When preparation meets Opportunity

Hello Everyone,

Let me take this opportunity to thank you again for your renewed confidence in me.

I spent last week in Toronto. The committee had to meet for the first time. We also had headquarter meetings (UMHQ and M&M) and arbitration. This was a whirlwind of a week for all of us.

House keeping

There have been major changes to the bargaining committee.

Brett Grassam and I are returning, and three new BRs were elected.

Please join me in welcoming and congratulating:

· Astrid Metzler (Western bargaining and Chairperson).

· Eric Bedard (Eastern region).

· Cheryl Robinson (Atlantic Canada).

This upcoming week

There have been developments in my quest to reach out to the membership. I had secured the mini boardroom for meetings so we could have one on one or small groups conversations on Wednesday June 11 and Friday June 13th.

The company has subsequently informed me that we could no longer use the room….

I will be looking at looking at spaces that are accessible and convenient to connect with the membership. I will be joined on Friday the 13 by our Vice president Anca Pricop.

Building from the ground up

In the past few weeks, I have been very proud of the level of engagement and focus the membership has displayed. It is still undeniable that there are gaps in the understanding of the bargaining process.

It is my duty as a union leader to offer an environment that is free of outside pressures. The purpose of smaller (one on one or small groups) is to allow individuals to speak freely the way they wouldn’t on a public platform such as telegram. We are building from the ground up.

It is the only sustainable way to truly connect with the silent majority. These upcoming weeks will provide an environment where individuals can feel compelled to have a human, real interaction with their union leaders without fear of ridicule or retaliation.

I am delighted to confirm that many union leaders will be visiting us to share their expertise with us, to empower us to make the most informed and enlightened decision in the upcoming round of bargaining. We will be communicating the dates for additional pensions sessions this month.

Survey

Despite some social medial posts suggesting otherwise…. I am a firm believer in surveys.

Like many of us in the pacific region , I am pleased to see that a survey was made available to the central region. That is to the credit of my central region counterpart and friend Brett Grassam.

I can assure you that the pacific region will have the opportunity to fill surveys.

Despite our similarities the Pacific region and the central region are distinct. It would be detrimental to apply identical strategies to reach our members.

It is only when given a comprehensive understanding of a document, context, situation that we can make a good sound decision and fill a survey accordingly . That is why I have planned activities for the next 4-5 months that will get the membership ready for the monumental task at hand.

I’m honoured to represent the region that had the highest participation rate in their BR elections. It is my ambition that the Pacific region remains not only the most engaged, but also the most educated, versed in collective bargaining power and history in the country. There is no doubt in my mind that we will achieve that.

I will see you this week at the airport in person.

In Solidarity and Iron Focus

Soppo

S.G