CUPE LOCAL 10🍁4 VIRTUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

2022-12-06

 

To all CUPE Local 104 Members,

 

This is your official notification as required by the bylaws that we will be holding a virtual General Membership Meeting (GMM).

 

DATE:   WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 14th, 2022
TIME:   18H00 EASTERN TIME

 

PRE-REGISTRATION:
To attend the virtual GMM, you must first PRE-REGISTER by clicking on the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErc-CtrTMuE9H2n__zhbWEXKgVOk-DScqq

 

IMPORTANT: You need to use your full first and last name when registering and logging into the GMM to be admitted.

The registration process may take a few days; we all work full time and will be manually approving registrations after work. PLEASE REGISTER EARLY! Members who try to register on the day of the GMM, may not get their link in time.

Once registered, you will receive an email with a PERSONAL LINK to the GMM. Links cannot be shared, all members attending must register individually.

If you are unable to attend, we recommend that you ask another member to fill you in after the meeting.

 

As per the bylaws, the order of business shall be:

  • Roll call of officers
  • Reading of the Equality Statement
  • Housekeeping
  • Voting on new members and initiation
  • Reading of the minutes
  • Matters arising from the minutes
  • Secretary-Treasurer’s Report
  • Communications and bills
  • Executive Board Report
  • Reports of committees and delegates
  • Nominations, elections, or installations
  • Unfinished business
  • New business
  • By-law amendments
  • Good of the Union
  • Adjournment

An informal Town Hall/Q&A will follow after the formal meeting is adjourned.

Your questions relating to these topics may be submitted prior to this meeting to secretary@cupe104.ca.

 

If your colleagues are not receiving this email, please tell them to go to https://104.cupe.ca/ and click the link at the bottom MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM so we have their email.

 

We hope to see you!

 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

 

CUPE LOCAL 10🍁4 BULLETIN

2022-12-02

 

To all CUPE 104 members,

 

The Employer sent out an email to some of our members this week. To be clear, this email was from them, not us. We had nothing to do with it and we have no idea why they only sent it to some of you and excluded the rest of you.

 

CUPE, Canada’s largest public sector Union, represents over 715 000 members negotiating for public sector workers across Canada. Prior to the preparations for deeming, there were no groups in the Federal Public Service equivalent to the Telecommunications Operators or Intercept Monitor Analysts. They had to create a new group, the PO Group. We are a unique group of workers, and the Employer keeps trying to lump us into the rest of the Core Public Administration (CPA). There is nothing we can do about being hired into the CPA. However, we will never stop educating the employer about the unique public safety, first-first responder work that we all do.

 

As you know, we served notice to bargain on May 9, 2018. We have been transparent about all the bargaining dates as well as the work that we have been doing prior to and between those dates. We gathered information from comparator agencies all over Canada. We also searched through the current and historical collective agreements between other bargaining agents and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). From this vast research and experience, we crafted and presented a first collective agreement proposal to the Employer on behalf of our members.

 

Since May 2021, when we first exchanges initial proposals, we have made a great deal of movement. We will discuss all of this when we either reach an impasse or a tentative agreement so that you will be fully informed before you are asked to vote on accepting or rejecting an agreement. The most recent November 8 offer that the employer referenced in their email is not acceptable.

 

The Employer, including TBS and the RCMP, Senior Management and Policy Centres have been in regular communications about the collective bargaining process. We believe it would be in their best interest for them to listen to their front-line managers about what they need to ensure their centres remain open. We do not know how much information they are sharing with managers, but we do know that what they recently offered is not what we need to survive.

 

Obviously, we are all concerned about the lag in salaries. In 2017, the employer refused to give our group the raise we were entitled to for 2015 and 2016 including the economic increases we were supposed to get with the pay package for 1.25%, 1.25% and the 2.3% market adjustment in 2016.

 

As you know, we were forced to file an unfair labour practice complaint with the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB). As part of that complaint, we were able to achieve a settlement for the economic increases of 1.25% and 1.25% for 2015 and 2016. The Employer refused to settle the remaining 2.3% market adjustment we are still owed from April 1, 2016. We presented our case to the FPSLREB this past summer and we are still waiting for the decision from that hearing.

 

If the Employer, including the RCMP, truly recognized the impact of the salaries on morale and retention and presented us with an offer that reflected that, we would have presented you with a tentative agreement to review and ratify.

 

Throughout the bargaining process, we have consistently pushed back against the concessions that the Employer presented. We worked hard this week on our latest counteroffer, and we presented it back to the employer with our supporting evidence and rationale.

 

We still have another session planned for December 19-23. We are committed to working with the Employer to achieve a collective agreement at the table. We will continue to fight for all of us to achieve a deal that is fair and reflective of what we are worth.

 

Thank you for your continued support!

 

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 104 executive

Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

 

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/

Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

CUPE LOCAL 10🍁4 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: November 23rd 2022 @ 18h

Date: 2022-11-16

To all CUPE Local 104 Members,

 

CUPE Local 104 Executive will be holding a virtual town hall to update you on bargaining and to answer your questions.

 

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23rd, 2022
TIME: 18h00 EASTERN TIME

 

PRE-REGISTRATION:
To attend the virtual TOWN HALL, you must first PRE-REGISTER by clicking on the following link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tf-GqqTgoE9B3zqiNDHpvSeoBe2mf-Abt

 

IMPORTANT: You need to use your full first and last name when registering and logging into the TOWN HALL to be admitted.

 

The registration process may take a few days; we all work full time and will be manually approving registrations after work. PLEASE REGISTER EARLY! Members who try to register on Nov 23rd, may not get their link in time.

Once registered, you will receive an email with a PERSONAL LINK to the Town Hall. You can’t share this link with other members; they need to register themselves.

REMINDER: Recording of union proceedings in any way is not permitted.

If you can’t be present, ask another member to fill you in after the meeting.

 

If your colleagues are not receiving this email, please tell them to go to www.cupe104.ca and fill out the MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM so we have their email.

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR COWORKERS.

 

We hope to see you.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

CUPE LOCAL 10🍁4 NEWS AND TOWN HALL ANNOUNCEMENT

Date: 2022-10-28

 

To ALL CUPE Local 104 Members,

 

Bargaining update:

The bargaining sessions with the employer that were held September 13-14-15 and October 12-13-14 went well. Things are still progressing well.

Over the past two weeks, the bargaining team has been working on preparing for our next session with the employer scheduled for the week of November 6. This Friday, the team is meeting to finish up these preparations.

Please remember that once we have reached a tentative agreement, it is you – the membership – who ultimately decide whether to accept the agreement.

It is especially important that all of us show solidarity with each other throughout the bargaining process. The stronger we are as a Local, the stronger our position is at the bargaining table. Please keep supporting each other, your stewards, and your executive. We are getting closer.

Please continue to reach out directly to your Stewards or Regional Chairpersons if you have questions or concerns.

UPCOMING TOWN HALL:

We will be holding another virtual town hall on 2022-11-23 at 18h00 Eastern Time to provide a verbal update on bargaining and answer your questions. Initially, we were going to try and have a town hall after the last bargaining session however, we heard from many of you that we should give more advanced notice and hopefully we will have more to update on after this upcoming session.

We will send out joining instructions to all CUPE 104 members who have provided us their personal email addresses closer to the town hall.

If your colleagues did not receive this email then they are not on the list and they must go to www.cupe104.ca and fill out the “MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM”.

Save the date:  2022-11-23 at 18H00 Eastern Time.

 

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

 

CUPE 104 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

To ALL active CUPE Local 104 Members,

 

CUPE Local 104 Executive will be holding a virtual townhall to update you on bargaining and to answer your questions.

 

IMPORTANT: You must use your real FULL NAME when logging into the meeting or you will not be admitted.

 

DATE:    THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2022
TIME:    19H00 EASTERN TIME
LINK:    CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR JOINING INSTRUCTIONS 

 

REMINDER: Recording of union proceedings in any way is a breach of union rules.

If you can’t be present, ask another member to fill you in after the meeting.

There will NOT be a written account of this town hall sent out via email.

 

We hope to see you.

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH YOUR COWORKERS.

 

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

CUPE LOCAL 10🍁4 NEWS

2022-07-14

 

To ALL CUPE Local 104 members,

 

BARGAINING UPDATE:

The bargaining session of July 12-13-14 has just ended and we can report that we signed-off a couple more articles. Things are progressing.

Our next bargaining sessions with the employer are scheduled on September 13-14-15 and October 12-13-14. We were hoping for more frequent sessions but these are the only dates the employer agreed to.

Your bargaining committee will continue to be hard at work throughout the summer and continue to meet in CAUCUS before and in between sessions with the employer.

We are continuing to bargain in good faith, and we respect the confidentiality of the bargaining process. This allows us to have open negotiations with the employer. Please remember that once we have reached a tentative agreement, it is you – the membership – who ultimately decide whether to accept the agreement.

It is especially important that all of us show solidarity with each other throughout the bargaining process. The stronger we are as a Local, the stronger our position is at the bargaining table. Please keep supporting each other, your stewards and your executive. We will get there together!

Please continue to reach out directly to your Stewards or Regional Chairpersons if you have questions or concerns.

 

UPDATE TO OUR MEMBERSHIP LIST INFORMATION:

As we progress in our bargaining, we are asking ALL OF YOU to please update all your information by filling out the MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM at https://104.cupe.ca/membership/ 

We especially need your personal email and work location (exact name and address of your office location). This form gets sent directly to the CUPE 104 Recording Secretary who maintains the Membership Master List. Your information is protected and only used by the Executive to contact you.

Having your updated information will help us communicate timely information to you during bargaining and when we get to voting on our first collective agreement. We need to be able to reach you during this critical time and the ONLY way is if you give us your information.

Please pass this request on to all your colleagues in case they didn’t see this message.

 

In Solidarity,

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

Executive e-mail addresses: https://104.cupe.ca/contacts/

Main page: https://104.cupe.ca/
Membership Form: https://104.cupe.ca/membership/

UPDATE ON THE HEARING FOR OUR 2016 2.3% RAISE / STATUTORY FREEZE

2022-06-09

Hello everyone,

We have been very busy the past three days (June 7th to 9th) continuing with the unfair labour practice complaint hearing in front of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (fpslreb-crtespf.gc.ca) concerning our 2016 2.3% raise that the employer refused to give us.

On June 7th and 8th, the Employer’s witnesses testified and they were then cross-examined by the Union.

On June 9th, the Union and Employer lawyers made their final arguments.

We are confident that our case was presented in the best possible way and we were finally able to have our story heard.

Now the FPSLREB will review the case and render its decision. These decisions tend to take several months.

Once a decision is rendered, it will be public for everyone to see.

Meanwhile, we continue to work hard at the bargaining table. Our next bargaining session is scheduled for July 12, 13 and 14th 2022.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

UPDATE ON THE HEARING FOR OUR 2016 2.3% RAISE / STATUTORY FREEZE

2022-05-21

 

Hello everyone,

The hearing has finally started!

We spent the past five days (May 16th to 20th) at the hearing in front of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (fpslreb-crtespf.gc.ca) concerning our 2016 2.3% raise.

So far, we have covered some procedural issues, heard testimony and evidence from the union’s witnesses and one of the employer’s witnesses.

The next part of the hearing is scheduled from June 7th to the 9th 2022. We will continue with the employer’s witnesses.

Because the hearing is ongoing, we cannot discuss any details.

Meanwhile, we continue working hard at the bargaining table!

 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 104 executive
Kathleen, Robbin, Myles, Robb, Cyrus, Marc-Étienne, Alex, Brandon, Randy and Ron.

Chronic staff shortage in RCMP 911 & Dispatch Centers is putting Canadians’ safety at risk

CUPE COMMUNIQUÉ  –  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2022     

 

OTTAWA – “As first responders, our RCMP telecom operators are the public’s first point of contact in an emergency. They make sure RCMP officers and other emergency services can intervene rapidly when Canadians need help. At least, this is the theory,” said Kathleen Hippern, president of CUPE Local 104.

“The daily reality is much more frightening. Chronic short staffing in Operational Communications Centers across the country is putting public safety at risk. The RCMP has not retained nor hired enough staff required for these critical operations,” added Hippern.

When time is of the essence in a critical situation, Canadians are often waiting long minutes before someone is available to answer their call for help.

The impacts of short staffing are also devastating for our members: workloads are heavier, stress is high, medical leaves and mental health issues are on the rise, vacations are denied, and retention is difficult.

“Our members are public safety professionals who serve Canadians around the clock, every day of the year. They need to be in sufficient number to do their work properly for the benefit of Canadians. Our members and the public deserve better,” said Hippern.

CUPE Local 104 represents 1,200 RCMP communication specialists across Canada, including 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers, police telecommunicators, and communications monitoring analysts. They joined CUPE in 2018.

 

For more information
Philippe Gagnon
Media relations, CUPE
613-894-0146
pgagnon@cupe.ca

NPST Week 2022 – Lots of recognition on our CUPE Facebook page

Hello everyone,

During this National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2022, there has been lots of recognition for our members about the very difficult and very important work you do.

We encourage you all to go to our CUPE 104 Facebook page and see the praise and what is being shared on social media this week.

Happy NPST Week to you all! You are amazing!

Your CUPE 104 Executive.