Dear CUPE 1004 members,
We are very disappointed to have to let you know that the election process is being suspended for the time being.
As we prepared to launch a vote next week, and were following our due diligence to ensure that the Local’s bylaws and National Constitution were being followed, we determined that the membership list as it currently exists has deficiencies that need to be corrected before we are able to proceed. Specifically, the ability to identify members in good standing and to appropriately apply the bylaws to those who remain on the list but perhaps are not members under the bylaws.
I will explain a bit about each of these elements.
Members in Good Standing
You can find a good explanation of what it means to be a member in good standing in the linked PDF from the National Union here: Are you a member in good standing?. Many members meet this qualification by signing a membership card upon starting their position with one of the CUPE 1004 employers. However, it has come to our attention that the current membership list includes people who have never signed such a card or filled out a membership application.
As noted in the attachment, being a member is good standing is required for democratic participation—including running or voting in elections—and those who are not members in good standing may not participate. Before proceeding with the election, we must be sure that everyone has a reasonable opportunity to become a member in good standing so the vote can be as representative as possible.
Definition of Membership
The Local has a number of different units, and within each of these, many different classifications of work, including numerous temporary, casual, seasonal, and other non-regular employees. The definition of membership in the bylaws and under the National Constitution is inclusive of those who may not be working currently, but have an ongoing expectation of work that can be asserted and defended by the union. The current membership list is inclusive of some that may not meet this criteria, and care needs to be taken to neither disenfranchise or deny anyone who should have the right to vote, and equally, to not extend voting rights to those who the bylaws do not deem members.
Past practice, as we understand it, has been to simply provide voting access to anyone who has worked in the past year; however, this does not align with what your bylaws require. Resolving this requires the utmost respect to detail and we want to ensure no decisions on this are rushed.
Moving Forward
In moving forward, we want to both take great care to ensure that the vote is inclusive, that the National Constitution and Bylaws are followed to the very best of our ability, and to ensure that any issues are corrected through better systems you can use into the future. We regret deeply and apologize that there is a delay, and that we weren’t better able to identify these issues earlier. Our hope is that the outstanding issues can be addressed in weeks, and not months, and we will update you as the process moves forward.
In Solidarity,
Rob Limongelli, CUPE Local 1004 Administrator