Local 506 Newsletter – Sept 16, 2021

Click link for Newsletter in PDF format… https://unifor506.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Unifor-506-Bulletin-Updated-Sept-16-RED.pdf

Face Masks

The Local has received positive feedback from our members regarding the masks that were distributed the past couple of months!

The health and safety of our members is one of our highest priorities. If any members would like another mask, we still have some available at the union office; please send your request to unionoffice@unifor506.ca.

New Federal Holiday

Federal Statutory Holiday September 30, 2021: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

As you may be aware, the government recently passed legislation to make September 30th a federal statutory holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Like all Canadians, this day provides an opportunity for us to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools.
This may present itself as a day of quiet reflection or participation in a community event.

Because your union negotiated the provision in the Collective Agreement (Article 25.01) to allow for an additional designated holiday if one is proclaimed by an act of Parliament; the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will become a designated paid holiday and will allow our members to observe and participate in this important day starting this September 30th,2021.

To commemorate The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Local will have a limited amount of orange T-Shirts available at the discounted price of $10.

Please contact the Local 506 office to order at 506-634-8810 or unionoffice@unifor506.ca.

Unifor Atlantic Council

The 2021 Atlantic Regional Council was held virtually on June 4th and 5th.
The ARC meets at least once a year, with every local eligible to send delegates to discuss and debate important issues in their regions such as provincial labour laws and policies, and regional and economic and social concerns.

Regional Councils will also spearhead various campaigns and activities. Two Local 506 members were added to the Atlantic Council roster at this meeting; Adam Costain accepted the nomination for the role of Member-at-Large and Erin Howell-Sharpe accepted the nomination to sit on the Atlantic Political Action Committee.

Vaccination Policies

Some members have reached out to the union with concerns regarding Bell’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy sent to employees on September 1st.
We have contacted the Unifor National office for clarification on this policy and they have responded with the following:

“It is the position of our union that organizations must utilize all of the tools at their disposal to stop the spread of COVID-19, which includes mandatory vaccination of workers, especially for those in public-facing or congregate work-settings where risk of transmission is high.

Unifor National Representatives will continue to review all employer policies to ensure they meet obligations imposed by human rights legislation, including the duty to accommodate those who cannot be vaccinated for health or religious reasons.”

That is the message from our National Union prepared in conjunction with their legal department. We know that some of our members who don’t want the vaccine, and have no grounds for an accommodation, have concerns for their future at Bell.

Bell’s Policy is clear that non-compliance can result in administrative action being taken upon an employee up to, and including, the loss of employment

Furthermore, so long as Bell meets the government legislated Human Rights obligations, there is little that can be done to oppose it.

Should a member lose their job under these circumstances, the only legal option we have is to file a grievance.

However, our legal council has already informed us that our chances of winning such a case and bringing a member back would be extremely slim. And even if the case could be won, it would take years and it would also be highly unlikely that the member would receive back pay for time lost.

If any members need an accommodation, contact the DMG group and if you have any questions, please contact us at unionoffice@unifor506.ca.

Bargaining Update

The Bargaining Committee met on June21-22nd, July 26-27th and August 6th &18th to review the Issue Proposals submitted by members.

The Bargaining Committee will meet with the Company in October. The members of your bargaining Committee are:

• From Local 506 – Sandy Brideau & Stéphane Lamoureux
• From Local 2289 – Cullen Bolger & Wendy Bradley-Reynolds
• From local 410 – Lee Pearce & Adele Jackman
• From Local 401 – Jeff Nelson & Christina Mills
• National Rep – Roch Leblanc

Safety Shoes & PPE

Recently members have been refused reimbursement by the company for replacement of worn-out safety shoes.

This issue was brought to the OH&S Policy meeting and the union has filed three grievances with the company in an effort to resolve this as soon as possible.

If you have examples of worn-out safety shoes, boots and personal protective equipment, pleases end us your photos to unionoffice@unifor506.ca

Local 506 Scholarship & Bursary

Congratulations to Marjolène Wilmot, winner of the 2021 Helen E. Allain Bursary award and Andrew Hodge, winner of the 2021 Unifor Local 506 Scholarship!

Marjolène is the daughter of Steve Wilmot in Campbellton and Andrew is the son of Dianne Hodge in Saint John.

On behalf of the Local 506 Executive Board, we wish both of you the greatest success with your studies in the year ahead!

Thank you to all the students who submitted applications for the 2021Helen E. Allain Bursary and the Unifor Local 506 Scholarship. We welcome your applications for next year’s bursary and scholarship awards.

Local 506 Elections

Local 506 members will be voting this fall for the Secretary-Treasurer position and also for the Region 2 and 4 Chair positions.

However, because our Sub-Local union meetings are on hold now due to Covid-19 restrictions, we will instead be accepting nominations via email.

Please send your nomination(s) to unionoffice@unifor506.ca as well as to the individual(s) you are nominating.

We would then ask that the nominee “Reply All”(to ensure both parties receive the response) as to whether, or not, they accept the nomination.

All nomination acceptances must be received by the Union Office no later than September 30th.

Any elections will be handled via electronic means with the use of an online voting service.

We can appreciate that this nomination method is somewhat more complicated, but we feel that this process is the best way to ensure the continued safety of all of our members.

Please contact the union office if you require any further clarification on this process as we want to ensure everyone has a fair chance at any of the available positions.

Congratulations Local 506 Retirees!

Best wishes to the following Local 506 members that have retired recently:

• Don Jones – Region 1
• Doug Bourque – Region 2
• Alvin Calhoun – Region 3
• Stephen Cooper – Region 1
• Martin LeBlanc – Region 2
• Philip Doucette – Region 1
• Eric Comeau – Region 3
• Debbie Palmer – Region 1
• Larry Stevens – Region 4
• Michael Baxter – Region 2
• Charlie Thomas – Region 3
• Tony Wright – Region 1
• Reid Crocker – Region 1

506 Women’s Committee

Despite the pandemic, the Women’s Committee has continued its valuable work of giving back to the community by collecting purses and toiletries for the Purse Project, an organization that distributes purses filled with toiletries and necessities to women at risk.

The Women’s Committee also collects feminine products for the Code Red campaign which distributes feminine hygiene products
to women in need.

If any members would like to make a donation(gently used purses, toiletries, feminine products) to these worthwhile causes, please contact the Women’s Committee Chair, Angela Davis, at Angela.Davis@unifor506.ca

Union Meetings

Despite New Brunswick’s return to the green phase of recovery, we are still concerned with the health and wellbeing of our members.

Also the Unifor National office has recently implemented vaccination requirements for entering Unifor premises or for participating in Unifor events.

Therefore, the Local 506 Executive has decided to postpone sub-local meetings until we get more info on these restrictions and when we feel confident it is safe to meet face-to-face once again.

Name our Newsletter!

We want a catchy name for our new newsletter and we want to hear your suggestions! Send us your ideas to unionoffice@unifor506.ca and we’ll put all the entries in a draw for a$100 gift card!

Reminder

If you have a question, an issue you need to discuss, a safety concern, require personal support, or wish to have a union representative at a meeting with the company, please contact us at 506-634-8810 or unionoffice@unifor506.ca

Click link to see Newsletter in PDF format… https://unifor506.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Unifor-506-Bulletin-Updated-Sept-16-RED.pdf