CAW's Lewenza to Call for CPP Improvements in Lead up to Finance Ministers'
Meeting

TORONTO, Dec. 2 /CNW/ - CAW President Ken Lewenza will address hundreds of delegates representing CAW workplaces from coast-to-coast on Friday, December 3 at a meeting of CAW Council in Toronto.

With the federal-provincial finance ministers meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta fast-approaching December 19 and 20, Lewenza's speech will stress the union's ongoing campaign to strengthen the Canada Pension Plan.

He will also cover the recent pick-up in the auto sector, the union's day of action in the auto parts sector, upcoming negotiations in the rail and the airline sectors as well as important social issues like bullying and suicides among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth.

Lewenza is scheduled to open CAW Council, the Parliament of the union, with a speech at approximately 9:15 a.m. Friday at the Toronto Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen Street West (Grand Ballroom - lower level). CAW Council runs Friday, December 3 to Sunday, December 5.

On Friday at approximately 2 p.m., Dr. Gordon Guyatt, Professor of the Departments of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Medicine at McMaster University will talk about the need for Canadians to defend and improve universal public health care.

In addition there will be guest speakers including Wendy Cukier, president of the Canadian Coalition for Gun Control on Saturday at approximately 11 a.m. and leaders from USW Local 1005, whose members have been locked out of U.S. Steel in Hamilton for nearly a month.

The event will also mark the official launch of the union's new HIV/AIDS information manual, including general information on HIV/AIDS in Canada and internationally, transmission, getting tested, treatment and model collective agreement language. This project is the first of its kind of any trade union in Canada. The new material can be found at: www.caw.ca/humanrights 

The union is also kicking off its campaign to reinstate minimum care standards in long-term care homes across Ontario, where members will be able to send letters to Ontario Minister of Health and Long Term Care Deb Matthews. The material can be found online at: http://www.caw.ca/en/9675.htm

Media are welcome to attend CAW Council.

For further information:

please call CAW Communications Shannon Devine (cell) 416-302-1699 or John McClyment (cell) 416-315-3202