The nomination period for the Spring 2020 cycle of TSSU Executive elections is now open! TSSU is accepting nominations for the following positions: Chief Steward II, Organizer, Treasurer, Secretary, Trustee II, Solidarity & Social Justice Commissioner and Ex-officio.

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
If you’re interested in nominating yourself for an open position, complete the Spring 2020 Nomination Form and return to TSSU (AQ 5129) by February 24 or email to trustee@tssu.ca.

We also have a Meet & Greet event, scheduled for March 4 from 12:30 – 2pm in the GSS Board Room with pizza!! You’ll be required to attend if you decide to run.

Election Timeline
January 22: Nominations Open
February 25: Nominations Close at Feb GM, 4:30-6:30pm HC 7000
February 27: Candidate Statements DUE by 5:00pm to trustee@tssu.ca
March 8 – 14: Electronic Election Period
March 26: New Executive Members Ratified at March 26 GM, 4:30-6:30pm SUR 5080
Week of March 30: First week new Executive Members can Take Office

What if I Have Questions?
Thinking about running for a position, but want more information? Email tssu@tssu.ca or stop by AQ 5129 and we’d be happy to answer your questions!

Positions

Chief Steward II – Salaried Officer, 25hrs/week

(a) 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

(b) In addition to these duties Chief Steward I shall act as the TSSU Executive’s primary point of contact with the Union’s Member Representative concerning the Member Representative’s employment and will sit on and be the resource person for the Contract Committee.

Organizer – Salaried Officer, 25hrs/week

The Organizer shall be responsible for recruiting volunteers for the Union including Stewards, volunteers for TSSU committees, and TSSU representatives for University and other committees. The Organizer shall ensure there is TSSU representation at departmental and special orientations including Tutor Marker Orientation and the Teaching Orientation Program opening plenary. The Organizer shall ensure the presence of the Union at the University’s satellite campuses. The Organizer shall be the resource and support person for the MMC and Solidarity & Social Justice Committees and shall chair the MMC committee when there is no Commissioner/Chair. The Organizer shall be the Union’s liaison with
campus employee groups, as well as off-campus trade union and social justice organizations. The Organizer shall be the Union’s media contact person. The Organizer can expect assistance in these two duties from the Coordinator. The Organizer will identify groups who are under-represented in the TSSU, work to create an environment where members will be self-motivated to participate, organize socials, and carry out publicity for
upcoming events. The Organizer shall assist the Chief Stewards in the orientation and education of Stewards and shares the Chief Stewards’ responsibility for knowledge of the Collective Agreement.

Treasurer

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 the fall semester of each year. This report shall be read at a Fall 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.

Trustee II

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 but shall not make any changes to the lists. 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 & Social Justice Commissioner

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.

Secretary

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.

Ex-officio

The Ex-Officio, or advisor to the Executive, is intended to improve continuity between outgoing 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 has served on the Executive