PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT                                                MIKE MAHAR

          These are interesting times indeed.  The province is experiencing a shortage of workers in every sector you can imagine and the competition for workers, whether they are available or not, is tremendous.  The shortage of “trades” people is even worse.  Hiring and retaining staff is a major issue for all employers.  We recognized this going into negotiations with the City and have proposals to try and address it but like I say, these are interesting times indeed.

PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT          MIKE MAHAR

            After a number of special meetings with our members to determine which items we would be taking to negotiations, we exchanged proposals with the City of Calgary on May 17, 2006.

PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT               MIKE MAHAR

A core group of members of our Assault Prevention and System Security Committee (not the official name) has met twice to set the terms of reference and mandate for this newly formed committee. The ultimate goal will be to reduce the number and severity of incidence of attacks against our members and to make the system less likely to be the target of an act of terrorism.

PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT                         MIKE MAHAR

Negotiations Information

            Preparations for the next round of negotiations begin at the same time as you sign a new Collective Agreement.  By that I mean the Union continuously tracks concerns that arise out of the daily operation of all three bargaining units.  Prior to the expiration of each agreement the Negotiating Committee will review all those issues that have arisen.  These items, along with the concerns brought forward by the membership at Special Meetings and throughout the life of the Agreement are then reviewed and prioritized for the exchange of proposals that will take place with the employer.