August 20, 2020 - As mentioned in the Acting President’s Message of August 19, 2020, Local 1944 is about to begin the process of electing members of the Local 1944 – Telus Bargaining Committee, and Unit Delegates to the Local Union Delegated Meeting, taking place March 16-18, 2021. Nominations for both sets of positions will take place at 3rd quarter Unit Meetings which occur throughout September and October, and the election will take place by electronic ballot, on a one-member-one-vote basis, November 20, 2020.

Local 1944 – Telus Bargaining Committee Election Process

The Local 1944 – Telus Collective Agreement will expire December 31, 2021, and bargaining can begin any date after September 1, 2021. To obtain a Collective Agreement that does justice to the work you do everyday, we need a Bargaining Committee that is smart, tough, and ready to take on Telus. 

The Bargaining Committee will be led by the Local President, however, any member in good standing of Local 1944, employed at Telus, can run to be a member of the Local 1944 – Telus Bargaining Committee. Members should note that in the past, Local 1944 – Telus bargaining has been a long process (over a year), and has taken place in person, necessitating a great deal of travel. All wages, travel and necessary expenses are paid for by the Union. Bargaining is a process requiring a lot of teamwork, commitment and perseverance. Bargaining with our largest employer has been a difficult challenge in the past, and the Local has every intention of halting further concessions and of making strong gains in this round. If you would like to lend your skills and values to this effort, please get nominated and seek election.

There are 6 rank and file positions to be elected, one for each of 6 categories of membership, as follows:

One British Columbia Clerical/Traffic position
One British Columbia Plant position
One Alberta Clerical/Traffic position
One Alberta Plant position
One Ontario position
One Quebec position

Only members employed in a given category can nominate, be nominated, or vote, for the position representing that category. In other words, only an Alberta Plant member can nominate someone for that position, run for that position, or vote for that position. The election will be by a plurality vote, and the next runner up will be the alternate in their category.

To run for one of these positions, you must be nominated at a Q3 Unit Meeting being held in September and October. Meeting Notices will show these nominations on the Agenda, and, when the meeting is on that portion of the Agenda, a member must simply state “I nominate <name> for the Bargaining Committee position of <position name>”. You may be nominated by any member from within your category, even if they are in a different Unit. For example, a BC Plant member from Unit X could nominate another BC Plant member from Unit Y.  A nominated member can either accept or decline their nomination at the Unit Meeting if present, or send in their acceptance via email at nominations@usw1944.ca, and must do so no later than 5:00PM PST on Sunday, November 1, 2020. 

Elections will occur November 20, after each member in good standing has been mailed a ballot to be completed online or by phone. 

In addition to the above-mentioned positions, the Local will appoint two members of the Bargaining Committee from among the Local Officers.

Local Union Delegated Meeting Delegate election process

The Local Union Delegated Meeting (LUDM) is convened at least once every three years and sets the direction of the Local. This includes approving changes to our By-Laws, which then go to the general membership for ratification.

The LUDM is composed of voting Delegates from each Unit of the Local. Each Unit is entitled to a certain number of LUDM Delegates, in accordance with a formula found in the Local By-Laws. Any member in good standing of Local 1944 can run to be one of their Unit’s LUDM Delegates. All wages, travel and necessary expenses are paid for by the Local. 

Shortly, Unit Officials will receive an email stating the number of LUDM delegate positions they are currently entitled to, and this information will be added to Q3 Unit Meeting Notices as well. 

To run for one of these positions, you must be nominated at a Q3 Unit Meeting being held in September and October. Meeting Notices will show these nominations on the Agenda, and, when the meeting is on that portion of the Agenda, a member must simply state “I nominate <name> as LUDM Delegate”. A nominated member can either accept or decline their nomination at the Unit Meeting if present, or send in their acceptance via email at nominations@usw1944.ca, and must do so no later than 5:00 PM PST on Sunday, November 1, 2020. 

As with the Bargaining Committee elections, the LUDM Delegate elections will occur November 20, after each member in good standing has been mailed a ballot to be completed online or by phone. The election will be by a plurality vote.

Please respond to the email address from which you received this communication if you have questions regarding the information above.

In Solidarity, 

USW Local 1944