KELOWNA – Workers at the Black Mountain Irrigation District (BMID) have voted to join CUPE in a Labour Relations Board vote held today. They will become members of CUPE 338, representing municipal workers in Kelowna and water workers at the Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District and the Central Okanagan Regional District.

“We look forward to representing these workers who maintain a safe and adequate water supply that is crucial to residents in our area,” said CUPE 338 President Lee Mossman.  “On behalf of all our members, I’m pleased to welcome them to CUPE 338.”

BURNABY - The first of three annual wage increases for Community Social Services (CSS) workers will begin on April 1.

This 2.5% Compensation Comparability Increase, combined with an Economic Stability Dividend of 0.45%, will result in an increase for all members covered by the Community Living Services and General Services collective agreements. The hike is expected to improve staff recruitment and retention, leading to improved consistency of care for the individuals that CUPE members work with.

VICTORIA—The 2016 provincial budget released today is more about re-positioning the BC Liberal government in advance of next year’s provincial election than it is about making a positive difference in the lives of working people, CUPE BC President Paul Faoro said today.

VANCOUVER—CoDevelopment Canada’s annual film festival, Just Film, has a new venue for 2016. After 14 years at Vancouver’s Langara College, the popular documentary film festival and social justice bazaar (February 11-13) has moved downtown to the Van City Theatre.

NANAIMO—CUPE 401 members have voted to ratify the collective agreement reached with the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) last month.  The Board ratified the agreement on January 9.  The five-year contract is retroactive from January 1, 2014 and runs to December 31, 2019.

BURNABY- CUPE bargainers from municipal and library locals from the Metro Vancouver and surrounding region met in Burnaby in mid-January for two days of coordinating strategies and issues and developing new bargaining skills.

BURNABY—The BC NDP’s by-election wins in Vancouver–Mt. Pleasant and Coquitlam–Burke Mountain should send a strong message to Premier Christy Clark and put her government on notice that voters have had enough of regressive, right-wing politics, CUPE BC President Paul Faoro said today.

ROSSLAND – CUPE Local 2087 representing workers at the City of Rossland have ratified a new agreement with the City.

"I'd like to thank our bargaining committee for their hard work in reaching this deal," said CUPE 2087 President, Jean Poole.  “We had a productive and respectful round of bargaining and we look forward to serving residents and businesses in Rossland.”

BURNABY—February is Black History Month. To celebrate this cultural event, the Vancouver International Film Festival, along with Vancity Theatre and Granville Island, will be 
screening powerful and critically acclaimed films this month.

POUCE COUPE – Nine employees from the Village of Pouce Coupe have become members of CUPE Local 2403, Dawson Creek civic workers. 

“I’m pleased to welcome these workers to Local 2403,” said Acting President Melina Sweezey. “They will be a good fit with the members we represent in Dawson Creek.”

The workers voted to join CUPE in a Labour Board vote counted on Friday, January 22.