Dear members of AMUSE,
This is a very exciting time for our young union. We are transitioning to our first collective agreement, we are in the middle of moving to a bigger office space and we have three new committees open to members-at-large.
- AMUSE Committees
- Call out for stewards
- The Collective Agreement
- Is this your first time hearing from AMUSE?
1. AMUSE Committees
Three internal committees will be meeting over the next month and each is open to new members-at-large.
- The Dues Committee.
As you may know, the signing of the collective agreement causes the dues structure to change. In order to make this process fair to all members, and to allow the union to function in a sustainable way, a committee has been struck to discuss the upcoming changes. This committee will be chaired by Chelsea Rogers and is open to all members of AMUSE. It is very important that all categories of employment are represented, so ideally the committee should be composed of full time and part time workers, from different locations on campus, with varying working conditions. No prior experience is needed to participate. The first meeting will take place Monday June 4th at 6pm at the new AMUSE office at 2015 Drummond Street, suite 901. Refreshments will be provided. If you are interested in joining the committee please contact Chelsea Rogers at [email protected].
- The Constitution Committee
This committee was formed last year to review our By-Laws and propose changes to the Board of Representatives. As our union grows we find ways in which the By-Laws should be expanded and modified to reflect the everyday business of the union. This is a standing committee that will work on a variety of issues over the coming months. Priorities for this committee will be decided at the first meeting; if you are interested in participating please contact Jaime MacLean at [email protected] The first meeting will be Monday, June 18 at 6 pm at our office at 2015 Drummond Street, suite 901. Refreshments will be provided.
- The Equity Committee
The Equity Committee is a standing committee that was formed at the last Board of Representatives meeting. This committee will deal with a variety of equity issues, from working on an internal policy to providing a forum for questions and complaints from members on matters of Pay Equity, Employment Equity, and equity issues in the workplace as a whole. The goals and mandate of this committee will be decided at the first meeting. This committee will elect a chair at the first meeting on Monday, June 11 at 6pm at our office at 2015 Drummond Street, suite 901. If you are interested in participating in this committee please contact Jaime MacLean at [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided.
2. Call Out for Union Stewards
Every member of AMUSE is eligible to become a steward. Stewards are the eyes, ears, and limbs of the union, directly interacting with the membership and representing their concerns. The stewards are the cornerstones of any union, and are present across departments to make sure that employees’ rights are not being infringed upon and are a friendly face for anyone with questions about their working conditions and their rights as workers.
If you are interested in getting involved in your union, stewardship is a role that you can take on to learn more about the union and directly help your co-workers.
3. Our First Collective Agreement
On April 20th we signed our first Collective Agreement with the university after a year of negotiations. The Collective Agreement institutes a number of changes, including new wage floors, pay increases, seniority and more! You can read the full text of our agreement here: and the explanation of the agreement here: https://www.amusemcgill.org/documents/collective-agreement.
If you have any questions about the Collective Agreement or your working conditions, or if you think that the agreement has not been properly applied to your position, please contact Amber Gross, our Labour Relations Officer, at [email protected].
4. Is this your first time hearing from AMUSE?
The Association of McGill University Support Employees is the labour union at McGill that represents ‘casual’ employees, that is part time and temporary workers. This includes both students and non-students in both part-time and full-time positions.
The union was founded and is administered by casual employees at McGill. We ground our advocacy on the principles of shared humanity, respect, and fairness, within the specific goals of protecting and improving working conditions and labour rights.
Please contact us for further information. We are happy to answer any questions and to hear about any concerns that you may have!
In solidarity,
The AMUSE Executive Committee
Association of McGill University Support Employees - Public Service Alliance of Canada
For general questions and comments: [email protected]
For questions about your rights or to file a grievance: [email protected]
