|
 Nouvelles et évènements :
Nous allons de l’avant
Chers confrères et consœurs,
En tant que directeur des affaires canadiennes, j’aimerais en profiter pour vous remercier d’avoir pris le temps de répondre à mon appel à l’action. J’attendais de vos nouvelles avec impatience et vous avez donné suite à mon appel!
Je vous suis reconnaissant de vos opinions franches ainsi que de vos commentaires et recommandations. Je puis vous assurer que je ferai du mieux que je peux pour donner suite sans délai aux quelques préoccupations que vous avez soulevées.
Ensemble, nous assurerons la croissance de l’A.U. en créant des occasions et en tenant parole. Pour cela, je crois que nous devons :
- Avoir une vision claire de l’.Association unie pour pouvoir aller de l’avant ensemble et pour favoriser davantage de perspectives d’emploi pour nos membres.
- Créer une perception positive de l’A.U. dans l’esprit des gens, y compris dans l’esprit de nos membres, clients, propriétaires et entrepreneurs.
- Accroître notre degré d’influence au sein de l’industrie.
- Augmenter le nombre de nos membres et rétablir la loyauté au sein de l’A.U.
- Accroître le nombre d’entrepreneurs, de clients et de propriétaires affiliés à l’A.U.
Je vous ai fait part de mes idées. À votre tour maintenant de me communiquer vos idées. Comment croyez-vous que nous pourrions accomplir cette mission? Comment pouvez-vous nous y aider? Veuillez remplir le formulaire de rétroaction Nous allons de l’avant afin de me transmettre vos commentaires et suggestions.
Veuillez agréer mes salutations distinguées.
John Telford,
Directeur des affaires canadiennes
, Since then I have had the opportunity to get direct feedback from U.A. members, contractors and most importantly the clients that chose to use union labour. All parties seem to make the same statement, "Where have all the quality tradesmen gone?" I believe the schedule of our projects being shortened more and more is a direct factor in this issue, journeyman don't have proper time to teach their apprentices how to properly and efficiently execute the work given to them, before we know it these same apprentices turn journeyman and are not anywhere near ready.
My suggestion to ensure that the united association stays ahead of the competition is training, training and more training!!! Day after day all I hear from our clients in the industrial sector is ,"why don't these guy's have that training completed?" In most cases they are referring to basic safety training, harness awareness, aerial lift, forklift, confined space, SCBA training all of which most of us in the industrial sector have completed at one point in time in our careers but it seems every time we step foot onto a new or familiar site we go thru the same training at a huge cost the client. If the U.A. could lead the way in producing a industry standard that would be recognized across the country we would make ourselves much more attractive to the clients we are trying to get back and retain.
Regards,
Julien - UA Member - Manitoba - Canada 2008-06-16
Hello Mr Telford, I am a proud member of our union and I agree with all your points. I am working on a pet project with the MCAH business manager on a promotion for World water day (March 22nd).The idea is evolved from an article in Niagara This Week. Niagara falls is having a booth in a busy mall to promote World Water Day. My idea is we could have our local residential/commercial signatory contractors advertised by a representative at a large shopping mall such as Mapleview mall on world water day every year to promote health of the environment, protecting and improving water quality and water conservation. We could have a information booth with Local stickers the contractors names who do installations, show places we have worked such as ZENON a world leader in filtration systems(We built and maintain that facility and many others in the related field). Maybe even give away low flow shower heads (That could be donated) promote back flow preventers and other techniques beneficial to the cause. I feel this could promote business for both Local and our signatory contractors by advertising services and installations. The contractors may even donate to have their names included/advertised. We could also get the government to help with the promotion as they are doing for Niagara through the conservation authority. The public would also get a better sense of how much we care and do for our community. The Local newspapers could be used to inform people of free low flow shower heads to get people to come there. The mall would benefit we would benefit our contractors would benefit and so would the environment. We have met and she is taking it in front of her Education committee and executive board for further review. Wanda loves the idea and sees it like a yearly trade show promoting all of us. Also I e-mailed her some links to forward or print in her newsletter regarding financial incentive programs offered by the city of Hamilton.
http://www.myhamilton.ca/.../Index.htm These grants may help the contractors to lower their bids and give them access to revenue through grants.
Another link I sent her was regarding the apprentice training tax credit.
http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/credit/attc/.
I applied for the organizer position for SW Ontario but did not get accepted. I would like to organize in Hamilton/ Niagara. I constantly cut out articles from the newspaper with such adds like "Get your gas fitters ticket in 1 week". www.getatrade.com. I feel threatened by CLAC and Niagara Skilled Trades Academy and wish I could further focus my time towards organizing efforts. We should try to organize their teachers or recruit apprentices/workers from them depending on skill level. We could even have out of work members join CLAC as a SPY to leak info such as open periods ect. Allot of open periods are displayed on their website.
http://www.clac.ca/information/news_releases/
Another idea I had is to have a course at our hall for members who want to start their own business. We could encourage and give them info on how to get started and become successful. Having their names would not hurt ether because if they do not appear to be working (name is on the out of work list for an extended period of time) chances are they have started their own non-union business. This would make it easier for us to organize and increase the number of contractors.
If we put our wage scale on display in a brochure at suppliers. (eg Hamilton plumbing supply etc) the non union people would see how much they could be potentially making. A contact number on the brochure could help them join and help us organize.
I was excited to hear the advertisement on 977 HTZ FM (Radio Station) recruiting UA pipefitters and welders to Alberta. Niagara Skilled Trades academy constantly advertises on there and its good to know we are covering all our bases.
You will have to excuse the format of this e-mail but be assured I am doing my best and if there is any other way I can help let me know.
Yours in Solidarity
Dennis - UA Member - Canada [Top] --->
|
