IUOE News December 2014

If you have questions,
make sure you ask a
real union member
Rob Foskett,
Business Representative
As we come to a close in 2014, I would like to touch on the
various contract negotiations I have been working on this
year.
In the West Kootenays, Columbia River Reload is due for a
renewed agreement, and after some issues, we are presently
scheduling bargaining dates to meet with them down on the
coast.
Castlegar/Trail/Nelson Ready Mix negotiations began in
early November, and seem to be moving along well.
New Denver Public Works bargaining has been a true test
as of late. We have presently involved the Labour Relations
Board to mediate an agreement, as it would seem we have
reached an impasse in negotiations. It was going very well
until we had a change in Administration for the Village, and
then went off on a very rough road. We could have used some
of our Selkirk Paving members’ skills to smooth out this path,
but in any case, we hope to reach an agreement soon.
In the East Kootenays, our membership at Maxam Bulk
Systems are coming to the end of their Collective Agreement
at the end of the year, and Pre-Bargaining proposals have gone
District Six
out to the membership for their ideas on what is needed in the
agreement. Many, many language changes are needed, and
this is possibly the top of the heap for proposals to negotiate.
With the Line Creek Mine in the Elk Valley, we have had
some marathon sessions resulting in quite a lot of “Intent
Clarifications” within new and altered language in the Collective
Agreement. It would seem that “Walk us through this, so
we all understand exactly what it means” can be a big help for
not only right now, but if need be in the future.
Pages and pages of notes revolving around one single article
of the agreement clarify any and all misunderstandings as to
what an article means. This alone should prevent quite a few
Arbitrations in the future. We recently had numerous voting
sessions to catch as many of the membership as possible, and
they showed us that the Line Creek membership is a group
made up of Solidarity!!! This is exactly what we wanted to see.
In addition, I want to stress a VERY IMPORTANT message
for the Line Creek gang!!
It is, and I cannot stress this enough, extremely important
that if you have any questions regarding anything to do with
your collective agreement, or of a Union matter of any sort,
that you either speak to an active Council Member, Shop
Steward, Safety Rep, or Business Rep for the correct
information.
Don’t let someone tell you that you are not entitled to something,
which you very well could be. Check with someone
from the Union to be sure!!
In closing, from my family to yours, I want to wish you and
yours happy holidays, and a safe and very prosperous New
Year!!
Taking Plug out at the Waneta Expansion Project in
Waneta BC. Photos courtesy of Brother Larry Madrigga.
News December 2014 17