldonChrysler workers wereinformed that the businesswas going to close. At thetime of closure our broth-ers and sisters were owedin wages, vacation pay,severance and termination

pay a total of approxi-mately 600,000 dollars.Our members go to thebottom of the list of cred-itors. The banks and allother major creditors willsee their money before theworkers will see a pennyof the money they areowed.

What we askedthe minister of labour todo was to find a way toput the workers at the topof the list of creditors sothat their wages and othermonies owed to them gettop priority. The moneythey receive will surely be

quickly returned to theeconomy. The banks andother financial institutionsthat currently are at thetop of the creditor foodchain can certainly sur-vive without their poundof flesh.

The ministerresponded by saying thegovernment is currentlylooking into legislationthat will protect the wagesof the workers in theevent of bankruptcy. Healso stated he would bringthis information back tohis government for fur-ther debate.

We had this simi-lar conversation withSandra Puppatello whoalso sat and listened to ourconcerns about bankrupt-cies. Sandra listened withsome concern and told usthat she would, along withthe rest of her govern-ment, look into the matter.

Randy St. Pierre

Leadership from CAW Locals 200, 444 and 195 discuss concerns with Provincial Minister of Labour.

Ontario Minister of Labour, Joe Fontana with Windsor & District LabourCouncil president, Gary parent, at the March 14th meeting.

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Cab Drivers Ask for our SupportVets Cabs 256-2621

Letter to The Standard

I would like to thank MikeRenaud for his written appeal for supportand for all the sympathy he and our unionmembers have shown for Thualfikar Al-Attiya’s family after his tragic murderlast November. With this support, ourbrothers and sisters have raised over$12,000 for an educational fund forThualfikar’s three children, Murtata andLayla, both age eight and Ali, age two. Iwant to also thank all our members whoexpressed their condolences and paidrespects to his family after this terribletragedy.

These are not easy times for ourdrivers. In addition to this personaltragedy, we face many dangers and, dueto factors we cannot readily control, lossof business and other challenges. Forsome time now we have recommendedfront seat plastic barriers, security cam-eras and other devices in our vehicleswhich we believe would increase driversafety.

With the border issues afterSeptember 11, we have seen a drop in

business which really has meant moredrivers chasing fewer customers andmany working very long hours to providefor their families. We ask you to continueto “Call Vets!” when you need a taxi.

The support and sympathy wehave received and are receiving when weface difficulties means a lot to our driv-ers. It gives us a better appreciation of

the union principle that “an injury to one,is an injury to all!” From our drivers Iwould like to say: Thanks a lot!

In solidarity,Haidar AouliVets Cab CAW Local 195

Last year the plant committee at Fabcorefused to sit with folded arms as theywatched their plant shrink to a fraction of itshistoric workforce. From over 600 workersin the 70’s and 80’s they have watched theirnumber slowly drop to where, in 2002, theyhad dropped to about one third that numberwith layoffs going back over 18 years. Norhave Fabco workers been blind to the devel-opments at Kendan, just across the roadfrom the Windsor plant on Division Road.

Plant Chair, Paul Dubruiel, sought, andreceived, overwhelming membershipapproval to hold discussions with theiremployer to find out what it would take to

bring new investments into the plant andsecure the jobs and futures of our membersboth laid off and working.

The answer in December 2004, after muchbeating around the bush, amounted to a$6/hour wage cut and many other significantconcessions! From hoping for somethingpositive to take to their members beforeChristmas, the plant committee had a bitterpill to swallow and informed the the work-ers “so far, we have nothing we can bring to

the membership”. The months dragged onand many times the committee felt it was ahopeless cause. But a thaw in the weatherbrought a sign of something new, somethingwhich would address the conflicting inter-ests which were apparent. From its perspec-tive, TK Fabco management needed to saveon its bottom line so as to remain competi-tive in bidding for new work. Concessionssuch as giving up the equivalent of over$6/hour, however, wouldn’t fly with theCAW and certainly not with those in theplant.

It took a concerted effort at all levels of ourunion to bring this deal together. I think wecan take a special pride in our ability as anorganization to get results when it comes tothe crunch. TK Industries is huge, not onlyworldwide, but also in North America. Ithas acquired several plants in Canada,including Budd Automotive near Kitchener,Ontario. This year our national leadershipmade it clear; the full force of the CAWthroughout Ontario would be brought tobear on this large German multi-nationalcorporation if a realistic deal could not beworked out with the Windsor facility. Inactual fact, I believe this national presencewas a key factor in reaching agreement. On

April 3rd, at the mass meeting at the CabotoClub, Fabco workers voted 84% in supportof the deal which extends 3 years past thecurrent collective agreement.

Following membership approval, it wassigned and finalized the following week.Keeping wages intact, the agreementensures new investments, a net gain in theworkforce by balancing those who chooseearly retirement packages. A huge newpress will be installed within a year and thatshould mean everyone being called back by

2006. In exchange for this commitment thecommittee agreed to giving up several PDOdays and a temporary pension cap. Fabcoworkers, however, has struggled to achievewhat is certainly the best pension for indus-trial plants anywhere in our Amalgamatedlocal. Details of this new agreement are inthe contract highlights sheet, which can beobtained from our Local.

Everyone played a part, including Fabcoworkers who stood with us, confident oflight at the end of the tunnel. I want toexpress my pride in the plant committee (inphoto) and our National Leadership, BuzzHargrove and Hemi Mitic in particular, aswell as our staff rep, Ken Maheux and ourPresident, Mike Renaud. Well done guys!!

With May comes the end of our three yearsin office and another Local 195 election. Iam seeking another term and also giving fullsupport to the team we forged under theleadership of Mike Renaud comprisingRandy St. Pierre, Mike Dunning and myselfas well as most of our Executive Board andmany of our Committee Chairs. We kept astrict watch and hand on the finances of ourLocal and built the membership up to itshighest in two decades. I will be participat-ing as part of the Members First Caucus andI again ask for your support for my re-elec-tion and the re-election of the team headedby our President. Over the next three yearswe hope to build on the successes of the pastas we prepare to move in to our brand newLabour Centre in June and celebrate ourJubilee 70th Anniversary next year!

Gerry FarnhamFirst Vice-president CAW Local 195.

“It took a concerted effort at alllevels of our union to bring thisdeal together. I think we cantake a special pride in our abilityas a organization to get resultswhen it comes to the crunch!”

Fabco Plant Committee (left to right) Chris Yoell, Rob Kennedy, PaulDubruiel (Chair), John Toth (Recording Secretary) and John Grant.

84% Vote for New Agreement at TK Fabco

ThyssenKrupp Fabco

. Over the years, Fabco workershave earned a special recognitionin Local 195 and throughout thecity. Some of the most dedicated

members of the “SolidarityCommittee”, as our Flying Squad iscalled, have been rank and fileFabco workers. For years now,

Kevin Telfer has mobilized hisplant members to help out strikesand do whatever it takes to win astruggle. Fabco workers show upregularly at the picket lines of ourown local and of other strikingworkers in the city.

Fabco workers are often the “goto” workers when something isneeded, whether it is theGoodfellows project (a Fabco shopfloor initiative), fundraising (1/4 ofall the Local 195 donations to theUniversity of Windsor CAWStudent Centre came from Fabco!),or on the buses during the days ofaction.

Fabco workers have made signif-icant contributions to the CAWboth in our local and, as in the casewith Ken Maheux and others, at theNational level as well.

Our CAW 195 members at Fabco can be counted on when needed!

Recent Plant Committee Chairs at Fabco: Ken Maheux (1977-86), PaulDubruiel (1986-89 and 2002 to present), Gerry Farnham (1998-2002)

For your information

ThyssenKrupp is a German-based worldwide producer of majorcomponents for the automotive sec-tor. They are major shareholders inBudd Automotive and haveacquired a number of other plants inOntario and Michigan. Theybought Fabco Windsor in the 90’sand from this success went on toexpand into Ridgetown, Dresden aswell as Tennessee and Mississippi.

Thyssen Krupp Groupreports record profits in 2003-2004of 1.58 billion Euros ($2.5 billionCanadian), more than double the

previous year and the highest sincethe Thyssen Krupp merger of 1999.Forbes lists them 212th on their top

2000 with annual sales of $49 bil-lion and over 180,000 employeesworldwide.

Windsor Match Plate has responded to fierce competition by openinga new automated facility and by making major capital investmentsincluding presses suitable for mass production.

ost of our membersknow Windsor Match Plate onlyfrom the kerfuffle during Windsor’sDays of Action where access to thelarge plant on the North ServiceRoad east of Central Avenue wasblocked with demonstratorsprotesting the impact of the Harrisgovernment’s legislation on theindustrial workers and the commu-nity.

Since that dramatic confrontationthe company has been dealing withthe impact of competitive pressuresin the US and, more recently, withAsian tool shops which have madeit extremely difficult to win bids fornew tool and die contracts.

Rather than roll over, the company,which was begun over half a centu-ry ago by Dan Reaume, father ofthe current ownership, has beenmaking major changes in its focus.

The company moved to its cur-rent location about 25 years agoand, in the last two years, expandedto a second facility (Plant 2) justeast of its main shop.

Plant Two is dedicated to massproduction of wheel dies in a high-ly automated operation. Very

recently the main plant acquired 11huge presses from a GM plant inMichigan. They are being re-tooledto form a robotized transfer stamp-ing line for class A surface (qualityoutside panels) mass production.

The company, which has wit-nessed considerable layoffs due toloss of customers, is responding byutilizing the most advanced tech-nology and diversifying its tool anddie capabilities.

An entire department extendingsouthward in the west end of thebuilding, houses these 1200 lb.presses and a monster 2000 lb.press at the end of the productionline. It is currently being preparedfor large scale 24/7 work.

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hoto on right shows one of the 11new large presses which form the auto-mated stamping line. The insert in thephoto shows one of the older-style press-es which are still used to proof new dies.These new machines dwarf PlantChairperson, Shannon Chevalier, whostands over six feet tall even on a badday!

In other photos you can see themany products and dies decorating thewalls of the plant which Match Plate hasproduced over the last 50 years, a testa-ment to the diversity of its work.

The workforce is highly skilledand comprises machinists, welders, elec-tricians, tool makers and millwrights withyears of experience, many with over 30years seniority.

CAW Local 195 has been in theplant for 14 years and has been able tonegotiate all its agreements without workstoppages and despite many pressures asthe company seeks to remain viable in thechanging market and endless cost/pricesqueezes that have brought more than afew similar operations to their knees.

Shannon Chevalier speaks withconfidence and pride in his union and itsaccomplishments under these conditions.There are currently 117 workers in thebargaining unit. Three quarters of thecurrent workforce are skilled tradesper-sons. About half the current members arelaid off but with the company’s ambitiousexpansion plans everyone hopes to seethose number drop.

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Photo above shows a “class A” panel. These mustconform to rigorous QS 9000 quality standards.

Viking Pump prides itself on quality and its ability toproduce a reliable pump for any purpose. That includessafe movement of liquid ammonia or cranking groundmeat through a sausage factory! Viking Pump is one ofthe oldest companies in our local. It opened operationsin Windsor in 1924 and moved to its present location atGiles and Janette in 1929.

While ownership of the plant has changed hands sev-eral times over the last 80 years, the unique “gear with-in a gear” design of Jens Nielson has seen the Windsoroperations grow to annual sales of over $18 million withover half that work coming from their Windsor produc-tion facility.

The unionized workforce, currently about a dozen, issmall considering their output. Vice-President of opera-tions, Gurinder Singh, speaks with pride about a plantthat has, with a few short exceptions, never had to lay offworkers. “We have a long and positive relationship withthe CAW, without any strikes in our entire history,” heexplained. “Our newest employee has over a dozenyears here and we have been able to reduce our work-force, when required, by attrition and not by letting peo-ple go.”

CAW (then UAW) Local 195 signed its first contractwith Viking in 1953. The Windsor operation is currentlyowned by Viking Pump Inc. a subsidiary of the largeU.S. multi-national IDEX Corporation.

Over 80 years in Windsor

Ivan Marcoux has worked at Viking for over 42 years and plans to retire from this summer.

PhotoFrom left to right

Gerry Farnhamwith Viking PresidentJohn D’Alessandroand VP of OperationsGurinder Singh.

In Photo from left to right Viking Plant Chairperson, Richard Todd, “Spoof”Farnham’s son, Gerry, and Recording Secretary,Barry Sheppard.

Viking Pump

Retirees Chapter

Elections for the following Retirees Chapter positions will be held at the May meetingMay 25, 2005 1:30 pm (Last Wednesday of the Month)

ChairpersonVice-ChairpersonRecording SecretaryTreasurerSergeant at arms

Member at LargeElection CommitteeRecreation CommitteeBy-Law CommitteeHuman Rights Committee

CAW 195 Retirees on the front lines

Retirees participated in the rally, barbeque, andpress conference at the Butcher Engineeringpicket line as well as in the anti-war rally atDieppe Gardens.

March 19, 2005

Les Dickirson and Bob Cruise were re-elected Retiree Reps toCAW Local 195 General Council at the March Meeting

SILENT AUCTION!

The solution to much of the old office furniture and equipment,gym weight, scales and machines, old computers, etc. that havecollected in the Local for close to 25 years? That’s right!... .a silentauction. We will notify everyone of the deadline and list the junk.Be watchful, one person’s garbage, they say, is another’s treasure!

CAW Local 195 Bargain Day!Like E-Bay only better!

Thursday June 2ndRain or Shine!Woody’s Outhouse4 pm onwardPartying for a Cause!Deadline to sign upApril 21st.

To get involved contact

Bob Maurice/Sandy St. LouisFlex-n-Gate

Kevin TelferFabco

Christine Neveu/Nancy BadderAccucaps

Gail JoyalGates

Nancy RobertsonTDS

Big Bike June 2nd, 2005

From left to right in photo:Cindy Harcus, Joseph Mikhad, Steve Rubik and Kerri Eaton.

Jamieson workers met at thelocal on March 13th and voted fornew Chair, Joseph Mikhad andVice-Chairperson, Steve Rubik fol-lowing the resignations of Cindy andKerri.

In a fitting bit of class, Cindyhanded over union guides and mate-rials she received from the Localwhen first elected to the Chairpersonposition and wished her successorsthe best.

News Briefs

The last few months havebeen a real test of the dedication ofour Solidarity Committee.Solidarity is being there when youare needed. Kevin and hisCommittee show that dedicationover and over when we are onstrike or facing a fight. One needonly talk to our Butcher brothers

and sisters on the line or to any ofthe hundreds of others at ADM,Kendan, Vets Cab and everywherewe have needed support. The workof Kevin and his dedicated com-mittee deserves mention time andagain. If a picture is worth a thou-sand words then hopefully thesefew pictures will tell it all!

It is just such a committeewhich gives confidence to ourmembers when strikes drag on,when there does not appear to belight at the end of the tunnel.

Realistically most move-ments only have the really broadparticipation when the entire socie-ty or collective of workers are inmotion. A lot the the rest of the

time the worker organizations relyupon the very dedicated few. Theirwork allows others to dare to dreamthe impossible dream and then setabout making it happen.

The Standard salutes thisvital committee in our Local!

Solidarity is being therewhen you are needed.Kevin and his Committeeshow that dedicationover and over when weare on strike or facing afight.

A Solidarity Committee Worth Its Weight in Gold!

Mariette Jones says “Thank You” to CAW 195At the General Council Meeting onJanuary 21st, Mariette Jones pre-sented an appreciation plaque toMike Renaud for all the supportCAW Local 195 has given herhumanitarian projects. She hasworked 21 years at D&C Tunnelas a member of our union.

Photo on right Mariette with her Goddaughter,Janiya Dean, who is holding oneof the Haitian dolls produced bythe Women’s Cooperative inLabadie, Haiti.

Ten Thousand Villages is alsohelping to sell Denim purses andsun dresses produced by thesame cooperative. Mariette plansanother visit to Haiti in 2006.

Anyone interested in helpingMariette out with her projects inHaiti, which include a child spon-sorship program, can contact herthrough Ten Thousand Villages or directly at: jonesy327@cogeco.caor (519) 257-3145

James Napier First member UAW 195

James Napier, highlighted in Kelsey Wheel photo above(1934), was the first member of UAW 195, a charter mem-ber of our local and one of those who put his views on theearly life of the union in Canada into print. In the forward tohis book, written in 1975, he writes:

Photos below show the mass pickets of UAW 195 plants insupport of the Ford workers during the 1945 blockade.(Windsor Star). As we near our Jubilee 70th Anniversary, The Standardwould like to appeal to all our friends, members and partic-ularly retirees, to bring us photos, clippings, or other mem-orable records of those early years. We too, as Napierwrote back then, wish that “...Before I go, I submit this lit-tle history for one reason only -- to set the record straight.”

The Early Years

“A great deal has been written aboutthe United Auto Workers’ union. Unfortunately,most of it was written by people too young tohave been personally involved in the strugglesof the early years or by those who have some-thing to lose should the truth be known.”

Memories of Building the UAW J.S. Napier (1975)