News

2024-03-13

It has come to our attention from our membership that the RCMP is canvassing CUPE 104 members about their willingness to be deployed to Edmonton Police Service to work as scabs during the anticipated strike action being taken by the Civil Service Union 52 (CSU 52). CSU 52 includes Emergency Communications Operators who are responsible for 9-1-1, police call taking, and police dispatching duties.

We stand in solidarity with our Brothers, Sisters, and Friends of CSU 52. We are outraged that the RCMP is considering using our hard-working CUPE 104 members as scabs to undermine CSU’s fight for a fair deal. CUPE 104 is firmly against the use of any CUPE 104 members to do the work of other Unionized workers.

It is our position that CUPE 104 members should NOT volunteer to work as scabs during CSU 52’s strike. Doing so would undermine CSU 52’s strike action and will negatively impact our own position in future rounds of bargaining. A fair deal for CSU 52 helps us get a fair deal in future rounds.

If you are being pressured, forced, or ordered to do the work of another Union, contact your local Steward or Regional Chairperson immediately for guidance.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE Local 104 Executive

2024-03-01

our Maple virtual healthcare benefit is now available. To create your Maple account, check your email for your unique registration invitation from hello@getmaple.ca. If you run into any issues, you can speak with Maple’s customer support team via the chat window at getmaple.ca/contact-us.

As a reminder, you and your family members can now use Maple’s platform to connect with general practitioners and mental health therapists from your phone, tablet or computer. General practitioner visits are fully covered and available to you on an unlimited basis. Counselling is private pay. You can submit receipts to your benefits plan for reimbursement, if applicable.

For more information, download our CUPE 104 Member Guide.

Don’t miss out – create your Maple account today.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE Local 104 Executive

2024-02-23

As a member of CUPE 104, effective March 1, 2024, you will have access to Maple – a virtual care benefit to support your health and wellbeing.

The platform will allow you and your family members to:

• Connect with general practitioners and mental health therapists 24/7/365
• Communicate via text messaging, audio, or video chat
• Receive medical advice, prescriptions, and more
• Manage and store your medical records
• Delve into proactive mental health resources

Learn more in these videos about primary care visits and counselling sessions on Maple (counselling is private pay, you can submit receipts to your benefits plan for reimbursement, if applicable).

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE Local 104 Executive

2024-02-21

This is an update to our previous communication about the Invasive Medical Questionnaire and Medical Examination that was being sent out by the employer to our members as part of their new “health program.”

For the past several months, we have been fighting hard against this unnecessary and gross invasion of our privacy. This invasive procedure is irrelevant to our roles, a blatant violation of our privacy, and it represents an unprecedented level of scrutiny, unmatched anywhere else in Canada for similar jobs.

We have been heavily engaged with both Legal and Health and Safety experts from CUPE National. Recently, our legal team sent the employer a cease-and-desist letter demanding that their health program, involving the invasive medical questionnaire and medical examination, be shut down.

Unfortunately, without any meaningful consultation with us, the RCMP’s Acting Chief Human Resource Office has responded indicating that they are moving ahead with their health program, including the invasive medical questionnaire and medical examination. Currently, the employer’s new invasive health program is directed at Public Service Employees. However, they have stated that their intention is to eventually subject all CUPE 104 members to this testing (TO/TCOs and IM/IMAs). We have already filed a policy grievance with Treasury Board and we are working on additional legal recourse.

The only medical testing requirements for our jobs have always been hearing and psychological testing. We maintain that this is still the case and there is no reason to change these requirements. Additional medical testing is not necessary for our roles and is, quite frankly, none of the employer’s business. Your personal health information should remain protected and confidential between you and your health care practitioners.

The employer should be focused on recruitment, retention, mental health, and morale. Instead, they are trying to divide us, invade our privacy, cause additional and unnecessary stress, and disregard our rights to private personal medical information.

We urge you to respectfully share your opinions with your managers. They need to be informed of the effects on you so that they can share it up the chain with their senior managers. Even in the face of this blatant disregard for our rights and privacy, it is important that we all maintain a safe and respectful working environment for ourselves and each other.

If you are contacted to participate in this unnecessary and invasive program, and you do not wish to participate, we recommend that you respond with your questions and concerns, seeking more information and an explanation. You should do this in writing, including your supervisor, and respectfully outline your concerns with the program. If you are then informed that you must participate, immediately contact your local Steward or Regional Chairperson for assistance with filing a grievance.

Make no mistake, this is a blatant attack on your privacy, rights, dignity, and well-being. We stand united in our resolve to oppose this unjust decision and will keep you informed of any developments and the actions we are taking.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE Local 104 Executive

2024-02-16

We value your health and well-being, which is why we’re always looking for ways to further support our members. As part of your Union Membership, we’re excited to announce the launch of virtual healthcare, which will be available as of March 1, 2024. Say goodbye to long lines at the walk-in clinic! Through Maple’s platform, you can see a general practitioner when it’s convenient for you.

Through Maple’s fully secure platform, you can chat with a general practitioner via text, phone or video in just a few minutes. During your virtual visit, they’ll be able to diagnose, treat, and prescribe. This new benefit gives you (and your eligible dependents) unlimited access with a general practitioner.  Mental health counselling is also available on a private pay basis.

Stay tuned for more details!

To learn more about Maple, watch this video.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE Local 104 Executive
Kathleen, Myles, Robb, Robbin, Alex, Cyrus, Randy, Marc-Étienne, and Brandon

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

2023-12-05

An email invitation has just been sent to active CUPE 104 members for the upcoming General Membership Meeting.

The GMM will be on 2023-12-14 at 19h00 Eastern Time Zone.

Location: Virtual

Check your emails and click on the sign up link.

If you or your colleagues are ACTIVE CUPE 104 members and are not receiving the email, please to go to https://104.cupe.ca/ and fill out the MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM.

2023-11-20

Message to current and former public service employees and members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2023/11/message-to-current-and-former-public-service-employees-and-members-of-the-canadian-armed-forces-and-royal-canadian-mounted-police.html