From The Hall
I.B.E.W. Local 2067
Newsletter #13 / January 31, 2011
On the evening of January 25, 2010 Business Manager Neil Collins met with SaskPower
CEO, Robert Watson to go over the results of the Memorandum Vote as well as the concerns
of the members of IBEW Local 2067. Brother Collins met with Robert Watson for nearly an
hour and a half. After that meeting Brother Collins met with Duane Mintzler, Chair of the
SaskPower Bargaining Committee and discussed numerous concerns our members brought up
during the bargaining meeting held around the province. Brother Collins told both of them
that IBEW Local 2067 would be requesting a conciliator to assist in the bargaining process. It
was also stated by Brother Collins that IBEW Local 2067 would return to the table
immediately if SaskPower was interested in enhancing their November 30, 2010 offer.
Last week Brother Collins contacted the Saskatchewan Labour Relations & Mediation
Division regarding the requirements to make a request for conciliation services. The business
office has drafted a letter to SaskPower requesting them to participate in bargaining with the
use of a conciliator. That letter requesting conciliation is being sent over to SaskPower today.
During SaskPower’s presentation on November 30, 2010, they stated there will be no money
put forward as any wage adjustments or to meet P50 unless there is a recruitment and retention
problem. SaskPower stated there was no retention & recruitment problem as there were very
few IBEW Local 2067 members leaving SaskPower to work for other utilities. Although the
Business Office does not like to see our members who are dedicated and committed to their
work at SaskPower have to leave this crown corporation, the Business Office will continue to
provide job opportunities to our members, when requested by fellow Business Managers. Our
members can decide whether or not they want to consider working for another Western
Canadian Utility that provides better wages & benefits than SaskPower currently does. It is
very disheartening when SaskPower tells our Members if they do not like it here they can
always leave and go work for another utility.
Last week Brother Collins left messages for the Minister of SaskPower, the Honourable Rob
Norris, asking for a 15 minute meeting to discuss issues at SaskPower. Late last Friday,
Collins received a call that Minister Norris is not prepared to meet with him at this time. The
Minister’s office suggested Collins should contact CEO Robert Watson, which Collins
responded he had already done last Tuesday, January 25, 2011. If members require the email
addresses, office locations and phone numbers of the MLAs, the business office will provide
that information to our membership.
The Business Office and the Executive Board met on January 17, 2011 with members of the
Common Front Coalition. These are union leaders who represent workers at a majority of all
the crown corporations and teaching facilities. The Common Front Coalition wants to
collectively share information and discuss strategy on how to reach fair collective agreements
with their employers. There will be a formal meeting of the heads of the Common Front
Coalition on January 31, 2011 in Regina to discuss further opportunities to help one another.
Our office will also be talking to other unions which are in bargaining at this time, i.e. the
Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and the Health Sciences Union.
The Business Office will keep the membership informed of any developments that arise in
regards to SaskPower negotiations. We appreciate your support, your advice and your
patience as we work toward a fair settlement that can be supported by our membership.
Fraternally yours,
Brother Neil Collins
Business Manager & Financial Secretary
______________________________________________________________
I.B.E.W. Local 2067 – ibew2067@sasktel.net BM Neil Collins – ncollins.ibew@sasktel.net
ABM Gary Lewendon – glewendon.ibew@sasktel.net ABM Dennis Grado – dgrado.ibew@sasktel.net
ABM Jason Tibbs – jtibbs.ibew@sasktel.net Sheila Kampman – skampman@sasktel.net
I.B.E.W. Local 2067
1810 McAra Street Regina, SK
S4N 6C4
306-352-1433 / 1-800-667-2067
www.ibew2067.com