Representing Non-Academic Administrative, Professional and Technical Employees at McMaster University and Regional Medical Associates

September 2015 Volume 2, Issue 15

Unifor5555United Way, Truth, Strong Local Unions, AGM,

Syrian Refugee Crisis, Report on Labour

United WayThank you for taking the time to read this latest edition of our Unifor Local 5555 Newsletter. As we all know September is a very busy time for all of us who work in the University Sector. Fall brings with it not only the start of classes, but also the kickoff of the annual United Way campaign. I have had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton in the past, and this year I have the honour of serving on the combined Hamilton and Burlington campaign cabinet for the 2015 campaign.

As the Union representing support staff at McMaster University we advocate for people on various workplace issues on a daily basis, but there are some issues that happen beyond the doors of the workplace:

• Theseniorcitizenwhoisfacingincreasingisolation • Thechilddealingwithlearningdisabilities,anxietiesorbullying • Theworkingmotherwhoneedsasafeplaceforherchildtogotoafterschool

Faced with such problems, where do we turn?

Last year 163,000 people in our community turned to one or more of the 119 United Way funded programs being delivered by 65 community agencies. There’s a good chance maybe you or someone you know has benefitted from the many programs United Way partner agencies run in our community.

Only with your generous support is the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton able to give hope and opportunity to individuals and families in our communities.

Forexampleforadonationofroughly$4aweek,orabout$200peryear--oraboutthecostofalatteaweeka community agency could provide a senior with the opportunity to remain engaged in the community, socializewiththeirpeerswhileparticipatinginphysicalandrecreationalactivitiesthatenhancetheirphysi-cal and mental health, thus preventing social isolation. That’s a major positive impact!

Our McMaster campaign will kick off in early October, please consider taking the time participate in one of the United Way events here on campus, and if you are able please give generously and together we can make a difference in our community.

In Solidarity,

Matt RootPresident, Unifor Local 5555

As the Health and Safety Coordinator / Return to Work Specialist for Unifor 5555, I thought I would draft an article on the matter of “Truth” and how that can affect out interactions with Benefit providers.

First let me say that I know that most people are honest and forthright and do tell the truth generally. Thatsaid,therearetimesthatweallarenotexactlytruthful for various reasons. We will tell white lies to protectsomeone’spride,self-imageortoshieldthemfrom something unpleasant. If we are good people we will occasionally have a need to not be truthful. As aneverydayexamplewhenwemeetwithacasualacquaintance in the hall and are asked, “How are you?” most of us will reply “I am fine!”, and leave it at that, rather than regale the person with a barrage of all that may not be right in our day or our lives. It is the truth; if all is fine; a social white lie if we are not, but anexpectedsocialnormgenerally.

Now when it comes to benefit matters, these kinds of following the social norm can backfire on us if we are not careful. Benefit Case Managers are looking for any reason to deny benefit coverage to you if they can find a cause. It is not that they are bad people it is that they have a job to do as gate keepers to the benefit program. When dealing with the Benefit Case Managers is not the time to stick to the social norm so rigidly. If you are not fine you need to be forth right about it. You are requesting access to a benefit for a reason and it is generally because you are not “fine”. There are regular occurrences where members fail

to convey the true nature of their need because they are following the social norm as described or they do not want to paint a negative or unpleasant picture or be seen as complaining to this stranger who controls access to the benefits. Sometimes a member may be a bit in denial about their condition and do not want to accept the full implications of their condition. And that is okay as long as that does not result in a denial of benefits that the member actually has legitimate need for.

I have had members denied coverage because they had put a good face on their situation that was not really representative of the truth of the situation. Or they made an offhand comment that has given the Case Manager pause to grant the benefit coverage. It is imperative, at all times, with Case Managers to be forthright and completely honest about the situation. Never lie, but never soft peddle the situation either! Keep comments on topic and always tell the truth and hopefully you will not give them the faintest reason to deny you coverage. The social norms and our best optimistic hopes aside, the time to adhere to the social norms is not when requesting benefit coverage-ever.

In Solidarity,

Jim McAndrewHealth & Safety Coordinator/Return to Work SpecialistUnifor 5555

THE SIMPLE TRUTH

STRONG LOCAL UNIONS

Unifor National President Jerry Dias has announced that Unifor’s Local Union Task Force is ready to proceed and Town Hall meetings in local communities on building strong local unions are now being scheduled in 2015 and 2016. The Local Union Task Force is a union wide initiative to engage Local Unions and members to assess the needs of members in Local Unions and make recommendations to build stronger Local Unions with stronger membership engagement.

Join the discussion! The discussion paper for the Task Force, “Building Stronger Local Unions Together: Reaching Our Full Potential”, is now available. The discussion paper raises key issues about the challenges we face in building strong, community and industry based Local Unions. Members of Unifor are invited to join in a discussion about the issues raised in the discussion paper on the Unifor Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/UniforCanada.

Tell us your views! The Unifor Member Survey is for any member of Unifor to provide their views on their Local Union and the services provided by Unifor. We want to hear from you. Please fill out the member survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=aIWbmtG%2bNIukd3hRRMX01A45qrGlKNKFTS1WxcKSXBg%3d

The discussion paper for the Task Force, “Building Stronger Local Unions Together: Reaching Our Full Potential”, raises key issues about the challenges we face in building strong, community and industry based Local Unions. Download the report here: http://www.unifor.org/sites/default/files/documents/document/lutf_eng_report.pdf

NOTICE OF ALL UNITS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Date: Wednesday 30 September 2015Room: CIBC Hall, 3rd Floor MUSC Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 11:45 a.m.)For: All Units of Unifor Local 5555 (Units 1, 2, 3 and 4)

The agenda and other supporting documents will be emailed and posted on the website five working days prior to the date of the meeting.

Food and beverage at the General Membership Meeting will be provided for 100 members.

Your Union Identification Card (or alternate identification) is required.

Members not working on the central university campus may contact Donna White in the Local 5555 administration officebyphoneat289-389-4860x4orviaemailatregistration@unifor5555.ca no later than Monday 21 September to arrange for parking vouchers and/ortaxichits.Westronglyencouragealloff-campusmemberstocarpooland/orsharetaxis.

The Local will again be hosting a toonie drive in support of Hamilton Food Share at this meeting. Members are encouraged to bring a cash donation of a toonie in support of Hamilton Food Share. This will be our only General Membership Meeting prior to Thanksgiving.

New incentive for members will be introduced at this meeting.Three$10coffeeshopgiftcardswillberaffledoff amongst members still in attendance at the end of the meeting.Comeouttothemeeting,pickuparaffleticketon your way in, and see if your solidarity pays off!

RESPONDING TO THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

Dear friends:

Many of us are eager to respond to the refugee crisis in Syria with humanity and generosity. I am writing to tell you what your union is doing and to encourage you to also do what you can.

Unifor, through our Social Justice Fund, and the funds of the National Union, is partnering with a Canadian settlementorganizationtofundtheresettlementoffiveSyrianfamilies.

OurSocialJusticeFundisalsomakingadonationof$160,000totheCanadianarmoftheUNHCR,theUNRefugee Agency, to provide desperately needed support to Syrian refugees living in Jordan.

Finally, the National Union will be working with Locals around the country to raise further funds so we can assist more Syrian refugees.

I encourage you to also consider making donations to the UNHCR or to Lifeline Syria.

Of course, in addition to raising urgently needed funds to support the Syrian refugees, we also need to call on our government to take immediate action to receive Syrian refugees and reform our system so that is effective, efficient and consistent with Canadian values.

In solidarity,

Jerry DiasNational President

Our Sincere Condolences go out to the family of Arthur Yeas. Arthur worked as Horticulturist and Greenhouse Technician in the Biology Department for McMaster University. For the last 38 years, his work at the university has included supervision of student placements, contributing to the greenhouse website, and participating in tours for Let’s Talk Science and Environmental Wellness Week. Arthur also helped to establish partnerships with the Niagara Parks Commission Floral Show House and the Toronto Zoo. Inconjunction with his tenure, Arthur moved to purchase unique plants which lead to heavy media and visitor attention during blooming time. With over1,400visitorsduringthistime,thegreenhousesawanincredibleincreaseindonationswhichhashelpedthem to maintain and obtain more of these rare plants. In recognition of his contributions to McMaster University,ArthurreceivedthePresident’sAwardforOutstandingServicein2014.Arthur will be sadly missed by his colleagues, friends, and family. photo credit Andrew Baulcomb

Report On Labour: How Unions Are Lifting The Living

Standards For Every Worker

The September 3rd, 2015 edition of the Toronto Star contained a special Labour Day supplement on unions. The special section was called “Report On Labour: How Unions Are Lifting The Living Standards For Every Worker” and was delivered in all 250,000 copies of the Toronto Star newspaper to homes, businesses, coffee shops, corner stores andcurbsideboxes.ItisoneofthepowerfulwaystheOntarioFederationofLabouranditsaffiliatesarebringing our message directly to the public.

Theop-edfromPresidentSidRyanisdirectlyinspiredbytheCLC’s“TimeforChange”campaignandcallsonunion members to join forces with precarious workers, retirees and community members to build a new kind of movement and fight for the change we want.

“Positive change cannot start until we elect a government that will listen to voters, promote equity and foster an economy that provides opportunities for everyone,” said Ryan. “For those who aspire to a better Canada, the NDP are clearly the better choice.”

This supplement also features special articles and advertisements from CUPE, OECTA, OSSTF, Power Workers’ Union, SEIU Healthcare, UA Canada and United Steelworkers.

Clickherehttp://media.wix.com/ugd/47d73a_f4b86ed3f53c4a2b8cac277e48914c70.pdftoreadthefullsupplement online and help spread the word by sharing it on social media.

Ask your candidate what they will do to create good jobs!

LABOUR DAY 2015

This year’s Labour Day Parade & Picnic put on by the Hamilton and District Labour Council, started at York Boulevard and Queen Street. The parade wound its way along Main and then back up to Dundurn Park, where the parade wrapped up with a picnic. While it was a hot day with a heat warning, the local union activists and others still paraded through Hamilton and enjoyed the picnic festivities afterwards.

Wednesday 23 September 201512:00 noon – 2:00 pmNew Member Union OrientationFor new members who have not yet attended a union orientation sessionUnifor 5555 Administration Office, #11–45FridStreet

Saturday 26 September 2015Spirits, Wine and Shopping Bus TourStops at Dillon’s Distillery, Chocolate FX, Niagara College Teaching Brewery and WineryPlusshoppingatNiagara-on-the-LakeEVENT SOLD OUT!

Wednesday 30 September 201512:00 noon – 1:00 pmAll Units General Membership MeetingCIBC Hall, 3rd floor MUSC

Wednesday 7 October 201512:30 pm – 1:30 pmUnion Update meetingFor members working at the General Hospi-tal and the David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research InstituteHGH Theatre Auditorium

Wednesday 21 October 201512:30 pm – 1:30 pmUnion Update meetingFor members working in the McMaster University Medical Centre/McMaster’s Health Sciences CentreMUMC-1A5

Wednesday 4 November 201512:30 pm – 1:30 pmUnion Update meetingFor members working at McMaster Innovation Park and at the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre MIP, Meeting Room 2

Wednesday 18 November 201512:30 pm – 1:30 pmUnion Update meetingFor members working at the Ron Joyce Centre in BurlingtonRJC, Room TBA

Wednesday 2 December 201512:30 pm – 1:30 pmUnion Update meetingFor members working at 1 James Street NorthOJN, Room 206

Note: Dates, times and/or locations of events are subject to change without notice. Watch your emails or this e-newsflyer for notices of events or changes. Contact info@unifor5555.ca to check on status of events and/or to rsvp your attendance.

Eventually all of the pieces fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion,

live for the moment, and come to the next Local event!