Motion 1
Whereas the current shop steward meetings are not meeting the needs of the Shop Stewards and membership;
Where we have had a real problem to organize external Shop Stewards meetings;
Be it resolved that Article 10.04 of the Local by-laws be changed to the following:
Group 2 Shop Stewards, except for MSC Stewards, will be booked off every three (3) months for half (1/2) day to attend a meeting with the Letter Carrier Chief Stewards and Full Time Officers that wish to attend. Other officers will be invited if approved by the Local executive.
Group 1 and MSC will have a meeting held every month for one and a half (1.5) hours, MSC & Group 1 Stewards will be held together.
No changes to the first line of the current by-laws.
10.4 – Current:
Shop Steward Meetings shall be held eleven (11) months in the calendar year. The Shop Stewards Meetings in the VMPP and VPDC will be held during shift time to increase the participation and recruitment of Stewards and with a one (1) hour book off. The Shop Stewards Meeting for Group 2 Stewards shall be held the second Wednesday of the month in the evening. Shop Stewards attending this meeting shall be entitled to an honorarium equal to one (1) hours pay or loss of wages if they are scheduled to work at this time. Whenever possible, ten (10) days notice shall be given of the Shop Stewards Meetings.
Shop Stewards may be booked off or receive honorarium, in accordance with the limits above, in order to attend Shop Steward Meetings in other Groups. No Shop Steward shall be booked off or receive honorarium more than once in a calendar month.
10.4 – Proposed:
Shop Steward meetings for Groups 1, 3, 4 and MSCs shall be held eleven (11) months in the calendar year. The Shop Steward meetings in the VMPP and VPDC will be held during shift times to increase the participation and recruitment of Stewards and with a one and a half (1.5) hour book off. Whenever possible, ten (10) days notice shall be given of the Shop Stewards Meetings.
Shop Stewards in Group 2, except for MSCs, will be booked off every three (3) months for half (1/2) a day to attend a meeting with the Letter Carrier Chief Stewards and Full Time Officers that wish to attend. Other Officers will be invited if approved by the Local executive. Whenever possible, ten (10) days notice shall be given of the Shop Stewards Meetings.
Motion 2
Because advocates working on behalf of the Local are highly trained and take on much responsibility while also giving up the additional compensation such as householder bonuses and overtime hours.
Because members filling in for the Full Time Officers also take on the additional responsibilities of the Officer they are replacing, as well as giving up the additional compensation such as householder bonuses and overtime hours.
We therefore would like to add a new clause to “Article 11 – Finances” of the bylaws to read:
Worker advocates, as defined by 10.14 of the National Constitution, and those members replacing full time Officers of the Local, and working on behalf of the Local for forty (40) hours or more in a month shall be topped up to the hourly rate of pay equivalent to a full time Officer for those hours worked.
Payment for this top up shall be paid no later than (1) one month following the month worked.
The wage top up shall only apply to the hours worked as an advocate or as a full time Officer replacement and those hours must total forty (40) hours or more in one (1) calendar month.
And as a bit of clarification, and not included in this motion, 10.14 of the National Constitution reads:
Based on the recommendations of the National Directors, the worker advocates selected are to be trained for regular arbitration and workers compensation. When making the selection, the National Directors must consider the geographic areas within the region.
Motion 3
Whereas the work areas have changed, and the VMPP and the VPDC are no longer in operation.
We would like the bylaws to reflect the reality of the work floor, as well as streamline the Executive to make it more effective for the membership.
As it reads:
5.1 The Local Executive Committee shall consist of Table Officers nine (9) and Chief Stewards eight (8).
5.1 A The Table Officers shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Grievance Officer, Education Director, Health and Safety Director, Recording Secretary/By-laws Chair, and Organization Director/Tyler.
5.1 B Chief Stewards shall come from the following areas:
1. VMPP Day Shift/Wickets/Group 1 C&D (one representative);
2. VMPP Afternoon Shift/Group 1 C&D (one representative);
3. VMPP Midnight Shift/Group 1 C&D (one representative);
4. Outside Function (three representatives, at least one of which will come from each outside function, L.C. and M.S.C. However, in the event that a position remains vacant after two consecutive postings, it shall be posted as an Outside Function Group 2 vacancy with no restrictions);
5. G.L.&T./Glen Drive Facility (one representative);
6. VPDC Group 1 All Shifts (two representatives).
Proposed:
5.1 The Local Executive Committee shall consist of Table Officers nine (9) and Executive Chief Stewards seven (7)
5.1A The Table Officers shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Grievance Officer, Education Director, Health and Safety Director, Recording Secretary/By-laws Chair, and Organization Director/Tyler.
5.1 B Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Shop Stewards (CSS) shall come from the following areas:
- 1. PPC Day Shift/Wickets/Group 1 C&D (one executive CS, and one CSS)
- 2. PPC Afternoon Shift/Group 1 C&D (one executive CS, and one CSS)
- 3. PPC Midnight Shift/Group 1 C&D (one executive CS, and one CSS)
- 4. Outside Function (three EXECUTIVE chief stewards and three CSS), at least one Executive CS and one Chief Shop Steward of which will come from each outside function, L.C. and M.S.C. However, in the event that a position remains vacant after two consecutive postings, it shall be posted as an Outside Function Group 2 vacancy with no restrictions);
- 5. G.L.&T./Glen Drive Facility (one executive CS representative);
Executive Chief Stewards sit on the executive and attend the executive meetings. Chief Shop Stewards are to attend all functions except the executive meetings, but shall fill in for the EXECUTIVE CS when absent.
6.10 Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Shop Stewards:
6.10 A Executive Chief Stewards shall be elected officers and voting members of the Executive Committee. In the case of an absence, the CSS can attend.
6.10 B Shall be members of the Grievance Committee.
6.10 C Shall report and consult with the Second Vice-President regarding Health and Safety matters for their shift or work area.
6.10 D Shall accompany the President or First Vice-President into management meetings, when requested by the President or First Vice-President.
6.10 E Shall work in conjunction with the Grievance Officer on the preparation and hearing of grievances at the first level and arbitration, when required.
6.10 F Shall attend appropriate monthly Shop Steward meetings and shall make reports to the Shop Steward meetings and the Executive Committee.
6.10 G All Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Stewards shall be given the opportunity to assist the Grievance Officer in the preparation and processing of grievances. The Chief Stewards shall be booked off on an equitable and rotating basis not to exceed a collective total of thirty (30) days per fiscal year.
The table of contents, the list of executive, the elections, shall all be updated to include that have we have elections every two (2) years for these positions, that we have CSS and Executive Shop Stewards.
7.1 B Shall work under the leadership of her/his Executive Chief Steward and Chief Steward
8.3 A Grievance Committee
8.3 A (1) Shall consist of the Grievance Officer, First Vice-President, Executive Chief Stewards, and Chief Stewards.
8.3 .D (3) Annual Elections of Full-Time officers, Table officers, Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Shop Stewards
Article 9.3 shall include Executive Chief Stewards.
9.0 Annual Election
Elections for full-time officers, table officers, Executive chief stewards and chief stewards and shop stewards shall be held annually as outline in articles following. Elections shall be conducted at member’s worksites.
9.3 Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Stewards
9.3E The term of office for all Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Stewards shall be two (2) years.
9.7 By-Elections
9.7 A Full-Time Paid Officers, Table Officers and Chief Stewards
14.2 E In the event of a vacancy in the position of Grievance Officer, the Executive Committee shall select from within the Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Stewards, an individual who shall on an equitable and rotating basis assume the duties of the office until the election is completed. The person shall work under the direction of the First Vice-President. These appointments shall be for one (1) week periods.
Motion 4
Article 6.10 H (new) EXECUTIVE Chief Stewards
Any Executive Chief Steward who does not attend three (3) consecutive executive meetings will be replaced by election at the next General Membership Meeting unless the absence is approved by the Executive Committee.
Motion 5
Article 11 – Finances (new)
Because Executive Chief Stewards and Chief Shop Steward have many day-to-day expenses such as using their personal cell phones for work on behalf of the Local, as well as additional car expenses,
EXECUTIVE Chief Stewards shall receive an honorarium of $500 per year, once per calendar year, prorated for months served. EXECUTIVE Chief Stewards must attend a minimum of three (3) executive meetings a year to be eligible.
Chief Shop Stewards shall receive an honorarium of $250 per year, once per calendar year, prorated for months served.
ck/CUPE-3338