Ron Gets the Fish

A Poem about Union Life

             90 Days ( Welcome Nafta )

Finally--
      My First good paying job,
  I've came so far, jumping thru hoops...
      It's been 10 months, working everyother week
Doing everything I can,    Anything they wanted...

     My future is on the line...
I've abandoned my Education, left my career behind...
    10 1/2 months!!!   to get my 90 days of work
What was I thinking,    Will it happen?

    I've gambled with my kids as chips,
in what seemed like a big poker game
To which I did not know the rules,,

     WOW!!!  I made it,       90  DAYS,
A new career!, the clouds are clearing,
Everything seems just a little bit better.

    Where to go from here,
          I'm sure they have a plan for me.....
          They choose me for a reason...

Building full size vans,  New Duties, New People
A New Career,    I can't wait

WAIT !!!!
        Is  that the end?   5,4,3,2 1...
No More Vans....
    No More Noise.....
        Just an Empty Line......

Was  this the gamble?
Is this thier plan for me?

11 Months,  105 Days,....
   No More  Vans...
      No More Plant....
         No  More  ME!...................................

Solidarity Forever...

When the union's inspiration through the worker's blood shall run,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun.
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one?
For the union makes us strong.

CHORUS

They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn,
But without our Brain and Muscle not a single wheel could turn.
We can break their haughty power; gain our freedom when we learn
That the union makes us strong..

CHORUS

In our hands is placed a power greater than thier hoarded gold,
Greater then the might of armies magnified a thousand fold.
We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old,
For the union makes us strong.

CHORUS

We're the women of the union, and we know just how to fight,
We know the women's issues, and we know about women's rights.
We're prepared to fight for freedom, we're prepared to stand our ground,
Women make the union strong...

CHORUS--    Soldarity Forever,
                           Solidarity Forever,
                              Solidarity Forever,
For the UNION makes us strong......



Brought to you by the PEL class of  2010-2011

Quote by SAM GREENE

Education is Power,
            with Power you get  Solidarity,
                     with Solidarity you can
Accomplish Anything........

SOLIDARITY MATTERS

Save the Gun Registry

CAW National    –    Save the   “Gun Registry”

Dear Friends

I wanted to express my deep appreciation for the opportunity to speak to you on Saturday and for your openness and willing to share your experiences and thoughts. It was deeply moving and reminded me of why this work is so important but also how critical it is to have the CAW in our camp.
 
I remember well that the CAW under Bob White's leadership was one of the first groups to support the Coalition for Gun Control and we have never had to worry in almost 20 years about that support wavering.
 
But at the end of the day, organizations do not do things.

People do!

Organization helps but it is the individual decisions of people like you who make all the difference.
 
The very personal stories you shared Saturday will stay with me forever and remind me of the reasons we continue to work. I am sorry that I did not catch all your names or have a chance to speak with you individually to express my thanks. The questions from gun owners were all fair and respectful and I appreciated the opportunity to offer my perspective on issues which I know are a challenge.

 Robert's astonishing willingness to open his mind and change his long standing position reminded me that the work is not futile and we can actually influence people to re-examine their assumptions.
 
All of you will find, whatever your issue, that sometimes you second guess yourself, your beliefs and whether or not it is worthwhile. And then days like Saturday will remind you of what its all about and help you find that extra energy you need to keep going.

So when things get tough, please remember

Chumbawamba. "I get knocked down. I get up again. You are never going to keep me down." :-)
 
We have a chance to win this vote which will be pivotal but sadly not the end of our struggle.

 I deeply appreciate the support of the CAW and each and every one of you on this issue.

 But more importantly, I respect and admire all the good work you have done and will do.
 
Thanks so much.
 
Wendy
wcukier@ryerson.ca

2011 Jeeps

By John LeBlanc, MSN Autos
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee first drive
Under Fiat, Jeep's Grand Cherokee looks to return to its former upmarket spot



Photo: John LeBlanc
San Francisco, Calif. - It's a trip back in time with Jeep's all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee. Specifically, Chrysler's off-road brand wants to party like it's 1999. Back then, Jeep had just launched the second-generation Grand Cherokee, a vehicle considered by well-to-do customers as a legitimate alternative to the much pricier Range Rover. Following a decade-long down-market detour with the past two generations, Jeep has returned with some serious upmarket aspirations.

Fundamentally, the latest Grand Cherokee hasn't strayed far from the 1993 original. It's still a midsize, five-passenger SUV with a car-like unibody frame, but it possesses outstanding off-road abilities. Compared to the outgoing model, it boasts a new level of refinement unheard of for Jeep in terms of exterior detailing, interior décor, and the overall driving experience. It may be optimistic to think Jeep can compete against $100,000 luxury SUVs like the Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne, but after a day's drive in various Grand Cherokees, it's safe to say it's as good or better than similar-priced rivals like the Land Rover LR4, Volkswagen Touareg, Toyota 4Runner and Honda Pilot.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee first drive

There's a lot of Mercedes in this Jeep



Photo: Jeep
Although the 2011 Grand Cherokee is the second Chrysler Group product launched under the reign of its new Italian parents (the first was the Ram HD pickup), it was actually developed during the DaimlerChrysler era. So even if from the outside the new Grand Cherokee retains the outgoing model's proportions and styling theme, its structure is based on the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. And, interestingly enough, it's not the current ML, but the next-generation model due sometime next year.

Arriving at Canadian Jeep dealers now, the four-model Grand Cherokee range starts with the $37,995 Laredo E and tops out with the loaded $49,995 Overland. A new V6 is standard across the board; buyers of the Laredo X, Limited and Overland can upgrade to the carryover 5.7-litre Hemi V8. And although our friends to the south will be getting 4x2 versions, all Grand Cherokees destined for Canada come with traction at all four wheels.

Related Autos links:
Research a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compare the new Grand Cherokee to its rivals

Grand Cherokee's interior goes from no-star to four-star



Photo: John LeBlanc
Whatever Grand Cherokee you opt for, you'll be treated to an interior that's well-built, roomy and easy on the eyes. Surfaces that aren't made from soft-touch plastics are either some kind of faux metal or wood. Everything is assembled with tight panel gaps. While the big Jeep's interior isn't revolutionary from a design standpoint, it's competitive with premium rivals. The leather looks like it actually came from cows, not tar sands. And in the Overland, real wood covers the dash and doors, including the top of the leather-wrapped, tilt and telescoping steering wheel.

Rear-seat passengers will be equally pleased; now that the Grand Cherokee rides on a longer wheelbase, there's a whopping 10 cm more rear legroom - more than any of the aforementioned competition. The rear seats also recline for added comfort. Addressing customer criticism of a tiny cargo bay, Jeep's engineers have increased volume by an equally impressive 20 per cent, to over 990 litres. That's good, but still short of the 4Runner or LR4.

Related Autos links:
Build a new Grand Cherokee
Find a Jeep retailer near you

Refined and luxurious road manners



Photo: Jeep
The mix of a structure that's as rigid as the Rock of Gibraltar (it's almost 1.5 times stiffer than the outgoing model), a fuel-efficient and rev-happy V6, and proper four-wheel independent suspension sets the table for the Jeep's refined road manners and extreme off-road capabilities.

First, the newly available Quadra-Lift air suspension can raise or lower the Jeep to five different heights. Select Park mode, and it squats down 38 mm. Select Off-Road 2 and the ride height is jacked up by 270 mm.

Next is the optional Selec-Terrain system. Similar to Land Rover's Terrain Response, you can select five different drive surfaces via a console-mounted dial. Married to the stability and traction control systems, 12 different settings for power, throttle, braking and transmission adapt to either on or off-road conditions.



Photo: John LeBlanc
The Grand Cherokee debuts an all-new V6; it's the first we've seen of Chrysler's so-called "Phoenix" engine family. With an aluminum block, and variable valve timing, it adds 80 horsepower (now 290) and 25 lb.-ft. of torque (now 260), compared to the old 3.7-litre boat anchor. Better yet, fuel economy improves to 13.0 L/100 km city, and 8.9 L on the highway, versus 13.9 L and 10.1 L. If you have a lot of towing to do, it may be worth sticking with the 360-hp, 390 lb.-ft. of torque Hemi, which can lug 7,400 lbs. The six can only manage 5,000 lbs.
Continued: Track and field
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