Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
As you can see, we have made some changes to our Web page. I hope you are pleased with the results. Since this is done on a voluntary basis, I would like to say on your behalf, a special thank you to Lionel Keats and Roland Lefort for their timeless efforts in building and maintaining our web site.
Since my last report, I have had some personal loss in my family. A sincere thank you to all of you who have expressed sympathy and condolences to me and my family. My sister was one of my best friends and while the healing will take some time, I know it will be much easier given the support and kindness I am getting from my friends and co-workers.
First off, I'll give you a review of some of the issues that were outlined in my last report.
Labour Relations continue to improve. Myself and Randy Forget have been meeting on a frequent basis and are trying to stay on top of things.
We have agreed to do a pilot run on Article 11.08 (transfers and reassignments), where we would allow more than one move. However, we haven't had the opportune posting to test that. To me, it’s a clear indication of what I have been saying to the company all along, the situation is not as bad as they make it out to be.
The boycott against Labatt's and Molson's has been lifted. Locked out workers at BDL in Edmonton have resolved their remaining issues with their employer. As well, the boycott against the Edmonton Journal is also lifted but the one against the Calgary Herald and the National Post remains.
Bill 11, in regards to for-profit health care has been pushed into legislation. It appears that Ralph Klein, Guy Boutilier and the rest of the Tory caucus refused to listen to the people. Hopefully people like you and I will not forget that come next election.
The National Bargaining Conference was held and an agenda was prepared and adopted unanimously by the delegates in attendance. The next step in the process was to take it back to our locals for approval to participate in the program. A special meeting for our local was held on May 30th evening and May 31st morning and approval was given to follow the National Bargaining Program.
We have been in the program since 1986 and I was quite surprised at the number of people who were not knowledgeable on the process that is used once a local decides to participate. The National Bargaining Committee will meet with a target company, e.g. Petro Canada or Imperial Oil, and try to negotiate a tentative agreement. When they have reached that point, a conference will be called in order to have the agreement ratified.
The locals will then take that package to the table with their employers and commence to negotiate the same. The rules around the process dictate that we must achieve nothing less.
Since 1986, our local has been very successful at attaining the National agreement. I do not anticipate any change to that trend. That is not to say that bargaining will be easy (in fact, bargaining has never been easy) but I am confident that we will succeed. We will keep you informed as things unfold throughout the fall.
Trans Alta has finally taken over the powerhouse. Our brothers and sisters who work there are now employees of Trans Alta. They have established their own union executive and stewards and I have committed to working with them on issues of common interest as well as support in getting their unit up and running.
The Syncrude Organizing drive is ongoing. Our national office has seconded Brother Roland Lefort to assist our National Representative Brother Barrington. Roland just recently organized another mail out and is currently putting information on our web page.
We are currently having discussions with Suncor about partnering with us in establishing a learning center at our union office. Resources would be available to assist union members in obtaining pre-requisites to transfer into the fixed plants. If we are to encourage continuous learning, then the tools must be made available. We will keep you updated as discussions progress.
We continue to support the "Courage to Care" program. I think it is the most pro-active, forward thinking move this local has ever done.
It's about genuine caring. As a union, it was the norm to "help" our brothers and sisters by doing the proverbial cover-up. What we have discovered though, is the fact that this is slowly but surely destroying the individual. Enabling prolongs the inevitable. As the disease or addiction becomes worse, we begin to witness deterioration. Usually its work performance and attendance, which is normally, proceeded by family and relationship breakdowns. Finally the ultimate, which is job loss.
While the CEP has said no to drug testing, doing nothing was not an option. We are about the health and welfare of our members and that is why we are working with Suncor to make the "Courage to Care" program a success. We want our brothers and sisters to live healthy, happy and productive lives and we want them to enjoy many, many years of retirement.
By taking a leadership role in this very important initiative, I am convinced that we will not only enhance the well being of our members but we will also, in fact, save lives.
Our next membership meeting will be held on September 20th at 9:30 p.m. and September 21st at 9:30 a.m. in St. Paul's Catholic Church Hall in Thickwood.
Also coming up this fall, will be the elections for the President's position as well as the Secretary/Treasurer's.
I will be seeking another term as your president and at this time I would like to ask for your support. It is an honour to serve our union and I look forward to the busy and exciting times over the next couple of years.
The recent labour dispute between MCC and the Building Trades sparked a lot of phone calls to my office. From a legal point of view, we are obligated to show up for work. However, I do support the Building Trades' issue of non-union contractors on our plant site.
I have told Suncor that when we hit the bargaining table in January, one of our key issues will be the issue of non-union contractors. I have also told Suncor not to expect any of our union members to perform work normally done by the people who are out on strike. Anyway that we can legally support the Building Trades, we will do so. Solidarity is what the labour movement is about. Labour must look after its own interests together.
I hope you're all enjoying your summer and remember to work safely and play safely.
In solidarity,
Walter Manning
President