With the implementation of the new BILL 168 being brought forward by the Ontario Government, we want to inform you, the member of what the basics of this new law is. Please read, and educate yourself, on what is now expected in the workplace concerning you and your co-workers. We are working close with management, and our legal experts, so we can try to have a better understanding of this new law. Please read the information below for a brief review of what this new law encompasses, from the workers side as well as the employers side. If you have any questions, please feel free, as always to contact an Executive member, or a floor steward for information.

KINWU Executive Committee.

These excerpts below are right from the government website, and are just an overview of the key aspects of  Bill 168. Please educate yourself on this new law.

Changes to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) – effective June 15, 2010 – strengthen protections for workers from workplace violence and address workplace harassment. They define workplace violence and harassment and describe employer duties, and will apply to all workplaces covered by the OHSA.

Bill 168 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Definitions

Workplace violence means:

• The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker
• An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker
• A statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.

Workplace harassment means:

• Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.

Workplace harassment may include bullying, intimidating or offensive jokes or innuendos, displaying or circulating offensive pictures or materials, or offensive or intimidating phone calls.

Policies and programs

Employers must:

• Prepare policies with respect to workplace violence and workplace harassment,
• Develop and maintain programs to implement their policies, and
• Provide information and instruction to workers on the contents of these policies and programs.

Workplace violence programs must include measures and procedures for:

• Summoning immediate assistance when workplace violence occurs or is likely to occur, and
• Controlling risks identified in the assessment of risks.

Both workplace violence and workplace harassment programs must include measures and procedures for workers to report incidents of workplace violence/harassment and set out how the employer will investigate and deal with incidents or complaints.

Assessment

Employers must proactively assess the risks of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work. Measures and procedures to control these risks must be included in the workplace violence program.

Domestic violence

Employers who are aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that domestic violence may occur in the workplace must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect a worker at risk of physical injury.

Communication

Employers and supervisors must provide information to a worker about a risk of workplace violence from a person with a history of violent behaviour if the worker can expect to encounter that person in the course of work, and if the worker may be at risk of physical injury. Personal information may be disclosed, but only what is reasonably necessary to protect the worker from physical injury.

Work refusal

Workers have the right to refuse work if they have a reason to believe they are in danger from workplace violence. Reprisals by the employer continue to be prohibited. Certain workers continue to have only a limited right to refuse.

Enforcement

Ministry of Labour health and safety inspectors will enforce the new OHSA provisions for workplace violence and workplace harassment and determine if employers are complying with their new duties. Employers and workers should always contact police first in emergency situations, if threats or actual violence occurs at a workplace.

May meeting at the KINWU Office 662D Progress Square

 7:45 p.m. May 27, 2010

This is the time to make your voice heard and issues discussed. Lets talk about it!

AGENDA

 Call meeting to order

Your Executive.

 meeting at the KINWU Office 662D Progress Square

Grievance  Stewards

Spring Training

B/C  Crews

June 3,  2010

On June 03, 2010 there will be a Grievance Stewards Training seminar. This will be held at the Union Office and start at 08:00 and end at 16:00.

A Lawyer from our law firm Koskie and Minsky will be conducting this training seminar. This is open to all Grievance Stewards working or off.

Lunch is provided.

[KINWU needs an RSVP from all stewards that will be attending] 

  Vice President

Chief Steward

Larry Garrah

KINWU Membership April Meeting

April meeting at the KINWU Office 662D Progress Square

 7:45 p.m. April 29, 2010

This is the time to make your voice heard and issues discussed. Lets talk about it!

AGENDA

 Call meeting to order

Your Executive.

GRATUITY PAYMENT FOR MEMBERS

The cheques for the Grautity Payment are ready for pick up at the Union office at the Progress Courtyard.  The office is open Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, & Thursday’s, from 8:30am  until 4:30pm. You will need to show Identification, as well as sign for your cheque. If there are any concerns, or questions, please contact any Union Executive Member.

Sincerely,

Executive Committee.

 K. I. N. W. U. Members

  DuPont

Notice

Ratification Vote

Tuesday March 23, 2010

This notice is to inform the membership of the time and place for the upcoming Ratification vote, of our proposed new contract. Voting will take place at the NEW Union offices, located at 662D Progress Square (behind Collins Safety Shoes). Voting can take place between the hours of;

6:30 am  and  8:30 pm

There will be no advanced poll for this vote.

      Sincerely,

     Barry Johnston-President

662D Progress Square, Kingston Ontario

(In Behind Jack Tuesdays)

ALL DuPont K.I.N.W.U. Members

 Membership Notice

PRESENTATION MEETING

Friday March 19th, 2010

NOTICE

This notice is to inform you of a Presentation Meeting of the DuPont General membership. This will inform the membership of what the Executive has to present from our negotiating talks. Please note that there are 2 times for this meeting;

8:00 am

4:30 pm

Meeting will be taking place @ the Union office. To be informed, please plan to attend one of these presentation meetings.

Sincerely,

Bargaining Committee;

Barry Johnston-Union President

Larry Garrah-Union Vice President

Chris Spence-Union Recording Secretary

Penny Cook-DuPont Union Chief Steward

Corey Reid-DuPont Union Steward