How about those Flames?? Do you know that more people turned out to honor the Flames at the noon hour celebrations in Calgary on June 9th (30,000+) than turned out to the Stanley Cup Parade in Tampa (10,000)?? We do love to love our Calgary Flames.
Well now that hockey is over for a while, lets turn to some Union news -
The Trustees of the Health and Welfare Plans, and the Pension Plans, are meeting in Kelowna next week, so be patient if you can't reach an Officer or Business Agent during the week.
The Teamsters Canada Executive Board will be meeting in Gravenhurst, Ontario in lat June. Brother Finley will be attending those meetings.
We have received signed agreements from several employers over the past few months.Grimshaw Trucking Clerical Staff have an agreement which will expire in July 2005, Colin Kerr Holdings of Millet, AB ratified a one year agreement which will run through February 2005, the 70+ mixer drivers at Lafarge Edmonton have an agreement which will see them through December 2005 while Lafarge Ft. Sask. signed an agreement to expire in December 2006. Peace Wapiti School Board #33 school bus drivers ratified a one year agreement to expire in December 2004. Calgary Salvation Army Recycle Centre employees agreement runs through August 2006. Some 63 employees of Redcliff Industries recently rataified their agreement for another 3 years. Mammoet Canda Western employs 53 members in the heavy haul industry and their new agreement will expire in June 2005.Martin Brower of Canada deliver product to the MacDonalds Restaurants and they recently ratified an agreement which runs through January 2007.Spectrum Suply Chain Solutions #1 in Calgary have a new agreement which will see them through July 2008, while Sprectrum #2 are expecting an offer from the company in the very near future. Booklets have been prepared for all of these agreements. If you haven't received yours yet, check with your employer and ask for one.
Recent Movie Agreements which have been signed and production has started, and in some cases, completed, include Family Values, Selling Inncoence, The Magic of an Ordinary Day, Brokeback Mountain, and The Mountain, with several more productions looking at Alberta as possible locations.
Currently we have filed for Fedreal Conciliation or Provincial Mediation for several companies to assist in reaching agreements for our members - Monarch/Dempsey, Consolidated Fastfrate, Greyline of Banff, Inland Pipe, to name a few. Meetings will be held with either the Conciliations Officer or the Mediator, whichever applies, to attempt to reach a settlement.
Proposals are being taken in the very near future for Byers Transport employees - clerical, freight and owner operators - for a new agreement. This will be the first agreement which covers all three divisions of the Company. In the past, each group has had an agreement specific to those employees.
Canadian Freightways Limited agreement is coming up for renewal shortly, and the Business Agents will be setting proposal meetings shortly.
Please watch your bulletin boards for meeting notices, wether it be for proposals, or to vote the offers put forth by your employer. It is important that you make every effort to attend these meetings. It is your livelihood that is being discussed. Remember - you do far more good by attending the proposal meetings to let us know what you want to see in the next agreement, than by sitting in the coffee shop complaining about it.
We have had a run of members reaching the magic numbers allowing them to retire, and we would like tocongratulate them, and wish each of them and long and happy retirement. What a great journey to be starting ! Following are the most recent retirees:
Carol McArtur - 30 years Construction - gold ladies pendant; Luigi Ardolino - 34 years Inland - gold watch; Ed McWhirter - 27 years Pipeline - gold ring; Dwayne Litke - 15 years CFL Edmonton - silver ring; Leroy Steele - 17 years Byers - silver ring; Harold Scarrow - 27 years Pipeline - gold watch
Just a reminder that to qualify for the retirement awards you must have a minimum of 15 years continuous service (no break such as a withdrawal card or suspension). 15 - 25 years entitles you to a silver ring, or in the case of ladies a silver pendant. Note there is no ladies ring, (silver or gold) and there is no silver watch. For 25 + continuous years of unbroken service entitles you to a gold ring, gold watch or ladies gold pendant. If you are retiring, and think you could be entitled to these awards, please contact your Business Agent, or either office (Calgary or Edmonton) and we will do a search of your records. We have no way of knowing that you are retiring, and not just changing jobs, when you are removed from the Company dues check-off. The onus is on you to advise us of your retirement plans. Don't miss out on these beautiful pieces of jewelery. They are a nice reminder of your years as a member.
I was contacted a few weeks ago by the committee who are planning the next Fireworks Competition in Calgary. You may remember the awesone sights of the last one. Of course this one is to be bigger and better, and they are looking for volunteers to work. If any of you are interested, please call me (Jean) at the Calgary office (403-259-4608) and I can forward the information to you
As many of you may already know, Teamsters Canada has formed a new Division - Teamster Canada Rail Conference, Maintenance of Way Employees Division, to serve our new members from CP Rail who are involved in the building, maintenance, inspection and repairing of railroad infrastructure. Teamsters Rail Conference (formerly Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers) represents employees at CanadianPacific, VIA Rail Canada and several other local railway companies in Canada. The Visit the Rail Conference website is www.teamstersrail.ca Check it out! Canadian National have a petition before the CIRB and we are currently awaiting a Board decision prior to adding those employees to the Conference. Throughout the organizing campaign to gain these rail employees, Teamsters Local 362 has given their full support to rallies held across the area.
Brother Finley and Sister Glubrecht are shown below handing out flyers to support the Rail workers