CUPE 387 – Member Bulletin August 16

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Bargaining Update Meetings August 24

The bargaining committee is hosting three important bargaining update meetings on Thursday, August 24. Please do your best to attend one of the sessions, as we want all members to have a better understanding of where we are at in the bargaining process.

We will start the meeting by giving a detailed update to all members on this round of bargaining and there will also be time to hear your concerns and answer any questions you have. We’ll also discuss ways members can support the bargaining committee moving into the fall, and what our negotiating strategy looks like moving forward.

Join us in-person at 4:15 or 5:15, or virtually on Zoom at 6:30.

The two in-person meetings will be held at:

Centennial Lodge in Queens Park

3rd Avenue New Westminster

For the virtual meeting advanced registration is required. Registration will be open until 4 pm on Tuesday August 22. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

It has been almost a full year since we started bargaining and we know that negotiations are taking longer than you may have expected. This has been a difficult round of negotiations but know that we are doing our best to conclude negotiations in a timely manner.

STAY UP TO DATE ON BARGAINING The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net.

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update July 31, 2023

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update – July 31

UPCOMING SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
This has been a challenging round of negotiations and we understand that can be frustrating for members. Unfortunately, the employers have not been willing to engage in meaningful discussions around our key bargaining issues and that has led to little progress being made at the bargaining table.

In the upcoming weeks we will be scheduling two special membership meetings, one in-person and one online over Zoom, to give a detailed update to all members on this round of bargaining and to hear your concerns and answer any questions you have.

We’ll also discuss ways members can support the bargaining committee moving into the fall, and what our negotiating strategy looks like moving forward.

CUPE 387 members deserve a fair collective agreement that recognizes the value of their work. Your bargaining committee is committed to reaching a tentative agreement that addresses your key bargaining priorities and reflects the current economic climate.

We will be sending an email in the coming days with the exact dates of the special meetings so please keep an eye out for that.

 STAY UP TO DATE ON BARGAINING
The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net.

In solidarity,
Your CUPE 387 Bargaining Committee

 

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update July 05, 2023

CUPE 387 – Bargaining Update July 5

Your bargaining committee met for another day of bargaining with the Employers (City of New Westminster, Library and Police Board) on June 27.

The Employers brought some of the information we requested months ago that is vital to having meaningful discussions in bargaining. While some information was finally provided, the Employers refused to address our concerns regarding auxiliary employees or any of the other issues CUPE 387 members identified as important for a settlement.

The Employers have time and time again been unwilling to take our priorities seriously. Even though the Employers acknowledge problems with the way things are being done, they are ignoring viable solutions.

Without real progress, your bargaining committee must start exploring more options to get movement from the Employers on our priorities.

Your bargaining committee and the CUPE 387 Executive will be meeting next week for a strategic planning session. At this session, we will discuss what needs to be done in order for the Employers to reach a fair settlement and what actions are needed from the membership to support your bargaining committee. Working together, we can get a fair collective agreement that allows us to keep up with the high cost of living in our community.

We will have an update next week with information on meeting locations, dates, and times.

The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net.

In solidarity,
Your CUPE 387 Bargaining Committee

 

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update June 19, 2023

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update
June 19, 2023

Your bargaining committee met with the employers (City, Library and Police Board) for two days of negotiations on the 6th and 9th of June and made limited progress towards a new collective agreement.

At our last meeting, the employers committed to giving the union specific information related to auxiliary employees by June 27. This information is critical in helping us address one of your key bargaining priorities.

Previously, the employers have committed to sharing this information and have not fully followed through, however, we are hopeful that they will provide this information by June 27 and that we will be able to make continued progress at the bargaining table.

We meet again for one day of bargaining on June 27. We want to reiterate that we remain committed to negotiating a collective agreement that reflects the current economic climate, and the lasting impact inflation has had on the cost of living.

The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net.

In solidarity,
Your CUPE 387 Bargaining Committee

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update May 25, 2023

Your bargaining committee met with the employers for a full day of negotiations on Wednesday, May 17. Unfortunately, while we continue to meet, essentially no further progress towards a new collective agreement has been made.

Throughout bargaining the employers have introduced concessionary proposals which they refuse to back down from – we simply cannot entertain any concessions.

What does this mean? A concession, as defined by CUPE, is:

A concession occurs when a local union accepts an employer’s demand for a lesser wage. A concession also occurs when a local union accepts an employer’s demand for a lesser contract provision than previously agreed, without at least receiving a like benefit, or provision of higher value or importance in return.

A two-tier contract provision offers a lesser condition of employment for certain employees than for others performing the same work, based solely on their date of hire. Two-tier provisions are always considered a concession, regardless of what may be negotiated in return.

What’s next?

We have additional bargaining dates scheduled for June 6 and 9. We want to reiterate that we remain committed to negotiating a collective agreement that reflects the current economic climate, and the lasting impact inflation has had on the cost of living. If these meetings are unproductive, we may need to schedule meetings with you in the fall to discuss and plan the steps necessary to reach a new collective agreement.

CUPE 387 members develop and maintain our community’s infrastructure, ensure clean and well-maintained public and green spaces and help to ensure public safety. Workers play a vital role in keeping our community running for residents, businesses and visitors.

CUPE 387 members deserve a fair collective agreement that recognizes the value of their work.

Make sure you continue to receive bargaining updates 

The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net

CUPE 387 Bargaining Update May 16, 2023

Your bargaining committee met with the employers for one full day of negotiations on May 5th and we are disappointed to report that little progress was made. Instead, the employers tabled concessionary proposals.

We cannot accept concessionary proposals that would negatively impact CUPE 387 members. We have clearly communicated this to the employers and will continue to reject concessionary proposals.

We are disappointed that this round of negotiations has been so tumultuous but remain committed to settling on a collective agreement that reflects the current economic climate, and the lasting impact inflation has had on the cost of living. Other municipalities in this region have bargained fair collective agreements with CUPE locals, that recognize the value of the work CUPE members do in their communities. CUPE 387 members deserve the same.

We resume negotiations with the employers on May 17, and we will have another update for you after our meeting.

The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us by email at cupe387@telus.net.

CUPE 387 Bargaining Bulletin – May 3, 2023

CUPE 387 – Bargaining Bulletin

May 3, 2023

Dear members,

Your bargaining committee met last week for a day of negotiations.  We made some progress on a small number of non-monetary and housekeeping proposals.

We are encouraged that this progress was made and that we have secured additional dates.  There are many significant issues still to be negotiated such as wage and benefit improvements, while also meaningfully addressing the recruitment and retention issue the employers face.  We anticipate these issues will be discussed at upcoming bargaining sessions this month and into June.

We remain committed to reaching a deal that is both in line with other regional settlements and reflects the current economic climate and the last impact inflation has had on the cost of living.

We will be reaching out again following each of the bargaining dates with further updates.

The best way to ensure you receive all further bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and ensure CUPE 387 has your up-to-date email contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net

In solidarity,
Your CUPE 387 Bargaining Committee

CUPE 387 Bargaining Bulletin – April 25 2023

Dear members,

Your bargaining committee resumes negotiations with the City, Library and Police Board this week. We have two full days of bargaining scheduled for April 26 and May 5.

We have been disappointed with the slow progress of negotiations but after recent discussions, we are hopeful that these upcoming bargaining sessions will be productive.

We are prepared to discuss members’ key issues and communicate the importance of negotiating a wage increase that reflects the current economic climate and the lasting impact inflation has had on the cost of living.

As you likely know other CUPE locals in our region, including CUPE 23 (Burnaby), CUPE 774 (Abbotsford) and CUPE 403 (Langley Township), have all recently negotiated new collective agreements. We’ve seen a pattern with the wage increases in all three deals that has helped to ease the pressure of the affordability crisis workers’ and their families face in this region.

CUPE 387 members also deserve an agreement that will help relieve the pressure of persistent high inflation.

We will be reaching out again following these bargaining dates with an update. The best way to make sure you receive all future bargaining updates is to regularly monitor the CUPE 387 website and also ensure CUPE 387 has your contact information by emailing your personal (non-work) email address to cupeoffice@telus.net.

In solidarity,
Your CUPE 387 Bargaining Committee