Greetings members of Unifor Local 2000,
I hope this message finds you all well as we are nearing the end of 2022. This past year has been a busy one as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and things are starting to return to a pre-pandemic state. It was a busy year of bargaining where we renewed many collective agreements throughout the local. We have others we are currently working on and still others we will begin bargaining next year.
During the Summer we saw new leadership elected at Unifor’s Constitutional Convention, including national President Lana Payne, Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier, Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier, Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray, Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi, and Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.
In the late Fall we saw the departure of our local’s Secretary-Treasurer Jennifer Moreau as she took on a position as a National Representative with Unifor. Our Vice-President Bill Catterall was recently acclaimed as our new Secretary-Treasurer, I look forward to working with Bill in the future to continue to support and represent all of you. We will be bringing Bill into our office effective Jan. 9. I will assist in bringing Bill up to speed on the files formerly serviced by Jennifer as he will be the servicing officer on most of those files. The only exception will be that I will be servicing Purdy’s Chocolatier going forward. We will send out an update on servicing assignments early next year.
Looking ahead to 2023, we have more bargaining to do. We also plan at looking at organizing again. With recent changes to the Provincial Labour code regarding card check, it should make it easier to organize workers in BC. We would like to diversify and grow the local membership by representing workers from other industries. We already do that with our Purdy’s folks along with all the print shops, newspapers, radio and television stations throughout the Province. The biggest key to organizing new workers into the union is relationships. So I am asking you folks, if anyone has any family and friends who could benefit having a union represent them, please contact me at [email protected]. We would be happy to help them.
On behalf of myself, Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Catterall, and Vice-Presidents Stephanie Ip and Pat Bulmer, along with our Local Executive Board, I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for your assistance and support throughout the year. We couldn’t have made the contract gains we have without your support. We have been through a lot together, with Covid and its variants, crazy weather and high inflation. Together, we will continue to improve working conditions not just for our members but for all workers in BC. Unifor is an extended family for all of us and together we are building a great union movement and a social union that cares about our members, their families, and our communities.
So, to everyone, I want to wish you and your families a safe and wonderful Holiday Season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Kwanza or any other holiday you may be celebrating as we end this year. I hope you get the chance to relax and be with family. Happy New Year!
In solidarity,
Brian Gibson
President
PS I will be out of the office on vacation until January 9, 2023. I will monitor emails periodically, but if there is an emergency, you can call the Union Office at 604-408-0746 and choose extension 2. Happy Holidays Everyone!
BG/cmc
ppwc local 5
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