A wealthy, globally-ranked public institution that claims to be a model employer dedicated to advancing the public good must do better for all members of its community. The funds are available; what we need is leadership from the senior administration, with meaningful consultation from the staff, students, and faculty who are most affected. Now is the time for leadership to mobilize our institution’s wealth and influence — to protect lives and livelihoods, and to sustain the important role of every member of our tri-campus community through this crisis.

Read the article here: 

Op-ed: U of T must do better to support the lives and livelihoods of its workers during COVID-19

The CUPE 3261 office at 703 Spadina Ave. 2nd floor, will now have “office hours” every Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 

As most members know, our full-time President Allan James works Monday to Friday from around 9:00am to 5:00pm. However, he may not always be at the office, or may be busy with other business or meetings. As a result, members have to set up an appointment if they want to directly meet with Allan. 

However, starting this week, the union will now be hosting a weekly office hours, where members can come to the office without appointment if they want to bring up any issues or concerns where they believe the union can help out. 

Because of COVID-19, we do encourage members to call or email Allan with your concerns. However, if you feel that an in-person meeting is necessary, you can call or email to set up an appointment, or utilize our new office hours and come in on Wednesdays between 1pm-3pm without appointment. 

As always, protective measures against COVID-19 are important, and we ask members to wear masks and maintain some distance from others when inside the office. 

Dear members,

The executive has distributed more than 650 reusable non-medical masks to workplaces across St. George, UTM and UTSC. We have few masks left at the office, and ask you to contact us directly if you still need one. We have another shipment coming in 2-3 weeks, and we’ll be able to provide extra masks to all members then. 

U of T has also began distributing two reusable masks to each staff member. Some members have received theirs, while others are still waiting. Every member should receive their U of T masks within the next few days. 

Did you know that you can insert filters into your CUPE mask for extra protection? You can use paper products like coffee filters, paper towels or toilet paper,  or cut out a piece of a HEPA filter, or simply use a soft, breathable fabric such as nylon, cotton, or linen. 

CUPE 3261 continues to actively coordinate with other unions on campus to ensure workers are protected. We are working with the university to make sure that unions like ours have a say in the re-opening of campus. This involves active participation in the health and safety policies being developed for September to ensure a smooth and safe return for students and staff to campus. 

For more information on how the university plans on reopening, please visit UTogether2020: A Roadmap for the University of Toronto

In terms of how September will look like, what we do know is that at this point, it is estimated that roughly 90% of undergraduate courses will be offered online, with around one third providing optional in-person components. A higher proportion of graduate courses will be offered in person due to smaller class sizes. 

An online form has been made available by U of T for those who have questions about what September will look like. You can submit your questions here: https://www.utoronto.ca/covid19-contact 

New Facebook Group

To facilitate better communication between members and the executive, we now have a new Facebook Group. Members are encouraged to join the group, where together we can have discussions, share resources, ask each other questions, share concerns, and receive updates from the executive.  

To join the group, visit the link here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cupe3261/ 

“The reality is that workers were already suffering before the pandemic,” James wrote. “Now they are suffering more, and our future looks uncertain.” 

He urges all levels of government to address the bigger picture of income inequality and “invest in people, invest in strong public services, support decent work and fair minimum labor standards and focus on getting us through COVID and beyond without imposing any cuts or austerity policies.

– Allan James, CUPE 3261 President

See the article here:

U of T temporarily lays off scores of service workers amidst COVID-19 pandemic

In the context of COVID-19, many members have various questions and concerns. The executive has added a new “FAQ” to our website to help our members out. We encourage you to visit the page! If you have other questions, as always feel free to contact us by email or phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hello CUPE 3261 members,

Our union’s next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will be held on Saturday, June 27th, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

To facilitate physical distancing, the meeting will be held online via Zoom. Zoom is an application that you can use on your phone or computer to connect live with others via webcam and/or microphone. You can download Zoom here for your computer, or search for it in your app store to download it on your phone.

In order to predict attendance and maintain security of the chat room, all members who plan on attending the online GMM must RSVP by registering below. All registrants will then receive the Zoom meeting ID and password by email.

RSVP Here

We know that there has been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty in the past few months, and with the continued lock down, we expect more uncertainty in the future. This GMM is an opportunity for you to learn more about what your union knows, and what we are doing to help protect the interests of workers, and to keep you safe and informed. It is also a good opportunity for you to speak up and share any issues or concerns you are having. We encourage all members to join us.

There is also no obligation to have your video or microphone on – you are welcome to sit and watch. A chat feature will allow you to type up any questions/concerns.

The GMM will also be opening nominations for two executive positions: President and Recording Secretary. To learn more about the positions and their responsibilities, you may consult the by-laws on our website here.

For those interested in running, you must be nominated during the meeting. If you are unable to attend, you can submit your name in writing (simply send us an email and let us know). If the positions are contested, the election will be held at the following GMM in October.

Hope to see you there! Email us at service.workers@utoronto.ca if you have any questions/concerns.

CUPE 3261 Executive

GMM Agenda

1. Roll call of officers
2. Reading of the Equality Statement
3. Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting
4. Treasurer’s report and approving expenditures
5. Executive Board report (Bargaining & COVID-19)
6. Nominations for President and Recording Secretary
7. Unfinished business 
8. New Business
9. Adjournment

CUPE 3261 stands in solidarity with Black, Indigenous and People of Colour across Canada and the United States. As we’ve seen in the last week, millions of people have stood up to say enough is enough. Racial discrimination and police brutality are nothing new. These are issues that have been raised time after time for decades – yet little change has been made. 

In the US, we watched and continue to watch in horror as innocent black people are brutally murdered, from George Floyd, to Breonna Taylor, to Ahmaud Arbery, and in recent days, Jamel Floyd, Sean Monterrosa, and the life threatening attack on activist Justin Howell. 

Canada is not immune. The recent deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto, Jason Collins and Eishia Husdon in Winnipeg, D’Andre Campbell in Brampton, and countless others across Canada shows that we cannot be silent. We have to stand together against white supremacy, demand police accountability, and fight for racial justice. 

We must end racial profiling and the over-policing and incarceration of Black, Brown and Indigenous people. We must demand an independent inquiry into the death of Regis Korchisnki-Paquet. We must hold the police accountable for their actions. We must defund the police and invest in social services, education, housing and end economic insecurity. We can’t keep sitting on the sidelines.

Pretty words are not enough. We, together as a society, must do more. We need to support our black brothers and sisters. We must hold difficult conversations with our family and friends. We must demand concrete action from our politicians. We must confront systemic racism and the oppression it enables. And we must always be listening, learning, and reflecting. 

Silence is not an option.

PETITIONS:

• Toronto Police to wear and turn on Body cameras when responding
• Justice for Regis Korchinski-Paquet
• Demand racial data on police involved deaths in Canada

If you are able, please consider donating. Donations provide material support to organizations doing important work, and can make a huge difference. CUPE 3261 will also be donating $200 to Black Lives Matter Toronto to support the amazing work they are doing. (Higher donations require membership approval, but we hope to bring it up in the next GMM)

DONATE: 

• Justice for Regis
• Black Lives Matter Toronto
• Toronto Protester Bail Fund

Find out more how you can help black folks and support anti-racist initiatives by visiting   https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/06/9851684/black-lives-matter-how-to-help-donate-support

and 

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/?fbclid=IwAR35cmZyUhYF-IpkfSjiFUkZ7D9fRRIii-kWolKgzw3JG5V0UueABefoBLw

and if you want advice on how to have a conversation, please consult this article:

How to Talk to Relatives Who Care More About Looting Than Black Lives

Dear Members,

As many of you already know, due to the COVID-19 situation the University has recently began temporarily laying off workers for the summer. 

Layoff notices were first issued in the middle of May, and have primarily affected workers in Food Services. Recently, workers in athletic services have also been laid off, and in the upcoming weeks, we will see more workers in Food Services laid off. 

The University has offered a temporary top-up of 80% of regular income, up to a maximum of $250/week ($1000/month), minus payroll deductions, to all laid off workers who are recipient of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The top-up will be provided for 13 weeks, and will be paid out on your regular pay days. The university will also continue to provide benefits to those who are laid off at no premium expense to the worker. 

This means that with the CERB, laid off workers can receive a total of $3000/month, thus we encourage those who are eligible to apply for both the CERB and the top-up. Please note: the CERB allows workers to supplement their income by no more than $1000/month. If you have another job, or receive income that puts you over the $1000 threshold, you may not be eligible for the CERB and/or payments may be clawed back by the CRA in the near future. 

In order to apply for the top-up, you must login to the HR Service Centre and fill out an application, with proof that you have received the CERB (i.e. bank statement). 

To apply for the CERB, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

Members who need additional emergency financial assistance are encouraged to consult the Ontario Works program, a provincial benefit program for low-income/unemployed Ontarians.  Call them to determine whether or not you are eligible.  https://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/ow/

Members can also continue accessing EFAP (The Employee and Family Assistance Program). EFAP offers counselling, information and resources for all employees and their dependent family members. Examples include:
• Emotional Support: counselling, coaching, online courses, and tip sheets on stress and
anxiety management, resilience, and other mental health supports
• Financial Planning: coaching, online courses, and tip sheets on topics such as budgeting,
managing financial stress, debt management, and handling financial setbacks

Services are offered remotely and confidentially 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
by calling 1-800-663-1142. Additional tools and resources for managing finances, anxiety, stress
and resilience can be found at: https://homeweb.ca/

Pension: If you are enrolled in the University’s pension plan, you can continue to accrue
pensionable service during your temporary layoff. A letter outlining your required contributions
will be sent by regular mail to your home address. Please log in to Employee Self Service to
ensure your mailing address is correct, or work with your manager to have it updated on your
behalf.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your union president by calling the union office at 416-946-7620 or emailing Allan at service.workers@utoronto.ca

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