The VDLC is also co-sponsoring a Day of Mourning ceremony with the BCFED, the Business Council of BC, and WorkSafeBC. Livestream of the event is available here  

Abbotsford.   FRIDAY, APRIL 28TH.    @.   10:30 AM.   Abbotsford City Hall – Civic Plaza,    32315 South Fraser Way,     Abbotsford, BC

Organizations –City of Abbotsford

 

Mark’s Discount | April 16-22
Members can present the attached Mark’s coupon at point of purchase for a 25% discount on all regular-priced items until Saturday, April 22

CUPE Local 561 | Call for Support
As many of you know, our members of CUPE 561 are on strike. These Fraser Valley transit operators have been without a contract for three years, and are paid 32% less than other transit workers in our region. These workers are facing a tough situation. The employer, First Transit, is a multi-national corporation headquartered in Europe, and has threatened to walk away from the contract before paying our members a fair wage. The ultimate responsibility for these workers rests with BC Transit, a crown corporation of the BC government, but the leadership at BC Transit refuse to take any responsibility for the actions and failures of their contractor.

We need the help of all 100,000 CUPE members in British Columbia. This employer, and BC Transit, needs to understand that when they pick a fight with one of us, they pick a fight with all of us. Please see the attached letter from Local 561 about ways you and your members can put pressure on BC Transit, and help our members win a fair deal. Our solidarity is our most powerful tool against regressive employers, and we need your help today to show that strength and solidarity to these regressive employers.

Rally to Support CUPE 561
Date: April 22             Time: Noon to 3pm.     Location: Jubilee Park, 2552 McCallum Rd 

Please sign up to select a day where your union/local can join a picket line to show solidarity with striking workers and help keep morale high. Below we have asked for the time you expect to come, as well as the number of people you expect to bring. These can be rough estimates but will help us and the local plan. There are four different picket line locations listed – please select the one you plan to be at by using an X, but you are also welcome to visit more than one line. These workers are on strike 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and picket times are listed below. If you have any questions, please contact Carissa, Local Community Organizer, at caritaylor@cupe.ca. 

Sign the e-action and learn more about the strike at weneedalift.ca

Picket locations: 

First Transit Chilliwack Yard 

44275 Yale Road, Chilliwack (24/7)

 

First Transit Abbotsford Yard

3032 Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford (24/7)

The main entrance is around the corner on Pratt Street

 

West Coast Express

Mission City Station – Railway Avenue, Mission

Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 – 8:30 a.m.

 

Lougheed Town Centre Station* (Exchange) 

Across the street from 9850 Gatineau Place, Burnaby

Times: 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

 

*Please note that there are limits on the number of participants at the Lougheed Town Centre Station

 

COPE-491

LWR 2022 Communication Final 2023-04-03April 1, 2022 Low Wage Redress Distribution

The parties have agreed on the distribution of the April 1, 2022 Low Wage Redress (LWR), effective the
first full pay period following April 1, 2022.
The agreement provides for the following wage increases:

Please click on the link above for the 16 page document that will provide all increases for the various classifications.

BURNABY – The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) announced today that the 19,000 members of the community social services bargaining unit employed by the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) voted 95 per cent to accept the tentative agreement. The agreement was negotiated with the nine unions representing members in the agreement: BCGEU, CUPE, HEU, HSA, CSWU Local 1611, CLAC, USW 1-417, UFCW and BCNU.

The tentative deal was reached on February 6, 2023, after one year of negotiations. The new agreement is retroactive from April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2025 and includes:

 

• Low-wage redress* increases, retroactive for all employees (past and present) to April 1, 2022
• Wage increases that follow the GWI of the public sector agreements
• 100-per-cent paid sick leave, effective April 1, 2024
• Improvements to health and welfare benefits, leave provisions, safety and health, layoff and recall, bullying and harassment language.

* Low-wage redress (LWR) refers to funds that are meant to help reduce long-term inequalities in compensation in both community social services and health care sectors.

“Our members’ main priority was both fair and equitable compensation and restoration of a hundred per cent sick pay,” said CUPE BC General Vice-President Sheryl Burns. “The achievement on sick pay is historic because this was removed by the BC Liberals when they came into power.”

Burns added that members also voted resoundingly in favour of the new agreement because its provisions reflect the parties’ commitment to truth and reconciliation and the deal includes several improvements around health and safety while addressing mental health concerns.

Community social services workers work in every community in B.C., providing services such as support for Indigenous families, support for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities, support for women, youth and children fleeing abuse, and support for people with mental health challenges and at-risk youth.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) represents unionized workers in the community social services sector, and the Community Social Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) represents over 200 community social services employers across the province.

 

Every year on April 28, we come together in memory and honour of those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace. Circle the date on your calendar now, and visit dayofmourning.bc.ca for a list of ceremonies happening throughout BC.

Vancouver ceremony info

Friday, April 28
10:30 am
Jack Poole Plaza
1055 Canada Place

A livestream will be available at dayofmourning.bc.ca.

 

Those wishing to show solidarity in person with Local 561 members’ walkout for pensions and wage equity can join the picket this week at three locations:

• Lougheed Town Centre Exchange Bay 1 – Burnaby, BC
  Address: Across the street from 9850 Gatineau Place
  Time: 6:00am – 7:00pm Monday to Friday (maximum 10 picketers)
  NOTE: To maintain the 10-person maximum picketers at Bay 1, if you have a larger group wishing to come and show solidarity, please contact firsttransitstrike@cupe561.ca one day in advance so that an additional location nearby, where many more picketers could fit, can be coordinated
• First Transit Chilliwack Yard – Chilliwack, BC
  Address: 44275 Yale Road
  Time: 24h per day for the week of 20^th March
• First Transit Abbotsford Yard – Abbotsford, BC

Address: 3032 Gladys Avenue (both entrance and exit sites)

Time: 24h per day for the week of 20^th March
NOTE: Parking available around the corner on Pratt Street

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

#410-6222 Willingdon Avenue

Burnaby, British Columbia

V5H 0G3

P: 604.291.9119

www.cupe.bc.ca

Invite to all members of CUPE 1936

JOIN US  for our next Monthly Hybrid Membership Meeting on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023 @ 6:30 pm

This will be a Hybrid Meeting meaning you can join in person at 6222 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby  or join via zoom (see link below) (the 3rd Wednesday of every month, except July, August and December)

LOCAL 1936 MEETING AGENDA: Hybrid Meeting: Wednesday, March 15th, 2023
CUPE Local 1936 recognizes and acknowledges the unceded territories from which we are all fortunate to
participate in tonight’s meeting.
1. Territorial Acknowledgement
2. Reading of one of the “94 Calls to Action”
3. Roll Call of Officers
4. Equality Statement
5. Welcoming of any New Members and Guests
6. Review Agenda/ Additions
7. Review Minutes/ Corrections
8. Business from the Minutes
9. Correspondence
10. New Business:
 Ratification Votes
 CUPE Local 561 out on Strike
 Report Back on CUPE National Women’s Conference
 CUPE BC Convention-Wednesday, April 26 th -Saturday, April 29 th in Victoria.
 Next Metro District Labour Council Meeting-Thursday, April 13 h , 2023. Hybrid. In person at
the Maritime Labour Centre at 1880 Triumph Street in Vancouver
 Next Membership Meeting-Wednesday, April 19th, 2023. Hybrid meeting. 6222 Willingdon
Avenue near Metrotown on the 4 th floor in the Grace Hartman Room.

11. Treasurer’s Report
12. Grievance Officer Report
13. President’s Report
14. Committee Reports
15. Unit Reports
DRAW
16. Good of the Union
17. Question and Answer Period
18. Adjournment

Below you will find a link to the CSSBA highlights for the tentative agreement and a letter from CUPE 1936 Bargaining Committee with the highlights.

CSSBA Highlights 2023

 

Tentative deal reached for Community Social Services
CUPE Local 1936 is pleased to announce a tentative agreement has been reached
with the Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA). This includes
agreements for workers in the Community Living Services, General Services and
Indigenous Services sub-sectors.
The CUPE Local 1936 bargaining representatives, along with other bargaining
committee representatives unanimously supports the tentative agreement and
is encouraging all members to vote in favour of ratification.
The tentative agreement was negotiated with nine other unions who represent
members in the agreement: BCGEU, HEU, HSA, CSWU Local 1611, CLAC, USW 1-
417, UFCW and BCNU. Our union – which represents you and 2,500 other
members covered by this agreement – has been at the bargaining table since
February 2022, working hard to bring forward the priorities you identified.
These priorities include fair and equitable wages to address rising costs of living,
meaningful recognition and rights for Indigenous workers and the ability to
address your own health needs, including mental health supports.
The tentative agreement has a three-year term and includes the following
highlights:
Monetary
Low Wage Redress
 $22 million in low-wage redress increases to be applied retroactively for all
employees past and present to April 1, 2022.
General Wage Increases
•$0.25/hour increase to all wage grids, retroactive for all employees past and
present to April 1, 2022
• 3.24% increase to all wage grids, retroactive for all employees past and present
to April 1, 2022

• At least a 5.5% general wage increase, effective first pay period after April 1,
2023
• At least a 2% general wage increase, effective first pay period after April 1, 2024
Comparability Money
• Additional $4.1 million in wage comparability increases for all classifications
Other Monetary Improvements
• Increase to transportation allowance to .61 cents effective date of ratification
• 100% paid sick leave, effective April 1, 2024
 All Employers to provide the Employment Family Assistance Program
(EFAP)
 One-time lump sum retroactive payment to ECE Employees governed by
the Collective Agreement and who were otherwise eligible for the ECE Wage
Enhancement of $2/hour and didn’t receive the payment.
Non Monetary Provisions
Leave Language
 Expansion of bereavement leave definition to include leave for grieving.
 Expansion of the definition of family in bereavement leave language to
include “foster child, sibling and step-sibling” and “any person who lives
with an employee as a member of the employees family”.
 Addition to Special Leave to include two days of unpaid leave to
“attend/celebrate Indigenous spiritual/ceremonial events”
 Addition of a new article with two days paid leave for “Ceremonial,
Cultural, and Spiritual Leave for Indigenous Employees
 Ability to take either National Indigenous Peoples Day or Louis Riel Day in
lieu of Easter Monday and/or Boxing Day.
Health and Safety Improvements
 Clarification of posting of meeting minutes
 Ready access to Information Appendix B-Unsafe Work
 Inclusion of culturally appropriate supports for defusing and debriefing
 Inclusion of sexual or verbal assault in language
 Employer’s responsible for informing and reviewing employees of potential
for violence as soon as information is updated.
 Clarification as to who can be a Health and Safety representative.
 Inclusion of bed bugs as a communicable disease and parasitic infestation.

 

On Monday, February 27^th, at 12:00 pm, CUPE Local 561 is holding a rally at Abbotsford City Hall to support members working for First Transit in the Fraser Valley who are fighting for a fair deal. Please copy and paste link below to find out more information.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1?ui=2&ik=5070d312ac&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1758668370166273580&th=18680b909979d62c&view=att&disp=safe