CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
The below are our major campaign policy promises after heavy consultation with various segments of the general membership and wider OPSEU community.
(In no order of priority)
BE MORE EFFECTIVE
Administrative Overhaul of the Executive and General Membership Meetings: We are leaders who will empower stewards and local members by streamlining administrative procedures and establishing policies that work.
1. Streamline the Executive into the following 6 Officers (update job descriptions):
President
VP-Operations (Chief Steward)
VP-Treasurer
Secretary and VP Communications
Social and Outreach Committee Coordinator
Health and Safety/Equity Committee Coordinator
2. Write Bylaws for Local 596 that are inline with both OPSEU's Constitution and Local Norms/ Practices.
3. Bi-Monthly Officers Meeting and Reports to the General Membership. To govern by committee and joint collaboration.
4. Office Management and Set Office Hours for members Drop-in consultation.
5. Streamline GMM meetings by following Robert's Rules of Order and engaging discussion on major agenda items.
6. Streamline the administrative and record keeping functions of Local 596 "Release time" for union activity.
7. Generate Training Sessions and Manuals for Stewards.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT
The local is only as strong as its members. We can do more if we work together to accomplish the goals that are most important to our members. This will be accomplished mostly through events, education opportunities and committee initiatives. We will also do a better job engaging and representing over 500 members who are Research Assistants.
Wider participation in cultural and outreach activities.
The Creation and fulfillment of a Donations Policy and an Officers Stipend Policy.
Generate a reporting system for Convention to provide more information to the membership.
Explore more activities and opportunities of interaction at the Annual BBQ and Festive Lunch socials.
Expand Local 596 branding and engage in community activities such as Pride, Black History Month, International Women’s Day etc.
Work with OPSEU HQ and Perkopolis to expand the members benefits program.
Generation of training sessions and modules for Union stewards to foster a climate of engagement and involvement.
Increase Executive representation at major Ryerson and OPSEU events.
Seek feedback from Research Assistants to better represent their interests and create professional development programming for their benefit.
Create a Professional Development grant for members to apply for funding to support their educational activities outside of the university.
Reconciliation with Local 596 Unit 2
NO UNION MEMBER LEFT BEHIND
Budget cuts have already led to layoffs and there will be more to come. It is our duty to protect members proactively by pushing back against management who would rather hire MAC or contract employees to do our jobs because they are easier to let go. We can do better by increasing our investment in arbitration supports and letting management know that we are not happy with these trends.
We are prepared to hit the ground running and engage with management in a transparent and accountable way to address situations of layoffs. We want the membership to know what is being discussed at every stage with access to notes and reports from such meetings. We will ask HR to add "a combination of education and experience" back into job postings to stand up for our long term members who may not have the diplomas and degrees but have years of experience. We want to do away with the behind the scenes negotiations (cloak and dagger and half promises) and open this process up to all members. We would like to partner with other unions and stand in solidarity with each other.
