April 10, 2006

LETTER TO LOCALS - REFRIGERATION AND GAS TRADE

Sisters and Brothers,

I have had recent meetings with the Director of Compensation and Classification to discuss the department's classification system, in particular the increase in classification grievances for specific groups or classifications.

It has become very clear that members who are in the refrigeration and gas trade, classified as EGs or MAMs (not PIPs), are continuously raising the issue that they are improperly classified.

Therefore, I am pleased to inform you the Department has agreed to conduct an onsite national audit for the gas and refrigeration trade positions. Dates have yet to be confirmed, but it is anticipated they will be held over two (2) weeks in May.

In order to prepare, I am requesting Locals contact members in the Local who are in the gas and refrigeration trades who would want to be interviewed by the audit team. Paul Dagenais, the classification officer from our National Office, will be accompanying the team as this will be a cross-country onsite audit within the two-week period.

The purpose of the audit will be to ascertain the nature of gas and refrigeration functions as to whether they are technical in nature or not; and furthermore raise the issues for inaccuracies that have been brought to my attention over the last while.

Please provide Paul Dagenais with the names of members who want to participate in the audit as soon as possible so that we can determine the schedule for site visits.

In Solidarity,

John MacLennan
National President

cc National Executive