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 News & Events:
Moving Forward
Dear Brothers & Sisters:
As the Director of Canadian Affairs, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to respond to my call for action. I wanted to hear from you and you responded!
I appreciate the honest opinions, comments and recommendations that you provided and I assure you that I will do my utmost to address the few concerns we received right away.
Together we are going to grow the U.A. by creating opportunities and delivering on our promises and guarantees. I believe we need to:
- Have a clear vision of the United Association so that we can move forward together and secure more job opportunities for our members.
- Create a positive perception of the U.A. in people’s minds including our members, clients, owners and contractors.
- Increase our influence in the industry.
- Increase our membership and re-establish loyalty in the U.A.
- Increase the number of U.A. contractors and the number of clients and owners.
I have given you my thoughts. Now I need to hear yours. How do you think we can accomplish this? How can you help? Please complete the Moving Forward Feedback Form to forward your feedback.
Sincerely Yours,
John Telford,
Director of Canadian Affairs
UA Journal Article - 07.21.09
A review of the UA Journal article on the UA Canada survey. Find out more about what is wanted by UA members in Canada.
Click HERE to read the full journal article >>
Moving Forward Feedback
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2008-06-22
Dear John,
I am a brother of local in Edmonton Ab.
I've been a member for 6 months and am very grateful for the opportunity given to me by our hall to be apart of the UA. If I could give one recommendation it would be to get rid of all the bad apples that are spoiling the reputation of not only the UA but all unions. The "dead wait" that the rest of us have to pick up the slack for and work twice as hard to make up for their complete lack of effort. Its easier for people to turn a blind eye to these actions and people. I've worked non union for most of my career in the trades and the perception is the same where ever you turn "unions are lazy." The few of us who try to stand up to these rotten apples are often put into positions where we're called "Rats," or worse pushed out of jobs by people who would rather ignore whats going on and coast through the job. Mean while the UA and everything our brothers fought for is being dragged through the mud. In my opinion those brothers who haven't spent any time away from the union don't know how good they have it. There's complacency, and spoiled rotten people out there who need to have pride and honour in themselves and the people around them. If we want to move forward cut the the dead weight.
My suggestion for this problem would be a internal watch dog group. A group of people with hidden identities to protect them and their families from all the people who would be affected by this.
I know what you're going say "scabby non union mentality" well maybe you're right but maybe it's exactly what is needs to put UA back on top where it belongs. Make our brothers appreciate what they have.
Thank you for the opportunity!
Yours Truly Brother
Dustin - UA Member - Alberta - Canada 2008-06-06
Hi John ; Good to hear from you even under the serious circumstances you describe . I am as you know, retired and as such , the results and ramifications of this situation have a smaller direct effect on me but I feel that I have the right and duty to respond with my opinions . One of the problems that I confront every day in my "seniors" life , is that my memory is still completely intact and I remember only too well all my associations and dealings with the UA and my brother members . I find this letter to be pretty ironic in that I distinctly remember expressing my feelings numerous times (to you and others) on this subject only to be dismissed as a "malcontent" who was considered too "militant" to be taken seriousely , no matter , I will do my best to express my opinions again although I have serious doubts as to how much real attention will be paid to them ! Firstly , let me relate to you a little incident that came up in a conversation at a "Musicians Union" meeting that I attended (being a long-time member there also) . The members were trying to address the same type of situations when one of the members suggested the we should "ask not what your union can do for you but what you can do for your union" ! Sound familiar (J.F.Kennedy) ? The problem here is that a "Union" is not a "lodge" or "club" and exists only for the benefit of the members so the expression "what's in it for me " is more appropriate in most members minds (and I would say "rightly so") . You will never maintain or increase membership unless there is seen to be a direct (usually monetary) benefit in doing so , and to talk about things like loyalty and brotherhood will usually be seen as just more "platitudes". You have ,it seems to me , certain situations that create attitudes that have a tendency to pit members against each other rather than bringing them together to fight for a common cause . There are numerous of these , but the two singlemost important in my opinion and after many years of working within these parameters , and also after much thought over the years , are .......The "overuse and abuse " of the "name hire" practice , and the fact that there is no distinct separation between labour and management inasfar as union membership is concerned . These two practices , more than anything else , create a situation where the members are always competing against each other in order to "curry favour" with the employers (who are represented on the jobs by other members) in order to get or maintain employment and or to move up the "management ladder" . The ramifications of this are huge resulting in concessions , rule bending , turning a "blind eye" etc., etc., etc.! While all of this seems like it should be applicable only to the local job sites , it creates a group of members who are totally self-concerned and have no interest in backing other members or the "brotherhood" as a whole ! I remember (that word again) standing in a "strike-vote" meeting and urging the members not to "sell the farm" in order to gain very short-term "peace and prosperity" with our employers after having trouble finding a parking spot in the lot which was filled up by "company pickup trucks" driven by "brothers" who were "management" people . The old cliche that you cannot serve two masters jumps right out at you here. In short , what I'm trying to say here is that , over the long term , I have never seen "concessions" have the type of result that was desired for them , rather resulting in a postponement of the inevitable ! I apologize for turning this into an essay , but there are so many issues and I don't think you can address any without addressing all ! I don't envy your task here since it has been allowed to progress to this stage over the period of many years and I'm not at all sure that the members and officials have the stomach for what is sure to be a "down and dirty" uncomfortable struggle ! It is always (and has been) easier to compromise your principals and "take what you can get" rather than bite the bullet and take on the fight ! As my old friend Don Cherry has said many times , "Sometimes You Have to Answer The Bell " ! As with any organization like this , it will take the membership as a whole to accomplish this kind of thing , but make no mistake in that the "leadership" will have to provide the "leadership" which is something I'm sad to say has not ,in my opinion, been done very well up to now . I remember (that word again) brother Ken Hulse saying to me one day that you have to maintain "peace in the camp" ! Sound good but sometimes doesn't serve the purpose very well ! OK John , I have vented my feelings on this, and I thank you for the opportunity to do so , so I will sign off and go back to my guitar shop . I sincerely want to wish you all the best (along with your fellow officials) in this , sure to be , trying endeavor !
Sincerely
James - UA Member - Canada 2008-06-12
I am a member in Sarnia,I am also a recovering addict alcoholic,I am sure you are aware that the drug problem is out of control,specially with the young apprentices.I have a aggressive plan to take care of it.Brothers taking care of Brothers,recovering brothers keeping brothers accountable.Members that are clean and sober are members that have an opportunity to keep their family together,they are employable,good Representatives of the Ua.Outside agencies are ok but it is just a revolving door.There must be accountability,recovering brothers know exactly what the brothers are going through.I have a plan that will bring accountability forward.This plan is not a witch hunt,this is brothers helping brothers.We have an opportunity to save the young members and the older members from family break-ups,jail,revolving rehab doors,and most importantly not being employable.
Thank you
Glenn - UA Member - Ontario - Canada [Top]
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