Special Membership Meeting (SMM)

 

Hello WO, WR and WS,  
 

The Executive Board of CUPE Local 4070 is giving notice for a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) as per Section 5(b) of the Bylaws. Please be advised: 

DATE: July 4th, 2023 

TIME: 0900PT/1000MT/1200ET  

LOCATION: Virtually via Microsoft Teams. 

SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED: To establish a temporary Committee named “The Swoop Integration Advisory Committee” and to approve new Members into Good Standing. 
 
AGENDA: 
1. Approving new Members to be Members in Good Standing 
2. Approval for the setup of a committee; Swoop Integration Advisory Committee. 

Please see complete agenda HERE 

SIGN UP HERE: Open to Members in Good Standing and Members who applied to be a Member in Good Standing. 

If you are not a Member in Good Standing, as per Bylaws Section 3, and wish to apply, please fill out the application form here by July 3rd, 1200PT/1300MT/1500ET. (If you have not paid the initiation fee, that will be required as well, which is $5) 

If you do not know if you are a Member in Good Standing, please contact your Base Vice President here. 

**Please note when you log into the meeting, your full name and employee number must be visible.  If it is not visible, we do not know who you are and you will not be let into the meeting. ** 

Please be patient as it can take several minutes to verify and admit everyone into the meeting.

For example, WestJet Members: 

WS 29902 Bryan Hansraj 

For example, Encore Members: 

WR 32168 Adrian Dayrit  

For example, Swoop Members: 

WO 800278 Sherrie Moore 

QUORUM: Your attendance is pivotal to decision making at our local. Quorum is the required number of attendees so that the meeting can take place. Quorum at Local 4070 per the Bylaws, is a minimum of 40 members plus at least two members of the Exectutive Board.  

Q & A

Please review the Q & A below. There will be more information shared at the SMM. As well as an opportunity for discussion on the Committee. 

Why such short notice for an SMM? 

The Union has been advised by the Company that they would like to start the integration as soon as late July or early August. This means contractual details need to settled in an expeditious manner.  

Additionally, the Bylaws share that the local needs to give the membership 24 hours notice of an SMM.  We are getting this out to the Members ASAP to allow for more notice. We remain committed to sharing details as soon as they become available, so we have been working around the clock to sort out what the Company's plans are and working to determine the best course of action on behalf of the impacted groups.  

Can we discuss other things on the agenda?  

A Special Membership Meeting (SMM) can only discuss what is on the agenda as per the Bylaws. There can be no other new business added. if you would like to have a broader discussion, please attend the Townhall meeting scheduled for the next day (July 5th). Please sign up here. 
(Questions can be submitted in that link as well, to be answered during the Townhall)

What is the role of the “Advisory Committee”? 

The Executive Board is committed to having the Memberships consultation on this matter as this is a significant moment in history for our WO Membership, the closing of Swoop. The Committee's scope will be to advise the Executive Board on matters related to their integration into WS.
Ex. vacation remaining, sick days, rates of pay, and other important rights afforded to them under the WO Collective Agreement. 

Will this Advisory Committee deal with the issue of seniority? 

No. The issue of seniority is a much larger conversation that is not decided by one Unit. The Union is working on the matter of seniority and will advise the Membership of its next steps once we have established what our plan of action on this matter is. We recognize and understand the importance of seniority to all groups and are committed to giving the subject matter the attention it deserves as a stand-alone item.   

What happens if we don’t establish quorum?  

If we do not establish quorum, the Local will then move to an appointment process of the Advisory Committee, as this committee is essential to ensure our WO Members’ voice is included in the process of their integration into WS.  

The Board firmly believes WO’s input is essential when integrating and believes the WO Membership should be able to vote on who represents their interests. However, if we are unable to establish this at an SMM, the President can stand up a committee and appoint. This is supported the language in CUPE National Constitution B.3.1. 

In a continued effort to engage our WO Members input, we will email our WO Members advising them of an opportunity to participate in the Committee. The Members may then fill out an expression of interest and the appointment will be done by a randomized draw process. More details to follow.  It is our preference to go the election route rather than appointment. 

On behalf of your Local 4070 Executives:

CUPE 4070 President, Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 Vice President, Tyson Conrod
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj