About Us
Welcome to TEAM
Hello, and welcome to TEAM’s website. I’m Erin Spencer, TEAM’s Executive Director, and my role is to ensure the smooth functioning of the TEAM office and to oversee the day-to-day operations pertaining to the representation of our members in the workplace, whether that is in the office or working remotely.
Thank you for stopping by to learn more about who we are, and what we do. I’ll provide you with a brief synopsis, and if you wish to learn more, feel free to read the following sections and explore our website.
Looking through our paper archives, we discovered that the initial conversations about the formation of TEAM were occurring around September 1970. The discussions were taking place among telephone engineering personnel in the government owned Manitoba telephone company. By December of that same year, TEAM was officially established.
TEAM runs a lean operation with a small staff contingent, helping keep our membership dues at under 1.4% (a tax deductable expense). Our Board and office are always mindful about the source of our income, i.e. the members, and, accordingly, tightly manage and monitor the finances.
For assistance on legal matters, including arbitrations, lawsuits, and Canadian Human Rights cases, we engage a highly reputable Winnipeg law firm, Cochrane Saxberg Barristers and Solicitors. Partner, Kris Saxberg, is one of two lead lawyers who worked on a lawsuit relating to our members’ pensions that ultimately went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court decided in favour of the Pension Plan members, with an award of $140,000,000.
We understand that not all members will need our services for individual disputes with their employer, but through our negotiations with the employer on pay, benefits, vacations, workload, job protection, and many other matters, all members benefit. When things do turn bad for an employee, and all too often they do, I, my staff, and our legal team will be ready to provide the support you need, when you need it most.
History of TEAM
The earliest record that we have of TEAM’s origins are the minutes of a meeting held in September 16, 1970.
At a ballot counting on December 21, 1970 the Association officially came into being. The purpose of TEAM at that time was to convey the collective desires and concerns of the members to the senior management of Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) through meaningful dialogue.
By around 1985, the majority of the members had determined that a stronger voice was needed for MTS to truly hear them. Consequently, with this majority, on December 22, 1986 TEAM obtained it’s first bargaining unit certification from the Manitoba Labour Board. In recognition of the significantly more diverse range of jobs within the bargaining unit’s scope, by this time, the association’s name had become “Telecommunications Employees Association of Manitoba”.
TEAM achieved its first officially recognized Collective Agreement on August 24, 1987.
Following the splitting of MTS into separate companies, with some falling under provincial legislation, and the main division, MTS Communications Inc., being deemed a federal undertaking, on September 17, 2003 TEAM was granted a Federal Certification by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
In 2004 MTS acquired Allstream, a national telecommunications organization, becoming MTS Allstream Inc. To meet the new challenges this would undoubtedly bring, in July 2006, the TEAM members voted to affiliate with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). The IFPTE was officially recognized in 1918, and today represents 80,000 professionals across north America, including NASA scientists, hydro electric and nuclear engineers, legal aid lawyers, to name but a few.
As an affiliate of the IFPTE, TEAM automatically became an affiliate of the Canadian Labour Congress. TEAM became an affiliate of the Manitoba Federation of Labour in 2007., and in 2009 TEAM affiliated with the Winnipeg Labour Council.
TEAM continues to evolve as we look to represent employee groups in other organizations that have historically been overlooked by the mainstream traditional unions. Our focus and expertise is in representing managers, supervisors and professionals. The workplace has changed, and now more than ever, employers at all levels can benefit from having a louder voice and someone to be fighting in their corner.
Purpose of TEAM
TEAM’s purpose is to promote the interests of all employees in our jurisdiction:
- To advance their social and economic welfare,
- To represent them in discussions with the employer, and
- To negotiate compensation, benefits and working conditions.
We are the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all employees in TEAM’s jurisdiction and it is our job is to negotiate the Collective Agreement with the employer.
The Collective Agreement contains the terms and conditions of our members’ employment. It covers a broad range of topics including pay, vacation, sicktime, overtime, posting process, temporary appointments, severance packages, etc.
TEAM also represents members in discussions about pension and medical plans, and workplace health and safety.
All in-scope management employees at Bell Canada in Manitoba are covered by the current Collective Agreement.
Structure of TEAM
TEAM is governed by a Board of elected members, consisting of a President, Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and six Board Members. The Board makes all major policy decisions, sets the general strategic direction, and hires the Executive Director.
TEAM Board |
|
| President | Dave Eyjolfson dave.eyjolfson@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Vice-President | Carrie Sanderson carrie.sanderson@teamunion.mb.ca |
| 2nd Vice-President | |
| Secretary/Treasurer |
Tobias Theobald tobias.theobald@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Board Member |
Wendy Harper wendy.harper@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Board Member | |
| Board Member | Michelle Johnson michelle.johnson@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Board Member | Tracey Van Cott tracey.vancott@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Board Member | |
| Board Member | Bonnie Yendrowich bonnie.yendrowich@teamunion.mb.ca |
TEAM has a full-time office staff of three that includes the Executive Director, Labour Relations Officer, and an Office and Information Coordinator.
The office staff, led by the Executive Director, provide direct support to the membership, and ensure the Collective Agreement is fairly applied.
TEAM Office Staff |
|
| Executive Director | Erin Spencer erin.spencer@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Labour Relations Officer | Gordon Lillie gordon.lillie@teamunion.mb.ca |
| Office & Information Coordinator | Mavis De La Ronde team@teamunion.mb.ca |
| IFPTE Organizers |
Bill Fitzpatrick / Anna Liu / aliu@ifpte.org |
Joining TEAM
If you would like to know more about unions for managers, supervisors and professionals, and how TEAM can assist you and your colleagues, give us a call or email for a confidential no obligation discussion.
Bill Fitzpatrick
IFPTE ORGANIZER
Cell: 416-979-2709, Ext. 2260
Email: team@teamunion.mb.ca
Professionals representing professionals
TEAM-IFPTE Local 161
200 - 1 Wesley Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4C6
Phone: 204-984-9470
Toll Free: 1-877-984-9470
FAX: (204) 231-2809
E-mail: team@teamunion.mb.ca
TEAM is an affiliate of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), AFL-CIO & CLC. Established on July 1, 1918, the IFPTE is a diverse labour union advocating on behalf of more than 80,000 women and men in professional, technical, administrative and associated occupations in Canada and the United States.