GENERAL TEAMSTERS, LOCAL UNION NO. 362
affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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Rick Payne, a Member of our Industrial Construction Division was given the privilege of running with the torch as it passed through our Province on January 13, 2010. His run took place along Highway 37 in Namao, just north of Edmonton. |
To all Members, please keep up the pressure to keep health care strong in Alberta. A little letter writing goes a long way................
albertaliberalcaucus
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts through our website, http://www.liepertmustgo.com. In the few weeks that the website was online, we received an overwhelming number of submissions from Albertans from across the province.
I have no doubt that the actionsof Albertans like you played a part in Premier Stelmach’s decision to remove Mr. Liepert as Minister for Health and Wellness. Although we have fulfilled the intent of our website, we still need to ensure that the issues with Alberta’s health care system that Albertans shared with us are remedied. We need to put pressure on Minister Zwozdesky, the new Minister for Health and Wellness, to ensure that he does not repeat the mistakes of his predecessor. As such, we will be using the submissions that we received through Liepert Must Go as ammunition to pressure for change in the Spring Legislative Session. We will present the real life experiences of Albertans to Minister Zwozdesky in the Legislature and challenge him to make better choices for our public health care system.
If you would prefer that we keep your submission as anonymous, please let us know and we can present your submission without including your name or contact information. If you would prefer that we not use your submission at all, please contact Amanda Krumins at liberal.correspondence@assembly.ab.ca and she will remove it from consideration.
Despite being ordered by the Legislative Assembly to close down http://www.liepertmustgo.com, our website was a success. Thank you for helping us to pressure Premier Stelmach to remove Mr. Liepert as Minister for Health and Wellness. We will continue to challenge this government to make the right decisions with Alberta’s health care system – thank you for allowing us to represent you in the Legislature and please stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Swann
Leader of Alberta’s Official Opposition
MLA for Calgary – Mountain View
http://www.albertaliberalcaucus.com
Courier goes extra mile for Edmonton’s less fortunate
By Kevin Maimann of the Edmonton Examiner - December 23, 2009
A local UPS driver is going the extra mile to make some special deliveries this Christmas season.
Despite some major setbacks, Troy Wright will forge ahead with his 17th straight year of making hampers for less-fortunate west-Edmonton families.
The holiday hampers began with a UPS holiday tradition of giving its employees turkeys at Christmastime.
After talking with representatives at Fusion Fellowship Church about some needy families in the area, Wright rallied his co-workers to give up their bird bonuses for the less-fortunate.
"I didn't personally need the turkey, I could afford to buy my own," Wright says. "But some people were going without."
This year, due to the struggling economy, UPS employees didn't get their turkeys. But that wasn't going to stop Wright.
"There was no way that we weren't; if it had to come out of my pocket, we were going to do it," he says.
Wright dug a little deeper and found some other local supporters, the biggest new booster being the Teamsters Local 362 union.
With their help, he managed to hit his initial goal of 30 hampers filled with turkeys, $50 grocery-store gift certificates, and toys for the kids. The baskets will be delivered today, two days before Christmas.
"Everything's been a success so far. We've never had a year where we didn't feed at least 30 families," he says.
Wright has been finding the needy families by working with Brightview school as well as Fusion Fellowship, whose outreach pastor Sherry Adams is exceedingly grateful for his work.
JANUARY 2010
The Executive Board Officers of General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362 will be officially sworn into office for their 5 year term, at the Executive Board meeting on Friday Janaury 29, 2010.
| Richard Eichel | Secretary-Treasurer |
| Alan Porter | President |
| Keith Norris | Vice President |
| James Hryniuk | Recording Secretary |
| Robert Morris | Trustee |
| John MacDonnell | Trustee |
| Troy Wright | Trustee |
The Officers and Staff of Local 362 would like to wish everyone the best in 2010.
The year is off to a busy start as many contracts are opening or are already in negotiations. Unfortunately the grievances are still coming in at a furious pace and we suspect this may be due to the economic downturn.
NEGOTIATIONS
ORGANIZING
We are pleased to announce that the vote to bring WSI in to our Local was successful. We would like to thank our Organizing department, the Business Agents and appreciate the team effort by all the staff who helped make this initiative a success. We would like to welcome our new Members and look forward to working with you.
Interest seems to fluctuate with the Fedex drive across the country. It is difficult to comprehend, when the biggest increase for Fedex employees this year is 13 cents per hour, that they don’t want to unite for improved wages and working conditions. The increases for UPS and Purolator averaged approximately 60 cents this year.
Similarly, it was rumoured several months ago that wages at First Student were to be cut and our phone rang off the hook. The company then changed their tactic and didn’t touch the hourly wage but in some areas reduced the hours paid for in the day without the runs changing, and yet no one called. It’s hard to envision any of our Members taking a pay cut and not raising the roof.
Organizing is still the livelihood of the Union movement to improve our working conditions and way of life. If you know anyone that needs a Union in their work place please Contact Us.
CONSTRUCTION
The Shell Scotford Refinery is now on the downside and layoffs will be starting. This has been a great job for many Albertans over the last few years.
RETIREES
Check out our Retirees. At the last General Meeting the Retirees receiving awards had 154 years of service combined, astounding! Our best wishes go out to them and their families.
Award Eligibility: Fifteen (15) years of continuous service entitles Members to a silver ring, twenty-five (25) or more years of continuous service entitles Members to a gold ring or a gold watch.
POLITICAL NEWS
Please check out the link the Liberals have posted to contribute your thoughts on how our Health Care system is being dismantled. It’s important that all Albertans voice their opinion. Use this site or write to your MLA.
Although the world is still reeling from the downturn of 2008 and unemployment is still running around 10 percent, signs of recovery are evident. It’s nice to see oil around 80 dollars and the TSX closing on 12000, as this is all good for our pension plans. Hopefully the economy continues to improve in 2010.
CIBC RUN FOR THE CURE
2010 will see us entering the CIBC Run for the Cure for the third year and we will be looking for volunteers to join us for this worthwhile charity. CONTACT Michelle in Calgary and Aimee in Edmonton for more information. Please join us.
General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362 donate their time and money to several causes throughout the year: Charities
To obtain information and to find out who's eligible please check out our Scholarships page.
