|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The History
|
|
|
|
Please see our blog for the most complete and current information at:
http://sgeustrike.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Monday, March 10, 2008
- 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.
- Today’s vote comes just over a week after an earlier proposed settlement was rejected.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
- The Regina & District Labour Council honour CEP 481 and its president with awards at its annual awards night and banquet.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
- 100 Days of Resistance Rallies were held in Regina and Saskatoon today to mark the 100th day of the lock-out.
- 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 SGEU’s head office.
- CULE has advised CEP 481 and the SFL that it will now also boycott any events where SGEU representatives are in attendance.
- CEP 481’s and SGEU’s bargaining committees meet at the negotiating table tomorrow in Regina.
|
|
|
|
100 Days
On Wednesday, February 13, 2008
CEP Local 481 Members
(employees of SGEU)
Will Have Been Locked Out by SGEU
For 100 Days.
We Will Be Marking This Date By Walking From the SGEU Office to the Sturdy Stone Building.
We Invite You to Come Out And –
“Walk Awhile With Our Shoes”
Please join us at the Sturdy Stone Building
(22nd Street Entrance) at noon on
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
If You Would Like to Join Us Earlier, You Can Meet Us At the SGEU Office, 1114 – 22nd Street W.
11 a.m. For Our Walk Downtown
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Sunday, February 10, 2008
- On 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.
- CEP has asked the SFL’s Collective Bargaining/Strike Strategy Committee to consider suspending 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, February 6, 2008
- CUPE’s Winter School wrapped up this past weekend in Moose Jaw. Participants and facilitators gave our local president and vice-president a wonderful reception and collected more than $1000.00 as a donation to our local.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
- 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.
- The two sides also agreed to a pre-hearing with SLRB staff on February 25.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
- 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.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
- 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. Members unanimously supported the negotiating committee’s assessment that the offer was inadequate and not acceptable.
- 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 staff of CUPE and SUN have written to tell us they will refuse to participate in any meetings or events also attended by SGEU members or representatives, as long as this dispute goes unresolved.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
- CEP 481’s bargaining committee spent a long day yesterday with the employer’s committee, but without success.
Monday, January 14, 2008
- 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. CEP 481 has agreed and will be meeting for the first time since November 6, 2007.
Friday, January 11, 2008
- Bob Bymoen refused our invitation to return to the bargaining table.
- CEP 481 raised $245 at Thursday’s social and the money will be donated to a local charity.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
- CEP 481 members from across the province met in Regina for an informal rally followed by an update meeting and social in the evening which was attended by many of our supporters.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
- CEP 481’s negotiating committee invited SGEU President Bob Bymoen and his committee to return to the bargaining table. He is considering the invitation and said he will respond by noon tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
- Merry Christmas!
- The members of CEP Local 481 would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
- We would especially like to thank the many individuals and organizations that have offered support to us through these 8 weeks. May your generosity of time and resources be revisited to you one hundredfold over this season and into the new year.
|
|
|
|
T’was the night before Christmas’
And all over town
The whole labour movement
Was wearing a frown.
Talks for a contract
Had been held through the year
In the hope that good reason
Soon would be near.
CEP 481
Was on the picket line
With visions that fairness
Would soon make things fine.
Big Bob in his wisdom
And Barry opined
“We’ll show them, we’ll keep them
Out for a very long time.”
But off in the real world
There arose such a clatter
Trade unionists said,
“My gosh, what’s the matter?
“The chiefs of the union
(If it can be called that)
Show no union principles
While themselves getting fat.”
So poor CEP
The 481 type
Were out on the street
Without any hype.
But what to their wondering
Eyes should appear
But the whole labour movement
To support them, no fear.
With coffee and doughnuts
And money, so quick
We knew labour would help us
As well as St. Nick.
C.U.P.E, R.W
COPE, S.F.L.
CEP, CSU
All joined in the yell,
“Now Bad Bob, now Barry
Provincial Council too,
You must end this lock-out
And the damage you do
“Go back to the table
Go back to the talks
Forget take-aways
And no longer balk
“At a fair deal for staff
How hard can it be?
Give them what you got.
Pretty simple, you see.”
So dash away, dash away
Dash away all
And focus your efforts
On the worst Grinch, Brad Wall.
Good labour stood firm
In the face of the fight
And gave CEP
Their backing and might.
We thank you, we love you
We’re glad you were there
To see us through hard times
So the cupboard’s not bare.
But through all the cold
The wind and the snow
We know who our friends are
And who is our foe.
We’re standing together
In this long, long sad fight
But our wish for today is
As the year’s out of sight….
Merry Christmas to all
And to all a good night!
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
- Members set up secondary picket-lines at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre, Saskatoon Correctional Centre and the Ramada Hotel in downtown Regina where SGEU members have been performing our work.
- 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.
Monday, December 17, 2007
- 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.
- SGEU remains mute about any steps last week’s Provincial Council meeting might have taken to resolve the lock-out.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
- SGEU’s main governing body the Provincial Council began discussing what to do about the
lock-out.
- Discussions will resume tomorrow morning.
Monday, December 10, 2007
- A rally was held at the Legislative Building in Regina on the opening day of the Legislature.
- See our leaflet below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rally to Defend Workers’ Rights
Join us in the first rally to defend workers’ rights under the new government!
CEP Local 481 – the locked-out staff of SGEU – invite you to join us for the opening of the legislature:
Where: on the steps of the Legislature
When: Monday, December 10. 12:00 noon
Even though SGEU staff are locked-out, we are still committed to defending the hard-won rights of all workers in this province.
We need to defend…
- the Trade Union Act
- the right to strike
- the right to free collective bargaining
For more information, contact CEP Local 481 president Kelly Diebel at 530-0828.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
- Picketing commenced at SGEU's newest office location in Regina: 805 Victoria Avenue East. Coincidentally, this is the same office space used recently as a campaign headquarters by NDP MLA and former SGEU elected officer Kevin Yates.
- 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 ...
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
- 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.
- 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.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
- 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.
- Earlier this week, a CEP 481 representative spoke to the Saskatoon & District Labour Council.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
- 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.
Friday, November 23, 2007
- 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.
- 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.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
- 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! 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.
Monday, November 19, 2007
- CEP 481 members continue to leaflet SGEU offices. The response has been positive.
- Preparations are in full swing for a support rally in Regina on Friday, November 23.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
- Locked-out CEP 481 members at all three office locations visited SGEU members' workplaces today to distribute information leaflets about the dispute.
- Several union leaders joined picketers on the line in front of SGEU head office and for a noon-hour barbeque.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
- 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.
Friday, November 9, 2007
- 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!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
- Picketing continued today at all three office locations.
- Members from other unions and retired members of CEP 481 stopped by to walk the picket line with us.
- Suppliers have refused to cross our picket lines to provide goods and services to SGEU.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
- Bob Bymoen, president and acting executive director of operations of SGEU, locked out the union's 60 employees at 3 p.m. today. The notice of lock-out came to the members of CEP 481 two hours after negotiations broke off and staff had commenced strike action at the union's three offices.
Monday, November 5, 2007
- CEP 481's negotiating committee met with the SGEU’s committee today. The two sides will return to the table tomorrow morning
Thursday, May 17, 2007
- Dave MacNeil, CEP 481 President addressed the SFL Executive Council.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Prince Albert office job action
- A picket line was set up by the CEP 481 members outside the Prince Albert office which shut down the second day of an arbitration as well as affecting the Regional Colleges ratification meeting.
- They were joined on the picket line by CUPE members; health care members; the grievor and two witnesses from the arbitration and two members of Provincial Council.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
LTD, Cancer bargaining targeted
- Long-Term Disability Plan staff as well as the staff rep attached to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency bargaining table were off the job Wednesday as job action continued.
- The LTD staff set up an 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.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Members and retirees re-affirm solidarity
- Members of CEP 481 held their semi-annual general membership meeting in Regina today.
- 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." The retirees wished us the best in negotiating a fair settlement.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Saskatoon office hit by rotating strike
- At 7:30 a.m. 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.
- This rotating job action ended at 5 p.m.
Monday, April 30, 2007
No action by employer
- All SGEU employees – members of CEP 481 – were at work and performing their duties today. Although SGEU served lock-out notice on Friday, on the eve of the international day to celebrate workers' rights (May 1st) SGEU did not take any lock-out action.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Strike action in Prince Albert & Lock-out notice served by SGEU
- A picket line went up in front of SGEU’s Prince Albert office at 7:30 a.m. Several Step 2 meetings were scheduled to take place there. A chief steward tried to move the meetings to the MacIntosh 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 grievors, who had not known why their hearings were relocated, refused to continue. They shook the picketers’ hands on their 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.
- 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 legally be able to lock out its workers.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Back to work
- No rotating job action occurred today.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Convention is shut down
- 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.
- SGEU’s bargaining committee contacted the president of CEP 481 before noon, requesting a return to the bargaining table. We expected that this meant the employer had something new to communicate. However, it only took a few minutes' conversation to realize that SGEU was not prepared to change its position at all and after about three hours talks broke off with both sides at an impasse.
- At 5:30 p.m. management was officially told that all staff were again available for regular job duties.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Strike action begins
- 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
|
|
|
