January 8, 2020 - I would first like to welcome everyone back from what I hope was a safe and happy holiday season and New Year. It was pleasure meeting many of you at Unit meetings and 75th Anniversary celebrations late last year in areas such as Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Langley, Chilliwack, Prince George and Kelowna. I will be trying to get to more Unit meetings across Canada over the next few months to meet more members and Unit officials.

Changes to the Executive Board

I wish to advise everyone that several changes to the National Executive Board are in effect as of today.

The USW has a tradition of hiring Staff Representatives from amongst its members who have shown themselves to be dedicated Local Union activists. Canadian National Director Ken Neumann has asked your Regional Executive Officer for British Columbia Jayson Little to accept a position as a USW Staff Representative. Jayson has agreed to do so. He will be working directly for and reporting to Director Neumann but will also interact with other USW staff and Directors such as Director Steve Hunt of District 3. Brother Little will be assigned to the Local 1944 Burnaby office to assist the Local and be the link to all the resources the USW has to offer. I look forward to working with Brother Little in his new role.

Replacing Brother Little as the new Regional Executive Officer, British Columbia, will be Corey Mandryk. Brother Mandryk has demonstrated outstanding activism throughout the years, and graduated from the Leadership Development Program in 2019. Local 1944 is proud to welcome him as a new member on the Executive Board.

Kim Woodroffe has resigned from her position as Trustee. We thank Sister Woodroffe for all the work that she contributed since taking on this role in 2015. Jenn Dunsmore-Turner, Chair of Unit 213 and currently a student of the Leadership Development Program, has been appointed to take on the position. It gives us great pleasure to welcome this all-around activist as our new Trustee.

The appointments of Brother Mandryk and Sister Dunsmore-Turner have been made through the unanimous recommendation and endorsement of the Local 1944 Executive Board.

In Solidarity, 

Omero Landi
Administrator, USW Local 1944