2024 Annual General Meeting
Minutes
April 2, 2024 3:30 PM Clearihue C112
- Welcome, territorial Acknowledgement, Equality Statement, and Roll Call of Officers & Staff
President: Greg Melnechuk Treasurer: Paul Emme
Recording Officer: Starlight Wilson Equity Vice President: Angie Reamer
Component Vice-Presidents (C1): Michael Evans (C2) Gilbert Imoesi (C3) Brock MacLeod
Communications Reps (C1): Christine Funk (C2): Maria Leon (C3): Vacant
Members at Large (C1): Julia Weder (C2): Linda Martine (C3): Matthew Koch
Staff: Melissa Pritchard, Member Advocate
2 Approval of Agenda
Moved: Seconded: Carried 3:49 PM
3 Adoption of Minutes of SAGM November 3, 2023
Moved: Seconded: Carried 3:50 PM
4 Election of Officers – chaired by
- a) Motion: To approve appointment of Joseph Horan as Returning Officer M/S/C 3:50 PM
- b) Nominations from the floor, 1 minute spiels, and 5 minute members’
Q & A session for contested positions
| Elected: | |
| President | Greg Melnechuk |
| Treasurer | Paul Emme |
| Equity Vice-President | Angie Reamer |
| Recording Officer | Sarah Obee |
| Communications Representative | Sansal Gumuspala |
- c) Component caucuses to elect the Component specific positions with 1 minute spiels and
members’ Q & A sessions for contested positions
| Elected: | |
| Vice President (Comp 1) | Sharan Srinivasa Gopalan |
| Vice President (Comp 2) | Haida Davies-McDermott |
| Vice President (Comp 3) | Brock MacLeod |
| Member at Large (Comp 1) | Stephanie Erikson |
| Member at Large (Comp 2) | Hailey Vanderhaeghe |
| Member at Large (Comp 3) | Matthew Koch |
| Trustee (Comp 1)* | Ted Grossom |
| Trustee (Comp 1)* | Jonathan Qualter |
| Trustee (Comp 2)* | Pamela Westinghouse |
| Trustee (Comp 2)* | Melissa Carroll |
| Trustee (Comp 3)* | Vacant |
| Trustee (Comp 3)* | Vacant |
*note – Trustees do not sit on the Executive
- Motion to destroy the ballots M/S/C 4:21 PM
- Matters Arising from the Minutes
N/A
- New Business
CUPE 3903 at York University has been on strike since Feb 26, 2024. Motion to send 2000$ in solidarity with 3903. M/S/C 4:25 PM
- President & Vice-Presidents’ Reports
President – Greg Melnechuk
- Focused on RA organizing see comp 1 VP report.
- Made inaugural Reconciliation Fund Donation to the Aunty Collective on Rock Bay Ave.
- Preparing to respond to university budget cuts
- CUPE BC University Committee, pushing CUPE BC to lobby provincial governments to have universities use unionized workers instead of contracting out to corporations that use vulnerable workers. Pushing for a campaign on how transferable skills can come from humanities and fine arts can support trades.
- University coordinated bargaining committee, 10 locals across BC working to prepare for the next bargaining season.
- CUPE National University Committee. Discussing how to push back against the rise of the political right wing.
- The Conservative Party’s propaganda is affecting CUPE members, member education is important.
- Pushing back against the privatization of public services is a priority.
- Reduce stigma around international students and push for migrant justice.
- Increase political education on the funding of corporatization of Post Secondary Education. Working with the National Literacy Committee.
- Increase Steward engagement, need stewards in 90% of our departments. They are our eyes, ears and voice. Looking into giving Stewards more training, moving more towards a traditional steward role. Reexamine the Steward honorarium.
- Bargaining: Contracts expiring within 18 months. Upcoming government elections, beginning our preelection campaign work. Surveys, education, student outreach, members outreach. If a strike is necessary, we need the student body and our members on our side. Greg attended a workshop on how to assess members’ engagement prior to a strike. (Any strikes that may occur would be over a year from now.)
Component 1 VP – Michael Evans
- RA organization drive: Graduate student research workers, have done many events and card signing.
- Member engagement: If you work with graduate students that do research, ask if they have thought about signing a union card. Speak with Michael if you would like advice, tips, or have questions.
- Increased Hardship fund up to 1000$.
Component 2VP– Gilbert Imoesi
ResLife
- Putting together a survey with stewards to enquire members about working and supervisory conditions.
- Met with management about training about substance use training.
ELC:
- Things are quiet, aiming to recover student numbers post pandemic. We are ahead of UBC and SFU
Component 3 VP – Brock MacLeod
- Things look grim: recovering from recent cutbacks and looking at more cutbacks coming in the future.
- Lacking Steward engagement.
Equity VP – Angie Reamer
- Formed an Equity committee with 10 members across campus, always happy to have more. Current members have been very engaged.
- Delivered a campus wide survey to gain more information about equity issues across campus.
- Collaborating with Vancouver District Labour Council Anti-Racism Committee, working with Aubrey Gonsalves CUPE National’s Diversity Vice President of Black and Racialized Workers
- Working with Campus EQHR
- Have been working on numerous campus and community initiatives to support equity initiatives.
- Moving forwards: workshops and campaigns focused on members’ feedback through the surveys. Work with stewards and Communication Officer to build strong lines of communication with members. Continue building relationships with Equity groups on campus.
- In the future would like to build sub-commitments for specific equity seeking groups.
Motion to approve President’s and Vice Presidents’ reports: M/S/C 4:54 PM
- Treasurer’s Report – Paul Emme
2023-24 Financial update (as circulated)
-Fiscal year is October 1 to September 30
-Everything until mid-March is covered here
Motion to approve Treasurer’s report: M/S/C 4:57 PM
- Staff Report
As circulated
Motion to accept Staff Report as circulated M/S/C 4:58 PM
- Social Justice Fund Nomination & Vote
Nominee – Atomic Vaudeville nominated by Cam Culham, Component 2, English Language Centre
- One minute speeches
- Secret Ballot Vote – Social Justice Fund goes to: Atomic Vaudeville
Motion to destroy the ballots: M/S/C One nominee no vote necessary.
- Good of the Union
- Adjournment of Meeting
Moved Seconded Carried at 5:05 pm