October, 2009
THE CUPW SASKATOON NEWSLETTER
Depot 1 Restructure Report
Depot 1 was restructured starting with the volume count March 16-20, 2009. Using the 120 points of call system to determine yearly average we proved that the volumes counted that week were light by 9.4% for letters and light for oversize by 2.7%. The total volume count numbers were all inflated by the respective percentages. These numbers would not have been increased had it not been for the diligent work of all of the carriers at the East Depot. There were a couple of minor problems during the count which were corrected immediately. Both John Kaufhold and myself watched closely for irregularities and in the end I was satisfied that the volume count was done correctly.
The restructure began in early May and was completed June 9, 2009. The local executive was in contact with Brian Blair from the Edmonton local who was a valuable asset in running tests on management’s data files used during the restructure. Brian was able to uncover some problems with missing stops (for parcels and signatures etc). This finding was balanced against another inconsistency using the change of address cards. This problem actually over credited us and the two problems balanced themselves out. The conversion of the entire depot from A32 cases to the new A62 cases had a total loss of sort and prep time of 169 minutes depot wide. Not as much as first feared but hurtful just the same. There were new door and panel values applied that robbed us of 220 minutes per day. Brian explained that this was a national thing and could not be avoided.
The final result of the depot restructure was an increase of one half walk. Thanks to the hard work of the individuals involved we all worked as a Union to hold management at bay. For a complete and more detailed report contact the Local office to arrange to see a copy of the official report.
Now that the restructure is complete it is important to notify management as soon as your vacancies become occupied. The time values removed because of the vacancy need to be reapplied because you are now doing more work.
Jeff Kolody,- Union Observer Local 824
Good to be Back - Julee Mapes
For those of you who didn’t know, I have been away for a few months. I was injured on the job and recently underwent surgery to repair my right shoulder. In my absence some shop steward activities went by the way side. However, like Johnny said in The Shining: "I'm back." Crazed employers and deranged supervisors take note!
The National Union has devised a campaign to enlist more shop stewards and I'm on a mission to get Saskatoon on the Union map. Becoming a shop steward is a great way to take back some control of your work floor. And this can only be done through education. The violations of the CA are so profound and so consistent you almost feel like a drunken sailor. There is so much to soak up you can have your fill in no time. This is the same reason why so many shop stewards burn out. I know that it's comforting to have someone go to bat for you or just wade through the CA legal terms and hopefully there will always be someone there to support you, but bear with me for a moment if you will and consider the gratification you would have to stick it to the boss, right where it hurts the most, questioning their knowledge of "Your Book". How many times have you heard a supervisor say those words? Why, I wonder, when it's an agreement between the parties? Why, when so much of the contract protects the employer, but you never hear a member say to management "Your Book"
Why? Because the perception is it's ours, we use it and don't abuse it. We take the positives and smooth out the wrinkles, and like any good mother we understand it. It's not theirs because they don't appreciate the struggles that were made to achieve it.
In the months to come you will hear of shop steward meetings, training and education. Welcome the opportunity to break out of your shell. Visualize what it will take to win the fight ahead of us and in what capacity you want to shout to the moving cars "hell no we won't go!" Do you see yourself at the front of the line? If so, take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead to make “your book” truly yours.
Julee Mapes
E-mail: feedback@cupw-sttp.org
