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Many topics to touch on in this Newsletter to the Membership, the first topic, the meeting held by the Company on July 22, 2008 in Windsor. The Bargaining Committee along with the National Union attended to listen to the State of the Business Report. The Company did not preach all things to be “doom & gloom”, however the core business, medium & heavy duty trucks, is not recovering to the predicted number of units to be built in 2008. The Canadian dollar being high, efficiencies, and shipping costs were said to be the major hurdle for CAP. Shipping costs; many of the parts plants have moved to the south, making the costs of shipping parts to Chatham due to the recent increases in fuel costs. Efficiencies at CAP are improving, but still not the best. The Canadian dollar was something that was out of our control.

Mexico building ProStar Product was discussed. The original numbers of units to be built in Mexico was stated by Local Management to be 5 to 20 units/month, a large understatement! After further investigation the number went to 1379 units by the Company’s year end, October 31, 2008. At the meeting with the Company they reported to the Committee that the number to be built, based on the order board, was 800 units. The fixed costs being too high and the order board not being able to sustain a 2^nd shift for any length of time are the Company’s reasons for not building these units in Chatham. Prior to this meeting in July and at the meeting, the Committee asked for an analysis associated with fixed costs for a 2^nd Shift. We have yet to receive this data. We the Union know that we have a letter stating that this product will be built in Chatham. We will continue on with conversation with the Company on this subject.

Where did the Company see the Chatham Plant in three to six months? The Company stated that was too far away to give an accurate prediction!!! Should we be wary of a Company who cannot predict 3 to 6 months away or is the market so volatile that it could change at any given moment?

With the Company being profitable, how would it reward its workers for a job well done? “They should be thankful to have a job that pays well”, was the Company’s response. The Union’s response, “The workers have given up a great deal to help the Company be profitable. They would be looking for increases in wages and benefits in the next set of negotiations.”

Are we in bargaining with the Company? Will the Committee open the Collective Agreement? The Company has approached the Bargaining Committee to begin talks about the language in the Collective Agreement, however, the Company has not given a requested start date. It has been 10 years since much of the language has been reviewed. There has not been any suggestion of a date for discussion with regard to the dollars and cents of the Collective Agreement. Many among us fear that by beginning talks, we open the Collective Agreement. The membership needs to keep in mind that the current Collective Agreement is in effect until June 30, 2009. We will put together a survey for completion by the membership so the committee recognizes their wishes prior to going into bargaining. It will be handed out in September. If we get a date to begin negotiations, we will notify the floor for membership approval.

On the flip side of all of this, we have heard that the workers at WPP have been told to apply for jobs at CAP. Workers from LEAR in Windsor were the next to report being advised of the upcoming full-time hiring that will take place at Navistar in Chatham. The Union Office has received calls from laid-off workers stating that interviews for full-time jobs at Navistar are going on. When we asked the Company if they were having a hiring agency interview potential workers, the response was that the agency must be doing this on their own. There have been reports that foremen are telling workers that we are going to two shifts. When the Company was approached on this, the Company stated that this was not so. This past Thursday I received an e-mail from the National Union, Bob Chernecki asking if they were hiring at Navistar Chatham. Is the Company planning to hire? No one from the Company has responded with a yes.

Bargaining, we are approaching it! Many things will be said and done to prompt our attention in an effort to keep us guessing, at bay, and fearful. Keep your heads up; we are the workers at CAP. We have been building trucks in this Community for many years. We have history, keeping the work in Chatham hasn’t always been an easy task. The Company will undoubtedly want something from us. For any Committee to do their best in negotiating a new collective agreement, solidarity among the members is essential. Save your pennies and be personally prepared for the worst!

The Local Union is currently collecting old work boots. These work boots will represent the lost manufacturing jobs and will be used to send a message to our government. Drop boxes will be set up in the plant to collect the boots. Let’s show some solidarity and fill them up.

The elections in the Plant have resulted in Brother Larry Duquette being elected to the Zone III Committee Persons position, Brother Paul Moir will now take on the position of Off-Shift Skilled Trades Rep, and Brother Nick Maier will be the Zone I Alternate Rep. Congratulations to all and thanks to all who ran in the elections. We will again have an election on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. at C.A.W. Local 127 Hall on Merritt Ave. A Zone III Rep will be elected along with Alternate Reps in Zone III and Zone II.

There is an issue with parking at the Plant that the Company and Local 35 need our assistance with. The Local 35 lot seems to be the hot spot. This parking is designated to Local 35. In order to preserve their parking area, the Company plans to post a placard on spaces that are designated for Local 35 employees. The spaces that are not designated can be filled by Local 127 and others. This project will soon take place and they are asking that our 127 members who park in this lot only use the spaces that are not designated to Local 35 employees. Updates will be given in the Daily Delivery.

On August 6, 2008 the Company, Bargaining Committee, and National Union will be together to discuss the outstanding grievances. This meeting was moved from a date in July.

We have a brother in need of assistance and there will be a collection taken in order that he can sustain until an expedited arbitration date can be arranged. Please ask your Committee Person or Union Rep for further details in regard to this issue.

If a topic that the membership feels is an ongoing issue was not touched on, please feel free to ask your representation, to assist in obtaining an answer. The date of the next Membership meeting is, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. It will be posted in accordance with the by-laws.

Change is happening all around us at Chatham Assembly Plant. We are now Navistar Canada Inc. It’s been awhile since the last News Letter has been put out to the Membership and an update of accomplishments is in order.

We as a Union wish to welcome Suk Singh as our new Plant Manager. He has been around to talk to the members, both on days and afternoons, and has had various meetings with myself and the Committee. He realizes that we have a combative culture within the Plant and tells us that he wants to change this. I can attest that he has been instrumental in helping us to resolve some very touchy issues within the few weeks he has been here. Hopefully the trend continues and Suk along with Management and our Membership can work through any other outstanding issues in an effort to change the culture in our Plant! This change is long overdue.

A great deal of effort and dialog between the National Union, Brother Jim Mitchell and Brother Bob Chernecki, our Local Union President, Brother Charlie Formosa and the in house Committee was involved with the incident that happened in the back-shop involving Charlie Henry and the Membership. Following the initial shock of this incident, the blame game that is so often played by both sides, did not bring us to resolution on this one. Constructive talks and the willingness of both sides to accept that none of us are so perfect, led to the resolve to bring Charlie Henry back to work. The Company and the Union have to get better at having dialog in order to keep such a thing from happening again. We as Union Members need to remember that work stoppages could cause repercussions both under the law and as individuals. If this incident had been handled better prior the chain and padlocks being used, less man hours would have been used to resolve the matter. In an effort to move forward, I am advising the Membership that we do have a grievance process in place and we need to use it.

Recently the Union and Company went to Arbitration on behalf of a Brother who had been out of the Plant for a length of time. I am happy to report that due to Brother Terry Johnston’s efforts in conjunction with those of Brother Louis Domingus from the National Union, the outcome of the Arbitration more than met this members expectations and he is very happy with the results.

At times certain issues arise that the Union needs to fight for but if the individual decides that it is in his best interest to move on, we as a Union have to put the issue on the back burner and will fight it another day should the need arise.

Brother Larry Duquette has been diligently working with some of our laid-off workers in an effort to resolve Employment Insurance issues for these Members through the appeals process.

Hours of Work – I continually hear from members about our hours of work. This issue was brought forward to Management following the Union Meeting in February. If the Membership is interested in continuing discussions on this topic, please attend the Union Meeting on April 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.

Welcome back to all of the recently recalled Members. Although the week prior I had asked our Labour Relations manager to slot a time when I could go in and speak with the group, apparently it wasn’t important enough and therefore none was given.

There are many other issues that I would like to speak about and therefore I ask that you please attend the next Unit Meeting, scheduled for April 26, 2008.

February 10th, 2008 - Newsletter

Following the Unit meeting which had a good show of Members, I am obligated to take on the assignments requested of the Membership and move forward with the issues currently outstanding in the Plant.

The first thing I would like to let all of the Membership know is that Dave Boland has stated that the workers will be paid for the downtime that resulted from an occurrence at International Truck on February 6, 2008.

In an effort to identify and address Membership's concerns, I have attached to this letter a survey the Union Representatives have indentified with the Members in attendance at the Union meeting on Fevruary 9, 2008. The Company has been made aware of this survey and we would appreciate it if each of you would take the time to complete this and return it to your Representatives. When completing this survey we ask that all of you be honest! You are not required to give your name or clock #, however if you would like to, feel free to do so.

Your Representatives have also had discussion about putting out a monthly letter such as the Boland's Bulletin. In an effort to maintain communication outside the Newsletters, the first issue will be published after reviewing the results of the survey and will be written by your Representatives. This letter will consist of answers to the floor about ongoing issues and concerns from the Membership. If you have questions or concerns you would like your Representatives to address, please include them on the back of the last sheet of the survey.

We have approximately 1100 Member in our Unit. We do not all share the same beliefs. As individuals we have the right to our opinions. Brothers and Sisters, regardless of each others differences, I need to ask that all Members respect our fellow Members differences of opinions and although this may be difficult for some, it needs to be done to maintatin a stress free environment for all of us. I trust that the Membership will accommodate this request.

Cathy's Letter Recieved Feb 4th 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

As reported in Boland's Bulletin the LoneStar Truck will be built at Chatham Assembly Plant. It is a step in the right direction! The Company and the Union are still in discussions as to what this means in terms of outsourcing per our Collective Agreement.

In my last letter I asked you the Membership to search their souls, I never suggested for anyone to consider "selling their soul!" The Company has steadily increased the line speed without recalling our Laid-Off Members. So far they have succeeded and if you allow it they will continue to increase the line speed. We in the office have noticed more and more phone calls complaining about the increased work load and the injury rate continues to climb. Are you reaching a breaking point? The last letter also gave direction to let your foreperson know what your issue's are and to write up the work you could not complete. I did not give direction to blame your fellow worker. Your representatives are currently working on a constructive argument to present to the Company with regard to this issue and it is near completion.

Three months into my term I have witnessed several dealings with the Company that I never dreamt could possibly happen in the year 2008. I believe that Management has had free reign for the last couple of years and we as a Membership have encouraged this by not standing up for ourselves. We as a Union have to convince this Management there is still a difference between right and wrong and that does not mean the Company is always right and the Union is always wrong. How far will they push us before we say no?

We as a Membership have to unite, stand-up for each other and try not to partake in the rumour mill circus that some of the Company's agenda creates.

Brother's Doug Wright, Jim Witherow and Larry Duquette have completed time study training and their newly gained knowledge will be an asset to our Membership.

The next Union Meeting is on February 9, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. I hope that many of you will take the time to attend and bring forward any questions or concerns they have. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

In Solidarity,

Cathy Botterill – Plant Chairperson

C.A.W. Local 127

International Truck & Engine Unit

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NOTICE - Nominations & Elections

Local 127 Plant Chairperson Cathy Botterill has issued 2 news letters, Dec 5th, 2007 and Jan 10th, 2008. Due to restrictions as to what I can publish on the web site I'm not posting them here. They both involve internal issues addressing minor production increases and Kronos. If you would like more info on them, please contact me. internationalemployees@gmail.com

The Holiday Season is close at hand and we as your Representation would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Over the year many of you on the floor are involved in the organization of various Community oriented efforts that aid the less fortunate. The Charity Committee, Toy Drive, and the Food Bank provide many with a good Christmas they otherwise would not have. Thank you for your time and effort. When there are individuals in our Family throughout the year that need our assistance in times of need, the Membership at International is outstanding in their efforts to help each other out, truly a sign of who we are!

To those of you still on Lay-Off, I will write over the Holidays with an update of what has been going on in the Plant.

Being that this is my first Newsletter any feedback negative or positive would be appreciated in order that I may progressively get better at writing to the Membership. Thank you goes out to all of you who voted for me. I do appreciate the margin of my victory with the understanding that all elections cause division. It is my sincere hope that these divisions will disappear within the next few months so that the Membership can move forward. I want to thank Greg Caron for running a clean campaign and let him know that his constructive input is appreciated at all times.

The Membership has been a “buzz” about one of our Brothers who is in need of our help. After meeting with the Company, the National Rep and the Bargaining Committee, I feel that we will be able to help this Brother out. Please be patient and let us do our job.

During a short meeting with Dave Boland and Craig Holmes our discussions evolved around the Companies Visions and the Unions Visions for our future. All were in agreement that we needed to work together as a “Team”, move forward in an effort to secure product for our future, finish the painting on the front outside wall of the plant. All present noted the need for better Communication with the floor and that changes were needed to improve accurate information flow in a timely fashion. While leaving this meeting with a positive feeling the following issues have come up since with very little discussion:

Krono’s, Although during a meeting with the Company it was stated that these time keeping machines were not tied to the “No Fault Attendance” records, on Thursday, November 15, 2007 upon my return from lunch, this was no longer the case. We the Membership need to know that although we swipe in at the gate, our attendance record is now done through Krono’s.

Increased Production on the Main Line from 50 to 52 units per day. Meeting time 3:30 p.m. Thursday November 15, 2007 with Craig Holmes in an effort to keep us informed. The date of this increase, Monday, November 19, 2007 at 6:00 a.m.

Obviously some work needs to be done. For the Company and the Union to move forward collectively we definitely need better Communication and not be dictated to at the last minute. I will endeavor to approach this in a positive fashion.

Again the rumours are that we will see an increase in production at the Chatham Plant. Until the Company posts the increase, I will choose not to acknowledge the rumour.

The Unit Membership Meeting that should be held in November will be moved to December 15, 2007 due to the ongoing election process.

My congratulations go out to Brother Rick Hottot, Brother Doug Wright, Brother Jim Witherow, Brother Terry Johnston and Brother Ray Martin as the Members of our new Bargaining Committee.

A special “Thank You” to Dave Boland for agreeing to have Brother Dave Robinson stay in the Union Office to assist with bringing me up to speed on outstanding issues and bringing me on board. I found this to be very useful and it makes me wonder if we should negotiate a “Growing in Period” in the next Collective Agreement.

In closing, these are just a few issues, there are many more put before us. Your Committee is new and we are in the learning process, thanks for your patience. I would like to see us do it right the first time!

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