September & 2008
&
It’s hard to believe that the summer of ’08 is almost behind us and the kids are back to school. I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Labour Day and summer.
September is & the month that sees the kick off to our annual United Way Campaign. This year’s United Way Campaign Launch and 3M Harvest Lunch is & Friday, September 12 from & 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the John Labatt Centre. Tickets are only $5. Get yours now. & I hope to see you there!
Thanks to all of you that support United Way’s efforts & to improve the quality of life of everyone in our community. Both United Way and Labour share a belief that together we can do so much more than we can alone.
Working people in our community and across Canada continue to face uncertainty, bad news, lay offs and job loss as the economy worsens.
On Sunday, September 28, CAW members in St. Thomas, London and the surrounding area will take to the streets to continue the fight for good-paying manufacturing jobs. All local union members, family, friends, neighbours, community activists and allies are urged to attend.
The march will kick off at the corner of Talbot Street and 1st Avenue across the street from the Ford St. Thomas dealership at 11:00 a.m. The group will depart from there and march down Talbot & to Ross Street for a mass rally at St. Thomas Ford Collision Centre.
CAW Local 1520 President Dennis McGee encourages people from across the community to attend this important event to show that manufacturing matters in St. Thomas and all the surrounding communities. “Cities like St. Thomas are being devastated by massive job loss but it’s important to remind ourselves and others that it isn’t inevitable,” said McGee. "Balanced trade and policies that support local economies through buying Canadian would go a long way in helping turn this situation around, he said. “We just need the political will to make it happen.”
McGee will be speaking along with St. Thomas and London Labour Council Presidents Dave Kerr and Patti Dalton. The mayor of St. Thomas, Cliff Barwick and top CAW leadership will also be in attendance.
In July of this year 32,000 manufacturing jobs were lost, according to Statistics Canada figures released in early August. Including manufacturing jobs, 55,000 jobs were eliminated in total, the worst figure in 17 years and the steepest decline in employment since the 1991 recession. &
For more information about the Manufacturing Matters mrch and rally in St. Thomas, please contact Dennis McGee at 519-851-8181.
&
The annual L.I.U.N.A. Local 1059 tournament was held in August and continues to be a great fundraiser for United Way. Thanks to L.I.U.N.A. Local 1059 for their ongoing support and help in & building a stronger community.
&
Many of the workplaces that have been impacted by layoffs of 50 people or more in our community and the surrounding area have negotiated funds to set up adjustment programs and Action Centres to help workers adjust to the effects of job loss.
The Adjustment Advisory Program through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities supplies advisory and financial assistance to these committees. Committees include representatives from all the affected employee groups as well as management and union representatives.
As United Way's & Labour Programs and Services staff person, & I have been working with the adjustment programs for the workers impacted by the layoffs at Dana Canada in St. Marys and at Autrans in Ingersoll. As the Adjustment Committee Chairperson I am overseeing the programs, providing guidance, direction and training to the committee and Peer Helpers.
Our mission is to help these workers adjust to the effects of job loss in the workplace by identifying their needs and securing appropriate support, including career counseling, training, referrals to appropriate community human support services, & job search and employment skills training. We are there to help workers that have been laid-off deal with the effects of losing their jobs by helping them review their options and plan their next steps. Our committees plan and implement programs, services, information sessions and workshops as needed, including: job-search assistance – resume writing, interview skills, job search, vocational and educational counseling, information on training, personal support in dealing with the stress of job loss, financial counseling, and information on starting a small business.
The impact of these layoffs not only affect the workers, but also their families and the entire community. I would suggest that it also takes the whole community, municipally, provincially and federally, to assist people impacted by job loss. And of course United Way is here to help improve lives and build community. We must all work together to put in place opportunities for re-training and & re-employment and opportunities for success for these and all workers. They & have contributed to the success of our community, province and country and we need to help them & continue to do so.
One year after its launch, Family Networks is meeting its goal to decrease new and existing cases of children in care and is meeting the needs and expectations of the families it serves.
Family Networks is a neighbourhood-based support service that helps support families. Unique in Ontario, Family Networks provides access to professional and other community services necessary to keep the family together safely and reduce the number of children in the care of the Children's Aid Society.
This innovative project, launched in February 2007, is a response to research commissioned by United Way of London & Middlesex and conducted by researchers at The University of Western Ontario in 2003.
In response to the research findings, & United Way and the Children's Aid Society carried out an extensive community consultation process to develop a collaborative action plan to address the critical issues found in the report. The result is Family Networks.
&
United Way's & 10th annual Day of Caring took place & in June. It's a day when & hundreds of people in our community step out of their day-to-day work routine to offer their time and muscle to help & non-profit organizations & with a variety of & cleaning, maintenance and other projects.
It's & a fantastic opportunity for workplaces to promote volunteerism and teamwork. & These great volunteer teams have a fun day working together and get to know more about the programs and services available for those who need them in & our community.
&  |
& & & &  |
| Ford/CAW 1520 were brightening up the
Youth Action Centre with a fresh coat of paint |
CAMI/CAW Local 88 spent their day cleaning and fixing things up for the Men’s Program of the Crouch Neighbourhood Centre & |
&  |
& & & &  |
| Canada Post/CUPW took rollers and brushes in hand to freshen up the Community Resource Centre for LUSO | Electromotive/CAW Local 27 spent their day planting, raking and hoeing the beds and gardens at the Y |
&
In June, more than 100 volunteer and professional leaders from 42 countries and territories converged in Vancouver for the first ever United Way Global Summit. Check out this & video from & the & Summit. & It really puts the world into perspective!
&
“The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.” - Frederick Buechner
&
You can contact me with any questions or suggestions at:
Sharon Lupton
Labour Programs & & Services & Coordinator
United Way of London & Middlesex
409 King Street, London, Ontario N6B 1S5
Ph: 519-438-1723 ext. 232
Fx: 519-438-9938
Can't see the video? Click here.
Can't see the video? Click here.
