UPDATE re COVID-19 – March 16

Dear CUPE Local 1936 Members;

As you are all aware, we are navigating unchartered waters due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

During this time, we will attempt to keep you updated as regularly as possible, as this is a rapidly evolving situation.

We urge you to be vigilant and to take extra precautions in order to keep yourselves and those around you healthy.  If Canadians and British Columbians are to be successful in our efforts to “flatten the curve” and slow the onslaught of COVID-19, we must work together.

I would encourage you to help one another whenever possible.  Assist those who are elderly and who may have compromised immune systems by offering to pick up groceries or medication for them.

The provincial and federal governments are both discouraging any non-essential travel at this time, particularly travel outside of Canada.  For those who choose to, or who absolutely must, travel outside of Canada, please follow the government’s directive to self-isolate for 14 days.  This will help keep you and others safe.

The government has now banned gatherings of more than 50 people.  Please adhere to this directive.  It is for your protection and the protection of your loved ones.

CUPE Local 1936 is concerned for your well-being, physically and financially during this difficult time.  We are reaching out to Employers to sign Letters of Understanding regarding the COVID-19 crisis.  Our goal is to ensure that those who must self-isolate will receive wage protection.

An emergency joint meeting between the Employer’s Association and the Community Social Services Bargaining Association has been scheduled for tomorrow morning.  If there are further updates after this meeting, you will be notified via the CUPE Local 1936 website.

In the meantime, please remain alert for updates and information on COVID-19 from BC’s Provincial Health Officer by clicking here and the on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

Please contact CUPE Local 1936 should you have any concerns relating to the COVID-19 crisis and your employment.  Your Local Officers are as follows:

Sheryl Burns, President
sburns00@hotmail.com
778-231-4241

Lee-Ann Lalli, Vice-President and Grievance Officer
leeannlalli@live.ca
778-223-1554

Bernice Way, Secretary-Treasurer, Education and Grievance Officer
bway1936@gmail.com
604-781-6864

Please take care of yourselves.

Sheryl Burns
President
CUPE Local 1936

Letter to members regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 13th, 2020

To all CUPE Local 1936 Members,

Given the rapidly evolving situation  COVID-19 and with an abundance of caution, Local 1936 Table Officers have made the difficult decision to cancel the March 18th, 2020 membership meeting.

The provincial government has asked British Columbia citizens to take an active role in protecting ourselves from a COVID-19 epidemic in the hopes that proactive efforts by the citizens of British Columbia will help “flatten the curve” and slow the progress of this disease throughout our province.

The government of BC has banned all gatherings of 250 or more and has recommended against all non-essential travel outside of Canada, including the United States.  Those who chose to travel outside of Canada despite this advisory will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.

We ask that members honor these requests by the provincial government as they are doing everything in their power to protect all British Columbians from a COVID-19 epidemic.

Please take good care of yourselves and remember-wash your hands frequently.

In solidarity,

Sheryl Burns
President, CUPE Local 1936

CUPE 1936 members ratify new agreement with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House

CUPE 1936 members working for Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Society (LMNHS) have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, signing off on a tentative deal reached two weeks ago.

The agreement, ratified on March 4, includes incremental wage increases similar to other settlements reached across the province. There is also a significant increase in access to paramedical services, and other language improvements such as personal emergency days and earlier access to increased vacation.

To see the full article, please click here.

 

Tentative Agreement with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House!

Your union bargaining committee would like to inform you that we reached a tentative agreement with the employer yesterday afternoon.

We took into considerations the survey that members had the opportunity to fill out. This was used as our reference to bargain what our members told us were their priorities. The employer and union had frank open discussions, and the union pushed back on the employer proposals which included updating of language of the collective agreement.

The union asked the employer for the non-union employees benefit package, and the employer gave selected policies to us. After looking at the non-union employees benefits we used this to lead our discussion on fair and equitable deal. The union was firm on ensuring that we get the “$8 sucks” clause removed (which is Information Appendix A in your collective agreement, and limits reimbursement on things like massage therapy, chiropractic and physiotherapy care to only $8 for the first 12 visits in a calendar year).

We were able to bargain modest benefit improvements and gains in wages that reflect the current provincial trend.

Please come out to the meeting on Wednesday March 4 at 6pm at CDC – 425 E 29th Ave in Vancouver –  to hear more in depth details and to vote on the package that your bargaining committee was able to negotiate on your behalf.

Thank you,

Your bargaining committee.

Provincial Wage Grids for April 2020 are published!

2.0% General Wage Increase + $20 Million Low Wage Redress (LWR)

CSSEA and CSSBA have agreed on the distribution of the second of three annual $20 million Low Wage Redress fund effective April 1, 2020. The agreement provides for 2% in general wage increases for everyone, and up to an additional 3.5% in Low Wage Redress.  Full details are in the memo which you can read by clicking here.