Commemorating workers whose lives have been lost or injured in the workplace.

The numbers are staggering. In Canada, some 786* employees die from work-related incidents each year, averaging more than 2 deaths every day. From 1993 to 2006, 11,002 people lost their lives due to workplace incidents. Another 900,000** per year are injured or become ill.

Making workplaces safer is, or should be, a daily effort. But April 28 has been singled out to offer employees and employers the opportunity to remember the dead, injured and ill as well as publicly renew their commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.

The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress. The Day of Mourning has since spread to about 80 countries around the world and has been adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade.

The Canadian flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast. Workers will light candles, don ribbons and black armbands and observe moments of silence. Businesses are asked to participate by declaring April 28 a Day of Mourning and to strive to prevent workplace deaths, illnesses and injuries.

EVENT
VANCOUVER

Politics are definitely in the air.  Our elections took place for the last time at the Annual General Meeting unless there are further constitutional changes.  There was an excellent turnout and our members were in good spirits.  I gave my report, celebrating the grassroots initiatives that brought our causes of ending gender discrimination and achieving pay equity worldwide attention.  I was channeling Fidel and went on too long - Peter had to cut me off.

Many thanks to those members of the Executive who fought the good fight and are not returning this year.  Aliza Nevarie will be exercising her formidable artistic talent this year.  Mike Depaoli and Jean have produced their labour of love, Abigail, so Mike will be experiencing daddyhood.  Aili Meutzner will continue to serve the local, except that she will become a trustee instead of a member-at-large.  We know where to find you.

New Executive:
First Vice-President: Laura Safarian
Second Vice-President: Inder Pannu
Recording Secretary: Peter DeGroot
Secretary-Treasurer: Steven Turner
Member-at-Large: Randy Gatley
Member-at-Large: Elektra Harris
Member-at-Large: Mark Whittam
Member-at-Large: Todd Wong
President: Alex Youngberg

Trustee: 3 year term - Aili Meutzner

Our new executive are participators extraordinaire.  Mark, of course was previously a Vice-president and a Member-at-Large.  Currently he chairs the Political Action committee.  He will be seeing action.  Inder, our new vice president, was Hardship Committee Chair Member-at-Large last term and has been raising our profile with CUPE on human rights issues.  Elektra, briefly an effective Vice-president will now be a very effective Member-at-Large.  Elektra also chairs the Wellness Committee.  Todd Wong facilitated well known author readings for our job action.  Todd is well-known for his dragon boat and Gung Haggis Fat Choy actiivities.  Randy Gatley, new Member-at-Large, coordinated some brilliant job action this summer and is an asset to public service in any role.  We have a great executive and are looking forward to a very interesting year with many exiting new initiatives.  Start thinking - we need your help and wisdom.

Former councillor EllenWoodsworth (COPE), Councillor Raymond Louie and MLA for Vancouver-Fairview Gregor Robertson graced our event.  Members asked questions and received full answers from all prospective candidates.  Both Raymond and Gregor are seeking the Vision nomination for mayor of Vancouver. 

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Once again, Chris Jang dazzles the labour movement with an innovative and constantly evolving website.  Inder Pannu, peerless member-at-large, collected the award for our local.  Best web site 500 or more members goes to CUPE Local 391 (Vancouver Public Library) for www.cupe391.ca.  Well, who else? Yesssss - it feels good to have our members recognised.  Thank you, Chris, and all the membership who contribute to and participate in making www.cupe391.ca. reknown.  Many thanks to Erik Stainsby and his ongoing pursuit of the most functional email system for our local.  See CUPE Best Website Award

CUPE 391’s Annual General Meeting

When: Sunday April 27, 5.30 p.m.




Where: Alice MacKay Room, Central Library




What: The Election and Our Mandate

CUPE 391 will honour all receipts for childcare for the AGM.  Food and beverages will be served.  This meeting is very important to the future of our local as we organise for the campaign ahead to achieve our mandate.  Please come and have your say.  We need to hear from you.  Thank you.

Earth Day - CUPE Eco-Audit

CUPE’s eco-audit will help you evaluate where your workplace is doing well, and where it can improve. For each Green item listed below, click on one of the four options in the row that best describes your workplace’s practices. When you have assessed all ten items, click “Calculate my score”. Your workplace eco-audit will then be sent to CUPE, and your score calculated. Green prizes will be awarded for high marks for workplace environmental practices.

We would like to provide you with more information on workplace environmental issues. You might also receive a prize if you score well on the eco-audit. Please enter your name and e-mail address below so that you can be contacted. Eco-Audit

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It has now been agreed, between the Employer and the Union, that the requirement for a Criminal Record check will be extended to sixty days past the date of the final decision arising from the arbitration or any other methods of settlement pertaining to this matter.

The arbitration dates so far scheduled for the Employment Checks are June 10 and 11, 2008.  This matter may take longer to resolve then two dates.  The arbitrator is John Steeves, who recently wrote a decision for the City of Vancouver and CUPE 15 on this matter.  The City lawyer and the CUPE lawyer will be assessing profiles of library positions that have been chosen as candidates for a criminal record check.  There will be features of these positions that require working consistently with children and/or members of the public deemed vulnerable people.  The Union will be monitoring the process to make sure the profiles of positions are accurate.

Members will be required to have a criminal record check only if the arbitration or any other settlement rules that your position requires one.  The earliest date possible for this to happen will be August 10, 2008.  The arbitration would have to wind up on June 11, 2008 to make this deadline.  I am a little sceptical about an early settlement of this issue.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APRIL 27, 5.30 P.M
ALICE MCKAY ROOM

Please note that the Annual General Meeting and Election will be held in the evening at 5.30 p.m. in Alice McKAy Room.  This is a change from other years; the intent is to make the vote times more accessible to those working Sundays.

Please consider running for the Executive or as a Trustee.  We need fresh perspective in protecting our collective agreement and supporting the membership.  The experience will help you build community, resolve conflicts, enrich your resume and prepare you to run for civic office or apply for a library director position.

Pizza will be served.

Let’s show CLA what library workers can do!

CUPE National is hosting a booth at the Canadian Library Association Conference trade show and we are looking for smart and sensational volunteers to help make our booth “the place to be” at this year’s event.

If you can spare 2 hours, CUPE National needs help with, hosting the booth and assisting with closing down the booth (on the last day of the show).

CLA Trade show location:
Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel
1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver
CLA Trade Show dates:
THURSDAY, MAY 22:
10:30am - 4:30pm
FRIDAY, MAY 23:
10:00am - 4:00pm

CUPE National is hoping to staff the booth with library workers from all over BC.  This is a great opportunity to meet library workers from other communities.  And, if I didn’t mention it already, there are perks for our volunteers (free parking, CLA trade show admission, good karma)

If you are interested, please contact Anne Dodington at anatee@gmail.com before Monday May 19, 2008, with your available dates and times and I will find a slot for you.  Other information on the event can be found at: http://www.cla.ca/conference/2008/tradeshow.htm

Hope to see you there!

In solidarity,
Anne Dodington
CUPE 391

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