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Thursday, January 28, 2010
January 28th update from Harry Tostowaryk FST/BM Ironworkers Local 720
Re: Local 720’s status of affiliation with the Building Trades of Alberta and Local 720’s status with Building Trades Group bargaining 2011.
I would like to update all of our members on what has happened over the current round of bargaining and where we are today.
2007 was a very emotional round of bargaining for everybody; there were announcements everyday the market was soaring to new highs, the price of oil seemed to reach new highs everyday and we were asked to consider a first ever four year collective agreement. The Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) affiliates met with their respective REO’s to try and negotiate what was believed to be a fair package at the time for their members to vote on.
As you probably are aware, the Ironworkers are broken into two separate groups with our Structural and Reinforcing. Both are in Groups 1 and 3 which we negotiate with the CLRA who represent our fair contractors. During the last round of bargaining there were several affiliates that took the time to get a lot of their members all riled up and made promises that nobody could fulfill instead of simply telling the truth. As a result we had job disruptions on some sites, most notably Petrol-Canada, and a lot of people were disrupted from their daily activities. This was the start and eventually 75% settled and Binding Arbitration commenced. Shortly after, these four affiliates filed a Charter Challenge (with the BTA’s money) and this is where we are today. Looking back, the four year deal has proven to be really good for the trades. In 2009, we received a 6.5% raise and if you look at the latest Consumer Price Index numbers for Alberta 2009 was 0.6%. This means we had a real gain of 5.9% still the four affiliates have the Charter Challenge lingering over all of our heads. In Mid January the four affiliates laid out a different format for the next round of bargaining which has a lot of merit and would probably help with time restraints, etc. The problem is that one aspect of this new format is they have formed four groups instead of the traditional three. This new group has the Operators, Sheet Metal Worker and the Ironworkers booted out of the old metal Group and leaves the new group with the four affiliates with themselves. We have a large problem with this, first there is no rational reason at all for this change except this is a way for them to try and save face to their members for the false promises during the last round of bargaining. It is also worth noting that the four affiliates believe that it is not enough that they received over half a million dollars of the affiliates money (yours and mine) but now they have threatened the other trades to agree with this group change or they will continue with the Charter Challenge. I do not like being threatened, having the Ironworkers booted out of the Traditional Metal Group. Both Glenn O’Neill (BM/FST Local 725) and I are going to use whatever power we have to prevent this. We will continue to represent our members on all issues pertinent to the Locals but I will not sit on other voluntary positions until this matter is resolved.
I Remain Fraternally,
Harry Tostowaryk
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