---------- May 23, 2002 ------------
THE OUTSET:
This may look, at the outset, as a simple program of a "merger" of PPWC
Local 10 into the now-named CEP Local 10b. Starting from the months of May/June,
2002, our President, and some selected members of the Executive of PPWC Local
10, decided to invite Mr. Dave Coles, Vice-President of the Western Region
of the CEP into our union hall to discuss a merger between our Local and
the CEP. (Under the guise of "Looking for information if we were to join the CEP".)
THE REAL STORY:
The real story must be started from when our past Local, and National President
was returned home after five (5) terms as a paid officer of the PPWC, as
described in our constitution and one of the hallmarks of our union. (NO PORKCHOPPERS
FOR LIFE!) We feel that it is in our best interests to have a turnover of
Executive officers in our union so we can keep things fresh and interesting.
Not "same-old-same-old" like they get in the CEP. With NO input from the rank
and file members on who will represent them.
PAST HISTORY:
When our past president returned home, in the summer of 1998, he started
a subtle and effective campaign to discredit any involvement in the PPWC, as
well as the C.C.U. (The Confederation Of Canadian Unions - [He was
actually a Western President of that organization!]), at
any level. He worked on people who were campaigning against him when he was
a party to this signing of the last (1992-1997) contract, that was done behind closed
doors, with only Vince Readdy (Industry Investigator), and Brian Payne (of the
CEP) in attendance. He now tells everyone that this was the worst ever contract
negotiated by the PPWC. What negotiation? There were none. He knows
this, all our members know this and yet, with all of his guile, he convinces
these folks that it's the PPWC's fault that we were saddled with the 1992-'97
contract. How is that? He was one of the signatories to it! He
was in the room with the other two! Explain to us this failure of the
PPWC!
Somehow he can to these people who are his latest fans.
I've even had one member tell me that, "'Past Pres.' has no involvement with this
movement." What? He's the only one of the group with the knowledge and motive
to initiate such actions that have been going on all summer. (He was very
sly in keeping his face out of all the goings-on during this whole thing.)
(
I've also been informed, since this letter went to the web, that
this past National and Local 10 President sent out at least 1000 résumés
in the last months his tenure was over as the culmination of his 5th year
as a National Officer!)
He just DIDN'T want to come
back to Kamloops as a Millwright!
So as an aside; he also orchestrated the departure
of the Transit Drivers & Workers out of the PPWC Local 10. He and his
cohorts will deny any of this, but here's the news... The Transit members
could out-vote any 'merger' with the CEP and he couldn't risk that.
Further, There was a proposed
raid, by the U.T.U. (United Transit Workers Union), on the Transit workers
in Kamloops and our local Executive did NOTHING to stop it. In fact, I
have heard, but not confirmed, that our executive invited them up to
Kamloops to raid the Transit sector (Just to get them out of Local 10).
The National Officers got wind of this development
and offered to come up to Kamloops to help stop the raid, or at least
fight it with an honest fight, but they were rebuffed in this effort by
the Local President!
With all that's happened since this episode, it's
understandable why they were not interested in fighting the raid by the
UTU! They wanted let the Transit workers involved with an
"international" read, "Business-type" union, but not
necessarily in the CEP!!!
BULLETINS:
The CEP faction published a number of "bulletins" throughout the summer
and we did our best to counter them with the truth and facts but it seems
these just got in the way of sensible thinking in the membership of the
PPWC Kamloops. What will it take for them to see that there is NO
advantage in joining or merging or even signing up (in a raid) for the
members of PPWC Local 10, Kamloops?
THE INTERNATIONAL TYPE UNION:
This "International" union (again, read Business-type Union), has no interest in
the members on the floor level of their organization. They offer you the
"(paid) business
agent" that will service your local. What I see him/her as is nothing
but a commissar to see that you tow the "party line"! All they want is your
dues dollars so they can pay the $2.1-million dollars in wages and expenses to the
Western Region porkchoppers! Talk to the people who are under the yoke
of the CEP in other mills. Ask them what they part with each year in dues
to keep this mega-monster fed. We have and it's LOTS! (There has been a calculation
of the increase in dues if we "merge" with the CEP and over 10-years it will
amount to over $1-million in excess dues paid-out!)
This mega-monster also
has a lovely constitution that outlines all the rights and non- rights a member
of that organization enjoys. A lot of it is "what you will
NOT be able to
do. Go to <http://www.cep.ca/> and look at Section 17-(01), it's a beauty.
OUR COUNTER-CAMPAIGN:
We worked all through the summer, since July 4th, when we went to a meeting
at our hall and there was Mr. Dave Coles and two of his cohorts sitting in
our union hall just as proud as they could be. They purported to be
bringing us the good word on the CEP and the type of "merger" that they envisioned.
The very first question from the floor was, "What can you show us, here
and now, that is going to be better for us if we join the CEP?" Our
President, right away, calls that question "Out of order!" and goes on the
the next person.
Explain to me, briefly, how this can be called 'out of order'
by the President? It was a straight forward question and it needed
answering. It wasn't.
We asked them for CEP constitutions. There were none available to the
majority of the members. There were only a few scattered among the crowd
of 130 members! They want us to join without studying their constitution?
What a joke! We questioned the fact that there were no constitutions
around for all to read, and they said, "Go get it off the internet!"
About this time the first Bulletin came out and we responded with an attack
on the Past National and Local President and his crowd and it hurt us, but
there was nothing that wasn't the truth. The CEP faction blew everything
out of proportion and screamed and yelled "Libel - Slander!" They didn't charge
any of us for that. It was the truth.
Next thing to happen was the National Executive Board held a meeting in
Kamloops, in the Executive Inn, not the PPWC Hall that we the members own, and there were
a few proponents of the CEP faction in attendance and observed the NEB in
action and were given the courtesy of the ability to have a question and
answer period and all they did was slam the way the meeting was run.
It
was ran like that so they could be involved! They want to hold that
against us too!
Also at the NEB meeting there was a 'cease and desist' order given, by the
National President, to the CEP faction on the Executive of PPWC Local 10.
They ignored it. They didn't even acknowledge it!
The NEB, at the Kamloops meeting, decided to assign sister Karen Jolly
and brother Greg Hall to return to Kamloops and help the Local 10
Loyalists run an "anti-CEP" campaign. Later on in the summer, Oliver
Demuth came up to give a hand and help out as Greg returned to his
vacations and other duties.
THE VOTE:
Finally, on September 04th, 2002 there was a vote held to see if we would
accept or reject the "merger" agreement as presented at the August General
Membership Meeting. After all was said and done, the vote tally came out as:
535 Total Membership
= 100%
399 voted totally
= 74.5% of total membership
266 said "yes"
= 49% of total membership
132 said "no"
= 24% of total membership who voted.
136 Didn't get a chance or
didn't choose to vote (25% of total membership)
"No" votes added to
un-cast
ballots is equal to 49% of total membership!
1 spoiled ballot
=
1.8% of total membership.
So to describe this as an
"overwhelming" approval of the CEP coming into
our
workplaces is a gross
overstatement.
The timing of this vote was crucial for the outcome of it. It was
early Sept. (the day following Labour Day), and there were people, lots of people, still away on vacation
and others who were on days off . (The CEP faction did not follow the PPWC
Local 10's bylaws that require a "three (3) day referendum vote" to get all
of the shifts and all of the day shift people who were not at work that day.
And it was moved, seconded and carried at the General Membership meeting in
August!)
In percentage numbers of the whole membership, the "yes" vote got 49% of
the membership and the "no" vote, by absence, inability to vote, and those
who voted for us, was 49%! [The merger agreement states, "To
get into the CEP, we must accept the merger agreement by 50% +1... (and
further on) ...to remove
ourselves from the CEP we must give a year's written notice and have 66.6%
total membership acceptance of the motion to leave..."]
Essentially, we won! Right?
WHAT's HAPPENING?:
One would have thought, with the 266 member "yes" vote (49%), that the
CEP would be at the BCLRB on September 05th, right? Well that's not
the case here. They have delayed and each week they've told the people in
the mill-site that, "We're going to the LRB today." After about a month
of this, it gets kinda sickening. As of today, October 4th, they HAVE NOT
applied to the BCLRB for re-certification or any of the requirements. What's
going on? Did they have to have their convention over, in Ontario,
before they were allowed to apply? Were they going to out-wait the
PPWC and see what we would do? Or, as seems to be the case, was there an
error in the way the vote was conducted? What's happening?
PPWC NATIONAL ACTIONS:
Now, at the start of October, the PPWC National Union is considering to pursue
the 'cease and desist' order through the Supreme Court of B.C. This seems to be our
only path of action as the CEP and it's faction in the mill have not seen
fit to apply for re-certification of the Local at Kamloops.
Out of the discussion of this action, there has been an incident of harassment
of one of the PPWC supporters who was ratted-out by an observer at the special
PPWC member's meeting held at the Union Hall. He must not have told
the truth as this harasser was mentioning, "...you are wanting to
take my house and livelihood away!", and other words to that effect.
The harrassee went off the work site and reported to his doctor
to see if he was suffering any signs of stress. And there will have to be
a safety report made about this incident. One other of our members phoned
the Mill Manager and requested that he re-issue the Company's Harassment
Policy letter and post it all around the mill-site. This was done on the
same day as the harassment, Oct. 3, 2002.
WHAT's NEXT?:
Finally, on the 12th of November, 2002, we were
notified that the NEB wanted to hold a "formal hearing" in Vancouver,
B.C. The dates set for the hearing are Feb. 3&4, 2003. See you there.
--------------- March 16, 2003 -----------------
After a month, and a bit, of waiting for the LRB decision, we still have no
indication as to which direction the vice-chair will go.
Of course, we feel he has no direction other than to uphold the contents
of the National Constitution of the PPWC. What other course is there?
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE:
As of today, March 16th, there are only two (2) PPWC
Locals who have NO signed memorandum of agreement or agreement between
their companies. One is Local 10, Kamloops, and the other is Local 8,
Naniamo. (Local 8-Naniamo is
supposed to be signing a memorandum of agreement after their membership
meeting(s) this week. Mar
23, 2003)
Look around and ask, "How many CEP locals have a signed
memo's of agreement or a signed contract?" The answer, to date, is
NONE! (Other than the papermakers, in
concert with PPWC Local 2, at Norske - Crofton.)
---------------- March 25, 2003 ----------------
You wouldn't believe what I heard today... I was told, third-hand
mind you, that there is a fellow working in the Kamloops Pulp mill who has
a relative in a CEP certified mill, and, supposedly, he told this
relative, in Kamloops, to "...do all you can to stay away from any
involvement with the CEP!" "Every payday they're taking $50.00 for
some thing or other - on top of your regular dues. Just keep away from
them!" Now you all know why the CEP locals have NO halls of their own!
They can't afford any frills!
--------------- April 08, 2003
------------------
---------- April 10, 2003
----------
Update from the General Membership Meeting
(04-09-03): There was a motion moved, seconded and carried that stated in
effect, "The Executive Members of 'CEP Local 10b' will not take part in
the PPWC National Elections at Kamloops."
Brother Len Snow stated, at the meeting, that the
members have the right to vote and that the Smith, Chev Olds and Dearborn
Motors brothers and sisters also had the right to vote on the National
Elections.
There would be posters going up in the mill and at
the Dealerships and that we would appreciate it if they didn't get torn
down.
--------------- April 13, 2003 -----------------
This article is repeated from the National
Union's paper, The Leaflet,
March 2003; FLASHBACK!
----------------------------------------------------
Jim Kelly Column was "Sour Grapes"
In reference to an article written by a Mr. Jim Kelly, published in the The
Kamloops Daily News on Feb. 13, 1984, I would have to say it is not
worthy of comment other than to say it is full of untruths, facetious
innuendos and smacks of sour grapes.
Why would Mr. Kelly
have a grudge against the PPWC, one would ask?
Approximately
three years ago the membership at the CUPE Local at Selkirk College had
enough of the misrepresentation and lack of servicing provided by CUPE. The
person directly responsible for the dissatisfaction of the members of CUPE at
Selkirk College and the resulting successful certification vote by the PPWC
was non other than a Mr. Jim Kelly. This new PPWC local has since negotiated
a contract without the assistance of Mr. Kelly.
Mr. Kelly must
also hold a grudge against PPWC as a result of the certification vote that
was held in Kamloops when CUPE Local 900 voted to remain in that union. CUPE
Local 900 has probably become a better union local as a result of that vote,
and Mr. Kelly would be wise to expend his energy on his own CUPE membership
rather than carry his grudge to the point of being ridiculous.
Mr. Kelly has, in
the past, stated that there are many good trade unionists in the PPWC and that
it's just the PPWC Leadership who lacks responsibility and wisdom. Only a
fat-cat union pork-chopper would fail to realize that the workers are the
union and not the union executive or, as in his case, a lifetime appointed
business agent.
Perhaps it is
that Mr. Kelly feels a twinge of guilt given that the analogy is similar
between interior municipal worker contract bargaining and B.C. forest
industry bargaining. CUPE Local 900 has refused to agree to a contract
negotiated by Mr. Kelly in the interior municipalities as have the pulp
unions refused to accept a contract negotiated by Brother Munroe in the
forest industry.
Come now, Mr.
Kelly, you must have better ways to service your membership than to sit at
your untouchable union desk receiving an untouchable union salary and writing
derogatory articles about other working people. An article that in some
instances would appear to be written by the boss!
Surely Mr. Kelly,
you must realize that we must expend our energies against a certain Socred government
and their anti-union polices rather than spend our time belittling each
other.
Garry Worth,
Secretary, PPWC Local 10 - Kamloops. (February, 1984)
--------------- April 15, 2003 ---------------
Now, for the last few days, there are letters in the locked bulletin boards
where CEP's Dave Coles offers to give the 30-days notice of termination of the
JLA and to open negotiations with Weyerhaeuser for the next contract.
Now tell me if I'm wrong, or not... The LRB's certification notice for the
Kamloops Pulp mill and the two auto dealerships is still the PPWC Local 10.
How does Mr. D. Coles get to even write a letter to Weyerhaeuser, let alone
offer to terminate our PPWC JLA and start to re-negotiate a next one?
I feel, at this point, if Weyerhaeuser even entertains the thought of talking
with the CEP, there is a good case to go before the LRB. CEP has NO
jurisdiction in this workplace no matter what the misguided members wish to
think! It's that simple!
- - - - - - - - - - April 16, 2003 -
- - - - - - - - -
Well the verdict is in. The LRB sided with the
CEP faction of the workers in the Kamloops Pulp mill and the Auto dealerships.
The 'Conclusion' of the decision reads:
For the reasons
given above, I have concluded that the requirements of Section 4(c)
have no application to the facts of this case. In the
absence of any argument
by the Respondents that there were other constitutional
provisions relating to mergers
that local 10 was obliged, but failed to adhere to, I
conclude that it has complied
with the constitutional provisions relating to mergers
(if any) it was required to comply
with. The parties will contacted shortly to arrange for
a resumption of the hearing to deal
with the Respondent's allegation that Local 10 failed
to properly consult with its member-
ship before it purported to merge with the CEP.
signed by;
G.J. Mullaly
Vice-Chair - Labour Relations Board
There is an
emergency NEB Meeting called for Tuesday, April 22nd, 2003. We'll see what
comes out of this meeting before going on.
- - - - - - - - - April 22, 2003 - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - May 03, 2003 - -
- - - - - - -
This will be the final installation of the "CEP Raid On PPWC Local 10,
Kamloops". If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail the local and
let them know of your queries.
A great big THANK YOU to all who dedicated all
their time and effort to save our Local. You will still be hearing from
us...
Always keep this in mind too... The CEP is now
after all of the locals in the PPWC!!!! To Them it's 'ALWAYS OPEN SEASON'! Be
aware and wary!
