The newsletter of CUPE Local 15, Vancouver Municipal Education and Community Workers

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:CUPE Local 15545 W. 10th Ave.Vancouver, BCV5Z 1K9

General Membership MeetingOCTOBER

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 5:30 pm

Location: Italian Cultural Centre3075 Slocan St. Vancouver, Room 5Under

Discussion: Special guests from COPE and Vision Vancouver including Vancouver City •CouncillorsAndreaReimer,GeoffMeggs,EllenWoodsworthandSchoolBoard Trustees Patti Bacchus, Allen Blakey, Jane Bouey and Park Board CommissionerAaronJasperandParkBoardcandidatesDonaldaGreenwell-Baker and Brent Granby.NoticeofMotions-Communityelectionsupport,p.3•Bargaining updates from Emily Carr University, Vancouver School Board, •City et al & Vancouver Art Gallery.ExecutiveBoardby-election-MemberatLargeHealthSector(HSPBA).•

General Meetings provide all members with an opportunity to participate in decisions that affect the union. (Child care assistance and Interpretation available upon request.)

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WhatCanadaGeeseknowaboutteamsSubmitted by Pat Taylor, HSSCBA Health Sector Representative

If you watch a flock of Canada geese flying south for the winter, you will observe fascinating behavior.

Studies performed in wind tunnels have shown that flying in an inverted “V” formation creates a partial vacuum and the birds behind require 63% less effort than flying alone, and the flock can fly 71% further.

People who share a common direction and sense of purpose also get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling with the thrust of each other.

When a goose strays from the flock, it quickly gets back into the formation because it feels the sudden drag and resistance of going it alone. If people had the same “goose sense”, they too would realize the many advantages of being supported by a team.

When the lead goose gets tired, he moves into the ranks and lets another lead. There are tremendous rewards in letting others take their turn in leadership positions; the advantages are many for people too.

Geese are constantly honking encouragement to each other from behind. What are our honks like? Are we saying, “Let’s give up!” or “We can do it!”

If one goose falls out of formation, others follow and stay with him to help and protect him until he is able to rejoin the flock.

If we had the same “goose sense”, we too would stand by each other just like geese do.

I came across this and thought that we as union members are very similar to Canada Geese. It is so important that we support each other working together towards common goals.

The Health members will be going to the bargaining table to negotiate a new and fair Provincial Agreement. This has been very

challenging in the past with the current government’s zero mandate.

We need to stand strong and be united to achieve a new collective agreement that is acceptable and reflects all the work we do.

So here’s to forming a V ….Victory. WE ARE WORTH IT.

NoticeofBy-electionCUPE 15 Executive Board Member at Large – HealthSector(HSPBA)There is a vacancy for a Member at Large-HSPBAforthebalanceofatwoyeartermendingonApril 25, 2012.

OnlymembersfromtheHSPBASector are eligible to vote.

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So Suzanne Anton wants to be Mayor of Vancouver. Well she isn’t getting a vote from me on November 19th nor is any NPA candidate on the ballot.

I’m voting for Mayor Robertson and the entire Vision Vancouver and COPE slate of candidates

running for City Council, Park Board and School Board. I want our city to keep moving forward - making Vancouver neighborhoods more livable for everyone by ending homelessness, building more affordable housing, improving transit, supporting small business, fostering green initiatives and enhancing public

services and programs.

That’s why I am pleased that COPE and Vision Vancouver are again working together and will help ensure this happens and stale dated NPA will become a distant memory. COPE’s External Chair, Marcus Youssef summed it up nicely by saying “COPE has a long history of cooperating to ensure progressive politics in Vancouver, and we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with Vision Vancouver to continue this history”.

I will never put out of my mind that Suzanne Anton was a key lieutenant for Sam Sullivan

whose anti union government put our members on strike for 3 months. I also will never forget that Councillor Anton was the only member of City Council who voted against a motion at City Council to have Vancouver pull out of the GVRD Labour Relations Bureau. Given the interference and harm this outdated organization inflicted on CUPE members over the years I am delighted Vancouver will be free from the Bureau by the end of this year. Once again thanks to Vision Vancouver’s Councillor Geoff Meggs for introducing this instrumental motion at City Council.

It should be alarming to everyone that Suzanne Anton picked Peter Armstrong to run her election campaign. As I reported in last month’s Members’ Voice this is the guy who runs the Rocky Mountaineer train who put an ad on Craigslist in May to recruit replacement workers (scabs) and subsequently locked out his unionized employees. They have been locked out since June 22nd. The situation is so bad Vancouver City Council wrote a letter to Mr. Armstrong that said “Nevertheless, your firm has not only locked out these loyal employees, but immediately replaced them with strike breakers, an act that would be illegal under provincial law. We do not believe we can build the tourism industry with a strategy that treats customer service reps as little more than disposable people, to be used and discarded. We urge you to stop using replacement workers immediately and return to the bargaining table to conclude a new agreement to end the lockout”. It was signed by all City Councillors except Councillor Anton. She refused. That’s not the kind of Mayor I want.

On a more positive and progressive note I am thrilled that former CUPE 15 member Donalda Greenwell-Baker is running for Park Board under the COPE banner. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Donalda when she was the union’s Secretary Treasurer and I know she will be a strong advocate for our parks and recreation system. On similar front CUPE 15’s Doug Elford is running for Surrey City Council on the Surrey Civic Coalition ticket. Doug is a long time activist for our union who will tirelessly work to make Surrey’s public services even better.

Over the coming days and weeks we are going to be pulling out all the stops to elect progressive candidates like Donalda and Doug running in the November 19th municipal elections taking place across the province. In Vancouver this is especially so as we are going to do everything to re-elect Mayor Gregor Robertson and every Vision Vancouver and COPE candidate running for School Board, Park Board and City Council. There is too much at stake not to. COPE and Vision Vancouver are going to need hundreds of volunteers to be successful. If you can help out please give us a call at our union office 604-879-4671. You’re going to receive important voter information in the mail from our union and a phone message from me closer to election day. With the average past election turnouts being only around the 30% mark it is crucial to have every CUPE member living in Vancouver cast a ballot on November 19.

Together we can make a difference.

Followmeontwitter@paulfaoro

Togetherwecanmakeadifferenceby Paul Faoro, President

Update from your Executive

by Leanne Toderian, Secretary Treasurer

I am pleased to report that our annual Steward Activist Weekend is on! This event usually follows the CLC Winter School but this year we will hold it in town at the

Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver. The event will take place over two days, Friday November 25th and Saturday November 26th. The first day is open to all stewards, new and seasoned. On Friday evening we will host our Annual Steward Dinner which hopefully will include a special guest. Saturday will follow with more in depth

training sessions for the more active stewards. We hope to discuss topics stewards are dealing with in the workplace; more information to follow.

We are also holding a Local 15 only Introduction to Stewarding course on Monday, November

14th and Tuesday, November 15th. We will be inviting stewards selected in their workplace to attend this course so that they can begin their education. Please contact me directly if you would like to know more about it.

Also, the CUPE National Convention starts this month, opening on Monday, October 31st. Locals from around the country will join us in the new Trade and Convention Centre in Vancouver for week long business of the union. It will be exciting to host so many activists from across the country, as I believe it has been about 10 years since convention was held in Vancouver. As our beloved National Secretary Treasurer, Claude Généreux, has announced he will not seek re-election, we expect there will be an element of excitement in the air as candidates put their names forward for consideration.

Recently CUPE BC Executive Board unanimously endorsed Brother Charles Fleury for National Secretary Treasurer. We wish all candidates good luck. To our outgoing Secretary Treasurer, warm wishes and deep heartfelt thanks to Brother Claude Généreux for his passion, humour, and dedicated leadership which will leave a legacy he can be proud of, as are we all. He will be greatly missed and we wish him the best in his future endeavours!

Also around the union office – the finance committee is meeting in preparation for the 2012 budget and the November General Membership meeting, when you will be asked to approve the budget for both the Union and Society.

Upon review of this year’s budget to date we note there are a few line items which went over estimate. However, on the budget section they belong to we are well within budget and can make adjustments to meet the needs of members. One of those items is contract enforcement, a line item I believe I have described as the bread and butter of our union work. Our stewards and ultimately staff representatives have been vigorously representing our members at the Employers’ door and at times at the Labour Board and in mediation. Their hard work has paid off as there have been a number of important wins so we are pleased to have had access to funds which enable us to keep up the fight.

We hope to see you at the next General Membership Meeting on October 26, 2011.

StewardActivistWeekendhappeningthisfall

Leanne Toderian Secretary Treasurer

Paul Faoro, President

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WWW.CUPE15.ORG CUPE Local 15, Vancouver Municipal Education and Community Workers

Letters, Notices, & Updates

HappyHalloweenfrom the Union Education Committee!Submitted by Michele Alexanderon behalf of the Education Committee

These are the courses upcoming for October. If you are interested in attending any of the workshops listed below, please send your request for education to the CUPE15 office.

October 21 - Parliamentary Procedures - • Thomas Haney Secondary, Maple RidgeOctober 21 - Union Supervisors in the • Workplace - Thomas Haney Secondary October 21 - Representing Members at • Investigative/Disciplinary Meetings – Thomas Haney SecondaryOctober 21 and 22 - Involving Young • Members - CUPE Local 402, Surrey

MarkyourcalendarsfortheStewards’ActivistWeekend-November25th&26thattheEmpireLandmarkHotel,1400 Robson Street in Vancouver. The StewardAppreciationDinnerwillbeheldNovember25thinconjunctionwiththeActivist Weekend.

Bursary Thanks!I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Union for awarding me a part time bursary. I am attending UBC working towards my Master of Library and Information Science. At a time when tuition and student fees are extremely high it is nice to have help in funding our studies.

Sincerely,Ken Laing, ECU

The Executive DecidedBy Leanne Toderian, Secretary Treasurer

At the Executive/Society meetings on September 21 and October 5, 2011 the following decisions were made:

To hold the Activist Training Weekend • at the Empire Landmark Hotel in Vancouver.To appoint Sister Peggy Wong as a VESP • Nominee.To approve honourary life membership • for Sister Donalda Greenwell-Baker.To send up to six members to the CUPE • BC Anti-Privatization Conference in Vancouver in November 2011.To appoint Brother Warren Williams • as the Local 15 representative to sit on the Aboriginal Focused School Steering Committee and to appoint Sister Leanne Toderian as the alternate to this committee.To invite Vision Vancouver and COPE • representatives to upcoming meetings.

The Members DecidedAt the General Membership Meeting on September 28, 2011 the following decisions were made by the members in attendance:

To utilize the four unused CUPE • National Convention Credentials and send four alternates that were elected at the June membership meeting.To reserve two respite hotel rooms • for the duration of the convention for delegates to use to rest during breaks and leave unwieldy outerwear during the day and heavy convention bags overnight.To support and encourage members • to attend “The Cuban 5” event where the Cuban Consul General of Toronto is speaking to raise awareness about five Cubans unjustly held in United States’ jails and to donate $200. This event takes place on October 15, 2011 in Langara College Auditorium, A130 (100 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver).

Notices of MotionBy Leanne Toderian, Secretary Treasurer

The following two motionswill be presented to the membership on Oct. 26th, 2011 at the General Membership meeting.

To recommend to the membership • that CUPE Local 15 fully support Gregor Robertson for Mayor and all Vision Vancouver and COPE candidates running for City Council, School Board and Park Board in the November 19th municipal election. The Vancouver and District Labour Council has endorsed Mayor Gregor Robertson and all the other Vision Vancouver and COPE candidates. The Executive recommends to the membership to donate $50,000 to the Vancouver campaign.To recommend to the membership • approval of up to 60 book off days for CUPE 15 members to work on the COPE and Vision election campaigns. Members who are interested must be prepared to work beyond their normal work hours and all of E-Day.

noticesVSB Bargaining UpdateBy Craig Hopkins, VSB Bargaining Committee Chair

The CUPE Local 15 Bargaining Committee and the Vancouver School Board have been in bargaining for the last six months and have successfully been able to agree on a number of issues. Negotiations were put on hold over the summer and bargaining resumed on September 26, 2011.

The Presidents’ Council Provincial Bargaining Committee (PBC) met with the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) a number of times over the summer and have more dates planned for this fall. They are dealing with a number of priority issues at the provincial table, such as:• Improvements to the Long Term Disability Plan• Renewing training funds for support staff• Job security• Wages and benefitsPlease refer to www.bcschools.cupe.ca for more information.

The July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2010 collective agreement remains in effect until a new collective agreement is signed. You may view this collective agreement on the CUPE 15 website within the “For Members” section, select the workplace “Vancouver School Board”, and click “Collective Agreement”.

The CUPE 15 Bargaining Committee continues to work toward the best possible collective agreement for all members.

The CUPE 15 Bargaining Committee is comprised of Craig Hopkins (Chair), Warren Williams (Co-Chair), Miriam Pulsifer, Paul Hayes, Kenny Brett, Carley Romas, and Tina Meadows, CUPE National Representative.

K-12Bargainingfocuses on key issuesRepresentatives of the CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council Provincial Bargaining Committee continued provincial bargaining discussions with the BC Public School Employers’ Association September 26 and 27 in Vancouver.

CUPE is engaged in these provincial discussions in an effort to seek respectful collective agreements for our 27,000 members who work in BC’s schools and public education system.

Discussions at this latest round centered on several key areas for school support staff including:

Job security protections to deal with school • calendar changes, declining enrollment, and future funding changes.Full recognition for the work of Education • Assistants, highlighting the need to ensure collaboration in the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).Extending professional development • opportunities for CUPE members across BC.The potential impact of government plans • for a shared payroll system.

The CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council, with representatives of our 55 member K-12 locals is set to meet Wednesday, October 19. The Provincial Bargaining Committee will report out to local presidents and the group will discuss CUPE’s provincial bargaining strategy.

You can read all of CUPE’s bargaining updates at www.bcschools.cupe.ca.

Vote for DougDear Brothers and Sisters:

I have recently been nominated to run for City Council for the City of Surrey and am running under the Surrey Civic Coalition. I am a labour endorsed candidate.

CUPE encourages their members to get involved in elections as volunteers or candidates and I have decided to take their advice and run.

I currently work in Environmental Protection with the City of Vancouver. I have decided to step forward as I have watched my neighbourhood decline over the years while others seem to get all the resources.

We are beginning to mount a campaign and I am asking for help from our members. We could use any help or resources we can get. CUPE members have always had an advantage over other workers in that they can work towards getting their own bosses elected.

If you can contribute in any way possible to this municipal election, that would be great.

Let’s elect our own bosses!

You can contact me at:votefordougelford@gmail.com or visit the website at www.surreyciviccoalition.ca.

Douglas Elford, City Member

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Events & Credits

The Members’ Voice is published nine times a year for members of CUPE Local 15 - Vancouver Municipal, Education and Community Workers. The Deadline for submissions is 9:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. All submissions may be edited for brevity and clarity. Signed articles and letters do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of CUPE Local 15.

CUPE Local 15545 West 10th AvenueVancouver, BC V5Z 1K9Phone: 604-879-4671Fax: 604-879-7582Email: email@cupe15.orgWebsite: www.cupe15.org

Local 15 is a chartered affiliate of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and is also affiliated with the CUPE British Columbia Division, CUPE Metro District Council and the Vancouver & District Labour Council. CUPE 15 is a member of the Canadian Association of Labour Media (CALM).

CUPE Local 15 Executive Board

TableOfficers:President: Paul Faoro

1st Vice President: Miriam Pulsifer

2nd Vice President: Sally Bankiner

Secretary Treasurer: Leanne Toderian

Sector Representatives:City: Santino Scardillo, Diane Brown

College/University: Emma Somers

Cultural: Matthew Quiring

Health/HSSCBA: Patricia Taylor

Health/HSPBA: Vacant

Parks: Anne-Marie McGee, Barb Dickinson

K-12: Peggy Wong, Warren Williams

Trustees:Joey Lau, Michele Alexander, Karla Mairena

StaffRepresentatives:Kathie Currie, John Geppert, Keith Graham, Graeme Moore

Office&AdministrativeStaff:Mark Gloumeau, Accounting Coordinator Rosemary Matheson, Office Manager Barbara Simpson, Office AssistantNadia Thibault, Office Assistant

Building Maintenance:Jeff Zaharia

CUPE National Representatives:Justin Schmid, Tina Meadows, Matt Yun

Designed by talkingdog.ca

Municipal Pension Plan (MPP)DeductionIncreaseBy Craig Hopkins, VSB Steward

Recently many CUPE 15 employees have noticed an increase in our MPP deductions on their pay statement. Below is some information taken from the BC Pension Corporation website explaining the amount of increase and the reason.

The Municipal Pension Plan is a jointly trusteed pension plan governed by a Joint Trust Agreement. Joint trusteeship was established on April 5, 2001. Membership in the plan is open to all eligible employees of a municipality, school district, college, health service organization, police and fire fighters, and many other eligible employers as designated by the Board.

The Municipal Pension Plan is a vibrant, growing plan that welcomed the addition of the Community Social Services sector and almost 15,000 new members in 2010.

The Board approved an increase in member and employee contribution rates effective July 1, 2011. The increase in contributions will pay off the current unfunded liability over a 15 year period, ensuring that the plan will be stable and secure. In addition, employer contribution rates will be adjusted July 1, 2011 to correct an imbalance in employer contribution rates identified in the actuarial valuation. Members contributed to the Basic Account 5.99% (6.80% effective July 1, 2011) of salaries up to and including the Canada Pension Plan Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) ($47,200 in 2010) and 7.49% (8.30% effective July 1, 2011) of salaries over the YMPE, less amounts allocated to the Supplemental Benefits Account.

More information is available on the BC Pension Corporation website at www.pensionsbc.ca.

Municipal Elections are coming – Saturday, Nov. 19The following candidates in Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver and Electoral District A were endorsed at the September 20th meeting of the Vancouver & District Labour Council. We encourage members to get involved in the municipal campaign in your community to help elect these people on November 19th. For more information on COPE and Vision Vancouver please see cope.bc.ca and votevision.ca. A list of the labour endorsed candidates for other areas in the Lower Mainland will be posted on the CUPE 15 website as soon as it becomes available. Please plan to vote on November 19th and support candidates who share our views on strong unionized public services and programs. CITY OF VANCOUVERMayorGregor Robertson* – Vision VancouverCouncilRJ Aquino – COPE Heather Deal* – Vision VancouverKerry Jang* – Vision Vancouver Raymond Louie* – Vision Vancouver Tim Louis – COPE Geoff Meggs* – Vision Vancouver Andrea Reimer* – Vision Vancouver Tim Stevenson* – Vision Vancouver Tony Tang – Vision Vancouver Ellen Woodsworth* – COPESchool BoardPatti Bachus* – Vision Vancouver Ken Clement* – Vision Vancouver Al Blakey* – COPE Jane Bouey* – COPE Gwen Giesbrecht – COPE Mike Lombardi* – Vision Vancouver Cherie Payne – Vision Vancouver Allan Wong* – COPE Rob Wynen – Vision VancouverPark BoardConstance Barnes* – Vision Vancouver Sarah Blyth* – Vision Vancouver Brent Granby – COPE Donalda Greenwell Baker – COPE Aaron Jasper* – Vision Vancouver Trevor Loke – Vision Vancouver Niki Sharma – Vision Vancouver

CITYOFNORTHVANCOUVERMayorDarrell Mussatto* – IndependentCouncilJuliana Buitenhuis – Independent Craig Keating* – Independent Cheryl Leia – Independent Amanda Nichol – Independent Mary Trentadue*– IndependentSchool BoardChris Dorais – Independent Susan Skinner*– Independent Steve Stringfellow – Independent

DISTRICTOFNORTHVANCOUVERCouncilHolly Back – Independent Kevin Macauley – IndependentSchool BoardCyndi Gerlach – Independent

CITYOFRICHMONDCouncilLinda Barnes* – Richmond Citizens Diedra Whalen – Richmond Citizens ELECTORAL DISTRICT AScott Andrews – Independent

(*incumbents)

CUPE Local 15 AnnualChildren’sChristmas PartySaturday, December 10, 2011 HRMacMillanSpaceCentre

Santa is still checking his lists and checking them twice, so please visit our website at cupe15.org for more information on this fun event.