Spring 2021 Executive Nominations Open!

The nomination period for the Spring 2021 cycle of TSSU Executive elections is now open! TSSU is accepting nominations for the following positions: Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Steward II, Organizer I, Ex Officio, Trustee II and SSJC Commissioner (See below for descriptions).

Who can run?

Positions are open to any member in good standing. More information is summarized below as well as in the By-Laws.

Nomination Process

As of the January GM (January 28th), nominations for the election are open, and they close at the February GM (February 24th). All members in good standing can run by filling out this nomination form and emailing to trustees@tssu.ca before the February GM. Verbal Nominations will be allowed during the GM.

Election Timeline

Opening of nominations: January 28, 2021 (January GM)
Closing of nominations:February 24, 2021 (February GM)
Submission of candidate statements: February 26, 2021 by 5 pm
Candidate meet and greet: March 2nd, 2021 @ 12:30 - 1:30pm (Link to be emailed)
Electronic election period: March 5-12, 2021
Results announced (via email): March 13 or 14, 2020
"Protest of Unfair Ballot" period: March 15-22, 2020
Results ratified: March 24, 2020 (March GM)
First day new officers can take office: March 29, 2021

What if I Have Questions?
Thinking about running for a position, but want more information? Email tssu@tssu.ca and we’d be happy to answer your questions!

Positions

Secretary - 5hr/week

The Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that accurate minutes for GM and Executive meetings are taken and distributed at subsequent meetings. The duty of taking minutes shall be shared between the Salaried Officers of the TSSU and the Secretary. The Secretary shall maintain a current file of all GM and Executive Minutes in the TSSU office, as well as keep a record of, and remind the Executive of, resolutions passed at these meetings. The Secretary shall facilitate access to information of past precedent and resolutions on previous meetings, and thereby assist the Ex-Officio in maintaining institutional memory. The Secretary must be a signee on all legal documentation for the union, and shall also have financial signing authority.

Treasurer - 10hr/week

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of an accurate and proper internal bookkeeping system and for coordination with the external bookkeeper. This bookkeeping system shall be set up under the instruction of the Executive. The Treasurer shall present financial statements to the first GM of each semester and shall circulate an audited financial report to the TSSU in September of each year. This report shall be read at the September GM. The Treasurer shall be responsible for creating and submitting the Union’s annual budget to the February GM of each year. The Treasurer will work in consultation with the Coordinator in carrying out these duties. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee.

Chief Steward II - Salaried Officer, 25hr/week

The Chief Stewards shall be jointly responsible for knowledge of the Collective Agreement, Health and Safety regulations, and other relevant legislation. They will be responsible for communicating monthly updates on the status of ongoing grievances to the Executive and General Membership in order to facilitate mobilization and organizing. Both shall also be responsible for the Grievance Procedure including meetings, research, and legal activities. Both shall work in conjunction with the Member Representative to ensure member rights are enforced and protected as outlined in the Collective Agreement. The two Chief Stewards in consultation with the Member Representative will also be responsible for maintaining any seniority lists and for checking position postings in relation to the Collective Agreement. Each semester, these two officers shall mutually agree on the division of the responsibility for the following tasks:

Chairing and coordinating Steward meetings.
Chairing and coordinating Grievance meetings.
Serving as the resource person for the OH&S Commissioner

Organizer I - Salaried Officer, 25hr/week

Organizer I and Organizer II shall jointly be responsible for: 1) coordinating union campaigns and new member organizing drives; 2) the development and maintenance of membership networks; and 3) working with other parts of TSSU to achieve goals set by the membership. Each semester these officers shall agree on the division of duties outlined below.

(a) Coordination of union campaigns and new member organizing drives, including:

working with the union’s committees and general membership to set campaign objectives and timelines;
coordinating volunteer networks and mobilization schedules, overseeing campaign communications, and managing teams;
identifying groups of workers with a similar community of interests to our membership who are interested in joining the Union.

(b) Development and maintenance of membership networks, including:

developing and maintaining a mapping system of the membership, work sites, common areas, bulletin boards, etc and relationships;
actively recruiting volunteers from within the membership, for committees, stewards, etc.;
developing membership outreach and education initiatives, which include, but are not limited to: workshops, socials, orientations, and trainings;
ensuring there is TSSU representation at departmental and special orientations including, but not limited to the International TA Program and the Teaching Orientation Program opening plenary.

resourcing and coordinating the activities of the Membership Mobilization Committee (MMC);
ensuring that MMC activities support union campaigns, new member organizing drives, member education, as well as other internal and external outreach initiatives;
administering MMC’s membership, maintaining the committee’s internal communications, and calling meetings;
resourcing the activities of the Solidarity and Social Justice Committee (SSJC);
working with the Chief Stewards in the orientation and training of Stewards;
ensuring that Steward activities support union campaigns, new member organizing drives, member education, as well as other internal and external outreach initiatives;
working with the Chief Stewards in administering the Steward network and ensuring that its membership list is up-to-date.

Ex Officio - Stipended

The Ex-Officio, or advisor to the Executive, is intended to improve continuity between out-going and incoming Executives, particularly regarding reasons for previous Executive decisions. The Ex-Officio helps to ensure the non-hierarchical nature of the TSSU by maintaining an institutional memory based on lived experience. The Ex-Officio is a stipended, non-voting position to be filled by any member who served on the Executive during the previous twelve (12) months.

Trustee II - 5hr/week

The two Trustees shall ensure that the TSSU By-Laws are adhered to and be responsible for keeping these same By-Laws up-to-date. They shall also ensure that proper procedures are adhered to at GMs in accordance with Bourinot’s rules. Trustees must have the ability to obtain all non-email account passwords that pertain to common union business. Trustees will have access to membership lists and will only make changes to the lists in consultation with the Coordinator.They shall oversee the work done by Executive Members and report any atypical decisions to the General Membership of the Union. They shall be involved with the scheduling and publication of GMs in conjunction with the salaried officers; and schedule and oversee all elections/referenda. The Trustees shall be responsible for inspecting the financial records of the TSSU on a monthly basis in consultation with the Coordinator. One Trustee shall be a member of the Internal Relations Committee and the other shall be a member of the Finance Committee.

Solidarity and Social Justice Commissioner - Stipended

The Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner (SSJC Commissioner) shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Solidarity & Social Justice Committee. The Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner shall call meetings and ensure that meetings are chaired and minuted. The Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner shall coordinate with union volunteers, outside allies, events, and vendors to further the goals of the Solidarity & Social Justice Committee. The Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner shall attend Executive meetings and act as a liaison between the Executive and the Solidarity and Social Justice Committee in conjunction with the Organizer. The Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner shall also act as liaison between the Solidarity & Social Justice Committee and other TSSU committees to facilitate the flow of information between committees and the General Membership.