We are going to have a ratification meeting Tuesday at 5pm in all the main yards. There will be a member of the executive there to facilitate questions as we present the new Collective Agreement.

This evening the bargaining committee and the Employer reached a deal for the new collective agreement. It was a long day as we worked into the evening to get over the final hurdle. Ratification vote will be coming very soon. We are quite excited to present the new terms as I’m sure you will all be pleased.

Stay Tuned!

Brothers and Sisters

I wanted to reach out to you as we are faced with our first significant snow event of the season. Forecasts are for 20-40cm across the region over the next day and a half. Members of CUPE 5406 are professionals who care for the communities in which we live. Something that workers brought in from outside our region won’t likely have. These are the highways our family and friends travel. These are the highways that need to remain open to keep the flow of goods and services happening and to allow for quick response times for our emergency services.

It has been difficult to accept the current schedule that the employer is throwing at us. I want you all to understand that this has not been acceptable to the Executive Team. It’s not safe and more disappointingly has shown no respect. Please know we have been working daily on this trying to get it changed. We are trying to fast track the grievance process, we have reached out to the employer on several different levels pleading for the health and well-being of our members as well as exploring other more drastic measures. However!! The latest schedule released today seems to have addressed some of our biggest concerns. No short-changes, everybody seems to have two days off in a row. I’m very pleased the employer appears to have listened to us, but we’ll see what happens in the future. We hope this is a path to resolution.

Saying this, many of us are faced with a dilemma. Do you come in, work your shift as is laid out, leaving huge gaps in the servicing of the highways; or do you come in early, stay late or come on your day off for the sake of the traveling public and our loved ones? I think most of us, in our hearts, feel that the safety of the public trumps all else. We do what we do to make the roads safe. With that in mind some of you will rise above the pettiness and animosity we are feeling and be professional to make the roads as safe as possible. We are united in many ways, but at the core we are snow-plow operators.

Do what your conscience tells you. There should be no judgement on you no matter what you choose.

Safe travels! And most importantly be kind to one another.

In Solidarity

Rob Collette – President

Brothers and Sisters,

I want to assure you all that the bargaining process is still ongoing and nothing has been decided yet. We have made some good progress but there are still some big hurdles to jump. But we are proceeding. Please don’t succumb to senseless rumours and hypotheticals. We are working hard to find the best deal to move into the future. Our next dates have not been set as of yet but we have agreed to meet again soon.

I will be away on vacation for a short while but if something urgent comes up that can’t wait please reach out to Jason, Robert or Devon.

In the meantime please continue to work safely and continue to be kind and supportive to one another. We are united and if we continue to  work together as a team we will achieve our goals.

Rob Collette

President

Here are the results of your surveys. Answers were weighted and then ranked accordingly.

Bargaining Survey Analysis

Please read the attached letter from the President about the upcoming Collective Bargaining.

Message from the President Sep 2021

Once an agreement has been reached it will be voted on by all the members so if you haven’t already please complete a membership card with an actively monitored email so you are able to vote.

Membership cards can be found Here and can be submitted to the Superintendent so that it finds it’s way to us.

In Solidarity!

There is a general meeting on July 7th at 7:00pm via Zoom

Link to the meeting below.

Topic: CUPE 5406 General Meeting
Time: Jul 7, 2021 19:00 Winnipeg

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 852 7212 0971
Passcode: 979061
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On April 19th the Ontario government gave in to pressure from the public to finally offer some sort of mandated sick leave. It comes with lots of restrictions but will provide support to those who do find themselves off work due to COVID.

Click HERE for information relating to Ontario’s IDEL

Thank you everybody who participated in the nomination and voting process. Especially those who let their name stand to sit on the Bargaining Committee. A successful union is an engaged union and the fact we had multiple people from each yard interested is a great sign.

Congratulations to Travis McDougall and Jason Foster who will now be representing the Kenora and Dryden yards on the Bargaining Committee. Full results are available here.

Brothers and Sisters

Recently we had sent out a supplemental survey regarding how the vacation pay was paid out and the results are in.

There were 35 votes cast out of 118 electors (29.7%)

23 voted in favour of keeping things the way they are (65.7%)

12 voted in favour of having vacation pay accrued to be paid out when vacation was taken (34.3%)

Certified results can be found here

We thank everyone for participating in the vote. If you were not notified of the vote please ensure the union has a valid email address.

In Solidarity