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:

• President (term ending Spring 2026)
• Vice-President (term ending Spring 2025)

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

As announced at the October General Meeting, there will be a motion to approve the CUPE 387 Budget for 2025 at the next General Meeting on November 26, 2024.

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.

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.’

Join us for an all-ages skate night.  Open to all CUPE 387 members and exempt staff.

• Friday, December 13, 2024
• 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
• Moody Park Arena

Snacks will be provided (hot chocolate/coffee & popcorn).

There are limited skate and helmet rentals available. If you have your own, please bring them with you. (No hockey gear allowed at the event)

RSVP before December 6

With Gavin’s transition to Full-Time Officer, his previous role of Executive Director (Term ending in 2026) is now vacant.   More information about the role can be found in our current bylaws. If you are interested in the role or have any questions, please contact the office.

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.

My name is Gavin Hermanson, I’m a planner in the engineering department at the City, and I’ve accepted the nomination to run for the Full-Time Officer position. Though I’ve only been an executive director with CUPE Local 387 since April of this year, I believe I have the skills and motivations to succeed in this position. I’m eager to tackle the bigger-picture issues in the workplace, work to further our strategic goals, and help the membership navigate day-to-day problems and challenges at the City. I enjoy working with, and for people. The relationships I’ve built across the organization in my two and a half years at the employer are a testament to this.

I’ve taken a handful of the CUPE training courses and am registered to take a whole host of courses this fall to bring my formal labour education up to a level that fits this position.

Lastly, I believe in the power of our collective action. We are facing levels of economic inequality not seen in Canada in the past hundred years, the rise of anti-worker legislation in many Provinces, Federal union-busting at the behest of corporations, and the backsliding of democracy in many areas of the world. The relevance of unions and importance of organized labour has never been more clear. I became an urban planner to solve problems and make the world around me a little better. These motivations hold true as to why I’d like to be the Full-Time Officer.

Thank you for your consideration,

Gavin

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Should Gavin win the position of Full Time Officer, his current position of Executive Director (Term ending in April 2026) will become vacant and up for immediate election. Nominations would then be accepted from the floor for this position.

CUPE 387 Children’s Christmas Party

December 15, 1:30-4:30 PM @ Queensborough Community Centre

920 Ewen Avenue, New Westminster

All CUPE members and exempt staff with children under the age of 10 are invited.

We’ve planned:

• Dance party with Rock ‘N’ Beau
• Crafts
• Treats
• Visit with Santa

Presents provided for children 10 years and younger. Parents are welcome to bring presents for accompanying siblings 11 and older for Santa to deliver.

Register before November 7, 2024.  Due to planning constraints, we are unable to accept late registrations.