Human Resources, City of Vancouver lawyer, CUPE lawyer, CUPE National representative and Union executive met today to discuss the results of the John Steeves award on Employment Checks grievance.  We will be have ongoing discussions in an attempt to resolve this matter.  We are also looking for arbitration dates to accommodate both the Library and the Union.  Because this matter will not be settled in the near future, it has been mutually decided to extend the due date of the criminal record check until April 30, 2008.  All present staff are not required to take any action until that date.

in solidarity

Alex

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It is a very hard business to say goodbye to excellent library board members.  Tommy Tao sent us two poems to help cheer us.  They are lovely, yet strong, like Tommy.

I was remiss in not remembering that we are also losing John Buckberrough.  John is like us, a grass roots kind of guy who is very interested in strong communitees and strong library systems.  He has been active on practically every Board commitee and was awarded Super Trustee status. 

Sister Laura Safarian tells me that John’s last words to us were to, “Stay strong”.  Our words to you, John, are “Come back, Shane”.  The library world is a better place with having known John, Crissie and Tommy.

Thank you,

Alex

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All Staff Forum
Employment Checks
Board Meeting Wednesday, January 23rd@5.30 p.m.
Website Training

All Staff Forum
January 23 at Central Library, 8.30 p.m., an all staff forum will take place.  Reorganisation of Central Library will on the agenda for discussion.  This is a technological change as it reorganises the work of the organisation.  Our newly appointed members of the standing Technological Change committee will be noting these changes.

Before 2004, communicating planning for change used to be a function of the Strategic Planning director.  The research librarian often wrote papers describing future directions in libraries.  Staff consultation process would be duly marked in a calendar.  We would be advised to get our thinking caps on and participate in the process or else accept whatever consequent results of planning would be.

In the past these processes would be articulated with some intention of including staff in the planning and evaluation.  Regular staff meetings were held; input from staff inserted and accommodated.  Plans and minutes documenting the restructuring would be posted on the Intranet and in workplaces.  We would rail against the incompleteness of the planning process and the lack of public consultation but we would get on with delivering public service to our beloved patrons.

Somewhere around 2004, accountability as a factor of change management became increasingly elusive.  New strategies were half-conceived and the execution of them dealt with a very dull blade. (Single Service Point leaps to mind).  Staff dissatisfaction and worry rose exponentially with the lack of information and engagement.  Engagement in this instance is a buzz word meant to convey a meeting with collaborative possibilities.

Tomorrow’s meeting bears the hallmarks of the most recent aforementioned planning style.  The union executive has been given the meerest outline of the structural changes.  Here is the information that we have received.

• The public service manager position from Level 5 will be moved to Children’s.  The LAIV Librarian position will not be filled. A teen librarian position will be created. The clerical supervisor position remains.


• Quick Information Service, Virtual Reference and Newspapers and Magazines will now be under the the PSM who used to be responsible for Interlibrary Loans, Circulation and QIS.  The discussion of where QIS staff will be, still needs to happen. The clerical supervisor position will follow the PSM to Level 5.


• Interlibrary Loans, Circulation and Popular Reading Library will now answer to another PSM.  There will be clerical supervisors for Circulation and PRL.  Presumably ILL will be the subsection of one of the two departments.  The PSM from PRL and Multi will now move to Level 3, Language and Literature.


• Multilingual Services will now come under the direction of the PSM of Language and Literature. The clerical supervisor position remains and will now also be responsible for Multi.


• Science and Business, Level 4, remains the same.


• As previously stated, Newspapers and Magazines will now join QIS and Virtual Reference.  But what happens to the supervisory position?  Canadian Health Network’s contract will end unfortunately March 31, 2008.  The Librarian III has been accommodated at Collingwood and other Health Network staff have acquired other hours.


• The PSM on Level 6 will now be responsible for Special Collections, along with Fine Arts and History.  There is logic and past practice in this move, but will increase the workload of the clerical supervisor on this floor.

So, two positions lost: the Librarian IV and the clerical supervisor.  The Union will need to have restructuring clarified in order to pursue a course of action.  At the very least, classification and technological changes have to be identified and acknowledged. 

When I asked what the duties of the new positions would entail I was told they had not yet been determined.  The new roles of the PSMs and Area Service Managers are still in the creative process.  Here we are, once again, in the throes of an organisational change, with new managers in undefined job descriptions, leading the charge.  Should be an interesting “engagement” process. 

We will be grieving the lack of posting of the nine LAI positions recently lost through “attrition”.  The work of that position has not gone away and has not been adequately compensated.  All for now on this subject.

Ask smart questions and hope for full answers.  Please bring your concerns to the Union.  Your supervisors will be also be a good source of information.

Employment Checks
As stated last week, please do not pursue an employment check until the Union reports back from a meeting with Human Resources, City of Vancouver Lawyer, CUPE lawyer and CUPE National representative. 

The arbitrator, John Steeves, of the CUPE 15 award, found that such factors as “duration of the relationship is an important factor in determining if a position is subject to a check or not.” And, “However there may well be situations where the intensity of the relationship is also relevant.” Whether a staff member works alone with vulnerable people and/or children are also factors.  The nature of library workers relationships with the public does not seem to intersect with this strict criteria.  The Union will be consulting with the above group on Friday and will post any information that we learn shortly after.

Board Meeting
Please attend the Board meeting and say good-bye to those faithful public servants and caring Library Board members, Crissy George and Tommy Tao.  Both members brought unique gifts and thoughtful, carefully rendered advice to the library board.  Crissy’s background in Social Services helped her to understand the needs of the broader community, not just the advantaged.  Tommy, also, a lawyer and poet, (sublime combination) cared for our collection and the cultural communities that relied on our services.  Both of these board members believed in excellent and accessible collections.  Public service staff and the public thank you both for your services to the Vancouver Public Library Board. 

Website Training
You have been heard.  Concerned union members were worried that staff not scheduled for the new website training might have take the training on unpaid time.  This would particularly affect the auxiliary staff not scheduled on the day of training. 

I took your concerns to Human Resources.  They are now going to use some the budget allotted to the six 2 hour per year training sessions to accommodate unscheduled auxiliary staff.
So, two things are happening:

• scheduled staff will use one hour of work time to attend training


• unscheduled auxiliary staff will be paid to attend website training.  See your supervisors for further questions
. 

Thank you for bringing these matters to my attention.

Event:  CUPE 391 General Meeting
When:  January 17, 6.00 p.m.
Where: Renfrew Library (2969 East 22nd Avenue)

Municipal Pension Plan
Further to the meeting items posted on the blog yesterday, we will be discussing the ramifications of CUPE 15’s award for the Superannuation Enrolment Process.  This refers to the period of time the City of Vancouver failed to notify part-time and auxiliary employees of their eligibility to enroll in the Municipal Pension Plan and to enroll retroactively.  The Award basically tells the City to go back and pay up Employer portion for those employees who should have had an opportunity to enroll in the MPP.

Make no mistake: this is a good plan.  The MPP is a Defined Benefit plan which offers more coverage than a Defined Contribution Plan.  If you have ten years in the DB plan, you will be able to receive medical and dental when you retire, COLA, no-risk investment planning and guaranteed retirement income.

COV Human Resources has recently contacted CUPE 391 members re: retroactive enrolment in the municipal pension plan.  There are two categories identified at VPL.
1. People were offered the opportunity to enrol in the pension plan or decline. This group did not respond and were automatically enrolled at later date. (February 16, 2006).  These people are being offered the opportunity again.  By simply applying, the COV will be invoiced for the employer’s portion and you will be credited with one-half of the pensionable service that you should have earned in the arrears period. 

The Pension Corporation will provide you with a Statement of Cost for the employee’s portion of the arrears.  If you choose not to apply for the arrears at that time, you must reapply to purchase your service within the next five years or before you terminate your employment - whichever comes first.

2.People were offered the opportunity to enroll in the pension plan or decline. This group did respond and were automatically enrolled but did not indicate an interest in applying for retroactive pensionable years. You are now being provided with another opportunity to enroll in the pension plan retroactive to your eligibility date.
The Pension Corporation will provide you with a Statement of Cost for the employee’s portion of the arrears.  If you choose not to apply for the arrears at that time, you must reapply to purchase your service within the next five years or before you terminate your employment - whichever comes first.  If you choose not to purchase your share of arrears in the aforementioned timelines, you will not be credited with the additional pensionable service.

Unless you return the completed Waiver of Pension Coverage form by February 14, 2008, a purchase of service form will be forwarded to the Pension Corporation on your behalf (option 1) Unless you have won the lottery or are rich beyond your needs, I recommend you do NOT sign the waiver.  In the interests of healing Employer-employee relations I will not comment on the choice of expressions “this group did not respond” and “but did not indicate an interest in applying for retroactive pensionable years”.  I heal all that I reproduce.

I have a list of six people in category 1 and twelve people in category 2 who are eligible for applying for retro pensionable years.  That seems a little low.  CUPE 15 has literally hundreds of eligible folks.  Thanks again to he who shall be nameless for bringing this to our attention.  Come to the meeting if you have any questions.

Employment Checks Arbitration Award
CUPE 15 is still wrestling with some of the record checks; some will have to get checks; a larger percentage will not.  The Union and our lawyer will be meeting with the Employer and their counsel very soon to discuss what affect this award might have on determining who gets record checks at VPL.  There is some indication that some of the record checks will not apply to our type of work.  I can’t make a determination, of course, but will pass on what we know.  Do not rush out and get an employment check before January 31st.  We will be meeting with the Employer and discussing that matter beforehand.  We will immediately let you know if there are any changes.  Come to the meeting and find out what we know.

Aliza Nevarie - Artist-at-Large
After the Renfrew General Meeting, join us in celebrating the opening of Aliza Nevarie’s show at Flower Factory!  Aliza is a Member-at-large, circulation assistant, par excellence and, now, revealed as a wonderful artist.  I had the honour of viewing Aliza’s work.  It is dynamic, yet delightful and unexpected, much like Aliza herself. She is also a first-rate technician. Please come and help us celebrate our mem ber’s work.

We build knowledge, strength and creativity in our local by attending meetings and supporting our members in their endevours.  Aliza’s show is at:

Event:  Aliza Nevarie, Art Exhibit
When:  January 17, 8.00 p.m. (right after Renfrew General Meeting) until February 19, 2008
Where: Flower Factory, 3604 Main Street (near Main and 20th Avenue)

New Vice-President

Hello CUPE 391
Please welcome our new vice-president, Elektra Harris.  Thank-you, Elektra, for supporting our local.  Elektra is assuming the final months of Ed Dickson’s term as first vice-president.  She does splendid work in her role as chair of the Wellness Committee with her efforts to promote work/life balance for our members.

Ed first served on the executive in 1998.  He spear-headed the union’s successful efforts to keep our maintenance department inhouse in his first year.  Ed has had the very difficult role of working with a committee to prove that the Vancouver Public Library’ Bindery was cost-effective.  This was proven but did not manage to preserve Bindery operations.  The Board voted 6-7 to close the Bindery.  He is the supervisor of that area and has been charged with contracting out that work.  We hope Ed will be able to continue his excellent work with the Union at a future date.

General Meeting - January 17, 6 pm, Renfrew Library

Please make a special effort to attend this meeting.  The Executive needs the membership’s support so that we can pass the constitutional motions and plan for this year. 

Agenda Items

Constitution
Remember the survey regarding changes to the constitution?  Your answers to that survey have indicated a strong desire to change how we conduct elections, how we form some committees and a number of other contempated changes.  The membership is required to vote on these changes so that they can take place.

Pay Equity
We also need your input on or next actions for our Pay Equity campaign.  Great energy and creativity was demonstrated during the strike in support of this.  We need to examine and evaluate our progress and blaze a new trail, straight to the legislature.

Municipally Speaking
Ellen Woodsworth, former COPE councillor for the City of Vancouver, will be addressing this meeting.  Ellen is an invaluable resource in describing the local political scene.  We may pick up some tips how we might best serve our library community.

CUPE 391 General Meeting - January 17, 2008, 6.00 p.m. Renfrew Library (Renfrew and 22nd Avenue)

Food and Beverages will be served.  I will think of a door prize

Make this your New Year’s resolution:  Support your local, CUPE 391, the greatest grassroots organisers with the power to change and build strong communities.

See you there,

Alex Youngberg