CUPW taking applications for negotiating committees: Urban Postal Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers

CUPW is inviting members to apply to be on the negotiating committees of the Urban Postal Operations (UPO) bargaining unit and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carrier (RSMC) bargaining unit.

Article 6.11 of the CUPW constitution requires that the UPO unit be comprised of at least one woman, one francophone and one anglophone. Article 6.03 says the National Executive Board will determine the composition of other negotiating committees.

Negotiations

The RSMC contract expires on December 31, 2015 and the urban agreement expires on January 31, 2016. But negotiations preparations have already begun. CUPW locals are currently holding meetings to adopt their demands. These demands will be debated at the Regional Conferences in June. In August, the National Executive Board will put together a program of demands for each bargaining unit and submit this program to each unit’s members for ratification in September. The union expects to pick members of both negotiating committees after convention in May.

Responsibilities of a negotiating committee member

• Negotiators are responsible for presenting members’ demand to Canada Post, under the direction of the Chief Negotiator and the National Executive Board, in an attempt to negotiate a collective agreement.
• Negotiators are responsible for researching specific demands and defending the rationale behind demands to representatives of Canada Post.
• Upon completion of negotiations, negotiators prepare a report for the next negotiating committee.
• Experience relating to the negotiation of a collective agreement
• Good knowledge of the collective agreement and employer programs and activities
• Experience in preparation, hearing and arbitration of grievances
• Ability to work well on own and with others
• Ability to work long hours and away from home
• Good writing and organization skills
• Knowledge of human rights and health and safety issues would be an asset
• Expertise in work procedures is an asset
• Must be a member of the RSMC bargaining unit if applying to be on the RSMC negotiating committee. Must be a member of the UPO bargaining unit if applying to be on the UPO negotiating committee.

Qualifications

• Experience relating to the negotiation of a collective agreement
• Good knowledge of the collective agreement and employer programs and activities
• Experience in preparation, hearing and arbitration of grievances
• Ability to work well on own and with others
• Ability to work long hours and away from home
• Good writing and organization skills
• Knowledge of human rights and health and safety issues would be an asset
• Expertise in work procedures is an asset
• Must be a member of the RSMC bargaining unit if applying to be on the RSMC negotiating committee. Must be a member of the UPO bargaining unit if applying to be on the UPO negotiating committee.

Applicants must fill out an application form and send it to:

Marie-Claude Mercier-Dion
Canadian Union of Postal Workers

377 Bank Street

Ottawa, ON
K2P 1Y3
[email protected]

Deadline for applications: April 24, 2015

Job begins: May 2015

Duration of job: 9 to 12 months. May be shortened or extended.

Pay: The Union Representative rate will apply. Per diem and accommodation will be provided, if required.

In solidarity,