2017 Mike Skinner Activist Award

Mary Ellen CampbellUncategorized

We are now accepting nominations for the annual CUPE 3906 MIKE SKINNER ACTIVIST AWARD!

The Mike Skinner Activist Award is a member-mandated award offered by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3906 on an annual basis. Its title honours long-time labour activist and former CUPE 3906 Staff Member Mike Skinner.

The value of this year’s award is $500 to one person (or committee), an award certificate and an inscription on the Mike Skinner Activist Award plaque. This award is open to all current members of CUPE 3906 (this includes all Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants in lieu, Sessional Faculty, Hourly-Rated Sessional Music Faculty and Postdoctoral Fellows), andanyone who has been a member of the local within the past 12 months.

The nomination period for this award is from March 1st, 2017 to March 31st, 2017.

If a suitable candidate has been active in your organization or department, or if you have seen a suitable candidate around campus or the in community, we invite you to nominate them for this award.

Specifically, the recipient of the Mike Skinner Activist Award may have been involved in the following possible issues over the course of their stay at McMaster University:

  • Fighting for social justice issues (these issues are diverse and can include environmental justice, labour solidarity, gender equality, equity issues, and the advancement of peace);
  • Promoting the welfare of humanity and the environment and the elimination of pain and suffering through acts of community organizing, education and/or solidarity.

This is not an exhaustive list, but includes a few common examples of the things that past award winners have been involved in and that the selection committee considers.

Please review the award criteria, and, when writing your letter of nomination and seeking supporting letters from others, include the nominee’s specific contributions. The main criteria are:

  • Impact of their service to the community;
  • Length and level of involvement or commitment of the nominee to their act of community service;
  • The dedication and courage of the nominee’s activism.

The selection committee is comprised of members of the CUPE 3906 executive and members-at-large. Members of the selection committee cannot nominate a candidate. Members of the selection committee who have personal ties with the nominees must yield their place to another member of the Executive or a CUPE member-at-large nominated by the members of the selection committee.

To download the nomination form, and for nomination instructions, please click here.

This year’s Activist Awards will be presented at the Annual General Meeting on April 5th, 2017. We look forward to receiving your nomination of an amazing CUPE 3906 member activist.

Have questions? Email president@cupe3906.org or staff@cupe3906.org