2026 Election Results

Dear Members,

The elections committee is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 spring election. We thank all members who stood for positions and those who participated through voting. We hope you will all continue to be active in the union over the coming year.

The CUPE 4207 executive for 2026 are:

President– Phil Wachel (acclaimed)

VP Unit 1– Mark Omiecinski (acclaimed)

VP Grad– Kendra-Lee Dupuis (elected)

VP Unit 1 Instructors– Nwakerendu (Kay) Waboso (elected)

VP Unit 2-3– Georgina Keller(acclaimed)

VP Unit 4– Rebecca LaRocca (acclaimed)

VP Unit 5– Christine Bellini (acclaimed)

Treasurer– Darrin Sunstrum (acclaimed)

Lead Steward Unit 1– Tracy Stewart (elected)

Lead Steward Unit 2-3– Donna Pearce (acclaimed)

Lead Steward Unit 4– Amanda Singer (acclaimed)

Lead Steward Unit 5– Diane Newman (acclaimed)

Recording Secretary– Karen Hofman (elected)

Membership Outreach Officer– Dan Barnowski (elected)

Equity Officer– Steph Kravcik (acclaimed)

Health & Safety Officer– Ben Johnson (elected)

The CUPE 4207 Deputy Health & Safety is:

Mark Omiecinski (elected)

The CUPE4207 elected delegates to the Niagara District CUPE Council are:

Dan Barnowski

Steph Kravcik

Nicole Lemieux

Phil Wachel

Stacyann Williams

The CUPE 4207 elected delegate to the Niagara Regional Labour Council is:

Steph Kravcik

All members are warmly invited to participate in CUPE 4207 committees. These committees play a critical role in supporting the work of the union.

-Benefits Committee

-Bylaws Committee

-Communications Committee

-Education Committee

-Environmental Justice Committee

-Equity Committee

-Health, Safety, and Wellness Committee

-Organizing Committee

-Stewards Council

-Social Committee

We encourage all members to complete the Member in Good Standing (MGS) form available on the CUPE4207 website. This process will allow you to vote in future elections and member meetings.

Once again, the election committee would like to thank you for your participation in this vital process.

In solidarity,

Your election committee

Alison Innes, Sandra Kroeker, Tanima Ferdous

2026 Annual General Meeting

Come out to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 21st, 4:00 pm. Members can attend either virtually and in-person. Please register HERE. Remember to register 24 hours in advance in order to vote. Those attending in-person can enjoy a light dinner. Location emailed to you once you register.

United We Bowl!

United We Bowl! Open to all All Members in Good Standing!

Saturday, April 11th, 2026 from 11am to 1pm.

Fairview Lanes Bowling, St. Catharines.

We hope to see you there! (click HERE for Member in Good Standing Form info).

CUPE 4207 Social Committee

Election Update

Election Update from the Elections Committee:

Dear Members,

Voting in the CUPE4207 annual elections continues! There are a few important updates we would like all members to be aware of: 

  1. The election for Lead Stewart Unit 1 is being re-run due to technical error. The elections committee apologies for the error and any confusion it has caused. In the interest of fairness, the elections committee has declared the ballot sent out Saturday, March 28 invalid and has issued a new ballot Monday, March 30. 
  2. The round normally scheduled to go out this Friday will be pushed to Saturday due to Friday being a stat holiday. Please look for your ballot after 6 pm on Saturday.

The voting schedule for 2026 is as follows:

Round 1 (CLOSED): Thursday, March 26, 6 pm until Saturday, March 28, 6:30 pm (This was for VP Unit 1 Grad, VP Unit 1 Instructor, delegates to Niagara District CUPE Council, and delegate to Niagara Regional Labour Council.)

Round 2 (INVALID DUE TO TECHNICAL ERROR): Saturday, March 28, 6 pm until Monday, March 30, 6 pm 

Round 3: Monday, March 30, 6 pm until Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm (Lead Stewart Unit 1 and Niagara Region Labour Council rep)

Round 4: Wednesday, April 1, 6:30 pm until Friday, April 3, 6 pm.

Round 5: Saturday, April 4, 6:00 pm until Monday, April 6, 6 pm*.

Round 6: Monday, April 6, 6:00 pm until Wednesday, April 8, 6 pm.

Round 7 (if needed): Wednesday, April 8, 6:00 pm until Friday, April 10, 6 pm.

*Round five would normally fall on Friday evening (48 hours after round four), but as Friday, April 3 is a stat holiday, the Elections Committee will send out the ballot on Saturday.

Voting is open for 48 hours after each ballot is sent out. There will be multiple rounds of ballots, as a winning candidate must obtain the majority of votes cast (CUPE4207 Bylaw 7-12). Ballots are sent by email to all members in good standing (MGS) to the email address they have given the union. 

If you cannot see your ballot in your inbox, please check your junk mail/spam folders and add CUPE4207 to your email address book. Each ballot is open for 48 hours.

When all positions have been filled and voting rounds are completed, the elections committee will send out the official results. We will also email all candidates directly.

Thank you for participating in this vital function of our local!

The Elections Committee,Alison Innes, Tanima Ferdous, Sandra Kroeker

Immediate Pause and Backtrack of Staff Layoffs and Major Restructuring

The Issue

Students at Brock University: We need your voices and support. Please sign and share this petition calling for an immediate pause and a backtrack on the major restructuring involving staff layoffs.

https://www.change.org/p/immediate-pause-and-backtrack-of-staff-layoffs-and-major-restructuring

The lack of consultation and transparency regarding the upper administration’s decision to undertake a major restructuring involving staff layoffs has silenced students and removed our perspectives from deliberations.

We are seeing/have seen significant layoffs across all departments and programs, beginning with administrative assistants, academic coordinators, and some academic advisors.

Many students can name staff members who have provided crucial and vital support when distressed and/or played crucial roles in funding, food programs, housing referrals, student events, and mental health services.

These layoffs also come at a time of OSAP cuts; not only are students being asked to bear greater financial burdens, but the student experience is also being weakened by the reduction of beloved staff. These changes may influence our degree timelines and even negatively impact retention and graduation rates.

We, as students at Brock University, stand in solidarity with affected staff members and join others in the university community in asking for:

  1. An immediate pause on the restructuring and a backtrack on layoffs
  2. Revaluation of the restructure based on meaningful consultation with students to determine the impacts on student experience and related next steps.

Unit 4 Reaches Tentative Agreement – Ratification Presentation & Vote

The Unit 4 (Clinical Nursing Instructors) Bargaining Team has reached a tentative agreement with the employer.

There will be two Ratification Vote Presentations for Unit 4 Members.

Wednesday, April 1st at 10 am on Zoom

Register HERE.

Wednesday, April 1st at 4pm on Zoom.

Register HERE:

The Ratification vote will begin after the second presentation.

Unit 4 Clinical Nursing Instructors Strike Mandate Results

Unit 4 Clinical Nursing Instructors have spoken!
The strike mandate vote results are in!

95.1% voted ‘yes’!
We’re serious. We’re united. We need real movement at the table.

Our strong strike mandate vote result shows that WE are ready to fight for a fair deal: TOGETHER.

*Fair & Comparable Wages!
*Health Care Spending Account!
*Union administration Stipend!

NOW!

We won’t be overlooked anymore. We won’t be nickled and dimed anymore. Our work is vital to the future of healthcare. Nurses matter – and so do the people that teach them. Pay them what they’re worth!

Protect Our Water!

Water is a Human Right, not a Commodity. Tell Niagara’s Mayor and Council that privatizing Niagara’s water is a terrible idea with proven horrendous impacts on the community and environment.

WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER WALKERTON INCIDENT HERE IN NIAGARA.

Why are Niagara leaders putting our health, safety and environment at risk – for what? For profit. It’s always about money and never about the people and community. It’s time to take a stand. It’s time to say NO!

OUR WATER IS NOT FOR SALE!!

Hands Off Our Education Rally!!

A message from The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario, CUPE Ontario and OPSEU:

The Ford government recently announced sweeping changes to Ontario’s public post-secondary education system, including changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and an end to the tuition freeze introducing a 2% annual increase in tuition fees for the next three years.

Under the new changes to OSAP, non re-payable grants which previously made up as much as 85% dropped to a maximum of 25% while OSAP loans increased to a minimum of 75%. This forces students to take on more debt than ever before. It means more debt, higher costs, more barriers for students who are already struggling with the high cost of living, rent, food, and housing.

We’ve seen these attacks before. From the passing of Bill 33 in 2025, to the 2019 cuts to OSAP and the persistent underfunding of post-secondary education – the very cause of the current crisis in the sector. Students and workers continue to bear the burden of provincial failures.

Join students and workers across the province in saying NO to OSAP cuts and tuition fee increases! Tell the Ford Government: Hands Off Our Education! Hands Off Our OSAP!

The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario, CUPE Ontario and OPSEU are organizing a rally on March 24th:
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
1:30 PM
Queens Park

These changes not only hurt students but workers and members across the province.
Students and Workers United! Bring your CUPE flags and voices, see you there!

In solidarity,
CUPE Ontario