2026 Elections - CUPE 4207

Eligibility to Vote in CUPE 4207 Elections
From the Elections Committee – Alison Innes, Sandra Kroeker, and Tanima Ferdous.

Anyone who is a Member in Good Standing of the Local as of March 19, 2026 can vote in the upcoming elections. As per bylaws, electronic voting will take place using Simply Voting and will start after the Nominations forum. More details will be provided shortly by the Elections Committee.

The following positions are open for election (positions not listed have been acclaimed):

Vice-President Unit 1 Graduate Students Candidates

Ben Johnson – Election Flyer

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future” J.R.R. Tolkien

Thank you for making an informed vote! My name is Ben Johnson.
I’m a PhD student in Applied Health Sciences with an interdisciplinary research focus on inclusive learning through reflection.
I’ve worked as a TA in 5 departments: EDUC, CHYS, KINE, LABR, DART.
As an executive for the past 3 years, I bring the knowledge & skills necessary to continue serving the Local. Passionate about making a difference in the community, I’ve kept busy the past few years being involved in 4207. I’ve summarized my accomplishments below.
https://bj16xq.github.io/Open-Union-Practices/

Key Experience:
CUPE 4207 Executive: Vice-President, Graduate Students 2024-25
-Recruited many graduate students to be members in good standing.
-Co-Chair, Graduate Student Committee (developed engagement plan in ways relevant to students’ research)
-Collaborated with Graduate Students’ Association (GSA)
-Advocating for Young Workers through developing a resolution that establishes a Young Worker trustee position.
-Kept executive committee informed about business transpiring at Brock Senate and the Board of Trustees.
Training: CUPE Local Executive Training (full week training), Parliamentary Procedure, Steward Training
Conventions: CUPE National, CUPE Ontario, Young Ontario Workers, OUWCC (University Sector)
Additional Experience:
-CUPE 4207 Recording Secretary 2023-24
-President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity, and Decolonization (PACHRED):
-Co-Chair, PACHRED Employment Equity Working Group
-PACHRED Anti-Ableism and Mental Health Working Group
-Co-Chair, Young Worker Committee (passed support for young worker trustee resolution)
-Member, Bylaw/Finance/Policy Committee
-Co-Chair, Political Action and International Solidarity Committee
-Brock Student Union Board of Directors: developed various transparency-related motions/policy amendments
-Golden Key International Council of Student Leaders Canada Representative: developed student engagement plan
-Brock Student Senator & Committees (e.g., Student Appeals Board)
-PSYC & CHYS Department Student Representative
-Faculty of Social Sciences Student Ambassador
-GSA Program Representative

I’d appreciate your vote and continued support!

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Kendra-Lee Dupuis

Hi! 😊 My name is Kendra-Lee, and I am running to be the Vice-President of Graduate Students. As a fellow graduate student, just completing my first year of my PhD in Applied Health Science, I know how hard it can be to balance education and work. I also know what it is like to have a passion for something and wanting to succeed. My passion came from the Nursing Department, where I completed both my BScN and my MA (Nursing). Through this, I developed my goals of becoming an educator, a pathway that will allow me to support students from across all walks of life, just like I do as a nurse. I hope that for now I can continue to build upon this passion and provide this support as the VP of Graduate Students. Thank you for your consideration!

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Vice-President Unit 1 Instructors Candidates

Tracy Kennedy, PhD – Election Flyer

Hello, Sisters, Brothers, and Comrades! My name is Tracy Kennedy, and I have been an Instructor at Brock for 24 years and a TA for 27 years. I have taught in six departments at Brock and at four universities across Ontario. I am running for the VP Unit 1 Instructors again this year and hoping for your support.

In the past two years I have represented and advocated for Unit 1 Instructors, ensuring that our diverse needs are heard and supported by:
• Protecting our jobs, wages, and rights at the Bargaining table.
• Monitoring Instructor Job Postings and Appointments to ensure that the employer is not seniority busting.
• Helping Instructors with their questions and holding virtual meetings with them.
• Initiating mediations or grievances when an Instructor’s rights are violated.
• Attending Labour Management Meetings and disciplinary meetings to advocate and support our Instructors.
• Creating Education opportunities for our members.
• Representing Instructor’s priorities at Provincial and National Conventions and Conferences.

If re-elected, I will continue to advocate for Unit 1 Instructors and work to strengthen the sense of community amongst us. I will ensure that our voices continue to be heard, that we are not excluded from conversations about our contracts, our work and workplace, that our concerns are addressed and supported, and that we are treated with respect by the employer and amongst one another.

With thanks and in Solidarity,
Tracy Kennedy, PhD

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Nwakerendu (Kay) Waboso

I am seeking your support for Vice-President, Instructors because as an Instructor, I understand what it means to teach under our current conditions at Brock University.

Instructors carry a significant share of the university’s teaching mission. Yet many of us face ongoing job insecurity, reapplying for courses without guarantees, managing growing workloads, and working without consistent access to benefits or adequate support. These are not inevitable conditions—they are the result of decisions. And they can be changed.

My priorities are clear:

1. Strong Representation
Instructors need more than a voice, we need influence. I will ensure your concerns are brought forward clearly and that they shape our union’s direction and bargaining priorities.

2. Building Collective Strength
We are often isolated across departments, which weakens our power. I will work to strengthen connections among Instructors so we can act collectively, not individually.

3. Real, Material Gains
Advocacy must lead to results. I will push for improved job security, fair compensation that reflects our full workload, better access to benefits, and transparent, equitable hiring practices.

I also recognize that our strength comes from solidarity. Instructors, TAs, and Marker graders, Lab demonstrators etc are strongest when we work together. I will advocate firmly for and contribute to a united vision for all members.

I am committed to being present, responsive, and accountable, earning your trust and ensuring our collective voice leads to meaningful change.

Let’s align the value of our work with the conditions we deserve.

Thank you for your support.

Kay Waboso

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Lead Steward Unit 1 Candidates

Tracy Kennedy, PhD – Election Flyer

Hello, Comrades! My name is Tracy Kennedy, and I have been a 4207 member since 1999. I have worked all of the contract positions in Unit 1, except lab demonstrator. I have been involved with the Executive Committee for over six years, and involved in the Local for eight years. I am running for the position of Lead Steward Unit 1.

This position carries a sizable workload and responsibilities given the size of this unit, and as the departments continue to violate or try to reinterpret language in our collective agreement. I am up for meeting the responsibilities of this position and bring the following experience:

Using Labourware software and other platforms for member & grievance tracking.
Filing grievances with the employer.
Calling and holding Labour Management Meetings.
Calling and holding Committee Meetings & Rules of Order (pertinent to Steward Council Meetings).
Mediating and advocating for Member’s Rights in meetings with Department Chairs or the Office of People and Culture.
Tracking and reviewing Job postings for consistency and compliancy.
Teaching and facilitating aspects of Union education. Tracking Steward Education.
Creating a monthly reporting form for department stewards.
Leading large groups of individuals and offering them support in their roles (pertinent to recruiting, teaching, and training department Stewards).
Recruiting new Stewards via one-on-one conversations, and encouraging members to sign the Member in Good Standing Form.

Thanks for considering. In Solidarity, Tracy Kennedy, PhD

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Tracy Steward – Election Flyer

My name is Tracy Stewart, and I am running for the position of Lead Steward with CUPE 4207 Unit 1. I am running for Lead Steward because I am committed to upholding our collective agreement and ensuring that management meets its obligations to all members.

With 28 years of experience as a contract worker at Brock University, I have a strong understanding of how our workplace functions day to day. I am very familiar with hiring processes, navigating Workday, accessing available training and supports, and developing and following the allocation of hours structures. I’m also committed to supporting reasonable accommodations, especially for members from marginalized groups.

My time on the Bargaining Team has also strengthened my understanding of the collective agreement. Spending six months working closely with it gave me time to learn how it’s structured, how it’s interpreted, and how to apply it effectively in real situations. That experience also gave me the opportunity to work closely with other members of the unit, executive members, and management.

I am equally invested in the long-term success of our union on campus. I believe that when we work together, we can find solutions that strengthen our local and support the membership.

My approach is grounded in listening first, working toward resolution where possible, and direct action when necessary. I have built positive, professional relationships with faculty, chairs, and administrators, and I believe those relationships can be used productively without wavering on our rights under the collective agreement.

I am committed to fair representation, thoughtful decision-making, and advocating in a way that benefits all members.

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Recording Secretary Candidates

Karen Hofman

Hello,

My name is Karen Hofman, a Teaching Assistant in Labour Studies and Sociology. I am running for the position of Recording Secretary, a position I currently hold. I was nominated by Nicole Lemieux.

As a long-time returning contract worker at Brock, a Teaching Assistant in Labour Studies and Sociology, experiencing our shared working conditions led me to labour union activism. In the past many years, I served the union as a steward and held executive positions such as Membership Outreach Officer and Recording Secretary. The function of the Recording Secretary is one of the foundational positions to keep the union’s records organized, members registered and prepared to attend conventions, set up meetings, order food and other routine but necessary labour that requires significant time to do well. I am committed to continuing and improving this work on your behalf.

In my perspective, dedication to improving our working conditions matters when it is also expressed in collective actions. In addition to my Recording Secretary function, I continue to co-organize various events for our union, whether on the Social Committee or the Political Action and International Solidarity Committee. I work on campus in person and am also helping with outreach.

Externally, I delegate to the Niagara Regional Labour Council and have served a as a Brock Campus Representative for the CUPE Ontario university sectoral committee, where I acted on campaigns such as Where is The Funding.

The ongoing rounds of budget cuts that Brock periodically launches make conditions more difficult for students and workers alike and pose a great threat to university core principles. I believe that together we can make our workplace, the university, better!

Thank you for considering me for the position.

In solidarity, Karen Hofman

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Tracy Kennedy, PhD – Election Flyer

Hello, Sisters, Brothers, and Comrades! My name is Tracy Kennedy, and I have been a Unit 1 member since 1999.

I am running for the position of Recording Secretary. I have worked at CUPE 4156 as their Executive Assistant for almost three years, and I was the Recording Secretary for Niagara CUPE Council last year. I have ample experience:

Creating agendas for Executive and General Membership Meetings, and taking thorough and accurate notes.
Tracking members and their contracts across five units in previous positions on the Executive Committee.
Organizing and booking accommodations for conventions and conferences.
Organizing and booking rooms on campus for committee meetings.

I am very skilled at organizing digital files and recording keeping, and have taught other locals in Niagara how to set up their own digital tracking and records systems. I feel my organizational and administrative skills would be of benefit to the Local.

With thanks and in Solidarity,

Tracy Kennedy, PhD

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Ben Johnson – Election Flyer

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future” J.R.R. Tolkien

I’d appreciate your vote and continued support!

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Elizabeth D’Angelo – No Submission.

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Outreach Officer Candidates

Dan Barnowski

Hello,
For the past two years, I have worked hard as your Member Outreach Officer (Dan the M.O.O.) and one year bargaining mobilizer. I’ve rallied members to protest outside bargaining sessions, connected with departments across campus, and organized events like game nights, open houses, bowling nights, and pub socials, with plans to do even more.

You should elect me because I do the work. Many of you have seen me at union events and key university initiatives. I make it a priority to show up where our members are, ensuring you stay informed and that our union is a real, visible presence in your daily lives. I enjoy sharing a laugh, but I’m equally committed to understanding your concerns and supporting our members through challenging times at Brock.

If I have the opportunity to serve again, I will focus on making our union even more inclusive, with a diverse range of activities that engage everyone. I also want to grow our social media presence, increase turnout at GMMs, and strengthen our sense of community. Each September brings new members and new voices, and I’m committed to helping them feel welcomed and involved.

Over the past two years, I’ve learned a great deal. My first year was about understanding the union and its broader systems. My second year focused on bargaining and navigating complex communication challenges. Now, I’m ready to bring that experience together to help build a warm, welcoming, and connected union for all.

The fun and connection will continue, because we need our union community more than ever.
Let’s keep building a union that shows up, speaks out, and brings us together.

Thank you for considering me as your M.O.O. I would be honoured to serve you for a third term.
Daniel Barnowski

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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Equity Officer Candidates

Nwakerendu (Kay) Waboso

Equity work this past year has required honesty, persistence, and action.

Let’s acknowledge the reality: member participation in equity initiatives has been uneven. It would be easy to measure success by turnout alone and conclude the work has stalled.

But that would be incomplete.

Equity work did happen. And often, it took the form of disruption.

At Brock University, decisions like staff layoffs raised serious concerns about transparency and impact especially for those already navigating precarity. In those moments, equity was not about statements, it was about action.

We organized. We supported a staff layoff petition. We advocated publicly. We challenged decisions that disproportionately affect equity-deserving members. And we did so even when it was uncomfortable.

This work also strengthened relationships across campus with staff, faculty allies, and student groups, building a broader coalition committed to fairness, accountability, and worker dignity. Equity work is not isolated; it is relational. And those relationships matter for long-term change.

Now, we must also address a critical gap: engagement. If participation is low, we need to ask why…time, trust, capacity, relevance; and respond intentionally.

My commitment moving forward:

Continue to disrupt harmful decisions through organized, visible advocacy
Strengthen relationships with key campus stakeholders to amplify impact
Build accessible, meaningful pathways for member engagement
Ensure equity work is tied directly to material conditions and outcomes

Equity is not passive. It requires action, even when participation is uneven and outcomes take time.

If we are serious about equity, then we must be willing to do the work, consistently, collectively, and with purpose.

Thank you.

Kay Waboso.

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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Health & Safety Officer Candidates

Tracy Steward – No Submission.

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Stacyann Williams

My name is Stacyann Williams, and I am excited to put my name forward as your next Health and Safety Officer.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving in CUPE. I have and continue to serve as a member of the CUPE Ontario Worker with Disabilities Committee; I have served our University Sector as Equity Rep; Regionally, I was part of the Niagara Regional CUPE council; and I have served our local in several roles. At our local, I previously served as a steward representing the Sociology department, and later as Vice President Unit 1, where I supported both the President and our members including signing cheques. In that role, I helped facilitate committee meetings and created opportunities, such as café time with the executives, to keep members informed and engaged during bargaining. I also served as Equity Officer, where I worked to support ALL equity-seeking groups and help create space for their voices and growth within our union.

Throughout each of these roles, I have remained actively involved in health and safety work, including co-chairing and contributing to the Health and Safety Committee. With the support of CUPE 4207, I have completed extensive training, including but not limited to the Occupational Health and Safety Certification (Levels 1 and 2), the Joint Health and Safety Refresher Course, Workplace Violence and Harassment, Psychosocial Hazards and Workplace Mental Health, and Mental Health First Aid. Most recently, I became a certified Health and Safety Instructor.

I am passionate about giving back to our local and using the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to support our members. I would truly appreciate your vote and the opportunity to serve you in this role.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Stacyann Williams

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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Ben Johnson – Election Flyer

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future” J.R.R. Tolkien

I’d appreciate your vote and continued support!

_____

Deputy Health & Safety Officer Candidates

Tracy Steward – No Submission.

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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Mark Omiecinski – No Submission

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Five Delegates to Niagara CUPE Council Candidates

Ron Walker

VOTE

For

Robert (Ron) Walker

Candidate for CUPE 4207 as a delegate to the Niagara CUPE Council

Member of CUPE 4207 since 2006

Experience:

Political Activist since 1967

Factory Worker in Welland 1974-2006

Welland District Labour Council Secretary 1978 until amalgamation

Member People’s Front Against Racism and Fascism 1974-2026

Secretary Council of Canadians Niagara 2000

Board Member OPIRG Brock 1990s

Candidate for MLPC in Niagara Centre

Member Niagara Health Coalition

Candidate for CUPE 4207 as a delegate to the Niagara CUPE Council

Member of CUPE 4207 since 2026

Experience:

Political Activist since 1967

Factory Worker in Welland 1974-2006

Welland District Labour Council Secretary 1978 until amalgamation

Member People’s Front Against Racism and Fascism 1974-2026

Secretary Council of Canadians Niagara 2000

Board Member OPIRG Brock 1990s

Candidate for MLPC in Niagara Centre

Member Niagara Health Coalition

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Dan Barnowski – No Submission.

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Nicole Lemieux – No Submission.

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Phil Wachel

Hello Friends.

My name is Phil Wachel and I am asking for your vote so that I can continue as a CUPE 4207 delegate to the Niagara District CUPE Council (NDCC).

I have been a 4207 delegate to the NDCC several times. I was first elected as a delegate in 2012.

I have served the Council in the past as:

– a Trustee of the Council on two different occasions

– as the Council’s Vice President in 2025

Thanks for your consideration.

In Solidarity,

Phil

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Stacyann Williams

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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One Delegate to Niagara Labour Council Candidates

Tracy Kennedy, PhD – Election Flyer

Hello! My name is Tracy Kennedy, and I have been a 4207 member since 1999. I am running for a Delegate spot to the Niagara Region Labour Council and seeking your support. I would like the opportunity to represent our Local at the Niagara Labour Council meetings.

I have made some good connections and networks with the Labour Council by attending their community events and rallies, and would like to be more involved as a Delegate from 4207. As their monthly meetings are in person, I can commit to attending every meeting and sharing the information and events with our members.

Thanks for considering.

In Solidarity,

Tracy Kennedy, PhD

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Steph Kravcik – No Submission.

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