CUPE BC was once again a Gold Sponsor of the President’s Reception at the BC Library Association 2015 conference. BCLA President Heather Buzzell pictured here with CUPE BC President Mark Hancock and General Vice-President Karen Ranalletta.

QUALICUM – CUPE 3570 President Lisa Paine is calling on School District #69 (Qualicum) to review budget cuts and the layoff of 16 Education Assistants (EAs).

“What will the effect be for students next September?” asks Paine.

Paine is concerned that EAs are required to take on more and more students. On any given day, an EA in a high school could be working with 10 to 12 students.  When they are not replaced, the already-heavy workload of other EAs is increased and supports for students are compromised.

PRINCE GEORGE – CUPE Local 3799 ratified a collective agreement with the University of Northern British Columbia today.

“I want to commend UNBC for working collaboratively and respectfully with CUPE Local 3799,” said CUPE 3799 president Caroline Sewell. “This agreement was reached in large part because of a good working relationship between our local and UNBC.”

NANAIMO –CUPE 606 President Rob Zver today called on the School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Board to amend its budget and properly fund education support services. Despite having a surplus of $1.7 million for 2015, the Board recently passed a budget that calls for large cuts to the facilities department including layoffs for caretakers, carpenters, electricians, maintenance and grounds workers.

VANCOUVER-Community members including CUPE activists were treated to a unique perspective on the struggles of sexual minorities at this morning’s International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia breakfast.

BURNABY—CUPE represents members who work in libraries across all sectors in B.C. In recognition of the increasing number of issues coming forward, the CUPE BC Library Committee has launched a survey to look at changing health and safety conditions for CUPE members in library workplaces across B.C.

The survey will give CUPE important information about what the health and safety issues are for CUPE’s library workers. Once the results are compiled, this will be a useful tool in advocating for improvements.

VANCOUVER—The Week of Action on Childcare has raised awareness about the need for fully-funded early care and learning programs in B.C. and across Canada.

Advocates have been quoted in media reports this week saying that a provincially-sponsored program would allow more parents to work and contribute to the economy, while the Rethink Child Care campaign has produced a calculator that estimates how much parents would save if they had access to $15-a-day childcare funding.

BURNABY—British Columbia’s largest union, CUPE BC, has donated $25,000 to Oxfam Canada’s relief efforts in Nepal following the second of two deadly earthquakes that have ravaged the impoverished country.

“Delegates to our recent convention unanimously passed an emergency resolution to make this donation,” said CUPE BC President Mark Hancock. “It’s even more important that we step up given the second earthquake this week that has caused so much more devastation.”

Earlier this week, Oxfam Canada issued this statement:

POWELL RIVER - On the eve of entering into mediation with the City of Powell River, CUPE 798 President Danielle Craigen cautioned Mayor and Council against continuing the previous council’s proposal for zero spending and tax increases to 2019.

“It always sounds like a good idea to tell people their taxes won’t be going up. But there is a high cost to a zero tax policy,” said Craigen. 

TERRACE – CUPE 2409 says that the comprehensive range of accredited first- and second-year university level Arts and Science courses available at Northwest Community College (NWCC) are important for residents and northern communities.