WELCOME

To the Canadian Office and

Professional Employees Union

The Union and its Structure

The Evolution of COPE

COPE is a Canadian union formed when the Canadian members of OPEIU voted to break from that International Union in 2004

The locals of COPE have a proud history of representing members since the late 1940’s

Introduction

The Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union (COPE) is a national labour organization made up of two (2) regional councils and 42 local unions representing around 35,000 union members across Canada. Our members are office, technical and professional employees in both private and public sectors.

COPE has been established in Canada since 1933 and is affiliated to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the largest labour organization in Canada with approximately 3,000,000 unionized members.

To provide our members the assurance of gaining a measure of dignity and security and a decent standard of living.

We encourage the full democratic participation of all our members both within our union structure as well as in society in general.

The Local Unions and Councils shall be dedicated to promoting, protecting and championing the legitimate struggles of workers.

The Local Unions and Councils shall provide all possible aid, assistance and guidance to their members, to the end that all workers may share in the benefits resulting from employment under the terms of collective bargaining agreements and legislation relating to employment.

Union Mandate

Local Unions

May be organized as single bargaining unit or composite locals

Single bargaining unit locals represent one workplace; composite locals represent several different workplaces

Are autonomous, decision making bodies Are certified to represent the bargaining groups Have carriage rights for grievances Must have a local union constitution, which is

always subordinate to the constitution of the National Union

Must operate in accordance with the local union constitution and the constitution of the National Union

We Are the Union

Through the Labour Relations Board, COPE 343 is certified as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent to represent our members in all matters of employment during the duration of the collective agreement and during collective bargaining.

As an employee in a bargaining unit, you are now a member of COPE , Local 343.

The union is made up of its members, who democratically elect their leaders from amongst their peers to direct the affairs of the organization.

We are all “the union”.

Structure of COPE 343

President: Liz Fong

Vice President: Mary Stalteri

Treasurer: Tina MacPherson

Secretary: Pauline Fitzgerald

Members at Large: Lorraine Boucher, Donna Shields, Heidi Tagieff

Equity Members: Casey Oraa, Janice Gairey

Youth Member: Matt Dumas

Trustees: Kelly Belbin, Trinh Lai, Bhupinder Sanghera

COPE Ontario

Was formed in February 2007 at a special conventioncalled for that purpose

Is comprised of 21 local unions, representing approximately 5500 members

Provides experienced negotiators and servicing representatives to local unions

Provides services in both official languages

Provides legal representation for locals

Provides labour education for local union activists and members

Provides advice to local unions as required and requested

COPE Ontario

Pays local union’s affiliation fees (per capita) to COPE National

Pays affiliation to Ontario Federation of Labour (O.F.L.)

Organizes new members into COPE Locals

Has offices in Toronto and Thunder Bay

Employs full time organizers, full time staff representatives, legal counsel, administrative staff, and temporary staff for special projects as deemed necessary

COPE Ontario

Has an Executive Board, elected at convention, of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, Director ( part-time) and a Vice President from each local of more than 200 members and 2 Vice Presidents representing all the locals with a membership of less than 200, 1 Vice President representing Young Workers

The Executive Board meets every 4 months

A convention is held every 3 years

All locals meet annually in the years between conventions

The National Union

Has an Executive Board of seven members

President, Secretary-Treasurer, one Vice President from each of four regions and one vice President elected at large, representing women

Pays local affiliation to the Canadian Labour Congress

Pays strike pay to eligible members

Meets in convention each three years where the officers are elected

The National Union

The President of COPE is Serge Cadieux, located in Montreal, Quebec;

The Secretary Treasurer is Gwenne Farrell, located in Vancouver, British Columbia;

Ontario’s Vice President on the Executive Board is Liz Fong;

The Vice President representing women on the National Executive is Patty Clancy from Ontario;

There are 3 other Vice Presidents elected from other Regions ( Quebec, Prairie’s and British Columbia)

LOCAL ELECTION

Article 11 in the Constitution

Only 2 members can be elected from any one bargaining unit

Elections take place in April at the Biennial Convention

No one can vote unless they are a member in good standing

No one can hold office unless they have been a member for 12 months

Nominations take place on the first day of Convention

Dues

As a member of COPE Local 343, you pay dues at a rate of 1.5% of your earnings.

These dues are the primary source of income for the Local. They allow the union to run its office, fight grievances, hire arbitrators, fight strikes, and carry out all other activities that are fundamental to our ability to protect and serve the members of the union. In Ontario all the Union Representatives are employed by COPE Ontario.

Member Responsibilities

Member’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

• Attend union meetings• Abide by your Collective Agreement

• Do not make private deals with management• Support your fellow union members

• Abide by your Local Constitution and By-laws• See your steward if you have any questions or

concerns