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Full-time Support Staff – Town Hall
OPSEU Local 241 is hosting an information Town Hall meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, June 29 at noon, for Full-Time Support Staff.
The Town Hall will include updates on the new Collective Agreement bargaining negotiations for Full-time Support Staff members. Carla Tillapaugh, OPSEU Mobilizer for Regions 1 & 2, will be in attendance, and a question period will follow.
You must register with a non-Mohawk email address. Click here to RSVP.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Wear blue on July 13 and Aug 10
With the college support full-time contract set to expire on August 31, 2022, bargaining has begun for the next contract. Support staff help students through every aspect of the student experience from admissions to convocation.
Make the colleges hear your voice. Let’s unify for dignity, fairness and respect. Your bargaining team are asking support staff to wear blue on July 13 and August 10 to tell the colleges you want a fair contract.
Take a photo of you and your co-workers wearing blue over your lunch break, in person or on Teams, and send it to our regional mobilizer: Carla Tillapaugh carlatillapaugh@hotmail.com, Region 1 and 2 Mobilizer (Fanshawe, St. Clair, Lambton, Conestoga, Mohawk, Niagara and Sheridan)
Johnson Insurance preferred rates
Johnson Insurance has worked closely with OPSEU Local 241 to provide access to helpful services and products that take care of your home and car insurance needs.
Take advantage of this special offer now. Mention group code M2 for your preferred rates when you give Johnson a call today at 1-855-616-6708 or visit Johnson.ca/educator.
Employee Tuition Reimbursement Benefit
The Employee Tuition Reimbursement Benefit has been fully reinstated. This will be in effect Monday, May 16, 2022 and applies to eligible employees and education as outlined in the policy. This program provides financial assistance for employees who are pursuing a post-secondary College diploma, an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree (either Masters or Doctoral) and/or a professional or trade associate certificate outside of Mohawk College. It has been developed to support a lifelong learning environment with the ultimate goal of contributing to student success.
More information on the policy and the application form can be found at MyMohawk > Human Resources > Professional Development
CAAT-S sets their demands – and the team is set to bargain
College full-time support delegates, alternates and observers met in-person and virtually at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto on April 30 to set their demands for the 2022 round of bargaining.
OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick and OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell set the tone for the two-day meeting. The newly elected President delivered a rousing message that hit all the right notes with members who share so much with Hornick, a college faculty member.
Following speeches, bargaining team members took turns presenting slide deck information dealing with the demands submitted and the bargaining environment.
Delegates built the demand set, and, for ease of organization, the team condensed some 600 demand submissions into 46 recommendations grouped into 13 categories. Each category was debated and voted upon:
- wages
- benefits
- education
- health and safety
- holidays
- job postings
- job security
- layoff and recall
- leaves of absence
- other (new)
- union matters
- vacation
- working conditions
Next Steps:
- May 9-13: The team prepares bargaining proposals
- June 2: The teams submits its notice to bargain.
- Scheduled bargaining dates: June 13-16, July 18-22, August 8-12, August 22-September 2
- August 31: The collective agreement expires.
Read the full details here
Day of Mourning
The 28th of April is International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organized worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996.
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) reminds us that the National Day of Mourning, April 28, is not only a day to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy, but also a day to renew the commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Our May Day: Workers ARE the Recovery!
On May 1st, the working people of our community will gather in solidarity to strengthen our resolve to fight for working class people everywhere. Join the Mayday celebrations!
Sunday, May 1, 2022
1:00 pm to 4:00 PM
Gage Park, Hamilton
Messages from OPSEU/SEFPO’s new President and FVPT
The new president, JP Hornick, and the new First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell, have sent messages of greeting and gratitude to the unions’ membership.
From President JP Hornick’s message: A spark of hope for a brighter future.
“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be elected President of our great union. I don’t take the honour lightly, but I also believe that it’s not a solitary job. I believe that democracy and transparency matter, and that every member’s voice matters.”
“We can build our strength and solidarity by opening the lines of communication – to foster connections across sectors, divisions, bargaining teams, regions, and locals; to plan, strategize and share best practices.”
“I believe that as long as we stand together and create a big enough, rowdy enough tent, we will help to win a better future for all workers. Thank you for placing your trust in me to help accomplish our common goal.”
From FVPT Laurie Nancekivell’s message: Respect, trust, engagement – you can bank on it.
“I want to thank you, the members, for giving me the honour to serve as your First Vice-President/Treasurer – it is truly one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
“We educate, we protect and we serve the people of Ontario with dignity and respect. We stand up to injustice, we advocate for our fellow workers, and in so doing, we make our workplaces and communities stronger.”
“We do all of this best, when we do it together.”
OPSEU/SEFPO welcomes new leadership: JP Hornick and Laurie Nancekivell
JP Hornick has been elected as the new President of OPSEU/SEFPO marking the first change in the union’s presidency in 15 years.
Hornick is the Coordinator of the School of Labour at George Brown College, a long-time OPSEU/SEFPO leader and a women’s rights, equity, LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist. She ran for President on a platform of change, deep renewal, and building a bigger and more inclusive union.
Laurie Nancekivell has been elected as OPSEU/SEFPO’s First Vice-President/Treasurer and will serve alongside Hornick. Nancekivell, a Child and Youth Worker by trade and Director’s College graduate, has served on OPSEU/SEFPO’s Executive Board for 10 years.
Hornick and Nancekivell will be officially sworn in at the close of OPSEU/SEFPO’s Convention on Saturday, April 9.
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About Local 241
OPSEU Local 241 proudly represents all Support Staff at Mohawk College, including part-time and student employees.
Local Stewards are volunteers who offer confidential support to help navigate life in the workplace and exercise our rights as workers. Need assistance? Contact us.