ACTION PLAN TRADES CONFERENCE 2016

Priorities for the Trades Committee 2016-2017

1.)MAPPING THE TRADES IN CUPE

  • Mapping our Collective Agreements and model language and wages. Identify the Trades by sector
  • Mapping local participation in the Trades Conference
  • Developing a mandatory Conference Delegate survey to assist in mapping for Conference 2017

2.)PROMOTING THE TRADES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CUPE

  • Produce an internal flyer: “Meet the Trades in CUPE”
  • Talk about Trades at CUPE Conferences etc. Recommend to CUPE Ontario that Trades committee members have dedicated time attached to each conference to speak on behalf of Trades
  • Request that Trades be the focus of the CUPE Ontario Division Youth Camp
  • Work with Ontario School Boards Coordinating Committee (OSBCC)and the Ontario University Workers Coordinating Committee (OUWCC) to encourage CUPE Trades persons going into schools to talk about and promote Trades, Trade Fairs, etc.
  • Strategize about how to recruit the next generation of Tradespersons
  • Outreach into Indigenous communities
  • Identify other groups ie., Girl Guides as a way to promote the Trades for girls and women

3.)LOBBYING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

  • Lobbying the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities re:Apprenticeships and popularising and promoting the Trades
  • Lobby the Minister of Education re: promoting Trades education and back in school curriculum
  • Lobby government on Trades specific concerns such as Bill 70
  • Lobby for funding in the public sector and targeted funding to recruit women

4.)LIAISING WITH TRADES ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLIES

  • The College of Trades, including recruiting CUPE members to participate on bodies
  • The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Apprenticeships Committee and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Committees
  • The Progressive Certified Trades Coalition
  • CUPE Ontario Equality Committees to raise awareness of specific issues experienced by Tradespersons within CUPE who are members of equity-seeking groups

5.)TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS WITH TRADES ACTIVISTS AND LOCALS IN CUPE

  • Assisting Locals and members to access existing resources within CUPE
  • Being a voice for Trades concerns within CUPE
  • Encouraging Locals to foster participation by Trades members in the Local Union. Talk to Locals about identifying ways to participate, ie., by-law amendments to identify a dedicated seat on the Executive of the Local
  • Provide information regarding Collective Agreement language which supports Trades
  • Discuss with the CUPE Job Evaluation department regarding the weighting of the CUPE tool so that it works for those in Trades. Specifically, the education sub factor

6.)HEALTH & SAFETY

  • Work with the CUPE OntarioHealth Safety Committee, staff and Union Development Department to address priority issues like black mould and asbestos, maximizing the enforcement of legislative standards, and violence in the workplace
  • Begin an awareness campaign regarding the hazards of black pipe and natural gas
  • Recommend to CUPE that additional resources be supplied to local members are issues pertaining to Health and Safety
  • Identify the role of "Supervisor" under the Act and how that works for those who are in the Trades