On the charges filed December 21, 2010 by Syd Banks and signed by James Rolfe, Shane Banks, Syd Banks, Randy Joy, Dawn Erath, Paul Dhoot, Tim Mullaly, Gord Grassi, Lance Gallup, Kelly Orchard, Tarundeep Sandhu, Imom Faisal, A. Rahman, Inderjit S., Rupinder Singh Kamboj, Balraj Singh, MD Kamal.

•    Of “obtaining funds fraudulently”, where the Local endorsed a motion to send Doug and Rick to an emergency meeting of the Canadian Council.
The membership voted 63 to 15 or 81% to not proceed with charges.

•    Of “malfeasance”, based on the same motion regarding attending the emergency meeting of the Canadian Council affiliates.  (It should be noted that 14 other Locals attended without issue).
The membership voted 65 to 12 or 84% to not proceed with charges.

•    Of “improper procedure of nominations”, where they challenged my right to run for office of President.
Based on the language in the Constitution, the membership voted 69 to 9 or 88% in favour of declaring nominations were done properly and to recognize my right to run for office.

    On the charges filed December 8, 2010 by Syd Banks and signed by Shane Banks, Tim Mullaly, Dean Hahn, Len Capustin, Joe Orr, Kelly Orchard, Lance Gallup and Gladys Levesque;
 (we decided to proceed without the required ten signatures to allow those Officers named, a fair opportunity to respond to the charges).

•    Of “declaring to revert back to position of President/Business Agent from an LOA” against myself.
The membership voted 50 to 4 or 93% to defeat the charge of not being able to revert from a Leave of Absence.

•    Of “failing to secure the ballots as prescribed by the Local By-Law”.
The membership voted 59 to 8 or 88% to not proceed with the charge of failing to secure the ballots as prescribed by the Local By-Law.

•    Of “failing to select the scrutineers as prescribed by the Local By-Law”.
The membership voted 66 to 10 or 87% to not proceed with the charge of failing to select the scrutineers properly.

    There was also a challenge to the Election of Officers filed by Walter Moodie and Syd Banks on December 16, 2010 based on the following charges.

•    “That the Returning Officer used a Suite number instead of a post office box for the return address”.
•    “That the Presiding Officer of the General Meeting of November 9, 2010 did not take any names as scrutineers”.

The membership voted 59 to 12 or 83% to defeat the election challenge and not hold another election.

I don’t have a problem with the legitimate filing of charges.  There is a good reason why the Constitution and General Laws provide for that.  However, when you have a multitude of charges, many of them overlapping and with the key players well aware the facts contradict the charges, you have to wonder what the motive is.  Add to that, the fact that four of these key players are running for election and it makes it that much more suspect.

In my opinion, these candidates had one motive.  That was to discredit those people that were running for the same positions they sought.  Again, there is nothing wrong with challenging someone in an election if you feel you are the right person for the job.  That is the democratic process.  But I feel what took place here was desperate and pathetic.  Some people have suggested criminal.  They were willing to do anything and say anything with no consideration for the truth.  These people were willing to destroy people’s reputations and even this Local for their own self gain.  Fortunately the membership recognized this and sent that message loud and clear.

We have spent the last three months of valuable time dealing with this matter.  It is time to let the newly elected Executive of this Local focus on looking after the day-to-day business of our members.

As of this week, we have been able to change our focus more in this direction but we still have to complete dealing with a complaint sent to the International Office by Walter Moodie and James Rolfe that mirrors the complaint filed by Syd Banks on December 8, 2010 surrounding my return from a LOA.  Mr. Moodies’ minutes of the Executive Board granting me the leave are a matter of record but we still have to respond.  This is in spite of the letters sent by Doug Johannes on December 3, 2010 and myself on December 15, 2010 on the exact same matter.

On December 3rd and 15th respectively, Doug Johannes and myself responded to the December 2, 2010 letter from the International, which the Western Canadian IVP provided to candidate Syd Banks during the campaign.  Our documents were provided at the Internationals’ request and we are still waiting for a response on them.

On a positive note, usually the employers wait for these types of elections to run their course and go in and pick the bones of whatever is left over of the Local.  The feedback from our members, is that even the employers know they will not get that opportunity and things should settle down very quickly now.

The support of the membership has been incredible and is a great asset to us.  Thank you for that.

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT/ OPERATIONS                    DOUG JOHANNES

I’d like to start by thanking all of the members that voted to keep me in office.  I assure you that I will continue to work and represent you as I always have done.

Protective Services, what do you think they are there for?  To protect and serve, to assist Operators when there is an issue, to enforce fares and a multitude of other things I would imagine.

The vast majority of them are good, but a couple seem to be there to cause trouble for the Operators and working staff of Calgary Transit.  At a recent membership meeting it was brought to our attention that a number of the Station Cleaners were questioned to the point of harassment about why they are on the train.  These employees and many more have to use the train while performing their duties.  I would think that working together would be paramount to all parties.  However, it appears that is not the case.  Earlier this year an Operator, on her way to relieve her bus while in uniform, was asked for her transit pass.  Again, this Operator was in uniform.  Unfortunately she had only brought her driver’s license with her.  She was told that anyone could be wearing a uniform and how could they tell if she was an Operator?  Hello!  Call PS100 and check.  No, instead they took her off the train, totally embarrassing her, and issued her a ticket for not having proof of fare.  We have followed up with Brian Whitelaw, the Co-ordinator of Protective Services and he has told us that prior to a transit employee being issued a ticket, the Officers are to contact the office to get clearance for said ticket.  Did this happen?  No! Officers are also trained to make sure that when they remove a person from the train they are to make sure that they are in sight of the camera.  This is for the safety of the Officers and the person being dealt with.  Again, did this happen?  No!  There is no recording of what happened.

Now comes the best part, this matter was brought to the attention of Management.  They know the Operator works for them.  They pay her wages and issue her the uniform that is to be worn.  That in itself is proof of fare.  Yet the ticket was not removed.  This Operator was forced to attend court on her own time.  She lost pay, and again she also lost pay on the day she was given the ticket.    
                     
I attended court with her and the prosecutor in a matter of seconds simply threw it out.  Again, Management knew she was an employee, knew she was given a ticket while in uniform and did nothing to assist her.  In fact, she was also given a letter of warning by the Employer because the Officers stated that she was not respectful to them.  Now she has to attend grievances to attempt to have the discipline removed and to have her compensated for lost wages.  I don’t know about you, but it is unimaginable that Management would sit back and do nothing when they knew the circumstances.  Let me assure you that we will continue to take this matter forward until the issue is resolved.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY-TREASURER            RICK RATCLIFF
          
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Thank you for re-electing me to the position of Financial Secretary Treasurer of ATU 583.  It is a privilege beyond compare to be acclaimed into my second term.  As a Union Officer I feel extremely fortunate.  I am honored and proud to serve the Local and believe the membership endorses the work I’m doing.

Thank you for supporting my colleagues and myself through the charges and election challenge.  The process of dealing with the charges and challenge took a lot of valuable energy away from the issues at hand in this Local: HandiBus negotiations, Cafeteria negotiations, training a new Officer, negotiating a leave for our Temporary Foreign Workers (“the Brits”) and the contracting out of LRV windows, amongst others.

Sadly, the handful of people leading the allegations only managed to undermine the business of this Local and embarrass it. It is a shame that some of these dissenters chose not to attend meetings regularly or in their entirety, missing out on the Local’s current business which could have prevented the charges. The tactics of the handful, included targeting the afternoon shift employees, hard selling their position in “drive by” style, having members and non members sign the petition without actually getting to see the allegations and fabricating situations not relevant to the Local’s method of doing business. Actually their tactics were so disgraceful that we had a challenge and charges, two on the very same issue.  Double jeopardy to try and make something, anything stick?!   Further to this, some of the dissenters ran in the election and campaigned for a nicer, more approachable Union.  I don’t know of a time when any of our current Officers have been unapproachable.  Maybe said candidates lacked an approach.  

The good news is, the membership has spoken on the issue and that’s where it should end.  The membership was well informed and didn’t buy in to any of the allegations.  Thank you for standing up for us.

Thank you for electing nine of the ten Executive Board recommended Delegates to the International Convention.  These Executive Board recommended representatives have served and will serve the Local well and promise to represent our Local’s interests at the next International Convention.

If you chose to activate the “Drive Cam” on your bus for any reason, please call Darrin Walker at 403-899-0476 so he can peruse the event.  Your call will help ensure the event you wanted recorded is easily identified, so your concern can be properly addressed.

Just a little reminder that the MEBAC Health Spending Account “claim year” ends on February 28, 2011.  If you have any receipts that haven’t been submitted from 2010, get them in the mail before Feb. 28th.  Also, don’t forget to claim the premiums you pay for benefits against your H.S.A. if there is room (unused funds) in your account.  Your H.S.A. claim form can be found on the Blue Cross Group Benefits Plan website under “form”.

RECORDING SECRETARY/ MAINTENANCE/OFFICE REP.                   BILL JOHNSON

I would like to thank the membership for electing me to the office of Recording Secretary    - Maintenance/Office Representative.  I am extremely proud and honored to represent you, the members, in my new role.

It has been extremely busy in the office and I am certainly enjoying the challenges.  There seems to be a HUGE increase in call-ins.  There is an alarming number of members being called in and choosing NOT to take a Union Rep. with them.  If you are being called in to a meeting with Management, generally it is not to talk about the good job that you are doing.  It is to do an investigation that may lead to discipline, so please call the office and take a Union Rep. in with you.

There was an incident that happened to one of our members where he had run into some difficulty and was looking to get some guidance and/or clarity from a  Co-ordinator at Anderson Garage.  This member attended a meeting with Management in early December, without ATU present.  The next day, he sent an e-mail looking for clarity because he didn’t understand all the requirements from the meeting the day prior.  The Co-ordinator did not bother to open the e-mail until sometime in January and only after Management had decided to discipline the member for not following the instructions that were given to him, in the December meeting.  During the disciplinary meeting the Co-ordinator stated that he received a lot of e-mails every day and prioritized them and that some even fell off the table.  At the step two grievance hearing, the Co-ordinator further stated that this employee had sent him 20 e-mails over the last year and that he had answered most of them.  We have greater expectations from the people that are hired to supervise the members of this Union that they would at least open the e-mail from a concerned employee under their workplace restrictions.

If a unionized member did not respond to a Manager, they would be disciplined for insubordination.  I guess that there is a double standard and believe me it does not appear that Management is being held to the same standards.

I have received many calls in the office lately concerning contracting out, whether it is Body Shop work to Big Rig or engines being shipped out to Waterous for rebuilds.  I would like to touch on the issue of the bodywork being sent out to Big Rig first.  As most everyone knows, the ex Manager of Bus and Auxiliary vehicles has retired from Calgary Transit and is now employed by Big Rig.  There has been work sent out to Big Rig in the past.  It seems that there is no end in sight now if Mr. Dragan Vasic is working with Big Rig and the possibility of more of our work going out the door becomes even more of a reality.  I received a call from the Maintenance Rep. from our Sister Local in Edmonton, ATU Local 569 and he had some concerns about their work being contracted out to Big Rig as well.  He also told me at the time of his call, that one of their conventional’s was on a flatbed headed South on the QE2 for Big Rig.  Local 583 is trying to deal with the fact that our work is going out the door to a private contractor with an ex Manager involved.  Something  stinks with this one.  I wonder what kind of money Calgary Transit is saving by sending our work out, or if they are saving anything at all.  History has shown that the quality of work by a private contractor is not the best and saves nothing at all.  The bus shelters are a good example of this practice.  When complaints come in, it is our members that have to take care of the issue.  I am also looking into why our engines are being contracted out to Waterous when we have some of the best tradesmen employed in the machine shop.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that the way to get issues resolved is by sticking together, UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.

         FOR YOUR INFORMATION…..

   CDLC S’ean Gillen Memorial Scholarships

The Calgary and District Labour Council will be awarding two (2) $1,500.00 scholarships annually to affiliated members, their spouses or their dependents. For more information please check the CDLC’s webpage at www.thecdlc.ca, the bulletin boards in the garages or call the Union office.

THANK YOU CARDS RECEIVED

Bill Bishop        
Nance Dunbar    
Bob Ellaby
Adam Dorey
Peter Glenfield
Ken McCartney


CONGRATULATIONS On Their Retirement

Fred Baldwin – Jan./11            – Maintenance – 35½ years
Peter Michenka – Jan./11         - Operator – 19¾ years
Robert Whelan – Jan./11          – Operator – 25½ years
Trevor Jones – Feb./11             – Maintenance – 31¾ years
Keith Boothe – Feb./11            – Community Shuttle – 9 years
Susan Anne Lewin – Feb./11    – Office – 37 years
Charlie Fisk – Mar./11              – Fleet - 38½ years
John J. Scott – Mar./11             – Operator  - 33½ years
Nance Dunbar – Mar./11           – Operator – 24 years

Just a Reminder:  The next meeting will be March 7th, 2011 @ 7:00 p.m. at Spring Gardens Garage, +15 (3rd Floor). The next luncheon will be March 15, 2011 @ 1:00 p.m. at the Swiss Chalet South, 8900 Macleod Tr. SE