SGEU locks out CEP 481

Supporters invited to social May 2

2008-04-27T10:56:00.002-06:00

CEP 481 wants to thank all those who stood in solidarity with us during our 126-day lock-out. We're holding a thank-you social Friday, May 2, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Regina's Magnolia Club, on the corner of Dewdney Avenue and Toronto Street. There will be dancing, a cash bar, and thank-you presentations. All friends and supporters are warmly invited!

Ratification of settlement offer

2008-03-10T19:28:00.003-06:00

This afternoon, members of CEP 481 narrowly voted to accept an amended memorandum of agreement. The vote ends the dispute, which had just entered its fifth month. Over the next two days, the approximately 60 employees in the Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina offices will be returning to work.

Today's vote comes just over a week after an earlier proposed settlement was rejected.

Stay tuned for more information!

Awards from labour council

2008-03-08T16:42:00.004-06:00

Last night, the Regina & District Labour Council honoured CEP Local 481 and its president with awards at its annual awards night and banquet.

President Kelly Diebel was chosen to receive the second annual labour community activist award for her role in our dispute. And the entire local received an award of distinction "for exemplary dedication, commitment, leadership and service to the labour movement and the advancement of all working people".

Although surprised by the awards, we are grateful for the support and recognition of the labour council, its affiliates, and members.

On other matters, stay tuned. . . .

Stay tuned. . . .

2008-03-05T08:40:00.001-06:00

Rallies mark lock-out's 100th day

2008-02-13T13:36:00.003-06:00

To mark 100 days on the picket line, CEP 481 members held events in Regina and Saskatoon to celebrate resisting employer demands for concessions at the bargaining table.

In Saskatoon, picketers from that city and Prince Albert marched from the SGEU office to the Sturdy-Stone Centre, where many rank-and-file SGEU members work.

In Regina, supporters joined picketers for lunch in front of the SGEU head office, which was specially decorated for the occasion. Speakers included CEP Administrative VP Wendy Sol, CLC Regional Director Dave Winter, SFL Treasurer Marv Meichel, Aina Kagis of the Canadian Staff Union which represents CUPE employees, and Carl Veistrup of the CUPE local representing staff of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses. CEP 481 President Kelly Diebel also spoke.

The speakers congratulated CEP 481 members for their determination in resisting SGEU's anti-worker agenda. Some speakers also indicated that the time had come for the labour movement to take firm action condemning SGEU's behaviour.

In other news, the Canadian Union of Labour Employees, which represents the staff of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, has advised CEP 481 and the SFL that it will now also boycott any events where SGEU representatives are in attendance. They join a growing number of staff unions who have taken this move in support of locked-out CEP 481 members.

CEP 481's and SGEU's bargaining committees meet at the negotiating table tomorrow in Regina.

Saskatoon labour council condemns SGEU

2008-02-10T12:23:00.001-06:00

At its annual meeting Saturday, February 9, the Saskatoon & District Labour Council passed a motion advocating that the Canadian Labour Congress and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour place sanctions on SGEU and on the SGEU members who are scabs (because they have crossed one of our legal picket lines or have done the work of locked-out CEP 481 members).

The SFL's Collective Bargaining/Strike Strategy Committee has been asked to consider a request from CEP to suspend SGEU from labour-movement activities. The suspension would be for deliberately harming other trade union members by engaging in concession bargaining, locking workers out, and strike-breaking attempts.

Wednesday will mark the 100th day of the lock-out. Trade unionists and other supporters are invited to join CEP 481 for a noon-hour rally in honour of 100 Days of Resistance. The event will take place at 1440 Broadway Avenue, and features speakers including CEP Administrative VP Wendy Sol.

Thanks for all the donations!

2008-02-06T15:48:00.000-06:00

We are most grateful for all the donations we've been receiving from across Canada. A full list of donors appears on our main web page at www.sgeustaffstrike.ca.

Our treasurer has finished counting the donations from CUPE's Winter School, which wrapped up this past weekend in Moose Jaw, and it comes to more than $1,000! Thank you to the participants and facilitators who gave our local president and vice-president a wonderful reception.

Labour board sets dates for hearings

2008-02-05T19:13:00.000-06:00

Today the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (SLRB) scheduled an expedited hearing for March 17-19 as a result of CEP 481's claims that SGEU has violated the Trade Union Act.

CEP 481 has charged SGEU with bad-faith bargaining for, among other things, withdrawing offers from the bargaining table and not giving its negotiating committee the authority to bargain.

CEP 481 had asked the SLRB for an interim injunction ordering SGEU to bargain in good faith. While the SLRB declined to make an interim order, it did not dismiss the application, so we can return to the Board if need be.

The two sides also agreed to a pre-hearing with SLRB staff on February 25.

Even Bob Hughes gets it!!!

2008-02-01T14:48:00.000-06:00

Regina LeaderPost columnist Bob Hughes has shown himself to be no friend of labour. But the issues and ironies of SGEU's lock-out of its staff are clear to Bob Hughes, even if they aren't to Bob Bymoen and SGEU's leadership. Check out Hughes's column in today's paper.

SFL pension conference postponed

2008-01-30T20:32:00.000-06:00

The SFL has postponed its pensions conference, scheduled for February 6-8, because several conference facilitators and some participants said they would not take part if any SGEU members were present.

Our information is that several SGEU members had registered and SGEU President Bob Bymoen declined to withdraw their registrations in order to allow the conference to proceed.

We appreciate the support of those trade unionists who are refusing to take part in events where SGEU is present. They understand that SGEU's actions in this dispute are harming the entire labour movement.

Correction

2008-01-29T18:40:00.000-06:00

The previous posting, dated Tuesday, January 22, actually details events that, for the most part, took place on Thursday, January 24. What can I say: technology wins one every now and then!

Members say, "Last SGEU offer is inadequate!"

2008-01-22T17:38:00.000-06:00

CEP 481 held a membership meeting this afternoon, and heard a full report from our negotiating committee about last week's talks and about the written offer received January 22 from SGEU. (The January 22 offer put in writing what was conveyed verbally at the table January 16.)

Members unanimously supported the negotiating committee's assessment that the offer was inadequate and not acceptable. "The employer's latest offer only has one difference from what was on the table when this dispute started November 6, and that's another 2% to the wages," said the chair of CEP's negotiating committee. "After almost three months on the picket line, the employer thinks we'll accept their concession demands for a measly 2%?!!"

Earlier in the week, SGEU members in Prince Albert's public service local voted overwhelmingly to direct SGEU Provincial Council to accept the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's offer to mediate a resolution to the lock-out. The motion had been amended to make acceptance of mediation conditional on CEP 481 voting to reject the employer's last offer. CEP is encouraging other SGEU locals and bargaining units to also send motions to Provincial Council directing it to agree to SFL mediation.

As well, the staffs of both the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) have written to tell us that they will refuse to participate in any meetings or events also attended by SGEU members or representatives, as long as this dispute goes unresolved. We thank them for their support!

Talks produce no results

2008-01-17T14:20:00.001-06:00

CEP 481's bargaining committee spent a long day yesterday with the employer's committee, but without success.

Meanwhile, news reports predict upcoming job cuts in the province's civil service: "CBC Radio: Civil servant job cuts coming, deputy premier says" and "Regina LeaderPost: More gov't job cuts this spring".

Talks set for Wednesday

2008-01-14T18:12:00.000-06:00

Within 24 hours of saying that he saw no point in returning to the bargaining table, SGEU President Bob Bymoen has now asked CEP 481's negotiating committee if it could meet with his committee on Wednesday, January 16. We have agreed, and so the two sides will meet Wednesday morning, for the first time since November 6, 2007.

In other news, media reports today indicate that several SGEU members employed at the Pinegrove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert were suspended in late November and did not grieve. The longer the lock-out continues, the longer SGEU members go without effective representation when faced with discipline and other workplace problems. SGEU members have been telling their top elected leaders that they want a fair resolution to this dispute, and those calls need to continue!

SGEU refuses to bargain, again

2008-01-11T14:43:00.001-06:00

In response to our invitation to return to the bargaining table, SGEU President Bob Bymoen this afternoon said, "No." He indicated that, unless CEP Local 481 was prepared to agree to major concessions, there wasn't anything to talk about. While workers have heard these words from their bosses before, it's a strange message to come out of the mouth of a leader of a trade union.

CEP Local 481 members and supporters raised $245 last night at a solidarity social; the money will be donated to a local charity. Thank you to all those who joined us in a great celebration!

Picketers converged on the Regina Correctional Centre this morning, receiving a good reception from SGEU members who were concerned about the lock-out and interested to learn more.

CEP invites SGEU back to the table

2008-01-10T18:50:00.000-06:00

Late yesterday (January 9), CEP 481's negotiating committee invited SGEU President Bob Bymoen and his committee to return to the bargaining table. President Bymoen is considering the invitation and said he will respond by noon tomorrow.

CEP 481 members gathered in Regina today to picket together and hold an update meeting for all members. Tonight, they are celebrating together with supporters at The Exchange, from 7-11 p.m. Friends are welcome to attend; there is no entry fee but donations are being collected to be passed on to a charity.

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T12:55:00.000-06:00

We would like to wish all our supporters and allies a very merry Christmas and a safe and enjoyable holiday season. A special thanks to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and the Media Guild for their generous Christmas contributions.

We're having a festive time on our picket lines and hope to see you after the holidays!!

Picketers target scab-work locations

2007-12-18T17:01:00.000-06:00

Today, CEP 481 members set up secondary picket lines at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, Saskatoon Correctional Centre, and Ramada Hotel in Regina where SGEU members have been performing our work. In Regina, a number of SGEU members who park at the Ramada Hotel honoured the picket line and found other parking. CUPE Saskatchewan's regional director checked out of the hotel, advising management that future hotel bookings would be on hold pending the Ramada's relationship with SGEU.

Sincere thank yous go to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour which organized contributions in order to provide Christmas turkeys and grocery-store gift cards for all locked-out CEP 481 members.

SGEU silent, picketers act

2007-12-17T14:19:00.000-06:00

SGEU remains mute about any steps last week's Provincial Council meeting might have taken to resolve the lock-out. Obviously, if the majority of elected leaders had been interested in a sincere return to fair collective bargaining, we would have heard from the president immediately.

CEP 481 members joined their sisters and brothers in CEP 1120 (Prince Albert mill workers) at a rally at the Legislature. CEP 1120 is concerned that the Wall government cancelled a deal to reopen the mill, without consulting with the affected workers and without having another plan ready to go.

Decision time for SGEU

2007-12-13T18:48:00.000-06:00

This afternoon behind closed doors in Regina, the 60+ members of SGEU's main decision-making body began discussing what to do about the lock-out. Provincial Council will resume discussions tomorrow morning, after placing a gag order preventing members from discussing the proceedings.

While the past five weeks cannot be undone, now is the moment when SGEU's leaders can choose to redeem their claim to union principles or to further destroy their organization, harming rank-and-file SGEU members in the process. With yesterday's firings of two SGEU members employed at the Regina Correctional Centre, the new Sask Party government continues its get-tough stance.

Will SGEU leaders do the honourable thing? Stay tuned.

CEP 481 moves to Legislature

2007-12-10T18:49:00.000-06:00

Locked-out CEP 481 members moved our picket line to the Saskatchewan Legislature for the first Speech from the Throne of the new Saskatchewan Party government. We were joined by supporters from other unions and social movements.

"Brad Wall's government has promised measures which could harm SGEU members' jobs and working conditions," CEP 481 president Kelly Diebel said. "It's a shame that, facing this challenge, SGEU's leadership has chosen to have its staff on a picket line, rather than doing our jobs defending members' rights and best interests."

"Secret" office location picketed

2007-12-05T19:06:00.000-06:00

Picketers descended this morning on SGEU's newest office location in Regina: 805 Victoria Avenue East.

After locking out its staff November 6, SGEU president and management first relocated to a meeting room in the Ramada Hotel. After we pressured the hotel to kick them out, they set up shop in a strip mall. (Coincidentally, this is the same office space used recently as a campaign headquarters by NDP MLA and former SGEU elected officer Kevin Yates.) Picketers found out-of-scope managers Richard Schramm and Lee Rejc and one soon-to-be-identified SGEU member working at the new office.

Meanwhile, SGEU president Bob Bymoen is having a trying time explaining to the media why SGEU refused both mediation and a return to regular bargaining. He told one reporter that a return to the table was impossible because the staff who would normally book hotel rooms for his committee members are off the job. . . .

SGEU refuses both mediation and more bargaining

2007-12-04T17:29:00.000-06:00

On November 30, SGEU president Bob Bymoen refused the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour’s offer to take part in special mediation. CEP Local 481 had earlier agreed to the SFL’s process.

At the same time that Bob Bymoen refused mediation, he expressed a willingness to return to the bargaining table. As a result, on December 3, we contacted SGEU to return to the table and exchanged ideas for suitable dates with President Bymoen. This afternoon, he called us to say that SGEU was not prepared to go back to the bargaining table.

While displeased by the employer's hard-line attitude, CEP 481 members continue our efforts to mobilize SGEU members to speak out in advance of SGEU's Provincial Council meeting next week.

Other unions' staff organize support event

2007-12-04T13:51:00.000-06:00

Over the lunch hour, the staff of other unions in the province hosted solidarity luncheons for the locked-out members of CEP 481. In Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina, staff employed by CUPE, SUN, RWDSU, PSAC, GSU, CEP, the SFL, and the CLC walked the picket line with us, and treated us to pizza. These supporters are themselves members of a number of unions, including the Canadian Staff Union, the General Workers Union, the Independent Union Services Union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the Canadian Office and Professional Employees union. Many thanks for their on-going support!

Weather cold, spirits warm!

2007-11-29T15:38:00.000-06:00

SGEU's lockout of its staff enters its fourth week. The locked-out members of CEP 481 are busy visiting workplaces across Saskatchewan and talking to SGEU members. We have also written to SGEU president Bob Bymoen, requesting that our president be given an opportunity to speak at the upcoming meeting of SGEU's decision-making body, Provincial Council. This presentation would help ensure that SGEU leaders had a clear picture of all the issues and angles.

Earlier this week, a CEP 481 representative spoke to the Saskatoon & District Labour Council. We thank the council and the affiliated unions for the support they expressed.

Human rights conference supports CEP 481

2007-11-27T18:54:00.000-06:00

This afternoon, CEP 481 president Kelly Diebel spoke to the delegates at the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour's human rights conference. Reminding the audience that Canada's Supreme Court had recently strengthened workers' right to collective bargaining, Diebel said that SGEU's lock-out of its staff violates that fundamental right. SGEU is setting a bad example for how bosses should treat workers.

Conference delegates supported a motion from the floor to pass the hat, and donated $350 to CEP 481. We thank them for their moral and financial support!

Labour movement rallies to support CEP 481

2007-11-23T20:49:00.000-06:00

Over a hundred people joined locked-out SGEU staff today on the Regina picket line for a support rally. Picketers from the Prince Albert and Saskatoon offices travelled down to join in. Flags, banners, music, and good food made it a festive event. Speaker after speaker voiced support for locked-out CEP 481 and urged a return to the bargaining table and to fair collective bargaining.

SFL president Larry Hubich, Retail Wholesale Department Store Union secretary-manager Chris Banting, Regina & District Labour Council president Terry Zahorski, Canadian Staff Union president Malcolm Matheson, CEP national rep Rhoda Cossar, and CEP 481 president Kelly Diebel addressed the crowd.

Thank you to CEP locals in the province for the donations which helped make the barbeque possible.

Saskatoon and Prince Albert, full speed ahead!

2007-11-20T20:16:00.000-06:00

Today Saskatoon set up an information picket line at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre. Yesterday they visited Kilburn Hall and had several SGEU members sign our petition! (See our links section below for the petition) Tomorrow they will be picketing at Local 1102's provincial council elections. Our Prince Albert office has been busy with leafletting at the MacIntosh Mall.

We are informing SGEU members what their leadership had done and what the impact of the lockout will have on their working conditions. SGEU leaders often say that it's a membership driven union, so we are encouraging SGEU members to speak out and affect the direction their union is taking.

November 19, 2007

2007-11-19T17:17:00.000-06:00

Picketing continued at all three SGEU office locations, and locked-out CEP 481 members also continued to visit SGEU-member workplaces to distribute leaflets. The response from SGEU members at the grass-roots is positive. For example, those who work at liquor-board stores are concerned that the lock-out is preventing SGEU from doing all it can to protect their jobs from privatization under the new Sask Party government.

Preparations are in full swing for a support rally in Regina on Friday, November 23. Friends of trade-union principles are invited to join us for a barbeque between noon and 1 p.m. at 1440 Broadway Avenue. The rally will also be addressed by a range of trade-union leaders.

November 15, 2007

2007-11-15T20:46:00.000-06:00

Locked-out CEP 481 members at all three office locations visited SGEU members' workplaces today to distribute information leaflets about the dispute. With very few exceptions, SGEU members were concerned and upset about what SGEU leadership is doing. We are encouraging SGEU members to contact their elected leaders to express their feelings.

Thanks to the Regina & District Labour Council for the support shown at a general membership meeting last night and for their cash donation.

We are also pleased at the support received from leaders and members of other unions affiliated to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour. They understand that SGEU's actions against CEP 481 harm all unions and unionized workers in the province. Several of those union leaders joined picketers on the line in front of SGEU head office and for a noon-hour barbeque.

November 14, 2007

2007-11-14T17:06:00.000-06:00

SGEU's off-site office has been closed down! When CEP local leaders learned that the employer had set up an alternative office in the Ramada Hotel in downtown Regina, we advised hotel management that we would have no alternative but to conduct secondary picketing. By noon today, Ramada management advised us that SGEU was moving out!

Picketing continues at all three office locations, with other activities planned for the next few days. SGEU, which locked us out November 6, has not contacted us to return to the bargaining table. As the lockout continues, so too does the shame of a union locking out unionized employees.

November 9, 2007

2007-11-09T14:57:00.000-06:00

In Saskatoon, locked-out CEP 481 members attended a rally at the university in support of striking CUPE 1975 members. The CEP 481 members were invited to address the crowd and were warmly received.

In Regina, retired members of CEP 481 joined the picket line, as did some SGEU members, members of other unions, and even a staff person from one employer's HR department!

A news release was sent out today, focusing on SGEU's action of locking us out:

Media Release – November 9, 2007

The labour dispute between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) Local 481 and SGEU continues today without any sign of a resolution. A short time after the job action started earlier this week SGEU President Bob Bymoen personally served CEP with a notice of lock out, making it clear those CEP members were not welcome back at work.

“Since the dispute began we have received several calls in our office from SGEU members, apologizing for the actions of their union’s leadership. These members cannot understand why SGEU is conducting themselves like some right wing employer.” said CEP National Rep Kate McKinley. CEP has also received several messages of support from members of other trade unions expressing concern about SGEU’s actions.

Kelly Diebel, President of CEP Local 481 said today, “We have not had to resort to job action to settle our agreement for over 30 years. All we want from our employer is the same thing SGEU members want when they go the bargaining table, a fair settlement.” Ms. Diebel went on to say, “What makes this very disheartening is that most of us came from within SGEU and in the course of doing our jobs, we provide service to those members day to day. Many, many of the members of SGEU are our friends. It is the leadership that has lost its compass.”

No talks are scheduled.

Members of CEP Local 481 are employees of the SGEU. The Local represents administrative and accounting staff of the union, the SGEU Long Term Disability Plan and servicing staff that negotiate collective agreements, handle grievances, provide advocacy, education, communications, research and other membership services on behalf of the SGEU membership.

CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the forestry sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.

-30-

For more information please contact

Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep
(306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481
(306) 530-0828

November 7, 2007

2007-11-07T18:35:00.000-06:00

Picketing continued today at all three office locations. Thank you to Grain Services Union for the use of office space for a Regina headquarters, to the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1975 for putting our picket line on their route for coffee-break deliveries, and the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union for the loan of their strike bus.

We are also grateful to members from other unions and to retired members of CEP Local 481 who have stopped by to walk the picket line, and to the suppliers who have refused to cross our picket lines to provide goods and services to SGEU.

November 6, 2007

2007-11-06T17:42:00.000-06:00

We are locked out!!

Bob Bymoen, president and acting executive director of operations of SGEU, locked out the union's 60 employees at 3 p.m. today.

President Bymoen handed the notice of lock-out to the members of CEP 481 two hours after negotiations broke off and staff had commenced strike action at the union's three offices.

After almost two years at the bargaining table, the employer continued to demand cuts to sick-leave provisions and was offering 0, 1%, and 2% in wage increases at a time when the employer is enjoying a surge in revenues from wage increases bargained by its staff for SGEU members.

November 5, 2007

2007-11-05T19:57:00.000-06:00

CEP 481's negotiating committee met with the employer's committee today to discuss several outstanding issues. The two sides will return to the table tomorrow morning, and a further update will be available afterwards.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

2007-06-01T15:17:00.000-06:00

Dave MacNeil, CEP 481 President addressed the SFL Executive Council today. His address, which was very well received, is here for your reading.

Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
My name is David MacNeil, I am the President of CEP Local 481 representing the employees of SGEU.

Thank you brother Hubich and all of you for the opportunity to be on your agenda. The voice of labour has been heard in many Saskatchewan work places, I am pleased to say the voice of labour is being recognized as a valuable asset to organizations large and small when planning for the future.

Labour has and will continue to stand up against employers who lack respect for their employees. This lack of respect can and has been displayed in many forms such as, poor and unsafe working conditions, abuse of workers’ rights, poor wages; I could go on and on. The common thread that runs through many if not all of the abuses of workers’ rights is the lack of healthy management principles.

Organizations that lack these principles resort to methods like intimidation, a complete lack of respect for a CBA they are a party to, concession bargaining, and when that doesn’t work, they threaten to lock out the employees or sometimes close its doors completely.

We all have seen the faces of management change from year to year and from decade to decade, but I am proud to say the one constant over all these years has been labour.

Labour has and will continue to demand fair collective bargaining for workers in this province, labour will continue to demand that employers respect the rights afforded to employees through collective bargaining.

Labour in this province will not stand quietly while employers strip away rights contained in Collective Bargaining Agreements under the guise of individual abuse. Labour in this province has always directed employers to deal with abuse, manage the organization, and consult labour for advice.

The one thing that Labour will not stand for is management trying to strip collective rights away from every worker, simply because they can not or will not manage.

Sisters and brothers, I had always wanted to be part of history, but not the history that is unfolding between CEP 481 and SGEU. Currently the employees of SGEU, who are members of CEP 481, are conducting rotational job action in an attempt to bring the employer back to the table to bargain a fair collective agreement, one free of concessions, and one that has comparable wages to workers doing same or similar work across this country.

Job action continues under a threat of a complete lockout. A threat of a lockout that is accompanied by comments such as “we will leave you out until Christmas” or “if we lock the doors, you will be out for good”. That is what bad employers do, not unions.

But, why should you care what happens to the staff of SGEU? Well I’ll tell you why. When the public hears the next time that an employer has imposed a lockout, they’ll think “that’s what that Union did to its employees – it serves them right.” The general public won’t differentiate between SGEU and any another union.

Employers will see lock out or the threat of a lock out as an acceptable practice. And I am very sad to say that it is already happening. Two weeks after SGEU served lockout notice to us, the Citizen’s All Board of Directors in Moose Jaw, an SGEU Bargaining Unit served lockout notice and began advertising for replacement workers.

So tell me brothers and sisters how does the labour movement in Saskatchewan justify critizing employers for such anti-union tactics when that is what is happening within our house of labour!
Nothing will spark employers to embark on anti-union activity like seeing a trade union doing it themselves. In fact, it gives them permission to behave badly.

Brothers and Sisters they will remember this dispute!

But there’s more….
For good or for bad, this province has operated under a pattern bargaining arrangement in the broader public service. Oftentimes, it is the Public Service Bargaining Unit that sets the pattern for all the other public sector unions to follow. Once the pattern is set, it is very hard to break this pattern. The smaller units have come to rely on this pattern as a wedge to achieve fair wage increases.

With SGEU refusing to give its employees the pattern increase (even though they are already committed to raising the pay of their out-of-scope managers by that amount), they challenge the “me, too” arrangement that they and many other public sector unions have relied on to create an environment of relative labour peace. By refusing to offer its own employees the same economic increase that those employees negotiated for the members of SGEU, they open the door for government to contemplate a process of differentiating between bargaining units, offering some bargaining units a raise, and demanding roll-backs or giving sparse increases to others.

As a labour movement, we don’t need to be handing such divisive tools to the government, especially when the prospect of a change for the worse seems likely in the next election.

Brothers and Sisters of CEP 481 asks you, the labour leaders of Saskatchewan, to help SGEU’s leadership see reason before this dispute gets even uglier, and before there are more painful precedents for the John Gormleys of the world to crow about, or the Brad Walls of the world to add to their arsenal.

I won’t stand up here and ask you to bargain for us, that’s our job. I will ask that if you believe in the process of fair collective bargaining, call SGEU, email SGEU, speak to their elected leadership, and suggest that they return to the table and bargain a fair Collective Bargaining Agreement with its workers.

Let’s keep labour strong in this province, strong to fight the real “bad employers”. Thank you!

In Solidarity,
David MacNeil
President CEP Local 481

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

2007-06-01T15:02:00.000-06:00

CEP 481 members in the Prince Albert office were involved in job action today. A picket line was set up outside the PA office which shut down the second day of an arbitration as well as affecting the Regional Colleges ratification meeting as well as other smaller meetings.

The strikers were joined on the picket line by a host of friends, many bearing gifts of coffee and doughnuts. Walking alongside our brothers and sisters and wearing placards were CUPE members, health care members, the grievor and two witnesses from the arbitration and two members of Provincial Council.

Thank you all for your awesone support.

LTD, cancer bargaining targeted

2007-05-10T16:22:00.000-06:00

Long-Term Disability Plan staff as well as the staff rep attached to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency bargaining table were off the job Wednesday, May 9, as job action continues. The LTD staff set up a informational picket line outside the Regina office to provide an opportunity to leaflet the SGEU members attending the LTD Supervisory Committee meeting scheduled for that day, as well as other folks dealing with SGEU today. Several LTD appeals were scheduled to be heard Wednesday. There was no disruption of other services out of the Regina office.

Members and retirees re-affirm solidarity

2007-05-05T19:00:00.000-06:00

Members of CEP 481 held their semi-annual general membership meeting in Regina today, with discussion of the labour dispute with SGEU top of the agenda. We reviewed our strategy for the dispute, and reaffirmed our support for our negotiating and strike co-ordination committees.

Ron Monk, a representative of retired CEP 481 members, reported to the meeting that retirees had met and extended their full support. "We congratulate you in successfully shutting down the SGEU convention," Monk said. The retirees wished us the best in negotiating a fair settlement and invited us to use their message of support in any way we wished in order to show that extent of the solidarity among workers and retirees.

Saskatoon office hit by rotating strike

2007-05-02T19:55:00.000-06:00

At 7:30 this morning, a picket line went up at SGEU's Saskatoon office. Workers shut down all activities taking place out of the office, and an arbitration scheduled to be heard today was also suspended. The SGEU member who was the grievor in the case came to join the picket line. As well, the SGEU members who form the negotiating committee for the Workers' Compensation Board broke off talks going on today in Saskatoon to walk the line with the striking union staff.

We appreciate these acts of solidarity, as they show us and those watching this dispute how real trade unionists behave.

This rotating job action ended at 5 p.m. and all members of CEP Local 481 are to report to work as usual tomorow, Thursday, morning.

No action by employer

2007-04-30T20:46:00.000-06:00

All SGEU employees--members of CEP 481--were at work and performing their duties today. SGEU served lock-out notice to Saskatchewan's labour minister on Friday, and was in a legal position to shut the doors on its workers as of 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29. However, on the eve of the international day to celebrate workers' rights (May 1st), it did not take any lock-out action.

Thank you to the delegates at CEP's western region meeting who last week dug into their own pockets and donated $450 to our cause, following a presentation by our negotiating committee chair and our local president.

Strike action in Prince Albert

2007-04-27T19:00:00.000-06:00

A picket line went up in front of SGEU’s Prince Albert office at 7:30 a.m. Friday. Several Step 2 meetings were scheduled to take place there. A chief steward tried to move the meetings to the Mac Mall, but four picketers located the meeting room and asked that the hearings end. Since a CEP 481 member set up the meetings and since there was a picket line at the office, the chief steward was, in effect, doing struck work.

The chief steward tried to argue that stewards could do Step 2 meetings, but the grievors, who had not known why their hearings were relocated, refused to continue. They shook the picketers’ hands on the way out. One of the managers involved in the meeting also agreed that the hearings should not continue, given the circumstances.

Several CUPE members and the president of the P.A. and District Labour Council, Shirley Klassen, joined CEP members on the picket line.

Picketing continued for the first part of Saturday morning, shutting down a day-long steward-training course scheduled for the P.A. office.

Lock-out served by SGEU

2007-04-27T17:30:00.000-06:00

SGEU served lock-out notice at 5:00 p.m. against its employees. SGEU President Bob Bymoen delivered the written notice to labour minister David Forbes. By 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, SGEU will be legally able to lock out its workers (i.e., prevent them from entering SGEU premises and doing work for the employer).

Unions typically view lock-outs as a desperate, yet aggressive, act by employers.

CEP 481 members who work for SGEU are advised to go in for work as usual Monday morning.

Media coverage of initial job actions

2007-04-23T20:22:00.000-06:00

No rotating job action occurred today. Here is a selection of some of CBC's coverage of Friday's picketing: "Union convention shut down by strikers" and "Union members picket outside union office".

Convention is shut down

2007-04-21T11:28:00.000-06:00

Rotating job action continues. Staff shut down all operations at the union's Regina office. They also set up a second picket line at the Queensbury Centre, site of SGEU's convention. Delegates and management did not enter the building, and the 2007 convention was ended.

Management's bargaining committee contacted the president of CEP 481 before noon, requesting a return to the bargaining table. The union's committee, many of whose members negotiate SGEU collective agreements for a living, expected that this meant the employer had something new to communicate. However, it only took a few minutes' conversation to realize that SGEU, the employer, was not prepared to change its position at all. The union's committee did continue the meeting for about three hours, in an attempt to pinpoint areas of movement and of disagreement, but the talks eventually broke off with both sides at an impasse.

As of 5:30 p.m., management was officially told that all staff were again available for regular job duties. CEP 481's strike strategy committee continues to review the situation and to unfold its strategy.

We would like to thank those individuals and organizations who have offered their support and solidarity so far, including the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union (RWDSU) for the loan of their famous strike bus, the Evelyn R, and those SGEU members and convention delegates who visited our line and expressed their support and concern. We call on them, and others, to work within internal union processes to bring management to a reasonable bargaining position.

Strike action begins

2007-04-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

Today, the 65 members of CEP 481 who work for the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union took their first job action against the employer. Just after noon, the accounting and long-term disability plan staff walked off the job.

We took this step after trying many other, less confrontational measures:
--18 months of ultimately fruitless bargaining
--requesting special mediation through the Saskatchewan labour minister
--unsuccessful mediation, facilitated by staff of the justice department
--an information leafletting session earlier on April 19 as SGEU's annual convention opened. Delegates were provided with a brief summary of the key issues and asked to address the impasse by speaking out on the convention floor

When informing convention delegates of the first strike action, SGEU president Bob Bymoen advised delegates that, if they face a picket line tomorrow (Friday) at the convention site, trade unionists do not cross picket lines. He also said that convention would not continue in another location because to do so without the participation of the many staff who work at the event would be the same as scabbing.

Convention could be an opportunity for concerned SGEU union activists to avert this break-down in trade-union principles. We encourage them to act, and, in the meantime, we will also take action.