The RCMMA Executive recommends affiliating with the Society of United Professionals for several key reasons.

First, our membership has continued to grow to the point where the resources required to effectively support members now exceed what a volunteer-led organization can reasonably provide. RCMMA needs dedicated, on-the-ground support and the backing of a larger, well-resourced organization to effectively represent members now and into the future.

Second, our employer has brought up the possibility of changing the bargaining relationship towards strike/lockout. As such, the stability we currently have with arbitrating collective bargaining impasses may change in the future. If this were to occur, our preparations for bargaining would change significantly along with the resources required. Having the backing of a larger organization behind us will put us in a stronger position and help us adapt, if needed.

Lastly, benefits of this affiliation are the low dues structure compared to other unions and the option of hiring our own staff is costly and administratively complex. 

This proposal also comes at an opportune time. Last year, our counterparts at the City of Saskatoon affiliated with the Society of United Professionals. Since then, RCMMA has observed the benefits of that partnership firsthand. We have also benefited from the Society's expertise and support in preparing our arbitration brief for our collective agreement, demonstrating the value of having access to experienced professional resources when they are needed most. The advice we received and the important bargaining insights shared by our City of Saskatoon colleagues underscores how much we stand to gain from coordinating bargaining with strongest comparator going forward.

Your RCMMA Executive is confident this is the right time and partner to move forward with.

As a Local under the Society structure, RCMMA members would maintain a high level of autonomy in membership representation, but gain access to a much larger pool of resources and support.

The Society has highly developed democratic structures, policies, and practices that ensure the organization runs according to the interests and values of the membership. RCMMA members and Society members are similar in our alignment on an approach to labour negotiations that focuses on solutions and problem-solving rather than creating conflict. The Society has a well-established reputation for negotiating strong collective agreements, and are often recognized for leading industry standards.

Increased Bargaining Support

During collective agreement renewals, Society bargaining units can access a $30 million Collective Agreement Renewal fund to ensure that they achieve the strongest possible agreement. The Society employs 30 highly experienced full-time staff engaged in labour relations, research, education and training, communications, government relations, organizing, IT support, and administration. Society bargaining units are assigned a Labour Relations Staff Officer who is a specialist in supporting and guiding employer interactions, negotiating agreements, and handling grievances.

• Research Support

Society local negotiations are supported by our staff Economist who prepares research and wage comparisons to make sure the union is able to push for fair compensation as well as agreements that strengthen both professional integrity and working conditions.

• Education for Bargaining Teams

The Society delivers in-house training programs for bargaining committees, ensuring that team members are well prepared to negotiate effectively. This includes workshops on interest-based bargaining, contract costing, communications strategies, and understanding complex legal and regulatory frameworks.

• Organizing Support

In addition to financial and research resources, locals can rely on the Society’s organizing department to build collective power at the workplace. Staff organizers assist in member engagement, internal mobilization, and strategic campaign planning to demonstrate solidarity and strengthen bargaining positions.

• Communications Support

Dedicated communications staff support bargaining teams by developing messaging for members, media, and the public. This helps locals manage narratives, counter employer misinformation, and maintain strong member solidarity during negotiations.

Specialized Knowledge

If you work in a professionally regulated field, like engineering, the Society has special expertise in understanding your representation. We represent many professionally regulated employees and understand the unique challenges of balancing professional standards, licensing requirements, and workplace rights.

Other Membership Benefits

Membership in the Society of United Professionals comes with more than strong workplace representation. Members enjoy a range of benefits designed to support their professional growth and personal well-being.

• Educational Opportunities

The Society offers ongoing training and educational programs to help members develop new skills, enhance their professional expertise, and stay current in their fields.

• Networking and Community

Members have access to conferences, workshops, and events that connect them with other professionals across sectors. These opportunities foster collaboration, mentorship, and the sharing of best practices.

• Member Discount Program

The Society’s discount program provides meaningful savings from select service providers. Members can access discounts on cell phone plans, internet and cable services, insurance products, and other everyday expenses.

Our available discounts contain many national chains like Budget Rental Car, Mark’s, Softmoc, Best Western, The Personal Insurance, and GoodLife Fitness which would be immediately accessible to RCMMA members. The program is managed by a Society Staff person who works with our members to secure local discounts to add to the program.

Together, these benefits ensure that membership in the Society not only strengthens your workplace, but also provides tangible value in your daily life.

Yes, RCMMA did consider affiliation with other unions including direct affiliation with the IFPTE, CUPE, and Unifor. After evaluating the available options, RCMMA determined that the Society of United Professionals was the best fit for the membership. The RCMMA Executive considered the nature of our professional workforce, organizational culture, representational model, and the overall cost of membership dues. The Society of United Professionals offers a structure and approach that aligns closely with the needs and interests of RCMMA members, making it the preferred organization to pursue.

If RCMMA members choose to join the Society, they will become members of the Society of United Professionals and the Society will become their legal bargaining agent. The choice of bargaining agent is an internal matter to RCMMA members and is yours to make alone. There will be no change or alteration to the makeup of the RCMMA bargaining unit.

RCMMA can continue to operate with local autonomy while experiencing the benefits of a larger entity such as the Society. You will elect your own workplace representatives and work with other Society elected representatives and professional staff to continue bargaining as well as overseeing the administration of your current collective agreement.

RCMMA members will gain access to a range of resources that strengthen both bargaining and advocacy. This includes access to the Society’s financial resources, such as dedicated funds that support collective bargaining and member mobilization, as well as funds that can be directed toward donations, sponsorships, and community initiatives. These resources ensure that RCMMA members are not only well supported at the bargaining table but also able to contribute meaningfully to broader professional, social, and community causes.

For more information about the Society, check out: Introduction to the Society of United Professionals

For more information about how RCMMA members will benefit from Society membership, check out:

• Why is the Society a good fit for RCMMA? and
• Will my union dues increase by joining?

The Society has an active organizing program and is committed to growing its membership. While our organizing efforts have historically been concentrated in Ontario, we have recently expanded into Saskatchewan. A significant milestone was the decision by your counterparts at the City of Saskatoon to join the Society.

With the Society now representing municipal professionals in Saskatoon, there is also a strengthened strategic position and increased bargaining leverage to extend representation to other municipal professionals in the province, including those at the City of Regina. This broader presence enhances our ability to advocate effectively between the two cities and support consistent outcomes for members.

Additionally, there are significant opportunities for continued growth in Saskatchewan, particularly in the energy sector, where the province's commitment to expanding and investing in nuclear power is expected to create increased demand for skilled professionals. RCMMA would strengthen the Society's presence in Saskatchewan while bringing valuable expertise and leadership to support our shared goals.

As a Local of the Society of United Professionals, RCMMA will continue to set our own priorities and manage our relationship with the City of Regina. At the same time, we are closely aligned with the Society in our approach to union representation and collective bargaining.

The Society is known for a distinctive bargaining style that emphasizes solutions over conflict. Like RCMMA, Society members are dedicated professionals who want their workplaces to thrive through strong, effective union representation.

Many Society members work in environments where other groups are represented by unions such as CUPE, and, like us, many hold supervisory roles over unionized staff. While committed to collaboration with the broader labour movement, the Society stands out as a union run by and for professional employees. It has a proven record of negotiating strong agreements, leading industry standards, and earning the respect of both its members and their employers.

Under the Society structure, RCMMA would become its own Local. Each Society Local has the right to negotiate and manage its operations, in accordance with the Constitution, Bylaws, policies and procedures to best serve their members. In doing so, each Local acts fairly autonomously, with the common objective to increase benefits, opportunities and rights for the union membership as a whole.

Society Locals are assigned a Labour Relations Staff Officer who is a specialist in supporting and guiding employer interactions, agreement negotiations, and grievance handling. The Society also provides a comprehensive training program for Local elected representatives, including bargaining teams. Often Locals will work with the Society Researcher, Organizer, external relations, and communications staff on specific issues or to support their negotiations. However, it is the Locals and their elected representatives who hold decision-making responsibilities.

Check out the complete doc: Introduction to the Society of United Professionals

Each local, regardless of the number of members they have, elects one Local Vice President (LVP). Underneath the LVP are similarly elected Unit Directors (UDs) and Delegates. Delegates report to UDs, UDs report to LVPs. One UD might have three delegates who report to them, and each delegate may have 30-40 members for and to whom they are responsible. A delegate is a member who is elected by a group of fellow members (called a “Delegate Group”). 

Each local establishes their own Local Committee made up of the LVP and UDs. Locals can also include their Delegates in their Local Committees. The Local Committee would act in the same way the RCMMA Executive acts to manage the day-to-day of the local and administration of the collective agreement.

Each Local Vice President is a voting member of the Society’s Executive Board. Generally, the LVP, has signing authority for local decisions, and is the escalation point for all elected members (Delegates and Unit Directors) in their Local. LVPs generally lead collective agreement negotiations and the overall relationship with their members’ employer.

Locals are represented on the Society Board based on the number of members in their Local.

If RCMMA members choose to become members of the Society, RCMMA’s current Executive and elected members structure would change to the Society structure. We will have one Local Vice President, 1-2 Unit Directors, and 11 - 15 Delegates.

Check out the Society Structure and Governance Overview section of the Intro to the Society document for more detailed information.

Yes. If RCMMA joins the Society, your dues will increase from $25.00 per pay cheque to 1% up to a cap of $26.32/week (the maximum dues rate). When the affiliation takes effect, union dues will gradually increase to 1% over a determined transition period.  

There are no additional fees associated with joining the Society or being a member of the Society. Membership fees for organizations we wish to be a part of such as the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour and Regina & District Labour Council, will be covered at no additional cost to members.

Dues are democratically decided upon by the membership of the Society. As per the Society Constitution and Bylaws, the maximum dues rate will increase each April 1 by the weighted average of the economic increases the Society negotiated for its members during the fiscal year prior to each April 1. The maximum dues rate for fiscal year 2026 is $26.32/week. This dues formula was set through and can only be amended by a constitutional referendum supported by two-thirds of members that vote.

Union dues are tax deductible.

No.

If RCMMA joins the Society, your collective agreement will remain the same.

RCMMA members will set the bargaining priorities and elected RCMMA members will negotiate the collective agreement with the support of Society staff such as a Labour Relations Staff Officer. As is the case now, only RCMMA members will vote on whether to ratify a renegotiated collective agreement.

RCMMA will continue to be named RCMMA until such time that you decide to change it, or the Society membership (you included!) decide to adopt a specific naming convention. 

RCMMA members will be given the opportunity to participate in a membership referendum. For a referendum to be successful, more than 50% of the RCMMA members who cast ballots must vote in favour of joining the Society. This vote will occur online with an individual Simply Voting link that will be emailed to each member.

The voting period will take place from 8:00am on October 29 to 8:00pm on November 3, 2026. If the results are in favour of merging with the Society, there is a transition committee and detailed plan ready to go for a quick and easy process.

An affiliation agreement is a contract between two unions that outlines the details of how one union will join the other. Typically, this contract manages all terms and conditions relating to the affiliation like assets, dues, staff support, affiliation process, and termination rights.

Many templates for union affiliation agreements are in circulation. Our affiliation agreement will be discussed and signed by the RCMMA Executive and the Society Executive only after a favorable referendum vote.

The process to leave the Society will be outlined in the affiliation agreement. Typically, you leave the union the same way you join. In the case of RCMMA, the process will likely include a membership representation vote.

The biggest changes are probably going to be seen by RCMMA elected representatives:

• Learn and follow Society processes and policies. This will impact things like budgeting, titles of elected members, and familiarization of duties.
• RCMMA Local Executive Committee will participate in an annual budgeting activity that all Society Locals participate in. The Local budgets are approved by the Society Board and managed by the Local Executive Committees.
• Training will be provided by Society staff for members of the bargaining team and our stewards. 
• RCMMA will have access to professional resources and consistency year to year, including being assigned a Labour Relations Staff Representative located in Saskatchewan.

To most members, RCMMA will look very similar to how it looks now:

• RCMMA Executives and Representatives will continue to be the first line of support for members with issues and grievances.
• RCMMA will continue to hold regular member meetings and local leadership meetings.
• Members will continue to receive updates from the RCMMA Executive regarding bargaining and local news.