February 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Greetings,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank
all of those who attended the Open House session yesterday at the Westin
Bristol Place Hotel. It is important that workers discuss workplace issues that
affect their day-to-day lives, a practice that will be encouraged within CAW, an
open and democratic union.
After speaking with many of you, it seems there
are a number of misconceptions as to what will happen at the representation vote
later this month. I want to make it perfectly clear that on February 26, 28 and
March 1 you are being asked to vote for the union you feel will best represent
you at the bargaining table and on a day-to-day basis at work. You are not voting
on a preferred contract.
Our union will ensure that bargaining committee
members will be elected democratically from the three current units and will be
given the tools, resources and necessary support from our leadership and
National staff to protect your hard-earned gains. Nothing will be lost and no
one will be left behind when we negotiate gains in a new consolidated agreement
between CAW and the GTAA.
We intend to build on the best-practices of all
three contracts, on issues of wages, benefits, leaves of absence, union
education, vacation time, shift scheduling and other important provisions. Rest
assured no union in Canada has a stronger bargaining record than ours.
The CAW has a wealth of experience bargaining in
the air transport sector. We represent workers at every major airport in Canada,
with over 2,500 at Toronto’s Pearson airport alone. I assure you we will
continue our fight at the bargaining table, and through our ongoing political
action, to improve work standards, protect the quality of life for our members
and demand high quality air travel infrastructure improvements.
I firmly believe that in an increasingly
competitive economic environment, working people are best represented by a union
that is ready and willing to fight for the interests of its members.
I would encourage each and every one of you to
support our union and when successful, I look forward to working with each and
every one of you.
In Solidarity,
Basil ‘Buzz’ Hargrove
National President
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