UPDATE ON NEGOTIATIONS:
Hello KINWU members:
The KINWU Bargaining Committee and the company have been very busy over the past 10 weeks negotiating for our new Collective Agreement.
This week ends the last originally scheduled date for planned bargaining, and we have not been able to reach an agreement on some issues.
Jointly, we have agreed to extend negotiations to include the week of December 19th to 25th in hopes of reaching a tentative of agreement.
To stay connected check out our twitter account @KINWU_union or members login through our webpage kinwu.ca. You can also submit your personal email address to an Executive Member, call the Union office or through the website.
In solidarity,
KINWU Bargaining Committee
December 17, 2021
November 17, 2021
Hello KINWU Members,
As everyone is aware, your Union Executive, is participating in negotiations for the renewal of the Collective Agreement that expires on January 28th, 2022.
The goal of negotiations is to reach a Collective Agreement. The Union and the company have a legal duty to meet and to bargain in good faith, and to make a reasonable effort to conclude an agreement. To learn more and better understand, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/collective-bargaining
There will be a General Membership Meeting on November 25th, 2021.
Our Bargaining Committee will be providing an overview of negotiations.
Members can participate in person, with covid safety protocols, or online through Microsoft Teams invite. The Microsoft Teams invite will be sent out to members whom have provided personal email addresses to the Union. If you’ve not received the invite, you can find the link on https://kinwu.ca/, in the Union Members Login, under General Membership Meeting , or contact an Executive Member.
In solidarity,
KINWU Bargaining Committee
November 1, 2021
Hello KINWU Members
As you are aware, KINWU has begun negotiations on the renewal of our Collective Agreement which expires Jan 28th, 2022. This communication is intended to give you, our member, an update on negotiations. The bargaining committee will be sending out periodic updates throughout negotiations to keep members updated and informed, while still honoring the collective bargaining confidentiality.
As we started negotiations, the company and KINWU stated that for this to be a successful agreement, we would need to work together to address some of the issues. The company has stated that they are looking for a deal that allows them flexibility, and sustainability over the long term. The union has stated that we are looking for an agreement that truly compensates our members for the value they create and keeps our members here and attracts new ones.
Through the first few weeks of negotiations the union and Invista have tabled and discussed many proposals. There have been many productive, informative discussions so far, with some agreement being reached on proposals that are not monetary based. Most have had to do with clearing up language or language that is no longer applicable. In depth discussions around the larger issues of compensation and pension, have yet to occur.
If you have not picked up your red union negotiation shirt from the union hall, please do so. There is someone at the hall (745-Unit 9, Gardiners Rd.) Monday to Friday. If you are unable to make it to the union hall during these times, please contact an executive member to make other arrangements.
In solidarity,
KINWU Bargaining Committee
KINGSTON INDEPENDENT NYLON WORKERS UNION
MEMBERS UPDATE
AUGUST 2021
A half-day STEWARDS TRAINING SESSION will take place on SEPTEMBER 15, 2021. This training session is being facilitated by Ernie Schirru of Koskie Minsky LLP. For anyone wishing to take part in this training, please contact KINWU Chief Steward, Brad Reid.
The KINWU Executive met with UNIFOR 28-0 (Maitland) last month to discuss negotiations and proposed pension changes. As these changes affect both unions, we are working together with open lines of communication and support. From this we invite you to attend an “Introduction to DBplus” information sessions hosted by the CAAT Pension Plan on AUGUST 25, 2021 at 5:00 pm. This session will provide members with an overview of the CAAT Pension Plan, its design, features and benefits. This will be an online session which you can register for through our website.
Please return the MEMBERS SURVEY which you received in the mail to the Executive by Labour Day, SEPTEMBER 6, 2021. The information from these surveys helps form the mandate for negotiations, so please take part. Participation is not mandatory, but your input is valuable.
ONLY 1 MONTH LEFT to get your PROPOSAL FORMS in. Please submit your proposal ideas for upcoming collective bargaining to the Executive by SEPTEMBER 6, 2021.
KINWU annual SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS will be accepted until AUGUST 31, 2021. You can submit your application to an Executive or at Union hall.
There will be a short SPECIAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING on AUGUST 18, 2021 at 7:45 p.m. This will be an online meeting only to discuss upcoming CAAT pension presentation. You can join in through the members log-in section of our website at www.kinwu.ca or contact an Executive for an invite. Hope to see you there!
KINWU’s next GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING will be held on SEPTEMBER 23, 2021. Scholarship winners will be drawn at this meeting.
A new locked KINWU DROPBOX has been installed outside of the Union office at Invista. This can be used to drop off grievances, scholarship and proposal forms, or anything you wish to get to the Executive.
If you have not received a KINWU facemask and would like one, please see an Executive.
If you wish to receive Union updates by text or email, please submit the necessary information to an Executive to be added to the lists. You can also get KINWU news and updates by following us on twitter – @kinwu_union or our website – www.kinwu.ca.
Total KINWU members 582
Members @ DuPont 24
Members @ Invista 532
Students 26
Thanks and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Cory Serson
President
Kingston Independent Nylon Workers Union
KINGSTON INDEPENDENT NYLON WORKERS UNION
MEMBERS’ UPDATE
JULY 2021
- A half day Stewards Training session will take place September 15th, 2021. This training session is being facilitated by Ernie Schirru of Koskie/Minsky LLP. For anyone wishing to take part in this training, please contact KINWU Chief Steward, Brad Reid.
- A Members Survey has been mailed out to members in preparation for upcoming collective bargaining. The Executive asked that you fill out and return these surveys by Labour Day September 6th, 2021. The information from these surveys helps form the mandate for negotiations, so please take part. Participation is not mandatory, but your input is valuable.
- ONLY 3 MONTHS LEFT to get your proposal forms in. Please submit your proposal ideas for upcoming collective bargaining to the executive by September 6th, 2021
- KINWU annual scholarship application forms are available on our website (kinwu.ca), the union hall and outside union office. Applications will be accepted until August 31st, 2021. You can submit forms to an executive or at union hall.
- KINWU’s next General Membership Meeting will be held on September 24th, 2021. Scholarship winners will be drawn at meeting.
- New KINWU INCIDENT REPORT FORM will soon be available. These forms are another way for member to raise awareness of workplace issues they are witnessing. These forms DO NOT have to be attached to a grievance. Members are encouraged to use whatever form of communication they are comfortable with when raising concerns, in person, by email, through website, phone/text, or mykochguideline (1-888-545-3510).
- A new locked KINWU Dropbox has been installed outside of the union office. This can be used to drop off grievances, scholarship and proposal forms, or anything you wish to get to the executive.
- If you have not received a KINWU facemask and wish to, please see an executive.
- Total KINWU members 582
Members @ DuPont 24
Members @ INVISTA 532
Students 26
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA
- You can get KINWU news and updates by following us on twitter, @kinwu_union
Cory Serson
President
Kingston Independent Nylon Workers Union
KINGSTON INDEPENDENT NYLON WORKERS UNION
MEMBERS UPDATE
MARCH 2021
First, I would like to thank and commend all KINWU members and INVISTA employees on their diligence and commitment to the health and safety of our site and community.
Brad Reid has been appointed the new Chief Steward for KINWU.
Due to Covid restrictions, the Union Stewards training has been postponed to June 2021. Anyone interested in becoming a Union Steward should contact Cory Serson or Brad Reid.
KINWU Executive Committee will be attending Negotiations training from April 26-30, 2021.
Proposal forms for negotiations are available on our website at www.kinwu.ca or outside our plant Union office. You can also request that a proposal form be emailed to you by contacting donna.thomas@kinwu.ca. Completed forms can be submitted to any of the Executive Committee or emailed to donna.thomas@kinwu.ca.
KINWU face masks are now available. If you have not received one, you can pick one up at the plant Union office or from an Executive Committee member.
As there has been many questions concerning the recent announcement of pension changes for 2023 for all INVISTA Canada employees, please standby for updates. For now, questions should be directed to the Company and we will be sure to keep all members updated once we are informed of details.
You can now get KINWU news and updates by following us on Twitter @kinwu_union.
Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup, led by the Rotary Club of Kingston, will be taking place on the INVISTA shoreline on May 29, 2021. Anyone interested in helping out, please call Stephen Hughes, Site Environmental Systems Leader, for more details. Community volunteer forms are available for high school aged children.
The Auditor’s Report for year ending December 31, 2020 was completed by MNP Auditing. A clean audit was presented to the membership at the last General Membership Meeting in March.
Members are encouraged to raise workplace concerns to Union Stewards or Executive Committee, mykockguideline (1-888-545-3510), or management. If you have questions or concerns, there is a good chance other members have the same concerns.
KINWU encourages members to stay safe and follow provincial and local health authority guidelines.
Total KINWU members – 557
Members @ Dupont – 24
Members @ Invista – 533
Cory Serson
President
Kingston Independent Nylon Workers Union