Friends and comrades,
In this week’s Dispatch, we are covering recent negotiations updates, the February GMM, educational opportunities, and upcoming committee meetings.
But first, Friday, February 6th is the final day to drop off donations for the 6th Annual Project Heart donation drive for We Together Strong Community. For more information about that, click HERE.
Solidarity,
Kyle Turner, Communications Officer
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Negotiations Update
We are still waiting for details about the contract vote, but we have received three updates from the National office about the tentative agreements.
- RSMC Coverage of Absences: The tentative agreement for the RSMC bargaining unit contains language for how routes will be covered for absences of less than 10-days and for known absences of more than 10-days. Less than 10-days, permanent flex employees would get first pick. For more than 10-days, volunteer route holders get first pick. For the full details, read the bulletin HERE.
- Improvements to STDP, Injury-on-Duty, and Personal Days: Proposed changes to STDP are subject to regulatory approval, but current proposals include increased coverage and the use of top-up credits for a higher percentage of wages. Injury-on-duty payments will be increased from 75% to 80% of wages. For personal days, the 6 non-carryover personal days will be added to the agreements for a total of 13 personal days. Up to 5 personal days can be carried over for a total of 18 personal days banked. To read the full bulletin, click HERE.
- Changes for On-Call Relief Employees (OCREs): Changes for OCREs under the tentative agreements include changes to wage progression scale; being entitled to full uniforms after completing the probationary period, which will now be 480 hours or 12 months, whichever comes first; and Appendix E would reflect entitlements to vacation pay, paid holidays, and other types of leave as outlined in the Canada Labour Code. For the full bulletin, click HERE.
February GMM
Our next general membership meeting is Saturday, February 7th at 10 am. This is a hybrid meeting, so you can attend in person (18121 107 Ave NW) or online via Zoom. If you wish to attend online, you have until tomorrow (Friday, February 6th) at noon to register. For more information and to register to attend online, click HERE.
Educational Opportunities
- Social Steward: We are still looking to gauge interest in a Social Steward course. Deadline to apply is February 18th. For more information about that, see our Local educational page HERE.
- Labour College: The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is accepting applications for the next cohort of its trade union leadership development program. For more information, click HERE.
Upcoming Committee Meetings
As of this writing, there are two upcoming committee meetings. There is an Education Committee meeting and Organizing Committee meeting tonight (Thursday, February 5th) and a Social Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th. These meetings are happening online. For links to attend these meetings, click HERE.
Reminders
- We Together Strong Community Donation Drive: For more information and for drop-off locations, click HERE.
- Staying Connected: Sign up for the text service or email list HERE.
- Special Assessment: The Local’s Special Assessment is suspended for the fiscal year (July 2025-June 2026), but will return in July 2026. So you should see a decrease in dues payments by slightly less than $15/month.
- Disability Supports: To access the Disability Supports portal, which provides a list of programs and services in your community, click HERE.
- Union Savings: To take part in these savings, you can register at unionsavings.ca/.
- Buy Union: Looking for a list of union-made goods and services? Click HERE.