Front Page – Page 21 – CUPW Vancouver

July 12, 2023

Apply now! Become a Regional External Organizer

July 11, 2023

CUPW is currently seeking worker organizers in each region to assist with CUPW external organizing campaigns. The position will begin September 2023 and will be up for renewal every six months pending the direction of the campaign. The successful candidate will be tasked with collaborating with the 3rd National Vice-President, their Regional office, and the Locals involved in the campaign.

Responsibilities

• Work with CUPW locals and regions in the development and coordination of the organizing campaign as determined by the National Executive Board;
• Identify, assess, and recommend organizing targets, in collaboration with the CUPW organizing department;
• Worksite mapping and contact list building;
• Maintain database of workers;
• Develop organizing campaign plans – including objectives and timelines;
• Conduct outreach to workers – identify and train workplace leaders;
• Prepare regular reports on campaigns.

CUPW Supports the ILWU Workers Right to Strike

OTTAWA – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is urging the B.C. Maritime Employers Association to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair deal that meets the needs of the almost 7,500 port workers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

Key issues remaining include fair wages, protections against automation, and the contracting out of maintenance work.

“These workers want wages that support their families and communities, and they want to know that their jobs are valued and secure,” says Jan Simpson, CUPW National President. “CUPW is offering our full support and solidarity to the members of ILWU as their fight is a fight for all Canadian workers.”

Apply Now for the Urban Negotiating Committee

The National Executive Board has selected Lana Smidt as Lead Negotiator of the Urban Negotiating Committee.

It’s time to call for applications from members who are interested in serving on the negotiating committees for our two biggest bargaining units – Urban Postal Operations (UPO) and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC).

Our current UPO collective agreement expires on January 31, 2024. Preparations for negotiations are underway. Members have proposed demands at membership meetings, and regional councils are currently discussing and forwarding the demands they recommend. The National Executive Board (NEB) expects to put together our program of demands in August for the membership to ratify.

Meanwhile, we will assemble the Committee. As set out in Article 6.11 of the CUPW constitution, the UPO committee will include at least one woman, one francophone and one anglophone.

It’s one of the most important jobs at the core of our Union’s work; please consider it carefully.

Responsibilities of a Negotiating Committee member

Negotiators are responsible for presenting members’ demand to Canada Post, under the direction of the Chief Negotiator and the National Executive Board, in an attempt to negotiate a collective agreement.
Negotiators are responsible for researching specific demands and defending the rationale behind demands to representatives of Canada Post.
Upon completion of negotiations, negotiators prepare a report for the next negotiating committee.

JULY GMM

General Membership Meeting
SATURDAY, July 29th at 10am

The meeting will be held in person at:
The Maritime Labour Centre
1880 Triumph Street
(Parking available in the rear off Pandora Street)

AGENDA FOR THE JULY GMM:

1. Land Acknowledgment
2. Reading of Truth and Reconciliation: Calls to Action
3. Reading of new members
4. Reading of the previous meeting’s minutes
5. Business arising out of the minutes
6. New Business
7. Nominations and elections:
1. Education Director

2. Executive steward (MSC)
3. Executive Steward (external)

4. Organization Committee (1)

8. Executive Committee Motions
9. Unfinished business
10. Correspondence
11. Executive and Committee Reports
12. Good and Welfare
13. Adjournment

In Solidarity,

Anju Parmar, President
Vancouver Local lb/CUPE-3888

June 29, 2023

Urban COLA Payment on the Way for First Quarter of 2023

Our Cost of Living Allowance will take effect for the fourth consecutive quarter to help members deal with inflation.

Please note, the information below is subject to change should we win our National Grievance (N00-22-00005). In dispute is the date of the base month for the calculations of COLA amounts owed. Canada Post Corporation has confirmed that it will pay the COLA payments as below, calculated in accordance with their position on the base month.

AMOUNTS

The COLA is reviewed and paid quarterly, if required. The quarter in question is February to April 2023.

In CPC’s view, the base month for the COLA in the contract renewal is January 2022. The January 2022 CPI was 145.3, so the adjusted index for comparison is 153.0. The April 2023 CPI was 156.4, which exceeds the adjusted index by 3.4.

Therefore, Urban members will be paid a COLA of 67 cents ($0.67) per hour for hours paid in that three-month period.

SAMPLE CALCULATION

The allowance is calculated for all hours paid from February 1st to April 30th, so calculations will vary from member to member. As a baseline though, a member who worked full time throughout the quarter will have 504 hours excluding overtime. At 67 cents ($0.67) per hour, the Cost of Living Allowance would be $337.68.

The payments are scheduled to be paid as a lump sum on your July 6, 2023 pay.

In Solidarity,

Carl Girouard
National Grievance Officer
2023/2027 Bulletin #022 /fc-cope 225

June 15, 2023August 16, 2023

June is Indigenous People’s Month

The Vancouver local is asking our members to take time to reflect on the contributions, challenges, and traditions of Indigenous people throughout Turtle Island on June 21st – Indigenous People’s Day. In Vancouver, on Wednesday, June 21st, people are invited to join and march from 1607 East Hastings (where this mural is on display). The march will start at 11am and go to Grandview Park on Commercial Drive, or you can meet at the park from Noon to 3pm for this special event.

There is also The Talking Stick Festival- an Indigenous festival that has a number of events scheduled. Check out their website at talkingstick.ca or fullcircle.ca

The Vancouver Public Library will also be hosting indigenous speakers and films throughout June, check VPL.ca for more details

We ask members to look into events in the communities in which they live. We insist this is NOT a holiday, but a day to reflect, learn, and get involved in the Indigenous people and traditional land which we reside on.

May 30, 2023August 16, 2023

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!!!

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE

5 Day CUPW Turtle Island Course

June 12th to June 16th

The course will be held at the Maritime Labour Center

#130 – 111 Victoria Dr. Vancouver, B.C. V5L 4C4

Application Deadline is Friday, June 2^nd at 9 AM. Applications will only be accepted at the Vancouver Local in person, by mail, or by fax (604) 685 4931

(Email and late applications will not be accepted)

Application forms can be found online at

http://www.cupwvancouver.org/forms

“The Turtle Island Course aims to build meaningful, long-term relationships with Indigenous peoples’ history in Canada, connects these historic events to the current context, and debunks myths and stereotypes.

It concludes with participants identifying ways to act as effective and respectful allies to Indigenous peoples in their struggle for decolonization.”

Space is extremely limited for this popular course. If you’ve already attended this course, or if you haven’t attended a General Membership Meeting in the 12 months prior to the application deadline, you will not be eligible to apply.

(The next Local General Membership Meeting is on Saturday, May 27^th at 10 AM)