Call for Representatives – Regional Stewards and Health and Safety Committee Members

Are you interested in being more involved with your union? CUPE 8911 is looking to strengthen its regional representation by training more stewards and occupational health and safety representatives. If you are passionate and want to join the fight to improve working conditions for everyone in our workplaces, there’s no better time than now to get involved!

Stewards are union members who have received training to represent and defend the interests of other members in the workplace, sometimes through the grievance process. They enforce the provisions of our collective agreement in the workplace, share official union news and information, and promote union values in the workplace. A steward’s role is to watch and listen to what is happening in your workplace on behalf of all CUPE members.  Each clause in the collective agreement comes from negotiations with the employer, and every single clause is important.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee Members play a vital role in preventing work-related injuries and diseases. Members attend meetings with management representatives to address health and safety concerns in the workplace. The joint committee identifies and evaluates concerns, makes recommendations for corrective action, and promotes health and safety in the workplace to reduce accidents and injuries. All committee members are entitled to eight hours of leave per year to attend occupational health and safety training.

If you have any questions, please reach out to executive@ecpbc.ca

b. Where there are not Regional Stewards or Regional Health and Safety Representatives, the President, in consultation with the relevant Regional Vice-President, is authorized to appoint one (1) or more willing members as Steward or Health and Safety Representative until such a time as Elections can be held. The term of office for any position filled through an appointment will be the term that the vacated position was initially elected to fulfil.Per Section 13.2 of our Bylaws: Duties of Regional Stewards
A Regional Steward shall:
a. Report to the Regional Vice-President for their Region.
b. Assist and educate members about the Collective Agreement and the Union’s role in the workplace.
c. Assist members with day-to-day workplace issues and complaints.
d. Document and report workplace issues to the Regional Vice-President.
e. Investigate and gather information for grievances in coordination with the Regional Vice-President.
f. Attend and support members at grievance meetings.
g. Represent members at investigation, and other Employer initiated meetings.
h. Take education courses as requested by the Vice-President or Executive Board.
i. Attend General Membership meetings and Regional Membership meetings.
j. Be knowledgeable about the Collective Agreement, the Local Union’s bylaws, and the CUPE Constitution and work for their enforcement on the job.
k. Perform other duties as required in coordination with the Regional Vice-President and Executive Board.
l. Represent all members fairly and respect members’ right to privacy.

Per Section 14.1 of our Bylaws: Duties of Regional Occupational Health and Safety Representatives 
An Occupational Health and Safety Representative shall:
a. Be a member of the Health and Safety Committee and be a Workers Health and Safety Representative in accordance with the Workers Compensation Act.
b. Work to educate members on the importance of workplace health and safety.
c. Participate in the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC) at their workplace.
d. Ensure that the worker representatives on the JOHSC meet separately from the Employer to prepare for meetings with the Employer.
e. Promote safe work procedures and environments to prevent illness and injury as a result of workplace factors.
f. Immediately bring to the attention of the Employer any workplace hazard that has the potential to cause members’ illness or injury.
g. Work to eliminate all workplace hazards, be they physical, environmental, psychological, or social.
h. Encourage preventative action and policies.
i. Advocate for the wellbeing of members in occupational health and safety, physical and psychological safety, wellness, and other related duties.
j. Perform other duties as required by the Executive Board.