Meet Your 2021-2022 Urban & RSMC Operations Bargaining Committee members

The National Executive Board has appointed the Negotiation Committee members who will represent the Urban Unit during the 2021–2022 round of negotiations. The five members, which include a technical aid, will be joining Sister Lana Smidt, recently appointed Chief Negotiator for the Urban Operations bargaining unit, bringing diversity and a wealth of experience. Carl Girouard, the National Grievance Officer, in accordance with the National Constitution will act as technical consultant.

GISELE MILLER

Gisele has been a union representative for the Ontario Region since April 2017 and has been working in the grievance environment for many years. She began her career at Canada Post in 1999, in Hamilton, as a Group 1 employee. She later changed classifications and groups when she became a letter carrier. As such, she has great knowledge of the work CUPW’s members do. Over time, she has held several union positions, been involved in a pilot project, taken part in consultations with management, and defended grievances before the employer and in arbitration for both the Urban and RSMC units.

Gisele is a highly organized individual. She prides herself in being well prepared and spares no effort to defend the rights of the members in her region. This may be her first role at CUPW’s national bargaining table, but the experience she has acquired over the years truly qualifies her for this new position.

ANNY LESAGE

Anny was hired by Canada Post in 1997 and became involved in the union towards the end of the 2000s. In 2011, she was elected for the first time as union representative for the Metro-Montreal Region. She served two terms in that capacity, before being elected as Regional Grievance Officer in 2019. She is well versed in grievances. Some talents that make Anny particularly suited for her new position are her research skills, her ability to always find the right words, and her expertise in building a solid case to argue the merits of the grievances.

Because she is level-headed and discreet, Anny takes time to think matters over and prepare herself for any contingency. She is very respectful of other people’s opinions and is constantly seeking solutions. Although this may be her first role with the National Bargaining Committee, her background has provided her with the necessary tools to fight for the members.

JIM GALLANT

Jim, who is also joining the Urban Operations Negotiation Committee for the first time, brings a solid experience in bargaining, which he acquired with private sector units.

He has been involved in 11 rounds of private sector negotiation, written contractual language and ensured these newly negotiated rights are respected by the employers.

Jim knows how to prepare and argue regular and formal cases at arbitration and has a thorough understanding of the current collective agreements. Jim was hired by Canada Post 33 years ago. He has held positions with the Atlantic Regional office for 13 years, the past 11 as Regional Grievance Officer. Because of his experience, both with the union and on the work floor, he knows the members’ job descriptions inside out and the duties they perform daily. Jim’s very diverse expertise will serve the Negotiation Committee well.

JORDAN FORDE

Jordan has worked at one of the country’s largest mail processing plants, Gateway, for the past 10 years. He was a steward for seven years, before taking on the role of lead steward. In these roles, he has conducted many grievance investigations and level 1 hearings, and has participated in many consultations.

Jordan is well versed in legal language. He has an Honours degree from the University of Waterloo in Legal Studies, with a minor in Sociology. He has participated in mock trials, is familiar with legal proceedings, and has worked as a legal assistant in a Criminal Law Office.

He has been the chair of the Toronto Local Youth Committee for three years, and is driven to get younger members involved in the Union. He understands the importance of building activists to ensure our voices are heard in the years to come. Although, this will be Jordan’s first time on the National Bargaining Committee, his experience and passion for worker rights will serve the committee well.

Technical aid to the bargaining committees: RONA ECKERT

Since 2011, as a National Union Representative assigned to Consultation, Rona meets with the employer weekly to discuss issues at consultation. She is very responsive to issues that arise when these changes are implemented, including new and modified procedures and she is used to communicating important and sensitive information through the appropriate channels of the Union. Always well organized and prepared, Rona is able to find the necessary documentation to defend her point and defend members’ interests. Thanks to her in-depth knowledge of national issues, she has had the opportunity to serve as witness in many national grievance procedures and help those in charge of national grievances.

Rona brings 33 years of experience acquired in the workplace and in many union positions at all CUPW levels. This past and recent experience will be an invaluable asset to the Negotiation Committee in her role as technical aid.

We are convinced that Sisters Anny, Gisele and Rona, and Brothers Jim and Jordan will make us all proud at the bargaining table. They can certainly count on our support.

Congratulations on their appointments to the committee!

Support your negotiating committee. Attend ratification meetings for the program of demands. Support any actions by the National or local to let the employer know that you support your negotiating committee and the members’ demands.

In Solidarity!

The National Executive Board has appointed its Rural and Suburban Mail Carrier (RSMC) Negotiation Committee members for 2021–2022. Four members will be joining Sister Nancy Beauchamp, Chief Negotiator.

GAYLE KLASSEN

The extensive experience Gayle has acquired, mostly outside CUPW, will come in handy for her first role as an RSMC negotiator. She has worked closely with a bargaining team for the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), doing research, taking notes and ensuring that all necessary material was available to them.

Gayle started out as a contractor at Canada Post, before becoming OCRE and route holder in 2014. She is actively involved in union matters with her local, works closely with the Executive Committee, and attends consultations. Her previous experience, combined with her knowledge of the workplace and her participation in union matters, will be a great asset to members at the bargaining table.

SOPHIE GRENIER

Sophie joins a negotiation committee for the first time. Sophie has been an RSMC since 2004 but would accompany her mother while she delivered the mail in rural areas long before she was old enough to work in the trade. Following her mother’s example, she became shop steward at the Brossard office. Working in an office with more Urban than RSMC members gave her a greater understanding of the differences between the bargaining units and helped her to navigate both collective agreements. She is currently head of the Women’s Committee of the Montreal Local.

Although her job at the Montreal Local is not full time, Sophie has held several replacement executive positions and has been part of grievance hearings for both collective agreements.

BARB MCMILLAN

Barb began her career at Canada Post in 1999.

This will be Barb’s fourth time on the RSMC negotiation committee. She knows the Route Management System (RMS) inside and out, has been working on the compensation model since its implementation, and has been involved in the sortation and delivery study (Letter 3). Barb is currently on the Workload Committee and was also part of the pay equity process, which resulted in a historical win for RSMCs.

She was elected National Union Representative for the Grievance Department at the last convention in 2019. In this capacity, she attends national consultations, which provides important information about RSMC issues at the national level.

She was president of the Arnprior-Renfrew Local, Central Region. She has facilitated many courses, including the RSMC collective agreement, the Basic Shop Steward course and the Basic Health & Safety course. Barb has also argued many grievances and has experience in negotiating collective agreements for urban and rural units.

ANGEL HOARE

Although this will be her first time on the RSMC negotiation committee, Angel has previously assisted in negotiations in the private sector. She has been a union representative for the Pacific Region since 2015. She has in-depth knowledge of the collective agreement and is responsible for preparing all the grievance files for her region’s rural unit, up until arbitration when necessary.

Angel has been with Canada Post since 1997. She participated in the sign-up campaign for RSMCs to join CUPW in the 2000s. Her active involvement, her efforts on the work floor to mobilize and defend members, and her role in the Pacific Region make her an asset on the Negotiation Committee.

Congratulations to Angel, Barb, Gayle and Sophie!

The RSMC Negotiation Committee welcomes your diverse experience and your commitment. We know you will be outstanding representatives for CUPW members and that the entire national office will support you in carrying out your primary duties as negotiators.

Keep an eye out for the Demands Program to be released in the fall. More news on negotiations will be coming soon.

In Solidarity!