Locals

COPE Ontario is made up of 17 locals across the province, each with its own Bargaining Units doing the day-to-day work of standing up for members.

A local is the body that has the final say over grievances filed by the bargaining units (i.e. they decide whether to proceed or withdraw) and is responsible for arbitration and contract negotiation costs.

Behind the scenes, our Labour Relations Specialists work full-time supporting locals and bargaining units, attending labour-management meetings, grievance meetings, and workplace investigations alongside Unit Representatives. They’re often the ones at the table during Collective Bargaining, fighting for what members deserve.

Representatives at the Unit level consist of:

• Stewards – Stewards are responsible for addressing complaints or potential grievances brought forward by members of the bargaining unit with both the member and management. They also sit in on Labour Management meetings and represent members in disciplinary interviews.
• Health and Safety Representatives – Health and Safety Representatives are responsible for conducting workplace safety investigations and addressing workplace hazards with the Employer Joint Health and Safety Committee meetings.
• Committee Members (as provided by each Unit’s collective agreement) – Committees address various specialized issues, per the language in your Collective Agreement; please consult your Collective Agreement to see what committees are established in your workplace.