Hello Unifor drivers: Georgetown, Acton and Milton:
We hope everyone had a great summer and enjoyed the additional time spent with those who matter most to you. Due to the summer layoff, it has created a lull in our communication chain but September is here and we are back to business.
In March the Association met the company for our monthly Labour Management Meeting. The company asked us if we were interested in bargaining during the summer. None of us wanted to give up our summer and sit around the bargaining table. As such, both parties agreed to meet after we return from the summer layoff. As we all know, a lot has transpired since then.
On June 13th the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) issued Unifor the certification; "as the bargaining agent for the following bargaining unit:all employees of FirstCanada ULC, working in or out of 87 Mountainview Road, in the Town of Georgetown, excluding supervisors, persons above the rank of supervisor, mechanics, dispatchers and office and sales staff." The certification captures all those who work at the Georgetown, Acton and Milton yards.
The National office assigned our bargaining unit to Local 4268, one of the hundreds of Locals that represent over 310,000 Unifor members in Canada. Local 4268 is located in Brampton. They are what is referred to as a Provincially Amalgamated Local, who for the most part services members in the transportation sector. An amalgamated local such as 4268 consists of a number of bargaining units from various provincially regulated employers. This Local represents hundreds of First Student drivers and mechanics located in Owen Sound, Kincardine, Ajax, Bowmanville and Toronto. In addition, the Local represents Stock Drivers, Dock Workers, and Waste Management Workers. The National assigned us to this local due to the other bargaining units that are similar in composition, the type of work we / they perform, and who our employer is, First Student.
On July 12th Unifor formally served First Student a notice of intent to bargain. In order to do our due diligence Unifor requested specific information from the company concerning seniority, contact information, salaries, benefit plans if any etc... Subsequently, Unifor requested the company's availability for dates to bargain in September. The company was not available in September however, we have agreed to meet and bargain on November 5, 6, 7. Now that we have firm dates with the company, your bargaining committee will meet to begin and develop a template for a first collective agreement which will encompass our proposals that you submitted via the surveys, discussions held at our meetings and the conversations you've had with the bargaining representatives.
Your Unifor bargaining committee is composed of the three bargaining representatives you elected on July 4th - Kim Vienneau, Eva Barcsanics and Ash Watkins plus Debbie Montgomery, President Local 4268 and David Cayer, National Representative. As of this weekend we were able to secure a venue for us to meet as a bargaining committee. The meeting will take place on Monday, September 23rd where we will begin to develop our proposals.
As we move through the bargaining process we intend to keep you informed of our progress via these newsletters. We may not be able to convey the specifics as to what is being discussed at the bargaining table, but we will certainly keep you up to date on the status of our progress.
We have a new email address for our bargaining unit. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your elected bargaining committee representatives at mybus4268@gmail.com
In Solidarity,
Kim Vienneau, Bargaining Committee Representative
289-233-4294
Eva Barcsanics, Bargaining Committee Representative
905-805-5740
Ash Watkins, Bargaining Committee Representative
416-460-7442
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