City Council Presentation
Above is a news article about Ian's presentation to council titled: Work Continues on a Leaner Library



CUPE 960 Gives back
In November/December CUPE 960 has done a lot of giving. We raised over $800.00 worth of items for the family that we sponsored for the holidays!! We also raised over $200.00 towards Movember and donated $100.00 to PFLAG to help out over the holidays which is a hard time for many, especially for those in the LGBTQ community. We thank each and every one of our members who have helped out in any way.

RSI Day
The last day in February, Friday, February 28 2014 is RSI day.
RSI DAY
Every year some 2.3 million Canadian adults are crippled by repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), seriously limiting their daily activities. The majority of these injuries are caused by work-related activity.

In fact, more than 40 per cent of all lost-time injuries allowed by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) are RSIs or MSDs. This is the single largest class of compensation claims in the province. Many more are never reported.

Beyond the social, emotional and economic costs to affected individuals are the economic costs to us all, estimated at upwards of $26 billion dollars annually.

To help focus attention on this growing epidemic, communities across Ontario and around the world have proclaimed the last day of February International RSI Awareness Day. On this day, special events are held to build awareness and action on RSIs or MSDs and the impact these injuries have on workers, their families and the community.
What can be done?
The majority of RSIs or MSDs are preventable. Critical actions that can be taken include:

• Organize and/or participate in a RSI Awareness Day event
• Report symptoms and hazards early to your supervisor and joint health and safety committee (JHSC) or health and safety representative
• Report work-related MSDs to WSIB immediately
• Insist on quality training to address these issues
• Press employers to implement ergonomic prevention solutions
• Encourage governments to enact effective and enforced ergonomic regulations.

Attendance Management Program
There will be a new program in the new year and we are currently working with the employer and our CUPE national rep on the wording/implementation of this program to make sure it is in accordance with labour law, Human Rights and jurisprudence. We currently have a grievance over the matter, which we have requested go to arbitration, but holding it in abeyance as management has agreed to meet with us over our concerns.

Compassionate Leave
Do you know about Compassionate Leave with EI?

You can take Compassionate leave under the Employment Standards act and EI Compassionate Care for someone you love/care for who has risk of dying in the next 26 weeks. This does not have to be a direct family member but can be close friend, other relative, even a neighbour that you care for. The application is online. You would need to wait 2 weeks before getting the EI and you'd get it for 6 weeks so it'd be a total of 8 weeks off. The employer HAS to grant it.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/types/compassionate_care.shtml
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/faq/faq_compassionate_care_individuals.shtml
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/guide/family.php

Next General Membership Meeting
January 14, 2014
5:15 PM
McLaughlin Auditorium

Snacks Provided - elections will be at this meeting

At the October 2013 General Membership meeting, our 2013-2015 Strategic Plan was discussed and implemented. The entire report is available here.

Here are some highlights!

Our Overall Vision:

Mission Statement

To enrich the lives of our members and working people everywhere.

Vision

 As recognized leaders within the Labour Movement, Local 960 will:

·         Cultivate a culture of solidarity

·         Demand security, dignity, and respect for our members

·         Mobilize our membership, and

·         Impact public policy that effects social and economic change to benefit working people

Objectives and Initiatives

To foster honesty and trust in the understanding that we are here to work together for the common good of YOU - our membership. To improve communications and professionalism between our membership and management that will foster and maintain continual improvements in our working environment and opportunities. To promote fairness and integrity in how management treats our members in all aspects of employment at the Oshawa Public Libraries. To be the collective voice of our members in representing them in conflicts with management and in policy changes. Strength in our membership only empowers us to have a larger role in our own destinies.


Read the Strategic Plan in it's entirety for more information!