We want to take a moment and thank the great custodial staff at Brock who work hard to ensure the campus is safe and clean. Many thanks to our comrades at CUPE 1295 for taking such good care of our campus and buildings.
Micro Social: Friends, Food and Games
Come on out for a fun few hours of food, drink and board games. We will have Catan, Dominion, Aliens the card game, Monopoly and Codenames. Jackboxes 1,2,3 and 6. Please email below for more games and Jackbox numbers. October 9th beginning at 6pm but come when you can. Please register on the calendar for food and drink totals. Please reach out at outreach@outreach4207 for any information or requests for games or dietary concerns.
Message for International Student Workers from Brock International Association
Below is a message from Brock international concerning the news around internation students, status that affects work and study. Their email is below should you have questions.
Greetings Badger,
As you may have heard, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a press conference on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. In it, there was some news relevant to international students at Brock, which we have summarized for you.
Study permit cap
IRCC introduced a cap on new study permits in January 2024. The limit for 2025 and 2026 were announced. Master’s and doctoral students were excluded from the cap in 2024, but will be included starting in 2025. Currently those applying for study permit extensions are exempt from the cap. There was no mention of any change to this.
Note that study permit extensions can only be made from inside Canada and must be made before the study permit expires. If you need to extend your study permit, make sure you do so early, especially if you have travel plans. We recommend you apply 3-4 months before your study permit expires. Brock International offers monthly study permit extension webinars. See ExperienceBU to register.
Post-graduation work permit
IRCC announced that as of November 1, 2024, PGWP applicants will need to submit proof of language skills. For university students, the minimum language proficiency will be a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7. IRCC also plans to better align the PGWP with immigration goals and labour market needs. Specific details have not yet been announced, but check About the PGWP for updates to this program as they become available.
Brock International will continue to monitor for additional updates. We host webinars on applying for PGWP near the end of each term for students ready to apply. See ExperienceBU to register.
Off-campus work
While IRCC intends to increase the number of hours study permit holders can work off campus, no change is in effect yet.
Spousal open work permit
Later this year, IRCC plans to announce changes to eligibility which would limit this type of work permit. Check spouse of international student and family of foreign worker for updates to these programs as they become available.
For full details, see the September 18, 2024 news release and backgrounder:
- Strengthening temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes
- Actions taken to strengthen Canada’s temporary residence programs and migration pathways
If you have any questions related to this announcement or for any other immigration inquiries, please contact isa@brocku.ca.
Sincerely,
The Team at Brock International
Ice Dog Tickets Available for Members.
Come cheer on the Dogs on Sun, October 20 at 2pm. The local has 20 tickets for members to claim. One per member. Come to the local office during office hours or email info@cupe4207.org.
Take Back the Night 2024
4207 supports the take back the night event. We encourage members to go to the event held tomorrow.
For the past 43 years, the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre (NSAC) has held our Take Back the Night event to raise awareness about gender and sexual violence. We have seen some changes over the years. Laws have been introduced, safety apps have been created, more people seem willing to talk about the issue. Unfortunately, this hasn’t resulted in a decrease in violence. Sexual violence is the only crime NOT seeing a decrease. The latest stats show an 18% INCREASE from 2020-2021! Although this information is alarming, we believe education is key.
NSAC wants you join us in our Take Back The Night 2024 which will be held on Thursday, September 19thfrom 6:30-9pm at 91 King St. St. Catharines (Market Square). There will be Community Speakers, Community Partner Information Tables, Music and a Candle Lit March. If you have any questions, please reach out anytime to Tricia Cosgrove at tcosgrove@nrsac.org.
Health & Safety Committee (Marilyn I. Walker Campus)
CUPE 4207 is looking for a member to serve on the Marilyn I. Walker Joint Health and Safety Committee from December until the end of April.
Union training will be provided with respect to serving on a Health & Safety committee.
To serve on this committee, you must hold a current CUPE 4207 contract (TA or Instructor) at the Downtown Campus.
If you would like more information, send an email to info@cupe4207.org
General Membership Meeting
Welcome back CUPE 4207 members. Not sure where to start with the Union? The GMM help sets the agenda for the year. We will be discussing:
– Unit 1 Benefits Committee -Notice of motion -Election of faculty, international Stewards, Unit 2/3 and 4 Stewards and sending delegates to conferences. Come has your voice heard and direct your union!
Sept 16th 4:30pm. Register on the calendar on this website. Food and drink will be available.
WE SUPPORT CUPE 2361 ON STRIKE!
CUPE 2361 @ The University of Western are on strike for better staffing levels and for wages that are comparable to caretakers at neighbouring Fanshawe College.
Your Local has donated $300 to the Striking Workers. If you have a moment, sign the following petition to support CUPE 2361.
https://cupe.ca/clean-safe-accessible-campus-students-and-staff
Parking News and Update
We received the below from parking services. After word got out that paid evening parking was in effect this year, they seem to have seen some reason. Please keep up the good work telling Brock that we pay enough to park. We want them to consider this for Winter 2025 as well but also for the future of evening parking.
UPDATE:In response to concerns regarding the introduction of paid evening parking on campus, Parking Services will continue to offer complimentary evening parking in Lot 2 for the Fall semester (Sep. 1 to Dec. 24).
Dear Members,
It is disappointing for me to deliver the news about a change that has been made to evening parking at Brock. Your union was neither consulted nor notified of the change. I found out about the change in practice second hand from an undergrad student.
As of September 1, evening parking is now paid parking. A flat rate of $6 will be charged to park at Brock after 6:00 pm.
https://brocku.ca/parking-services/parking-on-campus/
This negatively affects members who teach in the evening, as well as students and community members who come to Brock in the evening.
Let’s be clear. This is nothing more than a cash grab by Brock!
Feel free to express your displeasure to:
Dr. Lesley Rigg, President and Vice Chancellor: president@brocku.ca
Matthew Laur, Manager of Parking Services: mlauer@brocku.ca
Jennifer Guarasci, Interim Vice President, Administration: jguarasci@brocku.ca
In Solidarity,
Phil Wachel, CUPE 4207 President
