2021 SAGM Staff Report

Staff Report SAGM 2021

Staff Report to Membership

SAGM October 26, 2021

Over the past 6 months, staff in the office have provided ongoing support and advocacy to members on multiple issues. Staff also perform many of the administrative tasks for the local. The following provides a summary of our advocacy work.

For the overall membership:

  1. Weekly update meetings with the administration and other CUPE locals on campus to get information related to health and safety procedures, Public Health Orders, employer initiatives that affect all workers on campus.
  2. Continued advocacy, surveying and support around the return to campus.
  3. Working with a variety of members on workplace accommodations.
  4. Assisting in the resolution of payroll issues and errors.
  5. Addressing member concerns related to vaccine rates, health and safety, and other concerns related to the return to in person teaching.
  6. Preparation for bargaining in 2022.
  7. Responding to inquiries on wages, working conditions, and the collective agreements.
  8. Working to digitize all historic files.

For Component 1:

  1. Preparation of orientations for all TA’s, (documents, powerpoint, schedule etc)
  2. With the assistance of the Component 1 Executive, the delivery of orientation to close to 1000 TA members through the month of September.
  3. Raising issues with HR on behalf on members related to: hours of work, Checklist of assigned duties, supervision concerns, assignment procedures and other collective agreement violations. The bulk of these issues were resolved informally.
  4. Successful resolution of grievances related to unpaid hours, non-appointment through the formal grievance procedure.
  5. Provided representation for members at meetings with the employer.
  6. Prepared a new Stewards Manual and an upcoming training session for Component 1 stewards.
  7. Met with GSS representatives accompanied by Arman Nikkah, Member at Large, on International Student Medical Fees and how CUPE 4163 can support their petition to government.

For Component 2 Second Language Instructors:

  1. Staff met with HR on multiple occasions to come to an agreement with the Employer to deal with the lack of work available for Component 2 teachers in the English Language Center.
  2. Staff met with the teachers on multiple occasions, engaged in extensive email discussions with members, and created an FAQ around the Letter of Agreement.
  3. Assisted in getting information for members wishing to retire.
  4. Resolved a Policy Grievance for unpaid work performed under the formal grievance procedure.

For Component 2 Residence Life Workers:

  1. Held a townhall for members to discuss ongoing safety concerns and concerns with supervision.
  2. Created and administered a survey to further investigate the above issues.
  3. Multiple Labour Management Committee meetings to discuss survey results and provide input, look for resolution and/or support on those issues.
  4. Met with the Employer to review and revise the Senior Community Leader job description.

For Component 3:

  1. Multiple meetings with administration, accompanied by Component 3 Vice President Matthew Koch to finalize details of the Course Stipends for online transition (resolution to the overwork grievance). Stipends will be paid October 31, 2021.
  2. Extensive calls, emails, meetings with Human Resources Consultants on return to work issues.
  3. Working with HR and members to informally resolve issues around layoffs, overpayments, leaves, direct appointments, continuing status, benefits, and various other collective agreement issues.