ELECTION CALL 2018

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ELECTION CALL 2018
Between December 3 and December 10, 2018 members will elect four (4) Table Officers and three (3) Trustees in accordance with the COPE 491 Bylaws.

Officer Positions:

National Vice-President
Secretary
Education/Communication Officer
Treasurer (Interim) 1-Year term
Elected by a vote of the full membership.

Trustee Positions:

1-year Trustee
2-year Trustee
3-year Trustee
Elected by a vote of the full membership.

Nominations will open November 2, 2018 and must be submitted to the Returning Officer by 4:00 P.M. on November 16, 2018; the day nominations close.

To be eligible for a nomination and election, a member must be in continuous good standing for twelve (12) consecutive months prior to date of nomination.

No nomination shall be accepted unless the member nominating has signed the nomination form and the member nominated has indicated on the form, or by other means, their willingness to stand for office.

A complete list of candidates for office will be posted on the Local Union website on November 19, 2018.

After the closing of nominations all duly nominated candidates will be extended an opportunity to have a maximum of one (1) article included in the electronic voting system and posted on the Local Union website. The article may reference candidate websites but shall not contain any active links to external websites.

Steve Smith will serve as Returning Officer during the election. Voting will be conducted using electronic voting over seven days, December 3 to December 10, 2018.

Your participation as a candidate or as an informed voter in Union elections is crucial because those you elect will help administer the affairs of the Union.

Personal email addresses should be received by the Returning Officer, Steve Smith via your RVP no later than October 29, 2018, in order to ensure receipt of ballots.

In solidarity,
Trish Sinclair
Acting President, COPE Local 491

 

CAMPAIGN RULES

Campaigning cannot occur during work time.

Use of the Employer’s voice mail or email to circulate election material is not permitted.

Candidates are asked to conduct themselves with dignity at all times.

Any behaviour or material that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment will not be tolerated.

Each duly nomination candidate may submit a maximum of one (1) article to be published on the Local Union Website and included in the electronic voting system.  Website posting of articles begin November 20, 2018.

Steve Smith
Returning Officer, COPE Local 491

DATES TO REMEMBER

October 26, 2018
Election Call

November 2, 2018
Nominations open

November 16, 2018
4:00 p.m. EST
Nominations Close

November 19, 2018
Complete list of candidates
Will be posted on the Union’s
Website

November 20, 2018
Website posting of articles begin

October 29, 2018
Personal email address deadline

December 3 – 10, 2018
VOTE

Click to view official Election Call December 2018

Bargaining Update #6

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Today your Bargaining Team concluded two days of negotiations with CUPE. A variety of discussions took place that were very productive and informative, and will continue on October 25, 2018.

We will continue to update you as bargaining progresses.

Bargaining Update #5 – FRENCH – Pension Settlement Information

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**Further to the email sent earlier today; please find below a French version of the PowerPoint Presentation**

Please click on the link below to open up a PowerPoint Presentation with additional Pension Information.  If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact your RVP.  Your RVP will contact the Bargaining Committee to address your question/concern.  Thank you.

Pension Settlement Presentation_FR_revised

Bargaining Update #4 – Pension Settlement

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On Thursday September 13, COPE 491 joined CSU and the Employer at the table to ensure that all three Settlors could reach a settlement – the pension settlement was signed Friday afternoon.

Here’s what the Pension Settlement entails:

  • Retirees will receive a catch-up adjustment of their base pension to make up for the years without an indexing adjustment. A person that retired Jan 1, 2010 or earlier will see a base increase of 9.07 % (but they will not receive a retro payment).
  • January 1, 2018, retirees get an indexing adjustment of 100% of CPI and a retroactive payment for the period from January 1, 2018 to the date of the adjustment.
  • The conditions for the indexation benefit formula negotiated in 2007 have been replaced to improve the likelihood of delivering this benefit in the future.  The old solvency threshold of 105% has been removed.  There is now no solvency threshold.  The formula ensures that future plan surpluses are fairly shared between current and future retirees, while making it more likely that indexation will be at 100% of CPI.
  • The Employer will contribute an additional 1% to the pension plan every year the plan is funded at 130% or lower. Unlike previous employee and employer contribution increases, this 1% is specifically earmarked for indexing and cannot be absorbed by normal plan cost increases. The plan is currently funded at 129% and the pension improvements we have negotiated will reduce the surplus, so the Employer will start contributing the additional 1% as of Jan 1, 2019.
  • when guaranteed indexing was looked at the long-term projections showed that the guarantee would actually unfairly impact future retirees and active members. The projections also showed that even with a market drop such as 2008, the improved conditional indexing formula would deliver indexing above 50% of CPI.
  • CSU’s actuary is working with the Employer’s actuary on a presentation to explain and illustrate the indexing formula. The presentation will be available shortly.
  • In addition, the last tier of the Bridge has been removed. Employees hired after May 16, 2007 will no longer need 15 years of service to get the full value of the $8,000 Bridge. The service requirement is now 10 years for everyone.
  • There is a provision that allows the Employer to recover special payments from future surplus (Banker’s Note). The Employer has made special payments over the last few years worth $6 million.  They have agreed not to recover those monies prior to the conclusion of the next round of bargaining.

Please note: This will be discussed with the Executive as per the COPE491 Bylaws.  A ratification vote will be set up shortly, please ensure that your correct email address is with your RVP – the vote will take place with Big Pulse.  If you have any questions please contact your RVP and they will be in contact with the Bargaining Committee. 

Committee Appointments – 2018

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The COPE491 Executive has reviewed the applications received for the committee vacancies and have now made the appointments.

The appointments made are as follows:

  • Sick Leave Bank (NO requests) – Sister Connie Taylor
  • EAP Committee – Sister Shelley Douan
  • JBT Committee – Sister Lindsay Mills

The Executive would like to thank all members who put their name forward and congratulate those members appointed.

Bargaining Update #2

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Today your Bargaining Committee met jointly with the CSU Bargaining team to have a full discussion on pensions with the employer, along with CSU’s actuary. The discussions were very productive and informative.

The COPE Bargaining Committee will be meeting tomorrow to continue to prepare for our upcoming bargaining on October 2nd & 3rd. We are looking forward to continuing productive and positive negotiations with the employer.

Updates will be provided as bargaining continues.