To the membership,
"Anyone can bargain a strike." Do not count that out. However, over the last 48hrs we have made some significant headway towards securing the best possible deal. While that is a good step forward, do not read into it that we are taking long summer walks with the employer and hugging around the campfire. We have fought at every step of the way throughout the last 40 days of bargaining to secure that deal. We knew when we met on the morning of day one that we would be where we are today. They pleaded with us to be polite and not to bully or be abusive to them. We stifled our laughter and manifested anger, listened as they begged us to be kind. The thing they don't realize is, unlike them, we have a moral compass. Our conduct would never betray our moral consciousness. We knew what their plan was from day one. We knew we had to let it play out, and we applaud the membership for your patience and discipline. We understand your frustration. Today, we look back at the recent 6 months; a pandemic, evacuations from wildfires, evacuations from flooding. With an impending storm far worse than that of Nov 14th, 2021, we stand before our membership to inform you that the employer has positioned themselves foolishly by failing to get a deal with us at 2am this morning. Not only weeks before Christmas, but while many of our members are still evacuated from their homes. Every contract brings the exact same reprehensible employer we all know to the table. They do not care about you. They didn't care about you yesterday, and they won't care about you tomorrow. They've never cared about you. They did not care that our members were cut off behind blazing forest fires or now behind raging flood waters. They have only come to the plate and done the right thing because we have shamed them into it. The time for being polite is over. The time for being nice is over. The time to hold them accountable is now. We prepared a fair proposal, with wage increases across each year, improvements on the pension, the removal of the copper bonus CPI, more time off and paid sick days. We proposed a modest increase on the boot allowance and vision care. We proposed to remove or permanently fix the issues with Sunlife. We have proposed incentives for shift workers and trades. We have proposed modifications in the tech change language to protect workers. They came back with an insignificant and insulting wage increases. In this day and age, 2021, we fought for 8 days over toilets. Toilets... We fought for whether our members should be able to use a toilet instead of shitting in a bucket in someone else's work area. Remember, the employer removed all of the Porta potties last contract so they could save $46,000. We argued for 6 days over the letter S. The difference between Representative and Representatives. And in the end more than 1 Representative is plural anyways. It's called the English fucking language. We have been battling this kind of stupidity from the onset. And frankly, we were embarrassed for them. But now. Now it's time. It's time for a 100% Strike Vote. They said No, you don't need a wage to meet inflation. No, you don't need an improvement in your health coverage. No, you don't need dry boots. No, you don’t need paid sick days as the Government mandates for the rest of BC. They're comfortable with where you are. They're comfortable with replacing you with Autonomous robots. When they're gloating in our faces about the billions they're making while replacing you with mechanical bots, make no mistake, they fully intend to take your very livelihood. This battle is only one of a series of battles ahead. If you falter now, you will only lose more as time goes on. Lose wage gains now, you'll lose thousands in a year and hundreds of thousands over your career. You'll lose your jobs. And Teck will smile as they put all your wages, pension and benefits into their pockets. Their families will prosper, while your families suffer. And you know what. The employer is comfortable with that. We are organizing further dates with the mediator and the Company. We are into the final steps and actively organizing the strike vote. You will be informed of locations and timings to attend shortly. Remember, it’s just a rumor unless you hear it directly from us or a CAT team member. If you do not know who your CAT team member is, contact your bargaining rep. In solidarity, USW Local 7619 Bargaining Committee Comments are closed.
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August 2021
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