Last night the Local members decided to accept the contract offer.
Here is how the money looks:
2011 - 2.5%
2012 - 3%
2013 - 3%
Many other contractual changes took place. For more information please call the hall.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Ratification of Proposals 2011
Official Notice Link.Join me Tuesday, June 28 at 7:00pm at the Dream Centre. Location is 4510 Macleod Trail SW. You need your union card. Looking forward to voting, it would be great to see all of you there. Information is availible if you call the hall.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Western Municipal 2011 - Day 3
The final day was like many other conferences, full of reports from affiliated locals. Many things were revealed on current negotiations. I was pleased to hear about all of the creative ways in which locals have achieved their wage goals.
In fact during the reports I was taken outside to discuss the current JEQ program and what we needed to be aware of. In Saskatchewan they recently discovered some of the holes where the evaluation caused some rifts between the members.
Otherwise the wrap of the conference was on time and many of us are now waiting to return to our respective homes.
In fact during the reports I was taken outside to discuss the current JEQ program and what we needed to be aware of. In Saskatchewan they recently discovered some of the holes where the evaluation caused some rifts between the members.
Otherwise the wrap of the conference was on time and many of us are now waiting to return to our respective homes.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Western Municipal 2011 - Day 2
This is my first Western Municipal Conference, my expectations of this event have been driven way up, but my feeling is that because of most of the other conferences happening so close to this event, it may come under my expectations concerning the size.
The conference is pretty small in comparison to the other conferences we have been attending. This can be seen as a good thing since the speakers are able to take questions from the floor in a more open atmosphere and the low key nature makes for a closer feel.
Speaker - Bill
Today I heard from a Labour Lawyer who said quite a bit about surveillance and how it may be admitted. Noting that the privacy laws in Alberta are not as spelled out as some of the provinces around us. I was interested in his words because he spoke about serendipitous and obvious surveillance. When an employer follows your every move after suspecting you of a fraudulent claim everything depends on how the information is expected to be admitted into court. It was interesting to me that obvious surveillance was admitted more easily for various reasons. I didn't really know that there were questions that one could ask about incriminating evidence but context and professional explanation can negate what to some seems to be incriminating footage.
It was a very powerful conversation because it struck my own personal struggles with releasing information. This blog can be seen by everyone. It is important for me to be able to stand by what I am saying, but at the same time I must be cautious about what I am saying. People want short concise news about events that impact them. However the information can only be compressed so much until you lose the context of the message. I will continue to work hard in displaying evidence based information be cognizant that my opinion of my employer be kept out of this dialogue. I look to others who read this as a check on my output.
The National President
Paul Moist dropped in to speak to us. He started in Local 500 and has had ties with them ever since. He took some time and spoke about CETA and how it may be affecting us legislation is signed. I have been taking this topic lightly as I didn't quite understand it. It's high level CUPE and it is coming down to the local level. In fact we are fighting a Federal process that will affect every Canadian union or not. Needless to say I am starting to take CETA more seriously as the deadline draws near.
Protest
We joined together with the CUPW Letter Carriers and rallied beside them on the street in downtown Winnipeg. With our placards and those of other unions, we basically shut a street down. It was great, and I learned something today that I didn't know. The post office is sole owned by... wait for it.... the Federal Govt. They have been making a profit for the past 16 years... and they still are. Which begs the question, why are stamps going up in price if all the extra money goes into the Feds pockets? I thought the price was going up because the postal office was loosing money?
A simple person could see the profits as perhaps a hidden tax within the postal system. I know as the mobile world advances the need for a reliable mail system will start to suffer. I also know that we still need paper even after I bought an e-reader. Even after I got access to computers at work and at home and on my phone. For some reason the world still transfers documents on paper. As long as documents, parcels and things need to be delivered there will be a need for a letter carrier.
Don't get me started on the private companies. UPS and their handling fees are enough to make me sick. Their inability to deliver a package to my home without charging me an extra fee is astounding. Why would I ever want to see Canada Post disappear?
Anyways, to all the Government officials out there. Stop screwing with Pension plans for regular working people when you yourself get an unbelievable retirement package. It's important for a reason, and you need to fund it properly. I'm digressing... I apologize.
Workshop - Political Action
Pretty darn good course. It was a very short conversation about what the unions role can be concerning political action. We talked and I grew a little. I have a urning for having conversations like these. How do you wage a good campaign? Can you just be simple, or do you have to go for the gold medal in informing the public. Politics is an amazing, complicated, polarizing, colorful, and full of facets.
Dinner
Like lunch (soup and sandwiches), the dinner was a medley of healthy salads, vegetables and roast beef. We watched the hockey game on the wall and enjoyed each others company. The good thing about a small conference is the small lines, and open conversation.
One more day, and I am on my way home.
The conference is pretty small in comparison to the other conferences we have been attending. This can be seen as a good thing since the speakers are able to take questions from the floor in a more open atmosphere and the low key nature makes for a closer feel.
Speaker - Bill
Today I heard from a Labour Lawyer who said quite a bit about surveillance and how it may be admitted. Noting that the privacy laws in Alberta are not as spelled out as some of the provinces around us. I was interested in his words because he spoke about serendipitous and obvious surveillance. When an employer follows your every move after suspecting you of a fraudulent claim everything depends on how the information is expected to be admitted into court. It was interesting to me that obvious surveillance was admitted more easily for various reasons. I didn't really know that there were questions that one could ask about incriminating evidence but context and professional explanation can negate what to some seems to be incriminating footage.
It was a very powerful conversation because it struck my own personal struggles with releasing information. This blog can be seen by everyone. It is important for me to be able to stand by what I am saying, but at the same time I must be cautious about what I am saying. People want short concise news about events that impact them. However the information can only be compressed so much until you lose the context of the message. I will continue to work hard in displaying evidence based information be cognizant that my opinion of my employer be kept out of this dialogue. I look to others who read this as a check on my output.
The National President
Paul Moist dropped in to speak to us. He started in Local 500 and has had ties with them ever since. He took some time and spoke about CETA and how it may be affecting us legislation is signed. I have been taking this topic lightly as I didn't quite understand it. It's high level CUPE and it is coming down to the local level. In fact we are fighting a Federal process that will affect every Canadian union or not. Needless to say I am starting to take CETA more seriously as the deadline draws near.
Protest
We joined together with the CUPW Letter Carriers and rallied beside them on the street in downtown Winnipeg. With our placards and those of other unions, we basically shut a street down. It was great, and I learned something today that I didn't know. The post office is sole owned by... wait for it.... the Federal Govt. They have been making a profit for the past 16 years... and they still are. Which begs the question, why are stamps going up in price if all the extra money goes into the Feds pockets? I thought the price was going up because the postal office was loosing money?
A simple person could see the profits as perhaps a hidden tax within the postal system. I know as the mobile world advances the need for a reliable mail system will start to suffer. I also know that we still need paper even after I bought an e-reader. Even after I got access to computers at work and at home and on my phone. For some reason the world still transfers documents on paper. As long as documents, parcels and things need to be delivered there will be a need for a letter carrier.
Don't get me started on the private companies. UPS and their handling fees are enough to make me sick. Their inability to deliver a package to my home without charging me an extra fee is astounding. Why would I ever want to see Canada Post disappear?
Anyways, to all the Government officials out there. Stop screwing with Pension plans for regular working people when you yourself get an unbelievable retirement package. It's important for a reason, and you need to fund it properly. I'm digressing... I apologize.
Workshop - Political Action
Pretty darn good course. It was a very short conversation about what the unions role can be concerning political action. We talked and I grew a little. I have a urning for having conversations like these. How do you wage a good campaign? Can you just be simple, or do you have to go for the gold medal in informing the public. Politics is an amazing, complicated, polarizing, colorful, and full of facets.
Dinner
Like lunch (soup and sandwiches), the dinner was a medley of healthy salads, vegetables and roast beef. We watched the hockey game on the wall and enjoyed each others company. The good thing about a small conference is the small lines, and open conversation.
One more day, and I am on my way home.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Local 38 is voting to Strike...
I just read today Local 38 will have a strike vote. FYI: Our sister union is about a month or so ahead of us in bargaining.
Keep your ears to the ground brothers and sisters. Our coalition includes Local 38, and if they vote to have strike action, we may be next. Please read the article in the Calgary Herald and here in the Calgary Sun. Local 38 is not asking for anything over two years that is close to what the alderman have voted themselves in one year.
Union meetings I assume will be a different tone for the next few months. Please attend next week to our general meeting if you have any questions.
Keep your ears to the ground brothers and sisters. Our coalition includes Local 38, and if they vote to have strike action, we may be next. Please read the article in the Calgary Herald and here in the Calgary Sun. Local 38 is not asking for anything over two years that is close to what the alderman have voted themselves in one year.
Union meetings I assume will be a different tone for the next few months. Please attend next week to our general meeting if you have any questions.
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