Well, Christmas is behind us and the New Year on the horizon. The Officers and Staff of General Teamsters Local Union No. 362 would like to wish you and yours all the best in the coming year. With the Alberta economy as it is, we anticipate another good year ahead.
Negotiations have slowed down over the holiday season, however will be up and running early in the New Year. Porposals have been taken for Aeroguard in Medicine Hat and Grande Prairie. Martin Brower is currently in negotiation. An opening letter was sent for the MacCosham Commissioned Operators in Edmonton. Gray Line West (Banff) has opened and proposals will be taken in Bannf, early in the New Year. Letters will be going out to Lafarge PreCast and Redcliff Industries in January. The construction agreement will be open in January as well, and that agreement applies to a large number of our members.
The Master Motion Picture agreement was ratified in December. There were no changes to the Dispatch Rules for the Motion Picture Division members this year. 2006 saw 27 movie agreements signed by the Local Union and 2007 promises to be busy as well.In excess of 200 members are registered in that division.
The General Meeting dates have been updated. Please check the events page for dates in your area. These meetings are held for your information, and day to day Union business is discussed to give you an idea of what goes on in both your division and the numerous other divisions within the Local's jurisdiction. Please make every effort to attend at least a few of these meetings.
Retirement awards have slowed down for a while but the most recent are:
Keith Gillies, 31 years on the Edmonton Construction Board, received a gold ring in October. Kurt Schwaiger has worked with Byers Calgary for the past 18 years and will be receiving a silver ring when he retires in January.Richard Harasinski will receive a gold watch for the completion of 35 years with CFL in Edmonton, and Dennis Reiger is leaving McMillan Transport Medicine Hat with a gold ring after 36 years of continuous membership.Join with me in wishing these gentlemen a long and happy retirement.
That's it for now. Again I would like to wish you all the best of the Season, and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2007.