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.