Executive and Stewards
Role of a Local Union Executive:
The local union executive is responsible for the leadership and administration of the local. The “job” of all local union leaders is to advance the interests of the local union members. The best run locals are those that successfully advance the interests of their membership within a culture of problem solving.
Unions represent their members by negotiating collective agreements and by lobbying governments to improve laws that affect the membership. Unions also represent their members by ensuring that employers do not violate their collective agreements or laws (health and safety, human rights, etc.) that affect the members.
Unions are organizations where the members work together to solve problems. It is the job of the executive to coordinate these activities, and to ensure that the members have adequate information, advice and funds to deal effectively with workplace problems and concerns.
President - Deryk Fournier, Union Office
Vice President - Kristy Sunderland, INOPS, Central Support
Grievance Chair - Dana Vacek, Parks North
Secretary Treasurer - Tiia Liigvald, TBDSSAB
Secretary - Lindsey Zurevinski, Child Care
Schedule A Negotiations - Pat Cholin, Corporate Information Technology
Schedule B Negotiations - Hunter Tollefsen, Parks North
Health & Safety Chair - Mike Otway, Development Services
STD/LTD/WSIB Chair - Jodi Martinsen, CIT
Social Chair - Ashley Zurevinski, Child Care
Health & Wellness Chair - Cosimo Crupi, Water Treatment Plant
Bylaws/Research - Michelle Cousineau, Court Services
Negotiation Chair (TBDSSAB)- Jackie Livingston, TBDSSAB
Membership Chair - Christ Millington, Pioneer Ridge
If you are interested in participating in the executive, committees and to become a stewards please contact (807) 345-9511 or at cupe87secretary@tbaytel.net.
What We Do
We’re clerks, day care workers, building inspectors, social workers, roads workers, sewer & water workers, equipment operators, computer operators, planners, programmers, cashiers, property agents, engineering fieldstaff, and janitor handy-persons.
Local 87 and the Labour Movement
Cupe Local 87 is affiliated with the Thunder Bay Civic Workers Council, Thunder Bay and District Labour Council (TBDLC), the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). These labour bodies are the unified voice of affiliated public and private sector unions and include such unions as CUPE, the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), the Steelworkers of America and many more.
If you have any questions regarding Union Activities, visit this site, talk to your Shop Steward, or call the Union Office at 345-9511.
How Does CUPE 87 Work….
The General Membership Meeting
Our elected leadership reports to our regularly scheduled General Membership Meeting held on the third Wednesday of each month.
Our meetings are held both in person at 1126 Roland Street and virtually, please call the office for a meeting invitation if wanting to join virtually
Check back on this website or on your bulletin boards for announcements of meetings.
Elections
Every two years, the members of Local 87 elect their President.
Every year, the members of Local 87 elect their Executive Board and committees.
The Executive Board
On a day-to-day basis, Local 87 is administered by the Executive Board, made up of the four highest-ranking officers of the Executive:
the President,
the Vice President,
the Recording Secretary, and
the Secretary Treasurer.
The Executive Committee
This group, which includes the Executive Board and the Chairpersons of the Negotiating, Grievance, Health and Safety, Bylaw, Control Clerk, Research, Sick & Welfare, Entertainment, WSIB/STD/LTD and the Sergeant-at-Arms, meets at least once a month, on the second Wednesday of the month to formulate union policy.
Shop Stewards
Bargaining for our collective agreements is at the heart of Local 87’s work, but our agreements are only as good as your willingness to stand up for your rights and our determination to support you in enforcing the provisions in the contract.
Our stewards volunteer their time to keep you informed and to help you see that management follows the rules.
Our stewards meet monthly to share information and to develop common strategies.
Committees
Local 87’s many volunteer Committee members give hours of their own time to work on specialized issues, including education, health and safety, pensions and social events.
If you’d like to know more about our committees, write us or call the Union Office at 345-9511.
Equality statement
Union solidarity is based on the principle that union members are equal and deserve mutual respect at all levels. Any behaviour that creates conflict prevents us from working together to strengthen our union.
As unionists, mutual respect, cooperation and understanding are our goals. We should neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or self-esteem of any individual or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Discriminatory speech or conduct which is racist, sexist, transphobic or homophobic hurts and thereby divides us. So too, does discrimination on the basis of ability, age, class, religion, language and ethnic origin.
Sometimes discrimination takes the form of harassment. Harassment means using real or perceived power to abuse, devalue or humiliate. Harassment should not be treated as a joke. The uneasiness and resentment that it creates are not feelings that help us grow as a union.
Discrimination and harassment focus on characteristics that make us different; and they reduce our capacity to work together on shared concerns such as decent wages, safe working conditions, and justice in the workplace, society and in our union.
CUPE’s policies and practices must reflect our commitment to equality. Members, staff and elected officers must be mindful that all persons deserve dignity, equality and respect.