January 25, 2010
BROTHER GRANT DARLEY ASKED FOR YOUR HELP TO SUPPORT HIM IN HIS EFFORTS AS
COACH TO THE PENNINSULA FC 95 U-15 BOYS SOCCER TEAM
TO RAISE FUNDS TO GO TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR A TOURNAMENT FEBRUARY 11TH
– 15TH 2010.
GRANT WISHES TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY DROPPING OFF YOUR HOLIDAY REFUNDABLE CANS AND BOTTLES AT OUR NEW UNION OFFICE AT 4248 GLANFORD AVE. ON SUNDAY JANUARY 10TH.
NEARLY $1000 WAS RAISED!
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT!
December 1, 2009
Religious Accommodation
There has been a lot of bullpen discussion and speculation concerning one of members who requires a religious accommodation. The necessity for a religious accommodation is cemented in Human Rights legislation and in Canadian law, upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada (Please see the previous notice on this page for a look at that Judgment).
I am not going to get into an A-Z explanation of what is involved in making an accommodation; suffice it to say The Union must, and willingly does, make an accommodation. We have been doing this for years. We ask all of our members to support religious accommodation as well.
Last Friday, the employer signed the member’s name to a piece of work with Friday/Saturday off, without regard for seniority, and without the knowledge of the member signed, and despite the warnings of the Union that they were violating Article “O” 2.01 of the collective agreement. This precipitous action resulted in a suspension of the sign-up until the name was removed.
This act accomplished nothing other than inciting the anger of the membership and directing the anger toward the innocent member.
New Address for Local 333
Local 333, along with the other locals in the Vancouver Island District Council, are moving our offices to the 2nd Floor of 4248 Glanford Avenue, above Bartle & Gibson Plumbing. We have signed a five-year lease for this space.
We will be closing our present office on December 15 while we make the move into our new premises. We will be open for business at the new address on January 1, 2010. All telephone and fax numbers will remain the same.
We hope as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to visit our new digs in the New Year. More space, more parking, more facilities.
Last Operators Meeting at Old Address
Coincidentally the last Operators Meeting at 661 Burnside Rd. will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. It's a Golden opportunity to say goodbye to the old digs, rub shoulders with members new and old, and a chance to wish each other a Merry Christmas. Hope to see you there.
LR Jones, President
CAW Local 333
Winter Signup 2009/2010
November 28, 2009
As most of you are now aware, the Winter Signup has been halted. This is over an issue with BCT regarding seniority and the right of members to sign their own work.
At this time we have been told that there will be no decision coming from the company until at least Monday. We will keep you updated as information becomes available.
We wish to make it clear that this is not
the result of the actions of one of our members as some of you may be hearing.
To better understand the situation we would suggest that you take the time to read the following Supreme Court of Canada Judgment with regards to the Human Rights Act as it pertains to this incident.
http://csc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/1992/1992scr2-970/1992scr2-970.pdf
In Solidarity,
LR Jones, President
CAW Local 333
AFTER-HOURS ACCESS TO
WASHROOM AT VGH
November 26, 2009
Operators servicing Victoria General Hospital after-hours (After 21:00 and before 05:30) no longer have to walk around to the north side of the hospital to access the facilities.
The VGH Security Department suggests that drivers wanting access “after-hours” use the call button and intercom outside the entrance door at the South (old) Entrance.
Identify yourself as “BCTransit”. The security desk can confirm who’s at the door with the security camera that’s in place.
I hope that operators will be relieved----if you will pardon the pun!
for the OH&S Committee
LR Jones, President
CAW Local 333
Information Regarding Pre-trip
November 18, 2009
It has come to our attention that Commercial Vehicle Inspectors (CVI) may/will be instituting random spot checks on the road to verify that our Operators are complying with the pre-trip inspections and Vehicle Pre-Trip Card.
If you are the first operator of the day ,taking the bus out of the yard, you must ensure that you have carried out the pre-trip inspection and that the bus is safe to enter service, that you have signed the card with the current date and recorded the mileage, prior to leaving the yard.
If you relieve the bus on the road or take one out the yard later in the day you must ensure that there is a card on board properly signed and with the current date and mileage recorded. If not, you must call and request a pre-trip card, you must do a full pre-trip and fill out the card as if you were the first operator of the day.
DO NOT MOVE THE BUS UNTIL ALL THE FOREGOING IS COMPLETE!
If you require a change off on the road you must contact Dispatch and have it ensure that the Maintenance person, bringing the change-off, carry out the pre-trip and sign the card, with proper date and mileage, before they leave the yard. If it arrives without a properly filled-out card you must take the time to carry out the pre-trip procedures. Do not move the bus until all pre-trip conditions have been met. Further delays thus incurred are not your responsibility or concern; ensuring a safe vehicle is.
The Union is stressing this because if you are the “victim” of a spot check by a CVI and can not supply the properly filled-out Card you, not Transit, will be held personally liable for any sanctions, fines etc. levied by the CVI’s.
In closing the union urges all of us to take this responsibility seriously. It's nothing new in the transportation industry; it's just new to us. We as drivers, above all others, should support driving the safest equipment possible. Our input in this regard helps us approach that ideal. DRIVE SAFE!
LR Jones per
CAW Executive & your
Occupational Health & Safety Committee