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 

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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

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: 

• Thursday, May 18th, 2 PM – 3 PM 
• Thursday, May 18th, 5 PM – 6 PM 
• Thursday, May 18th, 8 PM – 9 PM

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 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.

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

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.

Dear CUPE 3261 members,

This is a notice to advise you that there was an error in the counting of votes for the motion to amend bylaws at the last special membership meeting held Saturday, March 18, 2023.

CUPE 3261’s bylaws state that amendments require two-thirds approval of those “present and voting.” Abstentions do not count as votes, but they were incorrectly included in the count at the meeting. Therefore, the motion to amend the bylaws as follows passed with 72% of members voting in favour.

The amendment is:

Full-time and Part Time Unit Negotiating Committee: The Committee shall consist of the President, The Unit Representative and five (5) 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 amendment will now be sent to the National President’s office for approval as per the CUPE constitution.

Thanks for your patience while we consulted CUPE National to receive clarification that abstentions should not be counted.

We are pleased to announce that Joe Madden, Robin Baj, and Kevin McDermott have been elected to the FTPT bargaining committee. Habon (Bonnie) Hassan, the runner-up, will serve as an alternate.

The final members of the bargaining committee are as follows:

• Edwin Viteri (Acting President)
• Anthony Jude Pereira (FTPT Representative)
• Joe Madden
• Kevin McDermott 
• Robin Baj
• Chris Tavares (UTSC)
• Danny Tavares (UTM)
• Habon (Bonnie) Hassan (alternate)