CUPE Local 439

Notice of Motion

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:25:44 +0000

Notice is hereby given that an Election of Officers shall be held on
Saturday May 12, 2012 at the CUPE General Meeting at 10:00 at
Courtenay Elementary 1540 McPhee, Courtenay

Ratification Meeting

admin — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:11:21 +0000

MARCH 17TH

Courtenay Elementary
1540 McPhee Avenue

10:00 A.M.

Ratification will include both provincial and local bargaining proposals.

Rally at Legislature in Support of BC’s Teachers

admin — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:23:08 +0000

Greater Victoria and the Capital Region will be joining teachers in protest of Bill 22 throughout the day on Tuesday March 6, 2012.

“Union members, parents and community groups will join in the protest of the Liberal government’s confrontational Bill 22,” said B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair. “Unions worked together to secure our right to free collective bargaining, and we’ll work together to defend that right.”

Sinclair warned the BC Liberal government that Bill 22 wasn’t just an attack on the rights of teachers, but also on the right to free collective bargaining.

“Christy Clark has a choice, she can withdraw Bill 22, and join teachers, trustees, the employer and the public in support of real mediation; or she can continue her government’s heavy-handed approach to labour relations and cause continued chaos in our province,” said Sinclair.

“We work side by side with teachers every day. Bill 22 is an attack not just on teachers, but the entire education system,” said CUPE BC President, Barry O’Neill. “Our members will be joining the rally on Tuesday.”

BCTF President Susan Lambert welcomed the news. “Teachers are thankful for the support of working people throughout this province. They want this government to negotiate a fair deal.”

“The solution to this dispute won’t be found in the Legislature; real, independent mediation or arbitration is the answer, not the sham created by Bill 22,” added Sinclair.

Teachers and their supporters will gather at Centennial Square at 11:00 am before proceeding to the Legislature lawns for a noon rally.

-BCFed http://www.bcfederationist.com/rally-at-legislature-in-support-of-bcs-teachers/

Rally – Tuesday March 6

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:34:27 +0000

CUPE 439 members are being asked to join other CUPE Locals and the Comox District Teachers Association at the School Board Office in a Rally followed by a march to the office of our local Liberal MLA, protesting BILL 22. BILL 22 is a regressive piece of legislation that all Union members should oppose.

Tuesday – March 6th
12 noon to 1 p.m.
School Board Office, 607 Cumberland Road

*time spent at the Rally over and above your lunch break can be made up before or after shifts at your discretion

Update – Bill 22

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:53:56 +0000

CUPE BC has directed all the CUPE Locals to hold an information session regarding BILL 22. This session is to help us understand what the bill is about and the impact it will have on us. Details on the place and time will follow.

BCTF Job Action Update – What CUPE K-12 members need to know

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:34:19 +0000

BURNABY—On Thursday March 1, 2012, the BCTF served notice that it will commence a three day strike starting Monday March 5, 2012. The BCTF has reached an agreement with the employer through the Labour Relations Board that will see no picket lines go up during the strike. The agreement, which the BCTF has asked CUPE to honour, means CUPE members in the K-12 sector are expected to show up to work as scheduled, but should not perform any student supervision which is teacher and administrator work. CUPE fully supports the BCTF’s struggle against Bill 22 and their fight for free collective bargaining. CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill has written a letter to all CUPE members to explain the situation further.

Dear CUPE members working in K-12:

Re: BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) Job Action Update

Following a province-wide vote of its membership, the BCTF has announced that teachers will launch a full strike for three days beginning Monday, March 5, 2012. BCTF President Susan Lambert announced the strike action Thursday, March 1, 2012. CUPE stands in solidarity with the BCTF against the government’s legislation and fully supports the BCTF’s efforts to maintain free collective bargaining in British Columbia.

CUPE members always respect picket lines wherever and whenever we encounter them. However, in this dispute, the BCTF has asked that CUPE members continue to work during this BCTF strike action, as BCTF and the employers have agreed there will be no pickets. (A brief summary of the legislation is on the following page.) This agreement was made to ensure that the BCTF would be in a full-scale strike position without lengthy Labour Relations Board hearings. While this is unusual, CUPE respects the right of all unions to run their strike action as they see fit.

BCPSEA, the employer, has assured us that schools will be closed to students but will remain open for support staff to report to work as they normally would. CUPE members should report to work and perform their regular duties. School District employers will not close schools or layoff members during the dispute. Regular duties should be continued. This may include dealing with backlogged work, special cleaning, meetings or Pro-D. This should not include student supervision, which is teacher and administrator work.

We remain in constant communication with the BCTF. Expect more information as it becomes available. Please direct any questions to your Local President.

I know this will be a difficult and challenging time for CUPE members as well as for our sisters and brothers in the BCTF. I will update you as soon as any new developments occur.

In Solidarity,
Barry O’Neill
President
CUPE BC Division

CUPE progressing on K-12 local agreements

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:53:31 +0000

BURNABY– In December, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 26,000 members in B.C.’s public school system, reached a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement with the BC Public School Employers’ Association. That agreement (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012) was overwhelmingly endorsed by CUPE’s K-12 Presidents’ Council that is made up of presidents from the 55 different locals. Read the full bulletin

CUPE reaches tentative school support staff deal

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:08:08 +0000

BURNABY—The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 26,000 school support staff in British Columbia, has reached a tentative Provincial Framework Agreement with the BC Public Schools Employers’ Association. The Framework Agreement was unanimously endorsed by the CUPE BC K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee and will be recommended to the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council for endorsement. Each CUPE local union will now take this provincial agreement to their local table with school districts to conclude collective bargaining. Read More

Change of General Meeting Date

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:33:32 +0000

To accommodate the School District Winter Break the regularly scheduled general meeting for December has been changed to:

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Meeting called to order at:

10:00 am

CUPE 439 Office 496 10^th Street, Courtenay, BC

Provincial bargaining focuses in on key priorities

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:00:22 +0000

BURNABY—CUPE’s K-12 Provincial Bargaining Committee met with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) on November 15 and 16. These were the 11^thand 12^thdays of bargaining at the provincial table, which commenced on June 10. The two parties are set to continue bargaining on December 13 and 14. View the full bulletin