If a petition were a woman going on a date, the AbitibiBowater workers' document would be a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go.
More than 120 ex-mill employees attended a meeting at Club 63 Thursday night to present their petition in relation to pension issues to Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms for him to bring back and table in Parliament; Tory MHAs Ray Hunter (Grand Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South) and Clayton Forsey (Exploits) also attended.
However, thanks to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue government until after the Winter Olympics, essentially putting the House on hold, decisions can't be raised and bills can't be passed or vetoed.
And petitions can't be presented to Parliament.
"It won't happen until the third week of March," said Mr. Simms. "We had planned for the end of January, but because of proroguing, that won't happen now."
Despite the news that the petition would be delayed, the MP said the meeting went very well.
"There were a lot of questions and a lot of confusion as to what does this actually mean," he explained. "If the plan was wound up today, the solvency ratio would be around 71 per cent. I suspect it would be actually higher because the markets have gone up."
Most of the discussion was about the plan itself, with the retirees wanting to know what it means when it's said the pension has lost 30 per cent.
"They were asking, will we get it back, will it go down. I said, well, it could go down, it could come back up," said Mr. Simms. "It's a big fund. As John Hamilton (retiree on the workers' pension committee) pointed out, the fund has 80 managers attached to it. It's a multi-million dollar world wide fund."
He said the petition is an ongoing process.
"We expect hundreds of signatures but we're going to keep putting it in the house 50 at a time or so."
Junior Downey, one of the former mill workers circulating the petition and a member of the pension committee, explained they presented the petition to Mr. Simms, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Forsey as well as to the federal government.
The purpose of the campaign itself is educate people on their pensions so that people will become aware of what they really do have, explained Mr. Downey.
The petition itself is to pressure Ottawa to change legislation so that the workers are protected as pensioners, especially if a company becomes insolvent. The province says it's behind the pensioners 100 per cent, but the federal government says it's the responsibility of the province.
"We're trying to make it an election issue," said Mr. Downey.
Abitibi workers present petition to MP
Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, discussed a petition presented to him by AbitibiBowater employees Thursday with John Hamilton (left), and Junior Downey. The petitions intent is to get Ottawa to change legislation so that pensions
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- Published on January 11th, 2010
- Published on June 22nd, 2010
- SUE HICKEY
Delivery to Parliament expected in spring
If a petition were a woman going on a date, the AbitibiBowater workers' document would be a case of all dressed up and nowhere to go.
More than 120 ex-mill employees attended a meeting at Club 63 Thursday night to present their petition in relation to pension issues to Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms for him to bring back and table in Parliament; Tory MHAs Ray Hunter (Grand Falls-Windsor-Green Bay South) and Clayton Forsey (Exploits) also attended.
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Comments
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- JAMES
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:47
many men went through the doors of that mill with little or know education at all. it didn't take a doctor to run that mill. any man, woman, or child could push a broom, push wood through the wood room, oil machines, load paper, etc. etc. i wish billy you would get help with your problem. it appears you are mad at the world and still blaming society for your failure. as for me being a bum and only grade 7 or 8 education, i just chuckle, it took more education then that, to get where i am today. i quess when your severance and ei run out, that makes you a bum as well. note: if you ever out west, stop by, i would love to give you some tips on investment. HAPPY JOB HUNTING !
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- J.
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:40
Putting notes in newsprint roll cores was an old practise used by union members in the past to get the union's rhetorical message to the customers - particularly used during difficult times negotiating in the past. The notes were typically written on winder tally cards. I know I have see one. It was never a joke to the company in fact a few customers returned the poisoned notes to the company and I can remember one case where the company used a hand writing expert from Memorial University to determine the culprit and following which he was almost sacked - only not so since the company was not 100% sure it was him even though the evidence showed clearly it was. Why is Jim Pearson bringing this up in this contect with pensions I am not sure.
One other clarification. Junior Downy was a member of the pension committee in the past when he was an employee as the company had a few token union members on the committee but he is no longer on the committee. Question to ask is since he was on the commitee why didn't he see this coming and do something about it ???
JHealy -
- reg
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:39
I think Harper should give his head a shake. He knows full well that legislation is not retroactive. If Abi-Bow fails oh well....
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- JAMES
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:38
i could have worked that mill back in the early 70's billy know it all, probably long before you were there. spelling a word wrong is know big deal, but i was smarter then you to invest in my own pension plan and not depend on government/company pension plans. you are just sour you lost your job and had to pay tax on your severance. its old news billy. its water under the bridge now. time to move on. HAPPY JOB HUNTING !
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- JAMES
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:35
BILLY: do you ever look into a mirrow and ask yourself that maybe you have a DISSOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER for making idiotic comments like giving the boot to some ones behind. it seems to me that your view on this issue is always right and everyone else including myself are always wrong. do i feel sorry for a person like you, ABSOLUTELY NOT ! do i feel sorry for widows, older pensioners, and some of your co-workers who took it upon themselves to move on to find other employment and a better way of life, ABSOLUTELY ! besides its not easy starting over. so billy-boy quit your whining, stop crying over spilled milk, and come out off your abitibi/bowater glass jar and come out and see the real world for what it is.
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- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:33
To J.Healy, you state in your letter : Why is Jim Pearson bringing this up in this contect with pensions I am not sure.
But Mr.Healy you went into great detail about the same foolishness yourself, typical of someone who believes he can put out the same message as Pearson and not look as bad as he does.
As for union members being on the the committee you answered the question yourself, the company had a few token union members on the committee .. These token members had no means of viewing what the company was doing with the pension.
The company asked to oversee the pension and the pensioners now know why, being 1.3 billion dollars short , seems like someone should be doing jail time for that mistake. But then again Mr.Healy you would never agree because it's always the unions fault! -
- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:24
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J.....I'm so sorry , after reading your last comment I'm just coming to realize that your a comedian of some sort....but you did have me going there for a bit......and No it wasn't about your word spelling that gave it away that you never had a chance of getting a job at the former paper mill....the people from GFW who know you told me that you only had grade 7 or 8....and that your nothing but a big bum......but I was quick to correct them...your more like the center.
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- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:15
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J.....Don't have all the answers yet but getting there.
How about you getting some help from one of your other personalities in spelling ( KNOW ) if you plan on calling me ... Billy KNOW ( not NO ) it all.
Make NO wonder you couldn't get a job at the paper mill... -
- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:15
Yes James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J....well it was too hard for you to get in there and that is why your so mad at everyone...by the way it probably took a bus to get you there.....LOL
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- Jim
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:15
I think Junior Downey should put a message in a core of a newsprint roll and sent it to the UK to complain about what bad ole Abitibi is doing to those such good employees.
James -
- JAMES
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:14
thanks for your comments billy. i can't stop laughing, you certainly are a scholar and have all the answers when it comes to pensions. i quess thats why yours as been reduced, and i am sitting here enjoying my own fat pension. HAPPY JOB HUNTING! note: and because you don't give your last name, from now on in future comments i will refer to you as billy no it all.
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- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:14
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J....in your statement you said one correct thing and I applaud you for saying it, and above all it's is the truest statement of fact you have ever wrote......
everyone ( James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J ) including myself are always wrong......
Well done there boys ( James ) take some solace in knowing this is your first step to being cured of your god awful affliction of DPD.....now don't forget your medications , James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/Re-Pete/ James II/J .........It's good to know your on the road to recovery. -
- Billy
- - June 28th, 2010 at 14:49:13
This is not about Junior Downey , it's about people who paid into a pension only to have it torn apart, there are widows who are living on only 60% of their husbands pension and it's to be cut again. This is about having the older citizens of our communities who worked all their lives so they could retire with some dignity and not worry about how to pay their bills.
Way to go there Jim Pearson you show great intelligence and compassion in attacking someone who is trying to right a wrong not only for himself but for many others. Maybe a 30% reduction means little or nothing to you but how dare you try to make light out of the suffering of others . You would have a different tune if it was your widowed mother being so greatly affected by it. Make a few jokes and then tell her she can live on another reduction.
I'm not sure about anyone else who read your nonsensical comment but there is one thing I'd like to do and that is to put my boot up your behind. -
- JAMES
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:05:16
many men went through the doors of that mill with little or know education at all. it didn't take a doctor to run that mill. any man, woman, or child could push a broom, push wood through the wood room, oil machines, load paper, etc. etc. i wish billy you would get help with your problem. it appears you are mad at the world and still blaming society for your failure. as for me being a bum and only grade 7 or 8 education, i just chuckle, it took more education then that, to get where i am today. i quess when your severance and ei run out, that makes you a bum as well. note: if you ever out west, stop by, i would love to give you some tips on investment. HAPPY JOB HUNTING !
-
- J.
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:05:07
Putting notes in newsprint roll cores was an old practise used by union members in the past to get the union's rhetorical message to the customers - particularly used during difficult times negotiating in the past. The notes were typically written on winder tally cards. I know I have see one. It was never a joke to the company in fact a few customers returned the poisoned notes to the company and I can remember one case where the company used a hand writing expert from Memorial University to determine the culprit and following which he was almost sacked - only not so since the company was not 100% sure it was him even though the evidence showed clearly it was. Why is Jim Pearson bringing this up in this contect with pensions I am not sure.
One other clarification. Junior Downy was a member of the pension committee in the past when he was an employee as the company had a few token union members on the committee but he is no longer on the committee. Question to ask is since he was on the commitee why didn't he see this coming and do something about it ???
JHealy -
- reg
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:05:06
I think Harper should give his head a shake. He knows full well that legislation is not retroactive. If Abi-Bow fails oh well....
-
- JAMES
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:05:05
i could have worked that mill back in the early 70's billy know it all, probably long before you were there. spelling a word wrong is know big deal, but i was smarter then you to invest in my own pension plan and not depend on government/company pension plans. you are just sour you lost your job and had to pay tax on your severance. its old news billy. its water under the bridge now. time to move on. HAPPY JOB HUNTING !
-
- JAMES
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:05:01
BILLY: do you ever look into a mirrow and ask yourself that maybe you have a DISSOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER for making idiotic comments like giving the boot to some ones behind. it seems to me that your view on this issue is always right and everyone else including myself are always wrong. do i feel sorry for a person like you, ABSOLUTELY NOT ! do i feel sorry for widows, older pensioners, and some of your co-workers who took it upon themselves to move on to find other employment and a better way of life, ABSOLUTELY ! besides its not easy starting over. so billy-boy quit your whining, stop crying over spilled milk, and come out off your abitibi/bowater glass jar and come out and see the real world for what it is.
-
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:58
To J.Healy, you state in your letter : Why is Jim Pearson bringing this up in this contect with pensions I am not sure.
But Mr.Healy you went into great detail about the same foolishness yourself, typical of someone who believes he can put out the same message as Pearson and not look as bad as he does.
As for union members being on the the committee you answered the question yourself, the company had a few token union members on the committee .. These token members had no means of viewing what the company was doing with the pension.
The company asked to oversee the pension and the pensioners now know why, being 1.3 billion dollars short , seems like someone should be doing jail time for that mistake. But then again Mr.Healy you would never agree because it's always the unions fault! -
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:47
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J.....I'm so sorry , after reading your last comment I'm just coming to realize that your a comedian of some sort....but you did have me going there for a bit......and No it wasn't about your word spelling that gave it away that you never had a chance of getting a job at the former paper mill....the people from GFW who know you told me that you only had grade 7 or 8....and that your nothing but a big bum......but I was quick to correct them...your more like the center.
-
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:39
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J.....Don't have all the answers yet but getting there.
How about you getting some help from one of your other personalities in spelling ( KNOW ) if you plan on calling me ... Billy KNOW ( not NO ) it all.
Make NO wonder you couldn't get a job at the paper mill... -
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:39
Yes James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J....well it was too hard for you to get in there and that is why your so mad at everyone...by the way it probably took a bus to get you there.....LOL
-
- Jim
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:39
I think Junior Downey should put a message in a core of a newsprint roll and sent it to the UK to complain about what bad ole Abitibi is doing to those such good employees.
James -
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:38
James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J....in your statement you said one correct thing and I applaud you for saying it, and above all it's is the truest statement of fact you have ever wrote......
everyone ( James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/re-Pete/James/J ) including myself are always wrong......
Well done there boys ( James ) take some solace in knowing this is your first step to being cured of your god awful affliction of DPD.....now don't forget your medications , James/Alfred/Jim/Pete/Re-Pete/ James II/J .........It's good to know your on the road to recovery. -
- JAMES
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:37
thanks for your comments billy. i can't stop laughing, you certainly are a scholar and have all the answers when it comes to pensions. i quess thats why yours as been reduced, and i am sitting here enjoying my own fat pension. HAPPY JOB HUNTING! note: and because you don't give your last name, from now on in future comments i will refer to you as billy no it all.
-
- Billy
- - June 22nd, 2010 at 16:04:35
This is not about Junior Downey , it's about people who paid into a pension only to have it torn apart, there are widows who are living on only 60% of their husbands pension and it's to be cut again. This is about having the older citizens of our communities who worked all their lives so they could retire with some dignity and not worry about how to pay their bills.
Way to go there Jim Pearson you show great intelligence and compassion in attacking someone who is trying to right a wrong not only for himself but for many others. Maybe a 30% reduction means little or nothing to you but how dare you try to make light out of the suffering of others . You would have a different tune if it was your widowed mother being so greatly affected by it. Make a few jokes and then tell her she can live on another reduction.
I'm not sure about anyone else who read your nonsensical comment but there is one thing I'd like to do and that is to put my boot up your behind.
