Collective Agreements

Your collective agreement sets out your rights and responsibilities at work. If you have any concerns about your treatment, please talk to your steward or a member of the executive. 2023-2025 CUPE 251 Inside Collective Agreement Collective Agreement

Member in Good Standing

There is a distinction between being a dues paying member and being a member in good standing:

Dues paying member:
Everyone under the scope of a CUPE Local 251 Collective Agreement is a dues paying member. Dues are collected off each pay cheque. This allows members access to the grievance process, all your rights under the Collective Agreement, and the right to vote in strike and ratification votes.

Member in good standing:
A member in good standing is equally entitled to the rights noted above with the addition of being eligible to run for union positions (executive, steward, committee, etc.) to vote in local elections, budgets, by-laws, and motions made at the general membership meetings (GMMs).

There are four steps to the process of becoming a member in good standing:

Member must fill out and sign a member_in_good_standing_application_form_2019_251
– Submissions can be made through interoffice mail (please note a delay may occur) to: Christine Chase, Planning Services, City Hall.
– Submissions can also be made by email to membershiplocal251@gmail.com
Membership must approve the application at a General Membership Meeting.
Member must take oath of membership given by a steward or executive officer upon approval at General Membership Meeting.

Once all these steps have taken place, you will be a member in good standing.

Further information can be viewed here: what_is_a_member_in_good_standing_guide_2019

Bylaws

Our bylaw set out the rules for how our local democratically elects our representatives, and how it is run.

This Bylaw is presently under review… please visit at a later date.

Benefits

Pension Plan – The City Pension plan is through OMERS.
Please note, as of January 1st 2023 Part Time and Temporary Employees are now eligible to contribute after setting up an account by contacting Human Resource Services.

Retiree Benefits Plan – can be obtained by contacting Human Resource Services.

Benefits Provider and Plans – Our Benefits provider is currently Medavie Blue Cross. For more information please go to our Employee Intranet iConnect page.
iConnect -> My Employment -> Benefits
Due to a known technical glitch through the external website provider, you will need to bypass the initial screen and click “Login with your Oshawa.ca account. Then provide your valid city account information.

Additionally to make non-automatic submissions easier, their app can be installed on smartphones by searching and installing the “Blue Cross ” app through the various smartphone playstores.

Members’ Benefits Benevolent Fund

The Members’ Benefits Benevolent Fund is administered by Local 251. Sometimes a CUPE Local 251 member faces a life event that qualifies for financial assistance/gift from the union.

Union Member – If ill for more than ten (10) working days,

Fruit basket, flowers or other suitable remembrance, not to exceed $125.00 in value.

Death of immediate family member:

Parent, Step-parent, Spouse, Child, Step-child, Brother, Sister, Grandchild, Grandparent, Son-in-law, Daughter-in-law, Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law, Parent-in-law, Legal Guardian, Aunt and Uncle.
Flowers shall be sent or a donation made to a charity on their behalf – not to exceed $125.00 in value.

Retirement:

After 10 years of service, $150.00 and $15.00 per year for every year of service thereafter to a maximum of $500.00.

Please let us know if a CUPE member has had a life event, by completing the form.
All requests must be submitted no later than, two (2) months after the life event has occurred.

First and last name of the union member

First and last name of the person submitting this request

Email address of requestor

What life event has occurred?
Member IllDeathRetirement

For death, provide date of death, relationship to the member, and the name of the person who passed. Include details of the visitation or funeral/celebration of life.

For death, please select one of the following:
Send Floral TributeSend Charitable Monetary Donation

For floral arrangements, please provide the complete mailing address of either the member's home or the funeral home. Please also include a telephone number for the union member or funeral home, as the florist may contact for delivery purposes.

For charitable donations, please provide the name of the charity and the member's complete mailing address.

For retirements, please provide the last working day for the member.

Is there a retirement party? Please provide details. If no party, please provide the mailing address of the person retiring in the additional information box below.

Additional Information - is anything missing? If there are no further details, please just enter N/A.

Elections

All positions in the union are voted. Reminder, only members in good standing may run, nominate or vote.

Nominations (November) and Elections (December) for Union Positions take place every year in the following order.

EVEN numbered years:

President
Recording Secretary
Tyler
Job Evaluation Committee Assistant Chairperson
Health and Saftey Committee:
- - - A – COD,
    - D – Northview Community Centre,
    - D – Civic Auditorium
    - D – Donevan Community Centre
    - D – Delpark Homes Centre
Trustees

ODD numbered years

Vice President
Treasurer
Benevolent Committee
Job Evaluation Committee Assistant Chair
Health and Safety Committee:
1. 1. - A – Animal Services – Farewell Ave
    - B – City Hall
    - B – Oshawa Senior Citizen Centre – John St
    - B- Oshawa Senior Citizen Centre – Conant
    - D – South Oshawa Community Centre and other OSCC locations
    - G – MLELS