Return to Credibility
Representational Issues
Over the past 5 years or so, members have been subjected to a ruling caucus who have forgotten that they are accountable to the members. This disdain for members is evident in the manner of communication and a general lack of respect for the cares and concerns of individual members.
The Regional Representative is supposed to represent the interests of all members; the ruling caucus doesn't believe in that. In fact, the opposite is quite true. In their minds and hearts not every member deserves representation, consultation and/or co-development action.
Honest Representation
I believe that everyone who pays dues deserves the best efforts and representation any steward can provide. Personal beliefs and opinions are not part of the equation for me; all members are to receive FULL and COMPLETE representation.
Standards
Representing the interests of members within the PIPSC framework means members are in control of their grievances in most cases. That means members are required to be up to date in terms of their knowledge of the collective agreement, policies and procedures of the employer. Of course this isn't always feasible given the need to work and focus on other things. The steward is the link to making sure members interests are protected. But that can't happen in a vacuum; good communication skills and openess to hear members complaints are key to ensuring professional representation takes place. When communication is replaced by serving only the interests of a few, then the intereststs of the few are advanced to be the interests of the whole. In these cases, an agenda can become self serving. If elected as your Representative I will institute communications strategies and procedures to ensure the issues of the Prairie region are responsibly identified, accurately conveyed, and effectively advanced. If elected as your Representative I will take measures to ensure that the rate of grievances filed by stewards is normalized to the levels in other parts of the country. Credibility must be restored to promote meaningful dialog where it has been damaged.
Accountablity
I believe union democracy starts with accountablity to all the members through open engagement. All members should have access to the Regional Representative and service standards should be met. Accordingly if elected I will not ignore emails, telephone messages and issues of members to the best of my ability. I will make my self available to all members.
As your Regional Representative I will ensure presentations will be conducted with respect and dignity of those who attend and personal behaviours in consulation meetings with the employer will be professional. My aim is to open doors, not close them. click here for more information.
The cornerstones of a return to credibility will be the creation of stewards standards committee with input from the membership. In my mind, stewardship is a privelidge not a right.
Consider for example a statement, I usually seek the approval of my boss, and the behavioral indicator is ‘expresses a need or desire to persuade others’. The data does not point to what the candidate did on the particular occasion (the event) nor is there evidence that the candidate had a desire to persuade others, in this case the boss.