Please note: the following nominations are only the ones that have have been made prior to the AGM. Other nominations can and usually do come from the floor at the meeting.
PRESIDENT
Greg Melnechuk
Component 2, English Language Centre Instructor
I have been President for 12 years on and off. I also served as Treasurer for four years, and I was a component 2 steward for over 10 years, defending members and dealing with grievances. I have been a member the Component 2 bargaining team for the past 6 rounds. Component 2 and Component 1 share a collective agreement, so during those five rounds of bargaining I was made very aware of TA issues. During the last two rounds of bargaining, I sat at all three bargaining tables, and in this round of bargaining I was the chief spokesperson at all three tables. I have been co-chair of the CUPE B.C. Universities Committee for 4 years, and co-chair of the CUPE National Post-Secondary Task Force for 2 years; sitting on both of these committees has given me a lot of insight into the problems faced by post-secondary workers across B.C. and Canada, and I continue to learn more and more from my amazing colleagues on these committees.
I wish to continue as President so that I can work to advance our members’ rights at UVic, especially with 2025 (and maybe 2026) being a bargaining year.. My institutional knowledge helps me to understand how the union works and how the structures and practices came to be. I have a very healthy distrust of the University power structure, but my years of labour relations work has helped me realize that being adversarial just to be difficult often gets in the way of advancing members’ interests.
I pushed to combine the Communications Representatives into one paid position, as better communication with members helps with engagement. I also spearheaded the creation of the Equity VP position , as unions need concrete actions to be more inclusive. And I believe that the work we did this year in continuing to develop our network of stewards through all three components will pay off in advocating for our members.
RECORDING OFFICER
COMMUNICATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Component Positions
Component 1
Vice President
Member at Large
Trustee
Component 2
Vice President
Member at Large
Trustee
Pamela Westinghouse
Component 3
Vice President
Jianping Yu
Math Term Sessional Lecturer
I am passionate about advocating for our members and ensuring our voices are heard. Serving on the executive would give me the opportunity to actively contribute to the
strength and solidarity of our Union, which has been an important part of my own work life. I believe I can contribute to making a positive difference for all our members,
ensuring we continue to push for better working conditions, fair compensation, and a more supportive work environment.
Being part of a union means being part of a community of workers who support each other and fight for fair treatment. It means standing together for better working
conditions, benefits, and respect. Our Union is a powerful force that ensures we have a voice, and I’m committed to strengthening that voice.
I have taught at different universities for over 18 years and hold a PhD in Math, as well as a second master’s degree in Statistics from UVic. Additionally, I bring leadership,
strong communication, and organizational skills, along with experience in advocacy, conflict resolution, and decision-making. I'm committed to workers' rights, social justice,
and upholding union protocols effectively.
I’m dedicated to listening to the needs of our members and ensuring that everyone’s concerns are addressed. I am approachable, committed, and ready to work hard for the benefit of all CUPE 4163 members.
Member at Large
Trustee