II. STRUCTURE OF XXX LOCAL 12345
The Membership
All Graduate Teaching Assistants, Sessional Lecturers, Graduate Service Assistants, and Undergraduate Teaching Assistants are covered by the provisions of the CUPE 3913 Collective Agreements and pay dues to the Union. The highest authority in the Union is the general membership. Our constitution calls for a minimum of five General Membership Meetings per year: two in each of the fall and winter semesters and one in the summer. All major policy decisions are voted on at membership meetings. Elections of the executive members are held annually at the General Membership Meeting in March.
Executive Members At Large
All colleges within the University are represented on the Union executive through the 'At Large' positions, known as Assitant Chief Stewards held by union members. There is one 'Executive At Large' representative in each college. The Women's Council Chair, the International TA representative, The GBLTT Council Chair, the Health and Safety representative, the Political Action Committee representative and the Undergraduate TA representative also hold seats on the Union executive. Each 'At Large' member maintains contact with the members and stewards of their respective constituency and represents the interests of their constituency to the Union executive.
Executive Committee
The Executive is elected from Local members each spring by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive consists of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Unit 1 and Unit 2 Chief Stewards, Finance Officer, and Communications Officer. The Executive duties and responsibilities are as follows:
Chairperson
- the chief administrative officer and staff supervisor of the Local
- chief spokesperson for the Local
- contact with other Campus unions
- chair of Executive and General Membership meetings
Vice Chairperson
- contact with organizations outside of the University
- informs the executive of activities of other Locals
- can act as the spokesperson for the Local
Chief Stewards - Unit 1 and 2
- organize and chair the Unit 1 and Unit 2 Stewards' Council
- recruit and coordinate volunteers from the membership
- act as co-chairs of the Grievance Committee
Finance Officer
- receive and receipt all monies of the Local
- maintain the Local's accounts
- prepare financial reports for executive and membership meetings
- at the end of the fiscal year, prepare a financial statement and budget for the upcoming year
- submit books and records to the trustees every six months
- forward funds owed to the National Secretary-Treasurer
Communications Officer
- chief recording officer of the Local
- keeps a full account of all executive and membership meetings
- keeps an accurate record of the membership
- maintains the Local's files
- prepares meeting agendas
- organizes and chairs the Communications Committee
Staff Representative
The Local employs a Staff Representative skilled in the areas of contract negotiations, grievance meetings, external liaison and membership communication. The Staff Representative maintains an active role in the internal and external business of the Local in consultation with the Chair.
Local Councils & Committees
Our local has a number of councils and committees which are always open to volunteers.
Communications Committee
- chaired by the Communications Officer
- responsible for the Local Newsletter and Membership meeting announcements
Grievance Committee
- co-chaired by the Chief Stewards in consulation with the Staff Rep
- deals with grievances occurring within the Local
- reports to the Executive Committee
Stewards' Council
- co-chaired by the Chief Stewards
- composed of departmental stewards from all colleges
- meets to discuss matters of concern within each of the departments
Bargaining Committee
- co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Local and the Staff Rep
- develops and presents bargaining proposals to the membership for approval
- presents approved proposals to the employer during contract negotiations
- makes recommendations to the membership as to contract ratifications and the timing of strike votes
Elections Committee
- consists of the Chief Elections Officer and at least two other members in good standing
- organizes elections for all elected union officers
- conducts ratification votes for the collective agreement, the recall of officers, and strike votes
Union Dues
Union dues are paid by each member to finance the union's operations. Dues levels are set by the local. A portion of the union dues are paid to the National Union, and the remainder stays with the local. The dues paid to the National Union support the specialized services each local receives, as well as a National Defense Fund which provides strike pay and supports other programs which defend and protect CUPE members. Dues are currently 2.9% per month of a member's gross salary. A 0.04% Solidarity Levy that was passed at National Convention to go directly to the National Defence Fund is added on.
MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION
How To Get Involved with Your Union
The effectiveness of a union depends upon the strength of the Local as a whole. The more active members a union has, the more it can accomplish. There are a variety of ways in which members can contribute to union activities.
Membership Meetings
General Membership Meetings are, perhaps, the most important meetings of the Union. Any member-in-good-standing can attend, participate, and vote on matters which directly affect your interests. Elections, contract proposals, ratification and strike votes, convention motions, political issues, constitutional amendments, and a myriad of other decisions are taken at membership meetings. Your comments, suggestions, and criticisms are always welcome, and your participation will ensure that CUPE 3913 continues to reflect the interests of you, the member.
Departmental Representation
All departments are entitled to representation within the Union through a Departmental Steward. Stewards are essentially the Union's grassroots representatives. The job of a departmental steward is to help deal with, and settle, any questions, complaints or grievances that members might have with respect to the collective agreements. If you are interested in representing your department as a steward, please contact the Union office.
Local Executive
The Executive is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting, held in March. The Executive oversees the operations of the Local and is a key decision-making body on day-to-day matters. Any member-in-good-standing may run for an Executive or 'At Large' position.
VII. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Arbitration: A method of settling disputes through the intervention of a third party whose decision is final and binding. Such a third party can be either a single arbitrator, or a board consisting of a chairperson and one or more representatives. Arbitration is often used to settle major grievances and for settling contract interpretation disputes.
Bargaining Unit: Group of workers in a department, plant, firm, industry, or government institution, determined by the labour relations board or similar body as appropriate for representation by a union for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Certification: Official designation by a labour relations board or similar government agency of a union as sole and exclusive bargaining agent, following proof of majority support among employees in a bargaining unit.
Collective Agreement: A contract between one or more unions acting as bargaining agent, and one or more employers, covering wages, hours, working conditions, benefits, rights of workers and unions, and procedures to be followed in settling disputesand grievances.
Collective Bargaining: Method of determining wages, hours and other conditions of employment through direct negotiations between the Union and the Employer. Normally the result of collective bargaining is a written contract which covers all employees in a bargaining unit.
Conciliation and Mediation: A process which attempts to resolve labour disputes by compromise or voluntary agreement. By contrast with arbitration the mediator, conciliator, or conciliation board does not bring in a binding award and the parties are free to accept or reject its recommendation. The conciliator and the mediator are often government officials.
Contract Proposals: Proposed changes to the Collective Agreement put forward by the Union or the Employer and which are subject to collective bargaining.
Job Security: A provision in a collective agreement protecting a worker's job.
Local (Union): CUPE is divided into many Locals for the purposes of local administration. They are responsible for negotiations, local policy, and the day-to-day administration of their collective agreement. A Local may have one or more bargaining units.
Quorum: The quorum for a general membership meeting is no fewer than 20 members in good standing, or 5% or those members who are employed in the Local's bargaining units at the time the membership meeting occurs, whichever is less.
Steward: A local official who represents a specific group of members, usually a department, and the union in union duties, grievance matters, and other employment conditions.
Strike: A cessation of work or refusal to work or continue to work by employees in combination or in accordance with a common understanding for the purposes of compelling an employer to agree to terms or conditions of employment. Usually the last stage in collective bargaining when all other means have failed.
Strike Vote: A vote conducted among members of a union to determine whether or not to go on strike.