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.
Election Call October 2021
| Between December 7 and December 13, 2021 members will elect two (2) Table Officers; one (1) Trustee ; and eleven (11) RVP’s in accordance with the COPE 491 Bylaws. Officer Positions: President Treasurer Elected by a vote of the full membership. Trustee Position: 3-year Trustee Elected by a vote of the full membership. Regional Vice-President Positions: Region 1 – British Columbia Region 2 – Alberta Region 3 – Saskatchewan Region 4 – Manitoba Region 5A – Ontario Region 5B – Ontario Regional Office Region 6A – National Office/OAO Region 6B – National Office/OAO Region 6C – National Office/OAO Region 7 – Maritimes Region 8 – Atlantic Elected by a vote of the membership in their respective regions Nominations will open November 2, 2021 and must be submitted to the Returning Officer by 4:00 P.M. on November 15, 2021; 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. Nominations must be sent in during the nomination period. Any nominations received before or after the nomination period will not be accepted. A complete list of candidates for office will be posted on the Local Union website on November 16, 2021. 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. Mary Elizabeth Archer will serve as Returning Officer during the election. Voting will be conducted using electronic voting over seven days, December 7 to December 13, 2021. 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, Mary Elizabeth Archer via your RVP no later than November 27, 2021, in order to ensure receipt of ballots. In solidarity, Brandi Kehoe 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 16, 2021. Mary Elizabeth Archer Returning Officer, COPE Local 491 |
| DATES TO REMEMBER October 20, 2021 Election Call November 27, 2021 Personal email address deadline November 2, 2021 Nominations open November 15, 2021 4:00 p.m. EST Nominations Close November 16, 2021 Complete list of candidates Will be posted on the Union’s Website November 17, 2021 Website posting of articles begin December 7 – 13, 2021 VOTE |
President’s Message
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
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
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:
- 80. We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
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
Phase 2 Delayed
| 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 |
COPE Local 491 partners with Vubiz to offer educational workshops to all members!
| COPE Local 491 is excited to announce that we have partnered with Vubiz to offer educational workshops for all members. These workshops are all online and available 24/7. Choose from hundreds of workshops ranging from informational and fun to work related. There are workshops available in English, French and Spanish. Click the link below to learn how to get started. We recommend reading the instruction sheet before going on the site to minimize encountering any issues during initial registration. Below is also a link to the workshop listing. If you prefer to view the workshop listing in Excel, reply to this email to request it be sent to you. Feel free to browse around and take any or all that you are interested in. For any Vubiz site related queries, please contact Norm (his contact info is in the instruction sheet); for any COPE related queries, please reply to this email. Happy Learning! |
Nominations Closed – List of Acclaimed and Nominees
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)
- Steve Smith – ACCLAIMED
RVP, Region 6C (Interim, one year remainder of term)
- No nominations
BARGAINING COMMITTEE
East
- Karri Patterson – ACCLAIMED
National
- Debbie Rebeiro – ACCLAIMED
Ontario
- Brandi Kehoe – ACCLAIMED
West
- Theresa Walkowski, SK
- Patty Kinahan, AB
- Corinne Iwata, BC
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.
Nomination Forms – January 2021
|
Nomination Forms – Elections January 2021 |
|
Nominations for the upcoming elections open on January 22, 2021. Click below to access the nomination form for each position up for election. |
Election Call – January 2021 – Negotiating Committee
|
ELECTION CALL January 2021 – Negotiating Committee |
|
Between February 17 and February 23, 2021 members will elect a Negotiating Committee in accordance with the COPE 491 Bylaws. CAMPAIGN RULES DATES TO REMEMBER |
Election Call – January 2021 – RVP, Region 6C and Region 5A
| ELECTION CALL January 2021 – RVP (Region 5A and Region 6C only) |
|
Between February 17 and February 23, 2021 members will elect one (1) Regional Vice-President (Region 6C National) and one (1) Regional Vice-President (Region 5A Ontario) in accordance with the COPE 491 Bylaws. |