CUPE 387 Executive By-Election Results

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We are happy to announce that after last week’s election, we are now back up to a full Executive. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to moving ahead with a full team.

  • President (term ending 2026) – Michelle Edwardsen (Parks), moved from Recording Secretary
  • Vice-President (term ending 2025) – Jay DeCoursey (Engineering Operations), moved from Executive Director
  • Recording Secretary (term ending 2025) – Jessica Adam (Recreation), moved from Executive Director
  • Executive Director (term ending 2026) – Brian Tompkins (Parks)
  • Executive Director (term ending 2025) – Sage Deluce (Parks)

CUPE BC Virtual Library Symposium Opportunity

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CUPE BC is hosting a virtual symposium for locals with library staff.  Interested CUPE 387 Library members are welcome to attend, but must obtain supervisor approval. Union Leave of Absence (ULOA) forms will be provided by the union if required. If interested, please contact the CUPE 387 Office to register.

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CUPE BC Virtual Library Symposium | Open for Registration | January 14, 2025

Event Date & Time: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | 9:00am – 4:00pm (Pacific)

Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 9, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the upcoming CUPE BC Library Symposium 2025!

This year’s symposium promises to be an engaging and educational event. It will bring together CUPE BC locals in the library sector, locals working with libraries, and library staff for a full day of learning, discussions, and collaboration.

Below is the Synopsis of the Library Symposium and the full agenda to help you plan your day.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of libraries.

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Synopsis: Library Symposium 2025
Library Board Advocacy: The symposium will highlight the critical role of library boards in advocating for library services and resources. Key discussions focus on strategies for effective advocacy, including building strong relationships with local government officials, engaging the community, and leveraging data to demonstrate the library’s impact. Library members will develop an understanding of the Library Act and the structure of Library Boards. Participants will share success stories and challenges, emphasizing the importance of a unified voice in promoting the value of libraries.

Bargaining Health and Safety for Library Workers: The session on bargaining for health and safety addresses the unique challenges faced by library workers. Facilitators will discuss best practices for negotiating workplace safety measures, especially in light of recent global health concerns. Topics include Health and Safety language developed by CUPE National to ensure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), implement mental health support programs, and create safe work environments. The importance of collaboration between library management and unions is underscored to ensure the well-being of all staff members.

Library Symposium – January 14, 2025
A Virtual Symposium
Agenda
9:00 am – 9:30 am Opening – Karen Ranalletta, President CUPE BC
9:30 am – 11:45 am Board Advocacy Training
10:30 am – 10:45 am Lifestyle break
11:45 am – 12:00 pm Keynote speaker
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Participant discussion (Breakout rooms)
1:30 pm – 1:45 pm Discussion Summaries
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm Bargaining Health and Safety
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm Lifestyle break
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Introduce Language
3:00 pm – 3:20 pm Strategy
3:20 pm – 3:40 pm Participant Discussion
3:40 pm – 4:00 pm Closing

Special STSL Committee

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As a result of the ESA grievance being settled with the City, It was moved and seconded that a Special Committee be appointed to include the CUPE 387 Full Time Officer, the Business Operations Assistant and the Short Term Sick Plan Trustees to make recommendations:
a. on the reduction of premiums; and
b. disbursement of funds returned as a result of the ESA grievance being settled
with the City.

Read the full meeting minutes here

November By-election Information

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As noted in the October General meeting, we will be holding a by-election for the positions of President and Vice-President at the November 26, 2024 General Meeting. Advance nominations are now open for these positions. Nominations from the floor will be accepted at the time of the by-election. All members of CUPE 387 (auxiliaries, part time, temporary, full time) are eligible.

Job Descriptions:

For more information, read the full copy of our bylaws, or contact the office.  Should a current executive member win the election, their position will be up for immediate election with nominations from the floor at the General Meeting.

Nominate now

Welcome to Zaria Alibhai

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We are happy to announce that Zaria Alibhai (City Hall, Community Services) was elected to the position of Executive Director at the by-election held during last night’s General Meeting. Zaria brings a wealth of experience facilitating complex issues and a drive to strengthen the voice of the union in the city.

Grievance Settlement: ESA Sick Leave

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In late August of 2024, CUPE Local 387 settled its Grievance with the Employer regarding the Employer’s failure to provide the minimum illness or injury leave days prescribed by the BC Employment Standards Act. You will find a copy of that settlement agreement here.

As a result of this settlement, the Union and the Employer consider the grievance resolved, and the following changes are coming to short-term sick leave at the City, Library and Police Board:

  • Starting January 1st, 2025, the Employer will pay all employees for the first five (5) sick days, in accordance with the Employment Standards Act. This will no longer be funded by premiums previously paid by bargaining unit employees to the self-funded sick plan. This should result in a reduction of premiums paid by members.
  • The Union’s Short-Term Sick Leave Plan will continue to cover short-term sick leaves from the sixth (6th) day of sick leave through day 10.

In addition to these changes, the Employer will pay the Union’s Short-Term Sick Plan 70% of regular wages for all regular and temporary full- and part-time employees who received up to five (5) sick days per year from April 1, 2022, up to December 31, 2024. The Union’s Short-Term Sick Plan will be responsible for managing the distribution of these funds once they are received from the Employer. Again, this should result in a reduction of premiums paid by members to the Short-Term Sick Plan, therefore saving money for our members.

In addition to the terms of the settlement agreement, it is important to clarify further what your rights are under the section of the Employment Standards Act. Quoting, in part, from a recent arbitrated decision, ‘Auxiliary Employees are entitled to claim paid sick leave under Section 49.1(1)(a) of the Employment Standards Act where they are called by their Employer with the offer of a work assignment, and they would have accepted the assignment “but for” an illness or injury. This interpretation accords with the express intentions of the Legislature that all workers, including casual employees, are entitled to five days of paid leave for personal illness or injury after 90 consecutive days of employment, and that “[n]obody should be forced to make [the] decision to go to work sick or stay home and lose wages”. Whether an employee would otherwise have worked a particular assignment is a question of fact that may need to be determined on a case-by-case basis.’

Congratulations to Gavin Hermanson

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We are happy to announce that Gavin Hermanson was elected to the position of Full-Time Officer by acclamation at the by-election held during the September General Meeting. Gavin brings a passion to improve the world around him by supporting our members and working towards the unions larger strategic goals. He will transition into his new role in October, and we are excited for what he will accomplish.