ZOOM GMM highlights for May 2020

General Membership meeting minutes from our local meetings on Wednesday May 6th & Friday May 15th, 2020

WEDNESDAY MAY 6th, 2020

Michael McKeown called the meeting to order at 11:10

A quorum was reached and 310 members were in attendance via zoom.

 

President Mike McKeown:

  • The reason for this meeting is to discuss a proposal from the College Council to OPSEU regarding layoffs and mitigation across the province
  • We have been asked to hold a vote in accordance with our Divisional procedures to allow the team to enter into talks with Council
  • Entering into these discussions does not mean that there will be lay-offs at Durham but the result of an agreement if met, could go a long way to further protecting our rights and jobs
  • The vote is only about authorizing a team to have discussions with the Provincial College Council about reducing the impact of layoffs province wide: should they come
  • Judy will send out a Surveymonkey at the end of this meeting to allow you to vote

 

  • The question will be:

“Should a delegation from our Bargaining Team / EERC accept the invitation from Council to discuss a short-term, temporary layoff process in return for enhanced entitlements for the laid off employees?”

 

  • The results of the vote will be sent out once tallied
  • Votes will take place at all 23 Sister Colleges and compiled before distribution

 

FRIDAY MAY 16TH, 2020

Michael McKeown called the meeting to order at 10:10

A quorum was reached and 201 members were in attendance via zoom.

 

President Mike McKeown:

  • Welcome everyone and thank-you for joining
  • I have invited Rashid Dashid, Janice Hagan and Sarah Labelle to join our meeting
  • The reason for this meeting is to re-assure our Full-Time members during these trying times
  • A document from College Council regarding furloughs was leaked and that document may have caused concern for some of our members
  • At Durham College we are not entering into any furlough agreements
  • The Executive have spoken to Jennifer Cosway in Human Resources and they are not considering this
  • Layoffs for Full Time support members at Durham College are not anticipated at this time
  • Some redeployments may be necessary

Janice Hagan:

  • OPSEU felt that some Locals may want a furlough agreement and went ahead anyway after we voted “no” on entering into a discussion with College Council
  • We were disappointed with this action and have written a letter demanding an investigation and full disclosure
  • Question: in the future could we vote on a furlough agreement?
    • Yes – with a vote
  • Question: When did you find out about the leaked document?
    • Wednesday May 13th at 7:00 pm
    • We spent 24 hours going through it
    • If we entered into furlough, that would remove Article 15
  • Question: If you are on maternity/parental leave, do you still return to the same or similar position?
    • Yes – please work with your Manager regarding this

Sarah Labelle:

  • We are here to support the Local Presidents and the Division and we will get through this together

 

Mike:  Thanks again for joining the meeting and we will let you know as soon as we know anything that could affect our members

Adjournment @11:00 am