Greetings Sisters and Brother,

Over the past year and half your bargaining committee has been in active negotiations with the employer. Your committee met a total of eight times with the employer exchanging proposals, attempting to meet our members needs and requests.

Although, I was optimistic that we would be able to reach a fair deal at the bargaining table, this was not the case. Today, active negotiations broke down between the union and the employer.

The local has filed for conciliation in hope that both parties can get closer together on the outstanding items that continue to be important for our members and the local. A tentative date has been set in January 2020 for the parties to sit down with the appointed conciliator. The committee still has hope that a deal can be reached during this process.

I want to take the time to thank all the members for being patient during this process. I do understand that it seems to be a long process however, we want to make sure that we achieve the best deal we can for the members, at the end of the day. I would also like to thank our committee for the hard work that they have accomplished to date, ensuring our members concerns are heard at the bargaining table.

After, the parties meet with the conciliator, I will make sure that the members are notified and provide you with an update. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at anytime.

In Solidarity,

Jason Woodbury

President

Workshop_Calendar_PEI_2019_2020_September_13_2019

Greetings all,

As result of the Montague / Souris Area meeting on October 16,2019, I wish to congratulate Alice Rice, for being elected as your new area representative. I am confident that Sister Rice will representative the area to the best of his abilities.

I would also like to extend thanks, on behalf of our local for the time that Brother Ron Blue spent representing the area. He truly represented the area well and always put the members and issues in his area first.

Sister Rice’s term will begin after our annual meeting on November 20^th,2019 so, prior to that, Brother Blue will continue to represent the Montague / Souris area up to the annual meeting for any labour issues that may arise.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at anytime.

In solidarity,

Jason Woodbury

President, Local 3324

RE: Alberton / O’Leary Area Representative 

Greetings all,

As result of the Alberton / O’Leary Area meeting this evening, I wish to congratulate Dan MacDonald, for successfully being acclaimed as your new area representative. I am confident that Brother MacDonald will representative the area to the best of his abilities.

Again, I want to extend thanks, on behalf of our local for the time that Mitchell Myers spent representing the area. He truly represented the area well and with passion for the interest of our members in the area. I am confident that Brother MacDonald will do the same.

Dan can be reached by the following contact information for any union related concerns. E-Mail: Daniel MacDonald macdonald.dan@live.com Phone: (902) 856-2499

Please take the time to welcome Brother MacDonald to your executive and thank Brother Myers for his dedication while he served as the representative for Alberton / O’Leary.

In solidarity,

Jason Woodbury

President, Local 3324

On Wednesday, Paramedic and Dispatcher Unions from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI met for the first time in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to discuss issues paramedics and dispatchers are facing in their provinces. Ambulance services in each of these provinces are operated by Medavie.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to do the best we can for our paramedics and dispatchers and to provide the best possible care to our communities. This meeting was a great tool for our provinces in achieving that.” Says Jason Woodbury, President of CUPE 3324, representing PEI paramedical workers.

This year’s Maritime Paramedic Union Conference was hosted in Halifax by the union representing Nova Scotia paramedics, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 727. The intention is that this will be an annual conference, with next year’s being hosted by CUPE 3324 in PEI.

Each province was given the opportunity to present on issues paramedics and dispatchers in their areas are facing, followed by a round table on the issues discussed. Topics included offload delays, half-staffed and out of service ambulances, inherent overtime caused by these delays, missed meals, paramedic burnout, low morale and more.

“Increased workload, off Island transfers and equipment resources continue to be a constant concern affecting employee morale and public safety,” says Woodbury.

Over the past 2 days your negotiating committee met to compose a proposal to exchange with the employer on June 26th, 2018.

I want to take the time to thank all the members that took the time to complete our demand forms. Your committee has done a phenomenal job, addressing your concerns in our first proposal for the employer.

As I have mentioned, from this day forward, the process is extremely confidential.

Therefore, your area reps will not be able to disclose information on the items in the proposal. However, I can ensure you all, that every item on your demand forms has been included in the original proposal.

As always, I will continue to update you all on the process as we move forward with negotiations.

Once again, thank you for your input, by filling our demand forms.

In Solidarity,

Jason Woodbury
President

Legislation to have post-traumatic stress disorder covered under the Workers Compensation Act has passed the last step needed to come into effect.

On Tuesday, Workforce Minister Sonny Gallant confirmed in the legislature that cabinet proclaimed a private members bill that made PTSD covered by the Workers Compensation Board.

Jason Woodbury, Miscouche’s fire chief and president of CUPE local 3324, has been calling for the government to proclaim the bill since it passed in December and he was at the legislature Tuesday to hear the news.

Woodbury said it took five years of work to get the coverage for Island workers.

“It’s a relief,” he said.

• Read the full article in The Guardian

With the recent job postings there has been confusion with the way our pension works, particularly, if you are a full-time employee and applying for one of the 50% positions.

Our MSPP (Multi Sector Pension Plan) is based on “Applicable Wages” this mean the basic straight time wages for all hours worked not to exceed the regular annual hours of work. The regular of hours worked is equivalent to a full-time employee to maximum of 2184 hours per year. Therefore, if you are a part-time employee and you “top up your hours” to full time as per the collective agreement, then you will pay in to your pension and it will be matched by the employer for all exceeded straight time hours up to 2184 hours per year.

Hopefully, this clears up some questions on this issue. As always, if you have any questions, I encourage to contact your area rep.