DECEMBER   2009   NEWSLETTER

    MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

           HANDIBUS  BARGAINING  UNIT

The biggest challenge we have going forward to 2010 is the ruthless attack on our members at the “Not for Profit” Calgary HandiBus Association by Calgary Transit and the Manager at Access Calgary.   While properties across Canada are shoring up accessible transportation and bringing the work in-house to insure quality transportation for the disabled, the decision makers at Access Calgary are farming out the work to “for profit” Southland Transportation.   This has resulted in 14 employees at HandiBus being laid off on January 1, 2010.   It will not be a very Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year for these people.   It must be an easy decision for Calgary Transit/Access Calgary to make when they don’t have to deal directly with the victims of their decision or even have to muster up the courage to come to the table at negotiations.   The Manager of Access didn’t even so much as call the Union before or after making the decision.   When this gets political I hope whoever is responsible for this cowardly act meets the same fate as the 14 members at HandiBus.

At the time of this writing, a letter is near completion, which will be sent to Mayor Dave Bronconnier and selected Council members, explaining the history of Calgary HandiBus and their relationship with the special needs community and those individuals and corporations that have supported HandiBus by providing funding for their entire rolling stock.   We are also seeking clarification on the position of the City of Calgary regarding their relationship with Calgary HandiBus and any future funding plans they have.

This is not a budget issue and this is not intended to save one nickel.   This is an attack on a “not for profit” service provider that has tirelessly assisted the citizens of Calgary with first class special needs transportation second to no one in the country.   We believe this fight will be won through identifying the friends of Calgary HandiBus and asking for their help to save this service.   Those friends will be found in HandiBus employees, Board members, clients, those donors previously mentioned and some members of City Council.   
     
Calgary HandiBus has been providing service to the special needs community for thirty years.   We will update you in the new Year as we identify where this attack is coming from and who is willing to come forward and save this very worthwhile Association so they may continue to serve for another 30 years.    

               FOR YOUR INFORMATION…..    

    The strike by UFCW at Old Dutch Foods has been resolved.   Please consider buying these products again.

 In Solidarity

Mike Mahar. Doug Johannes, Rick Ratcliff, Walter Moodie