Today, our local sent a letter to president Fearon, inquiring about the role of Brock University in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce [OCC], and calling for its withdrawal from the OCC. The OCC lobbied the Ontario government to repeal worker-friendly provisions contained in Bill 148 that amended three regulatory regimes in Ontario: the Employment Standards Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Labour Relations Act. These amendments lasted barely a year before the PC government of Doug Ford destroyed these amendments by passing Bill 47.

“Despite widespread outrage across the province, the PCs privileged the pro-business agenda of the OCC and forced through changes that would weaken rights for the most vulnerable. If Brock University claims to be among the top employers in Hamilton-Niagara, it needs to clarify whether it supports weakening minimum protections for workers in this province. What part did the Administration of Brock play in framing the OCC’s demands?

“CUPE 4207 calls on Brock University to denounce the changes brought by Bill 47 to the Employment Standards Act, and to cease membership in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.”

The whole letter can be read here.

The creation of the NEW Bargaining Research Committee has been moved and passed at our October GMM.

The Bargaining Research Committee would be comprised of four members.

The method of filling in the positions is by appointment by the Executive Committee.

The task of the BRC is to gather information, and process and analyze data that are beneficial to the Bargaining Committee’s work to help craft and support an argument in order to secure better contractual language.

Interested members are encouraged to apply by emailing info@cupe4207.org by December 10th.

Please include a brief statement of intent to run for this committee.

BRC members will be appointed by the EC by the end of December. The work of the newly formed committee will begin on January 1, 2019.  Members receive monthly honorarium of $200, until the Unit 1 collective bargaining period is concluded.

This is a luncheon for Brock workers to discuss Workday. We have been affected by this payroll/HR system implemented this summer to differing degrees, but with similar experience: frustration. This luncheon is yet another one we organize to bring workers together and to come to a proactive understanding of what should be done.

Our October general meeting is on Wednesday October 24 at 4 pm in Goodman School of Business (of all places at Brock..) room number 408. Hopefully both elevators are already working. Otherwise use the one in the new addition since the Taro building elevator has been our of service for a few weeks.

For special accommodation and coverage of child care, lease email the union prior to the meeting.

Agenda:

• One of the three trustees still needs to be elected – Election of a Trustee
• Election of UNIT 2 BARGAINING COMMITTEE

And all you the member want to discuss – bring it to the GMM.

Heads up: in November we will be electing members to UNIT 1 BARGAINING COMMITTEE- five members to represent Unit 1 in collective agreement negotiations in the upcoming year. Look at article 12 of our bylaws for details.

Article 12 is also pasted here:

Continue reading →

Come to the Glenridge Quarry parking lot on October 13 at 1:30 pm and have a great hike on the Bruce Trail.

More about the event here.

THISTLE 147 at 4 pm (please note the room has been changed from TH 246 to THISTLE 147)

NEW! Become the lucky winner of a ticket to SAM 23 !What to do:  come to the meeting | put your name in a hat |  we will draw the winners at the end of the meeting.

The Debaters tickets will be there as well!

Problems with Workday? Bring it to the meeting! 

The local is holding a general meeting on Thursday, September 27, at 4 pm in Thistle 246. There will be food, a CUPE 1287 member as a guest speaker for 10 minutes, and we will chat about Workday and other issues The meeting will be called to order at 4:30. . Remember that the union is only as good (read your working conditions) as the members (you) make it! **

We have an IMPORTANT AGENDA this first GMM of the term.  ELECTIONS FOR SEVERAL POSITIONS are going to be held at the meeting. Any member in good standing can run for any of open the positions. See elections of officers, article 7.12 in our bylaws

Vice President Graduate Students Members – NEW POSITION

Equity Officer, see description of duties in our bylaws, article 7

Health and Safety Officer, see description of duties in our bylaws article 7

Unit 2 Vice President*

Unit 2 Steward*

Unit 3 Vice President*

Unit 3 Steward*

We are also going to elect delegates to these two conferences:

Delegates to CUPE Ontario Health and Safety and Injured Workers Conference

Delegates to CUPE Ontario Women’s Conference

*Only members of these respective units can run for and elect members to these positions.

** 4.1 The governing bodies of the Local shall consist of the following:
(a) The Membership
(b) The Executive Committee
(c) The Stewards Council
(d) Committees: Committees of the executive may be formed to make specific recommendations to the executive on any given issue. Committees of the general membership may also be formed, open to all members in good standing. Committees can work toward new policy or on the basis of already existing policy, but they cannot contravene the Local’s by-laws, and must not act so as to undermine the policies duly enacted by the general membership.
4.2 The plenary authority of the Local shall rest with the membership of the Local. Such authority shall be exercised in properly constituted membership meetings and referenda, in accordance with these bylaws.

This year, we have a list of varied social/entertainment/chilling out events rather than one big social. Most of these micro socials require to let the union know your intention to attend and some of them necessitate partial coverage of the cost, though the local is paying for most of the expense. This way we can fit within the budget allocated for social activity last April by our members, while reaching members with differing interests.  We are starting off with three MicroSocials in the next few weeks: a trip to Canada’s Wonderland, live CBC radio stand up comedy show, The Debaters, and a hike through the Niagara escarpment in the splendor of early fall colours. Continue reading →