COPE Communique #5

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Communique #5

Sisters and Brothers,

Your COPE 491 Executive would like to share with you that the strength and solidarity of our Local, along with the work of the Employer, has resulted in the Ontario Labour Relations Board dismissing the application submitted by “ROSIE 2”.

At this time, the vote that was tentatively scheduled for November 29th at the National Office has been cancelled.

The Table Officers will remain to be available to meet with members, as planned, between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm at National Office. We hope members will stop in to share their questions and concerns.

In Solidarity,

Karen Carle
President
COPE 491

COPE Raid Communique #4 – UPDATE

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Sisters and Brothers:

I want you to know that your COPE 491 Executive is working for you and doing everything we can to protect our member’s rights.

As you know, an application to decertify the National Office was filed with the Labour Board on Wednesday, November 22nd. We know members have many questions and concerns about what is happening. Here is a summary of what is currently happening:

Friday, November 24th, COPE 491 filed their response with the Labour Board, as required, asking that the application be dismissed.

The employer also responded to the application, submitting their response to the Labour Board on November 24th, which also asked that the application be dismissed.

According to the rules set out in the Labour Board process, the vote must take place 5 days after the application is filed; which will be Wednesday, November 29th. The Labour Board Officer assigned to the file will determine if the vote will take place or will be postponed. That determination has not yet been made.

A Labour Board Officer conducts the vote and produces the ballots to be used.

The Table Officers will be at National Office on Tuesday, November 28th, to meet with members and discuss any questions and/or concerns they may have.

The Table Officers will also be available on site on the day of the vote.

COPE 491 was required to appoint a scrutineer for the vote and Brother Steve Smith has agreed to fill this role.

That is a summary of what we currently know regarding this application and the raid of our COPE 491 members.

Union business, however, carries on.

We are in the midst of elections for Table Officers. Please read the biographies and make sure to cast your vote. Your vote counts, be sure to make your voice heard in your ballot.

There is an arbitration scheduled for December 1st and Sister Trish Sinclair, Interim National Vice President, has been busy preparing.

Sister Rachel Roberts, Interim Education Communications Officer, has been working hard, ensuring email lists are kept current; updating our website as well as assisting with creating communiques.

The RVP’s are busy with the usual work with members on a day-to-day basis. If you have any questions, concerns or issues, please contact your RVP to assist you. They are your voice, your best tool, to bring concerns/questions/comments to your executive.

The Bargaining Committee has been elected and is in place. A bargaining survey and amendment form has been sent out and we have had many members return the completed forms already; which is great! An extension was granted and the deadline to return those surveys is Monday, November 27th. The Committee has a meeting scheduled for December 2nd.

It is a very busy time for our Local. We will continue to stay strong; keep our strength up in our numbers and we will continue to do our very best for our members. Work carries on and we will remain focused on our members and their needs.

Thanks to entire executive for the work they do everyday and their commitment to COPE 491. Thank you also to our members; you are why we do what we go everyday!

In Solidarity,
Karen Carle
President

Voting Starts Tomorrow

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Reminder – VOTING starts tomorrow, November 24, 2017

The election will be for the following positions:

  • President
  • National Vice-President
  • Treasurer
  • Education/Communication Officer
  • Trustee

If you do not receive an electronic ballot, please contact your RVP.

10 REASONS TO STAY WITH YOUR UNION – COPE Local 491

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  1. We currently bargain our own collective agreement and have many great assets within that agreement. If you leave COPE 491, you are NOT guaranteed to keep what we have now or gain anything more.

 

  1. We do not pay additional legal expenses for legal counsel as it is provided by COPE Ontario and is included in our dues.

 

  1. We have a staff representative assigned to us to advocate our rights and ensure our collective agreement is protected.

 

  1. You would lose all assets, including monetary, and affiliations we currently have as COPE 491 if you join Rosie 2.

 

  1. We have our unlimited Strike and Defence fund backed by 35,000 members.

 

  1. We have representation on the Joint Board of Trustees.

 

  1. We have seats on all joint committees.

 

  1. We have a Sick Leave Bank with days that you and the employer have contributed to and you would lose that.

 

  1. We have access to the Educationals that are currently available to us through COPE Ontario, CLC and the provincial Federations.

 

  1. We have strength in numbers in a larger Union and there is no guarantee your voices would be heard in a smaller association.

Bio’s of Nominees for upcoming Election

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Good morning,

Due to a website crash over the weekend, there was a delay in posting the biography articles for the nominees.  That has now been rectified.  Below you will find the list of nominees – those who submitted an article have it attached to their name.  Click on each to see the article.  Thank you and good luck to all nominees.

For President:

National Vice-President:

Treasurer:

Communication/Education Officer:

Trustee:

Nominations are now closed – LIST OF NOMINEES

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Nominations have now closed. The persons nominated who have agreed to allow their names to stand for election are:

For President:

  • Karen Carle
  • Angela Lavigne

National Vice-President:

  • Heather Farrow
  • Trish Sinclair

Treasurer:

  • Nael Abouelenein
  • Lindsay Mills

Communication/Education Officer:

  • Sonia Argatoff
  • Rachel Roberts

Trustee:

  • Sandra Casar
  • Christine Tran

 

All nominees are allowed to have a biography article posted to the website prior to the election.  Posting of submitted articles will begin tomorrow, November 17, 2017.

Please ensure your RVP has your correct email address by November 18, 2017.

The vote for these positions will start on November 24 and run until November 30, 2017.

ELECTION CALL – RVPs 2017

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ELECTION CALL

Regional Vice Presidents

November 15, 2017


Between December 14 and 20, 2017 members will elect the Regional Vice Presidents in accordance with the COPE 491 Bylaws.

Regional Vice-President positions:

Region 1 – BRITISH COLUMBIA

Region 2 – ALBERTA

Region 3 – SASKATCHEWAN

Region 4 – MANITOBA

Region 5A – ONTARIO AREA

Region 5B – ONTARIO REGIONAL OFFICE

Region 6 – NATIONAL OFFICE
In accordance with approved bylaws – “three (3) Regional Vice Presidents shall be elected to service National Office.  The elected representatives shall determine the department they will service, as defined below, after the election.”

Region 7 – MARITIMES

Region 8 – ATLANTIC

All positions are elected by a vote of Elected by, and from, their Regional membership

Nominations will open November 23, 2017 and must be submitted to the Returning Officer by 4:00 P.M. on December 6, 2017; 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 December 7, 2017.

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.

Crystal Fournier will serve as Returning Officer during the election.  Voting will be conducted using electronic voting over seven days, December 14 – 20, 2017.

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, Crystal Fournier via your RVP and no later than December 8, 2017 in order to ensure receipt of ballots.

In Solidarity,
Karen Carle
President, COPE Local 491

Read the full Official ELECTION CALL here

All Nomination Forms can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link below:

Nomination Form RVP Region 1 British Columbia PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 1 British Columbia WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 2 Alberta PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 2 Alberta WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 3 Saskatchewan PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 3 Saskatchewan WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 4 Manitoba PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 4 Manitoba WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 5A Ontario Area PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 5A Ontario Area WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 5B Ontario Regional Office PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 5B Ontario Regional Office WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 6 National PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 6 National WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 7 Maritimes PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 7 Maritimes WORD

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Nomination Form RVP Region 8 Atlantic PDF

Nomination Form RVP Region 8 Atlantic WORD

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

November 15, 2017 – Election Call

November 23, 2017 – Nominations Open

December 6, 2017, 4:00PM EST – Nominations Close

December 7, 2017 – Complete list of candidates will be posted on website

December 8, 2017 – Website posting of articles begins

December 9, 2017 – Personal email address deadline

December 14-20, 2017 – VOTE