News
Bargaining and General Membership Update
December 21, 2009
Before the Christmas holidays are in full swing, I wanted to take a moment to bring you up to speed on developments since our last communication.
Meeting with CAW President Ken Lewenza and Pierre Blouin, CEO of MTS/Allstream
During our last session of collective bargaining, the Local 2000 Collective Bargaining Committee met with Ken Lewenza, President of the CAW together with Bob Chernicki, Assistant to the President and our National Rep, Joel Fournier. It was a great opportunity to speak with the National Executive of the CAW about the issues that face our Local and get their perspective.
Shortly after that, Mr. Lewenza took some time to speak in person with Pierre Blouin and exchange thoughts on the current state of the company, the industry and our collective bargaining. Last week, Ken shared his thoughts at CAW National Council in his report to all CAW delegates which is transcribed below. Clearly, it highlights the commitment of the CAW National Office and all our Brothers and Sisters in this challenging time.
"We have 600 members at Allstream Canada. Their base is in Winnipeg but they have expanded across the country. Our contract expires at the end of the year and we are currently in bargaining. The employer has laid out multiple demands to our members. Along with Bob Chernecki, national representative Joel Fournier, and unit chairperson Dylan Gadwa, I met with the CEO who was most complimentary about the workers and their vision of having a company that would not only be sustainable moving forward, but very profitable. I cautioned him on his aggressive approach at bargaining and the demands that are on the bargaining table. We shall see how it plays out, but all CAW members should understand that all bargaining agendas, including the ones not reported here but that are in the staff reports require the total support of our members."
-- CAW National President Ken Lewenza
The CAW Local 2000 Collective Bargaining Committee will meet with the company again the week of January 11th. Once again, for those that have not attended our latest union meetings, the company continues to focus on the negative aspects of the current economic climate, the negative aspects of the telecom industry and all of their major concessions remain on the table.
ESOP/Annual Shareholder's Meetings
One idea that came forward during our recent meetings was presented by one of our senior members. In essence, it was noted that employees who participate in the ESOP (Employee Share Ownership Plan) are eligible to nominate a representative for the annual shareholder's meeting. Each share entitles the shareholder to a vote on matters before the Board at that time. However, if a representative is not named, MTS/Allstream CEO Pierre Blouin is selected by default.
It has been suggested that this does not serve the interests of union members well and that we may wish to pool our nominations to elect a representative from the Union. Please feel free to let us know your thoughts.
Knowing that many of us have vacation time coming in the weeks ahead, on behalf of the Local 2000 Executive Board, all it's Stewards and Committee Members, I'd like to wish a very Merry Christmas, happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year to all of our members and their families.
In Solidarity,
Dylan Gadwa
President - CAW Local 2000
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