To all members:

September 2011

In October I will be attending my last Board of directors meeting in Ottawa and will also be representing the membership at Convention. I have had the privilege of being President of Local #16 In Niagara falls for 11 years, during which time I believe we went great strides ahead. Now we are entering a different time period, a period where being Unionists is being looked at as being on the wrong side. Unions are being attacked on all fronts, and so are our members. It will surprise no-one that we are entering a time when Unions are fighting management more often than before, and most grievances are going to 4th level or higher. It seems we can’t settle our grievances at the local level anymore; it is a time when management on a scale of 1 to 10 hit our members at least with a 9. Gone are the days of reasoning, and therefore I am speaking out on the election of the next President, something I had promised myself I would not do. I believe we need a President who has done his or her homework, who knows the ins and outs, and who has the contacts to get the job done. I have had contact with our National President by e-mail where I stated I was going to support Shelly Kurgan for the job. I do believe she has the credentials to serve our membership well. When voting, please take this into consideration.

Personally, I could not have done it without Shelly, she has been and still is my friend and loyal Vice-President, and for that I will be forever great full. The new president will need new Vice-Presidents he or she can count on, elections are coming. If interested in any Vice-President position, put your name forward. Remember, this is YOUR Union, in CBSA nothing comes for free, it will need to be won, and that takes members to fill those positions. To our stewards, you have been the finest bunch of people to work with. I am getting closer to my retirement date, and I must say I can’t wait. There was a time when I couldn’t wait to get to work; now, I can’t wait to get home.

A chief once said many years ago at Queenston:” remember folks this is not a career, it is just a job. Many years later I realize just how right she was, a good place to start and get experience, not a place to stay. I would like to close by wishing each and every one of you all the best.

Fred Milligan
President
Local #16, Niagara Falls