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News Releases
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Media Release - December 18, 2007
SGEU’s locked-out staff are ramping up their campaign to get their employer back to the bargaining table. Secondary picket lines are being set up today at the Ramada Hotel in Regina, and the Correctional Centres in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
The 59 staff who work for SGEU, members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ Union (CEP) Local 481, were locked-out by SGEU leaders on November 6, 2007. Since then, CEP members have agreed to mediation and have asked to return to the bargaining table. SGEU leaders have refused mediation and refused to resume contract talks.
“We have to turn up the heat on those misguided individuals who have had their workers locked out for six weeks and insist on keeping them out in the cold throughout this holiday season,” said Kelly Diebel, CEP Local 481 president.
The Ramada Hotel will be picketed because SGEU officials have set up offices there. The Correctional Centres have been targeted because many of the elected leaders who are working to prolong this dispute are from corrections or young offenders facilities.
“Many SGEU members and a significant number of SGEU elected leaders want to return to the bargaining table to settle this dispute. However, a small but powerful group within the SGEU leadership is pushing an anti-union, anti-worker agenda. It is these individuals we are targeting,” said Rhoda Kosar, CEP National Representative.
SGEU’s elected leadership is currently dominated by workers from corrections and young offenders facilities. Even though they make up only 3 per cent of the total SGEU membership, they hold 26 per cent of seats on SGEU’s governing body, the Provincial Council.
The picket line at the Ramada Hotel went up at 7:00 a.m. today. The picket line at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre will go up for the shift change from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. In Prince Albert, the picket line will be set up for shift change between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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For more information, contact:
Rhoda Kosar, CEP National Rep - (306) 539-8808
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481 - (306) 530-0828
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Media Release - December 10, 2007
The staff who work for the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) will set up an information picket at the opening of the Legislature on Monday, December 10, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
The 58 women and men who work for SGEU are members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers’ Union (CEP) Local 481. They have been locked-out by SGEU leaders for more than a month.
“Even though we are locked-out, as committed trade unionists we are determined to stand up and speak out on behalf of SGEU members and all Saskatchewan workers,” said CEP Local 481 president Kelly Diebel.
“We are concerned the new Saskatchewan Party government is specifically targeting work performed by SGEU members as areas that could be designated essential services,” Diebel said.
“SGEU members are particularly vulnerable now, since SGEU has no staff to provide support, advocacy and services to SGEU members during this lockout,” Kate McKinley, CEP National Representative added.
“SGEU, rather than working to support its members in a time when their rights are threatened, has chosen to attack its own workers. SGEU leaders are modeling the kind of anti-worker, anti-union behaviour that we fear will be in store for many public sector workers in years to come,” added McKinley.
CEP Local 481 members have been trying to bargain a collective agreement with SGEU for two and a half years. After refusing to accept the concessions and takeaways demanded by SGEU leaders they began job action on November 6. SGEU responded by locking out CEP members. Since then, the SGEU leadership has refused to engage in mediation and refused to return to the bargaining table.
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For more information, contact:
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep - (306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481 - (306) 530-0828
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Media Release – December 6, 2007
The dispute between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) Local 481 and SGEU changed focus today. The CEP members have set up picket lines and will be concentrating their efforts at the site of the temporary satellite offices set up by SGEU at 805 Victoria Avenue in Regina. CEP National Rep Kate McKinley said, “Any place the SGEU sets up offices will be picketed by us from now on. We have tried to be understanding and to let Bob Bymoen work in peace but from now on, as long as he continues to reject all efforts to get back to the bargaining table, we will dog him day and night.”
CEP continues to work with the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour to find a way to get talks restarted but to date all efforts have been fruitless.
CEP Local 481 President Kelly Diebel said, “One of our real concerns is the signal that SGEU’s leadership is sending to Brad Wall. When this dispute is settled, our members will have to return to the various bargaining tables and negotiate with the Government. We hope that Brad Wall isn’t picking up pointers from Bob.
CEP offered to come back to the bargaining table Thursday and Friday of this week to try and seek a resolution to some of the outstanding issues but SGEU continues to reject our efforts.
CEP Local 481 members are employees of the SGEU. CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the forestry sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.
-30-
For more information please contact
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep - (306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481 - (306) 530-0828
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Media Release – December 5, 2007
The dispute between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) Local 481 and SGEU continues today without any sign of a resolution. CEP was locked out November 6.
In an effort to find a way to resolve this dispute the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour has tried to assist both parties by offering to find an independent mediator who could help broker a settlement.
“We met with SFL President Larry Hubich and have agreed to bring in a third party.” said CEP National Rep Kate McKinley, “We believe that having someone who has no ties to either side might just pave the way to finding a compromise solution. We also believe that, who so ever we can agree on, should be asked to make written recommendations.”
McKinley went on to say, “Unfortunately SGEU has rejected the SFL offer of mediation and has also rejected the notion of issuing a public report. We can only surmise from that, that SGEU does not want to get back to the table and does not want to negotiate a fair agreement with their Staff. CEP appreciates the efforts made by the Larry Hubich and the SFL. It is truly unfortunate that SGEU has rejected our overtures, out of hand.”
CEP Local 481 President Kelly Diebel said, “After more than a month on the picket line we are disappointed that Bob Bymoen continues to reject all our efforts made in an effort to find a way to resolve this dispute. It is frustrating; we get messages of support from SGEU members daily but the union isn’t listening. Our fight isn’t with the members. Their leadership has taken the union on this misguided adventure, seemingly blind to the consequences. The leadership of SGEU are treating their employees worse than any government has ever treated them”
CEP offered to come back to the bargaining table Thursday and Friday of this week to try and seek a resolution to some of the outstanding issues but SGEU has refused.
CEP Local 481 members are employees of the SGEU. CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the forestry sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.
-30-
For more information please contact
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep - (306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481 - (306) 530-0828
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Media Release – November 23, 2007
Rally to support locked-out SGEU employees
The trade union movement across Saskatchewan joined the locked-out employees of SGEU at a noon rally Friday in a show of support and solidarity for the workers. The 60 employees, members of CEP Local 481, have been without a contract for 2 1/2 years and were locked out by their employer, the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union, on November 6, 2007. The rally took place at 1440 Broadway Avenue in Regina.
SGEU has been demanding concessions at the bargaining table and offered its employees a 0% wage increase in the first year of the contract, 1% in the second year and 2% in the third year. Most SGEU members, and SGEU out-of-scope managers, received a 10% wage increase, plus bonuses, during the same period. The term of the contract currently being negotiated has already expired in July 2007.
Kelly Diebel, President of CEP 481 said, “We’re here today to say that this type of concession bargaining is not acceptable, not to us, and not to the union movement as a whole.” Ms. Diebel went on to say, “But what concerns us most are how these regressive and destructive actions by the SGEU leaders will affect SGEU members and all union workers in the future. We must join together to tell SGEU to start acting like a trade union and stop acting like a bad boss.”
Members of CEP Local 481 are employees of the SGEU. The Local represents administrative and accounting staff of the union, the SGEU Long Term Disability Plan and servicing staff that negotiate collective agreements, handle grievances, provide advocacy, education, communications, research and other membership services on behalf of the SGEU membership.
CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the forestry sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.
-30-
For more information please contact
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep - (306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481 - (306) 530-0828
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Media Advisory
A rally will be held to support the locked-out employees of SGEU, members of CEP Local 481. Trade unions from across the province will join the CEP 481 Regina picket line to protest the lock-out and show their solidarity with the workers. Locked-out employees from the Prince Albert and Saskatoon offices will be in attendance. A barbecue lunch will be provided.
Date: Friday, November 23, 2007
Time: 12 noon
Location: Regina SGEU office
1440 Broadway Avenue
Speaker: Larry Hubich
President
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
For more information, check out www.sgeustaffstrike.ca
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Media Release – November 9, 2007
The labour dispute between the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) Local 481 and SGEU continues today without any sign of a resolution. A short time after the job action started earlier this week SGEU President Bob Bymoen personally served CEP with a notice of lock out, making it clear those CEP members were not welcome back at work.
“Since the dispute began we have received several calls in our office from SGEU members, apologizing for the actions of their union’s leadership. These members cannot understand why SGEU is conducting themselves like some right wing employer.” said CEP National Rep Kate McKinley. CEP has also received several messages of support from members of other trade unions expressing concern about SGEU’s actions.
Kelly Diebel, President of CEP Local 481 said today, “We have not had to resort to job action to settle our agreement for over 30 years. All we want from our employer is the same thing SGEU members want when they go the bargaining table, a fair settlement.” Ms. Diebel went on to say, “What makes this very disheartening is that most of us came from within SGEU and in the course of doing our jobs, we provide service to those members day to day. Many, many of the members of SGEU are our friends. It is the leadership that has lost its compass.”
No talks are scheduled.
Members of CEP Local 481 are employees of the SGEU. The Local represents administrative and accounting staff of the union, the SGEU Long Term Disability Plan and servicing staff that negotiate collective agreements, handle grievances, provide advocacy, education, communications, research and other membership services on behalf of the SGEU membership.
CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the forestry sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.
-30-
For more information please contact
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep
(306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481
(306) 530-0828
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Media Release – November 6, 2007
After efforts to negotiate a new collective agreement dragged on for almost two and a half years, the members of Local 481 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) have said enough is enough. Talks between CEP and the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) broke off this afternoon and the CEP members set up picket lines around SGEU’s offices in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert half an hour later.
Talks stalled as a result of SGEU’s continued demand for concessions in bargaining and as a result of the employer’s inadequate wage offer. SGEU has offered their employees increases of 0% in the first year, 1% in the second and 2% in the third year in a three year agreement. The term of that agreement would have already expired in July 2007 and the employer has refused to negotiate beyond that point.
Kate McKinley, CEP National Representative said this afternoon, “We are very disappointed in SGEU’s approach to bargaining. We have made every effort to find a way to resolve our issues but we have been stonewalled at the bargaining table. Frankly, we expect better from a trade union employer.”
Members of CEP Local 481 are employees of the SGEU. The Local represents administrative and accounting staff of the union, the SGEU Long Term Disability Plan and servicing staff that negotiate collective agreements, handle grievances, provide advocacy, education, communications, research and other membership services on behalf of the SGEU membership.
CEP is a broad based trade union representing 150,000 workers in many industries across Canada. In Saskatchewan the 9000 CEP members work in a wide variety of locations which includes the IT sector, the petro-chemical industry, potash mines, the television and printing industries and at most of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporations.
-30-
For more information please contact
Kate McKinley, CEP National Rep
(306) 527-5723
Kelly Diebel, President CEP Local 481
(306) 530-0828
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