OPSEU-CAAT policy - Preparing for Negotiations -- Local Demand-setting

• 4.1 Within one week after the PBC (pre-bargaining conference), a notice shall be sent to the president and next ranking officer of each local, requesting them to convene a local membership meeting to set demands and establish priorities for negotiations, and to elect delegates to the final demand-setting meeting.
• 4.2 With the notice there shall be an information kit, containing among other things:
  a) a copy of these procedures;
  b) the time frames for local and final demand-setting meetings;
  c) the recommendations of the PBC (pre-bargaining conference);
  d) the GMS forms (the use of which is optional); and
  e) forms on which to record the local's official proposals (with supporting documentation).
• 4.3 Normally, proposals shall be presented in person by the members attending the local demandsetting meeting. However, proposals and supporting documentation may be submitted in writing, in advance, by members unable to attend.

18.3 CAAT (Academic) Negotiations Procedures
OPSEU Policy Manual ... revised 18.3-4 January 2011

• 4.4 The duty of local leaders is to maximize ownership and participation by the members in the demand-setting process. They shall bring the PBC recommendations before the members for their information and consideration.

• 4.5 Locals are required to identify and rank their top 10 priorities, using the guidance provided by the PBC. The purpose of prioritization is to emphasize that there is a limit to the number of viable proposals, and that members must make meaningful choices when they set their demands. In summary, the demands should be (a) relatively specific, (b) relatively limited, and (c) ranked in order of importance.
• 4.6 The only proposals that will be considered official are those adopted by majority vote at the local demand-setting meeting (at which a quorum must be present -- see the Constitution, Article 29.8.2), entered on the appropriate forms, signed by two local officers to show they are the local's official proposals, and sent with supporting documentation to arrive at the Collective Bargaining Department at Head Office by the date specified in the information kit.
• 4.7 Locals that have carried out the GMS shall forward the results along with their local demands.

Posted: (12-3-11)