November 23, 2022

As you may be aware, your current Collective Agreement is set to expire on November 30, 2022. With that in mind, your Bargaining Committee has been elected at your Q3 Unit meeting. They are Al Pasternak and Bev Gordon! Al brings experience and continuity from having served your last Bargaining Committee and Bev brings fresh eyes and ideas. Your elected members will be supported at the table by a Staff Representative from the USW as well as a Local Union Representative from Local 1944.

The Union has served an official Notice to Bargain to the employer, and the parties have set bargaining dates in April of 2023. We acknowledge that this is after the current agreement has lapsed, but please fear not; as long as notice to bargain has been served, the existing terms remain in full effect until a new agreement is reached or if the parties reach an impasse and legal job action occurs.

Similar to the last round of bargaining, the Committee is coming to the Union office in late January to receive some training and to create a survey for you. This survey will be sent to you in early February. This survey is truly an important part of the bargaining process as it guides the Bargaining Committee in focusing on the most important topics to you and your co-workers. Please fill it in and return it once you receive it, as it is very helpful to the process.

The Committee will then return to the office in early March to identify the priorities you have identified and then will finalize our opening package to present to the Employer when bargaining commences in April.

We look forward to hearing from you and working to achieve an agreement that works for you and your families!

In Solidarity,

Your Unit 63 Stratcom Bargaining Committee