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Brock University Wellness Day

The Unit 1 Collective Agreement is silent on the attendance of Unit 1 members at Brock University’s Wellness Day. This year, Wellness Day has been extended to all Unit 1 members who are in the Brock University Pension Plan.

The day offers fun activities and time for staff to meet. Last year saw trips to local farms, guided meditation, pickleball and a ton of activities. Check out the coverage for the event at the Brock Press link below.

Pension plan members who are free on June 22 should consider signing up for a day of wellness.

https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2026/03/save-the-date-for-wellness-day

CUPE 2328 (FACS) Needs Our Help

Negotiations with the employer have been ongoing for months, bargaining for a new contract. Unfortunately, the employer has halted negotiations.

CUPE 3238 needs your support to ask the employer to find solutions at the bargaining table and avoid taking further action

We are asking you to stand with CUPE Local 2328 Members by supporting this E-Action (https://cupe.ca/niagarafacs).

The National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning is observed in Canada every year on April 28 to honour workers killed, injured, or made ill due to workplace hazards. Events are happening all day in the region. See the list below for your town and honour those who went to work and never came home. Unions make sure that health and safety is not an afterthought.

St. Catharines, 7:30 a.m.
Monument dedicated to the Fallen Welland Canal Workers
Located at Lock 3 on the Welland Canal Parkway – west side of the Canal

St. Catharines, 8:00 a.m.
Monument dedicated to four fallen workers – under the St. Catharines Skyway.
Located on the Welland Canal Parkway – west side of the canal, under the bridge

Niagara-on-the-Lake, 9:15 a.m.
Monument located at the Centennial Arena – 1557 Four Mile Creek Rd. in Virgil

Niagara Falls, 10:30 a.m.
Monument located at Niagara Falls City Hall – 4310 Queen Street

Fort Erie, 11:45 a.m.
Monument located at Fort Erie City Hall – 1 Municipal Centre Dr., along Highway 3

Port Colborne, 1:00 p.m.
Monument located in H.H. Knoll Park on Sugarloaf St., beside the hospital

Welland, 2:00 p.m.
Monument located beside the canal in Merritt Park – 151 King St.

Port Robinson, 3:00 p.m.
In memory of Robyn Lafleur, Port Robinson Park (1999) – 1 River Road, Port Robinson.

St. Catharines, 4:00 p.m.
Monument located at St. Catharines City Hall – 50 Church St.

Niagara Region, 5:15 p.m.
Monument located at the Region of Niagara Headquarters – 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way

Women Rising: Strength, Voice, Leadership

Bold Women. Strong Voices. Real Change.

Your Executive has passed a motion to pay for the registration of up to 4 attendees to Women Rising: Strength, Voice and Leadership at the Best Western in St. Catharines on 3 days (June 19 – 21). Lunch is provided on both Saturday and Sunday.

If you would like to attend this exciting event, send an email to  info@cupe4207.org
Spots are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information can be found here:

https://niagara.cupe.ca/womenrising/ 

End of Term Duties

Hello Everyone.

With the end of term upon us, it is a very hectic and stressful time of year. If you find yourself unable to complete grading by an expected due date, you should reach out for a grading extension. If an extension is denied, contact your union.

Collective Agreement language exists for members who are students that can help facilitate these types of grading extension requests (see below).

Your union is always here to help. If you need some help or advice, your union reps are just an email away  at info@cupe4207.org

In Solidarity,
Phil Wachel (president) and Brigitte Cecckin (Lead Steward, Unit 1)

6.11
It is understood by both parties that it is the responsibility of employees who are also

students, to manage their time appropriately in order to fulfill both their academic and

employment responsibilities. However, if an employee who is also a graduate student

can demonstrate that, through no fault of their own, a direct conflict exists between

employment responsibilities and a deadline for the completion of an academic

assignment (excluding tests and examinations), they may apply to the appropriate

Chair/Program Director(s) to reschedule, where possible and within the following two

(2) weeks, the employment responsibilities which created the direct conflict. It is

understood that requests for such rescheduling of work will not be unreasonably

sought by the employee, nor unreasonably denied by the Chair/Program Director(s).

Coffee Time

If you need a break from grading, join us in the Union Office (GLN A121). Snacks and drinks will be provided, and you’re welcome to meet executive members and socialize.

Every Wednesday and Friday in April, from 11 AM to 1 PM. Everyone is welcome!

2026 Annual General Meeting

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

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

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.