LETTERcanadaFEBRUARY 2015Vol. 15 No. 1

Published ByAMERICAN INCOME LIFE & NATIONAL INCOME LIFE

LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

TERRY O'SULLIVAN, President - Laborers International Union of North America, Chairman - AIL Labour Advisory BoardVICTOR KAMBER, Vice President - American Income Life Insurance Company, Executive Director - AIL Labour Advisory BoardROGER SMITH, President & Chief Executive Officer - American Income Life Insurance Company, President - AIL Labour Advisory BoardDENISE BOWYER, Vice President - American Income Life Insurance Company, Secretary - AIL Labour Advisory BoardDAVE BARRETT, Former Premier of Province of British Columbia, Honorary Member - AIL Labour Advisory Board

NEWS FROM THE CLC & NATIONAL UNIONSThe Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) said installation of locomotive voice and video recorders (LV-VRs) should be used according to the Cana-dian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act. “As is the case with aircraft and marine, access to these devices must be limited to cases involving acci-dents,” the union said. “The recorders must not be used to put additional pressure on industry workers who are already subject to multiple procedures and regulations in their everyday work.” The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) recently called for the implementation of cab monitoring technology both for post-accident analysis and in-train operations to help prevent ac-cidents. TCRC officials said in a press re-lease, however, that the rail industry’s recent proposal to install LVVRs would create “a dangerous precedent” and that access to recordings should be limited to the TSB to avoid violating workers’ privacy rights. “[We] are committed to being involved in any implementation of this technology to ensure the protection of the general public and its members balances with enhancing safe rail operations,” TCRC officials said. Discussion about the LVVRs is taking place between the rail unions and CN, Canadian Pacific and VIA Rail Canada Inc.

A new survey sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress found that domestic violence follows people to work, has a significant impact on job performance, and in some cases results in job loss. The ground-breaking survey was conducted by Western University’s Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Wom-en and Children (CREVAWC) in partner-ship with the CLC. Of 8,429 workers who were questioned, one-third reported they had experienced domestic violence and 82 per cent of them said the violence had negatively affected their work performance.

Other results found almost 40 per cent said it kept them from getting to work, and for almost 10 per cent it meant losing their job. More than half said the violence continued at or near the workplace in the form of ha-rassing emails, calls and texts, or stalking and physical violence. “This research has identi-fied the scope and impact of domestic vio-lence on workers and workplaces, but is only a first step. Immediate next steps include encouraging use of these results by govern-ments, unions and employers to establish proactive practices to address the impact of domestic violence at work,” the CLC said.

Domestic Violence in the Workplace Toolkit Launch. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from Province of British Columbia.

Pg 2 LABOUR LETTER

reform. “Our members who watch the ads say it makes them proud to be part of the labour movement,” he said. “They’re saying that for the first time, they feel like they can talk to their friends about unions.”

The United Steelworkers (USW) and the National Executive Coun-cil of the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) signed a historic merger which took effect January 1 joining the two unions. The TWU represents 12,000 mem-bers across Canada who work for telecom-munications companies including TELUS and Shaw Communications, as well as em-ployers in related telecommunications sec-tors. USW represents 225,000 USW mem-bers in Canada. “This is a great result for our membership, our families and our commu-nities across Canada. This merger will help us improve the working lives of our mem-bers,” said TWU National President Lee Riggs. “It is a great step forward and there is a real sense of unity and excitement in our

Canada’s unions launched a new series of “Fairness Works” ads in De-cember reminding middle class workers that union gains also benefit them. The ads were initiated to counter the conservatives’ bashing of unions, said labour officials. “The labour movement has been around for a long time, and for the most part, it’s steeped in its own history,” said Hassan Yussuff, who was elected president of the Canadian La-bour Congress in May. “We always accepted that the public knows what we do and that we don’t have to tell our story any differ-ently. But everything’s changed and we need to catch up.” The multimedia campaign is considered the most ambitious public-rela-tions program in the CLC’s 58-year history with ads showing up from media outlets to transit stops and internet sites popular with young workers. The messages seeks to remind Canadians of past labour victories from maternity leave to the 40-hour work week while also highlighting current strug-gles like youth unemployment and pension

membership about the future.” USW Na-tional Director Ken Neumann said, “This merger is an example of a shared, positive vision for the labour movement: global, outward-looking and focused on concrete action. We are optimistic about the future and we’re honoured by the votes cast by so many TWU members.”

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR NEWSNew Zealand’s Unite union opened a campaign against zero hours con-tracts which allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work. Employees work only when they are needed, often at short notice. First Union also has joined forces with Unite to campaign against zero hours contracts. Unite, which represents the food service industry, casinos, call centre and security staff, said zero hour contracts risk workers’ jobs and financial security while

"Fairness Works" Supporters Walking in the Toronto Labour Day Parade. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from United Steelworkers.

LABOUR LETTER Pg 3

raise, income protection for the first time, increases to daily fares and travel, construc-tion allowances increased to above industry standards and other benefits.

NATIONAL & POLITICAL EVENTSThe Senate last month passed Bill C-525, the so-called “Employees’ Vot-ing Rights Act,” that will make it much more difficult for workers in federally regu-lated workplaces to join unions, and easier for a minority of workers to disband them. The measure was introduced by backbench Conservative MP Blaine Calkins as a pri-vate member’s bill which by-passed the traditional process of tripartite consultation with employers, labour and government to amend the Canadian Labour Code. Unions immediately criticized the bill which threat-ens to upset the balance in federal labour relations. “This legislation is really about denying Canadian workers the right to col-lective bargaining with their employer,” said

affecting their personal lives and creating a climate of fear within the workplace. Unite national director Mike Treen said such con-tracts give companies power and control over staff. “Because you know that as a part-time worker that you’ve got to beg for those shifts, you’ve got to suck up to management, that’s the reality of life that they want to im-pose on those workers when there is abso-lutely, technically and otherwise, no reason for that. They can, and they should, give the vast majority of their staff secure hours,” he said.

Some 174 workers with Otis Elevators in Australia claimed victory De-cember 17 when they voted to accept an agreement that ended an 8-week lockout. The workers won all but one of their de-mands after attempting to negotiate with the company since April. The workers be-gan industrial action at the end of Septem-ber with bans on overtime, shiftwork and the commissioning of lifts and escalators after the company insisted on a below-in-flation 1 per cent wage increase. The com-pany responded by locking out the workers on October 21. The workers, members of the Electrical Trades Union and the Aus-tralian Manufacturing Union, construct and service lifts and escalators. The 3-1/2 year agreement provides a 14 per cent pay

the CLC’s Yussuff. “It is an invitation to employers to interfere with workers’ demo-cratic right to choose representation, and it will destabilize federal labour relations.” He said no single employer or union identified a problem in current industrial relations that required these legislative amendments. The Canada Industrial Relations Board also released a study showing that the mandato-ry voting called for in Bill C 525 will result in a 500 per cent increase in costs.

Canadians entered 2015 in a sour mood with low expectations for the economy, according to the Bloomberg Na-nos Canadian Confidence Index which fell to 55.1 in the final reading of the year. With a plunge in crude oil prices, the na-tion’s largest export, and the currency at the weakest level in more than five years, Ca-nadians’ pessimism about the economy is at its lowest ebb since May 2013. “As we close out 2014, the forward view on the economy from a consumer standpoint is trending negatively,” said Nik Nanos, Ottawa-based chairman of Nanos Research Group. “Roll

AMWU Rally 2005. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from Jason Ilagan.

Protest Outside Conservative MP Blaine Calkins's office. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from Leadnow Canada.

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The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) filed for Common Employer Sta-tus with the Canada Industrial Relations Board to protect the jobs of airline fueling machinists. IAM Transportation District 140 President and General Chairperson Fred Hospes said the union took the action because plane ramp fueling and tank farm Operator agreements expire in March at airports in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and other East Coast locations. He said fuel-ing employers and other competitors have indicated that the Operator Agreements will be sent out for bid, which threatens the jobs and wages of current workers. The union filed a Common Employer Status a decade ago which resulted in the signing of a lengthy Stability Agreement which pre-vented the airline consortium “from gutting our members’ wages by tendering out the work to a new service provider at entry level starting rates,” Hospes said. But the Stabil-ity Agreement expired in November 2013 and the union took the current action to get “in front of this pending problem.”

IATSE Local 210 recently was certified by the Alberta Labour Relations Board as the bargaining agent for all theatre

up a drop in the price of oil, a lower Ca-nadian dollar and softening view on the value of real estate, and an environment is emerging which could lead to a tumultuous 2015.” Lower crude prices has prompted companies to scale back investment plans and forced governments to trim their rev-enue estimates, creating another drag on the economy.

NEWS FROM CANADA’S UNIONS & FEDERATIONSThe BC Federation of Labour convention elected Irene Lanzinger presi-dent, the first woman to hold that post. In a contested election, Lanzinger received 1,137 votes, and Amber Hockin received 1,080 votes. Lanzinger is a former teacher and past president of the Vancouver Teach-ers’ Association and BC Teachers’ Federa-tion. She served as the BC Federation of Labour’s Secretary-Treasurer for the last four years. Aaron Ekman, founding presi-dent of the North Central Labour Council and currently a Regional Coordinator with the BCGEU, was elected Secretary-Trea-surer. The BC Federation of Labour repre-sents more than 500,000 members from af-filiated unions across the province, working in every area of the province.

technicians at the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts, the union reported. Ac-cording to IATSE, the local filed for certi-fication of the theatre techs at the venue on November 5 after a brief organizing cam-paign. The representation vote was held on November 28, which the union won with a majority of employees voting for union rep-resentation. “Local 210 is looking forward to working with the Maclab Centre man-agement to maintain a successful commu-nity theatre, and the crew is looking forward to working under its first collective agree-ment,” said the union. The Maclab Centre is located in Leduc, and is considered the region’s preeminent performing arts facility. The 460-seat theatre is one of the largest venues in the area and hosts a wide range of events from music, theatre, and dance events to award ceremonies.

Protecting Working Familieswww.ailife.com

LABOUR LETTERprovided through

IAM Protest 2007. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from IAMAW Canada.

Newly-Elected President, Irene Lanzinger. Flickr.com photo used under

Creative Commons from brent granby.

AGENDAFEBRUARY 2015

canada

MAKE CANADA A FAIRER COUNTRY FOR ALL

The New Year is a time for reflection on the past but also a time to look towards the future and question how we can im-prove our lives, our communities and stop the growing inequality of our society. A big question facing Canadians in 2015 will be, “Are we happy with the status quo, or can we make change to benefit Canadians now and in the future?” Sometime in 2015, Canadians will go to the polls to vote in a federal election. It is important that before casting our votes, we look at what Stephen Harper’s nine-year regime has brought us and decide if we want more of the same, or a change.

In 2006, Harper stated, “You won’t rec-ognize Canada when I get through with it.” At the time, some Canadians believed he would make Canada better. However, dur-ing the past nine years, and especially dur-ing the past four years when he has had a majority government (even though he only received thirty-nine per cent of popular vote), many would now argue that Harper and his band have trampled on democracy and eliminated the middle class.

For many in Canada, the phrase True North Strong and Free means we are free to live in a democratic society, where we have the right to freedom of expression and association. However, under Harper and the Neo-Conservatives, we have witnessed an unprecedented attack on our Canadian democratic institutions the like of which we have never seen before.

Since becoming Prime Minister and

especially since 2011, by attacking our dem-ocratic institutions Harper, to silence the voice of opposition parties in Parliament has eliminated party financing; cut funding to every group that isn’t onside with the Con-servatives; grouped a number of unrelated subjects into what is normally a budget bill and then limited Committee discussion on the individual issues covered; and has gone on a full-throttle assault on workers and their unions to silence their voices.

In the House of Commons, Harper has shut down Parliament to avoid possible votes of non-confidence, invoked closure on debate, and negotiated trade deals in secrecy to evade and silence criticism of his actions and his government. Why must Canadians learn about the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) — a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union — from the German gov-ernment and not from our own?

Churches, women’s groups, charities, veterans, environmentalists, First Nations and Unions – all groups that at one time or another have opposed Harper’s undemo-cratic agenda have all been adversely af-fected by the Harper government.

Union activists are aware of Harper’s attacks on unions and workers: Bills C-377 and Bill 525; the Harper government’s un-democratic intervention into the collective bargaining process on numerous occasions; using their majority to pass back-to-work legislation; and refusing to respect the free-dom of association rights of workers pro-tected under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

For women, Harper’s government has cut or ended funding to organizations such as the Status of Women Canada, Coalition for Pay Equity, Childcare Advocacy Asso-ciation, and International Planned Parent-hood.

These are just some examples of how Harper’s right-wing agenda has been attacking democracy and nega-tively impacting Canadians. However, not all Canadians have been unfavour-ably affected by Harper’s unpopular

agenda. The elites have done very well. If we look back over the past nine years, it becomes evident that the beneficia-ries of the Harper regime have overwhelm-ingly been top executives, investors, and shareholders of large corporations who have benefitted from massive tax cuts, privatiza-tion of public services, and the attack on unions and their members. By 2012, the Harper government had reduced corporate taxes to the point that Canada had the low-est corporate tax rate of all G8 countries.

While big businesses and the corpo-rate elite have benefitted from Conserva-tive economic policies, the government has shown an indifference to high rates of unemployment, poverty, homelessness and hunger that affect many Canadians, includ-ing 1.3 million children.

Ed Broadbent, founder of the Broad-bent Institute has stated, “Canadians are now open to change. They want a federal government that leads. They want jobs, housing, food on their tables, and adequate pensions. They want corporations that are more responsive to their workers and their communities. And they want an economy that is environmentally sustainable.”

At UFCW Canada, we agree with Mr. Broadbent and believe that the 2015 federal election will provide voters the opportunity to change Canada into a better and fairer country for all.

Tom Mulcair and the NDP can bring about that change. With their proposal for a $15-dollar-a-day affordable childcare pro-gram, a minimum wage to reduce income inequality, a plan to restore OAS eligibility to 65 and to reform retirement security and a commitment to preserve and strengthen our universal health care system, Mulcair has shown that he will work for Canadi-ans, our children, pensioners and youth, not against them. In 2015, Canadians have an opportunity to make change, make his-tory, and make a better Canada by electing an NDP government with Tom Mulcair as Prime Minister. We can do it. It is within our grasp.

Paul R. Meine-maNational Presi-dent, UFCW Canada

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USW Crown Workers StrikeAIL in Canada agents Tony Simkovich and Crystal Senour supported USW members on strike against Crown Holdings. The labour dispute has lasted 15 months and the USW has been involved in an ongoing campaign against Crown, including a major consumer component asking beer drinkers in Ontario and throughout Canada to buy beer in bottles instead of cans until a fair deal is reached at Crown.

SEIU Contributes to OCCAIL’s Al Wall (center with raised hand) and Casandra Robinson (center holding cards) attended a SEIU Canada staff representatives meeting to discuss AIL's participation with SEIU members. Sharleen Steward, President SEIU Local 1 Canada spoke about the Union's mailing to members notifying them of AIL's no-cost benefits and insurance program. SEIU staff also collected gift cards in support of Occupation Christmas Cheer (OCC). OCC supports Union members in Ontario who are on strike or lockout over the Holiday season. The union staff presented the gift cards to AIL Public Relations Representative and OCC Founder Casandra Robison for distribution.

MNU Scholarship FundManitoba Nurses Union President Sandi Mowat (right) receives a contribution to the MNU scholarship fund from AIL PR representative Leo Van Den Bussche.

HON. RICHARD GEPHARDT

FORMER US CONGRESSMAN

honorary member LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

RAYMOND HAIR

PRESIDENTAmerican Federation

of Musicians

TEFERE GEBREEXECUTIVE

VICE PRESIDENTAFL-CIO

JAMES GROGAN, JR.

GENERAL PRESIDENT

International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators

& Asbestos Workers

ROBERT E. GLEASON

FORMER SECRETARY-TREASURER

International Longshoremen’s

Association

JOHN HEGARTY

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

National Postal Mail Handlers Union

MARY KAY HENRYPRESIDENT

Service Employees International Union

EDWIN D. HILL

PRESIDENTInternational Brotherhood

of Electrical Workers

ANNIE HILL

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Communications Workers of America

PATRICK FINLEY

GENERAL PRESIDENT

Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’

International Association of the US & Canada

FRANK CHRISTENSEN

GENERAL PRESIDENT

International Union of Elevator Constructors

ROSE ANN DEMORO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

California Nurses Association

BARBARA EASTERLING

PRESIDENTAlliance for Retired

Americans

DAVE DURKEE

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers

& Grain MillersInternational Union

CLAYOLA BROWNPRESIDENT

A. Philip Randolph Institute

SAMUEL CABRAL

PRESIDENTInternational Union of

Police Associations

2015 LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

MORTY BAHR

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Communications Workers of America

PAUL E. ALMEIDA

PRESIDENTDepartment for

Professional Employees,

AFL-CIO

RONALD AULT

PRESIDENTMetal Trades Department,

AFL-CIO

STUART APPELBAUM

PRESIDENTRetail, Wholesale &

Department Store Union, UFCW

DAVE BARRETT

FORMER PREMIER

Province of British Columbia

THEODORE BIKEL

PRESIDENTAssociated Actors &

Artistes of America

HON. DAVID BONIORFORMER US

CONGRESSMAN

JAMES BOLAND

PRESIDENTInternational Union of

Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers

honorary member LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

chairman emeritus LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

honorary member LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

With their advice, American Income Life Insurance Company provides substantial financial assistance to labour and labour-related causes, and develops programs to best meet the needs of union members and their families.

Membership on the Labour Advisory Board constitutes neither an endorsement of American Income Life Insurance Company nor its products. The only obligation of membership on the

Board is to provide guidance on how AIL might best serve the interests of their respective members and the labour movement.

Labour Advisory Board members recognize that AIL is a fully organized, 100% union company that offers supplemental insurance plans primarily to union members. AIL is honored to be among those “All-Union Wall-to-Wall” companies cited by the AFL-CIO Union Label and Service Trades Department.

These outstanding union leaders are members of American Income Life Insurance Company’s Labour Advisory Board.

chairmanLABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

secretaryLABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

executive directorLABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

president LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

TERRY O’SULLIVANPRESIDENTLabourers International Union of North America

DENISE BOWYERVICE PRESIDENTAmerican IncomeLife & NationalIncome Life

VICTOR KAMBERVICE PRESIDENTAmerican IncomeLife & NationalIncome Life

ROGER SMITHCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERAmerican IncomeLife & NationalIncome Life

MICHAEL SACCOPRESIDENT

Seafarers International Union, Maritime Trades

Department, AFL-CIO

KINSEY ROBINSONINTERNATIONAL

PRESIDENTUnited Union of Roofers,

Waterproofers & Allied Workers

MILTON ROSADO

PRESIDENTLabour Council For Latin American Advancement

ARTURO RODRIGUEZ

PRESIDENT United Farm Workers

of America

VEDA SHOOK

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

(RETIRED) Association of Flight

Attendants - CWA

ELIZABETH E. SHULERSECRETARY-TREASURER

AFL-CIO

DEMAURICE SMITH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

National Football League Players Association

BRUCE R. SMITH

PRESIDENTGlass, Molders, Pottery,

Plastics & Allied Workers International

ROBERT ROACH, JR.

GENERALSECRETARY-TREASURER

International Association of Machinists &

Aerospace Workers

LAURA REYES

SECRETARY-TREASURER

American Federation of State, County & Municipal

Employees, AFL-CIO

KENNETH E. RIGMAIDEN

GENERALPRESIDENT

International Union of Painters & Allied Trades,

AFL-CIO

CLYDE RIVERSPRESIDENTEMERITUS

California School Employees Association

CECIL ROBERTS

PRESIDENTUnited Mine Workers

of America

PAUL RINALDI

PRESIDENT National Air Traffic

Controllers Association

ANTHONY “MARC”

PERRONEGENERAL

PRESIDENTUnited Food &

Commercial Workers International Union

W. D. “DAN” PICKETT

PRESIDENTBrotherhood of

Railroad Signalmen

MARY MCCOLL

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Actors’ Equity Association

MATTHEW LOEB

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage

Employees

HON. RAY MARSHALL

FORMER US SECRETARY

OF LABOR

WILLIAM LUCY

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

SEAN MCGARVEY

PRESIDENTBuilding and Construction

Trades Department, AFL-CIO

TERRENCE MELVINPRESIDENT

Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

OSCAR OWENS

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY- TREASURERAmalgamated Transit Union

JOSEPH NIGROGENERAL

PRESIDENTInternational Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail

& Transportation Workers

honorary member LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

GREG JUNEMANN

PRESIDENTInternational Federation

of Professional & Technical Engineers

KEN HOWARD

PRESIDENTScreen Actors Guild - American Federation

of Television & Radio Artists

MIKE JEWELL

PRESIDENT (RETIRED)

Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association

NEWTON B. JONES

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship

Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers

D. MICHAEL LANGFORD

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

LORRETTA JOHNSON

SECRETARY-TREASURER

American Federation of Teachers

WILLIAM HITE

PRESIDENT United Association of

Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting

Industry of US & Canada

JAMES HOFFA

GENERAL PRESIDENT

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

DIANN WOODARD

PRESIDENTAmerican Federation of

School Administrators

RICHARD TRUMKA

PRESIDENT AFL-CIO

BALDEMAR VELASQUEZ

PRESIDENTFarm Labour

Organizing Committee

WALTER WISE

GENERALPRESIDENT

International Association of Bridge, Structural,

Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers

HON. JIM WRIGHT

FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

JAMES WILLIAMS

GENERALPRESIDENTEMERITUS

International Union of Painters & Allied Trades

JOHN J. SWEENEY

PRESIDENTEMERITUS

AFL-CIO

GEORGE TEDESCHI

PRESIDENT Graphic Communications

Conference / International Brotherhood of

Teamsters

honorary member LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

chairman emeritus LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD

2015 LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD CONT.

AGENDA Pg 3

UNIFOR ConventionAIL participated in the recent UNIFOR convention in Ontario. In the photo are (from left to right) AIL Public Relations Kimberly McGuire, Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff, Past Canadian Auto Workers President Ken Lewenza, AIL Representative Jennifer Sprout and AIL PR Director Laurie Onasch.

NFL’s Barrett Scholarship Fund Newfoundland Labrador Federation (NFL) of Labour’s Executive Board received a contribution from AIL for the Dave Barrett Scholarship Fund. AIL representatives Melissa Lively, Randy Stockley and Daryl Barnett also met with the board and presented a detailed update of AIL support activities in Canada and internationally on behalf of unions and their members. Shown in the photo (left to right) are Melissa Lively, AIL; Mary Shortall, NFL president; Bert Blundon, NFL Secretary-Treasurer and AIL’s Randy Stockley.

NFL Convention WinnerRaffle winner Andy Parsons receives an AIL-donated gift at the Newfoundland and Labrador convention, a limited signed reproduction of the wharf and schooner at Twilingate by local artist Ted Stuckless. Parsons is President of the Corner Brook District Labour Council and the President of NAPE Local 1604. In the photo, AIL Public Relations Randy Stockley (right) presents the gift to Parson.

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YTD CONTRIBUTIONSListed below are contributions made on behalf of AIL/NILICO, its State General Agents, and directed by the Labour Advisory Board. All contributions were made between June and December, 2014, and 2014 YTD contributions totaled more than $1.8 million.

• A. Philip Randolph Institute• Action Africa Health• American Sustainable Business Council• Americans United For Change • BC Federation of Labour• Campaign For Migrant Worker Justice• Canadian Human Rights Museum• Children's National Medical Center/Dr. Bear's Closet• Helmets to Hardhats• CWA• DC Labor FilmFest• Economic Policy Institute• Employment Justice Center

• Greater Kansas City CBTU Region 8• Guide Dogs of America• IBEW• IBT• Interfaith Worker Justice• IUPAT• Jobs With Justice• LawEnforcementOfficer's Relief Fund• Metal Trades Department• New Brunswick Federation of Labour• Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour• New Zealand Labour Party• Ontario Federation of Labour

• Pride at Work• Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Scholarship Foundation• Texas AFL-CIO Building Fund• The American Ireland Fund• UAW• UFCW• UNIFOR Ontario Region• US ACTION• Working America• Young Workers DC

BC Federation of Labour ConventionAIL representatives participated in the recent 56th convention of the BC Federation of Labour in Vancouver. In the photo are (left to right back row) AIL PR Director Laurie Onasch, AIL PR Rep Leo Van Den Bussche, AIL PR Manager Jacqueline Lowe, (front row, l-r) AIL’s Debbie Boles and Fran Christie.

Holiday Cheer in WinnipegAmalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 officials receive “Holiday Cheer with Chocolates” from AIL Public Relations in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shown in the photo are (from left) Gail Lamoureux, Secretary and member of COPE 342; Chris Scott, Secretary-Treasurer; John Callahan, ATU Local 1505 President; Allen Chaudhary, VP and Leo Van Den Bussche AIL Public Relations as Santa.