Your COPE 491 bargaining committee met with the Employer this week. We had good discussions and feel positive after those meetings. We look forward to continuing the momentum moving into our next dates.
Our next in-person bargaining is scheduled for June 15-16, 2022.
Another bulletin will be sent following those meetings.
In Solidarity,
COPE Local 491 Bargaining Committee
Brandi Kehoe, Karri Patterson, Patty Kinahan, Debbie Rebeiro, Rachel Roberts
| The Results are in!The election for the position of National Vice-President is now over. We have the results. Congratulations to Mia Warwick who is the new National Vice-President! |
| Poll Result Election – National Vice President 2022Report date: Tuesday 08 March 2022 00:00 EST Election – National Vice President Poll ID: 172152 As at Poll close: Monday 07 March 2022 23:59 EST Number of voters: 131 · Group size: 236 · Percentage voted: 55.51 Vote counting method: V1 FPTP (first-past-the-post) Ranked by votes Rank Candidate IDCandidate Votes% 1 16130552Mia Warwick 75 57.25 2 16130551Steven Trevellion 28 21.37 3 16130553Angela Coleman 17 12.98 4 16130554Leanne Strang 11 8.40 |
Click to see official Big Pulse results page:
https://www.bigpulse.com/pollresults?code=1344734RPm5NrLXauYPRtnjC8Wk
| List of Nominees and Acclaimation |
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The nomination period for the upcoming elections is now closed. Thank you to all who participated in the process and either nominated someone or allowed their names to stand for election. The following is the list of nominees for the positions that will have an election: NATIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT The following is a list of the nominees that have been acclaimed. REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT (Region 1, British Columbia) REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT (Region 8, Atlantic) TRUSTEE The election for the above position will commence on March 1 and run until March 7, 2022. Ballots will be sent to voting members via email using Big Pulse. If you do not receive a ballot on March 1, please contact your current RVP. Bios for the candidates will begin to be posted this week. The following position did not receive any nominations, and more information regarding that will be coming out shortly. REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT – Region 7 (Maritimes) Congratulations to all those acclaimed and good luck to all candidates! |
RVP – Region 5B election begins on December 7th. There are two nominations and as per the bylaws, each candidate is permitted a flyer on the COPE491 website. Click on the names below to view the flyer, if provided.
COPE Local 491 filed a grievance on Friday, October 22 with respect to the vacation carry-over for 2021 vacation entitlement amounts. At the center of this grievance is the Employer’s interpretation of the Memorandum of Settlement we (CUPE and COPE) signed in January 2021. This interpretation has changed and we have learned of issues with carry-over requests. As discussions are ongoing with the Employer on this issue we will share what we can as information is available and as discussion progresses, but the process has timelines and new information may not be available as quickly as everyone is hoping. We ask everyone to please be patient.
If anyone has received a denial of carry-over for 2021 vacation entitlements, in writing, please forward to your RVP. If anyone has been denied carry-over for 2021 vacation entitlement verbally please outline who you spoke to, what date, and what was said and send to your RVP. We will be gathering information all of this week, and would appreciate a quick response to this request.
Thank you.
Greetings Sisters, Brothers & Friends:
First off, I want to let everyone know that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the COPE Executive for the past seven years. I have grown from my role an RVP, to National Vice-President and then President for the past 2 ½ years. Although at times these positions can be challenging, I always felt that this was what I was meant to do. We have a great team of COPE staff across Canada, and I was happy to be able to represent you all. I would also like to say that I have had the opportunity to work with a terrific Executive Board that were very supportive during my role as President.
With that said, I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, I will be stepping down. As the National Vice-President, Brandi Kehoe has been Acting in this role for the past two months, she will continue to support all members in this role until the elections for President take place in December.
This was a tough decision for me as I feel my place is always going to be with COPE. Currently, my life has taken another direction which my entire focus needs to be on, and in fairness to the COPE members and Executive, I believe this is the right decision.
I thank you all for your support during my time as President.
Take care!In solidarity,
Trish Sinclair
September 30th has been declared the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This was done through Bill C-5 which received Royal Assent in June. CUPE will be honouring this day and all employees will be given the day off. Correspondence from CUPE on this is available on CUPE Connect which confirms this day has been added to the list of Statutory Holidays in our Collective Agreement.
COPE Local 491 appreciates the importance of the day and encourages members to use the day in the spirit in which it was created in response to #80 in the Calls to Action document from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The Call to Action reads:
You can learn more about the Calls to Action and the Commission by visiting their website at: www.trc.ca
Many events have been scheduled to honour the day and to move the reconciliation process, the learning and healing process forward. You can find more information on these events through Facebook, Evites, TRC website, various Friendship Centres and education bodies and many other venues. If you need assistance locating events or online forums please reach out.
In Solidarity
COPE Local 491 Executive
| Hello Everyone, As you know, CUPE has identified that they will not be moving to Phase 2 – Working from the Office Plan on the September 20th date as indicated in the correspondence dated September 14th, 2021. COPE 491 is pleased that the Employer has heard our concerns and understands that we want to keep our members safe. However, CUPE’s goal is to move back to our pre-pandemic ways of working – including in-person work, and being in the office – will be our reality in the near future. Our concern is for those of you who may have a need to be accommodated either due to your own medical condition/health concerns; a medical condition of your spouse, child or parents; or because of your family status needs. While we understand that there have been calls for CUPE to issue a blanket exemption from any need to attend work in-person for those needing some form of accommodation, this is something that CUPE has already indicated that they were not prepared to do and there is no legal requirement for them to do so. As such, accommodation requests must be made individually. To apply for an accommodation, please contact your Direct Supervisor as they have been trained to follow a process. If there is a need for formal accommodation they will send you the proper forms and put you in touch with the corresponding contact in Human Resources. If you have an issue with an accommodation you have applied for, please contact your RVP for assistance. COPE 491 is continuing to explore our rights and legal options as they relate to CUPE’s obligation to provide a safe workplace for all its staff once in-person operations recommence. We have been collaborating with the Joint Health and Safety representatives in all regions to review the updated ‘Fall 2021 – COVID Protocol’ to be sure that no region goes overlooked. Going forward, please reach out to your JOHS representative with any health and safety concerns you may have. Please stay safe, and be well. Yours In Solidarity, Brandi Kehoe Acting President, COPE 491 |
Thank you to all those who let their name stand for positions. The positions that were open for elections were for the Bargaining Committee as well as two interim RVP positions.
RVP, Region 5A (Interim, one year remainder of term)
RVP, Region 6C (Interim, one year remainder of term)
BARGAINING COMMITTEE
East
National
Ontario
West
There will be one election, for the members in that region/area. Congratulations to those acclaimed and good luck to those nominees in the election.
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Nomination Forms – Elections January 2021 |
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Nominations for the upcoming elections open on January 22, 2021. Click below to access the nomination form for each position up for election. |