A pleasant welcome is extended to all after our summer break. It is delightful to take vacation with intent to recharge our minds and bodies so we will be geared up to meet and act in solidarity for the betterment of our community. But not everyone got a total break from the action since our last meeting.

We started the summer off with some disturbing developments in our Canadian labour movement, the fact that I am writing this report indicates that the CAW/SEIU membership issues are not settled as of this date and CLC representative Mike Sinkevitch will address that at the opening of our September meeting on the developments over the summer break.

We did have a community issue in early summer that our members participated in to protest the Heritage Front gathering in our area. Protesters and media releases forced the event to be cancelled, however the growing recruitment of members and its presence in this area has spurred a community coalition of which we have been involved. Karl Flecker will give a synoposis of the issues and the growing problem and how we will join to fight against racism and the groups that promote as a guest on Community TV show this week. We will discuss the issues at the September meeting.

The Harris government introduced changes to the Employment Standards act in late July, just in the high point of vacation time in the province to ensure as few as possible people would hear and react to the changes. His regressive policies aimed towards the workers of this province continue. Cecilia Brooks is helping prepare a brief to be sent in by our council before the September 29th, deadline. Incidentally Harris introduced the WCB changes and hearings in the summer a few years ago. On that same note Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour will join us at the September meeting and also tape a TV show on the employment standards changes. Wayne will speak briefly on the impact of those changes at our meeting.

August saw a familiar friendly face at our labour council meetings in depart Kingston for her new position with the Ontario Health Coalition in Toronto. Natalie Mehra will be greatly missed for the wisdom, energy, commitment and dedication she poured into our community and council. We join together to wish her well in her new commitments knowing we will be well served in health issues in Ontario. We have not lost Natalie; we now share with the rest of Ontario workers a skilled and determined community organizer.

Adele Mugford spent the summer working with our Labour Day committee as our student through the HRDC program. A lot of organization and planning went into the day with some new activities for the younger crowd. We raises over $300 for the United way from the donation jars and smiles were the order of the day on many young faces. Thanks to the volunteers who faithfully cooked the dogs, served the drinks, passed out information, painted fasces, set up and cleaned up, a terrific effort by all produced a tremendous day. Special thanks to Oliver Doyle and Gloria Morris who worked closely with Adele to organize a splendid Labour Day 2000 at Lake Ontario Park. Our connection to our community is strengthened as a result of Adele's work for us this summer and we wish her well in her studies in Ottawa.

Thought the summer the organizers of the Injured workers group have been meeting and bylaws and procedures have been drawn up ready to officially begin the help process for injured workers in our community. Thanks to all for keeping at it with summer meetings to prepare for the annual general meeting on September 28th. Kevin Goodfellow, Charlie Stock, Natalie Mehra, Ken Wynne and I chaired meetings to keep the momentum going. Ted McConnell from the Office of The Workers Advisor will be guest speaker at the AGM talking on the major pitfalls facing workers in the WSIB system. It should be an informative meeting.

It looks like a very busy fall full of activity to organize with the Women's March 2000 in October and a municipal election in November. We have an Artist in the Workplace grant to peruse also. The CLC Eastern week long school has been moved to the Operating Engineers complex in Morrisburg in October and our weekend school will be located at another venue in October, more details to come on that. We have elections to fill vacant positions on the council scheduled for September and we ask that you consider standing for a position. Moving forward together we will find that the load lightens and the path widens.

As always,
In solidarity,

Peter J. Boyle
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