Sunday October 4th - Sectoral and Standing Committee Meetings
Jet-lagged but game, five CUPE 391 members participated in the 10 am Library Committee meeting. Ed Dickson, Inder Pannu, Mark Whittam, Alex Youngberg and Peter DeGroot (alternate) attended.  Peter is on the National CARD committee nobly gave up vacation and travel points to attend.  Inder and I are bunking together.  Neither of us snore.  Maybe we can try a cruise in our old age.

Library Committee
We handed out copies of our new Tech Services brochure, Public library collections: part of our culture, part of our future.  They were well received by library worker from across the country as they have the similar issues.  Government underfunding of public services opens the door to contracting out and privatisation of library services.  Some public libraries have contracted out such services as as ordering, processing, cataloguing material; while other libraries are considering it.  That would be our employer.  Still other libraries are considering contracting out acquistions.

What we heard across the country
Rhena Oakes, President of the seven hundred Calgary Public Library, CUPE Local 1169, reported on violence in the workplace.  With the economic downturn more people are seeking shelter in the library.  Lower staff numbers because of the economic situation, make it difficult to maintain a safe workplace for members, and sometimes for the public. 

On a more cheerful note CPL workers have had a successful organising drive for the “substitute workers”.  These people make $.25 over minimum wage.  The turnover happens sometimes in the same day.

Quebec
Because of violence in the workplace, libraries are closed every day between 3.30 and 4.30 pm.  Ultra violet lights are being used in the washrooms to make injection use less accessible.  Gangs have been settling their scores in library halls.  The libraries close for the one hour to get a better handle on the situation.  Unfortunately children are getting out of school at this time and wish to use their libraries.

Manitoba
Manitoba library workers discussed the difficulties they had with contracting out processing of materials.  Apparently costs were averaging $5 per item.  The materials often have to be recatalogued and restickered. 
Manitoba libraries have found it difficult to get a true costing of these contracted out processes.  Sound familiar?

Ontario
City of Mississauga
A librarian tells us how the City of Mississauga tried to get rid of the library board.  This did not succeed, but apparently, several councilors sit on the board and the rest are appointees.  The Library is now considered a city department (the library department).

Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Public Library has the same problems as Manitoba with contracting out material processing.  Also, Saskatchewan is embarking on an Integrated Library System.  All catalogued library records in Saskatchewan are to be standardized.  Cataloguing was shut down for part of this process which mystified the library workers who were deployed elsewhere.  During this time a backlog of materials needing to be processed occurred.  These items were sent out to be processed.  It cost the Library $7 per item and the staff had to resticker and recatalogue many of the items. Centralised selecting is occuring here as in some of the other libraries.  The librarians are being giving less to do and subject specialisation is disappearing here also.  The dumbing down of library service seems prevalent in all library systems.  It appears to go hand in hand with contracting out many aspects of collection development.

Vancouver Public Library
I reported on the provincial library cuts, municipal hiring freeze, shared services and the Vancouver Service Review.  (Darlene Smith from Fraser Valley Regional had earlier reported on the “Don’t Pull the Plug on Libraries” campaign).  I also noted that the City was hoping for big savings with the attendance management program.  The Freedom of Information request that \i put in revealed that the Employer was including exempt staff sick days. leave without pay, members on WCB and members on Long term disability plan, which the union pays.  The Employer said we had an average of 17 days sick per year.  Without removing the LWOP or the WCB, we found that we only averaged 11.2 days.  This apparently is “best practice”.  I have asked other library systems to compare their “best practice” attendance management programs.

Victorian Regional District Library
Holman gleefully reported that integrating pay equity is proving to be a relatively seamless process.  This regions is also experiencing financial hardship.  Hours of opening wil be cut back and a weeks closure at Christmas is a distinct possibility.

San Jose Way
This is the Frankenstein of libraries that has been terrorizing devoted public service workers for over two years.  The University of San Jose does not have a library.  The students use the San Jose Public Library.  The Library resembles a Chapters/Indigo store and entitles its librarians - here it comes - “client service representatives”.  Client are give a wand that beeps to help find their material so they don’t have that annoying and expensive interaction with staff. Some of the features that might sound familiar.

• reduction/lack of specialised services
• generalising of job descriptions & classifications generic jobs)
• more part-time staff, less full-time staff
• use of ‘rovers” in public service
• contracting our of specialised services to 3rd party providers e.g.b
• bibiliographic services, IT, marketing/communications, financial functions

The architect of this shift from serving public good to supporting corporate profit is Dr. Ken Haycock, former head of UBC’s Library School.  Dr. Haycock also has a consulting business and worked with the BC Library Trustees Associations in 2002.  We are in a parallel universe.

The reception tonight featured a Quebecois group called Yves Lambert et Bebert Orchestra.  Very step dancing folk music.  It has the energy of its Celtic cousins but the rich strong flavour of the Quebec countryside.  C’est magnifique!  A la prochaine.  I love Montreal.  Thank you for sending us.

in solidarity

Alex

CUPE 391 starts the show!
And gosh darn, how fantastic that even before President Paul Moist’s gavel hit the podium, CUPE 391 was front and centre. The 1,500 delegates from across the country were treated to two of David Philip’s videos. Both videos received thunderous applause from the delegates, and both videos are available on line if you haven’t seen them (and I recommend that you do as they feature many 391 members)

Vancouver Public Library At Work

Olivia Twist

Now meet your delegates

President Alex Youngberg, Vice Presidents Inder Pannu and Mark Whittam, Member-at-Large Ed Dickson and 391 activist Peter DeGroot. The 5 were seen here at the Convention gallery just before the days proceedings commenced.

President Paul Moist addresses the Convention Floor.

President Paul Moist raised three primary focuses that CUPE will be addressing over the upcoming years. Each has equal importance for all workers across the country.
1. Collective Bargaining. The ability to push for improved rights, and maintain exisiting rights is fundamental to the trade union movement. CUPE will continue to strive to raise standards for everyone.

2. Pensions. Does an economic downturn necessitate that nobody deserves a pension??!! Absolutely not! Everyone deserves a good quality of life, through their life. Pensions are becoming unfortunately, a thing of luxury.employment status, deserve pensions. Watch for more work on this.

3. Anti-Privatization. We need to stop the relentless pressure to privatize. At CUPE 391, we want our name to always be associated with Vancouver Public Library and Gibsons Public Library.

Of course CUPE will be dealing with far more issues than these in the coming years. With a union with more than 600,000 members, the challenges can be ably addressed, and the activists will be called on. A key group of these activists are the shop stewards. CUPE has declared 2010 to be the year of the Steward. Be on the watch for interesting opportunities for the Stewards in the coming months.

Celebrating Members with Courage

A heroic tale from the sisters and brothers of the CUPE Local with Can-Jet brought tears to delegates. “Know that every flight attendant who you see serving coffee is a trained professional is all aspects of safety, who will do everything to get you home. They are ready to be your heroes.”

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/20/cdn-plane-gunman.html

Another hero at the Convention was HEU BC’s Kathryn Peterson. She won the CUPE award recognizing people with Disabilities.

The Arts come to Convention

Actually this is a long standing tradition of CUPE. Artists come to the convention floor during the “down time” (I say that as the activities usually run for 16 hours per day). We were fortunate to have local musicians, poets and singers present. Their belief in social justice mirror’s CUPE’s and their discourse always elevates the conversations. Each day has different artists scheduled who will undoubtly elevate the spirits and souls of delegates.

Information Booths

Both Inder and Peter will be spending time at the information booths that provide the latest material for delegates. Today they spent time at the CUPE BC booth, and the the Equality booth.

Constitutional Changes
The delegates get to debate various issues on the floor. A two thirds majority is required to make a change. One change of note in the national constitution is that it now free to join! The token $1.00 has been removed from when a new member (or organization) joins CUPE. Said Secretary-Treasurer Claude Genereaux, “We’re finally free of the welcoming tax!”

Election Forum
The day on the convention floor concluded with the Election Forum.  Anyone seeking a position within the National Executive Board was welcome to share their platform.  After the speeches, 391 delegates met with BC candidates, Barry O’Neill, Mark Hancock, and Colin Pawson.

Equality Forum
The day concluded with a glorious evening focused on diversity. Poetry, lecture, drumming and dialogue engaged delegates until the late hours. Stirring memories will continue.

Tomorrow is Pink Triangle Caucus, Resolutions, Constitutional Changes and probably a lot more. Thanks for checking in today, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

cheers
- peter