Retiree’s Banquet 2024

Our annual Retiree’s Fall Banquet took place October 5th, 2024 at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino.

We had a full house with approximately 800 attendees. We had 60+ new Retirees and 20+ new 50-year Members. While they were not all able to join us, we are delighted, proud and grateful for each of them.

We have already had some great feedback on the event. Dinner was very well received and the hand carved roast beef was a favourite among guests. We hear you loud and clear that more desserts are a priority!

Each year it seems this event grows exponentially. Last year we had around 700 attendees and this year, as mentioned, we maxed out at 800. We are so glad so many could join us for an evening of celebration, camaraderie and jaunts down memory lane.

We would like to thank everyone who helped make this event a success, especially our Social Committee volunteers and the ATU 583 Office Staff.

Congratulations once again to all of our new Retirees and new 50-year Members and a hearty thank you to our existing Retirees. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

Seatbelts

In case you missed it, President of Local 583, Mike Mahar, spoke on the City’s new seatbelt bulletin:

“In 1986/1987 when the government was introducing mandatory seatbelt regulations, Local 583 was instrumental in lobbying government to permit Transit Operators to be part of the exemption in section 65 (3) (a) of the Highway Traffic Act.

The reasons in part for that exemption are: the risk to Operators in the driver’s work station due to bus design, the risk of being attacked while in the work station, the inability for companies to provide appropriate restraint systems in these types of vehicles, and the fact that the equipment can cause more injury than the accidents themselves in many circumstances.

Between 1987 and 2024 not one of those risks have been remedied. In 2020 and 2021 when Calgary Transit was looking at changing the operating rulebook to require mandatory seatbelts, they came to the Union, and we had these discussions and Calgary Transit backed off.

It is unfortunate that they have now chosen to arbitrarily impose this rule without any discussion with the Union.

On October 4th, 2023 Calgary Transit sent the Union a notice of disclosure that they were implementing this rule as of January 1, 2025. This put them in a legal position to impose it on January 1. However, it also put us in a position to deal with it in negotiations, which we are attempting to do right now. We informed them of the same facts t we have stated here regarding the reasons for the exemption and they have chosen to maintain their position and in fact aggressively promote the implementation of the rule while we are still at the table. We also told them as recently as last week that if this is not resolved in negotiations or through the grievance procedure prior to January 1, 2025, we will advise our Members that we will support anyone that chooses not to wear a seatbelt. Not just for those reasons that we have already stated but the fact that the seatbelts in this fleet are disgusting and inadequate even without an accident, they cause harm because of improper fit and poor quality.

Come January 1, the city can do whatever they damn well want. We will not change our position. They can take us to the labour board while we take them to occupational health and safety and we will see where the chips fall. I can tell you that between their lack of enough rolling stock to make commitment for service, their lack of foresight to properly staff to provide the service they promise Calgarians and the neglected sanitary conditions in the operator’s work station, they will have one hell of a time providing service with between 500-1000-1500 operators refusing to drive a bus because of being forced to wear a seatbelt.

Children’s Christmas Party

Our next event for Members is our Children’s Christmas Party. This is taking place December 7th, 2024 at Scarpetta at the Riveria at 3525 26 St NE.

If you have previously registered your child for gifts, you do not have to register them again.

If you do need to register your child(ren) please use this form: www.atu583.com/childrens-christmas-gift-form/
Please note that ALL information must be entered. If you forget your full name or employee number etc., it could delay your child being registered.

Additionally, we will be asking Members to register for their intent to attend the party. Registration will take place in November and we will have a bulletin posted for when registration for the party itself opens.

A kind reminder that gifts are for Member’s children aged 12 and under and each child is limited to 1 gift each.

Our Christmas party is always great fun and we cannot wait to see our Members and their families. There will be lots of activities including a colouring table, balloon art, interactive performances, character actors and more! Of course, there will also be the abovementioned gifts from Santa.

As always, we encourage those who are able, to attend the party, but if you are unable, we will have information on gift pick up at a later date.

Commissioner of Oaths

A benefit for Members that some may not be aware of is that we have a Commissioner of Oaths on staff.

If you have a document that requires a Commissioner, please feel free to contact Jacinda.w@atu583.com to schedule an appointment. Please ensure that it is a Commissioner that you require and not a Notary as we do not have a Notary on staff.

This service is free for Members.

World Mental Health Day – October 10th, 2024

This year for World Mental Health Day we had a call to action. Reach out to someone in your life you haven’t heard from in awhile. Community is something we all need and a simple phone call or text can make a world of difference to someone who feels alone.

World Mental Health Day has passed until next year, but we can continue to this call to action throughout the year. Be there for someone today.

Grievance Update

A new feature we want to start is to update on resolved grievances in our newsletter. This will take place after these grievances have been discussed by our Executive Board and the Members (at the monthly meetings).

Grievances we have resolved recently:
-A one-day suspension was reduced to a letter of warning.
-Two pay issues were resolved when the Members were correctly paid.
-A letter of warning was reduced to a letter of counsel.
-Two grievances regarding failure to post and failure to award in seniority were resolved when management agreed to go about the correct process for vacancies.
-A termination grievance was resolved with the Member coming back to work/being reinstated.
-A grievance regarding amending LRT signed LRT Operator work was resolved by reinstating the original signed work.

For a full breakdown of the grievances in progress and those completed we highly encourage Members to attend our monthly Membership Meetings. Information for dates and times of these meetings can be found on our website atu583.com and on Union posting boards in the workplace.

Home, Auto and Pet Insurance

We have been partnered with Allstate for about 8 months now and have had nothing but incredible feedback on our rep Steve Watmough. He has saved Members hundreds, sometimes thousands on insurance.

If you are looking to take out insurance, you can get in touch with Steve for a no obligation quote at 587-404-8923 or swatmough@allstate.ca.

Funeral/Death Benefits

While this can be an uncomfortable discussion to have, we want to ensure our Member’s families get the benefits they are entitled to should a Member pass away. Please ensure your next of kin/beneficiary knows to contact the ATU 583 office in this event.
Funeral/Death benefits include: A $2000 funeral benefit, flowers for the ceremony & an honour guard should the family like to have one present at the service. If an active Member passes away and they have insurance through ATU 583, there is also that policy to claim.