SURREY—CUPE members and employer representatives alike arrived at a bargaining session last Friday, Oct.19, wearing purple in support of “Spirit Day”.

Denise Parks, CUPE 402-02 chairperson, says that “Spirit Day” is an important day with an important message that started in Surrey but has since spread far beyond the community. 

VANCOUVER—CUPE 391 members were on hand at this year’s Word on the Street festival this past Sunday (Sept.30) to promote literacy and the important public services that library workers provide their communities. 

CUPE Locals 15, 389, 391, 1004 and CUPE Metro all sponsored the festival along with CUPE BC and CUPE National.

KELOWNA—CUPE 1123 and the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) board have reached a tentative agreement. Details of the agreement will be released once the union and the ORL board have ratified the agreement.

CUPE 1123 president Rose Jurkic says all job action has ceased as of August 9thand the union is glad that patrons can once again enjoy the full services of their local library.

PRINCETON— Princeton library workers voted unanimously July 25th to become members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).The five library workers at the Princeton branch of the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) will be the newest members of CUPE 1123.

CUPE 1123 already represents library workers at 16 of the 29 branches of the ORL which is why the president of the local, Rose Jurkic, says their newest members are a ‘natural fit’.

KELOWNA—Job action continues in the Okanagan this week, as library workers continue their strike to achieve a fair collective agreement.

Van drivers will again be off the job this week, and until further notice CUPE members will not be collecting money for the sale of promotional items (book bags, t-shirts, etc.), facility and room rentals or photocopier fees.

Rose Jurkic, CUPE 1123 president, says that library workers continue to find ways to minimize the impact strike actions have on patrons.

VANCOUVER—More than 150 library workers from across BC gathered in Vancouver last week for this year’s Library Workers Conference.

Trevor Davies, Co-Chair of CUPE BC’s library committee, opened the three-day conference Thursday evening. CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill brought greetings to delegates and keynote speaker, the well known Radio and TV host and author, Vicki Gabereau, shared stories from her intriguing career.

ABBOTSFORD—Members of CUPE 1698 voted in favour of ratifying a four-year collective agreement Sunday, June 10. 

The agreement includes a two per cent wage increase in each year of the agreement with a wage re-opener in the fourth year, as well as improvements to benefits and language.

KELOWNA—Four Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) van drivers will be off the job this week, as library workers continue to fight for a fair collective agreement.

CUPE van drivers will be on strike Wednesday, June 6 through Saturday, June 9 inclusive. According to CUPE 1123 president Rose Jurkic this is the next step in a rotating strike which began last month.

KELOWNA— Limited job action will continue in 16 library branches throughout the Okanagan. Library workers will continue to not collect fines or work any overtime.

“We want to continue to keep libraries running with as few interruptions as possible,” says CUPE 1123 president Rose Jurkic. “We remain extremely committed to our patrons and we value the support that we have been receiving from communities where our members work.”

VERNON—CUPE library workers will hold an information picket Saturday morning at the new Vernon Okanagan Regional Library branch. 

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Vernon Library which is located at 2800-30th Avenue.

CUPE 1123 president Rose Jurkic says that the information picket will not disrupt the opening of the branch.