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LETTERS TO THE EDITORRetirement thanksDear TWU:I would like to thank you for thehonourary life membership, the chequefor 1,000 and 36 years of great service.Dan MacDonaldLocal 36, CranbrookDear TWU:I would like to thank the TWU forthe honourary life membership and the 1,000.Carol Honour,Maple RidgeDear TWU:I accepted the ERIP and retired atthe end of July.I wish to thank the TWU for all ofthe hard work and support over theyears, and continued success in thefuture. Thank you.Verna R. Brown,Local 14Dear TWU:I would like to thank the TWU forthe Honourary Life Membership, retirement pin, and 1,000 which I received upon my retirement August 1.I greatly enjoyed my 34 years as aTWU member. I would also like tothank Executive Council and all TWUmembers for a job well done.Sincerely,Vicky Zallas,Surrey, B.C.EDMONTON OFFICE#103 - 10525-170 StreetEdmonton, Alta, T5P 4W2Ph. 780-488-2223Fax: 780-488-6911Dear TWU:I wish to thank the TWU for themuch appreciated 1000 cheque andhonorary life membership, presentedby Rob Moubray at my retirement celebration. Thanks to everyone for thegreat party.Congratulations on the successfulTWU vote.Yours sincerely,Tom KilpatrickPenticton, KelownaDear TWU:Thank you for the 1000 cheque andthe Certificate of Honourary LifeMembership that I received fromMarilyn Clark on my retirement fromTELUS.Thank you to each and every one ofyou who helped and supported methrough all the years that I worked atBCTEL/TELUS, and especially to allmy friends who were so caring andhelpful at the Whalley Service Centre. Without your support I wouldnever have made it through all thosehard struggling years. You are allwonderful.Thank you,Kathy FindlayBlaine, WADear TWU:I would like to thank the TWU forthe Honourary Life Membership andCALGARY OFFICE#255 - 525-28 St. S.E.Calgary, Alta, T2A 6W9Ph. 403-237-6990Fax: 403-802-2381. TWU phone .C6043 437-8601}ITWU fax(6043 435.7760Pension Planoffice(6043 430-1317 2TWU hotline .(604) 435-2224TWU Website addresses:TWU Home Page: http:/AArverw.twu-canada.caTW Pension Plan:http://www.twu-canade.ca/twpo/potocJhtmTW Benefit Plan:http://www.twu-canada.caftwopfbphameihtmTWU Email Address (Union Office):twuetwu-canada.caTW Pension end Benefit Plans:twolansetwubc.00mTheTransmitterMember ofThe Transmitter is the official publication of theTelecommunicationsWorkers Union.CALMACPSCanadianAssociationof LabourMediaAssociationcanadiennede la pressesyndicaleEditor: Myron JohnsonPresident: Rod HiebertVice-Presidents: Neil Morrison & Bruce BellSect.-Treasurer: Kathy Pearn5261 Lane Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6TRANSMITTER - October, 2000 - Page 2the 1000 cheque. These were presented to me by Jim Christensen onbehalf of the Union, also in attendancewere Bill Silvester and Tim Williams.Great to see that the TWU won the voteand will represent all members in BCand Alberta. I wish all the officers andmembers of the TWU all the best inthe future.In solidarity,David GrangeSurreyDear TWU:Many thanks for the generous retirement gift.Sincerely,M. BridenCoquitlamDear TWU:Thank you very much for the chequein the amount of 1000 and for theHonourary TWU Life Membershipthat I received when I retired fromTELUS.I would also like to thank KarenWhitfield and George Doubt for alltheir help.Sincerely,Bobby ScottLocal 25Dear TWU:Sorry to be so late in getting off thisthank you for the Life Membershipcertificate and pin and the gift of 1000which I am going to use to buy a standard poodle that I have wanted for manyyears.Retirement is great, so thank youvery much for making it possible.Sincerely,Fern PresleyPrince GeorgeDear TWU:I would like to thank you for the LifeMembership and the 1000, whichMike Slade presented to me at my retirement party on June 17, 2000.I have enjoyed my 35-year plus yearsas a TWU member. Keep up the goodwork.In solidarity,Kathleen HigginsLocal 14, NanaimoDear TWU:My sincere thanks for the 1000cheque on my retirement and bestwishes to your executive and members.Marge KopchiakCranbrookDear TWU:I would like to take this opportunityto express my appreciation for the 1000 retirement gift and HonouraryLife Membership upon my retirement.Yours sincerely,Wayne DoddLocal 16, KelownaDear TWU:I would like to take this opportunityto thank all of my many friends andassociates for their kind words of congratulations on my retirement at theend of July 2000.It has been a very interesting 29years in telecommunications at BCTEL & subsequently TELUS, and Iowe much to the camaraderie of thosein Outside Plant Engineering, Construction and I&R.At my farewell luncheon my longtime colleague Brother BruceSargeant, who was also there representing the TWU, presented me withmy TWU Honourary Life MembershipCertificate, my TWU Retired Memberspin, and a cheque from the TWU for 1000.The TWU supports its members inso many ways and my thanks go outto all of you for your diligent work onall of our behalf over the decades.Yours sincerely with thanks,Albert Richard HooperMaple RidgeDear TWU:I wish to thank the TWU for the 1000 gift I received May 31 for myretirement. Congratulations on winning the merger vote and may you havecontinued success with your newlyexpanded membership.Happily retired,Paul KuschSalt Spring IslandDear TWU:I would like to thank you for themuch appreciated 1000 gift and theHonourary Life TWU membership Ireceived on my retirement.Congratulations on your winningvote which gives you more strength asyou move forward.Janet GandenQualicum BeachDear TWU:Thank you so much for the 1000retirement cheque.Most important of all, a specialthanks for the hard work and dedication on your behalf so that I can enjoya good pension and that I also enjoyedgood wages and working conditions.Yours in solidarity,Sharon MortonLocal 6Sports thanksDear TWU:Our team of 12-year old girls, theLangley Squirt Girls, was a treat to bearound. I would like to thank you forthe generous contribution to make thissoftball season one to remember.Thank you again.Art Teelson,Langley Squirt GirlsDear TWU:We would like to thank you for sponsoring our T-ball Team and PeeweeBoys Team and helping to make ourSoftball program a success. It is verymuch appreciated.Yours very truly.Chase River-ExtensionMinor Softball Assn.,Brenda Shaw, SecretaryDear TWU:On behalf of the Coquitlam ClassicsGirls Fastpitch Team I would like toextend a huge thanks for your generous support. The girls have just completed another very enjoyable season,which was highlighted by a trip toKamloops to compete in a tournamentand participation in the ProvincialChampionships in Tswassen. Participation in these tournaments is onlypossible through sponsorship of theteam by organizations such as theTWU. The girls would like to let youknow that it is greatly appreciated.Thanks again!Sincerely,Doug CorradoLocal 50Dear TWU:The players, coaches and families ofDelta Heat '87 girls Rep A Fastpitchteam extend their sincere thanks toTWU Local 31 for your sponsorshipof our 2000 season.Your generous support has enabledthe team to effectively train and participate in league games and tournaments. Through this support the girlswill be taking part in approximately 7local tournaments and 3 tournamentsin Washington State. They have beeninvited to play in Los Angeles in November 2000 and are working veryhard at getting there.You can be proud of your contribution to the development of this team,as they are a group who has not onlyprogressed they are truly ambassadorsfor our communities. Your sponsorship has been advertised on our teambanner, which the girls proudly displayat all league games and tournaments.Again, thank you for supporting thedevelopment of this fine group of hardworking young ladies.Sincerely,Delta Heat '87 Girls FastpitchDear TWU:Thank you for your donation of 250for our fifth Annual Goju Karate Tournament, which took place in Croftonon June 17, 2000.Yours sincerely,Debbie NoaTournament Co-ordinatorThanks for helpDear TWU:I am writing to thank all of the Sisters and Brothers who represented meduring my arbitration with Rogers Cable. The support for me and my family has been outstanding. A specialthank you to Neil Morrison and TimWilliams for their guidance and patience.I was overwhelmed by the supportfrom Local 60, in particular from DougCameron and Paul Yorke. They wereinstrumental in raising 5,000 for meand my family. I thank all of the members of Local 60 for their generosity. Iwas a member for such a short time,and Local 60 really helped me in a timeof need.Even though the arbitration awarddid not go in my favour, the membership dug deep, and for that, my familyand I are very grateful. I wish the bestto my sisters and brothers.Sincerely,Dennis LeeDear TWU:I would like to send my most heartfelt thanks to my Sisters and Brothersfor all of their generous donations tomy family.Also another big thanks to all whoparticipated in the 50/50 draw( 1,100.) What a wonderful thoughtful thing to do. It was very much appreciated.Our daughter "Shannon" came homefrom Children's Hospital in March,after 8 months and one week. She'sstill not 100% but doing very well,better every day and loving being athome.Thank you for all of your thoughtsand best wishes. And special thanksto my friend Lila Wing and Local 23!Sincerely,Sister. Nancy Zamora & familyITAC thanksDear TWIT:As you know, on June 13, 14 & 15,2000 Industry Training & Apprenticeship Commission (ITAC) staff gathered from all over the province to meet,share ideas and provide feedback onissues of operational importance andreview our Strategic and BusinessPlans. All scheduled workshops andmeetings were successful and productive.Thank you, once again, for the doorprize you kindly donated. ITAC staffalso asked me to express their sinceregratitude for your generous contribution.Sincerely,DeLaine FoxleyBoard Co-ordinatorWCB thanksDear TWU:I would like to thank Myron Johnsonfor all the help, and work he put intowinning my Workers' Compensationcase. It took a long time, but with allhis work that he did, we finally won.Gary WallaceRetired MemberKamloops

More LettersWalk thanksDear TWU:A special thanks to all of our membership who supported the TELUSMobility teams who participated in theCanadian Cancer Society Relay for AFriend walk, June 3, 2000.Two teams (24 people) from TELUSMobility walked in memory of LindaSherritt, a 30-year union member whodied, March 28 of this year of cancer.With your donations we raised over 5,300 for the Canadian Cancer Society.Participation in the walk helped allof us deal with the loss of our friendand enabled us to do something posifive towards helping find a cure for thisdreaded disease that has touched somany.We would like to recognize the following people and TWU Locals whosponsored us. The TWU Executive Council; Peter Massy, Local 51 BusinessAgent; All of the employees at TELUSMobility; Locals 1, 51, 21, 7, 60 & 4; and Arden Honey, Vice President ofCustomer Service — TELUS Mobility(who donated her 1000 fee for a seminar she put on for a private company).In solidarity,Sister Drina Latrace & all of therest of us who walked for thisworthy cause.TWU Local 51 memberVan Tel thanksDear TWU:Thank you for your donation for ourAnnual General Meeting held on May4, 2000.Your efforts helped add to the success of this event and we appreciateyour generosity.Yours truly,Jan ButterworthExecutive AssistantVan-Tel Credit UnionCWA congratsSuperiorPoultryusingstrikebreakersDear TWU:I have heard the news of your outstanding victory in the TELUS elections. It was a very decisive vote.It is quite clear that the TWU wentinto this election in a very professionaland systematic way — as all good organizing campaigns should be conducted.My sincere congratulations to President Rod Hiebert, your officers, andstaff on this terrific win.In solidarity,Morton Bahr, President,Communications Workers ofAmericaBanquet thanksDear TWU:We would like to extend our sincerethank you for the generous donationtowards our 1999 Retiree Spring Banquet that was held on April 15, 2000.With your kind donation, our eventwas a great success enjoyed by approximately 350 people.Again, thank you and we hope wecan look for your support for nextyear's event.Yours truly,Maria Halushka ChairpersonCSU 52 Social CommitteeCivic Service Union 52CEP head retiresTo President Rod Hiebert:Dear Rod & Lina:I just want to take a moment to say agreat big thank you for being at myretirement party in Regina and for thebeautiful chest and jacket. I know thatyou made the chest yourself and thatmakes it all the more special to me.Please thank the other officers andthe TWU members for me.We've just returned from a monthon the East Coast and I can tell youthere is life after work — and it's a verygood one!All the best & keep in touch.Fred PomeroyPast CEP PresidentCamp Jubileelooking for rentalsDear TWU:Know what the best kept secret is for recreational camping in Vancouver? Camp Jubilee located half-way up Indian Arm, of course. The camp is 64 years old and is only30 minutes from downtown Vancouver by boat. It is ownedand operated by the Children's Jubilee Association whichis a registered non-profit organization.Our mission is: "To provide a quality summer camp experience for all children" and our philosophy is "To enhancea young person's self-esteem through various recreationalactivities."The camp was founded in 1936 (Vancouver's Jubileeanniversary) by the Woman's Labour League of Vancouver. Since then, the B.C. labour movement has been theprinciple provider for the camp's existence.Despite the virtually unchanged wilderness surroundingthe camp, the site has many newly-renovated buildings.We have 136 acres of prime real estate with 2,640 feet ofshoreline. Unfortunately, many do not know about thisbeautiful site and the camp sits vacant for most of theyear. And, Jubilee is prepared to offer a competitive price.We offer a number of activities including: sea kayaking,ropes obstacle course, swimming, beachcombing, volleyball, hiking, and campfire, as well as a host of indoor activities for inclement weather.Rentals help us to offset the cost of running this facilityand sponsoring kids to go to summer camp. So whenplanning your next outdoor event, please consider usingCamp Jubilee.TRANSMITTER - October, 2000 - Page 3Organizers Marcel Dionne, Nicole Mitchell, and seated, Raymond ChretienTWU steps uporganizing effortsWith the Telus merger campaign and vote behind us, theTWU Organizing Departmentis again in full gear seeking newcertifications.Currently, two members,Nicole Mitchell of Local 52 andRaymond Chretien of Local 53are working out of the Burnabyoffice on organizing campaigns.Executive Council has alsoobtained the services of experienced BCGEU organizerMarcel Dionne for a six-weekperiod from late Augustthrough mid-October to leadthe initial organizing drives andto mentor the two TWU members in the organizing office.The organizers will be seeking certifications in Alberta aswell as British Columbia.The Organizing Departmenthas put together the followingadditional information.We invite our members to takea role in assisting this important Union department.If anyone has friends or family working in the Communications industry who are not currently members of a Union andwould like to explore the ideaof becoming TWU members,please call us with details at(604) 437-8601 ext. 630 (collect calls through an operatorwill be accepted).As members will understand,it is increasingly important forthe TWU to focus on organizing this quickly-changing industry. With deregulationcomes a huge need for the TWUto reach out to the large groupof non-union employees in thecommunications industry.We need to bring them up toour level of compensation andworking conditions rather thansit back and allow the opposite— the downgrade of wages andworking conditions — to takeplace. The only way to do thatis to organize.It is not an easy task, but withthe help of all our members, westand a much better chance. Welook forward to all of yourcalls.Watch for updates in futureissues of the Transmitter.Following is a list of currentTWU certifications:Telephone CompanyTELUSCableRogers Cable TV —AbbotsfordRogers Cable TV — SurreyRogers Cable TV —VancouverDixon Cable (Delta)CommunicationsQuinsam Radio Communications(Campbell River)Food ServicesThe United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518has been on strike against SuperiorPoultry in Coquitlam since July 23,2000 in an attempt to win a firstcollective agreement for 317 workers.According to UFCW, the employer has been using unfair labourpractices and has hired private security guards to shuttle strikebreakers into the workplace.Other poultry processing plantsin B.C. have a base rate of 16.16to 16.46 an hour after 48 months,but the vast majority of workers atSuperior earn less than 10 an hourand receive no medical insuranceor sick benefits.Superior Poultry is owned byPollon Group of companies. ThePollon Group owns three otherpoultry processing facilities inB.C.: Hallmark (non-union),United (non-union) and ColonialFarms (certified by UFCW 518prior to purchase by Pollon).These plants produce 50 per centof B.C.'s poultry products, andLocal 1518 has sought a declaration that these operations are alliedand common employers.Since these plants are wholesalers, some products are packagedwith identifiable product labels forretail, while a significant part of theproduct is delivered in bulk forrepackaging. Regardless of theproduct label, Pollon Group products can be identified at the retaillevel by an "EstablishmentNumber" required by food safetyregulations.They are as follows: SuperiorPoultry (also labeled as ValleyFarms), 545; Hallmark, 317 or217a; and United (also labeled asTopper), 341.Workers are asked to support thestrikers by not purchasing poultrywith the above numbers while thestrike is in progress.Restauronics (Burnaby)Internet ServicesJournet Communications(Langley)Security and AlarmMonitoringTri-Com Security (Burnaby)Answering and PagingProfessional Answering andPaging Vancouver(Richmond)Telephone Surveyand PollingCampbell-Goodell-Traynor(Vancouver)Traffic ControlGuardian Angels TrafficControl(Prince George)Kilo Flagging (Nelson)Quesnel Traffic ControlFort St. James FlaggingBOYCOTTSAll readers are asked to support the following trade unionsponsored consumer boycotts.Please do not patronize or purchase any of these goods, services and/or retail outlets:All Non-Union Postal Outlets.Dispute with CUPWCalifornia Table Grapes.United Farmworkers ofAmericaAll Indonesian ProductsCLC re: East TimorPhilips Electronic Products,QuebecCLC/USWA 7812National Post and CalgaryHeraldCEP and GCIU strike againstHeraldNORPAC ProductsCLC/PCUN

Arbitration heldon disputed workConvention delegates, top, extend warm greeting to new Alberta delegates. Below, six new memberselected to bargaining team from Alberta locals: Tom Robson, Dave Tingle, Bobbi Schneider, EileenWyllie, Donna Hikiro and Sandi Mutter.TWU certified as bargaining agent June 30On June 30, the TWU wascertified as the bargaining agentfor all unionized employees atTelus.The Canada Industrial Relations Board order stated that theTWU "is hereby certified to bethe bargaining agent for a unitgenerally comprising all employees of Telus previouslyrepresented by the TWU,IBEW Local 348, the CEP andCSU 52."The June 30 order specificallyincluded field sales andtelemarketing employees inboth provinces. The employerhad sought to have the fieldsales and telesales employeesexcluded from the bargainingunit, but that application wasdenied by the CIRB.The order certifying the TWUas bargaining agent came on theheels of an announcement earlier June 30 from the CIRB thatthe delayed vote count of thetelesales and field sales personnel had been completed, withnearly 80 per cent voting for theTWU.The actual vote count was 478for the TWU and 121 for theIBEW. With that vote countadded in to the bulk of the votescounted May 26, the final votetally is TWU 10,107, andIBEW 4,168 — or nearly 71 percent for the TWU.MU LocalsWe want tohear fromyou!The Transmitter would like to receive more news from unionlocals.What's happening in your local that might be of interest toother union members? Upcoming events, local activities, concerns, issues you'd like to raise . . . Interesting things your fellow-workers may be doing — in the union or in the community.Let us know about it!We are also interested in announcements of retirements oflong-time members.Take the information to your local secretary-treasurer or your local Transmitterliaison person, or forward it directly to:Transmitter Editor5261 Lane StreetBurnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6or telephone 604-437-8601or fax 604-435-7760.TRANSMITTER - October, 2000 - Page 4An arbitration hearing washeld in mid-September into thedispute which resulted in awalkout of TWU members atsome Telus locations in B.C. inlate August.As we go to press, we areawaiting a finding from arbitrator Don Munro.The walkout involved hundreds of employees from thecall centre in New Westminsterand customer service officesaround the province, who weredirectly affected by the dispute,as well as other workers whowent out in sympathy.The first day of the walkout,which was not sanctioned bythe Union office, saw upwardsof 600 workers off the job, andeventually escalated to thepoint that well over 1,000 workers were out.The underlying issue in dispute was the assignment of traditional Service Representatives' work to telemarketers, ineffect, assigning work to alower-paid classification. (SewReps are paid at a ClericalGroup 7 rate, while Telesalesemployees are paid at a Group4 or 5 rate). The immediate issue was the suspension of eightcall centre employees over refusal to do the disputed work.Telus applied to the CanadaIndustrial Relations Board(CIRB) to have the employeesordered back to work.Following a hearing into thedispute August 23, the CIRBdid declare the walkout an "unlawful job action" and orderedthe workers back. However, theBoard also ordered a 15-daycooling off period for both sidesto try to resolve the dispute,during which time the companywas not allowed to assign thedisputed work.The Union was pleased withthe Board decision to order thecooling-off period as part of itsoverall finding.During the cooling off period,the parties agreed to an expedited arbitration in front of Mr.Munro.One issue in dispute whichflowed out of the job actioninvolved the question of discipline. As the dispute wasending, the company's mediarelations manager said thecompany planned no disciplinary action, but almost immediately after, letters of discipline were mailed out to someof the workers involved in thedispute, and all those whoparticipated lost an ATO dayor equivalent.Contact shop stewardwhen filing grievanceNew members from Alberta are strongly encouraged to contact their shop steward or local executive member when they have a grievance or a workplace situation that requiresUnion attention.That is the proper procedure for a memberto follow, rather than directly contacting theUnion office with the problem.The shop steward or local executive member can of course then contact the Union office for assistance or advice in dealing withthe grievance or workplace problem, shouldthat be necessary, but it is preferable for themember to make the initial contact with theLocal representative.Dealing through the Local representativerather than the Union office is usually to themember's advantage, as the local person ismore likely to be fully aware of the circumstances of the situation, and of the personnelinvolved, and it is important to have someonein your workplace working on your behalf. Italso gives the Union office more time to dealwith broader issues, and to keep in contactwith Local officials.

Health and Safety changesadopted by ParliamentHealth and Safety representatives from locals around B.C. attend H&S seminar in JuneHealth and Safety Officer Tim Williams reports that proposedchang

Vice-Presidents: Neil Morrison & Bruce Bell Sect.-Treasurer: Kathy Pearn 5261 Lane Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A6 M Canadian Association of Labour Media Association canadienne de la presse syndicale CAL ACPS EDMONTON OFFICE #103 - 10525-170 Street Edmonton, Alta, T5P 4W2 Ph. 780-488-2223 Fax: 780-488-6911 CALGARY OFFICE #255 - 525-28 St. S.E.