Remember The Strike of 2011 ?
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Message from Kathy Maxwell (April 25, 2012)   Hello Support Staff, Yesterday, the college gave us three more names of those in positions that are now redundant.  As we continue to look at the options available through the collective agreement, it is becoming more and more difficult to find positions. Our last option is the bumping procedure.  We will continue to do all we can to stop bumping from happening. We do not want members going out the door!  At the last Town Hall meeting, Rob MacIsaac spoke about budget cuts and the "minimal impact on staffing".  Losing even one more support staff member is unacceptable. At a time when employees has been given kudos for raising the student satisfaction rate on our KPIs and recognized for a "job well done", management is pushing forward with budget cuts that jeopardize livelihoods. Repeatedly, over the last several months, we have asked the college for a list of the hours of part-time workers and have been unsuccessful in obtaining this information. Today I am asking you to look at your own department and send a list of all part-time workers, the number of hours that they work and the jobs they are performing.  Please note that this must be done on your own time as it is not college work.  Submit the information to the union office. We need this from every department at every campus. We also need to know how many students are employed in each department.  Again, a list of names, the number of hours that they work, and the jobs they are doing should be submitted to the union office.  Please identify those that are co-op students. We are also asking our faculty brothers and sisters to continue their support of the unionized environment by remaining unrelenting in ensuring that they are not performing the work of support staff. This past weekend your elected delegates attended the OPSEU Convention where the business of OPSEU is directed by its members.  The proposed dues levy was defeated. It took 2 1/2 days of hard work (at times frustrating) to arrive at a non-deficit budget.  The savings were achieved by reductions in some programs and services. While difficult, it is appropriate that the membership proposed and decided on the cuts that were required. One of the major impacts for each Local will be a 15% reduction of rebated dues for a one year period.  In addition, the budgets for committees and education were reduced by 10%. As the CAAT Support locals prepare for our divisional meeting, we have been asked for feedback regarding our last round of bargaining and the strike.  Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at https://caatsupport.org/lime/index.php?lang=en&sid=61459&token=gqd69d55zij8exs The results will be compiled and used by our CAAT Support board in planning future bargaining strategies. A reminder for members at STARRT - I will be on campus on April 26 from 12:00-1:30 in A103. In Solidarity, Kathy Maxwell Message from Kathy Maxwell (March 23, 2012)   As people are notified of redundancies and layoffs, everyone seems to be looking over their shoulder.  At my last meeting with the President, he offered that there would be more cuts as they continue to work with the budget - not very reassuring.  The union put forth ten suggestions to the President in order to negate the damage of redundancy. None were approved. If you were grand-parented or red circled, the college is not honouring that pay band in the position offered for redeployment. Once a redundancy has been declared, members have actually been asked to train others before they leave.  What a slap in the face!  If the position is redundant, why does anyone require training?  If you are being asked to pick up some new duties, please let me know.   Management keeps telling us, "This isn't a job, it's a community."  It seems to be a Mohawk community that "eats its own".   The union will continue to find ways to keep our members from being "turfed".   Information from you, the members, and pressing for the part-time employee time sheets helps us to protect full-time positions.  Please keep forwarding any information you have to the union office.   Another issue that is "rearing its ugly head" (again!) is departments that start training someone for a position before it's posted.  This problem is ongoing and is a "catch 22."   Employees do not have to let HR know when they are retiring until 2 weeks prior to the date they leave. In the meantime, someone needs to know the work.  So training begins even though the position cannot be posted at that time. Even when no retirement is involved, selected individuals are being given the "upper hand".  How fair is a competition between individuals who have already been trained and those wanting to move forward at the college?  How fair is it to offer training to part-time employees while full-time employees aren't given these opportunities. To be fair to everyone, training should occur once someone is hired for a position - not before!   The college has new 'Return to Work' forms revised by our new consultant.  Please note that these forms stipulate that the college does not reimburse for the cost of having these forms filled out.  That is NOT true.  Keep a copy and submit your receipts to Kim Robertson (in HR) for reimbursement. There is currently no 'Return to Work' policy at the college.  One is required by law.  We will be pushing for the  college to correct this.   On a positive note, after a couple of weeks of reduced hours the college reconsidered their position and has reinstated full-time release for the union president.  There's a catch ... they can withdraw this arrangement at any time provided they give 2 months' notice.  Let's see how long it will be before the carpet is yanked again.  The two grievances concerning this will be withdrawn until needed again.   I will begin monthly visits to each campus again.  Bring your lunch, questions or suggestions. The schedule will be as follows:  Brantford 12 - 1:30pm 2nd Thursday of each month Small boardroom A127 Starting April 12th IAHS 12 - 1:30pm 3rd  Tuesday of each month 125 Starting April 17th STARRT 12 - 1:30pm 4th Thursday of each month A103 Starting April 26th   If you have a pressing issue/question/need please see a steward or call the office ext. 2339.  I will make myself available as needed as well.   Finally, the sunshine list is now out.  Here is the link: http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/2012/    Between the salaries of existing managers and those of new managers, it's no surprise that support staff are suffering the consequences. Our job losses are a result of the padding of increasing and costly admin positions.   Lastly, please read the bulletin about health claims forwarded by Keith Bates   Message from Kathy Maxwell (February 3, 2012)   Hi Everyone,   Well, this new year has begun with a BANG!  We have nine grievances on the go right now with more to follow.  That's more grievances in the last 4 weeks than we have had in the past 2 years combined!  What's changed?  The college has made it clear that they are no longer interested in working through the issues with us.  They are not concerned with the way we have worked together in the past.  What was past practice and what we had historically achieved through good faith and collaboration is no longer relevant.   After 31 years of full-time release for the union president, they are cutting it back to 18 hours.  The members' ability to use, vent or escape to the union office will be cut back by 2 days per week.  We have put in a grievance accordingly. On top of this, they want to use these 18 hours for our monthly Union College Committee meetings as well as our Employment Stability meetings.  This is yet another direct violation of our collective agreement.  In effect, they are denying support staff access to union representation.   Your union will still go to any campus as needed; however, it will be more difficult given that 40% of your representation time has been taken away.  While the college has been hosting meetings on how to improve the work environment with their grand ideas about employee engagement, they are at the same time negating all of that by in effect disadvantaging support staff.  How can we believe they have any intention of building positive and transparent relationships with support staff when they will not maintain the beneficial things (to both support staff and the college) that we've already worked very hard to achieve.   If you have union issues, please make the Steward in your area, wing or campus the first point of contact.  If you do not know who to call, check the list on our web site.  It will be updated within the next few weeks.   Other grievances range from unwarranted dismissal, refusing workplace accommodation, PDFs, and job competitions.      We are also in the middle of redeploying 10 positions which the college has identified as redundant.  Union recommendations for new and vacant positions to be used for redeployment have been ignored while managers fill those same positions.   Due to confidentiality, the union cannot release the names or departments but you should be aware that positions can be declared redundant at any time.  We do not want to use the 'bumping' process.  If that happens, we could lose people who have many years of service at Mohawk.  While the first and second individuals are 'bumped', the third one is 'out the door' regardless of their seniority. The college has stated that Mohawk "does not guarantee a job for life anymore." If your position comes up for redeployment, the college uses the resume in your personnel file when considering compatibility with positions.  Please go to HR and request your file to see what is there.   If you are looking for assistance for resume writing, it is available through Linda Schumacher.   Also, please request a copy of your PDF from your manager.  They must give it to you within 5 days.  Again, some managers have refused to do this and grievances are being written accordingly.  If your PDF is not current, request that it be revised and identify a time line, in writing, for this to be done.  Two weeks is appropriate.  A grievance can then be considered if the time line is not met.   I find it interesting that while the college is putting up 'road blocks' that are harmful to support staff, they still ask for your input on workplace surveys and request contributions to things like the Family Campaign or President's Annual Dinner.  I'm just not feeling warm and fuzzy here.   We will be having a General Membership meeting this month. Please attend and bring another member along.  We need a minimum of 18 people to achieve quorum.  The GMM will take place on February 21 at 5:00 pm in room C116 (Fennell Campus).   At this meeting we will vote for delegates to Convention, pass any resolutions or constitutional amendments and, as always, open the floor to comments or questions.   President Rob MacIsaac has agreed to come to a Common Hour meeting of support staff.  This would not be a general membership meeting but an informational dialogue.  Hopefully, we will be able to teleconference it to include other campuses. Please make your wishes known by emailing opseulocal241@gmail.com.  Submit comments and/or questions as well and we will supply him with a list so that he can arrive prepared.  We are not looking to blindside anyone.   Lastly, effective the week of February 6th, I will be in the union office Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  I am also available on my lunch hours or after work during the other week days.  To contact me, call ext. 2339.   In Solidarity, Kathy     Message from Keith Bates About Retirements When we retire our CAAT pension is indexed - above CPP. That's good, but we don't have out-of-province/country medical coverage.  That's bad. Maybe we should look into the teachers' pension and medical plans. If members want to know about their benefits visit OPSEUs web site at www.opseu.org .  Using the Google search at the top left of the page, type in CAAT S BENEFITS, then click on COLLEGE SUPPORT INDEX (CAAT-S), and the benefits booklet will come up. The booklet is in the process of being revised but, in general, the information is still fairly accurate.   Message from Kathy Maxwell (January 6, 2012)   Happy New Year to all support staff.   I have been working from 'home' this week, as my flights back to Ontario were cancelled due to the weather in BC. (I did the snow dance in my pajamas.)  It has given me time to answer emails and consider actions, on the part of the union, to assist us in remaining strong.   First of all, I'd like to thank all of the nominators and members who, again, stepped up to work on your behalf. As far as elections this term, all positions have been filled through acclamation.   Your officers are: President - Kathy Maxwell Vice-President - Marg DiVincenzo Secretary - Lisa MacDonald Chief Steward - Keith Bates Treasurer - Linda Schumacher !NEW! Trustees: Donna Drywood and Bob Fennell Swearing in (not at) of stewards and officers will take place at the next GMM which will be scheduled next month in time for delegates to be elected to convention.   We would like you to be aware of what we are facing in regards to dealing with the college. We will put this information on our website. Please continue to check this regularly.   We have 2 grievances going to arbitration. The first in regards to denied professional development. The second a wrongful dismissal.   The college has also responded to a union grievance, in that, they acknowledged they were incorrect in allowing Appendix D contracts to interview with full time members.   Our Employment Stability Committee (ESC) continues to deal with many ongoing redeployments at this time.The college continues to ignore our employment stability fund of over $160,000 that is set aside for redeployments and issues layoff notices instead. This is unacceptable. Our recommendations will be going forward to the president separately, as the college continues to ignore our suggestions. President McIssac can ensure that positions and staff are not lost or put out the door, but rather are enveloped in meaningful and appropriate placements that continue to benefit the college.   Managers will be continuing with performance evaluations.  This is allowed through the collective agreement.  At the same time, your PDF should be current in order for this to happen.  This is also by the collective agreement.  How can a manager give you an evaluation without having an accurate definition of what you do? As many of you know, HR now asks you to request your PDF from your manager instead of the PDF they have on file. One more hurdle to jump through.   Some of you may have seen the article from the Ottawa newspaper with regards to the 'golden handshake' Algonquin's President is getting upon retirement. During the strike it was suggested that we might be asking for too much.  How greedy is it for a government employee to get 2 years salary, as well as, half a million dollars upon leaving? We couldn't get 2% in the first year! When we retire the college can't even afford a cake. If you had wanted a 25 year watch, you could have purchased one through the MACASES CE silent auction. (Lots of calls to the office on that one too.)   And how's it going in the cube?  Still noisy, still too hot or too cold, and no bathrooms. No privacy for students or staff. No place to make a private phone call. On your lunch hour you must leave your desk so that someone else can fill your spot and use your area. And I have lost count on the number of calls and conversations about the loss of the front desk in the lobby. People don't know where to go or how to get there.   As we move through the coming year, please be vigilant about your surroundings. Keep us informed of happenings in your office.  One area has been repeatedly threatened with a 'work faster or you'll be outsourced' attitude. The grand puba for this area will be recanting this.   Finally, HR has pulled the plug on release time for the union president's position.  The union has received notification that release time was granted since 2007 in order to deal with the new classification system.  It was actually determined in 1981 by Keith MacIntyre, that having release time was 'the cost of doing business' in order to meet the needs of the college and support staff.  We are requesting this be revisited by HR as this has not changed, even though our numbers are significantly higher than in 1981.   Here's hoping for the best in 2012. In solidarity, Kathy     Message from Kathy Maxwell (December 9, 2011) January Elections   Merry Christmas Sisters and Brothers,   As we move towards a welcomed and well-deserved reprieve, the Local wishes everyone a safe, relaxing and fun-filled holiday.  This past year has been a difficult one but we have demonstrated our solidarity, commitment and strength by our actions.   Stewards will be handing out a memento from the strike of 2011 (no it's not money). If you don't receive one by the end of next week, please drop by the office. We also have the writing's of Adrian Biccum ... WITHOUT THE PICTURE or WITH THE PICTURE ... available and suitable for framing.   As this year draws to a close, we are asking members to submit nominations for officers and trustees.  Our elections will be held on January 11, 2012.  We listened to the membership and sought sanction.  OPSEU has approved the use polling stations at each campus instead of the process being restricted to a general membership meeting.  Our OPSEU Staff Rep will be covering the event.  All nominations should be sent to our current secretary, Lisa MacDonald, no later than 12:00noon on December 23, 2011.   Nominations will be for all Officer positions - President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chief Steward.  As well, we are asking for nominations for 2 Trustee positions.   Only stewards are eligible to run for the 5 Officer positions.  Members who are not stewards may run for Trustee.  A nominee can run for more than one position.  The position details can be found in the Constitution beginning on page 23 - http://www.opseu.org/constitution/Constitution2011en.pdf   The nomination form can be found HERE.   Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2012 !     Now Available (November 25, 2011) "Application for Pension Buy-Back Assistance" for Local 241 Members   The college portion of the pension contributions lost during the September 2011 strike can be recouped through Local 241 upon your retirement.  This applies to individuals who will be retiring by September 1, 2016.  If you are interested in applying for this assistance, a form is available here.  Please direct any questions to the 241 office at ext. 2339.   Message from Kathy Maxwell (November 22, 2011)   Hello Brothers and Sisters,   We barely made quorum at our after-hours GMM last Tuesday.  No surprise. Until we get special permission to do otherwise, we do have to continue meeting at a time when all members have the opportunity to attend. Our budget was supported and passed for 2012.  In addition to this, your local will be pursuing the suggestion of a pension buy back for those people who will be disadvantaged if leaving/retiring from the college within the next 5 years.   Anyone wishing to apply for this must contact the office and fill out an application that states the conditions. When you leave within the 5 years and can show that you have paid the 'buy- back' portion of the pension, the union will issue funds for the college's portion that you had to pay.   Also passed with the budget was the addition of a hardship line.  It became very apparent this year that we need to look after 'our own' More about this will be available in the new year.   I also invited Rob MacIssac to say a few words at our meeting.  Unfortunately he is in China.  Maybe next time.   Please make sure to keep checking this website for news. Our support staff representative for the BoG (Board of Governors), Trent Jarvis has opened a 'blog' to keep you updated.   The blog is available at www.241bog.blog.com (also linked in the menu at the top of this page).   And be vigilant about your surroundings.  The college is always looking to cut positions where they can, even though they have over 200 part time people and 300 students working. The union response is to amalgamate part-time positions in order to keep full-time positions.   Have you ever been called into a meeting with your manager and then find out that you are being chastised, criticized or disciplined?  If that happens, you can immediately ask that the meeting stop until a union steward is present. Don't let them continue until we get there.   Performance evaluations are coming up again.  The college has the right to do this.  (Article 16.1) This does not necessarily mean that it is 'bad news' coming.  Keep things positive, offer suggestions, and keep in mind that we have a Professional Development Department to assist with everything from retraining to resumes. If managers are asking for an updated resume of your skill lists, they need to give you the time to do it within your working hours.  At the same time, managers also have another responsibility.  In preparation for the performance appraisal process, the supervisor shall review the employee's PDF to determine if it is current. (Article 16.1)  A reminder will go to Karen Pashleigh to ensure that managers know that this needs to be done at the same time as the evaluation.   Recently, a support staff person showed me their 'time for time' hours. They did not realize the rates for overtime and the manager did not correct the member. Please note that extra hours are always paid at time and a half. (Article 6.2.1) Double time on Sundays. (Article 6.2.2) Shift premiums for those working regular hours after 5pm or midnight (Article 7.5).   The college is also putting out a survey (The Employment Engagement Survey), about your work environment. (Just like the KPIs for students).  Please take the time to answer with regards to how you feel about your workplace, what changes are necessary and how Mohawk can improve. Hopefully, they will listen to our comments in the effort of making Mohawk the "employer of choice".   Tracey returns from maternity leave next week and we will overlap until January.   And finally I want to add a personal thank you to the membership for being 'blind-sided' this last week down at Tim Hortons.  I was 'duped' into going for coffee only to find a crowd of members waiting for me. My thanks go out to each and every one of you. The strike was a time for coming together. Local 241 rocks because of its members. And our time out on the line was (in the words of Winston Churchill) 'the best of times and the worst of times'.  It was a time to work together and this membership did an amazing and outstanding job.  We are stronger together because of what we have been through. The local will be distributing a small token to each support staff member in remembrance of the strike of 2011.   Kathy Maxwell     NEW - visit our 'BoG Blog' - courtesy of Trent Jarvis http://www.241bog.blog.com/     Message from Kathy Maxwell (November 3, 2011)   To members of Local 241,   Please go over the budget and agenda of the GMM to be held on November 15th at the Fennell campus.   I understand that some members are concerned that the meeting is to be held after hours instead of during a lunch hour.  This change has occured to bring our meetings in line with the constitution.  We cannot make a motion, second a motion or make a decision by teleconferencing at this time.  We will be putting a constitutional amendment forward that would allow us to do this.  Unfortunately that won't happen soon enough.     The budget is being brought forward by the LEC with 12 days notice. This is also in line with the constitution.  At this time our local has no by-laws that are in effect.  (The by-laws were never vetted through head office.) Copies of the constitution are on the opseu website.   If you cannot make the meeting, please consider the following:  send in your comments or issues now so that we can deal with them at the meeting or have someone else bring forward the issue or send them to the office and I will ensure that they are brought forward.   Members who require care for family members while at the meeting may submit an expense claim. As always, if you have any questions, please contact the office X2339.   In solidarity, Kathy Maxwell     Message from Kathy Maxwell (October 20, 2011)   Hi Everyone,   There were a few things left in the strike trailer that we loaded into the union office.  If you are missing a travel coffee mug, books, umberella, black gloves, suntan lotion, a large green coffee dispenser, etc. Please let me know. Otherwise I will donate them.   On the other hand, if you have any vests or other materials that need to be returned, please drop them off at the union office.  (No, we don't want the whistle you were blowing into for 18 days.)   As our local has grown in strength and solidarity this fall, we want to keep up the momentum.  First I appalaud those that want to become more involved.  If you are interested in becoming a steward or are wanting more information, please give the office a call, ext.2339.  As a steward you would be part of our LEC (Local Executive Committee) and meet once a month (the first Wednesday of each month).     When you take on the role of a steward you aren't expected to perform miracles.  OPSEU expects that you will be a union representative for about 10 to 20 people.  These are people you know and work with.  For these people, you are their link to the union.  Your job is to make sure their particular needs and interests are expressed to the local and to make sure that decisions and discussions at the local level are conveyed back to them.  You have rights under your collective agreement and under labour law.  The best senario is to have a steward from every department.  If your department does not have a steward, please think about joining us.   I have asked Mary Ellen Cassey (Regional Rep) to 'audit' how we conduct business and she has suggestions.  Some that we never thought of before and others that need to be in place to conform to our constitution.    I also want to continue using this website for updates, information and keeping you informed.  Please check it regularly! I will try to provide you with the interpretation of our collective agreement on the most used areas.   Some of you may know the CA already, others may not even have a copy of our collective agreement.  When the new copies including the new information from our settlement is ready, everyone will receive a new copy.  In the meantime, our CA is available on the OPSEU.org website.  Look under 'where do you work' click on education then on support.   Our next General Membership Meeting will be on Tuesday November 15th, 2011 at 5:30 pm.  We will try to locate a room at Fennell.  More information will follow shortly.   Kathy Maxwell President Local 241 Support Staff of Mohawk College (905)575-2339
Updated: November 22, 2011