MEMBER NOTICE
Group of six trying to seize Control of your Alberta Trust Funds

Proposed secret changes eliminate Alberta and British Columbia carpenters from controlling their own pensions and benefits.
Undemocratic attempted takeover exposed – court challenge launched to preserve local unions' and members' rights

Members,

Shortly after the creation of the Carpenters Regional Council, we discovered recent attempts by the Trustees of the ACAW Pensions and Benefits Trust Funds to change the Trusts to give them control over the Trusts by removing the control over the appointment of trustees from the local unions and the contributing employers.

If left unchallenged, these amendments would allow the current trustees to remain in charge of these Trust Funds without any control by the local unions and the contributing employers for as long as the current trustees wanted – and they would have complete control over the selection of any new trustees. They also removed the requirement that a trustee be a union member or a member of a contributing contractor.

We could not leave this unchallenged. It is essential for the proper functioning of your Trust Funds, and to protect the best interests of union members, that the local unions and the contributing employers retain control over the appointment and removal of trustees.

As a result, we have applied to court for a declaration that these amendments are illegal, given that they contravene the fundamental requirement in the establishment of these Trusts that the Trustees be appointed by the local unions and the employers.

We attach the court application for you to review.

This application was necessary for the proper governance of your pensions, your benefits and your Trust Funds. This can only be achieved if you retain control through your local unions over the selection of the trustees. That is what we are fighting for.

Join the campaign by contacting itsyourpension@ubcja.ca. 

Sincerely, 

Jason Rowe, VP, UBC Canadian District

Hamish Stewart, Regional Manager of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Yukon, Carpenters Regional Council

Paul Zarbatany, Western Canada Director of Organizing, Carpenters Regional Council

Derrick Schulte, Alberta Area Manager (South of Athabasca), Carpenters Regional Council