Women's Committee
Chairperson: Kathleen Swerhun
kswerhun(at)tbaytel(dot)net
The Local 229 Women's Committee continue meeting monthly on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:30 pm prior to the general membership meetings. They provide the local units with valuable information pertaining to women's issues and liaison with women's groups in the community. This is an extremely active committee which initiated the Undercover Project in conjunction with the Clothing Assistance Mission. There are ongoing events to raise funds for projects ranging from breast cancer awareness to regional food drives in the area. A deputation to city council was presented which resulted in a letter of support for the campaign to strengthen the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act by including workplace violence prevention. The union is calling on the Ontario Ministry of Labour to amend the Act to ensure that employers are held accountable for creating safe workplaces so that workers are protected from both incidents and threats of violence. Recently the Ontario Ministry of Labour released a consultation paper calling for discussion on workplace violence with the possibility of amending the Act as it pertains to violence prevention in the workplace. In addition to workplace protections, the union is also recommending the inclusion of a Code of Conduct, which would apply to all workers, management personnel, clients, patients, family members, volunteers and any other person on the employer's premises.
To send a letter to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca and your MP (Ontario residents), visit: http://petition.web.net/caw/node/1