MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR
On behalf of your new Table Officers, Doug Johannes, Rick Ratcliff, Bill Johnson, Neil Armitage, Harvey Woo and Mike Mahar, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, safe holidays and a very healthy and prosperous 2011.
Where to start? Actually, even with everything that has gone on in the past six months, that’s easy.
Once again, we want to thank those members that supported us in the last election and throughout the years. We also want to assure those that didn’t, that we are eager to get to work looking after the best interest of all our members. To that end we will be meeting with all the newly elected representatives early in the new year to strategize our plans for the next three years. We look forward to the input they will provide on your behalf. Congratulations to all newly elected representatives and thank you to those that will be moving on.
We also need to talk briefly about the style of electioneering this time. It is difficult for everyone when a campaign loses the focus on what we want to accomplish as a Local and instead focuses on whatever distraction can be created to discredit the candidate they are not supporting or are running against. There were all kinds of comments and accusations made by a small number of the candidates and if you look at the results, it appears most members didn’t buy it. Some of these candidates have now filed an appeal to have the election results overturned and they also preferred charges against some of the Officers. This information will be provided under separate bulletins so please watch the Union boards for that.
There were many positive accomplishments over the past year beginning with the benefits of the second year of our Collective Agreement at the City kicking in. Also a couple of important reinstatements out at Anderson Garage in the LRV Maintenance area were cause for celebration. One was a negotiated settlement and one was settled at arbitration. Both were terminations left over from the pre Oliver Bowen movement of personnel. Of course all reinstatements are important but these stood out because they were victims of the poisoned work environment issue of 2008.
A major frustration in 2010 is the HandiBus negotiations. After 12 months we’ve been unable to reach a Collective Agreement for our members there. What’s making it so difficult is that a third party, Access Calgary/Calgary Transit, is the driving force behind the employer’s outstanding issues and they are not at the table. Transit funds HandiBus so they push all the buttons but they answer to no one. We have reached impasse and the Provincial appointed Mediator has Written Out. This means we are in our cool down period. We could be in a position to serve strike notice in the new year but that is not our intention at this time. We will be communicating our position to the Civic politicians and other key contacts over the Christmas break and in early January. There will be no job action against HandiBus without a special meeting and specific mandate from the members of that bargaining unit.
We are going into negotiations with the Civic Cafeteria in the new year and will be meeting with the members of that bargaining unit and preparing proposals at the earliest possible opportunity in January.
Mike Mahar Doug Johannes Rick Ratcliff Bill Johnson
THANK YOU CARDS RECEIVED
ATU Support Group Colin Holden Scott Harrison Glenda Morrison
Lloyd Ackerman Nancy Kilburn Mike Burke Brian Crawford
Catherine White
Dear Brothers, Sisters and Friends:
On behalf of my family and I, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and flowers following the loss of my father in late November. It really does make a difference during difficult times like this.
Sincerely,
Mike Mahar
CONGRATULATIONS
On Their Retirement
Sophie Gray – Cafeteria – October 2010
Richard Roulston – Transit Operator – October 2010
Robert Mitchell – Office – November 2010
Maheboob Shivji – Transit Operator – November 2010
Don Wanner – Maintenance – December 2010
Amirali Mussa – Transit Operator – December 2010
Frank Groves – Transit Operator – December 2010
UPCOMING MEETINGS
A.T.U. LOCAL 583 CHARTER MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011
10:00 A.M. & 7:30 P.M.
AGENDA:
Regular Business
As per Section 14.8 - Challenges, of the Constitution and General Laws, there will be a vote on whether to hold another Election of Officers based on a challenge to the December 9, 2010 election filed by two candidates for Office in that election.
As per Section 22.4 - Initial Consideration of Charges, of the Constitution and General Laws, there will be a vote on whether charges preferred under Section 22 are worthy of being further entertained and considered. As per Section 22.3, there is a separate posting detailing the allegation being considered.
Nominations for election for delegates to the 2013 International Convention.
HANDI-BUS LOCAL 583
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2011
9:45 A.M. & 7:30 P.M.
CAFETERIA LOCAL 583
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011
5:00 P.M.
A.T.U. 583 UNION OFFICE 5325 – 1A STREET S.W.
ONLY SIGNED UP MEMBERS OF LOCAL 583 MAY ATTEND
Jan. 4/11 Social Committee 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5/11 Stewards 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19/11 Health, Safety & Assault Committee 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 25/11 Women’s Committee 7:30 p.m.
/sw
COPE #379
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