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On September 12th, I attended the 594 Shop Steward Strategic Planning Meeting. In an effort to improve communication, hear concerns, provide a positive atmosphere and rejuvenate our team, the Executive has made the meeting a yearly priority. In order for the Executive and stewards to better equip themselves to serve the Membership, these meetings are proving instrumental in improving and focusing on our long and short-term goals.
Richard Exner, President, opened up the meeting with the State and Future of 594. Where we are at and where we are going. These questions are vital as we are about to head into negotiation prep for our next collective agreement. He reminded us that our current agreement expires in only 16 months. While this might seem like a topic most don’t want to really talk about yet, it most likely has been in the back of our minds for the last 5 years. It’s crazy that it has been that long. One important thing to remember as we head into preparations, as it was pointed out, was that our voter turnout last negotiations was extremely high. Over 90%. These are numbers that other locals can only dream of, and something we should be extremely proud of. We must remember that our solidarity is unmatched and keeping it alive and well is key. Another topic that was brought up was our staffing issues. Workers are expressing concern over fatigue and burnout. Many feel that committing so many extra hours is becoming less about the money, and more about retaining our work. Staffing the shops appropriately is the only sustainable avenue to ensure the health and safety of all employees.
Ryan Shillingford, Bargaining Chair, followed up with a bargaining update. He highlighted the need for the membership to really look at what benefits and language improvements they would like to see. As stewards, we welcome any ideas that you may have. We really want to get creative moving forward and the best way to do that is to discuss and brainstorm ways to improve our workplace. We as Shop Stewards can be your direct line and encourage you to let us know what you’re thinking. That said, there will be a pre-bargaining survey coming this fall with approximately 40 questions. This will be the first step we need to really target and provide a clear direction for our Executive.
We were also introduced to Evan Heisler, who provided an update on the Ethanol Complex. He explained why the workers felt the need to get organized and why they chose us as their preferred local to amalgamate with. Aside from many obvious reasons, he shared that we had the knowledge, experience, dedication and solidarity to guide them to ultimately improve their workplace and secure a fair Collective Agreement. There was also a discussion about how this merger will benefit us Refinery workers. Even though they will have a completely separate Collective Agreement, there is strength in numbers. We have depended on that strength in the past, as many of you will remember, and it has helped us in ways we never thought possible.
A Grievance update by Kurt Haakensen, Chief Shop Steward, had some interesting highlights. The grievance backlog project has made significant progress since inception, with 38 left to address. We have seen better success in the step 1 meetings, but there is still much work to be done. There were 49 grievances filed so far this year. While that number is trending in the right direction, it is still a far cry from a time when a handful was considered high. Mutual cooperation is the only way to lower these numbers.
Wade Schnell and Karl Dahle, Process and Maintenance VP gave a review of our employee meeting practices. This is always helpful, as providing a refresher on how to better represent members who are faced with a wide range of issues gives us the tools we need to be successful. Having a professional and respectful dialogue is of utmost importance and is the best path forward for all parties involved.
Accommodation Chair Charles Brittner discussed the benefits and challenges of our accommodation committee. The need for members to have access to proper accommodation is vital. If you have any questions or concerns regarding accommodation, please reach out to your shop steward or Charles Brittner.
Lisa Taman, Women’s Advocate, concluded the morning agenda by stating they are still getting calls and providing support for those in need and experiencing domestic abuse. These support resources are open to all; anyone experiencing the negative effects of a violent partner, please know that there is someone to speak to in a completely confidential setting. Email womens.advocate@unifor594.com anytime.
The afternoon breakout sessions were extremely helpful in getting stewards’ concerns in their respective departments out to open ears. These sessions were a great way for everyone to put their heads together and share ideas on ways to work through the issues we face in our specific areas.
It was a very productive and positive conference, 594’s shop stewards thank the Executive and the Membership as we forge a path to a future where all workers are empowered to make their collective voice heard.
In Solidarity,
Nathan Fafard, Stores Shop Steward
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