News

Representing the Local

The annual All Canada Progress Meeting of the IBEW was held in Moncton for a week in August. Unit chairs and chief stewards from the Maritimes were present along with John Ducey (Executive Board Member - Region 1), Paul Cameron, some of the business office staff, and myself. The event included a day of training on Diversity and Inclusion as well as the normal plenary and industry specific meetings. 

Communicating 

I have received several comments and requests in the past few months regarding communication between the members of the local and the national officers and staff. In particular surrounding news and information relating to the bargaining process, local union events (such as
E-Board meetings), and other major activities. Given the vastness of our geography we tend to rely on web based tools for this purpose such as our website, Facebook, the member forum, etc. The downside to this passive approach is it largely relies on the members themselves to periodically check these platforms to stay informed, however updates are instant and available to everyone who wants them. All that said, we discussed this topic at the Executive Board meeting and agreed we can do better. We intend to post more frequent information about the goings on of the local and engage members from time to time with surveys in order to get timely and specific feedback. I encourage everyone to be diligent in checking our communications and staying informed of the activities of your union.

Engaging

As is their practice, Nav Canada held its biennial employee engagement survey in the spring of this year. It was no surprise that members used the opportunity to express their feelings in the context of the coincidentally timed ratification of the then tentative agreement. As the members at Nav Canada are aware, the results of the survey prompted a tour to all major sites by the CEO of the company and several of his executives. As an employee of the company in Winnipeg I attended the meeting at that location, and also heard accounts from other members at their other respective sites.

Something that impressed me during the whole process was how members became more and more organized as the tour progressed. With information being shared across the country, members at each meeting were able to be more prepared than the last. By and large, members did a good job of organizing themselves at each location, keeping conversation and questions professional and respectful, and conducting themselves appropriately. This proved to be a good example of how we can communicate with each other to work together despite being so spread out. My many thanks to the officers and members at each location who reached out across the country to one another and organized their local efforts.

Bargaining Proposals

The process of negotiations for our members depends largely on the size of each bargaining unit. Regardless of your employer though, the first step in the whole process is submitting proposals for bargaining. This is done simply with the Bargaining Proposal Manager (BPM) which is an online database tool available to ALL MEMBERS. The BPM is accessed via a link on the local's website and requires only your name and membership number (a.k.a. "BA Number"). If you have lost your BA number please contact the office for help.

Once logged into the BPM you can submit proposals to be considered during our next round of negotiations. Proposals can be entered at any time and it is incredibly important to include as much information as possible to highlight the problem being solved, specific circumstances if applicable, and potential suggestions for solutions. The bargaining cycle begins with steering committees from the relevant employer group who evaluate the proposals submitted since the last round and provide the subsequent bargaining team with the group's priorities.

More information on bargaining will be forthcoming as we approach the cycle for each group. Your local Business Representative, National Officers, current and previous team members, the Business Manager or myself are all resources if you have any questions.

Politics

The wave of political conservatism currently afflicting Canada and the US is something that is very real. The ideals of conservative politics quite simply don't align with the best interests of not only the labour movement but anyone who works for someone else to make a living. It is important to remember how the conservative movement has changed in this country over the recent years. After all of the political mergers, the federal conservative party is much further to the right of the spectrum than ever before. 

I cannot stress enough how important it is to not be complacent. We all need to keep informed, keep talking and remain politically active. Obviously I don't expect everyone to attend rallies, put a sign on your lawn, actively campaign or shout from the rooftops. It's great if anyone wants to do those things, I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences. It is just as important to speak up though when among friends, colleagues and family. Anyone within your social circle can be educated and influenced, the topic is far too important to remain silent.

I realize the next federal election is more or less a year away but local and provincial elections are just as important. Despite the fact that most of the members of our Local are federally regulated, it is still incredibly important to make sure that your values are reflected in every level of government.

Most importantly, when the time comes make sure you VOTE!

In Solidarity,

Dave Cupples
CET, IntET, President
Local 2228 IBEW