United Steelworkers Local 1998 Information for members of the
Casual Bargaining Unit:

Welcome to YOUR Union, Steelworkers Local 1998

As a member of the Steelworkers Local 1998 Casual Bargaining Unit you are guaranteed all of the rights negotiated on your behalf, and contained in the Collective Agreement between the University of Toronto and The United Steelworkers. These rights are in addition to other rights that workers in Ontario are guaranteed through legislation, including the Labour Standards Act, The Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.This brief introduction will introduce you to your Steelworkers Local, and help you to make the most of your membership in the Union.Please take the time to visit our Website at http://www.usw1998.ca.

The Website contains contact information for stewards, committees, and the Local 1998 executive, as well as newsletters, meeting dates, and special announcements.Most importantly, United Steelworkers Local 1998 is YOUR Union. The members working as stewards, chief stewards, committee members, staff, and executives of the Local are all here to serve you. The Union is not about making money – it’s about building power for working people.

A Few of Your Important Rights:

Fair wages and overtime pay:
Article 21:01 provides a minimum wage of $10.30/hr as of April 1, 2006 and for any casual member doing a significant portion of the duties of a Staff Appointed job, the minimum rate on the Staff Appointed salary grid for that position.

Regularly scheduled pay increases:
Article 21:01 provides for increases to the minimum wage from $10.30/hr to $10.61/hr effective July 1, 2006 and from $10.61 to $10.93/hr effective July 1, 2007. There are also scheduled raises for casual members who earn more than the University’s minimum wage.

Payment for statutory holidays:
Article 18:01 provides for pay for New Years Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Pay and Boxing Day to all qualified employees, including members of the Casual Bargaining Unit.

The right to a safe workplace and the right to refuse unsafe work.

Pregnant members may request a workplace assessment and
appropriate accommodation (Article 17:06)

The right to a workplace free of discrimination:
Article 3:01(a) says, “The University and the Union are committed to equal opportunity in employment for women, aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and people because of their race, colour, sexual orientation or gender orientation have been traditionally disadvantaged in Canada.”

The right to be represented by a Union steward The right to take part in Union activities.

The right to grieve violations of the Collective Agreement:
Your boss isn’t following the Collective Agreement? Need to grieve? Contact your steward and let the Union help your manager to understand his or her obligations. It’s your right.

Migration into the Staff-Appointed bargaining unit:
If you work as a casual employee for more than 18 months at 60% of Full Time Equivalent hours or after 24 months at 40% FTE the University must provide you with all Staff Appointed rights including, seniority, pension, health benefits and more job security.

Bereavement leave:
Members are entitled to up to five days of paid bereavement leave at the time of death of an employee’s spouse or same-sex partner, children (including step-children), grandchildren, parents, parents-in-law, sibling (including step-brother, step-sister), brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and grandparents, or for the death of a person whose relationship is not defined above, the impact of which is comparable to that of the immediate family (e.g. a close friend)
…and please remember to familiarize yourself with the Collective Agreement. It includes the details of your rights, in addition to the rights that you have under legislation. Please contact us if you’d like a copy of the Collective Agreement. If in doubt about your rights get in touch with your steward. And, you always have the right to refuse to perform work that you feel is unsafe or to refuse to work in an unsafe workplace.

Getting in Touch:

1. Contact your closest union steward (a list of stewards is posted on the Local 1998 Website.
2. Phone the Local 1998 office located at 25 Cecil Street on the St. George Campus. Our phone number is (416) 506-9090.
3. E-mail the Local at info@usw1998.ca. All messages will be directed to the most appropriate Local representative.
4. Attend monthly membership meetings. All meetings are listed on the local’s website and upcoming events are listed at http://www.usw1998.ca/whats_on.htm.
5. Visit the Local 1998 Website regularly for up-to-date information.
http://www.usw1998.ca
6. Join the local’s list serve by sending an email to info@usw1998.ca
The president of Local 1998 is Allison Dubarry.
The Unit Chair for the Casual Bargaining Unit is Lori Wells.
We are currently seeking a Unit Grievor for the Casual Bargaining Unit
Full training will be provided. Please contact Allison or Lori if you are interested.

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