We have an important announcement about an upcoming election of six stewards and one health and safety representative to represent Unit 4 members. These positions offer a meaningful way of getting involved in your Union and ensuring that Unit 4 members have a strong voice at McMaster and within your union!
Special General Membership Meeting to Elect Stewards and a Health and Safety Representative
On Wednesday September 23rd at 1 p.m. via Zoom, your Union – CUPE Local 3906 – will be hosting a Special General Membership Meeting to elect six stewards and one health and safety representative to represent members working in Housing and Conference Services (“Unit 4”). In accordance with the Local’s Bylaws, you must register and be present at this meeting to vote.
You can register for the meeting at the link sent to your McMaster email.
CUPE 3906, Unit 4
CUPE 3906, Unit 4 consists of “all employees of McMaster University, in the province of Ontario, employed in Residence Life save and except Residence Life Area Coordinators, persons above the rank of Residence Life Area Coordinator, and persons currently represented by an existing Trade Union.”
This new bargaining unit has close to 200 members and includes, but is not limited to, Community Advisors (CAs), Guest Registration Assistants (GRAs), Project Assistants (PAs), Graduate Community Leaders (GCLs), and Residence Orientation Planners and Assistants (ROP/As). Other positions below the rank of Residence Life Area Coordinator (RLAC) fall within the bargaining unit too.
What is a Steward?
CUPE defines a steward as an elected union member who represents, protects, and supports workers in the workplace. Basically, a steward is a worker that is elected by their co-workers who serves as a strong voice in the workplace who helps you to navigate your Collective Agreement and your rights at the workplace more generally. They also serve as an important connection between the union’s Executive Committee and the members in Housing and Conference Services.
Stewards in Unit 4
At the July 14th General Membership Meeting, members of CUPE Local 3906 voted to establish the following steward structure for Unit 4.
- one steward to represent Community Advisors working in “North Quad”
- one steward to represent Community Advisors working in “West Quad”
- one steward to represent Community Advisors working in Lincoln Alexander Hall
- one steward to represent Graduate Community Leaders working at 10 Bay Street
- one steward to represent GCLs, PAs, ROPs/As + Other positions below RLAC employed in any buildings/areas
- one steward to represent GRAs employed any buildings/areas
**please note that if no one from 10 Bay is nominated at the start of the year, that steward position can instead be filled by a member of the bargaining unit employed in any position and working in any building**
Health and Safety Representative
Under your new Collective Agreement, CUPE members working in Residence Life are entitled to one Health and Safety Representative who will sit on the Housing and Conference Services area committee. The Health and Safety Representative will be responsible for advocating for a healthy and safe workplace for all employees.
Next Steps
Please register at the link sent to your McMaster email, for the CUPE Unit 4 Special General Membership Meeting being held online on Wednesday September 23rd at 1 p.m. via Zoom.
At this meeting, we’ll be accepting nominations and having speeches to facilitate the election of six stewards and one health and safety representative. All Unit 4 members can run. If you are interested in a position and cannot attend the meeting on the 23rd, please send an email expressing your interest to staff@cupe3906.org. Members present at the meeting can nominate themselves or nominate another Unit 4 member. In order to vote in the elections, you must be present at the meeting on the 23rd.
The election itself will be held online following the meeting for a period of not less than 72 hours.
Please send any questions about the election to staff@cupe3906.org
