Remembering Our Brothers. icebreaker. Business Manager s Report. Valentin Farkas Dec Apr 2014 Robert Cullum Mar July 2014

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1 UA Local 516 icebreaker Autumn 2014 Jason Amesbury Business Manager s Report of many labour organizations. From these we have been set apart. The past one and a half years as acting Business Manager and the previous five years as an officer of this union have not only been an honour but have also given me the perspective needed to plan for our Local s future. With collective bargaining looming just months away, this is an extremely important time in our Local s history. I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from our members. My focus will include making the changes needed to improve our market share, which will ultimately lead to more stable work and membership growth. Protecting and improving our health and retirement savings plans will always be one of my main objectives. Improving how we communicate is also a priority; we must get with the times. Utilizing social media and broadening member Remembering Our Brothers involvement is an absolute must going forward. I implore all members to come to your area membership meetings and have a say in your next round of collective bargaining. The officers listed below have all been carefully selected to this slate due to their individual talents and passion for the good of all our members and their families. My deepest thanks go out to these officers for their loyalty and dedication in doing what is right by and for our members. They have spent countless volunteer hours giving back to our Local Union. With such help our Local s office staff and I have been able to maintain the utmost professionalism during this period of transition. We are all working together with the goal of positive growth and have avoided the dissension which not only stalls progress, but has also sadly become a stereotype I would like to take this opportunity to thank you members for entrusting this incredible slate of officers and me as your Business Manager with the future of our Local Union. I am excited when I think about what lies ahead in the future for this organization. I am always available for our members. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or me at anytime. Office: Toll Free: Fax: jason@ua516.org Officers and Committee Members: Curt MacDonald Vice-President Bryan Harris President Matt Buss Executive Board Gord Fyffe Executive board Jim Montgomery Executive Board Lee Taylor Executive Board Kevin Barbisan Recording Secretary Alfred Heisler Finance Committee Ryan McAleer Finance Committee Paul Russell Finance Committee Al Levert Inside Guard Valentin Farkas Dec Apr 2014 Robert Cullum Mar July 2014 Please see pages 4 and 5 of this newsletter to learn more about these members.

2 Words from a few of our Officers Gord Fyffe Executive Board UA Local 516 One of the main reasons I initially ran for a position on the Executive Board was to have input into the difficult task of finding and selecting a suitable replacement for the retiring Business Manager. We appointed Jason Amesbury as Business Manager in June of For over a year now, he has been proving that we made the right choice. The transition has been very smooth from my perspective...maybe not so much if you talk to Jason (just kidding!). He has had a lot on his plate and has been consistently doing an excellent job for us. I know he has a lot of sleepless nights (and not just because of his young son). We are fortunate to have found such a dedicated leader in Jason, who will lead us into the next phase of growth headed our way. In the time he has been at the helm of the Local, he has proven himself to be not only a capable Business Manager, but is also very adept at managing and resolving the daily crises that he comes across. In dealing with other Business Managers across Canada and the United States, our Canadian Representative John Telford, or even the big boys down at the International Head Office, Jason has done us proud and has proven he will not be pushed around by anyone. The Board members we have now are a good mix of the trade. We get along well with each other and have accomplished a great deal in this past term, not the least of which was hiring Jason. I am very proud of this and am confident that when I do retire, our Local will be in great shape for what lies ahead. With the upcoming contract negotiations, we won t be resting on our laurels. We all know that there will be problems and issues to deal with. We need your support and confidence in us to lead the Local into an even brighter, stronger future. Thank you for your past and future support. -Gord Fyffe Curt MacDonald Vice-President UA Local 516 As the longest serving officer in the Local, I am so impressed by Jason Amesbury. I wonder if he thought, What have I gotten myself into? when we appointed him as interim Business Manager last year. Looking back on it now, I see he had a vision and a plan. He has taken us as an organization to the next level and he's only getting started! His mission is not complete. He wants to build on what we entrusted him with, and lead Local 516 into the future. With his decision to bring on Lee Taylor as an Organizer for the Local, Jason has proved that he has good judgment. Lee has quickly become an important part of our team. Over the years, I have been involved in negotiating 8 province-wide 3-year collective agreements. With no strike and no lock out, at the end of the day we all go to work tomorrow. Let s keep it that way. We have negotiations coming up in early spring. I will continue to do my due diligence to make it work for all of our members. Together we stand, divided we fall. All the best to all of you, and I thank you for your support. -Curt MacDonald Matt Buss Director of Training UA Local 516 Executive Board UA Local 516 We aren t born managers or negotiators, these skills are learned through training and experience. Over the last five years Jason Amesbury has gained this knowledge and experience through mentoring, training programs, and working with our members, employers, government, and labour organizations. Jason s positions on the Finance and Negotiating Committees, Executive Board, as Organizer/Agent and as our current Business Manager have given him the skills to do the job. With his team of competent, dedicated, and hardworking UA Local 516 members, Jason is the right man to lead us into the future. -Matt Buss Don t ignore Basic Dues Shortage Notices! If you receive a Basic Dues Shortage Notice that you feel is incorrect it is imperative that you contact the Union office. If it goes unpaid or unresolved you risk becoming suspended or possibly expelled by the UA Head Office. 2

3 Bryan Harris President UA Local 516 Having been a part of this Local for almost 30 years, I have enjoyed the same benefits and prosperity that many of you have. Part of this is due to the fact that we have had an uninterrupted pattern in our leadership. Some of you may not agree, but as an Officer in this Local I have seen firsthand how important it is to have a strong leader with a supportive team behind him. With Brother Jason Amesbury, we have a very strong foundation; he has built a team around him of Brothers who have the same vision for our future. It has been many years since we have had the opportunity to welcome someone into this position that has both the youth and drive that are needed to keep us moving forward. It is vital that we keep this momentum going. Brother Amesbury has proven himself as a leader over the past year and I look forward to his continued guidance in the future. Brothers and Sisters, thank you for joining me in giving Brother Jason Amesbury our full support as UA Local 516 Business Manager. -Bryan Harris Retired member Larry Meeks of Nanaimo is presented with a Local 516 Bulova watch by Lee Taylor. Larry was initiated on June 14, In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields. Lest We Forget Remembrance Day November 11 Going to work on a travel card in another province? If you are sent to work in another province by your employer or are seeking employment in another province it is your responsibility to communicate with the Local 516 office. You must first obtain permission from the Local Union in the province or city you are travelling to. Where applicable you will be given your Travel Card (for Journeypersons only) and must sign a form whereby the Local Union in the province or city you are travelling to will remit back to us your health and welfare benefits and savings or pension. 3 If you are an apprentice seeking to work in another province Local 516 will write a letter to the prospective Local Union to arrange for your benefits and savings or pension to be remitted back to us. UA LOCAL th Avenue, Surrey, BC V4N 4C3 Tel: Toll Free: Fax: Web:

4 Officers and Committee Members January to December Jason Amesbury Business Manager, Financial Secretary-Treasurer Jason Amesbury was initiated into Local 516 in December Appointed as Organizer in January 2011, Business Agent in 2012; in June 2013 Jason was appointed by the Executive Board as the new Business Manager, Financial Secretary-Treasurer with approval of the UA Canadian Director. In October 2014 Jason was elected to his position by acclamation. Curt MacDonald Vice-President Current Employer: Broadway Refrigeration Curt has been a member of Local 516 since October 1981 and during that time, he has served on various boards associated with the Local Union. He was elected to the Executive Board in In 1992 Curt was elected as Vice-President. Curt was again elected as Vice-President in 2004 and remains such to this day. Bryan Harris President Current Employer: JARTS Bryan Harris has been a member of Local 516 since December 1985 and has served the Local Union in a number of areas. Since 2007 Bryan has served the Local in the position of President. As a teacher at JARTS, Bryan plays a key role in training the future generations of refrigeration technicians. Matt Buss Executive Board Current Employer: JARTS Matt Buss has been a member of Local 516 since September He has served on various boards associated with the Local Union. Matt has consistently been elected to the Executive Board since Matt is also the Director of Training and has taught at the UA Instructor Training Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gord Fyffe Executive Board Current Employer: CT Control Temp Gord Fyffe has been a member of Local 516 since February Over the years, he has served the Local Union in various capacities. He was elected to the Executive Board in 2010 and re-elected in Jim Montgomery Executive Board Current Employer: Trane Jim Montgomery was initiated in October Jim has been active in the community by coaching youth sports and has also volunteered his time on behalf of Local 516 for the Surrey Food Bank. He was a member of the Finance Committee for many years before being appointed and then elected to the Executive Board in 2014.

5 Officers and Committee Members January to December Lee Taylor Executive Board Lee Taylor has been a member of Local 516 since January He always expressed a desire to become more active in the operations of the local union which lead to him to serving on the Finance Committee and the Executive Board. In November 2013, Lee became an Organizer for Local 516 and in May 2014, Lee was appointed as a Savings Plan Trustee. He was elected to the Executive Board in Kevin Barbisan Recording Secretary Current Employer: Broadway Refrigeration Kevin has been a Local 516 member since March In 2011, he won the Gold medal at the UA Regional Skills Competition in Winnipeg and went on to win Silver at the UA National Skills Competition in Kitchener. With a keen interest in the Local, Kevin has served on the Finance Committee, and currently serves as a Trustee of the Health & Welfare Plan. He was elected as Recording Secretary in Alfred Heisler Finance Committee Current Employer: Ainsworth With extensive experience in the trade, Alfie is a 20+ year journeyman. As good-natured as they come, he brings a balance of seriousness and light-heartedness to all situations. He was elected to the Finance Committee in Ryan McAleer Finance Committee Current Employer: Black & McDonald Ryan has been a member of Local 516 since September Taking an interest in the regular business operations of the Local, Ryan accepted the nomination and was elected to the Finance Committee in Paul Russell Finance Committee Current Employer: Hytek Mechanical Paul was initiated into Local 516 in February Previously an instructor at JARTS, and a regular attendee of the general membership meetings, Paul stepped up to fill a vacancy in the Finance Committee in He was then elected to the position in Al Levert Inside Guard Current Employer: Retired Al Levert was initiated into Local 516 in October of Al has generously volunteered his time in numerous ways and has served as a Trustee of the Health and Welfare Plan since July Al is retired from the tools, but keeps busy donating his time with the Surrey Food Bank. 5

6 UA Local 516 Refrigeration Workers Benefits? What benefits? Once you qualify for benefits through the UA Local 516 Refrigeration Workers Health & Welfare Plan ( the Plan ), you will be enrolled with Great-West Life. This coverage includes Extended Health, Dental, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Disability Insurance. Enrolled members also have access to Best Doctors, and the Employee and Family Assistance Program operated by Sheppel-fgi. Apart from the Great-West Life coverage, you are also eligible to have your Medical Services Plan of British Columbia premiums covered through the Plan. You will receive a T4A for tax purposes if you are enrolled on the MSP portion of the Plan, as employer-paid MSP premiums are a taxable benefit. Paying the tax is still less than paying the full amount of the bill out of your pocket! How & When Do I Qualify For Benefits? The Plan operates on an hour bank system. Every hour you work that is reported to the Local goes into your individual Health & Welfare Hour Bank account. You need to reach 420 hours in your hour bank before you qualify for coverage through the Plan. Your employer remits your earned hours once a month, and their remittance generally is for the previous month s hours. Example: The hours you earn in January are remitted by February 15 th. For this reason, it is very possible that you may have to wait 4-6 months before your hour bank balance reaches the 420 required hours even if you actually earned the 420 hours in much less time. Benefits don t begin immediately once you hit the 420 worked hours. Once your individual hour bank reaches the required 420 earned hours, you will be enrolled on the first day of the following month. Example: If on the April remittance (which actually contains March earned hours), the hours reported for you put you at or above the 420 mark, you would be enrolled for benefits on May 1 st. Once you are enrolled, Great-West Life sends the Health & Welfare office a prescription drug card for the member and any dependents above the age of 21. Upon receiving the prescription drug card(s), the Health & Welfare office puts together a package of information outlining the coverage and features of the Plan and mails it out to the member. At the beginning of every month, 140 hours is withdrawn from each individual hour bank in order to pay for that month s benefits. As long as at least 140 hours are reported for you by your employer every month, you will maintain your benefits without any issues. Every earned hour reported above 140 will increase your hour bank (thus providing a sort of cushion to use in the future) up to a maximum of 700 hours. 6

7 Health & Welfare Plan Benefits What happens if I don t have 140 earned hours reported in a particular month? If for some reason you don t have 140 earned hours reported (for example: you were in school, you took time off, work was just slow, etc.), hours will be deducted from your existing hour bank to make up the difference needed. If you don t have a cushion to use, then the system will generate a Shortage Notice that will be mailed to you. DO NOT IGNORE THE SHORTAGE NOTICE. If the Shortage Notice is not covered by enough reported earned hours before the deadline on the Shortage Notice, you have the option to self-pay for the hours needed to keep your benefits continuous. Each member is entitled to six months payments subsidized by the Plan at the rate of $0.80 per hour. Once these six payments have been used, the rate becomes $1.40 per hour. Both of these rates are subject to change. If no payment is made, your benefits will terminate on the date stated on the Shortage Notice. If you let your benefits terminate, you only have 3 opportunities lifetime to submit a payment in order to backdate them. A backdate payment consists of the amount on the Shortage Notice plus another month s premium. Once you have used your 3 backdate payments, or just choose not to submit a backdate payment, you will have to accumulate 280 hours in your hour bank before your benefits will be reinstated. RRSP inter-fund transfers in excess of 500k It has come to light that any RRSP inter-fund transfers in the amount of 500k or more within the group will trigger a required fund manager approval which results in a 5 day hold on the transfer. Great West Life London Life maintain that it is not their policy but that of the various fund managers. Amounts under the 500k take 2 days to process without initiating the fund manager approval. We strongly suggest dividing your inter-fund transfer/s to avoid the 5 day hold. The Plan is in the process of trying to have the policy amended and will keep you posted. 7

8 One Year Later Lee Taylor It s hard to wonder where all the time has gone as it has been one year already since I started as an Organizer with the local. I never imagined how complex this job would be, how many different tasks I would need to undertake, or how often I would need to switch from one task to another. Let me highlight a few: Foundation Skills and new Apprentices: One of the first jobs Jason tasked me with upon my arrival at the Local was getting a firm hold on our preapprentices and foundation students. This has turned into a continuous project, with superb results. In the last year, our contractors have employed over 50 graduates from pre-apprentice and foundation skills programs offered through JARTS. These students graduate with an extremely strong grasp on the basic skills required to start an apprenticeship within our industry. The bar has now been raised considerably for what contractors are looking for in new apprentices. Students are scored not only on the practical and theoretical aspects of the HVAC/R trade, but also on their individual attitude and attendance. This keeps us competitive and protects us as an industry; as well as giving us access to a wide variety of apprentices with different interests and skill sets. Recruitment from the Non-Union: To fill our demands for manpower this year, we have been fortunate enough to strip technically sound mechanics from the nonunion. This in itself is a form of organizing. A lot of these mechanics have brought contracts and a great wealth of knowledge to our contractors and other Union brothers and sisters. It also sends a clear message to non-union contractors that we hold the majority of the manpower in British Columbia for the HVAC/R trade and we will continue in our efforts to ever increase those numbers. Organizing new companies: We encourage anyone thinking of starting their own company to sit down with us first. You are still eligible for your benefits and we can offer a fixed monthly cost. Our owner operators have made a commitment to themselves and to the UA to continue their support and ensure the way of life we have all become accustomed to. Not all organizing campaigns are successful or even get off the ground. However, after a successful campaign we continue to work hard to build a relationship with our new contractors by providing the best skilled labour and industry advocacy just to name a few. I would like to welcome and introduce some of our new signatory contractors who have signed with Local 516 in the last year: Competition HVAC Inc. Exchange Energy VI Inc. Mechanical Advantage Ltd. Phoenix HVAC Services Ltd. RSK Excavating & Contracting Ltd. Spatz Temperature Control Ltd. I would again invite everyone to keep open dialogue with the non-union. Everyone is an organizer on some level. As a reminder I am always available to listen to your concerns. Please don t hesitate to pass my contact information on to an unrepresented worker. Cell: lee@ua516.org 8