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Wednesday, 07 January 2009 |
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MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR On behalf of the Officers, Executive Board and Stewards of Local 583 I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas season and a healthy and prosperous New Year. This is normally a time to reflect on the events of the previous year so to that end, good and bad, here we go.
In June 2008 we entered the last year of a three-year contract with the City of Calgary. We had a number of arbitrations this year that went well for us.
The City took us to the Supreme Court of Canada to try and force us to argue Human Right issues against the wishes of the Union and our grievor. This would have also taken away grievors’ rights to have their issues heard before a Human Rights tribunal. The courts ruled in our favor and protected a vital fundamental right for Unions to choose what they advanced in a grievance.
The Relocation Arbitration was also decided in our favor but the Arbitrator left it up to the City to negotiate a settlement with us. If we were not successful then he would reconvene and decide on a resolution. The City had paid $1500.00 to everyone hired from Ontario. Revenue Canada allows for a $650.00 tax-free payment for relocation expenses without receipts. We see the difference as a retention payment and asked that $850.00 be paid to everyone that stayed on the job. The City offered to pay the same $1500.00 relocation fee to any employee that was hired east of Toronto. When we asked them if anyone was hired from East of Toronto they couldn’t identify who or how many there were, but said it would involve a handful of people. In essence they offered us virtually nothing. We know an Arbitrator is not going to give us anything less than that and have asked the Board to rule on a settlement.
The arbitration over the Eldorado bus being used in Community Shuttle service was heard on December 9, 11 and 12 and seemed to go very well. The duties and description of a Shuttle Bus Operator match that of a Conventional Operator. With Shuttle Operators driving these buses the position becomes identical. You can’t pay drastically different rates for people doing the same work. I think it is reckless for Calgary Transit to put the Community Shuttle operation at risk like this and I think it is deceitful for them to try and claim this is what they have always envisioned shuttle service to be. Virtually everyone that talks to me about the Eldorado, including those outside of the industry, see this as a conventional bus with the exception of a few high ranking managers. My deepest hope is that the Arbitrator sees this bus for what it is. This is the biggest head shaker I have witnessed in my 30 some years at Transit.
The Civic Cafeteria replaced their Manager this year as a result of a number of unethical practices. The Chair of the Cafeteria Society was also removed because of his association with the Manager and some questionable practices of his own. Neither one of these people would be considered friends of the employees or this Local. Their departure is good news. The new Manager comes across as very professional and we have already heard positive things coming out of there as a result. We began negotiations in November with him and the negotiator they used last round and I feel optimistic about reaching a memorandum with the Cafeteria fairly early in the new year.
Calgary HandiBus went through some major changes this year with a new General Manager and a new philosophy on managerial styles. Again the feedback has been good and we are optimistic about where things can go from here. The Collective Agreement will expire at the end of 2009 and we will be prepared to exchange proposals as soon as the Collective Agreement allows.
We held three major social events this year and they were all a big success. The Family Picnic took place at Bowness Park in late July with a large turnout and great weather for all the races. The Fall Banquet held in honour of our retirees filled the Glenmore Inn with over 500 members and guests in October and the Children’s Christmas party was a packed house by the time Santa arrived at the Red and White Club on December 14th.
We continued to meet and solidify our relationship with the Civic Labour Coalition, which is made up of all the Civic Unions with members employed at the City of Calgary. The coalition focuses on areas of common concern while maintaining each Locals autonomy and has provided a wealth of information and strength through solidarity that allows us to deal with the more global issues in the work place.
Of course we have to take a moment to reflect back on the numerous members that have fallen over the past twelve months, including our Brother and Board Member Fitzroy Boyd and a special memory created through the terrible loss of Pvt. Chad Horne, beloved son of Anita Horne and Jim Bowes. At least for a while this tragedy brought the employer and employees together in a way I have not witnessed before. May time lessen the pain for all of these families and friends.
As the year winds up we know we have our work cut out for us in 2009. Contrary to the mood at Calgary HandiBus and the Calgary Civic Cafeteria Society, there seems to be a very aggressive attack on the interpretation and application of long standing articles in our Collective Agreement at the City of Calgary. We don’t know if it’s a corporate philosophy to try and get us back on our heels before negotiations begin this spring or two or three rogue Human Resources advisors trying to make a name for themselves. Regardless, the attack is around seniority rights and the ability to move to or revert from different positions in or out of our bargaining unit. These are cornerstones of our agreement and we are prepared to go to battle to protect them if need be.
Lastly the Officers would like to thank your Executive Board, Steward Committee Members and all you members that support your Union during the year, and in particular, when times get tough. This is the strength of our Union and this is what gives us the power to protect our rights and improve our working conditions and wages.
Mike Mahar
President/B.A.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 January 2009 )
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