State of the Union

2011 - A Year to be Proud Of!

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Your Local Union accomplished significant strides throughout the past year that will help us move forward through 2012 with renewed energy and clear objectives.

2011 was unprecedented in terms of activities that helped cement a solid foundation for our Local Union. Some of the highlights include:

  • The IBT Convention
  • 40% of our contracts were renewed
  • A number of new members organized
  • A 92% ratification vote at Purolator to end the year

The mandate given from the membership in August was significant. It demonstrated to us that you are satisfied with the progress we are making. In saying that, it proved that the right Executive board was in place that works well together. You have given us another opportunity to carry our record forward and build on it. From the representatives to the administration and the Executive Board, we need to be accountable. This, you can be assured will continue throughout the term.

Contract negotiations represented a major part of the Business Agents activities this year; it was made clear to me from the high level of support from the membership in the ratification of their collective agreements that the negotiating committee’s achieved the goals set by the members.  It is you that sets the bar as to your expectations. In most cases, they were accomplished. I am pleased with the outcome.

My objective at the IBT Convention was to represent you in the best possible manner. We more than accomplished this goal and left a lasting impression on our American brothers and sisters. Having being elected to the IBT General Executive Board as a Vice President is a great honor and I appreciate the support.

While always mindful that we must represent our existing members, it is important that we continue to grow as well. Several organizing gains in our core industries were made in that regard during 2011. We will continue to do so in order to maintain a solid Local Union on your behalf.

Undoubtedly, our Local 938 Purolator bargaining team led the way in insuring that a successful contract would be accomplished just prior to Christmas for Purolator members right across the country. They got the job done! I am extremely proud of our team and of course, the result. An unprecedented 92% of the members voted to ratify the 5-year contract.

I believe that our future looks very positive at the Local Union, notwithstanding the difficult economic conditions now facing Canada and the world. We are debt free, and we are in a financial position to take on any challenges that we might face in the coming years.

We are starting 2012 with a new Business Agent, Wayne Franklin and we welcome him to our family here at Local 938, he will be a very good fit. Wayne has the character to do an excellent job and we are pleased to have him on the team. We have also made a number of internal changes including policies and procedures that will help us to continue to provide the excellent representation you have come to expect from us.

We will be announcing some positive new initiatives with the Local 938 health and welfare plan early in 2012. We know they will make things much better and easier for our members. More on these announcements around March.

Finally, I would like to thank our staff, our Business Agents, our Executive Board and particularly, our Stewards, for helping Local 938 have an outstanding year in 2011. Our Stewards are the front line of defense for this Local Union. I believe we have the best group of Stewards in the Teamsters Union They are well educated and versed in what is required to represent the members well. They do an outstanding job! Not only do they support the Local Union, they support their co-workers and their community as well. We can make things happen within this building but we can’t make it work outside the building without our Stewards.

Wishing you all a successful, safe and happy 2012.

Your in solidarity,

Craig McInnes, President,
Teamsters Local Union No. 938

(Las Vegas) The International Brotherhood of Teamsters opened their 28th International Convention in late June with plenty of noise and a new resolve to stand up for the American (and by association, Canadian) dream.

Living up to its theme of “Vision, Solidarity, Action”, delegates and guests were treated to a raucous tribute to the union that included images and video that were both current and historic. Members celebrated their role in the fight for workers’ rights as drummers, dancers and Harley Davidson motorcycles revved up the opening ceremony.

This International Convention, which is held every five years, is the supreme policy-making body of the union with the power and authority to modify the Constitution, establish programs, address fiscal issues and set priorities. Delegates at this convention considered a number of constitutional measures and resolutions. They also had the important task of nominating candidates for the International offices of General President, General Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President and Trustees.

The theme of the convention’s first day was, “Stop the War on Workers,” from attacks by extremist politicians, bad trade deals and policies that undermine the middle class. Delegates passed resolutions to support public workers, to oppose job-killing trade deals, to keep the border closed to dangerous Mexican trucks; to fight against right-to-work bills to destroy unions; and to stop the war on workers.

The following are excerpts from a recent discussion with Teamsters Local President, Craig McInnes regarding the success of the convention from his perspective. EDITOR

Team Local 938 Representatives at the 2011 IBT International Convention.

(L to R) Rick Davies, John Hull, Fred Randall, Vince Johnson, Peter Burgess, John Gorman, Craig McInnes, George Stockwell, Joe Freeman, Bob Miles, Joe Jephson, Mike Broderick, Shahan Simon, and Joe Castellano.
Missing from photo: Omkar Maraj and Stuart Villeneuve

For a video preview of some of the important highlights of the Convention see 938-TV