PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT            MIKE MAHAR

I would like to think that I have reached middle age, but if that was the case I would have to live to be 112 years old.  Positive thinking but not very realistic.

Regardless of where I may be on the average age scale, the world keeps on turning.  With respect to technology I think I’m fairly progressive for a guy my age, but given our shifting demographics, for the Local’s sake we need to step it up a notch.  I’ve had a Facebook and Twitter account for some time now but my children would be sympathetic with the number of “friends” I have.  Theirs are in the hundreds and mine would fit on two buses and everyone would get a seat.

The point is, there are some very effective communication tools that we need to tap into that will allow us to communicate more timely with you the member.  Over the next month I will be meeting with the Executive Board and staff to determine a firm policy on how we will implement and maintain real time information on things like Facebook and Twitter and of course our web page.  Although it may be labour intensive, I think it’s something we should do.

We have had a huge increase in grievances on end of day finish violations at Calgary HandiBus since signing the Collective Agreement last year.  Once again the employer has no teeth to correct the problem because it is Access Calgary policy that causes the violations and
the decision makers there don’t recognize our Collective Agreement.  We are in consultation with our legal council on this.  There is a similar case before an Arbitrator right now and we are watching the outcome of that.

We have met a number of times with the City on negotiations and although things are progressing well we have yet to get to the real sensitive issues.  There is not a lot to update on at this point and although I can report we have reached an agreement on some of the proposals nothing is for sure until we reach a Memorandum of Agreement.  We will keep you posted.

Five of the Table Officers were invited by the International  Office  to  attend a  training  seminar  in Toronto at the end of January.  The electronic media previously referred to was one of the subject matters. Another major topic I strongly agree with is that labour issues are global issues.  The attack on pensions and wages in the U.S. and Europe will be happening here and we need to be ready to battle that.  This week Stephen Harper was going to reduce the Old Age Security benefits and fortunately his Ministers were inundated with calls of protest so he quickly and wisely drew his horns back in.  It was the numbers that did it but this is not going to go away.  

Many people looked at Occupy Wall Street as a bunch of radicals with no cause but when you look at the facts, they are right.  As one of the 99% I should be concerned about the unfair distribution of wealth.  I’m even more concerned about the ultra rich owners of the media outlets blaming the problems with the economy on wage earners like you and me while the top 1% or 2% increase their wealth by a hundred fold every year.  It’s intended to acclimatize us into feeling bad about making a living and to pit the poor against the poor.

The Governor in Wisconsin wanted to wipe out  Collective Bargaining and decimate wages, pensions and benefits.  The only reason he failed was because working people from across the country got together and fought back.  Again, it was the numbers.  The protests across Europe were as equally important as workers fight back across the globe.  The message was repeated all week long in our training. We need to continue to build coalitions with our sisters and brothers around the globe and we need to continue to build strong relationships locally.  There is strength in numbers.  Europe will be a key focus this year.  Out of all the companies ATU has members in, one of the very worst has its headquarters in France.     In the U.S. this company is absolutely ruthless.  They put Local after Local on strike.  Yet in France where the majority of the workforce is unionized, the Union was surprised to hear this.  The company is not a problem there because society won’t allow them to be.  There is strength in numbers!

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT/ OPERATIONS           DOUG JOHANNES

On January 1st an Operator requested a change off.  He was operating Unit 1606 on route 453 K 97.  The Operator had driven the bus for a period of time and found that it was getting worse as he continued.  He requested a change off at 13:55 stating that he heard noises in the front end and the steering was not responding right.  He requested it for his next time back at the station.  This request was made to a Relief Controller.  When the Operator was almost back to the station he again called the same Controller and stated that the bus was not safe to drive, but he carried on to the station at the Controller’s request.  The Controller told him as it was a relief trip it would be up to his relief to decide if he would need a new bus.  When the relief called in, the Controller asked him if he felt it would be OK to drive (this was after he had been advised that the bus was unsafe to drive).  The relief driver was a new employee and was unsure of the action he should take so he agreed to drive the bus.  He never completed the trip as another Operator stopped his bus and pointed out that the front wheel was leaning into the bus.  By this time another Controller was on duty and arranged for a new bus to be sent to that point.

The bus had to be placed on to a flatbed truck to be shipped to the garage.  The tow truck driver had a lot of trouble loading it and when the bus arrived at the garage it could not be unloaded as the wheel had fallen off.  This is well documented in the Maintenance area and it took many employees to get the bus off the truck.

Operators put their faith and trust in the Controllers to help ensure their safety.  This Controller, even though he was told the bus was unsafe made a decision to allow that bus to continue in service.  Once the first employee stated it was unsafe the Controller should have told the Operator to shut the bus down.  Instead, he let it carry on to the station and then coerce a new employee to also carry on.  If it were not for the intervention of another Operator, the wheel could have fallen off while there were passengers on the bus. Who knows what the results of that would have been?

This was brought to my attention by a member that was extremely concerned about the matter as he was also involved in some of the conversations between the Operators’ at the time of the incident.  

The incident was sent to Management and they have responded to me that the matter has been dealt with. We never know what that truly means, but in this case my hopes are that the Controller has been dealt with appropriately.

In my mind this should never have happened.  As Operators, Management holds us accountable for everything we do and if there is a problem we are the first to get in trouble, or be held responsible for an accident or damage.  If at any time you feel your bus is not road worthy or unsafe, regardless of what anyone else tells you, inform Control that you are NOT driving anywhere, you are stopping the vehicle in a safe place out of traffic, that in your opinion it is unsafe and you are not willing to place the public or yourself in jeopardy.  The law states that you can’t be disciplined for refusing to perform unsafe work.

From time to time I have written about professional courtesy.  The little things on the job whether it is in the office, shop or on the road.  A simple hi can brighten a co-workers day,  just lending a hand or stepping on the brake to let someone into traffic.  With the size of the operation at Calgary Transit we don’t necessarily know everyone, but we do know that they are employed in the same job as we are and as I said, a little professional courtesy goes a long way.     

FINANCIAL SECRETARY-TREASURER        RICK RATCLIFF

The ATU 583 election process is governed by our (583) Local By-Laws in accordance with the International Constitution.  The process is quite in-depth and allows for local membership participation, scrutiny and accountability.

The election procedure starts with the nomination of qualified candidates at the November meeting.  Qualified meaning a nominee must have attended at least six Charter meetings in each of  the  two
years preceding in that 24 month period.  At that same membership meeting scrutineers are called for.  When an insufficient number of volunteers come forward, the Local Executive Officers appoint the balance.  Their selection is based on:  good Union values, participation in the Local and the respect of their co-workers. There are usually ten or more scrutineers selected.

The candidates are asked to supply a passport photo within one day of their nomination.  These photos go to the printing company with their names and the position they are running for.  The contested positions are arranged in the Local’s hierarchy of positions and then alphabetically.  While the printing company is composing the candidates list, the office staff starts to prepare the mail out package.  A voters list is produced from our current membership.  An address list of the Locals’ members is run off on labels with the last known address of each member. The City does not supply or officially update our list.  This is why it is imperative for our members to keep the office updated on address changes.  Two sets of labels are used, one for the main mail out and the other for “return address” labeling.  

A secure site for the ballot return is also sought. Once the Post Office box is chosen, labels are then made with this address.  These labels go on the ballot return envelopes.

The senior Office Staff safeguards the key to the Post Office Box in a secure location.  On Election Day she hands it over to the Chief Returning Officer and Scrutineers prior to them retrieving the ballots.

One document that is prepared for the mail out is a ballot. This carries the COPE stamp which is the Union of our Office Staff.  It is manually stamped on each ballot in a contrasting color to the ballot.  The COPE stamp validates the ballot.

The ballot return envelope bears the return address label of the sender, the Post Office Box address and postage to make sure this envelope goes to the Post Office Box.

The ballot envelope is a plain envelope stamped manually with Ballot Envelope, this allows for total anonymity when this envelope is removed from the ballot return envelope.

The mail out prepared by the Office Staff (under the Chief Returning Officers’ scrutiny) includes:  ballots for the contested positions, a candidates photograph poster, an instruction sheet, a ballot envelope and a ballot return envelope.  The packages are never left unattended at any time and are locked up in the office with the key controlled by the Office Staff.  Once complete, the mail out package is taken to the Post Office by the Chief Returning Officer and at least two scrutineers.

The package is mailed out within one week of the nomination meeting which allows almost three weeks for the return envelopes to arrive in the Post Office Box.  Canada Post’s website states Canada Post guarantees over 95% on time delivery performance.

There is a polling station open on Election Day in the event an eligible member chooses not to vote by mail or he or she does not receive a ballot.

On Election Day the Chief Returning Officer and at least two scrutineers pick up the ballots from the Post Office Box.  Once again, the return envelopes are never left unattended.

The ballots are brought to the office for tabulation when the polling station closes.  The scrutineers break the voters list up alphabetically and do the same to the return envelopes using the return address labels. Once grouped, the names from the return envelopes are crossed off the voters list.  If there is no return address, the ballot envelope is spoiled.  If someone is found to have voted more than once, their ballot is spoiled.  When the return envelopes have been checked, the ballot envelopes are removed.  The ballot envelopes remain in one pile thereby assuring anonymity.  The ballot envelopes are then opened and scrutinized for the COPE stamp and number of ballots.  Once the ballots have been validated the tabulation begins.

Each candidate is allowed to be present for their position count or they may choose a designate.  A recount may be requested if the runoff is close.

The reason for publishing this information is that a number of unsigned documents have been circulating lately condemning our election process which has worked well for the last 13 years,  and is endorsed by our International Union. These unsigned documents have even circulated in two other dialects and have grossly erroneous insinuations as to how changing the election procedure will:  create a better sign-up, make the Union “stand up”, that there is a badge 200 club, and that our retirees don’t deserve the right to vote.

Virtually everyone that has been elected, past and present, has had to be accountable to this membership by virtue of the election process.  That’s what democracy is all about.  What the author of these proposed changes is suggesting is that we hand over the fate of our Local to someone who is not accountable to you through the election process or any other venue for that matter.

I believe that most of this membership respects and values seniority.  If you don’t think that a thirty plus year member wants to have a say in this Local, you should ask them, I’ll want a say!  The documents being circulated only serve to tear apart our 100 years of solidarity.

RECORDING SECRETARY -  MAINTENANCE/OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE                 BILL JOHNSON

I will touch on one of several issues that I have been dealing with in the Office area as far as part time employees are concerned.  An employee was under the impression from Management that they were not going to be paid overtime until after 44 hours as per Employment Standards, instead of as per the Collective Agreement.

Local 583 attended a meeting with payroll and they have assured us that all employees will be paid as per Clause 505.01 of the contract that states:

505.01 - Overtime pay for part time employees shall be at the rate of double (2x) time for hours worked over 7.5 hours per day or 37.5hours per week.  Overtime calculations shall be based on regular list pay and shall not include shift differentials or any other pay premiums.

In my last newsletter I talked about  two bodymen that were displaced from their weekend positions at Anderson Garage. Local 583 believes that this issue is nearing completion and quite likely a redeployment may not have to happen.  Some time ago Local 583 attended a meeting with Management and it was discussed how to fix this situation.  We believe that Management should follow the redeployment language in the Collective Agreement. One problem though, Management informed us that Labour Relations stated that couldn’t be done without retracting a couple of postings that had already been filled. So we struggled to find another way to resolve this, one that would have the least impact on all of our members in the Bodyshop.  The problem as I see it is when  the positions were deleted, Management went ahead and posted two vacant positions at Oliver Bowen and one of the Bodymen that was displaced, didn’t have the seniority to get one of the positions.  He was left out in limbo without a permanent position. Management then proceeded to post another position and then NOT fill it.  When the employees confronted Management about filling that position, Management laid blame on this Local as to why it wasn’t being filled.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.  If Management followed the Collective Agreement from the beginning and followed through with the redeployment language, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

Local 583 is asking Management to post the positions and let the bidding process take place.  As long as this process doesn’t impact any of our bodymen in a negative manner, then we may be able to resolve this issue.  We also just went through a redeployment in the parts department as a result of a deletion of one position and realignment of another position.  I am very happy to say that the redeployment went as well as can be expected and there was no job loss for any of our members in that work area.  On behalf of Local 583, I would like to thank all the bodymen and the members in the parts department work area for their patience and understanding in these matters.

In continuation from my last newsletter, over at Fleet Services, the sign up of the seven servicemen that I talked about in the Fleet Services realignment were concluded and there was little to no movement.

Since this was completed, there have been some changes at Fleet Services with Mr. Ray Brisby being moved to Customer Service and Mr. Joe Dragani being moved into the position of Manager of Fleet Services.

In the infancy of this move, the jury is out as to what direction Mr. Joe Dragani will lead Fleet Services.  We will continue to monitor the process.

Last but not least, the situation at Track and Way with regard to morale.  Management, Human Resources and Local 583 met with the membership representing day shift and night shift and discussed several issues to try and clean up some of the problems in that work area.  We were unable to meet with the afternoon shift to this point, but we will try and make that happen soon.  We will continue to monitor this situation also.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION…..

THANK YOU CARDS RECEIVED

Family of Andrew Carmichael                 Lorne Cox                     Bruce Horne                     Gord Christensen

Family of Ron Thirlwell                          Judi Grainger                 ATU Support Group            Dorothy Jones

Women’s Centre of Calgary                  Ken Kusch                      Ken Wallace


CONGRATULATIONS On Their Retirement – 2012

Len Currie – Operator – December 2011 – 31 years
Bob Becker – HandiBus – January – 24 years
Glenn McCallum – Operator – January – 31 years
Patricia Petersen – Operator – February – 29 years
Wayne Gilbert – Operator – March – 31¾ years


RETIREES CORNER

Just a Reminder: The next meeting will be March 5, 2012 @ 7:00 p.m. at Spring Gardens Garage, +15 (3rd Floor). The next luncheon will be Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at the Elks Golf Club – 2502 – 6 St. NE @ 1:00 p.m.  The following luncheon will be March 20, 2012 at the Swiss Chalet (South)

/sw
COPE #397