The Union Executive and Bargaining Committee hear surprising stuff from our membership. Please keep telling us what you hear, what you think and what you need to know. Click on the Bargaining Blog and write bargaining@vpl.ca for any questions.

CUPE 391 have two mediation dates: July 3 and July 11. We will update the membership with any relevant news after meeting with mediator, GVRD and LMT. CUPE 15 have had their essential services meeting with the LRB. They will be hearing next week which public services will be considered essential. CUPE 1004 goes into mediation on July 5. They will likely have essential services hearings in the week of July 9th and may not hear the results until the week of July 16th.

The City of Delta

The Library Board meeting is a 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27th.  The structure of the agenda is complex due to the inclusion of the results of the cultural survey.  A representative of the organisation managing the process will be facilitating and the working group will examine the results with Board trustees. The Membership is welcome to be present.  This part of the meeting will take about an hour and a half.  Apparently the regular board meeting will not commence until approximately 7.10 p.m.  At that time Laura Safarian and Alex Youngberg will be making short presentations.  The in camera portion of the meeting will be around 8.30 p.m.

The Union realises that this is not convenient for many members.  However the content of the subject matter affects us all.  In the first instance, staff will be digesting the results of the their 3rd survey on staff health and welfare in the last two years.  How do you think our organisation fulfils its mandate to its employees?  Please attend this meeting if you wish to review the first presentation.  Other presentations to staff re: the survey, will follow on Friday and next week.  Human Resources will inform you of the dates and times.

The other issue that the Union will be bringing forward is, of course, the implementation plan of the dismantling of the Bindery.  This process is both painful and divisive.  It requires the Union to make harsh decisions in the light of the legalities and greater good.  This short-sighted, yet very damaging decision on the part of some Board trustees and LMT will have long-ranging consequences that will haunt us for years.  So much for be tired of dealing with the Bindery and wishing it would go away.  The decision to close a cost effective work unit and contract out our work has opened Pandora’s box.  Our glorious public service is now firmly on the slippery slope.  We must continue to fight for the public good.

Please phone 604-331-4003 or 604-331-4000 to book a seat at the June 27th Board Meeting at 5.30 p.m.  Make the last Wednesday of the month a regular out for family, friends and supporters of public service and libraries.  Take back our libraries services for our public.

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The Membership votes:

97%

A strong turnout of Vancouver Public Library Workers, CUPE Local 391, gave a resounding response to contract negotiations with the Employer. 97% of the membership who cast ballots are are in favour of strike action if the Employer continues to ignore our proposals.  This Employer, after voting to close a cost-effective work unit and contract out its work wants to:

• Delete the Technological Change language.  We are proposing that the Tech change language provide for training and job placement within VPL across all classifications.


• Skip re-posting when a subsequent vacancy occurs in the same classification


• Delete 8.6.2 which provides for the Employer to write a written explanation explaining the reasons why an employee did not get a posting.


• Sick leave restructuring

Please continue to read here and the Bargaining Blog, https://cupe391.ca/blog2/ for further information
97 % - We are solidarity personified.

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Q) What is a strike vote?
A) A strike vote is a referendum that gives your Union the legal ability to take strike action, if necessary, in support of negotiating a Collective Agreement.  According to the BC Labour Code the wording on the ballot must be, “Are you in favour of a strike?”

Q) What is strike action?
A) Strike action includes a range of possible measures, including overtime bans, work to rule, study sessions, rotating strikes and full walkouts.  None of these measures can legally be taken without a favourable strike vote in hand.  All the measures and implications of a strike vote will be discussed in membership meetings before, during and in the days and weeks after the strike vote.  Taking a strike vote DOES NOT mean you pick up a picket and refuse to go to work.  It is another bargaining tool, particularly in mediation.

Q) Why are we taking a strike vote now?
A) We are one of several Lower Mainland CUPE locals bargaining with our Employer through their agent, the GVRD representatives.  Our Employer has asked for the most concessions and the most regressive demands in the history of our bargaining.

1. No increase to benefits without concessions


2. Significant changes to Sick Leave that will impair your access to your sick leave banks


3. Removal of Technological Change protection


4. Removal of restrictions on Sunday Hours of Work


5. To restrict Auxiliary employees who have not worked within 60 days prior to the date of ratification access to any retroactive negotiated monetary increases (including wages).


6. Removal of the VESP plan and Supplementary vacation


7. Post positions internally and externally, simultaneously


8. And much more - watch for updates - come to meetings.

There has been not change in the Employers’ position in four meetings and they have canceled two of the seven scheduled.  The GVRD is trying to set a pattern of unacceptable contracts for all the tables in the Lower Mainland.

We have not had any movement from the Employer’s side in the four meetings.  CUPE 15 has had no movement in sixteen meetings.  Neither has Delta/CUPE local 454, Burnaby/CUPE local 23, and Vancouver/CUPE local 1004.  They have all achieved strike votes from 89% to over 94%.  They have asked their members for a strike vote because they have either been forced into mediation or have asked for it.  In either case, all the locals need a very solid strike vote if they are to have any credibility with the mediator.  It is hoped that bargaining between the locals and their employers will get back on track and make some progress, as a consequence.

Q) Why is a strong strike vote crucial?
A) A strong strike vote lets the Employer know that the membership stands behind the Bargaining Committee on the issues that were ratified by the membership at the October 2006 Ratification meeting.  If our negotiations proceed to mediation, a strong strike vote will obtain the best possible agreement.

Q) Does a favourable strike vote mean we are going on strike?
A) No. Historically, CUPE 391 has reached a settlement without striking.  However, several high in-favour strike votes have helped to reach a better settlement at the bargaining table with little or no job action being taken.  A poor, not-in-favour of a strike vote will result in the mediator putting more weight on the Employer’s proposals.

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Since December 2006, most Lower Mainland civic workers have been working without a contract. Across the region, talks have stalled as Employers and GVRD bargainers refuse to make meaningful progress.

At the VPL bargaining table we are facing the same situation. The only thing that the CUPE 391 Bargaining Committee and the Employer can seem to agree on is that negations are going no where. The Employer has said no to all of CUPE 391’s proposals and talks have come to a complete halt.

What is the Employer demanding?

• No increase to benefits without concessions.


• Significant changes to Sick Leave that will impair your access to your sick leave banks.


• Removal of Technological Change protectio


• Removal of restrictions on Sunday Hours of Work


• To restrict Auxiliary employees who have not worked within 60 days prior to the date of ratification access to any retroactive negotiated monetary increases (including wages).

What are some of the things CUPE 391 asked for? A new contract that includes:

• A fair wage increase


• Steps towards finally achieving Pay Equity


• Improved benefits for our members and their familie


• Rights for Part-Time and Auxiliary Staff


• Better job security and tech change protection

The Bargaining Committee was forced to apply for mediation on June 7. It is hoped that the assistance of a neutral mediator will help get productive talks going, so a fair settlement can be achieved.

The Employer, and the mediator, need to understand that CUPE 391 members strongly support their bargaining proposals and are serious about making improvements to our collective agreement. The only way we can do this is by returning to the table with a strong strike vote.

Strike Vote Meeting
Sunday June 24 at 5:30 p.m.
Alice MacKay Room, Central Library

On June 24, Send a clear message to the Library Management that we are serious about our issues and we want to negotiate a fair collective agreement.

The Employer needs to come to the bargaining table with the intent to make progress and respect library workers and vital services we provide by negotiating fair contracts.

Questions from the membership are welcome as we explain the current state of bargaining and outstanding issues. The voting results will be tabulated, and released immediately.

For more information, please visit or contact your Bargaining Committee at bargaining@vpl.ca.

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