Shop steward seminars

Shop steward seminars were held this fall in Kelowna and Vancouver. This year’s training topics included:

  • a pension plan update
  • pension plan invesments
  • grievance investigations, presentations and settlement
  • social media and the workplace (or How not to be a Twit online)

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IKEA-Richmond

A union shop for Teamster members The Richmond IKEA store is a union shop. The 330 “co-workers” in receiving, cash, sales, housekeeping, operations, safety and security, carts, returns, service and the restaurant are members of Teamsters Local 213. You’re supporting your union brothers and sisters when you shop at the Richmond store. The only other … Read More

Cloverdale Paint

Cloverdale Paint, a 100% Canadian manufacturer, and 53 Teamsters Local 213 members are creating
products that are at the forefront of paint and coating technology. Everyone is committed to reducing or
eliminating any harmful impact on the environment from the products and their manufacture. Teamsters
work in the lab, factory and warehouse.

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Waneta Dam

Members of Teamsters Local 213, in construction and living in the Kootenays, are working on the
expansion of the Waneta Dam on the Pend d’Oreille River south of Trail. The creation of a second
powerhouse, expected to be completed in 2015, will generate power from flow that would otherwise be
spilled.

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Down the rabbit hole of compensation

The realities of the workers’ compensation system are a far cry from the principles of natural justice and fairness which underlie B.C.’s Workers’ Compensation Act. Workers risk losing their impairment awards on appeal when a decision is made that the award overcompensates them for their injuries. In such a pension appeal, workers grapple with the … Read More

Social media cautions

There are a number of areas in which social media and employment interact. Statements denigrating management are typically viewed by arbitrators as a type of insubordination. With the advent of Facebook and other such sites, statements that used to be made and forgotten are now posted for all to see. Employees can be disciplined for … Read More

The latest on local union changes

General membership meetings were held in Prince George, Kitimat, Kamloops and Kelowna in September and October and a commitment has been made to the members to hold area meetings on an ongoing basis. Teamsters are working at the Rio Tinto Aluminum Smelter Upgrade Project in Kitimat and continued growth in the northern area of the province over … Read More

Construction report

The Highway 1 project is keeping a lot of our owner-operator members in the Fraser Valley busy. This paving contract is being done by unionized contractors. Paving of the final stages of the Southern Perimeter Road is also being done union. Renewal collective agreements have been negotiated for the paving sector and proposal meetings will … Read More

Local 213 and Sun-Rype sign 8-year agreement

The 200 Teamster members at Sun-Rype in Kelowna have something in common with the referees of the NFL. Employers presented both with proposals for eight-year contracts. Local 213 Business Agent Kimm Davis said we might be seeing more long-term agreements because “companies are looking for long-term labour commitments and unions want security for their members.” … Read More