= L.to r. union supporters Mark
Fulsom and Norma Sanchez at
hotel in Chilliwack. norman carcia

Hotel workers get certified to
USW’s Fraser Valley local

In late May Local 1-3567
organizer and newly-elected

effort to organize 41 full and
part-time workers at the

Van Steinburg ges to its
employees, nearly half of
whom a

filed charges of unfair a
practices and they all g
their jobs back.

outside of the hotel with a sin-
rl Speer

9 ce} ge bag
That, and numerous other inci-
dents, were enough for the
workers. They called the
Steelworkers for help.
“Our ppsicie supporters
ig through the
n

campaign,” sa
Steinburg. “We could not have
organized them without their
hard work and toughness.”

= Lefttor.

d Tones NonMaN Garcia

POD TRAINING TO BE OFFERED TO DISTRICT 3 LOCAL UNIONS

District 3 to drive organizing

IWA COUNCIL LOCAL unions are, most
often than not, always on the lookout for
new membership. They realize they
must organize or die.

Throughout the Steelworkers’ organi-
zation there is a clear understanding that
strength at the bargaining table is related
to the level of trade union organization
in a industry, sector or community, says
Scott Lunny, District 3 coordinator. “We
all know we have to organize to protect
and expand upon the rights our current
members have.”

District 3 currently has four full-time
organizers. They are Gordie McIntosh,
ux, Richard

the weeks and months
ahead, ee will be

region, ne eg local
unions ae industries. The District’s
Organizing Department, run out of its
headquarters in Burnaby, will oversee
POD/Committee training and develop-

ment; communication with staff reps,
POD leaders and organizing coordina-
oe area councils and local unions;

member organizer for org campaigns
and lead drive:

The eee will require the ongoing
support of local unions and their activists
to do their jobs, notes Lunny.

“Our union is in every

contacts where workers need a union
District Director Steve Hunt said that
organizing program is district wide. “We
need to make sure all locals, area coun-
cils, organizers and staff reps are work-
ing together to build and grow the
Steelworkers in Western Canada,” adds

member recruitment.

16 T JUNE 2006 THE ALLIED WORKER