The Barron Blog

Thursday, 1 February 2007

CUPW/CPC Negotiations Go Into Overtime
Mood: chatty

The latest global offer by CPC was turned down by CUPW. There remains about eight outstanding issues including the "Postal CTI Bonus Program."
Lets face reality, we do have a labour dispute here and we have moved closer to a postal strike in Canada.
Copied below is a letter to CUPW President, Deborah Bourque on this issue. Included with the letter is an e-mail from APOC President, John Barrowclough:
"On any issue there are pros and cons. This is certainly true with the CTI program.
It has come to my attention that the NEB didn't avail itself of any of the research accumulated by the other postal unions, APOC and PSAC.
In the letter below APOC President, John Barrowclough, will give this information to CUPW, but you have to ask for it.
I still think, the best way to solve this issue is an agreement to "opt in" or "opt out" of the CDI program. The membership will decide for themselves."
From: John Barrowclough
To: 'David Barron'
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 9:54 PM
Subject: RE: CUPW's Position On CTI
David,
"My apologies, I did reply on Jan 21, 2007 however it would appear that most if not all of my emails from that date disappeared. I have no sent copies at all. This does sometimes happen when using hotel internet services.
While I would have no trouble sharing this information with Deborah Bourque, it would only be in reply to a request from her. It is not proper protocol for any bargaining unit leader to offer unsolicited advice to another, particularly during a period of negotiations. I can not begin to assume to why the CUPW has chosen the strategy to reject the bonus offer, however I am sure the reasons follow their mandate form the NEB.
I have in the past presented the Association's point of view with respect to the CTI to one of the other bargaining unit's when they made the request, and as I said earlier, would do the same for the CUPW if asked."
regards, John
John Barrowclough
National President
Association of Postal Officials of Canada
28 Concourse Gate Suite 201
Ottawa ON K2E 7T7

I've been through too many bad strikes (some good ones too), and don't want to see this issue in the newspapers or on the floor of Parliament.

Posted by qualteam at 1:14 PM EST

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Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Our Postal Contract Ends At Midnight Tonight
Mood: hug me

Right now CUPW is turning up the screws on Canada Post, because today is the last day of our contract. Will we walk out if no agreement is reached tonight? That isn't very likely. We have a process called conciliation that could go on for months and months, and months. During this time, a third party tries to bring the sides together on all issues.
When everyone gets tired of talking and proposed compromises, it's time to take a break for ten days and prepare for serious negotiations and/or a strike.
Things can get very confrontational at this time and if no deal is reached, Canada Post goes to the Government and asks for arbitration.
Strike or no strike, Canada Post's final offer is what we end up with. I've learned this from over 30 years of Canadian postal labour disputes.
http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/1165/la_id/1.htm (CUPW Bulletins On Negotiations)

Posted by qualteam at 10:48 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 10:54 PM EST

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Tuesday, 30 January 2007

The Abduction Of Adolf Hitler By Aliens
Mood: spacey

This is probably Norman Mailer's most ambitious book("A Castle In The Forest")yet. He trys to show how Hitler became the monster that he is.
The story focuses on all the sordid events of Hitler's childhood which are narrated by a lower demon called D.T. He's the satantic controller that leads Hitler into a life of complete evil.
The Christian mythological template may be ok for some, but there was more to Hitler than goals of revenge and destruction. Hitler's goal was the creation of a "Master Race". This is something that the demon/alien, D.T. would be guiding him towards.
The devil is called the Maestro who uses "cyber-technologies" on mankind. No doubt, Mailer is having visions of a more advanced civilization obsessed with the control and mutation of the "best races" on Earth.
I believe that various alien groups have been tampering with mankind in order to produce their own hybrids and/or brainwashed drones.
The "Spiritual Brotherhood Of Christ" is bringing this thought control to an end in the present and future.
Norman Mailer is over 80 and it's good to see that his own journey of discovery is beginning to pay off.
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/books/01/21/21mailer.html (A Castle In The Forest)
www.area53.info. (First Contact With Aliens Has Probably Happened)

Posted by qualteam at 10:07 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 30 January 2007 10:12 PM EST

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Sunday, 28 January 2007

The Top Ten Things That I Learned About Ass

Assmosis: "The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss".
Assinine: (a) : extremely or utterly foolish <an asinine excuse>
(b) : of, relating to, or resembling an ass
What's the last thing to go through a bug's mind as it hits the windshield? His ass.
During a nuclear attack, run to a table in the basement, crawl under it, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye.
The President of the United States is from Texass.
Dick Assman is from Saskatchewan and he became a celebrity on David Letterman's show.
Moses tied his ass to a tree and walked 50 miles inland.
An "A-Hole" is better than a "B-Hole" except when he's your boss.
Jack Asstor's is a bar in Canada
The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Assman (Dick Assman Is A Real Person)
http://www.jackastors.com/en/index.htm (One Of the Most Popular Bars In Canada)

Posted by qualteam at 11:08 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 28 January 2007 11:12 PM EST

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Saturday, 27 January 2007

Movie Review 110: Phenomenon
Mood: a-ok

After the protaganist, George, is sapped by an alien light, he gains powerful abilities to do things he never did before(e.g. Play winning chess, read all kinds of books quickly, learn foreign languages at the drop of a hat, use telekinesis on small objects, interpret codes from the FBI, invent a better fertilizer, etc.) As George gains more powers, the local town folk and the FBI fear him. He just wants to share his knowledge and discoveries with mankind, but he's treated as an outsider.
The plot and love subplot plods along most of the time, but picks up steam at the end.
In this role, John Travolta gives the best performance of his life. He seems to have some familiarity with this average man who becomes brilliant and studies everything and anything.
The person John Travolta seems to be playing is L. Ron Hubbard, the Founder of Scientology. It certainly helps to be a Scientologist in this film and Travolta is one. That's what gives it a realistic feel. There seems to be a passing of knowledge from higher beings(in UFOs)to lower beings(humans)through George.
All of this is too much for people to handle including George and he dies at the end.
I found this story very moving but not completely satisfying. Perhaps, we're not ready for "First Contact" just yet. Three Stars.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/phenomenon/ (More Reviews On Phenomenon)

Posted by qualteam at 11:41 PM EST

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Thursday, 25 January 2007

My Naturopathic Weight Lost Program
Mood: hungry

For the last nine days, I've been on a tough weight reduction program that has resulted in a 10 lbs loss.
The weight shed has actually been too rapid so I've went to the next diet step where I can have more foods.
Here's the highlights of the diet, I've been on:
Breakfast: 1 cup of warm lemon water, 1 scoop of protein/mineral supplement in a rice base blended with frozen berries of any kind and mixed with water/vanilla almond milk as needed.
Snack: Apple, pear and a handful of almonds and pumkin seeds
Lunch: Heary salad(any vegetable)with a protein: beans, chicken breast, tuna or tofu; OR (Amy's Organic Soup)
Snack: Raw carrots and celery sticks in a dip made with Renee's Wellness Dressing, Orange
Dinner: Protein: Any fish, tuna burgers, turkey/chicken breasts Carbohydrates: Sweet potato, brown rice Vegetables: Steamed, raw, frozen, salad
After dinner: Fruit, grapes, strawberries, apples) AND Herbal Tea(chamomile, passionflower)
I was also exercising for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
There isn't any cereal, bread or potato with this diet, but I kept on it and achieved a good result.
These days you can't take good health for granted. You have to work at it.
I still have, at least, 15 more pounds to lose. I'll post a blog entry later of my progress with the new diet which doesn't take pounds off as fast.
http://www.nhealth.ca/index.html (The Natural Health Centre Where I Got The Diet)

Posted by qualteam at 10:04 PM EST

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Wednesday, 24 January 2007

Investing In Canada And The World With TD Canada Trust Mutual Funds
Mood: bright

TD Canada Trust has some of the best and most unique mutual funds around.
I've invested in a couple of TD E-funds because they have very low management fees and excellent market gains.
I've also invested in their "Arts and Entertainment Fund" because its done well over the last few years and no other financial company has that type of investment.
The TD Canada Equity Fund is one of the best in Canada with a 25% gain over the last five year. I'm into that one as well. It has lots of energy and financial stocks in it.
Right now, I'd recommend international and science and technology funds because they've done better than most North American sectors over the last six months.(India and China are becoming the next big consumers of the world.)
http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/mutualfunds/tdefunds/ (Discovering E-funds)

Posted by qualteam at 10:55 PM EST

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Tuesday, 23 January 2007

CUPW/CPC Contract Negotiations: The Corporate Team Incentive Impasse

Today I sent this letter to CPC, President, Moya Greene and CUPW, President, Deborah Bourque. I've tried to come up with a win-win solution on the "Corporate Team Incentive" impass.
"A package deal should be found which excludes the CDI and another package deal should be found which includes the CDI.
Employees can vote on either option or reject both. If both packages get more votes than the nay side, than each employee should have the option of going with the package that they voted for.
To CTI or to not CTI, that is the question. It isn't forced on an employee and it isn't denied him/her either."
http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/sc/ircba.htm (The U.S. Post Office Has A New Contract With Its Employees From 2006 to 2010)

Posted by qualteam at 10:16 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 January 2007 10:19 PM EST

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Sunday, 21 January 2007

The Tommy Hunter Concert At The Rose Theatre
Mood: a-ok

On Friday, Irene and I went to see Tommy Hunter at the Rose Theatre in Brampton. At 70 years old, his voice wasn't as good as it use to be, but his concert was very entertaining. He sang old country standards from his TV show.
He also proved to be a country cornball. He joked about his band. He joked about his age and he joked about his lack of appeal for younger audiences.
He told stories about how he got started with "Country Hoedown" in 1956 and the talented people he worked with: Gordie Lightfoot, Tommy Common, Lorraine Forman, Gordie Tapp, etc. He made Canadian television history come alive again.
The man was and still is a multi-talented musician. He quite adeptly played lightening guitar and he also played the violin in different positions. Would you believe under his leg on one leg for a whole song?
At the end, Tommy did an encore by doing tricks with his yo-yo. Four stars.
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/T/htmlT/tommyhunter/tommyhunter.htm(The History Of Tommy Hunter)
http://www.rosetheatre.ca/ (The Rose Theatre In Brampton)

Posted by qualteam at 10:18 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 21 January 2007 10:22 PM EST

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Saturday, 20 January 2007

The Debate On Canada Post's CTI Bonus System Continues
Mood: rushed

CUPW recently released a bulletin attacking Canada Post's "Corporate Team Incentive". I sent a letter back the negotiating committee expressing my views on their bulletin:
"In your recent bulletin on CTI Bonus system versus a wage increase, your estimate of a 2.5% increase plus the CTI bonus would beat your wage increase of 3% by $518.07 over a four year contract period to 2010(51,656.31 with CTI and 51,137.34 without CTI). More than 30% of the membership should be retiring during that time. The ones that have supported CUPW through many strikes.
I don't understand the estimate to 2027. Unions deal with contract periods not decades' possibilities.
You also state that "CTI targets are established by the employer who can change those targets from year to year during the life of the collective agreement. And the union has no right to grieve terms or conditions that are determined by management".
Why are you agreeing with managment that the above isn't negotiable? Didn't we become a Crown Corporation so issues like the above can be negotiable.
Corporate Postal Management isn't the Treasury Board. The CTI Program is on the table and all or part of it is negotiable?
Ask former CUPW President, Jean-Clause Parrot what he thinks?"
http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/8840/la_id/1.htm (CUPW On The CTI Program)

Posted by qualteam at 6:50 PM EST

Updated: Saturday, 20 January 2007 6:53 PM EST

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