The Word On The Street is a national celebration of literacy and the written word. On the last Sunday of each September, in communities coast to coast, the public is invited to participate in hundreds of author events, presentations and workshops and to browse a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines and swag you will find anywhere. There are children’s entertainers and entertainment, famous and up-and-coming authors delivering authors readings at Canada’s largest book and magazine festival.  Over 40,000 people attend each year.  All of the events are free!

Thank you, CUPE 391, for your talented and spontaneous support of Word on the Street.  Children’s programmers Michael Duff and Miranda Mallinson dropped by CUPE’s big tent on Hamilton Street and volunteered their services.  Michael accompanied his insightful musical and social commentaries on Old MacDonald’s farm with guitar (thoroughly fun) and Miranda dazzled with heart warming stories and finger-licking good puppetry.  Mischievous monkeys and hungry alligators abound in Miranda’s world. Member-at-Large Jane Curry, set designer Debra McGerrigle and photographer Lily Gee set the stage, engaged the public about the importance of keeping public services in public hands and our environment healthy and green. 

Thank you to Heather Inglis, Robin Roff and Susan Zandor for all the carefully chosen literature for our tables.  CUPE is recognised for our literacy advocacy and as a small-to medium publisher in the public services realm.  And always, a big hand for Mark Hancock who unfailingly supports CUPE locals efforts to promote and preserve access to public service for all.

This is the first year that local municipal CUPE unions participated together under CUPE’s flags for Word on the Street. An enormous thank you to CUPE communications person extraordinaire, Janet Szliske for organizing the cost-share with our community-spirited CUPE locals 15, 389, 1104, our always participatory district labour council, CUPE Metro, and CUPE BC. 

A truly exciting event took place at our Word on the Street spot.  We had a world premiere of Randi Gurholt-Seary of CUPE 15 (Remember the lemonade stand at Word on the Strike) and friend Diana’s marvelous street theatre, “United Nations - Rights of Children”.  Our two women had a spelling bee with brightly coloured and hand-lettered cardboard blocks.  Their outfits and hair were luminescent and sassy.  Each actor beautifully mimed their actions and delivered the messages, “Every child has the right to Health and Well-being, Safety and Education.  Children have the right to play and rest.” Our audiences were formed from passers-by who stopped and were delighted by this ingenious and novel preformance.  CUPE community workers and early childhood development folk sure know how to deliver a powerful message in an entertaining way!

Also, many thanks to the wonder Walter Zicha from North Vancouver City Library.  Walter kept us organised and cheerful all day.  What a gift.  This wonderful man is also a children’s librarian and if he is in town the last Sunday of September 2011, Walter will be entertaining the children.  CUPE people are wonderful to hang with.  We freely share the blessings that public service bestows on us all.

CUPE 391 is partnering with CUPE BC, CUPE 15 (City of Vancouver), CUPE 389 (North Vancouver District) and CUPE 1004 (Outside workers, City of Vancouver) this year.  We have a very large tent (20’ x 20’) on Hamilton Street (T13 in the WOTS programme guide).

CUPE will be handing out great swag and socially relevant publications on the environment, our water, P3’s and a petition on the importance of public service.  We are also fortunate to have Randy G. and her friend Diana (remember the Lemonade stand in 2007?) delivering wonderful puppetry shows. 

We need your support to engage our public at the big tent.  This is a fine opportunity to find out what our patrons want in library service and have a discussion about the possible cuts to the socially important library and municipal services.  It is also fun to wander about collecting fabulous swag from the magazine and book publishers and to listen to the authors read from their latest books.

CUPE 391 is sponsoring Maggie De Vries (teen and adult author - Hunger Journey and Missing Sarah) and Carol Ann Shaw (Aboriginal children’s and teen author – Hannah and the Spindle Whorl).  Todd, photo op!

We need volunteers at the big tent.  Sustenance will be provided.  Solidarity and fun will abound.  We are organising the coverage in two-hour blocks (or whatever works for you).  Word on the Street starts at 11.00 a.m. but we need some people there at 10.00.

• 10.00 am to 12.00 pm
• 12.00 pm – 2.00 pm
• 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
• 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm.

Please contact Alex at the Union office 604-322-4879 or e-mail me if you are interested in participating.

In solidarity
Alex

You have the opportunity to participate in the City of Vancouver’s first ever organization wide Employee Engagement Survey.  This is, of course, the second one from the Hay Group for our organisation, the Vancouver Public Library.  Our Union representatives have reviewed the purpose of the survey with the employer which has lead us to recommend that you take the required time to complete it.  The opportunity to fill in this survey is over on September 24th. 

The last results of the Hay survey were brought to the Library Board in the Spring of 2007.  The areas of planning, communication and leadership of VPL scored particularly low when compared to other public sector organisations: -26, 27. and -28 to 0. The results were marginally higher when compared to private and public sector groups. The Board of the day found these result quite distressing.  The current Board is hoping that our labour relationship and our feelings on VPL as a place to work have improved.

We believe this survey will provide the employer and our union with valuable information to improve your workplace, and your career with Vancouver Public Library. The employer has agreed to provide the full results of the Employee Engagement Survey to CUPE 391. If you have any questions about the survey please contact your immediate supervisor, shop steward or the CUPE 391 office. 604-322-4879 and info@cupe391.ca.  Please remember that the survey can be completed on work time. 

The City of Vancouver is seeking volunteers for positions on the following Civic Agencies: Board of Variance, Vancouver Athletic Commission, Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee, Vancouver City Planning Commission, Development Permit Board Advisory Panel, Vancouver Civic Theatres Board, Family Court/Youth Justice Committee, Vancouver Heritage Commission, Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee, Vancouver Public Library Board, Public Art Committee, and YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee. All appointments will be made by City Council.

An optional information session will take place October 14 at 6 pm, City Hall, Third Floor, Council Chamber.

Application deadline: Friday, November 5 at 5 pm.

Learn more
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/civicagencies/civicvolunteer.htm

Learn more about the YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee
http://www.yvr.ca/en/community-environment/Noise-management/partners.aspx

Labour Day celebrations are where you are or might be this September 6th.

Celebrate Labour Day!

With Labour Day 2010 just around the corner, the BC Federation of Labour will again be celebrating the day along with its members, friends and colleagues. All CUPE members and their families are invited to join the party – for the first time at Central Park in the wonderful city of Burnaby.

Please see the attached poster and map for details and feel free to forward to all your lists and contacts.

After a wonderful summer in the Lower Mainland, the weather on September 6 should favour us. But rain or shine, it will be a great celebration of working people.

Labour Day events outside the Lower Mainland include:

Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council Labour Day Picnic

20th Annual Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time: 11:00am

Free hot dogs & cold beverages. Entertainment, activities for kids and free draws

http://www.nddlc.ca/

Campbell River & Courtenay Labour Council Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time 12:00pm – 4:30pm

Family BBQ with entertainment, Kate Braid will be there to read some of her poetry.

Victoria Labour Council,

22nd Annual Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Location: Irving Park, Victoria, BC

Kids’ games, clowns, refreshments, Kids eat free.

http://victorialabour.ca/

Fraser Valley Labour Council, Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location: Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford (Bevan Rd. entrance)

Kamloops and District Labour Council and Affiliates, Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location: Riverside Park Band Shell, Kamloops

New this year…Beer Garden! Plus free kids’ activities, entertainers, music, displays, hot dog sale & lots of giveaways and prizes.

The East Kootenay District Labour Council, Labour Day Picnic

Monday, September 6th Time: 12:00pm - 4:00 pm

Location: Rotary Park in Cranbrook

Hot dogs, pop, snacks, games, face painting for the kids.

West Kootenay Labour Council, Labour Day Picnic

Monday, 6 September Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: Gyro Park, Trail BC

Entertainment by local musical talents.