I for one don't know what is best for me and I have been bothered for weeks on end with Unions trying to win me over and gain my favour. So,I have tried to break things down in my mind and what I know and what I don't know and what is important to me. My main interest is working and following my employer where he has work ln Canada as I have done for years. I have that ability right now and concerned how that would be affected with this new Union we are just told about. Why is this dropped on us last minute?

At first,I supported LIUNA and OEs. Now I find out I supported the Trade Union Council of Ontario, whatever that is. I signed both cards because I was not happy with Valard. Problems with my flights, camp conditions and no one seemingly in my corner to fix things. So,I signed cards mostly because of Valard. After that,I started to hear for CUSW and I was reminded that we elected our stewards and could recall them if they were not doing our bidding. That was our choice good or bad?

In light of my discussion with CUSW folks and in light of LIUNA and OE paperwork that I seen today, has caused me to change my mind? Why are they telling us now, we are in different Union that we signed for?

Secondly, I thought LIUNA and OES were going to make me a member but I see this morning that it is a made up union and not LIUNA or OEs. So how does this help me? I don't belong to a Local of LIUNA or OES? I signed 2 cards so they get to decide where I go instead of my wishes. So first off, I have been lied to and the fundamentals of what they told was not true and is not true. We are being set up differently so we can be treated differently than the rest of their members?

Thirdly there is no collective agreement associated with this new union we are going to but I have one now and it is being negotiated? I have the ability to be able to follow Valard across the country but how does this new union work as they are only in Ontario? Well, how am I able to go to New Brunswick when CUSW has a collective agreement with Valard there? I will be in some other Union that doesn't have an agreement there. How do I go to the next big Valard Job when its at Hydro One and Hydro One is covered by a CUSW collective agreement and I have to be a member of CUSW to do the substation electrical work, line work and ground work? What substation and line work jobs does LIUNA and OES have for members of this new Union anywhere in the province for me to keep working?

All I know is I have had flights and camps and lots of overtime, so after looking at things I am not going to risk that on promises from people I don't know. I don't know what that agreement would contain and I have to give strangers the right to control my employment with Valard across the country? When I looked at LIUNA agreement I see no camps or flights and seems they only support local hire.

I am not interested in starting a new benefit plan or pension that I have no control over. I know CUSW and I know what I got there and they have not limited my ability to follow Valard anywhere. I don't know the people promising all these changes and how good it will be for me to follow my work. But I am not going to roll that dice. They are restrictive on their members why would they treat me different.

So today I wanted to identify my interests and not going to risk my future listening to outsiders on what is good for me. I know CuSW and I think it's best for me and my family and following my employer across the country. I am not interested in changing what I have right now and become a "Trade Union Council of Ontario" member.

Sincerely, AJ Schlotzhauer - Electrical Senior Foreperson.