Public Employee - Spring 2021

CHILD CARE | CUPE 403 FIGHTS PRIVATIZATION | RAINBOW X-WALKS | JOIN CODEV

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SPRING 2021

Being Indigenous in CUPE MEMBERS SPEAK OUT ON CULTURE AND UNION ACTIVISM

ORGANIZING IN A PANDEMIC REACHING NEW WORKERS FROM A DISTANCE

2

LEADING US

PAUL FAORO, PRESIDENT

MEMBERS ON THE FR­ONT LINE

CUPE ACT ION

Keeping play before profit CUPE 403 FIGHTS PRIVATIZATION

“I close my final column as your president with heartfelt thanks to everyone I’ve worked with over the years, but most importantly to you: the more than 100,000 members who make up this great union.”

Connecting with our members never stops AS YOU READ THIS ISSUE OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, we’re well into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. While vaccines allow us to see light at the end of the tunnel, we’re still some distance from returning to “normal.”

In the pre-pandemic world, we’d be gearing up to welcome hundreds of delegates to CUPE BC’s annual convention — in person.

Needless to say, times have changed. Convention is an occasion I always look forward to: apart from dealing with important issues and helping to chart the future of our union, it’s such a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

But this year we’ll be doing our AGM (May 19–21) in a completely different way. It’s impossible to re-create the experience of an in-person convention online. That said, we’ll do everything we can to provide the best possible virtual experience for delegates.

Meanwhile, we’ve continued supporting our members on a daily basis even though in-person meetings haven’t been possible. Early on, we made investments in technology that allowed us to produce high-quality online and video presentations. Secretary-Treasurer Trevor Davies has taken the lead on this, organizing a series of webinars that have proven quite popular. The webinars have covered topics ranging from how to cope with seemingly constant change in digital media to how labour relations law is evolving during the pandemic. We’re planning additional webinars in the coming months, and we’ll do our best to focus on the issues that matter to CUPE members and their families. We’ve also been working to build a new website that will help us communicate more effectively with our members, the media and the public.

I am so proud of how our members have stepped up during this pandemic. Even during the worst of times, CUPE members continue to build strong communities by adapting to difficult circumstances, keeping vital public services running, and caring for your fellow citizens. No wonder more workers want to join us, and — as the Organizing feature in this issue makes clear — CUPE continues to reach new members despite the challenges of COVID. For this issue’s cover story, we’re excited to hear from Indigenous CUPE members about their experiences in union activism and their

thoughts on how to make our union better. In another feature, we make the case for seamless public child care in B.C. — something that’s long overdue for kids, parents, and schools in this province.

TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY | Already hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, municipal workers are facing off with another threat — privatization.

Spurred by Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese and Council’s discussions to explore contracting out fitness programs, CUPE 403 has launched a campaign to protect the community’s public rec centres, gyms, arenas, and pools.

“We are proud to serve our community by delivering the very best recreation and fitness programs,” says CUPE 403 President Sara Manchester. “We won’t be quiet and let Council use the pandemic as an excuse to privatize. CUPE 403 members won’t stand for it and we are sure the community won’t, either.”

CUPE 403’s Keep Play Before Profits campaign features transit shelter ads and a website from which community members can send messages to local politicians in support of public recreation.

“We are asking our friends and neighbours to send a clear message to the Mayor and Council — recreation should be for everyone, not just those in our community who can pay more for private, for-profit services,” says Manchester.

A personal note Earlier this year, I announced that I would not be seeking re-election as your president at our convention in May. This was a very difficult decision. After six years as president, and having served on the executive board for 14 years, I felt it was time to look for new challenges and opportunities. I’ve been a CUPE member since 1983, and it’s been an incredible honour to have earned the trust and support of so many of my fellow members across the province. I don’t yet know what the future holds in store, but I will always be a CUPE member at heart.

All of us in the labour movement stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. I’m proud to have served as secretarytreasurer alongside Mark Hancock, now our national president, and I’ve enjoyed every moment working with Trevor and our executive board who have helped make our union stronger than ever.

A special thanks to all the Division staff who have served our members so well: Darci Schmid, Lori Watt, Chika Buston, Wendy Monkhouse, Jolanta Osowska, Kristi Bounegru and our Director of Operations, Kiran Kooner. And I can’t forget her predecessor, Sharon Prescott, now retired, who provided years of dedicated service to three presidents and countless members of the executive board. I also want to thank all the National staff I’ve worked with over the years. Without their dedication and commitment, we wouldn’t have seen the incredible growth of our membership which has increased by nearly 20,000 in just six years.

I close my final column as your president with heartfelt thanks to everyone I’ve worked with over the years, but most importantly to you: the more than 100,000 members who make up this great union. I can leave with confidence that the next executive board and officers will continue to make CUPE BC even greater.

FOLLOW PAUL ON TWITTER @paulfaoro

LEAN ON ME CUPE 1004 member Tuesday Andrich, a day shift coordinator with the Portland Hotel Society, is one of hundreds of frontline CUPE members in Community Health in B.C. Workers like Tuesday provide mental health support for some of society’s most vulnerable while dealing with the overlapping challenges of the opioid crisis, housing crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic. Find out more about their work at bcchs.cupe.ca.

Save the PNE campaign continues

K–12 members persevere in keeping B.C. schools safe CUPE early learning and K–12 members continue to do an exemplary job while keeping students and staff safe in schools throughout the province. Priorities in this sector include retaining daytime custodians post-pandemic, standardizing credentials for education assistants, establishing seamless child care in schools, and overall provincial government funding for the sector.

Through advocacy on provincial committees, collective gains have included paid leave for members who are isolating when required by public health and in the case of school closures, improvements to notification times for COVID-19 exposures in schools, and the establishment of rapid response teams in all six health regions.

The CUPE K–12 sector is now active at bcschools.cupe.ca and on all social media. Go to @cupeK12bc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

VANCOUVER | CUPE 1004’s campaign to help ensure a beloved cultural institution recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, with hopes that governments will come together and save the Pacific National Exhibition.

The PNE has been left with little to no support through the pandemic. Since the Save the PNE campaign started last summer, the federal government has stepped in with support for several other exhibition facilities and cultural institutions across Canada.

CUPE 1004 is stepping up its effort for the same to be done for the PNE. CUPE members across B.C. are encouraged to visit SavethePNE.ca and send their own messages of support.

3

4

CUPE ACT ION

MEMBERS ON THE FR­ONT LINE

MEMBERS ON THE FR­ONT LINE

CUPE ACT ION

WORLD WATER DAY

VOICES

CUPE MEMBERS IN THE MEDIA “Our members are acutely aware how difficult this pandemic has been on many in our communities. In the spirit of the season, we hope these donations can help our neighbours who’ve been struggling.” — CUPE 1908 President Loreen Matousek, on the Local’s decision to donate $1,000 each to five regional charities — the SAFE Society, Shuswap Second Harvest, the Enderby and Salmon Arm food banks, and the Salvation Army in Salmon Arm for programs aimed at children and youth. Salmon Arm Observer, January 6, 2021.

“We are pleased with the new collective agreement and feel that it is progressive and inclusive. Our outgoing executive deserves credit for its success and we look forward to continuing a positive working relationship with the Town of Golden and providing services for the community.” — CUPE Local 2309 President Graeme Murphy, on a new five-year agreement between the Town of Golden and its 28 full- and part-time employees, reached after three days of negotiations. Golden Star, January 28, 2021.

“We realize it was somewhat difficult given that most of the bargaining meetings and the memorandum of agreement ratification took place online rather than in-person. We appreciate everyone’s ability to adapt to this unique circumstance.” — CUPE 2087 President Jean Poole expresses gratitude to both parties on reaching a new, four-year collective agreement after bargaining during the pandemic.

Trail Times, December 3, 2020.

Time to end the drought in Indigenous communities BURNABY | Around the world on March 22, World Water Day is recognized as a day to celebrate water and raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.

CUPE has a long history of defending public water and wastewater services, and our union represents water and wastewater workers across B.C. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of clean water to our health and safety. Throughout the public health crisis of COVID-19, there has been no disruption to water and wastewater services in To call for more concrete and the province.

Since its first declaration by effective federal government the United Nations in 1993, action, CUPE will soon be World Water Day has recognized launching the Water is Life that safe, reliable water and campaign, led by CUPE’s wastewater services are a human National Indigenous Council. right and the heart of healthy communities. But these rights are denied to many Indigenous communities in Canada and B.C. Ending First Nation boil water advisories by March 2021 was a key campaign promise of the Trudeau Liberals. As of this World Water Day, however, 57 First Nation water systems are still under advisories — over 30 per cent are in B.C. As of January 2021, 18 First Nation drinking water systems in B.C. were under a boil water or do not consume advisory. This means that approximately 3,000 First Nations people living on-reserve in B.C. don’t have access to safe drinking water.

To call for more concrete and effective federal government action, CUPE will soon be launching the Water is Life campaign, led by CUPE’s National Indigenous Council. The campaign will highlight the urgent need for safe, reliable and well-maintained water and wastewater systems in Indigenous communities.

“I look forward to bringing my years of experience as an elected official into my new role as MLA. I am proud to be a part of a team that has a plan for a better future and I’m going to work hard to advance the issues facing our community in the Legislature.” — Former CUPE 3787 President Dan Coulter, the successful NDP candidate in Chilliwack, thanks voters for putting their faith in him as their new MLA. Chilliwack Progress, November 26, 2020.

“Restrictions have to be accompanied by solutions…One year into this pandemic, Canada remains the only country in the G7 without a plan to help the airline sector weather the pandemic, and defend tens of thousands of good jobs.”

— CUPE Air Canada Component President Wesley Lesosky comments on Air Canada’s temporary lay-offs of 1,500 unionized employees due to cancelled international routes as a result of reduced travel during the pandemic. Times Colonist, February 10, 2021.

CLEAN, CLEAR, AND PUBLIC CUPE 900 member Shawn Danyluk works as an operator at Rayleigh Waterworks in Kamloops.

CUPE national campaign aimed at reversing post-secondary cuts

ON THE CASE CUPE BC’s outgoing Universities (left) and Colleges committees have been strong advocates of restoring public funding to post-secondary education.

Decades of funding cuts by a succession of regressive federal governments have undermined quality, affordability and accessibility of public colleges and universities in every part of the country.

In British Columbia, this situation was compounded by 16 years of BC Liberal cuts that ultimately produced a net 20 per cent reduction in per-student funding.

Despite recent investments by B.C.’s NDP government, evidence of these multigenerational cuts can be seen on campuses across the province through exploding

which calls on federal and provincial governments to work together on a national plan for education.

Key campaign demands include restoring at least $3 billion in federal funding, eliminating interest rates on national student loans (the BC NDP have already eliminated interest on the B.C. portion), increasing support for Indigenous education, and limiting the use of precarious workers and contract positions.

To add your support to the campaign, visit educationforall.ca.

class sizes, deteriorating facilities, widespread precarity and privatization, and skyrocketing student debt.

As Canada emerges from COVID-19, post-secondary education will be a key tool of recovery. Colleges and universities can play a leading role in shining a spotlight on the damage done by years of austerity, providing a unique opportunity to reshape the system and restore public funding.

Together with a coalition of labour and student organization partners, CUPE has launched the Education for All campaign,

ONSTAGE AND ONLINE Lloyd Balser, seen here operating newly installed streaming equipment, is one of several CUPE 2950 members whose work enabled UBC’s Chan Centre to maintain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CUPE 2950

The Show Must Go On KEEPING THE ARTS ALIVE AT UBC’S CHAN CENTRE VANCOUVER | CUPE 2950 members at UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts were devastated when COVID-19 turned out the lights. But within days of closing, staff were already adapting to meet challenging public health orders that prevented events and gatherings.

Through hard work and innovation, staff converted to virtual platforms and the Centre is now hosting and broadcasting performances to local, national and global audiences. This work is helping on- and off-campus arts organizations reach new and existing audiences and providing much-needed online ticket revenue in the process.

The work and leadership of CUPE members at the Chan Centre has shown how the performing arts can be made more accessible — even after the pandemic ends and in-person shows resume.

For the full story, visit cupe.bc.ca.

5

6

CUPE FOCUS

ORGANIZING

ORGANIZING

Solidarity from a distance HOW CUPE IS REACHING NEW MEMBERS DURING THE PANDEMIC UNION ORGANIZING is about making life better for workers by ensuring that workplaces are safe, compensation is fair and everyone’s contributions are respected. Reaching new CUPE members is a lot harder than it sounds: the process of having workers join a union can be cumbersome, often as a result of unfair barriers imposed by employers.

The first job of a union organizer is to build trust with unorganized workers to help them overcome those obstacles to fair representation and collective action.

Traditionally, organizers have relied on face-to-face connections to build the trust and understanding required for unorganized workers to take the important steps towards unionization. Whether it’s a meeting over coffee, a gathering outside a worksite, or visits to workers’ homes, these personal connections have been key in overcoming the negative messages and fear tactics many employers use.

Along the organizing path are many steps that can seem bureaucratic, technical and overly challenging. It is the personal commitments of each worker to the betterment of the group, the trust between each other, that helps overcome adversity and achieve the ultimate goal of a fair, just and democratic workplace with equal collective rights for all.

The pandemic has underscored the benefits of belonging to a union for non-unionized workers. Those who work alongside CUPE members are often not treated as fairly as workers protected by a collective agreement.

Organizing and COVID-19 UNION STRENGTH New members of CUPE 1004, peer The safety protocols of COVID-19 have been a huge employees at the Portland Hotel Society, with CUPE 1004 challenge to the normal practices of organizing. Not only President Andrew Ledger in the Downtown Eastside. are the conventional face-to-face interactions prohibited, but workers have become much more difficult to find.

Laza highlights the importance of social media as a key With many working remotely from home, contacts are harder to organizing tool and a good example of the Department’s evolving make, committees more difficult to establish, and momentum more work. But online platforms are often impersonal, so it’s been a challenging to build. challenge to connect on a human level, she adds: articulating the For these reasons, CUPE’s Organizing department knew that sincerity and honesty of the help being offered to workers has working in a pandemic would not be business as usual. To bring in always been key to developing trusting relationships. new members, CUPE organizers knew they needed to get creative and develop different tools to get the message out. This has meant BC government ensures fairness for workers doing much of the work virtually, rather than relying on proven Just as COVID-19 safety protocols drastically changed the way tactics that were no longer available.

CUPE interacts with unorganized workers, they also forced a “Working outside the box is challenging because there’s no number of key changes to the rules governing how workers join a playbook and you are trying things for the first time,” says CUPE union. From the use of electronic union cards to online and mail-in Organizer Tamara Laza. “We are regularly developing new ideas, balloting, and the use of virtual platforms for hearings, B.C.’s revising our strategies and our approach to better connect with Labour Board (the body that oversees the unionization process and workers.”

CUPE FOCUS

resolves disputes) implemented wholesale changes to ensure the pandemic did not result in workers being disenfranchised. Key in these changes was the Board’s broadening participation eligibility to ensure that COVID-19 didn’t limit workers’ rights to join a union.

Without these interventions by the B.C. government, pandemic safely protocols would have created new barriers to joining a union. Considering the approach of past B.C. Liberal governments over 16 years in office, it is not hard to imagine how a regressive government could have used safety restrictions to deny workers’ rights, and limit access to fair representation.

COVID-19 organizing successes With the support of labour board adaptations and a new, innovative strategy, CUPE organizers have been hard at work over the past months helping workers achieve fairness in their workplaces. The results have been clear as the last year has seen a number of successful organizing drives in all manner of workplaces.

One such victory, a campaign in which thinking outside the box made a big difference, was in the Township of Langley where CUPE 403 (municipal workers) welcomed If you know any workers 147 recreation and cultural workers seeking representation, to their Local. To make this happen, organizers first needed a way please connect with your to connect to these prospective CUPE local or national members beyond simple e-mailing. representative.

Setting up regular Zoom check-ins with the inside committee, organizers invited the workers to join the sessions and ask questions. During a time when people were afraid to leave their homes and those who were single felt isolated, the personal connection provided by a phone call or a text was significant.

Recreation workers voted overwhelming to join Local 403.

Since then, the Township of Langley council — taking advantage of pandemic conditions — has begun exploring ways to privatize recreation services. Local activists are hard at work on a campaign to counter these efforts (see story, Page 3).

Lessons learned Reflecting on the past year’s challenges and successes, Organizing Coordinator Aaron Young says the pandemic has also opened the door to new possibilities in organizing thanks to online strategies and tactics.

“COVID has moved us forward technologically at least five years,” says Young. “New digital platforms have the potential to reach more unorganized workers in a way we never could have done solely with in-person tactics.”

New organizer Cameron Eby sees the value of both new and old tactics: “With the new virtual and online platforms, you don’t need to book a space or travel. It’s a great way to connect to your inside committee.”

If you know any workers seeking representation, please connect with your CUPE local or national representative. For more information about joining CUPE and organizing resources, please visit cupe.ca/join-cupe

REACHING OUT As a member organizer, fitness professional Cathy Johnson brings new members into CUPE by sharing her own union experience and describing positive changes gained through collective agreements.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED

BY CUPE DURING COVID-19 Carnegie Community Centre Association, Vancouver, January 21, 2020 English Language for Academic Purposes (LEAP), Langara College, Vancouver, February 11, 2020 Regional Animal Protection Society Animal Shelter and Regional Animal Protection Society Cat Sanctuary, Richmond, March 23, 2020 North Shore Disability Resource Centre Association, North Vancouver, April 3, 2020 Fitness and Cultural Workers, Township of Langley, June 11, 2020 Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), July 9, 2020 North Vancouver Museum and Archives Commission, July 9, 2020 Cultus Lake Parks Board, Sunnyside Campground, Chilliwack, July 10, 2020 Victim Services department, City of Maple Ridge, July 21, 2020 Cultus Lake Parks Board, Visitors Services and Cabins, Chilliwack, July 28, 2020 Sources Community Resources Society (Stayte House), Surrey, October 20, 2020 Peer harm reduction workers, Portland Hotel Society, Vancouver January 13, 2021 Inside administrative staff, Port Hardy, January 15, 2021 SPCA — Good Shephard Barn and Surrey Education and Adoption Centre, Richmond, January 26, 2021

7

COVER STORY

Why have we, as Committee members, been moved to take action in our union?

Being Indigenous in CUPE CUPE BC’s Indigenous Workers Committee was established to provide information, awareness and education to Indigenous CUPE members within the province, and the CUPE BC executive and membership as a whole. For this issue of Public Employee, committee members were asked to reflect on their role within CUPE and how their culture informs their union activism. They also considered ways to build solidarity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. What follows is an edited compilation of individual responses presented as a collective voice.

What are the challenges of fitting culture into a political system?

Canadian parliamentary democracy is a colonial system, and union structures are steeped in colonial traditions. As Indigenous people, we have different ways of governing and operate on a more consensus-based model in which Elders have a prominent role. Traditional union structure does not address the needs of Indigenous CUPE members in a way that is culturally aware or sensitive; political systems in general are dominated by issues of power, control, and rules — which, for Indigenous people, are reminiscent of colonial history and residential schools.

Another challenge is that Indigenous CUPE members come from many different Indigenous backgrounds and thus bring multiple protocols to be shared in a union context: we want to be recognized as separate Indigenous peoples with our own uniqueness, so finding a common approach while still being inclusive to differences is extremely important. Fortunately, our leaders within CUPE BC have been supportive and flexible in helping us, as committee members, to walk with a foot in both Indigenous and political worlds. One example is that our first step in choosing our Indigenous leaders is by consensus, during our Indigenous caucus.

Why join the CUPE BC Indigenous Workers Committee?

Diversity and inclusion are priorities for our locals, so we all wanted to make them more of a priority for CUPE BC. We wanted to help educate CUPE members on how to support Reconciliation within the union structure and assist in developing practices that help us grow as a diverse union. We also wanted to make a difference for Indigenous CUPE members, many of whom do not have a voice or understand what CUPE is all about.

One of us was moved to activism by the wisdom of her grandmother, who had recently passed away. She had been a great teacher — every moment in her presence was an opportunity to learn more about culture. So our sister wanted to share the wisdom of a beloved Elder with fellow union members, passing on knowledge to help future generations.

To become part of CUPE and participate as members of this committee, most of us began our union journey by getting involved at PHOTO BY LISA GREGORY the local level. This meant talking to our locals and joining their committees, serving as shop stewards, and getting elected to attend Convention and conferences. With the passion to make a difference, and with support from our sisters and brothers, we were then ready to serve on this committee.

We seek to change union bylaws that do not address the needs of our Indigenous members nor create a space that is culturally safe and supportive. CUPE’s strength as a union also gives us an opportunity to address many of the issues facing our people on a political level and turn action on these issues into a union priority: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s 94 calls to action, support for Residential School Survivors, the Red Dress campaign, the Moose Hide campaign, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and events such as Orange Shirt Day and National Indigenous Peoples Day. Things are getting better, as the Union has begun to understand the UNDRIP and the TRC calls to action, but there is still a long way to go.

How can Indigenous members make a difference in our union?

In our union experience to date, some of us have addressed racial, diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace and have had to help both members and employers understand the complexities of issues such as cultural competency, safety, and inclusion. This is an important role, but Indigenous members should have a place at the table where decisions are made.

We need to be a bigger part of local bargaining, grievance procedure, shop stewarding, and union education. CUPE’s creation of Diversity groups is an important first step in building greater understanding, but in 2021 our communities have already begun moving past a segregated approach to equality.

To truly reconcile as a union, we need to focus on integrating Indigenous CUPE members into the union at large. Part of this means prioritizing the inclusion of Indigenous members on any or all CUPE BC committees, and it means recognizing that Indigenous members have more to share with our union than just cultural knowledge.

With more inclusion at the CUPE BC and local committee levels, more Indigenous

ON THE CALENDAR CUPE BC Indigenous Workers Committee member Shelley Sage Ricci (left) at the 2019 Red Dress gathering in Surrey. Indigenous CUPE members would like to see a higher union priority placed on events of historical and cultural significance to First Nations, Inuit and Métis. members will be able to grow in their activism and advance in their leadership to the point that more will run as candidates for positions other than that of Indigenous VP, and thus hold the same level of respect as non-Indigenous CUPE members running for the same leadership positions.

Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll even see an Indigenous CUPE BC or CUPE National president.

What can non-Indigenous CUPE members do to promote Reconciliation?

Take time to listen to concerns with an open mind and heart. Try not to listen defensively — just to prepare a response — but instead make an effort to hear people’s true point of view and experience. Engage in honest conversations about Indigenous history and truths. Encourage other allies to help speak our truth, which is the first part of Reconciliation. In terms of practical steps, acknowledging the land you are on is a great start, for this recognition ensures that Indigenous people are seen. Also take time to read and understand the TRC’s 94 calls to action and the UNDRIP documents, and really

look at possible ways to support changes to your workplaces.

Before making those changes, though, be sure to consult with Indigenous members to ensure that your ideas for change are culturally appropriate. If you’re on a local executive, make a point of inviting Indigenous workers to more events for general members, and work with CUPE on the role you can play in being an ally — such as helping to change union systems and structures that support a power imbalance. As for racism, always address inappropriate comments and actions clearly and forcefully, as nonIndigenous people carry the most power to stop bigotry in its tracks.

Finally, recognize that you’re not alone, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You will not be judged. Instead, by entering into open dialogue with Indigenous CUPE members, you will make a positive difference for generations to come.

OW X-WALKS | JOIN CODEV CHILD CARE | CUPE 403 FIGHTS PRIVATIZATION | RAINB

IC PUBL EMPLOYEE SPRING 2021

Being Indigenous in CUPE

MEMBERS SPEAK OUT ON CULTURE AND UNION ACTIVISM

ORGANIZING IN A PANDEMIC REACHING NEW WORKERS FROM

A DISTANCE

ON THE COVER CUPE 389 member Dallas Guss is an education assistant, Indigenous support worker and cultural support worker at various schools throughout the North Vancouver school district. To find out more about Dallas, visit bcschools.cupe.ca.

10

CUPE FOCUS

CHILD CARE

MEENA BRISARD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR

LINKING LABOUR

Meena Brisard, centre, with members of CUPE 402-02 at Surrey Public Library’s main branch.

Affordable, high quality, public — and universal CUPE CALLS FOR SHIFT TO SCHOOL-BASED DELIVERY OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE FOR TOO LONG NOW, B.C. families who need child care haven’t been able to get their kids into affordable spaces close to home.

Despite progress by the provincial government in delivering more affordable and accessible child care spaces, high fees and long waitlists remain significant barriers for many families. Even with recent investments by the Horgan government, the number of available licensed child care spaces in B.C. accounts for only 20 per cent of the children who need it.

While families struggle to find adequate child care, and the Province works to expand the current system, a better solution has been left mostly unexplored: the direct provision of early learning and care in existing elementary school facilities by school districts.

Exploring an integrated approach to early childhood education and care using the ‘seamless day’ model, CUPE is promoting a plan to create the next 10,000 child care spaces in B.C. by providing school-based delivery of school-age child care.

“Hopefully this new model will help to increase the appreciation of their work as well as that of Educational Assistants (EAs), resulting in increased compensation and improved working conditions,” she says. “It would also be a publicly funded and quality child care program that is both more affordable and readily accessible to families.”

CUPE’s research has shown that thousands of potentially costeffective spaces for before- and after-school care exist in public schools close to every family and could be up and running very quickly. Opening these spaces would significantly increase available child care, while delivering a very high quality, value-added system of early childhood education.

A plan that works

The Okanagan Similkameen school district implemented a Seamless Day Pilot Project in September 2019. The district has found that the pilot has led to more customized care and learning, with Fixing the problem increased access to one-on-one assistance. Themes Up to now, child care services in B.C. have been and learning from the school day were integrated “The goal is to deliver a provided mostly through specialized agencies through focused, purposeful play, as well as teaching seamless child care plan in the private sector or publicly through the and learning. that works better for provincially-funded community social services This three-year pilot project in Oliver, based on all British Columbians.” sector. Most of these services are too expensive for similar models in Norway and Waterloo, Ontario, many families. As well, child care services in the has received rave reviews from parents and staff. Its — Sheryl Burns non-profit sector have been stretched to the limit. success proves that the seamless day model outlined “Over the years I’ve been working in community social services, by academics and advocates actually works. my observation has been that the provision of child care in B.C. “The goal,” says Burns, “is to deliver a seamless child care plan is fractured. Early childhood educators (ECEs) are not adequately that works better for all British Columbians while ensuring that compensated for the work they do or for their expertise. Nor are CUPE members are at the heart of those programs that provide they valued for their work,” says CUPE 1936 President Sheryl Burns, high quality education for children who access child care.” noting that the proposal to shift child care into the Ministry of To find out more about seamless child care in B.C. schools, visit Education highlights the educational importance of ECEs. buildseamlesschildcare.ca.

How your union is taking a leading role in the recovery WHEN IT COMES TO picking up the

pieces of a shattered economy amidst a global pandemic, one thing is clear after the first full year of COVID-19: unions have played a key role in the B.C. recovery effort, CUPE foremost among them.

This is no idle boast. Whether it’s working with municipalities or provincial Meena Brisard and federal governments, your union has not only been a vocal advocate for keeping members at work and public services running; we’ve also been part of the solution in finding ways to make that happen safely. We have done research on the impact of service cuts and closures — not only on CUPE members but also on the public that relies on the services you provide. And we’ve developed guidance documents for safe re-openings that are enabling people to return to work.

Making the case for reopening Early on in the pandemic, many critical public services remained closed while non-essential retail outlets were allowed to open.

This remains a big problem, especially as our research confirms that marginalized people — members of equity-seeking groups, workers on low income, and people who rely on access to community social services — are disproportionately affected by COVID-19’s impacts.

Public recreation centres and libraries, and their services, are critical to physical and mental health for the less privileged. Many community members who rely on public fitness centres to stay healthy can’t afford high priced memberships at private gyms.

And public libraries, in addition to their educational function as a source of information, serve as community hubs: they provide a warm and safe haven for the homeless and other marginalized people, and a place to connect for seniors who live in isolation.

While certain municipal and library programs remain cancelled,

we have made the case for facilities to reopen, and we will keep up that fight until all of our members are safely back to work.

We’ve had a tougher time in the post-secondary sector, where B.C. colleges and universities have seen a high number of layoffs. While trying to get these members back to work, we’ve also been working hard to support teaching assistants, support services staff and other members whose work has been moved to the virtual campus.

Keeping our schools safe For members of our biggest sector, the most important question — once the K–12 school restart was confirmed for September — was how to safely reopen schools and maintain a safe workplace. In a collaborative effort with the provincial government, CUPE has been involved with ongoing stakeholder meetings in which our input has been sought every step of the way.

Consulting with the Ministry of Education and health and safety committees, we’ve made sure that proper security measures are put in place. And, after years of CUPE advocacy for more funding for school Your union has not only been custodians — positions cut by a vocal advocate for keeping the BC Liberals — government will now provide extra money members at work and public to clean our schools, with services running; we’ve also been 300 new custodian positions part of the solution in finding for daytime cleaners added. ways to make that happen safely.

Those positions are funded for this year, and we are advocating for them to continue into 2021‑22, with an eye to making this funding permanent.

Needless to say, a lot of hard work has gone into meeting the challenges of COVID-19’s first year. I want to recognize and thank our B.C. regional staff for their continuing efforts on behalf of all CUPE members in B.C., and to local executives and health and safety committees, for the incredible work you’ve all done to keep workers and communities safe — and our members employed.

11

12

CUPE COMMUNITIES

MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Celebrating Black leaders

BUILDING CANADA Michele Alexander holds a photo of her great-great grandfather, Cecil Caesar Lane, who is featured along with her great-great grandmother Emma, in North of the Gully, a history of Saskatchewan’s first immigrants.

A $6,000 boost for diversity in the Valley TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY | CUPE BC has donated $6,000 to complete the necessary funding for a rainbow crosswalk in Langley Township, crossing from the School District office to the Langley RCMP detachment.

“The rainbow crosswalk is symbolic, but it’s symbolic of something really important: there is no room in our communities for homophobia or transphobia,” said CUPE BC President Paul Faoro.

“As an organization that’s committed to fighting intolerance and hatred, we wanted to step up to make sure this project was fully funded. I’m pleased our executive board agreed, and I know our Locals in Langley are in full support.”

Members of CUPE 403 will paint the crosswalk. The other project partners are the Langley School Board and District, Langley School District Foundation, District Parent Advisory Council, Langley RCMP, and Township of Langley.

CUPE COMMUNITIES

Want to make a difference in Latin America? Join CoDev

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month, also known as African Heritage Month, recognizes the important contribution of Black Canadians, the diversity of the Black community, and its importance to our collective history. Held every February, it’s also a time of reflection, an opportunity to learn more about the history of Black enslavement and the ongoing discrimination and bigotry against, and criminalization of, people of African descent.

This year, CUPE BC’s Workers of Colour committee produced a poster featuring historic Black leaders in B.C. The poster, mailed to all locals, is also available on the committee’s web page: cupe.bc.ca/workers_of_colour_committee. CUPE BC Facebook posts throughout the month provided links to in-depth information about those featured on the poster and other Black leaders.

“With what is going on in the world right now, it is very important that we take the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Canadians,” said committee chair Michele Alexander.

“We need to celebrate Black culture and honour Black ancestors and leaders.”

MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

SISTERS UNITED On March 8, CUPE BC Women’s Committee members watched the spoken word video, #ChoosetoChallenge, and accepted the challenge to help forge a gender-equal world.

Women’s Committee chooses to challenge This year’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) was “Choose to Challenge,” and on March 8 the CUPE BC Women’s Committee heeded the call with a special Zoom meeting.

“On this day we connect in solidarity, empower each other, and appreciate women’s contributions to the Labour Movement and our communities,” said Committee Chair Amber Leonard.

The Committee reviewed IWD history, shared personal stories, and completed the work of the committee including approval of convention resolutions.

The 2021 IWD theme encourages all of us to challenge patriarchal inequities and barriers that women face. Women, particularly marginalized women, have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

For more than thirty-five years, CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev) has been helping B.C. unions build solidarity beyond borders — and with CUPE BC’s help.

Building partnerships between like-minded organizations in Canada and Latin America that go beyond financial aid, the B.C.-based NGO — whose staff are members of CUPE 1004 — runs a number of projects with CUPE BC that foster learning, social change, and community empowerment.

CoDev facilitates our union’s health and safety training assistance to municipal workers in Havana, Cuba. It manages CUPE BC’s project with women workers to improve working conditions in Honduran and Nicaraguan sweatshops. And it enables our collaboration with Colombian rights groups in accompanying Indigenous, Black and labour organizations that face a wave of killings, abductions and threats. These MUCHAS GRACIAS Havana municipal worker union reps pose connections have helped CUPE become a respected force in in CUPE BC gear during a project visit in November 2019. defense of human, women’s and labour rights internationally.

(MONIQUE MÉNARD PHOTO) Over the years, CoDev has learned the importance of CoDev seeks a broad base of supporters to help it encourage in-Canada action to protect rights in Latin America. This means turning the Canadian government to adopt policies consistent with a lens on our federal government, which — through its aggressive respect for human rights and community-led development promotion of Canadian corporations, its tacit backing of coups, or its throughout the Americas. support for regimes linked to organized crime — enacts policies that For more information or to become a CoDev member, please can worsen human rights situations while displacing communities and visit codev.org. enabling environmental destruction.

Giving back for the holidays

GORDIE LARKIN (1940–2021)

The spirit of giving was strong with CUPE locals over the holiday season. After a challenging year, many were eager to give back to their communities.

On Vancouver Island, CUPE 50 (Victoria municipal) donated $7,500 to charities coping with the pandemic. “CUPE members have been on the front line during the pandemic. We see the toll it’s taking on our neighbours. We hope these donations lighten the load,” said CUPE 50 President John Burrows.

In the central Okanagan, CUPE 338 CUPE 1908’s Loreen (municipal) donated $15,000 to Matousek and Hugh charities assisting people hit hardest Bennett with donations to by the pandemic. the Salmon Arm food bank.

In Richmond, CUPE 716 (K–12) donated $1,000 to Nova Transition House, a safe haven for women and children to escape domestic violence, which has spiked during COVID-19.

As well as donations, some locals spread social-distanced holiday cheer.

In Fort Nelson, CUPE 2167 (municipal) took its annual holiday party mobile. Teaming up with the local movie theatre, members delivered popcorn for at-home movie nights.

“Even though we couldn’t have a party, it still felt like the local was celebrating together,” said CUPE 2167 President Shelia McMillan.

Longtime labour activist and Canadian Labour Congress rep Gordie Larkin passed away on January 7 after a lengthy battle with COVID-19. Delegates to CUPE BC conventions will remember Gordie as the guitar player who for many years opened proceedings with his renditions of “O Canada” and “Solidarity Forever,” but his contributions to the labour movement were much more than that.

His career in the labour movement began in the late 1960s when he became active in the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. In 1978 he began working for the Canadian Labour Congress, in which capacity he was for decades a fixture at the Harrison Winter School. Gordie helped educate, entertain and inspire generations of SO LONG, DEAR FRIEND labour activists who Gordie Larkin opens CUPE BC’s attended the school. 50th anniversary convention in 2013 with ‘Solidarity Forever.’

13

14

POWER IN NUMBERS

TREVOR DAVIES, SECRETARY-TREASURER

CUPE BC PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PUBLISHED BY

Canadian Union of Public Employees, British Columbia Division 410 – 6222 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, B.C. V5H 0G3

Managing risk: A never-ending burden One of the most important Writing our own ‘playbook’ responsibilities of your secretaryOne lesson I learned from my background in Occupational Health treasurer is ensuring that B.C.’s and Safety: while you can research every possible risk scenario, largest union is ready to respond to you will always face an unforeseen situation and will need to whatever challenges we happen to respond to the best of your abilities. face when they arise. Historically, While bad employers, government attacks, and even these challenges come from automation of our members’ work are significant threats for employers attacking our members’ which we always prepare, there was no playbook for COVID-19: wages, benefits and working for a labour union, a global pandemic isn’t something we think Trevor Davies conditions or from right-wing about during our risk analysis. But even though we didn’t governments attacking labour and human rights in B.C., the rest specifically identify and prepare for it, the consequences were of Canada, and abroad. How quickly and effectively we’re able similar to those of other threats we have anticipated, so we were to respond to these attacks through job actions or multi-staged able to adapt and deal head-on with the hardships our locals and campaigns depends, in large part, on the energy and commitment members were facing as a result of COVID. of our activists on the ground. But it also depends very much on Because we were prepared, CUPE BC was able to provide our having the assets — that is, enough certainty that our operations could continue. Staff training money in the Defence Fund — to cover for online virtual support began immediately, and soon “While you can research the necessary strike pay and campaign after that we launched the biggest financial emergency every possible risk scenario, expenses. Thus, building the Fund has support effort in CUPE to date: we were able to provide you will always face an always been a priority. a $500,000 pandemic fund that allowed B.C. locals and Obviously, attacks on our membership unforeseen situation and district councils to purchase the assets they needed to such as contract stripping, lockouts or will need to respond to the support their members virtually. privatization can have brutal impacts on The main lesson from all this? Financial risk management best of your abilities.” a personal level: through lost income and isn’t exactly a common agenda item at local executive deteriorating working conditions, workers meetings, but it ought to be. Sure, you may never predict all face consequences ranging from financial hardship to mental the risks. But the exercise itself will help build the skills — and, health challenges and marriage breakdown, to name a few. But likely, the resources — that you’ll need to be able to respond to any attack on our membership also results in the loss of current or whatever challenge you happen to face as a union. future income for CUPE BC, which in turn affects our ability to fight on our members’ behalf.

All in the CUPE family During a strike, money flows out from our Defence Fund for Kathryn and I want to thank all the CUPE locals and members strike pay at the same time we’re earning less income because who sent kind words and support after the birth of our second those members are obviously not paying dues while standing up daughter, Sophie, who joined us and big sister Audrey on for their rights on a picket line. Thus, to ensure that our day-toJanuary 22, 2021. After a year of being socially distant and relying day operations — everything from committee work, conventions, on virtual connection, it was a great reminder of the solidarity and conferences to office expenses for staffing and rent — keep and fraternity that exists with being a member of CUPE. running smoothly, we must prepare for the risk of income interruption: the elimination of total or partial income for an extended period of time.

FOLLOW TREVOR ON TWITTER @TreasurerTrevor

POSTAL AGREEMENT # 42016512 T: 604.291.9119 TOLL FREE: 1.877.263.8568 E: info@cupe.bc.ca

UNION EDUCATION DOESN’T STOP FOR A PANDEMIC…

PRESIDENT

COVID-19 has prevented us from holding our highly popular week-long schools, but that

EDITOR

hasn’t stopped us from offering our powerful learning tools for CUPE members — we’ve

Dan Gawthrop

simply moved them online.

CONTRIBUTORS

Now you can sign up for union development workshops designed specifically for pandemic times, including: ■■

VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Learn how to run a membership meeting online, using features in Zoom and other virtual meeting platforms to present reports, move and discuss motions, and vote. (April 13)

■■

■■

Paul Faoro SECRETARY-TREASURER

Trevor Davies

Steven Beasley Clay Suddaby Janet Szliske Greg Taylor PHOTOS

CUPE Communications, Josh Berson

PREVENTING PRIVATIZATION AT WORK: PROTECTING PUBLIC SERVICES DURING COVID-19 Here you’ll learn to recognize the signs that privatization is coming to your workplace, be prepared, strategize and plan to stop it before it starts. (COMING SOON!)

GRAPHIC DESIGN

HEALTH & SAFETY WEBINAR: WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COVID ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? (for Health and Safety activists – April 13) An online presentation on the Occupational Health & Safety implications of COVID-19 and recommended practices.

Josh Berson

… and many more!

To find the workshop that’s right for you, visit the Union Education Calendar at cupe.ca.

Or keep an eye out for CUPE BC e-blasts where workshops will also be highlighted.

Then talk to your local about getting booked off your shift for the workshop and register at the website using your non-employer e-mail address.

Pete Tuepah and Nadene Rehnby, Hands On Publications COVER PHOTO BACK COVER ART

Samantha Monckton, Talking Dog Communications CUPE BC acknowledges that our province of British Columbia is located on the homelands of Indigenous nations and cultures.

Visit the website at Attention all members: