This month finds our Officers and BA's on the move once more. Brothers Finley, Eichel and Doerksen are attending the IBT Unity Conference in Las Vegas. This conference embraces a fund raiser Golf Tournament and Poker Tournament to raise funds for the JR Hoffa Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is open to the children and grandchildren of Teamster members. Over the past few years since the inception of this scholarship, several Alberta students have been awarded $10,000.00 scholarships from this Fund. As well, there are smaller awards which have been made to Alberta students. If your child or grandchild will be in Grade 12 and is planning to further their education, please contact the Local Union office for information regarding these scholarships.
Several Calgary Shop Stewards recently attended a Shop Steward Seminar at the Blackfoot Inn. Sister Brigitte Sottile Teamsters Canada Director of Education was the facilitator and she provided some very useful information for those in attendance. A similar seminar is being held in Edmonton in June.
Business Agents have been busy with negotiations. Meetings have been held in Vancouver and Calgary with Canadian Freightways representatives. We have made application to the Federal Government for the appointment of a conciliations officer to assists in the next round of meetings scheduled for late May. Byers Transport meetings are continuing. Progress is being made with that group. A strike vote was conducted with the Tiger Courier group, and the Company has agreed to one more set of meetings in Calgary on May 27 to attempt to reach a renewal for those employees. Currently a vote is being taken with the Hallcon Crew Transport group for a first agreement. We have applied to the Alberta Government for the appointment of a Mediator for both the Lafarge Calgary Mixer Drivers and the Inland Calgary Mixer Drivers. Currently there are three movies being produced in the Calgary area - Comeback Season, No Child of Mine and No More Victims. Negotiations for a new agreement covering the Reimer employees in Edmonton are set to commence next week.
General and Area meetings are held throughout the year, and dates and times are posted at your place of employment. Here you can see Brothers Eichel, Finley and Kemp discussing what looks like "serious" buisness at a recent Edmonton General Meeting. These meetings are held to keep members informed on what is happening within the Local Union, and to answer any questions members may have of the Officers and Business Agents. Please make every effort to get out and participate.