CUPE 1936

The Federal government has proclaimed September 30^th as a Truth and Reconciliation Statutory Day as one small act of reconciliation and acknowledgment of atrocities inflicted on the Indigenous, Inuit and Metis people of Canada.

While September 30^th is frequently referred to as a Statutory Holiday, we ask that you refrain from referring to this day as a “holiday”.  Instead, please think of this as a day of mourning in which we are to collectively remember our Indigenous comrades who have fallen, or experienced harm, as a result of the colonization, genocide and forcible removable of their children; many of whom were abused or who died while in residential schools.

The latest discoveries of children’s remains at various residential schools, including the Kamloops Residential School where 214 bodies were found, serve as a stark reminder of the legacy of colonization of Indigenous people in Canada.

Entire Indigenous nations and/or tribes were forcibly removed from their homes and land, and forced to live on assigned reserves where many continue to experience substandard living conditions without access to safe drinking and bathing water.  Indigenous children as young as 4 and 5 were taken from their families and placed in residential schools where many endured emotional, physical and sexual abuse.  Children died trying to escape these residential prisons or while living in the schools.  Often families were not informed of a child’s passing and many children were secretly buried on school grounds.

The legacy and pain of colonization and forced institutionalization of Indigenous children remains.  Institutional racism continues to impact our Indigenous comrades today.

On September 30^th, please take time to remember the atrocities inflicted upon Indigenous people in Canada, and please support our Indigenous comrades who grieve all that has been lost as a result of these atrocities.

To our Indigenous comrades and members, on behalf of CUPE Local 1936, we extend a sincere apology for all that you and your families have endured.  We stand with you as you mourn the impact of colonization, everyday, as well as on September 30^th, a Day of Truth and Reconciliation.  Should you require additional support, please call:

The Kuu-Us Crisis Line at (250)-723-2323, or

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society at (604)-985-4464

With sorrow,

Sheryl Burns, President, CUPE Local 1936

Lee-Ann Lalli, Vice-President/Grievance Officer, CUPE Local 1936

Bernice Way, Secretary-Treasurer and Education Officer, CUPE Local 1936

To our members of Local 1936

The CUPE National has decided to hold their convention this year , see notice below. If you are interested in attending please send email to sburs00@hotmail.com and bway1936@gmail.com

TO: ALL CUPE CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS; NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS; CUPE STAFF Important Update on CUPE National Convention Sisters, Brothers, and Friends: Today CUPE’s National Executive Board met and discussed our upcoming National Convention, and the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. While we had hoped to hold an in-person Convention in Vancouver this November, it has become clear that it is unlikely that we will be able to safely convene such a large in-person event this November. That’s why the National Executive Board adopted a motion today to hold our National Convention virtually, on the same dates of November 22-26, 2021. While the situation with COVID-19 had shown signs of improvement earlier this summer, the case numbers are now going in the wrong direction, and many provinces have had to reimpose public health restrictions. We recognize some of you may be disappointed with this decision, but we have always placed a priority on the health and safety of our members and staff. As we shift our convention planning to focus on a virtual event, further details on the convention agenda and registration for the online platform will follow in the coming weeks. In solidarity, MARK HANCOCK National President CHARLES FLEURY National Secretary-Treasurer

The Table Officers are taking  action for early learning and child care at the Local’s office today.

https://engage.gov.bc.ca/paidsickleave/

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CUPE BC UPDATES

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & RESOURCES

Dear members,

Please read on for general CUPE BC announcements and to learn more about upcoming events, learning resources, and community engagement opportunities. If this email was forwarded to you and you wish to be added to our mailing list, please send an email request to info@cupe.bc.

U pcoming CUPE BC Canvasses | 2021 Federal Elections

Below is a list of upcoming canvasses taking place over the coming days in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island:

Please also check the CUPE BC Facebook page regularly for a full list of other upcoming canvasses and events.

T-Shirt Fundraiser | Orange Shirt Day | Sept 30

CUPE BC encourages members to visit the Orange Shirt Society website and consider a t-shirt purchase for Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2021. Partial proceeds from all t-shirt and merchandise sales will go towards the Orange Shirt Society and support the organization’s reconciliation events and activities.  T-shirts may also be purchased directly from various London Drugs locations.

CUPE BC Posters | UNDRIP and Truth & Reconciliation

All locals should have received print copies of the CUPE BC United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and 94 Calls to Action posters in mail earlier this summer. A digital file containing both posters has been attached for viewing and distribution. If your local would like to request additional print posters, please email the CUPE BC Office (info@cupe.bc.ca) with your desired quantity, poster type, and mailing address.

BC Government Consultation | Paid Sick Leave Survey | Sept 14

The Provincial Government is developing paid sick leave for employees in BC to enable them to stay home when sick or injured, without losing wages, for a set number of days each year. The new model will come into effect on January 1, 2022.  At this time, the Government is seeking input from workers and employers about what paid sick leave they currently have in their workplaces and what improvements could be made.   For more information, please see below:

Paid Sick Leave Engagement Project:  Click here

Worker Survey:  Click here              Employer/Business Owner survey:  Click here      Surveys Close: September 14, 2021

 CCPA Reports | Election 44: The Care Economy, Women, and COVID-19

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has remained at the forefront of the COVID pandemic by publishing in-depth analysis of its impacts and policy changes that are needed to protect vulnerable populations.  Please find links below to the CCPA’s reports and policy recommendations as the elections approach:

Platform Crunch: Conservatives release their federal commitments

Which promises have the Conservatives made to support women’s employment and the care economy? Click here to review the CCPA’s recent analysis, along with their assessment of the NDP commitments (click here). Other party platforms will be released as well.

Budget Watch 2021: The rebuild must start with the care economy

Senior CCPA researcher Katherine Scott explains why the “rebuild must start with the care economy” as a means of addressing the social, racialized, gendered, and income inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Click here to read more.

Long-term care reform: No time to waste

The CCPA has published a road map (click here) to ensure that every senior is able to live with dignity and respect.

Canada’s immigration system is failing migrant care workers

COVID-19 has worsened the precarious, sometimes abusive working conditions for migrant care workers—most of whom are women and racialized people.  Click here to read CCPA researcher Rishika Waderhra’s analysis.

For more information, please read the CCPA Report “Women, work, and COVID-19: Priorities for supporting women and the economy” by Katherine Scott or listen to the CCPA “The Care Economy and What’s at Stake” podcast episode.

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email info@cupe.bc.ca for additional information.

In solidarity,

CUPE BC Executive Board

CUPE British Columbia

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www.cupe.bc.ca

Headquartered on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Tsleil-Waututh and Qayqayt First Nations.

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