Greetings,
We'd like to start by wishing all of you a very Happy New Year! It certainly is the beginning of a busy and brighter year, and we look forward to working with all of you in 2011 and for many more years to come. At the end of 2010, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued a certificate of representation to the CAW. With this, we have started the process of bringing you into the CAW family.
As such, Local 2002 is honoured to welcome you as their newest members. Local 2002 is the CAW's transportation Local, home to almost 10,000 members across Canada, including GTAA, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Handlex, Webb, Ornge, Impark, American Eagle, United Airlines, ATS and Worldwide in Toronto alone.
Local 2002's President, Leslie Dias and Executive Assistant, Ashley Watkins, will be working closely with you and your soon to be elected Stewards and Health & Safety representatives, to put in place a structure within your membership group and the CAW to deal with the many ongoing issues at A.S.P. Ashley's number at Local 2002 is (905) 678-1550 ext 224 and his email is ashley@caw2002tca.ca. Training and education will be provided soon after your elections, as well as a general membership meeting to introduce you to your new Local.
Your Stewards and Local 2002 will be assisted by CAW National Staff Representative, Joel Fournier. Joel has years of experience in negotiations and representation on behalf of CAW members, and has been recommended by CAW President, Ken Lewenza, to work with you.
This is just the beginning and we have heard from many of you some of the issues you are facing. At the present moment, we are working with the Collective Agreement imposed in March, 2010 at the request of the company and your past union. If you do not have a copy, please contact Local 2002 and they can have one sent to you. We want to once again congratulate all of you on commitment and support. One thing we do know, the CAW is already a better union with all of you as part of our family.
If you have any questions, concerns or issues, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
In solidarity,
Caroline Haddad
National Representative, CAW-Canada
Cell: 416-275-6564
E-mail: caroline.haddad@caw.ca