WHSC 2009 Annual Report now available online
The Workers Health & Safety Centre’s (WHSC) commitment to worker well-being is stronger than ever.  Amid tough recessionary times and major changes within Ontario’s health and safety system, the WHSC’s focus is clear; our work never more centred on prevention.
 
The WHSC 2009 Annual Report, now available online, details our efforts to stay true to our vision of safer, healthier workplaces and how we continued to fulfill our core training mandate.
 
Last year we held our own delivering over 187,000 person hours of training including both legally mandated programs and other programs geared to our labour constituency.
 
Says Dave Killham, executive director, Workers Health & Safety Centre, “We’re optimistic as the economy recovers so too will our ability to reach all workers and their representatives who need health and safety training.” Understanding most economic growth comes from small business a key program development effort was the creation of a new program for worker representatives in smaller workplaces. This training program has the potential to extend our reach into workplaces that have been traditionally underserviced. If Ontario’s Expert Advisory Review Panel on Occupational Health and Safety recommends mandatory training for these representatives, this program will become indispensable.
 
Reaching more broadly still, a major revision to our unique Level 1 health and safety program allows it to be delivered to workers in all Canadian jurisdictions. This is essential training for worker reps wanting to fully exercise their considerable legal rights and expand their skills as health and safety leaders.
 
Updates to our Basic Certification program and to our Health Care & Social Services Sector program have us well poised to take the lead when revised Certification standards are released.
 
Regardless, we encourage you to read about all of our efforts on behalf of Ontario workers and their families.
 
Want to download the entire WHSC 2009 Annual Report?
 
Want more information about WHSC health and safety training? Call 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a training service representative or contact a WHSC near you.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION
Vancouver BC, 24 June 2010: Unions from all over the world are to adopt
today an ambitious resolution on climate change. In the framework of the 2nd
ITUC Congress, unions have debated their role in the fight against climate
change, the means to create green and decent jobs and ensure a just
transition towards a low carbon economy and the need for achieving a fair,
ambitious and binding deal on climate under UN auspicies.
"In the last years, unions have deepened their understanding and commitment
on climate change; the time has come in this 2nd ITUC Congress to
consolidate our policies" said Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the ITUC.
"With this resolution, trade unions of the world show that if there is
ambition and solidarity, it is possible to agree on the measures needed to
combat climate change; governments should step up to their responsibilities,
as unions have done".
The resolution establishes policies on the need for ambitious emission
reductions in developed countries, for sufficient funding to be allocated to
help the poorest of the world to adapt to climate change, and for developing
countries not to repeat the mistakes of the past but to engage instead in a
different development path, so as to help build the low carbon, climate
resilient and socially-fair world we need.
"Climate change is definitely a workers' issue, and Congress is
demonstrating leadership by showing that there is no incompatibility between
achieving decent work and social justice and protecting the environment",
said Sharan Burrow, President of the ITUC. "On the contrary, targetted
investments and policies aimed at creating green and decent jobs in certain
sectors, such as renewable energies, energy efficiency and public
transportation can help us overcome the job crisis we are living through,
and unions today are willing to convey this message to the world".
"Solidarity between and within countries and a Just Transition are key to
ending climate change" said Burrow. "Unions of the world have to ensure that
their governments share costs and gains in a fair manner, and push for the
transition to a low-carbon and sustainable society to be done in such a way
that everyone has a place" she added.
In addition to the resolution "Combatting Climate Change through Sustainable
Development and Just Transition", a documentary produced by ITUC and
Sustainlabour showcases activities and commitments from the world's
unionists- from leaders to shopfloor activists - on climate change.
http://www.ituc-csi.org/international-trade-unions-to.html

UFCW Canada and Mexico's Federal District unite efforts to protect migrant workers in Canada, as well as their families
MEXICO CITY - On Thursday, July 1st, Maria Rosa Marquez Cabrera, representing the Secretaria de Desarrollo Rural y Equidad para las Comunidades (SEDEREC) and Victor Carrozzino, executive assistant to the UFCW Canada National President, signed a mutual cooperation and Letter of Intent to protect the human and labour rights of Mexican temporary agricultural migrant workers in Canada, as well as members of their families living in Mexico City. 
Maria Rosa Marquez Cabrera, representing the Secretaria de Desarrollo Rural y Equidad para las Comunidades (SEDEREC)Victor Carrozzino, executive assistant to the UFCW Canada National President
The pact reflects the commitment both institutions have shown towards migrant workers for many years, and proposes a model of cooperation and institutional support to improve living and working conditions of Mexican migrant workers while in Canada.
"We look forward to the new cooperation pact with SEDEREC," says National President Wayne Hanley. "The corporate globalization agenda too often ignores the rights of migrant workers, so we are committed to working with sending countries to ensure that doesn't happen."
In association with the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA), UFCW Canada will provide workers with a toll-free Assistance phone line. In addition, 10 AWA centres across Canada, with Spanish speaking staff, will provide assistance with issues like labour rights, housing conditions, workers' compensation and other work-related matters.  These centres will also offer workshops on health and safety, work-related accidents, English and French as a second language, and free long distance calls.
SEDEREC will also provide support and information through its Migrante Line, with trained staff  to answer the concerns of workers and their families regarding issues such as birth certificates, drivers' licenses, consular referrals, duty-free imports when they return to Mexico, etc.
Every season, more than 17,000 Mexicans work in Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP); a bilateral treaty between Mexico and Canada.  The new agreement between UFCW Canada and SEDEREC aims to address the current shortfalls in the SAWP program by offering a model of institutional coordinated support, accessible to every migrant worker.