Policies

How Members’ Money is Being Spent

We thought the previous administration’s mismanagement was the worst thing that could ever happen. But, while condemning that administration, the current leadership has been perpetuating the same behaviours.

From the moment they were elected, JP’s first order of business was to:

• Purchase a new fleet vehicle for themselves without board approval, against policy

• Award lucrative contracts to friends ignoring the tendering process, against policy

• Spend untold amounts pursuing litigation with zero accountability to the board or members

Sara has requested that all spending information be reported to the board and membership for full transparency — only to be told it cannot be disclosed and to see budget lines renamed to hide their true purpose.

Sara has repeatedly brought motions to the board to address financial loopholes left by the previous administration. JP has voted against these measures every time.

If elected President, Sara will:

• Introduce policies to ensure members’ money is never misused in these ways again

• Restore transparency and accountability in all board and financial matters

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Hiring Practices

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We invest significant resources in training and educating our activists and staff. We spend years and thousands of dollars developing our members — yet when jobs become available, they are too often given to outsiders: friends or family of officers or administrators. Individuals who don't have years of intimate knowledge of the inner workings and struggles of locals.

This practice:

• Wastes talent from within the union

• Leads experienced members to leave for other labour organizations

• Brings in staff without the same knowledge or experience

Without knowledgeable, skilled staff, we cannot effectively advance members’ issues.

If elected, Sara will:

• Follow current hiring policies

• Respect staff collective agreements

• Prioritize union members for positions whenever possible

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Organize — The Lifeblood of Our Union

Organizing is not just internal — it is bringing non-unionized workers into the labour movement and giving them the benefits of a collective agreement.

When we organize:

• Dues revenue increases

• Bargaining power strengthens

• Sectors and divisions grow

• Worker rights expand

Sara has been fortunate to work with amazing staff organizers to grow her sector. Under her leadership, the Hospital Professionals Division grew from 13,000 to over 30,000 members. Members helped organizers meet the goal of unionizing previously unorganized hospital workers.

If elected, Sara will:

• Work with sector and division leadership and the organizing department

• Ensure organizers have the resources to grow every sector and division

Staff Relations

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Currently, the union is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting and settling collective agreement breaches with staff. These funds could instead be used for:

• Hiring additional staff to reduce workload

• Providing more education and training for members

• Supporting locals and sectors

Filing unfair labour practice complaints against our staff unions, and defending against complaints filed against them, creates the appearance of a union at war with its own staff, which is an embarrassment to the labour movement.

If elected, Sara will:

• Hire management staff who respect and follow staff collective agreements

• Ensure the best working conditions for staff, which leads to the best outcomes for members

What we want for our members, we will also ensure for our staff.