Union News April 2018
Sisters and Brothers, we are entering into the phase of bargaining where we exchange demands with the employer. Your National Bargaining Committee has reviewed over 280 demands from across the membership. This is an incredible show of dedication to each other and to making a better contract each time we get to the table. By the time you are reading this, we will have announced the UTE Bargaining Team. Once the demands are exchanged, we will post them for every member to see. We wish to make this process as transparent and inclusive as possible, while respecting the rights and obligations of the negotiation process. We also expect that the wage re-opener decision will be delivered soon.
As we head into this round of negotiations, we need to be clear that every round of negotiations is only as successful as our solidarity. The union movement has recently been successful in obtaining things such as: Phoenix money, a door open to pharma-care, and domestic violence leave. These are clear examples of what can be achieved through lobbying when a large group stands together in solidarity.
We can get the contract you want, we can get you the leave and benefits you want but we need your backing and we need it to be solid and tireless. This contract, like the ones before, lays the foundation for the next. Don’t ever forget that your salaries were rolled back, and don’t ever forget that we no longer have severance. Your local may ask things of you such as a special shirt day or displaying signs or something you think is so out of this world that it makes no sense and would never help in getting a contract. You have a point – wearing a UTE shirt for one day won’t get you a contract! However, if the employer sees every single member supporting the union in what seems like an inconsequential action, they will know that the union and your bargaining team have your support for getting a solid contract. That’s the type of solidarity that changes legislation on a bigger scale as we just saw and that’s the type of solidarity that gets the employer moving on issues. It’s really that simple.
I’ve said it in the last newsletter and I will say it again, over 25,000 members standing up for a better contract will get a better contract. Solidarity Works.
Adam Jackson
2nd National Vice-President