We would like to
1. reacquaint our membership with our strong and diverse literary skills. 

Also, we want the membership to
2. use the CUPE 391 e-mail system and regularly check our web site. 

Thanks to Chris Jang and Erik Stainsby, this web site is generally considered top notch and coveted by other locals.  To serve these two goals we are going to start with a Month of May poetry contest.

Any form of poetry is acceptable (except doggeral).  Subject area can be May Day , Mother’s Day or anything you chose.  You must send your masterpiece through the CUPE 391 website so that all members may peruse your literary efforts and vote accordingly.  How these items of literary largesse will be judged will be determined and posted on website and sent through e-mail.  Here is the address to which you may send your poetry so that all members may feast at the banquet.  I will send one I wrote about my Mum for Mother’s Day. It is not an entry but will be sent through the CUPE 391 e-mail to all members as an example.  Please send your offerings for sumptuous prizes (to be determined and reported) to members@cupe 391.ca.

In solidarity

Alex

Librarians and library workers welcome readers attending Vancouver International Writers Festival “Incite” event featuring Linden MacIntyre and Vincent Lam!

Welcome to Vancouver Public Library from your librarians, library technicians and information assistants!

Unfortunately, we are outside this event tonight with bad news – Vancouver Public Library management has cut $500,000 from the operating budget.

This means the loss of frontline library services for readers.

And it means librarians, library technicians and information assistants have had their work reduced to less than 20 hours per week, meaning they no longer qualify for sick pay.

Some of those librarians and library workers have dedicated their entire careers to working for the Vancouver Public Library – over 35 years in some cases.

It’s a disrespectful way to treat librarians and VPL readers who depend on their services to use the library.

But while VPL management are cutting frontline staff hours they have also hired a very expensive veteran lawyer costing hundreds of dollars an hour to negotiate with library staff instead of having management and city officials doing the job which is how the City of Vancouver is bargaining with the inside and outside workers, face-to-face, – at no additional cost to taxpayers.

And ironically, lawyer Kim Thorne is Vice-Chair of the Vancouver International Writers Festival.  But we have no issue with Mr. Thorne or the Festival – our concern is with Vancouver Public Library management.

So that’s why we are here tonight – to ask for your support to reverse these frontline service cuts and put librarians and library workers back on the job to provide the knowledge and expertise Vancouver readers deserve.

Please let Vancouver City Council and the Vancouver Public Library Board of Directors know you don’t agree with cutting librarian services at our libraries.

Together we can put librarians back to work at the Vancouver Public Library!

To write to the Vancouver Public Library Board the e-mail address is board@vpl.ca

or

The Vancouver Public Library Board
350 West Georgia, Level 7
Vancouver, BC
V6B 6B1

City Council’s (supplies 96% of the Vancouver Public Library budget) webpage is
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/mayorcouncil/index.htm. Also see http://vancouver.ca/contact.htm

Also you can write mayor and councillors individually, e.g.:

gregor.robertson@vancouver.ca
heather.deal@vancouver.ca
raymond.louie@vancouver.ca

Or write Mayor and Council at:

Mayor and Council
City of Vancouver
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4

Thank you for caring about your library. Thank you for remembering who owns this public facility.

Download this entry as a leaflet

- Javier Vazquez photo

CUPE BC Library Conference
Location:
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Vancouver
Date:
Thursday, June 21, 2012 - 12:00am - Saturday, June 23, 2012 - 12:00am

CUPE BC will be holding a Library Conference from June 21 – 23, 2012 at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites in Vancouver.  The theme of the conference is “Re-inventing Libraries:  Thinking Outside the Book”.

The conference will open on the evening of June 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm with keynote speaker followed by a reception.  The following two days will be filled with an exciting panel discussion and workshops.  We are very pleased to advise that we have confirmed well known Radio and TV host and author, Vicki Gaberau, as our keynote speaker.

Registration will open at 3:00 pm on June 21st.

Attached please find the registration form and descriptions for the workshops that are being offered.  You are asked to choose three of the five workshops and one alternative.  We will do our very best to ensure that you are able to take the workshops that you select.

The deadline for the registration and booking your room is Monday, May 14, 2012.  The registration cost is $100.00.

This is going to be a very good conference and we will look forward to your participation.  Please do not hesitate to contact CUPE BC at 604 – 291-9119 if any additional information is required at this time.

See CUPE BC Library Conference

Thank you, CUPE 391!  You came out in droves in the biggest turnout for an AGM in years. 216 head count. Take that CUPE 15!  i was gobsmacked.  Sorry about the food and beverage shortage.

Our annual general meeting had much to celebrate.  The numbers showed that Vancouver Public Library Workers are passionate about a number of changes currently underway at the library..  The entire executive has been confirmed to office tonight.
CUPE 391 had the pleasure of having our Staff Representative, Heather Inglis,, preside over our elections. Heather has already been helpful with grievances. She was gracious and efficient in her role tonight.  The members gave her a warm welcome as Heather worked at Vancouver Public Library for twenty-three years.  You could say the former Library Assistant VII knows the culture.. 

Here are the results of last night’s election:

Recording Secretary: Mike DePaoli

Four members-at-large:

Renee Chalut
Jane Curry
Laurin Shadforth
Mark Whittam

President: Alex Youngberg

Second Vice-President: Gerard Batty was elected to a two year term.

The Secretary-Treasurer and two Vice-President positions are two year terms. Two VP positions are staggered.  Gary is now First Vice-President. Steven begins his first year as Secretary-Treasurer in a two year term.

Our three trustees soldier on, keeping Steven accountable (not that he needs it):

Trustees:
Todd Wong begins a three year term as trustee.
Maureen Bubis and Aili Meutzner continue their terms

Our trustee positions are also 3 years each and staggered; so that currently one trustee has one year left to serve of a 3 year term, one trustee is filling two years of a position that was vacated after one year and the third trustee is beginning to fill a 3 year term.

Thank you to the talented, smart and creative people that are on our committees.  Your support keeps public service thriving as a public good.

Please become more familiar with your CUPE 391 website.  It has been winning the best website for unions over 500 members for many years. We won again this year at the CUPE BC convention. Thank you, Chris. Thank you, Eric, for our excellent and comprehensive CUPE 391 e-email service. (see http://www.cupe391.ca, top left hand corner of web page for log in).  All members now have an address.  Union contacts should email info@cupe391.ca for instructions on how to initially log in, then share the information with their respective worksites.

Some of our committees reported tonight.: Bargaining, Classifcations, Nominating, Job-share and Wellness.  All chairs spoke to the committees current affair and accomplishments and were received with genuine interest by the membership..

The Union has elected an excellent group of members to protect the collective agreement and work for the public’s interest.  You can be proud that you showed up and voted in good numbers for representation.  The other candidates were also well received.  We are fortunate to have such a choice of experienced members putting their names forward.

in solidarity

Alex

Members have been asking to see these guidelines posted again as Vancouver Public Library appears to be engaging CUPE Local 391 members in many strategic planning processes.  We seem to be starting another process before one is completed.  Evaluation of these processes occurs irregularly and sometimes two years later.  We are not against change, we just want to protect our jobs and public service. 

Currently there is Project Management Charter for Technical Services.  This are is having its second review in two years.  There will be another review at Central shortly, for Reference Services.  The results of Haycock Report will be translated throughout the system.  These guidelines are to help members if they choose to participate or are required to participate, in any of these processes.  Without our work, there is no public service.  We support public good through our work.  Keep an eye and ear on it.

in solidarity

Alex