Toronto Screeners
Uncategorized

STAY STRONG- ONE LAST TIME*

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In January 2012, you made a decision to move from having an organisation who intimidated, harassed and suppressed you to having a professional union represent you to resolve outstanding issues, improve working conditions and put into place a fair and democratic process for elections with the same rules for ALL members. You decided on the IAM.
On 12 March, 2012, the Labour Board, after holding a representational vote, declared the IAM as the union to represent your rights and be your voice.
The road we have travelled hasn’t been easy, but we want to thank all Screeners for your patience and understanding. Democracy isn’t always easy, but it is always worth the effort.

*This is the last issue of Stay Strong. We want to rename our newsletter. Do you have an idea for a new name? Let us know. Email us our ideas at name@screeners.iamaw.ca

THE ROAD TAKEN

This is a short timeline of events the Toronto Screeners and the IAM have shared in the recent past.

  • Jan. 2011 – IAM starts organising  campaign in response to Screeners  request for help
  • Mar. 2012 – Labour Board grants representation rights to the IAM
  • Apr. 2012 – Shop Steward elections take place (Chief Stewards in place a week later)
  • Apr. 2012 – IAM opens union office in Terminal 3
  • May 2012 – Shop Stewards trained and Chief Stewards elected by Stewards
  • May 2012 – Negotiation Committee elected
  • May 2012 – Negotiation Committee travel to IAM’s Education Centre for specialised training
  • Jun. 2012 – Bargaining starts
  • May 2012 – Lou Pagrach appointed as Interim General Chairperson
  • July 2012 – Tentative agreement reached
  • Aug. 2012 – Ratification vote held and rejection of agreement
  • Sept. 2012 – Negotiations Committee awaits meeting with Federal Mediator to finalise bargaining
  • Sept. 2012 – Caterina Barone appointed as Interim Communicator
  • September 2012 – IAM announces local charter, nickname and number for Toronto Screeners

THE ROAD AHEAD

The future looks bright for Toronto Screeners. We have come a long way but we have so much more we must accomplish. We must still clear the path for some other important tasks. With our help, we can:

  • Ratify a new Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • Chief Steward’s office in Terminal 1 opening soon
  • Election and training of Local Lodge officers
  • Election and training of General Chairperson from the Screeners membership
  • Formation and training of Local Lodge Committees (including permanent Communicator)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

From the time the IAM was asked to join the fight to represent Toronto Screeners, we promised you some very basic rights – rights you didn’t have and rights all other IAM members enjoy. Screeners DID NOT HAVE many of these rights under the previous union.

WE KEPT OUR PROMISES ON THE FOLLOWING:

  • Your own local lodge
  • Ongoing Officer and Committee training
  • A democratic and transparent bargaining process
  • A clear structure
  • Accountability
  • Enforcing a Harassment-free workplace
  • Enforcing a Discrimination-free workplace
  • Communications person and structure
  • A transparent and professional grievance process to resolve workplace issues in a timely manner

THE FOLLOWING PROMISES WILL BE FULFILLED IN THE NEAR FUTURE:

  • Your own GC elected by and from membership
  • Committees for Women’s issues, Health & Safety, Human Rights, Political Action

ANNOUNCEMENT

Please stay tuned for a special announcement to be posted on nominations and elections for officers of Toronto Screeners Local 2921. This paves the way for our local to govern ourselves with our own duly-elected representative from within our own members.