Labor Union Staff

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Comment by Blaine Donais on May 7, 2011 at 16:31

Hi All:

 

I have been wondering this for a long time.  Do you think there is any interest/advantage in having a national or international "association of union staff"?  I am thinking such an organization would provide us an opportunity for dialogue - developing best practices as it relates to organizing, training, local servicing etc.  Also it would help us have a "voice" in the labour movement that is sometimes deliberately muted.

 

Anyway, I would be curious to know what others think

Comment by Martin d'Entremont on April 19, 2011 at 15:00

I was a member of a staff union created by the staff servicing a union. We were small in numbers (10) and enjoyed a decent relationship with our Employer. We set dues relatively high at first but because we weren't facing a bad relationship we had enough resources to fund ourselves. I work for the United Nurses of Alberta and we belong to the United Steelworkers of America. I am somewhat ambivalent about Steel but they will accept union staff as members.

Comment by Joseph Riedel on April 19, 2011 at 13:45

I am part of a newly recognized staff union in the mid-atlantic region and was wondering if anyone could recommend a good staff union Local that I can recommend that we affiliate with. OPEIU is already out, so scratch that one.

Comment by Doug Taylor on March 11, 2011 at 20:00

Glad to hear you settled Denise.

When we were looking for a union to join (we used to be a direct affiliate of the CLC), CEP was the only only union that said they welcomed union staff into their union. Hats off to CEP.

Comment by Denise Doherty on March 11, 2011 at 16:41

CEP 3011 Strike averted - Democracy prevailed but justice failed. A few members benefited greatly from this struggle while the majority received lower that what had been legislated for our members. Pension was taken away from term employees. Guess who will lose it next time.Thank you to all those who supported us in this bi-annual struggle. While our inter staff association clearly sold us out as some members were clearly rewarded for being management stooges, CEP got us our strike vote and rejection of the first offer. . The next round concessions are predictable.

Thanks Doug for the post on your lockout

Comment by Lorenzo Canizares on March 11, 2011 at 16:02

This incident proves a truth that we all should heed. Employers are Employers everywhere, and the goal of many is to squash Workers ability to defend themselves.

 

Doug, How is the company doing economically, apart from the fact of suspending its defined benefit plan?

Comment by Doug Taylor on March 11, 2011 at 6:15

No, unfortunately the local was torn apart internally and placed under trusteeship (I don't blame CEP for doing that though, they are a good union). The employer continued its attack on their workers by closing down our defined benefit plan because it had a deficit. Pensions are being reduced to pensioners by 10-12% as a result. I retired a few years after the lock-out.

Comment by Lorenzo Canizares on March 11, 2011 at 4:30

Doug, you guys certainly showed a lot of stamina. How you all are doing now? Did the fight brought people closer together?

Comment by Doug Taylor on March 11, 2011 at 4:24

For Denise and her brother and sisters at CEP 3011.

 

We were locked out (CEP 481) by our union employer for 4 1/2 months.

Visit the link below for more info...

http://sgeustrike.blogspot.com/

In Solidarity!

Comment by Lorenzo Canizares on February 4, 2011 at 17:06

Many times Unions are the worst employers. Some have been known to fire or lock-out their staff because they have attempted to organize.

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