CUPE Local 500 > News/Media > News Archive > CUPE LOCAL 500/CITY OF WINNIPEG BARGAINING UPDATE - #13 - IMPORTANT REMINDER! MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND VOTING!

CUPE LOCAL 500/CITY OF WINNIPEG BARGAINING UPDATE - #13 - IMPORTANT REMINDER! MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND VOTING!

June 02, 2017 at 3:01 PM

All CUPE Local 500 members working at the City of Winnipeg are eligible to vote and encouraged to attend one of the scheduled information meetings listed below. During the meetings, the Union's Negotiating Committee will explain the offer of settlement and answer your questions.

Members should have already received a card in the mail detailing the meeting and voting information.   If you did not receive a card, it may mean that we do not have your correct mailing address, and you should contact the Local 500 office at 204-942-1001 to update your contact information.

Membership Meetings and Voting:

Information meetings and voting are scheduled for:

MEETING:  TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

9:00 a.m. (to accommodate shift workers)
Room 2G, 2nd Floor, RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre
375 York Avenue
and
7:00 p.m.
Room 2G, 2nd Floor, RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre
375 York Avenue

VOTING:  WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017

7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Meeting Room 2, Main Floor, RBC Winnipeg Convention Centre
375 York Avenue        

Training Replacement Workers

Some of our members have been contacting the Union and asking about training management and other bargaining unit members to do their jobs.  We want to remind CUPE members that you are not expected to train management or other bargaining unit employees to perform the tasks of members of the CUPE bargaining unit. 

If you are being asked to train replacement workers, please contact your union representative immediately.

Other Questions and Answers

Here are some answers to some of the other questions we are being asked regarding the membership meeting and vote on the offer of settlement.  

Q.      Why is the vote held the following day after the meeting?

A.      The answer to this question is contained in the Local 500 By-laws under Clause 9 section (d).
It states: 

"In the case of a general meeting called in which the terms and conditions of a tentative settlement will be presented regarding a City of Winnipeg Contract, a written notice of such meeting will be forwarded to each member at the last known address and shall be mailed not less than one week prior to the holding of the general meeting.  A ratification vote to accept or reject the tentative settlement shall take place by secret ballot the following day after which the general meeting was held".

 Q:     Am I allowed time off to attend the information meetings and vote?

 A:     The City does not provide time off for employees to attend the information meetings, but are flexible in allowing employees time to vote on June 7th. Please remember to let your supervisor know about your intentions to go and vote.  You should also try to incorporate your time away into break periods, or where feasible, vote either before, or after your regular workday.  Your cooperation to the above is greatly appreciated.

Q:      What if I can't make the membership meetings? 

A:      We will have information packages available at the voting and will have people there to review it with you and answer your questions.  Also, packages will be available after 12:00 noon on June 6th and can be picked up at the Local 500 office, 702-275 Broadway.  Also, if there are people from your workplace attending the meeting, they can take extra information packages back to the workplace with them.

Q:     What if I can't make the vote?  Can I mail in my ballot?  Can someone else vote for me? 

A:     We try to allow as much time as possible for people to vote during the day.  However, we do not have provisions in our by-laws and constitution that allows a mail-in ballot or a proxy vote. 

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the Local 500 office at 204-942-1001.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee: