April 28
National Day of Mourning

Remember the Dead; Fight for the Living

April 28 is the National Day of Mourning for workers killed, injured or who become ill as a result of unsafe working conditions.  In 1984 CUPE’s National Health and Safety Committee proposed the idea for a day to honour workers injured or killed at work. This year will mark the 27th National Day of Mourning and it will be recognized in more than a hundred countries around the world.  On April 28 Canadians from coast to coast to coast will hold ceremonies to recognize workers who have lost their lives in 2010.  Among the many workers who will be remembered on April 28, here in B.C. CUPE members will mourn and remember Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka, two paramedics who died in the line of duty on October 19.

• Thursday, April 28
• 8 to 9 am
• Hastings Park
• (corner of Hastings & Renfrew)
• (parking at Gate 2)
• Vancouver

The BC Federation of Labour and Vancouver and District Labour Council invite you to pay tribute to workers who have been injured or killed on the job or died of an occupational disease.

Speakers include:

• Jim Sinclair, President, BC Federation of Labour
• Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
• Geoff Meggs, Deputy Mayor of Vancouver

Featuring:  The Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Honour Guard and Piper

Bring your union banners and invite co-workers, friends, and family members to attend.

“No More Stolen Sisters: Safe Shelters, Safe Housing, Safe Services”

A former Librarian social activist has asked CUPE 391 to endorse this campaign.  Please read on and support through letters or a petition or an endorsement.  in solidarity Alex
HOW TO SUPPORT:

1) PETITION: Please sign our online petition. We are hoping to gather 5000
signatures in two weeks and need your help to make this happen! :Link to Petition

2) ENDORSE: If you are a member of a women’s group, social justice
collective, community centre, union, service organization, or campus
group, we request that you please endorse our three demands by emailing
hwalia8@gmail.com or calling 778 885 0040.

Our current list of endorsers include: Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre,
DTES Power of Women Group, WISH Drop-In Centre Society, Walk4Justice,
Battered Women’s Support Services, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House,
PACE Society, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, Vancouver Status of
Women, Oxfam Canada, No One Is Illegal Vancouver, Vancouver Action,
Council of Canadians, Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and
Solidarity Society, Aboriginal Women’s Action Network, West Coast Legal
Education and Action Fund, Streams of Justice, Franciscan Sisters of the
Atonement, Carnegie Community Action Project, Purple Thistle Centre, W2
Community Media Arts Society, Life Skills Centre , Ending Violence
Association of BC, Portland Hotel Society, Pivot Legal Society, UBC Centre
for Race Autobiography Gender and Age studies, Interfaith Institute for
Justice, Peace and Social Movements, Women Against Violence Against Women,
Aboriginal Front Door

3) WRITE-IN: We are requesting that everyone to please send an email along
the lines of the below to all of the following people in BC Housing, City
Council, MLA’s and MP’s. Email addresses compiled here:

rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca, yourvoice@christyclark.ca,
sramsay@bchousing.org, dmcmann@bchousing.org, MMcNeil@bchousing.org,
gregor.robertson@vancouver.ca, lranton@vancouver.ca,
Ellen.Woodsworth@vancouver.ca, clrcadman@vancouver.ca,
clrchow@vancouver.ca, clrdeal@vancouver.ca, clrjang@vancouver.ca,
clrlouie@vancouver.ca, clrmeggs@vancouver.ca, clrreimer@vancouver.ca,
clrstevenson@vancouver.ca, harry.bloy.mla@leg.bc.ca,
stephanie.cadieux.mla@leg.bc.ca, mary.polak.mla@leg.bc.ca,
ida.chong.mla@leg.bc.ca, mable.elmore.mla@leg.bc.ca,
Jenny.Kwan.MLA@leg.bc.ca, daviel@parl.gc.ca, Davies.D@parl.gc.ca,
Dhaliwal.S@parl.gc.ca, Fry.H@parl.gc.ca, Murray.J@parl.gc.ca,
Siksay.B@parl.gc.ca, Julian.P@parl.gc.ca, Dosanjh.U@parl.gc.ca

RE: Safe Housing and Safe Services for Women in the DTES

It has come to my attention that for the past two months a coalition has
been raising the urgent issue of women’s safety in shelters in the
Downtown Eastside. I have been dismayed by the lack of response by all
levels of government about the ongoing violence committed against women in
the Downtown Eastside. Sexual assaults against women in this neighbourhood
in particular are normalized and their safety is not considered of highest
priority as we have seen with the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered
women. This would never be acceptable in any other part of town. I support
the call for a 24 hours drop-in space and shelter for women in the
Downtown Eastside, housing for homeless women and children, and clear
protocols to be established within co-ed shelters.

Sincerely,
(NAME, ADDRESS, CONTACT INFO)

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN:

Over the past two months a growing group of women residents of the
Downtown Eastside as well as a coalition of DTES and women-serving
organizations have been raising the urgent issue of women’s safety in
shelters in the Downtown Eastside. This has come in response to a number
of reported sexual assaults in DTES shelters.

We have been dismayed by the lack of response by all levels of government
about the ongoing violence committed against women in the Downtown
Eastside. We have been outraged that all four of our correspondences have
been ignored. We have been shocked that our delegation to BC Housing in
March 2011 was met with a heavy presence of police and we were shut out
from any dialogue on this issue. All this suggests to us that BC Housing
as well as city and provincial officials do not consider women’s safety a
priority within their funded facilities.

Sexual assaults against women in this neighbourhood are normalized as we
have seen with the ongoing tragedy of missing and murdered women. Women
should not have to “choose” between the indignity of homelessness and
being warehoused in shelters, and the high-risk of assault associated with
both. We will not remain silent or complicit and are continuing a
grassroots campaign based on three core demands that we believe can and
should be met in a timely manner.

We are calling for:

1) A 24 hours low-barrier women-only (includes all self-identified women)
drop-in space and shelter in the Downtown Eastside, ideally on Hastings
Street between Main and Jackson. The establishment and operation of this
service should be done through an accountable process including a
transparent call for tenders and in consultation with community
organizations and DTES resident women.

2) Housing for homeless women and children with at least 100 new units to
be made available immediately.

3) Clear provincial standards for women’s safety in co-ed shelters to be
implemented immediately in all existing and new shelters, including but
not limited to:

• Women-only facilities in co-ed shelters with adequate women-only beds
  and services within those spaces.
  


• Women staff and training for all staff by women’s organizations
  experienced in issues of sexual and gender violence. Shelter contractors
  must demonstrate the ability to ensure safety and security for women
  shelter users and all staff must be able to demonstrate an understanding
  of gender inequalities that contribute to violence against women.
  

We are calling on allied groups, communities, and individuals to support
us. Please get involved and spread the word! For more information email
project@dewc.ca or call 604 681 8480 x 234. Website:
http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

• Open Letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson “Women Respond to Sexual Assaults
  in Downtown Eastside Church Shelter While Shelter and City of Vancouver
  Ignore Reports” http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/6390
  


• Press Release “Women Respond to Comments by Reverend Ric Matthews of
  First United Church; Reiterate Calls for 24-hour Women’s Shelter and Safe
  Housing in DTES” http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/6496.
  


• Press Release “Women’s Action in Downtown Eastside for Women’s Safety”
  and Open Letter to BC Housing:
  http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/6692

SELECTED MEDIA:

• Video of press conference:
  http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/video/press-conference-women-respond-sexual-assault-dtes-shelter/6484


• Podcast of Vancouver DTES women’s groups shut out of B.C. Housing
  office:
  http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/pivot-legal-society/2011/03/vancouver-dtes-womens-groups-shut-out-bc-housing-office


• Women rail against violence in shelters:
  http://www.theprovince.com/news/assault+protest/4488619/story.html


• Safe Housing, Safe Shelters and Safe Services for Women:
  http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/story/vancouver-politics-and-service-provision/6707


• More emergency shelter spaces needed for women, Vancouver council hears:
  http://www.straight.com/article-382418/vancouver/more-emergency-shelter-spaces-needed-women-vancouver-council-hears


• Women’s groups outraged over sexual assault comments:
  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/03/02/bc-first-united-church-sexual-assaults.html
  

Shop Stewards Social
Date: April 20, 2011
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 545 West 10th Avenue

Bookoff is provided for those who would like to attend but are working.  Tell your supervisor that the Union Executive has requested that Shop Stewards attend a meeting to become better acquainted with your role in the Union.  The Supervisor can then replace your shift (if possible) - full replacement and you get paid for attending.  When you have alerted your supervisor, please fill out the form Request for Union Leave from the Forms page then e-mail info@cupe391.ca or fax (604-879-3034) to the Union office.  We sign the form and forwrd it to Human Resources.  We will feed you will, beverages too and baby-sitting is covered upon presentation of receipts.  Please come - we need your strength and knowledge to build a stronger organisation.  There is room in the CUPE 15 parking lot that evening (in the alley).  If further parking is required, we will honour parking receipts. 

The 5 w’s of being a Shop Steward
Who you are
What you do
When you do it
Where you do it
Why you it
And How!

CUPE 391 wants to know:

• who you are and what this role means to you
• what help and information you need to support our members. 
• what education do you have for this role and what you think you need
• where you see the role of shop steward now and where it could be
• what you think is important, what it missing and what can be done

Please come to the social.  Meet your colleagues, socialise, learn, eat, etc., make recommendations.  Let us know if you need bookoff.  Save receipts for childcare.

April Fools’ day is not the time I would choose to announce a matter of such importance as the appointment of our new bargaining committee.  However, the Bargaining committee will be meeting this month to organize for the upcoming negotiations. These may not be underway until a year from now as we have municipal elections in November, the annual City budget in December, and the collective agreement’s end date is December 31st.

The Executive chose candidates based on representation of the membership.  The appointed members (and those who were not chosen) are all committed to the membership and public service.  Candidates should be representative of our membership’s diversity and the workforce in general. Ideally we would have someone from maintenance, closed divisions, LAIIs, Library Technicians, Librarians, grievance, classifications, etc.  According to CUPE, experience is good but not necessary as education and opportunities to work with experienced individuals will be provided through our national representative, coordinated bargaining and education. We needed to choose four bargaining committee members and one vice-president bargaining representative for the committee.

The new Bargaining Committee:

Gerard Batty: LA in Acquisitions, a closed division. Gerard is on both Classifications committees and chairs the regular CUPE 391 committee. Gerard is the 2nd Vice -President and has participated on several grievances. One of the Vice Presidents is chosen as a ex-officio member for the Bargaining Committee.

Gary Jarvis: represents shelvers and is liaison to the Part-time and Auxiliary Committee. He is also one of our communications people (graduated from BCIT this year) and writes extensively for Off the Shelf. Gary is a delegate to VDLC

Aliza Nevarie: LAII in Circulation. Aliza was in the last round of bargaining for us and was on the Part-time and Scheduling Committee that came out of mediator Brian Foley’s recommendations.  She is now on the Grievance Committee. Aliza also bargained for her union (Cinema) in Montreal previous to joining VPL

Brian Peaslee: a librarian on Level 6. He is a former president of the Richmond Public Library workers’ local. Brian has bargaining experience and has extensive grievance experience with VPL.  This work defends our collective agreement rights along with our members’ personal rights

Laura Safarian: Assistant Manager on Level 3.  She has been a member-at-large and a Vice President with our local. She is also on both of our classifications committees and has a strong interest in a JE plan. Laura participated in the last round of bargaining.

Alexandra Youngberg: Until June 1st unless re-elected to continue (see Elections - presidents are ex officio,) otherwise the next president will be on the committee. I am on the CUPE 391 side of the Technological Change committee and the Occupational Health & Safety Committee. I chaired the Grievance Committee, and co-chaired the CUPE BC Technological Change Committee. Currently I am on the Pensions Committee, Delegate to MEPAC (Municipal Employees Pensions Advisory Committee), and alternate to CUPE National Global Justice Committee. I have bargained four collective agreements and facilitate workshops in Preparing to Bargain and Collective Bargaining

The Executive hopes that the other applicants will consider helping with bargaining research and communications. They, too, were experienced and valuable in these areas. The Executive tried to choose a representative spectrum of classifications along with experience. Those who were not chosen for the committee would have been excellent committee members. We simply had too many applicants. Thank you all or participating in the process. If members are looking to join a committee, please go to CUPE 391’s Committees Page.

Solidarity with the Wisconsin 14

On Saturday, April 2, CUPE BC is joining with other BC unions and the AFL-CIO to stage a rally in support of Wisconsin labour unions. The cross-border show of solidarity will be at the Peace Arch Park at the Peace Arch border crossing at 2.00 p.m.. All Lower Mainland members are encouraged to attend.

CUPE BC is organizing free bus transportation to help members attend the rally. It’s expected that parking on site will be difficult.

To arrange transportation to and from the rally, please contact jlawson@cupe.ca with information about where you’re traveling from. We’ll be in touch with info about the nearest CUPE BC bus route.

Backgrounder

The attacks on public sector unions and collective bargaining in many American are sweeping. Legislation has been introduced in 20 states that undermine public sector collective bargaining. In Wisconsin, legislation has passed that:

• limits public sector union bargaining to wages, and only up to the rate of inflation.
• The state will no longer collect union dues from paychecks
• Members must vote each year to stay in the union.
• It requires public workers to pay more for health insurance and pension plans.
• Examples from other states include legislation that claws-back or freezes wages, sets limits on interest arbitration, and establishes two-tier pensions.

The attack is not just on public sector unions, but also very much on political power. The legislation against union dues check-off is designed to hobble the union’s abilities to fund democrats and progressive causes. In 2010, American election public sector unions contributed $20.5 million to candidates of which more than over 80 per cent were Democrats.

These attacks have been described so eloquently by Naomi Klein as ‘shock doctrine’---pretending it’s about budgets and deficits, but attacking unions and democracy while also reducing taxes for rich and putting tax and revenue caps in place.

Coming to Canada?

The corporate world is using the economic meltdown to launch attacks on public sector services and workers in many countries, alongside the right-wing think tanks they fund. The January 2011 issue of the Economist “The Battle Ahead, Confronting Public Services” is symbolic of this charge.

The Fraser Institute pounced on Wisconsin’s legislative cauchemar (nightmare) for public sector unions and workers to call for similar measures to be used in Canada. Pointing to provincial deficits, they leapt to the inexplicable conclusion that the cause of the deficits is public sector employees. They then continue to promote privatization of services and extol the advantages of private sector and competition.

The strong evidence shows that public services and public sector workers contribute greatly to economic recovery by providing valuable services to communities and reducing income inequality. Most public sector workers are women, providing public and community services that are so important-- services such as education, healthcare, and social services. These values of sharing and caring are what create equality. Tax cuts to financial institutions and banks do the opposite.

Public sector unions provide a democratic forum for members to advance and protect their political and economic rights. They prevent arbitrary power from their employers including federal, provincial, and local governments and boards. Unions also advocate for legislative protections and benefits for all workers such as workers’ compensation, health and safety, the Canada Pension Plan, parental leaves and benefits, employment insurance, early learning and child care programs, and fair wages. Unions fight income inequality.  READ up on Christie Clark’s new right hand man, Gwyn Morgan.  He has donated very large sums to the Fraser Institute and is definitely not a fan of the defined benefit pensions for unionised members, in spite of the fact that he enjoys an over 1.7 million annual pension (2006). See Globe & Mail and click Continued Reading Gwyn Morgan’s yearly pension Wisconsin’s fight will soon be ours, if Harper gets a majority and Mr. Morgan’s agenda prevails. See Tyee article on Gwyn Morgan.