AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE | BCFED RENEWAL | LOCAL HERO | MEMBERS ELECTED
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WINTER 2019
MEETING THE CHALLENGES
K–12 members are front and centre in making our schools better Education Assistants at Grand Forks Secondary School (L-R back row): Karie Hildebrandt, Megan Phelps, Geoff Gobbett, Amy Holitzki, Nancy Leitch and (L-R front row) Jessie McGraw and Debbie Cumming.
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LEADING US
PAUL FAORO, PRESIDENT
What a year it was — and what a year lies ahead! ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES FOR TWO BY-ELECTIONS AND A FEDERAL VOTE For CUPE BC, 2018 was an amazing year. The first full year of a BC NDP government that’s working to fix the damage done over 16 years of right-wing BC Liberals in power in Victoria; an historic referendum on how we vote; and impressive growth in CUPE that saw our B.C. Paul Faoro membership swell to 92,000, making us by far the biggest union in the province. Looking at the calendar for 2019, we can already see how busy this year is going to be. For starters, there’s a crucial provincial by-election Our union and our early in the year in Nanaimo, where members are engaged CUPE BC will be pulling out all the in and care about stops and working with members in their communities, that constituency to help elect the and above all else BC NDP’s Sheila Malcolmson as the that’s why we’re new MLA. The by-election is required to replace former MLA Leonard Krog, active in politics. who was elected Nanaimo mayor in October. If our provincial minority government is to survive for a full four-year term, we must work together to win this by-election. At some point in early 2019, once Prime Minister Justin Trudeau actually calls a by-election, we’ll also be working hard with members in the federal riding of Burnaby South to elect NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (seen above at the BCFED Convention) as the new MP. It’s really important that we do everything in our power to elect Jagmeet so that our Leader can take his seat in Parliament — and, just as importantly, so that residents of Burnaby South have representation in Ottawa after the NDP’s Kennedy
Stewart resigned as MP to become the new mayor of Vancouver. This by-election comes before the full federal election on October 21. We’ll have our hands full here in B.C., ensuring that we elect as many NDP MPs as possible to hold back the tide of rightwing extremism that is rising in other parts of the country. Prior to the federal election in October, we’ll have CUPE BC’s 56th annual Convention in Victoria (May 1–4). I’m already looking forward to seeing delegates from all over the province as we come together to set our Union’s course for the next year. In June we will play host to CUPE’s Western Municipal Conference in Kelowna, so I know our members in the municipal sector will be looking forward to that. After nearly three years as your president, I can tell you it never really “slows down” at CUPE BC. If we’re not in the middle of a campaign, there’s always one on the horizon. And of course we are always ready to back up and support all of our locals and members across the province. I want to congratulate Barb Nederpel and Betty Valenzuela, newly elected president and financial secretary, respectively, of our sister union, the Hospital Employees’ Union. And huge thanks to outgoing HEU officers Victor Elkins and Donisa Bernardo for their years of service to their union and the labour movement in B.C. and across the country. And finally, a very special thank you to Sharon Prescott. Sharon retired at the end of 2018 after 19 years as CUPE BC’s executive assistant to the president, and more recently as director of operations at the B.C. division. Although she will be enjoying her well-earned retirement, she won’t be going far — Sharon will be working with us to organize and execute CUPE BC’s 2019 Convention in Victoria. FOLLOW PAUL ON TWITTER @paulfaoro
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
CUPE ACT ION
AFFILIATES UNITE BEHIND NEW BCFED LEADERSHIP VANCOUVER | CUPE had a strong presence at the BC Federation of Labour’s biennial convention in November, with more than 220 CUPE delegates joining more than a thousand other labour activists from across the province. In addition to an enthusiastic welcome for BC NDP Premier John Horgan — the first premier to address the BCFED in 20 years — the convention also saw the election of CUPE’s Sheryl Burns as workers with disabilities representative, Shelley Saje Ricci as Indigenous workers rep, and Franke Lee as trustee. On Wednesday, delegates witnessed the signing of a new protocol agreement between First Nations leadership and the Federation for joint cooperation. Irene Lanzinger and Aaron Ekman announced earlier in the year that they were not seeking re-election for president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. In an unprecedented show of unity, Fed delegates acclaimed Laird Cronk of the IBEW as president and Sussanne Skidmore from the BCGEU as secretary-treasurer.
STRONGER TOGETHER CUPE BC President Paul Faoro and Secretary-Treasurer Trevor Davies join newly acclaimed BCFED President Laird Cronk and Secretary-Treasurer Sussanne Skidmore at the conclusion of convention. For more photos, see the gallery on page 10.
“Fright Night” event engages young workers VANCOUVER | If the next generation of union activists needs a wake-up call, CUPE BC’s Young Workers Committee is only too happy to oblige — even if it means literally startling them out of their wits with an evening of thrills and chills. Thanks to committee efforts, more than a hundred young workers attended the PNE’s “Fright Night” at Playland on October 23, enjoying attractions from “Hollywood Horrors” and the Haunted Mansion to the “Monsters of Schlock.” The pre-Halloween event was part of a series of initiatives to help increase
participation of young CUPE members and grow young worker solidarity. “These sorts of events help develop a strong, young activist base that is ready to contribute to our union in the years to come,” said Kelsey Versteeg, a young worker from CUPE 389. At their meeting shortly after Fright Night, committee members spoke of the importance of making a difference for their generation — and for generations to come. Several future events were planned, and the committee lay the groundwork for a broader organizing and campaign strategy in the future.
GOOD TIMES More than 100 young CUPE members took part in Fright Night.
Newly elected Salmon Arm City Councillor Sylvia Lindgren is one of 20 current or former CUPE members elected across B.C.
Record number of CUPE members elected in B.C. communities BURNABY | More than 20 current or former CUPE members were elected to councils or school boards in the October 20 community elections, while a record number of current or former members stood for election this time. “I want to congratulate every CUPE member who made the courageous decision to put their name forward in the local elections,” said CUPE BC President Paul Faoro. “While not all were successful, the fact that so many current and retired members ran for office speaks to the value our union has put on political action, and the growing importance of local governments.” Find the full list of current or former CUPE members elected at cupe.bc.ca.
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CUPE ACT ION
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
VOICES
CUPE MEMBERS IN THE MEDIA
“A cleaning cart full of daffodils to the school district CUPE custodial staff for their hard work keeping the schools clean after the Craft Fairs and other seasonal events. Between organizing your work around these events, and cleaning up all the glitter, you are doing a great job!” — A “grateful gramma’s” submission to “Darts and Daffodils,” thanking CUPE 779 for its members’ community spirit. Squamish Chief, December 6, 2018. “We need to know about all these incidents even if no one received medical attention or missed work. A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” — CUPE 728 Second Vice-President Randy AndersonFennell, a candidate for Delta school board, calls for a review of reporting mechanisms for violent incidents in the district. Delta Optimist, October 10, 2018. “We want to be here for the public. That’s why we’re publiclibrary workers—to serve the people in our communities.” — CUPE 410 President Helen Hughes expresses frustration with Greater Victoria Public Library for its refusal to move from concession demands. Times-Colonist, November 6, 2018. “(These are) workers that are making wages basically in line with the living wage…folks that don’t have a nest egg they can go back to. You give your heart and soul to the work.” — CUPE 1004 President Andrew Ledger, a former detox coordinator at Insite, calls for accountability from Portland Hotel Society management for a faulty new payroll system that left some staff unpaid in the midst of a housing and affordability crisis. The Province, November 2, 2018. “Providing welcoming and accessible public spaces for civic engagement is just one example of how our public library contributes to our strong and healthy community.” — CUPE 3742 President Karen Wong, in a letter to the editor, thanks Prince George Public Library for hosting a coffee event with school trustee candidates in the October 20 elections. Prince George Citizen, October 18, 2018. “People need to look at the resource itself and not listen to false information being spread.” — Former CUPE 1260 president and candidate for Langley Board of Education Marnie Wilson expresses support for the provision of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity resources for teachers in the District. Langley Advance, October 11, 2018.
EVERYONE INCLUDED CUPE locals’ involvement in Orange Shirt Day reinforces the union’s close ties to the community.
Orange Shirt Day observances reflect union’s Northern pride QUESNEL | All CUPE locals in this Northern community marked the commemoration of Orange Shirt Day with a variety of events held over four days at the end of September. The main event held in Lebourdais Park began with a traditional welcome and a moment of silence. More than 500 people, most of them children, walked from the park to Front Street, the confluence of the Quesnel and Fraser Rivers, and held a juniper tie-offering ceremony to honour the missing and survivors of residential schools. Afterwards they returned to the park for bannock and beverages. Other events included ‘Our Story’ sessions at UNBC and other venues in Quesnel, where survivors shared their stories. “For such a small town, this was a huge event,” said CUPE 4990 President Denice Bardua. “Children had a great experience and our local was proud to be associated with Indigenous communities in Quesnel.” Orange Shirt Day was created five years ago during the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project in Williams Lake. Phyllis Webstad, a former residential school student, told the story of her first day at residential school when the new orange shirt bought by her grandmother was taken from her. The story prompted the realization that many survivors have similar stories. Orange Shirt Day presents an opportunity for Indigenous peoples, schools, local governments and communities to come together in reconciliation and hope for future generations of all children. It is a time to understand and acknowledge the impact of residential schools and to combat generational racism and stereotypes. “Children were at the heart and core,” said Bardua. “We never want kids to go through that again. Every child matters.”
SAVE THE DATE CUPE BC is organizing the next CUPE Western Municipal Conference (June 11–14, 2019) at the Coast Hotel in Kelowna, B.C. Registration starts on March 18. Stay tuned for more details about workshops, speakers, and events.
MEMBERS ON THE FRONT LINE
CUPE ACT ION
Professional librarians join CUPE during Library Month SURREY | Last year’s Libraries Month was extra special for our union, as professional librarians at Surrey Public Library voted to become CUPE members in a Labour Board vote held on October 17. Issues important to professional librarians included organizational change that impacts services to the public and having a voice at work. “We warmly welcome professional librarians to our union, especially since October is National Library month” said Sub-local Chair Denise Parks. “We look forward to representing them in the same robust, effective and innovative way we’ve represented all our members for the past 35 years.” The 48 professional librarians join 180 members who work at the Surrey Public Library as members of CUPE 402-02, the Libraries unit of CUPE 402. “Public libraries are incredibly valuable to all of our communities, and it makes me proud to stand up for this important public service,” said CUPE 402 President Jeannie Kilby.
Increasing our numbers — with a little help from our friends BURNABY | As well as the 48 professional librarians from Surrey Public Library who joined CUPE during Library Month in October (see above), our union warmly welcomed workers from Fort St. James and the District of Mission who joined existing CUPE locals. Eighteen municipal and library workers in Fort St. James became a new unit of CUPE 4951, who represent operations staff at the College of New Caledonia (CNC). CUPE 4951 is a large Prince George local with satellite campuses in Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Quesnel and Vanderhoof. Its newest unit will have their own collective agreement. Six victim services workers from the District of Mission, who worked alongside other CUPE members at the RCMP detachment, voted to become members of the union as well. Having all workers at a worksite as CUPE members strengthens the bargaining unit and provides less opportunity for the employer to undermine the power of its workforce. CUPE thanks all locals who have taken on new units, with a special shout-out going to CUPE 374, representing municipal workers throughout the Victoria region, and CUPE 1004, a multi-sector composite union local representing an array of public workers. Their support in helping unorganized workers join a union is vital and much appreciated.
WELCOME BACK Pictured at CUPE 4879’s end of September
barbeque are members Cynthia Bosdet (L) and Laszlo Nemes (R) with Local President Lois Rugg.
CUPE 4879 campaign reaches out to members and larger community KAMLOOPS | Support workers at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and Williams Lake (CUPE 4879) are increasing member engagement and community support through an ambitious cost-shared campaign launched in September. At the heart of the campaign is a mapping plan with the goal of speaking with all of the Local’s 600-plus members. Campaign plans include sponsorship of a public forum on campus, transit advertising, digital billboards, newspaper ads, and celebrating a decade of belonging to CUPE. “The work our members do is crucial to the success of students at TRU,” said CUPE 4879 President Lois Rugg. “Our members should be proud of the positive learning environment and experience their work creates for our students from start to finish. This campaign is also a great way to celebrate our tenth anniversary.”
Port McNeill workers win pay equity in first CA PORT MCNEILL | CUPE 401 members, outside workers at the public works yard, achieved pay equity with their recently-ratified first collective agreement. Workers with the small municipal employer often had overlapping duties, and wage rates were not LEVEL FIELD CUPE 401 members from reflective of the equal work Port McNeill celebrate achievement they did. As workers took of pay equity in their first collective agreement: (l-r) Alisa Vanderberg, Scott on additional duties, their Sinclair, Carole Fraboni, and Lee Hawley. wages and job classifications were not adjusted to reflect the new levels and complexity of work. “When we realized that our female co-workers were making substantially less while doing virtually the same work, we had to act,” said Second VicePresident Scott Sinclair. “We made achieving pay equity a key part of our bargaining goals and we wouldn’t settle for anything less.” The five-year contract features a 10.75 per cent cumulative wage increase in addition to the pay equity adjustment.
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LINKING LABOUR
MEENA BRISARD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Bargaining in more worker-friendly times After so many years of confrontation under the BC Liberals, bargaining with a progressive government that understands the plight of workers is a welcome change. Even with its own spending mandate throughout the public service, the BC NDP government has shown it is willing to listen — to actually bargain — which is a sign of respect for the workers it employs. Meena Brisard A good example from the early rounds of bargaining was the low-wage redress for B.C.’s community health and community social services workers. In addition to general wage increases, these settlements — which will disperse $100 million for some 30,000 workers represented by multiple unions — will make a big difference in affordability and the quality of life for many of our members. This is something we’re not used to seeing: a government willing to go the extra mile for a group of workers who have been underpaid for so many years.
Working together is the key At the same time, while the government understands CUPE’s and our members’ issues, they are not simply going to write a blank cheque. They understand that we are there for our members to make the case for improvements; they know we will bargain hard to make those changes become reality. Often that means coordinating our efforts not only with other unions, but also among our own CUPE locals. In the recent round of K–12 bargaining, for example, the coordination we saw through our K–12 Presidents’ Council wasn’t always easy: we had to go back to the BC Public School Employers’ Association a second time because the initial agreement didn’t meet the needs of our members. This showed we’re not afraid to challenge, to push back even with friendly governments when necessary. To be sure, 2019 will be another big year for bargaining. Colleges and universities support workers will be going to the table early in the new year, to be followed shortly afterward by our South Coast
BETTER CLIMATE Delegates at the BCFED Convention.
and Thompson-Okanagan municipal locals, and libraries. From this round of bargaining surveys, we’ve been seeing the same patterns throughout the sectors: violence is impacting every sector, and more needs to be done to address workload and precarious work. CUPE is committed to protecting our collective While the government agreement rights and doing what it understands CUPE’s takes to negotiate better language and our members’ on issues like domestic violence, for issues, they are not example. simply going to write In anticipation of this round of municipal bargaining, we have never a blank cheque. They gotten together so early to prepare understand that we are for negotiations: it’s been two years there for our members since National staff first began reaching to make the case for out to local presidents, speaking to improvements. members, conducting surveys and setting bargaining priorities. While every local has autonomy for their own bargaining, CUPE National has all the resources and supports to assist. The national bargaining policy is a good guide for locals heading to the table. It explains how to develop a strategic plan for bargaining well in advance, how to mobilize members, and why it’s important to resist concessions and two-tier contracts.
Local assistance — there for the asking National staff play a critical role in developing strategic bargaining plans. Our servicing reps, and our specialists in communications, research, legal, job evaluation and union development, have done outstanding work with our CUPE locals and bargaining committees. Part of this work involves providing campaign resources to boost public support for our members well in advance of contract renewal time. Recent cost-shared campaigns for K–12 ($450,000) and municipal/libraries ($600,000), for example, have put our members and issues front and centre with the public, reminding taxpayers of the value they get from their public employees. When all the bargaining is said and done, solid contracts with fair compensation and good working conditions are always a win-win for both CUPE members and the communities where they live and work.
NEWS BRIEFS CUPE 391
NEW CONTRACT NETS GAINS FOR PRECARIOUS WORKERS SECHELT | Workers for Sechelt Public Library, represented by CUPE 391, had much to celebrate with the recent ratification of their new collective agreement. Pushing back several concession demands, local members were able to reach a positive agreement that addressed key issues for precarious workers. “Libraries across B.C. are using casual staff in place of regular workers to save money at the expense of those workers and their families,” said CUPE 391 Aliza Nevarie. “To their credit, Sechelt Library has taken important steps toward reversing this trend within their workplace.” Other key elements of the settlement include increases to daily guaranteed hours, improved language to address violence in the workplace, and a cumulative wage increase of 8.7 per cent over four years.
CUPE 4959
NEW AGREEMENT ‘GOOD FOR FAMILIES’ CRESTON | A new collective agreement between CUPE 4959 and the Creston Library Association includes a range of provisions and expanded benefits that will have a positive impact on families in the Valley, says the Local. The revised agreement includes language to address precarious work and introduces leave for workers required to care for sick family members and for those who have experienced domestic violence. It also expands existing benefits to include same sex partners, and introduces new policy and procedures to prevent or respond to workplace harassment. “Ultimately, each of these provisions strengthens our community by providing necessary support to families, which — in a small town like Creston — can have profound, positive, community-wide impacts,” said CUPE 4959 President Gail Southall.
READY FOR BUSINESS CUPE’s Metro municipal and library presidents, seen here with staff at B.C. regional office in December, anticipate a busy 2019.
K–12 SOLIDARITY IN THE KOOTENAYS All six CUPE K–12 Kootenay locals have joined efforts to build community awareness about their members working in schools throughout the region. The goal of the campaign is to connect the community to CUPE members, raise awareness of the important services they provide, and reinforce the messages that CUPE members are integral to public education and that the services they provide help build community. To demonstrate CUPE and community pride, the campaign includes a sponsored family swim, newspaper and radio ads, and materials including mini posters and car window clings.
CHILD CARE NOW HEU’s Louella Vincent, left, joins CUPE 1936’s Lee-Ann Lalli and CUPE BC’s Michelle Waite at a November 20 rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on National Day of the Child. Activists called on MPs and senators to support universal child care.
CUPE 3338
UNIVERSITY LOCALS HEAD INTO BARGAINING BURNABY | With collective agreements for all university locals expiring by August 31, 2019, post-secondary locals are prepping for bargaining. Most locals have surveyed their membership about priorities for improvements they want to achieve in this round. Members were also asked survey questions to help locals gain a sense of the amount of precarious work and its effect on their members. Locals can access data and postsecondary information from CUPE National’s “Our Time to Act” campaign, which highlights issues facing the sector, at cupe.ca/our-time-act. In B.C., the universitieswork.ca web site for coordinated bargaining is being refreshed and relaunched.
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Cl er i c a l
Trades
Custodian
Meeting the challenges K–12 MEMBERS ARE FRONT AND CENTRE IN MAKING OUR SCHOOLS BETTER ALTHOUGH IT’S IMPOSSIBLE to overturn 16 years of BC Liberal neglect and mismanagement overnight, having a supportive government is starting to make things better for B.C. schools, students, and workers—including CUPE K–12 support staff. K–12 is CUPE’s largest provincially-bargained sector, with 27,000 support staff at public schools in 57 districts across the province. Members in this sector include education assistants, Indigenous support workers, clerical, custodial, trades, and IT staff, as well as lunchtime supervisors, maintenance, Strong Start (early learning centre workers), and others. These workers felt the impact of the Campbell and Clark BC Liberal governments, which did everything in their power to starve B.C.’s public education system. CUPE members endured more than a decade and a half of underfunding, cuts, and the fact that school districts were required to pay for expenses formerly COVER covered by the province. STORY With the election of an NDP minority government in 2017, the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Green Party prioritized the fast-tracking of enhanced K–12 education funding, improving fairness for workers, providing measures to protect workers’ safety, and respecting the integrity and independence of B.C.’s professional public service. “This government appreciates the commitment and services that CUPE members provide to British Columbians,” says CUPE BC President Paul Faoro. “They ask for and value our input.”
Locals heading into bargaining In September, the K–12 Presidents Council reached a provincial framework agreement (PFA) with the British Columbia Public School Employers Association. Although some gains were made, more needs to be done. Locals will present the agreement along
with their local proposals when they meet with their individual school districts in the coming months. Current contracts expire at the end of June this year. Most locals have started bargaining, and almost 7,300 K–12 members (just over 25 per cent) participated in the provincial bargaining survey. A tentative agreement was reached in the PFA on wages and benefits, the top priority for members. Among other issues, the most important were the ability to get full-time hours, workload improvements, improved job security, and skills enhancement and upgrading. Substantial and chronic underfunding of the public K–12 system in British Columbia has led to staffing cuts resulting in increased workloads for all support staff. In particular, there remains a critical shortage of educational assistants, custodians, and clerical staff. Many CUPE members are spread too thin at work, unable to do the job the way they feel it should be done. All support staff are still feeling the effects of cuts.
Keeping everyone in schools safe Survey results on violence in the workplace showed that 41 per cent of respondents have seen an increase in violence at work, with 15 per cent reporting a significant increase. Just over 37 per cent of respondents had experienced at least one violent incident. “Our members throughout B.C. continue to deal with health and safety issues. We’re concerned that current conditions are putting the health and safety of both staff and students at risk,” says K–12 Presidents Council President Warren Williams. In response to increasing incidents in K–12, the Presidents Council struck a violence taskforce to identify ways to address safety threats that our members face every day. The committee recognized early on that, when it came to reporting incidents, there was a lack of compliance with WorkSafe BC procedures.
Librarian
Education Assistant
The provincial bargaining committee wanted a process to find out how each district was handling reporting, or lack thereof, from members. The PFA they negotiated includes a process in which each worksite in all districts undergoes a safety audit and reports the findings to a joint committee. The committee will determine if the process works, and if not, what steps need
Technical Supp
ort
to be implemented to ensure that all sites in each district are following WorkSafe BC standards. Over the coming months, the K–12 Presidents Council will be rolling out Phase 2 of its cost share campaign, aimed at boosting public awareness and taking action on workload and violence/safety issues.
Premier’s Awards recognize CUPE K–12 support staff CUPE has always been proud of the work our members in K–12 do, but this past year school support staff received special recognition from the highest office in the province: for the first time, the 2018 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education included a category for support staff. The awards were announced at an October 5 ceremony in which the Ministry of Education screened videos of the three finalists for each category. In the Outstanding Support category, the winner was Jeannine Lindsay, a CUPE 439 Indigenous support worker at Lake Trail Middle School in Courtenay. Lindsay received a commemorative artwork, a $3,000 personal bursary for professional learning, and a $2,000 bursary to her school community for professional learning. Finalists Richard Morgan, a CUPE 523 custodian at Penticton Secondary School, and Jackie Grypink, a CUPE 5523 educational assistant at Hillview Elementary School in Vernon, both received a $2,000 bursary for their respective school community’s professional learning. Hear from these members at bcschools.cupe.ca. “I’d like to thank Premier John Horgan, Minister of Education Rob Fleming, and this NDP government for honouring the important work CUPE members do in our schools,” said CUPE BC Secretary-Treasurer Trevor Davies, who attended the ceremony. “It’s good to see education support workers finally being recognized for their dedication and service to students across B.C.”
OUTSTANDING SERVICE Finalists for the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in Education pose with Premier John Horgan, Minister of Education Rob Fleming, and Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin. CUPE members are Outstanding Support award winner Jeannine Lindsay (second row, far right) and finalists Jackie Grypink (second row, second from right) and Richard Morgan (back row, far right). 9
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PHOTO GALLERY BIG PRESENCE More than 220 CUPE delegates attended the 2018 BC Federation of Labour Convention in Vancouver.
ELECTIONS MATTER CUPE 1004’s Frank Lee (middle front) was elected as a BCFED trustee, while NDP Premier John Horgan, greeted with a hero’s welcome, was the first premier to address the Fed in 20 years. IT’S UNANIMOUS Elected by acclamation, new BCFED President Laird Cronk and Secretary Treasurer Sussanne Skidmore were (literally) backed by the leaders of all Federation affiliates.
HISTORIC MOMENT First Nations leaders sign the joint cooperation agreement with the BCFED as outgoing Secretary-Treasurer Aaron Eckman and President Irene Lanzinger look on.
FAIR DEAL NOW CUPE BC’s Cindy McQueen and other CUPE members were part of a nearly 1,000-strong BCFED rally to support CUPW members fighting for a fair deal from Canada Post.
AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
CUPE FOCUS
GUEST COLUMN
A better deal for all our families THANKS TO NDP GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES, CHILD CARE IS NOW MORE ACCESSIBLE TO B.C. PARENTS By The Hon. Katrina Chen
THE DAY I FOUND OUT I was pregnant was one of the happiest of my life. But we also had the conversation I’m sure many of you have had. Could we afford child care? Should one of us stay home to look after our child? Our family wasn’t alone in having to make some tough decisions. I’ve spoken with countless parents who faced difficult choices because of long waitlists and the high cost of child care. Our government knew things needed to change. And I’m proud to say — they have. Our Childcare BC plan is providing relief to thousands of B.C. parents through building a system of quality and affordable child care in B.C. We are investing in more child care spaces, affordability relief and long overdue support for Early Childhood Educators, including a wage enhancement program.
Child care savings — a click away The Affordable Child Care Benefit, which we introduced Our government knew things in September 2018, is available needed to change. And I’m to families with a yearly proud to say — they have. Our pre-tax household income of Childcare BC plan is providing up to $111,000. Families can save up to $15,000 a year, per relief to thousands of B.C. child, on the cost of child care. parents through building I encourage parents to check a system of quality and the benefit website and use affordable child care in B.C. the online estimator to see what they can save (available at gov.bc.ca/affordablechildcarebenefit). Thousands of parents have signed up so far, and I want parents to benefit from child care savings this new year and beyond. Last April, we also introduced a universal fee reduction program that provided savings of up to $350/month through providers who join the initiative. To date, more than 50,000 children and their families have benefited from this program. Please visit our website to see if your child care provider has opted in to the program. Thanks to these two affordability programs combined, families most in need may end up paying no fees for child care. Most recently, we announced our Universal Child Care Prototype sites. Much like our affordability measures above, prototype sites will significantly relieve financial stress for families. Families will
MORE OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE At the Peak Learning Preschool in Pemberton, Director Suzie Soman joins Minister Chen and her son. pay no more than $200 per month and the sites will allow us to test funding and operations to support B.C. in the move towards universal child care.
Making a difference for families During the past year, I have heard many stories about the impact of our investments. I’ve heard from parents whose lives are changed by being able to return to school or to work. Families that are finally able to save money and experience some relief from the high costs of monthly expenses. The province is investing more than $1 billion in child care over three years to lay the foundation for a universal child care system that will give B.C. parents access to affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities. I am excited to be able to share with you the progress we have made to date and I look forward to providing you with more updates as we work towards implementing universal child care across our province. For more information and to apply, go to gov.bc.ca/ affordablechildcarebenefit. THE HONOURABLE KATRINA CHEN is B.C.’s Minister of State for Child Care.
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CUPE COMMUNITIES
MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Transit supervisor saves life with nickof-time response
TEAM CUPE “Listen up, all you hockey fans out there: we’re gonna tell you about the importance of CUPE municipal workers!” CUPE 608 members at the December 8 Penticton Vees game.
Hockey Night in Penticton CUPE 608 SPONSORS LOCAL JUNIOR A GAME PENTICTON | CUPE 608 members took advantage of a great opportunity to reach out to their community by sponsoring the December 8 home game of the Penticton Vees, the city’s BC Hockey League team. As game sponsor, the CUPE local had an information table, leafleted community members attending the game, played a message about the importance of CUPE municipal workers, and hosted the first intermission on-ice entertainment. “We spoke to so many receptive residents who were happy to hear about the work we do,” said CUPE 608 President Shelie Best.
“This sponsorship was a great way to reach out and give back to our community.” During the first intermission, the local highlighted the different roles of CUPE workers with an on-ice competition in which contestants had to race across the rink, put on the respective uniforms of different CUPE municipal workers, then race back to the goal line in those uniforms. “We designed a creative way to highlight the value and diversity of our work,” said Best. “We will certainly be sponsoring another game next year, and would recommend this form of outreach to other locals looking to connect with their community.”
Lens of empowerment If you’re in downtown Vancouver or Victoria and you see a Megaphone vendor selling calendars, take a minute and have a look at this year’s amazing Hope in Shadows calendar. You’ll want to buy one. CUPE BC is proud to be a long-time sponsor of Hope in Shadows, which provides people experiencing poverty a disposable camera and asks them to take photos that mean something to them. From hundreds of submissions, a peer jury selects the winning photos for the calendar. POWERFUL IMAGE This year’s winning photo, January’s “Happy” by Mickey S.J.
VANCOUVER | CUPE 4500 member Surinder Sahdra has dealt with many situations over 18 years as a transit supervisor for Coast Mountain Bus Company. From problem passengers and vehicle breakdowns to reuniting lost children with their parents or finding lost wallets and cell phones — or even laptops — and returning them to their owners, he’s seen it all. But until October 18, he had never had to foil a suicide attempt. During peak rush hour traffic that morning, Sahdra saved a man from jumping off the Knight Street bridge. After spotting the man straddling a railing on the bridge, he got out of his vehicle and began talking to him. In a split-second decision, he then jumped over the concrete barrier and grabbed the man’s arm to hold him down. “I didn’t have a choice,” he says. “The police were not far away, but I felt like I had to act right away or he might have jumped. So when I grabbed him I said ‘You’re not going over today.’ But that doesn’t make me a hero.” CUPE 4500 President Neil Pepper begs to differ. “Oh, he’s a hero, alright,” says Pepper. “But then, Surinder is always helping others. That’s just who he is.”
MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
CUPE COMMUNITIES
READY TO SERVE CUPE 389 President Cindy McQueen appears with local member volunteers.
CUPE 389 municipal workers step up to protect their community NORTH VANCOUVER | Members of CUPE 389 working for the District of North Vancouver have partnered with their employer to create a unique program aimed at safeguarding the community from wildfires and other natural disasters. The District’s new Extended Operations Unit is comprised of 30 members of CUPE 389 who stepped up to volunteer for specialized training in wildland firefighting, swift water awareness, and search and rescue procedures. If a wildfire or similar community emergency occurs, the District calls out members of the Unit who
then report to the District Fire Chief to serve as assistants to first responders. Though participation in the Unit is on a volunteer basis, members who are called for duty will be paid their regular rates of pay with applicable overtime rates. “This new program enhances the District’s emergency response capabilities, and shows CUPE members’ commitment to serving the community we work and live in,” said CUPE 389 President Cindy McQueen.
Donation helps local society struck by theft DELTA | Thankfully many of us will not experience the devastating feeling that comes with suffering a break-in. Unfortunately, such is not the case for the staff and campers at the Burns Bog Conservation Society’s summer camp, which was robbed in August. Thieves broke into the camp, which operates in the Delta Nature Reserve, and stole tools, medical supplies, first aid kits, camp equipment, and even water balloons and juice boxes. The loss was significant for the non-profit organization, which lacked the funds to easily replace the missing items. But thanks in part to CUPE, there’s a happy ending to the story. Following the theft, North Delta MLA and Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Recreation Ravi Kahlon reached out to community groups for support. CUPE members were among FRIENDS INDEED Back row, left to the first to answer the call, with locals 454, right: North Delta MLA Ravi Kahlon 1091, 728, and CUPE BC each donating and Nikolai Karpun from the Burns $500 for a total contribution of $2,000. Bog Conservation Society; front To find out more about the Burns Bog row, left to right: Patti Prince from Conservation Society and the unique Local 1091, Eliza Olson from the ecosystem the society works to protect Burns Bog Conservation Society and enhance, visit www.burnsbog.org. and John Gibson from Local 454.
LEST WE FORGET Paul Lautard, a 96-year-old veteran who landed on the beaches in Normandy during WWII, observes November 11 each year in Kettle Valley with the help of his son, CUPE 2098 member Ross Lautard. The younger Lautard, who repaired mortar and cleaned up the local cenotaph to make it presentable for Remembrance Day, lays a wreath on behalf of his union every year.
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POWER IN NUMBERS
TREVOR DAVIES, SECRETARY-TREASURER
Better empowering our young leaders Regardless of the final outcome, B.C.’s referendum on proportional representation has clearly proven at least one thing: young people in this province are engaged and ready to make their voices heard. They are in good company: across the continent, young people stand at the forefront of key fights, whether it’s U.S. high Trevor Davies school students taking on the NRA over gun control, or young activists on both sides of the border who are the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement. In so many realms, young people are not just participating in social change, they are leading it. This increased involvement has led to improved youth voting trends that are sure to have a big impact on future elections, as they did for the U.S. mid-terms. When thinking about how we can do a better job of harnessing the leadership of young workers, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience. In the labour movement, “young worker” is a term used to describe anyone 30 and under. It’s a term I hated in my early 20s, embraced for a few years, then fled from as I got closer to my 30s. Once I had proven myself as a new worker, professional and activist, the term “young worker” seemed to assert my status as a “junior” who needed to be mentored and taught the ways of the world. My identity in the labour movement was simply boiled down to my linear age, a prefix to anything I did, so I began fighting the term and rarely used it. To prove I wasn’t some “kid,” I volunteered for roles like being a shop steward, leading WorkSafeBC appeals, and taking the lead representing people often twice my age. Did I make mistakes? Certainly, but rarely the same mistake twice and no more than other activists learning these same new skills. If I hadn’t been given the chance to engage, learn, and lead, I would not have been able to participate as I do today. But I also know that not every young person’s story of engagement with the labour movement is as encouraging as mine, especially those from equityseeking groups who face other barriers to their participation.
Youth involvement: exciting and terrifying Young people have tremendous capacity to lead social change, make their communities better, challenge existing structures, and bring innovative ideas to the table. Having seen it from both sides, I understand how such engagement can be both exciting and terrifying. For that reason, I think we’re too cautious in how we bring young workers into the labour movement. We like the idea of having young people involved, but we’re often hesitant to take the risk of giving them the opportunities to make mistakes, and gain the experience required for leadership positions in our movement. Young people vote with their feet. If they face structures not willing to give them a real seat at the table, they move on to other groups where their leadership is welcomed. Without their involvement, we become demographically skewed and miss the opportunities they would bring to our movement.
A diverse union is a strong union If we are to live our values, we must work to eliminate barriers to young people and equity-seeking groups to not only participate but be activists in our union. Ask not what support someone needs to attend a union meeting, but what support they need to become a shop steward. When we see greater diversity in shop stewards in our locals, we will see more individuals with the experience needed to run and become presidents — and to lead our union into the future. That future will be different. With new activists come new ideas that will push back on our structures, force us to try new things, and require that we adapt. Those are all good things. As biodiversity is to ecosystems, so diversity is to social movements: it makes us more dynamic, more responsive and, inevitably, more resilient. These are all qualities worth embracing as we prepare for the challenges ahead. Young people have shown they are ready to lead. It is now up to the rest of us to ensure they are given that space in our union. FOLLOW TREVOR ON TWITTER @tdaviescupebc
CUPE SPRING
WEEK-LONG
SCHOOL
CUPE BC PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PUBLISHED BY
Canadian Union of Public Employees, British Columbia Division 410 – 6222 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, B.C. V5H 0G3 POSTAL AGREEMENT # 42016512
May 26 – 31, 2019 Come and experience CUPE’s popular week-long school in the heart of B.C.’s Interior Coast Kamloops Conference and Convention Centre
Book now to expand your horizons and sharpen your activist tools.
Remember, scholarships are available Check with your rep or visit cupe.bc.ca
T: 604.291.9119 TOLL FREE: 1.877.263.8568 E: info@cupe.bc.ca PRESIDENT
THIS YEAR’S WORKSHOPS Health & Safety:
An introduction and five health and safety modules
Human Rights:
An introduction
Introduction to
Stewarding and five steward learning series modules
Local Executive training
Taking on Privatization …and more!
Paul Faoro SECRETARY-TREASURER
Trevor Davies EDITOR
Dan Gawthrop CONTRIBUTORS
Steven Beasley Clay Suddaby Janet Szliske PHOTOS
CUPE Communications, various CUPE Locals, and Josh Berson GRAPHIC DESIGN
Pete Tuepah and Nadene Rehnby, Hands On Publications COVER PHOTO
Janet Szliske
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT CUPE Education representative Greg Burkitt at 604-291-1940 or send him an e-mail at gburkitt@cupe.ca
CUPE BC acknowledges that our province of British Columbia is located on the homelands of Indigenous nations and cultures.
CUPE BC’s 56th annual Convention is May 1–4, 2019 in Victoria On behalf of the CUPE BC Executive Board, we wish all our members and their families a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Paul Faoro President
Trevor Davies Secretary-Treasurer