Notice of Special Membership Meeting

Special Membership Meeting meeting will be held virtually via Zoom this Saturday, July 8th from 10AM – 12PM. The agenda will include 3 items which were carried over from our June 17th GMM, as well as 4 new items approved by the executive.

In order to join the meeting you must register in advance: 
 
 
Agenda
  1. Financial Report
  2. Event budget approval
  3. Proposal to amend Section 8 of the bylaws (Nomination, Election, and Installation of Officers) *
  4. Appointment of Chief Returning Officer and assistants *
  5. Nominations for one Trustee position
  6. Nominations for Recording Secretary *
  7. Nominations for 5 delegates to the CUPE National Conference in October *
* Denotes new agenda items
 
Agenda Details
Bylaw amendment proposal
A proposal to amend the election and nomination process for officers (Section 8) will be put to the membership at this meeting, with the aim of making our voting process more accessible. If the majority of the membership approves the proposal, the date for a subsequent Special Membership Meeting will be decided on where the proposal will need to receive a final approval of two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

Nominations for one Trustee position 
Trustee’s act as an auditing committee on behalf of the members and audit the books and accounts of the union at least once every calendar year. A full list of duties can be found on page 12 of our bylaws. No prior experience is required — you will be supported in this role and receive any necessary training from CUPE National. If more than one member is nominated for this position an election will be held this October. The term will last 3 years, from October 2023 to October 2026.

Nominations for Recording Secretary
The position of Recording Secretary has been made vacant following the election of Luke Daccord to President. The Recording Secretary’s principal task is to keep full, accurate, and impartial account of the proceedings of all membership or executive board meetings. A full list of duties can be found on page 8 of our bylaws. No prior experience is required — you will be supported in this role and receive any necessary training from CUPE National. If more than one member is nominated for this position an election will be held this October. The term will last 1 year, from October 2023 to October 2024, as this is a by-election.

Nominations for 5 delegates to CUPE’s national convention in October
CUPE’s national convention is the union’s supreme decision-making body, and is held every two years. Delegates participate in setting the union’s priorities, deciding its policies, and electing it’s leaders. Any member may serve as a delegate for our Local, provided they have attended at least 2 general membership meetings in the last 12 months. If there are more than 5 nominees, elections for the delegates will take place at a subsequent Special Membership Meeting in the following months. If you are considering seeking a nomination to serve as a delegate we encourage you to read Section 13 of our bylaws here for more information.


Nomination Procedure
If you are considering seeking a nomination for the Recording Secretary or Trustee position, we strongly recommend reviewing Section 8 of the CUPE 3261 by-laws titled “Nomination, Election, and Installation of Officers” for detailed information on the nomination procedure and eligibility.

If you wish to seek a nomination for any position and are unable to attend Saturday’s meeting, write-in nominations should be sent via email to both the President (president@cupe3261.ca) and the Chief Returning Officer (elections@cupe3261.ca). If you have any questions about the nomination procedure please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Union office.


Other News
Tuan Vuong Retires, Janny Tram Appointed Interim Treasurer
Tuan Vuong, Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE 3261, has retired after 16 years in the role at our local, and 42 years working at the Faculty Club. We thank Tuan for his long and committed service to our union, and wish him all the best! At an executive meeting on Monday, July 26 Tuan officially stepped down from his position as Secretary-Treasurer and the executive appointed Janny Tram to serve in this role until it is elected in October of this year.

March Bylaw Amendment Approved by CUPE National President
On March 18 the membership approved a bylaw amendment which added a requirement for a part-time member to the Full-Time Part-Time bargaining committee. On June 26th, the union received word from the CUPE National President that he has also approved these changes. As of June 26th the following language is now in effect in Section 14 (b):

“Full-time and Part Time Unit Negotiating Committee: The Committee shall consist of the President, The Unit Representative and six (6) other members of the Unit with at least one (1) from Scarborough Campus and one (1) from Mississauga Campus, and a minimum of one (1) part-time bargaining unit member.”

The bylaws on the union’s website will be updated to reflect this change as soon as possible.

Election Results And GMM Summary

After two rounds of voting at our General Membership Meeting this past Saturday, we are excited to announce that Luke Daccord has been elected as the new President of CUPE 3261. Effective immediately Luke Daccord will begin his new role, while former Acting President Edwin Viteri will provide transitional support for the next two weeks. The current term of office for the position of President runs until October of 2024.

Luke Daccord can be reached by email at president@cupe3261.ca or by cell phone at 416-946-7620 while we complete the transition.

We would like to thank Edwin Viteri for his work as Acting President during the past four months. Edwin will be returning to his previous role as Vice President, as well as Nancy Tomas – who was temporarily appointed as Vice-President – to her previous role as Health & Safety Officer.


General Membership Meeting Summary
 
Following the election, nominations were held for nine executive officer positions. The nominees for each position are as follows:
 

Vice President
Andrew Chilton
Edwin Viteri
Kevin McDermott

Secretary-Treasurer
Andrew Chilton
Janny Tram
Jenny Luc

Chief Steward
Andrew Chilton
Joe Madden
Raffi Demerji
Wilson Franco

Health and Safety Officer
Joe Madden
Nancy Tomas

Full-Time & Part-Time Unit Representative
Andrew Chilton
Anthony Jude Pereira
Bonnie Hassan
Robin Baj
Ronny Cruz

Casual Unit Representative
Stanley Treivus (acclaimed)

U of T Press Unit Representative
Chris Stanford (acclaimed)

Faculty Club Unit Representative
Janny Tram (acclaimed)

89 Chestnut Unit Representative
Atalla Savory
Soosainathar Rajendiram

Elections for all contested positions will be held in October.


Finally, we also held nominations for the vacant UTM position on the Full-Time Part-Time Unit Bargaining Committee. Andrew Lobo was acclaimed to the position. Congratulations Andrew!

Due to time constraints, the membership approved a motion to defer the remaining agenda: Nominations for trustee, financial report, and the approval of the event budget. These items will be moved to a Special Membership Meeting to be held in the coming weeks. More details will be provided soon.

Reminder: General Membership Meeting and President Election This Saturday

This is a friendly reminder that our General Membership Meeting is happening this Saturday, June 17th, from 10 AM to 12 PM at Wilson Hall, Room 1016 (40 Willcocks St). Members must register at the door. Please bring your TCard or any piece of photo ID to help expedite the process.*

During the meeting, we will be holding the by-election for president, nominations for nine executive positions, nominations for trustee, a financial presentation and approval of the holiday party budget. 

Additionally, there is a vacancy in the Full-Time & Part-Time (FTPT) Bargaining Committee due to the recent resignation of the UTM Representative. We will hold nominations and elections to fill this position, open to any FTPT member from UTM.

Please note this meeting and the election for president is in person only.  

Please take a look at the agenda and details for the presidential by-election below. All CUPE 3261 members are encouraged to attend!

AGENDA

  1. Roll call of officers
  2. Reading of the Equality Statement
  3. Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting
  4. Election for President
  5. Nominations for executive board positions:
    • Vice President
    • Secretary-Treasurer
    • Chief Steward
    • Health and Safety Officer
    • Full-Time & Part-Time Unit Rep.
    • Casual Unit Rep.
    • U of T Press Unit Rep.
    • Faculty Club Unit Rep.
    • 89 Chestnut Unit Rep.
  6. Nominations and Appointment of UTM Rep for FTPT Bargaining Committee 
  7. Nomination for trustee
  8. Oaths of office
  9. Treasurer’s Report
  10. Vote on 2023 event budget
  11. Adjournment

Meeting Details

WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Wilson Hall Residence, Room 1016 (40 Willcocks St)

Wilson Hall Residence is part of New College and is located across from the Faculty Club. Street parking is available in the surrounding area and is located steps away from the Spadina streetcar line.

*Please note, if you are a new hire you may not yet be reflected in our membership list. Please bring proof of employment, such as an electronic copy of your contract or a pay stub, for smooth registration.

Statement from The Elections Committee

By-Election for President 2023

The vote for the By-election for President of our local will take place in person at the regular membership meeting held on June 17th from 10am – Noon at Room 1016 in Wilson Hall Residence at 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, in accordance with Section 8 of CUPE 3261 Bylaws. You can access the CUPE 3261 Bylaws on our website or arrange to review a physical copy at the union office. You must be present in person at the meeting in order to receive a ballot.

The vote will be by secret ballot. Each candidate will have 5 minutes to make a speech to the members present prior to voting taking place. Speeches and voting will be in alphabetical order based on candidates’ surnames. The following members have been nominated and will appear on the ballot in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ surnames:

  • Luke Daccord
  • Kevin McDermott
  • Edwin Viteri

Tuan Vuong has withdrawn as a candidate for president and will not appear on the ballot.

IMPORTANT: for faster membership check in at the doors, please bring your TCard or any photo ID. 

If you have questions about this election please email elections@cupe3261.ca however please be advised we get significant volume of email and we may not be able to get back to you on the same day.


NOMINATION PROCEDURE

If you are considering seeking a nomination, please review Section 8 of the CUPE 3261 

June General Membership Meeting + President By-Election Details

Dear members,

Our next General Membership Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 17th. Please note this meeting will be held in-person only. Please see the agenda and details for the presidential by-election below. All CUPE 3261 members are encouraged to attend! 

WHEN: Saturday, June 17, 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Wilson Hall Residence, Room 1016 (40 Willcocks St)

Wilson Hall Residence is part of New College and is located across the Faculty Club. Street parking is available in the surrounding area, and it is also located steps away from the Spadina streetcar line.

AGENDA

  1. Roll call of officers
  2. Reading of the Equality Statement
  3. Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting
  4. Election for President
  5. Nominations for executive board positions:
    1. Vice President
    2. Secretary-Treasurer
    3. Chief Steward
    4. Health and Safety Officer
    5. Full-Time & Part-Time Unit Rep.
    6. Casual Unit Rep.
    7. U of T Press Unit Rep.
    8. Faculty Club Unit Rep.
    9. 89 Chestnut Unit Rep.
  6. Nomination for trustee
  7. Oaths of office
  8. Treasurer’s Report
  9. Vote on 2023 event budget
  10. Adjournment

NOMINATION PROCEDURE

If you are considering seeking a nomination, please review Section 8 of the CUPE 3261 By-laws titled “Nomination, Election, and Installation of Officers” for detailed information on the nomination procedure and eligibility. 

If you have any questions about this procedure please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Union office.


By-Election for President 2023

The vote for the By-election for President of our local will take place in person at the regular membership meeting held on June 17th from 10am – Noon at Room 1016 in Wilson Hall Residence at 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, in accordance with Section 8 of CUPE 3261 Bylaws. You can access the CUPE 3261 Bylaws on our website or arrange to review a physical copy at the union office. You must be present in person at the meeting in order to receive a ballot.

The vote will be by secret ballot. Each candidate will have 5 minutes to make a speech to the members present prior to voting taking place. Speeches and voting will be in alphabetical order based on candidates’ surnames. The following members have been nominated and will appear on the ballot in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ surnames:

✔  Luke Daccord

✔  Kevin McDermott

✔  Edwin Viteri

✔  Tuan Vuong

The CUPE 3261 Elections Committee

Casual Bargaining Unit: Tentative Agreement Reached!

We are thrilled to announce that after months of negotiations, the Casual bargaining committee has reached a tentative agreement (Memorandum of Agreement) with U of T. 

Three ratification meetings will be held on May 18th, and voting will be open from May 18-19.  To see the full tentative agreement, please check your email. If you did not receive the email, let us know by emailing casuals@cupe3261.ca

Your participation is crucial. All casual workers are encouraged to attend one of the three meetings and participate in the vote. Please register for a meeting by clicking one of the links below: 

Notice of Special Membership Meeting

The special membership meeting is CANCELLED.

Dear CUPE 3261 members,

Please be advised that a special membership meeting will be held virtually this Saturday May 6th, 2023, from 10AM – 10:30 AM. During this meeting, we will be voting on a motion put forward by the executive to donate $1000 to CUPE 233 — our counterpart service worker’s union at Toronto Metropolitan University who have been on strike since April 17th. Representing about 110 custodial and maintenance workers, CUPE 233 members are fighting for fair wages and against unjust pension reform. You can check out their website for more info, daily picket line updates, and to see other ways that we can support them.

WHEN
Saturday May 6th, 2023
10 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE
Virtually via Zoom —  check your email for a registration link. Contact info@cupe3261.ca if you did not receive an email.

AGENDA

  1. Roll call of officers
  2. Reading of the equality statement
  3. Motion to donate $1000 to CUPE Local 233
  4. Shop steward update
  5. Adjournment

May Day – International Workers’ Day

May 1 marks International Workers’ Day, a time when workers worldwide reflect on the history of activism and collective power that secured the eight-hour workday. As a union, CUPE recognizes this day in solidarity with millions of workers globally who resist exploitation.

In Canada, workers are part of a broader movement fighting for decent work, safety, dignity, and respect. We demand fair wages, benefits, and pensions, as well as quality public services for all. Unfortunately, there are still serious gaps and inequities in our country, particularly when governments cut funding for public services and prioritize privatization.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only further highlighted the importance of strong public services and the essential role of front-line workers. However, some governments have taken advantage of the crisis to crackdown on human rights and labour movements.

May Day reminds us of the power of international solidarity in the fight for economic justice, racial justice, migrant justice, and climate justice. Together, let us continue to build worker-to-worker connections and work towards a more just and equitable future.

Workers’ Day of Mourning

April 28 is recognized as the National Day of Mourning in Canada. The Day of Mourning was created by CUPE members more than 40 years ago to remember those who lost their lives on the job and to inspire other workers to fight to prevent further tragedies.

This day is a time to remember and honour those who have lost their lives, been injured or suffered illness as a result of their work. It is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to improving workplace health and safety.

On this day, we ask all members to take a moment to reflect and remember those who have been affected by workplace injuries and illness. 

As trade unionists, it is our responsibility to continue this fight. We must ensure that all workers know about the four workers’ rights enshrined in every health and safety law in the country:

  • The right to refuse work you believe is unsafe until an investigation can be carried out;
  • The right to participate in deciding what is safe in the workplace and to report hazards;
  • The right to information on any hazard in the workplace that may cause harm, and how to prevent that harm;
  • The right to be free from reprisal for carrying out any of the other rights or any other requirement of health and safety law.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the importance of workplace safety and health, and the need for stronger protections for all workers. Let us take a moment to remember those who have been affected by workplace injuries and illness, and renew our commitment to advocating for better working conditions and safer workplaces for all workers.

In solidarity,

CUPE 3261 Executive

Update: Vice-President Appointment

Please be informed that Nancy Tomas has been appointed to fill the vacancy of Vice-President of CUPE 3261 until the next election in October. Nancy has previously served as the Health & Safety officer. The position is now vacant but she will continue to assist in the position’s duties.