CUPE 389

President’s Report – January 2025 AGM

President’s Report – January 2025 AGM

As we look back at what an amazing year we have had in 2024, I am proud of what we have accomplished together. This year has truly been a testament to the strength and solidarity of you, the members of our union. Here are some of things we’ve achieved this year.

Firstly, we signed new deals for 6 of our expired contracts this past year. These agreements represent the hard work and commitment of each member of these units and the strength they bring to our union. To everyone on the bargaining committees who were involved in these negotiations, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your dedication and perseverance.

Another major milestone was achieving wage parity for the hardworking staff at Northlands Golf Course. This achievement is a powerful example of our ongoing fight for fairness and equity in the workplace. It’s a victory that was 20 years in the making, and reminds us of what we can achieve when we stand united.

Another highlight was the comeback of the Children’s Christmas Party. After a hiatus, this cherished event returned stronger than ever, bringing smiles and holiday cheer to the children of our members. To all the volunteers and organizers who made this possible, thank you for making such a meaningful impact.

Even though we have had some success in the past year, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to continue to work on better language for our temporary and auxiliary members, the ongoing violence our members face in their schools and adjusting our wages to be a little more comparable to our neighbouring municipalities just to name a few things.

This year, we also introduced The 389 Open House, The Pro D lunch, and the Christmas Pancake breakfast, all events to engage and connect with our members. These events were a great success and will be even better in the years to come.

Looking ahead to 2025, I want to share some important dates and reminders:

-Our next membership meeting is on Saturday February 22nd. This meeting will also be in person, and we will be holding our Officer elections. Please make sure to attend and participate in this important process.

– A retirement seminar will be held on March 29 in the union office. If you are interested in attending, please call the union office to add your name to the list.

– We are always looking for new Shop Stewards. If you are interested in becoming a shop steward this year, please let your union rep know or call the office and speak to Taylor. She will take down your information and sign you up for training.

– On April 2, we will be holding a shop steward meeting via Zoom. More information will be coming soon.

Quick bargaining update:
We are actively preparing and will be serving notice to the employers for bargaining in mid to late February. Negotiations will start with the City and District, followed by the libraries, recreation commission, and then our smaller units.

Lastly, I want to thank the executive and all the 389 committees for all their hard work and dedication to our union.

And to our members, Thank you for your trust, and your support. As we move into 2025, let us continue to build on this momentum. Together, we can tackle new challenges, seize new opportunities, and achieve even greater successes.

Thank you.

In Solidarity,

Tony Volpe

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