DUNCAN—Next weekend’s Islands Folk Festival (July 18-20) will be a special one for CUPE members in the Cowichan Valley as the community-based event turns 30 this year. Held annually on the third weekend of July at Providence Farm in Duncan, the IFF draws about 3,000 people—many of whom camp onsite. Thanks to its committed core of more than 300 volunteers, led by a team of coordinators who start work in February, the festival is exactly the kind of “Strong Communities” event CUPE BC has always been proud to support.

VICTORIA—CUPE members in the Capital Region turned out in full force on the weekend to join the city’s largest ever Pride parade.

For more scenes from the annual Pride event, which celebrates the diversity of Victoria’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, questioning and intersex (LGBTTQI) communities, visit the gallery.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY—CUPE 798 vice-president Jenn Bjornson [left] and president Danielle Craigen, seen preparing for Christmas in July food drive on July 19. Union members will be cooking up hot dogs and collecting food items at Quality Foods.

POWELL RIVER—Now in its third year, CUPE 798’s “Christmas in July” food drive is becoming something of a local tradition.

POWELL RIVER - The Powell River Regional District and its CUPE members have ratified a new collective agreement.

The settlement was achieved after five days of bargaining. The agreement reflects the priorities of both parties to treat employees fairly and with respect, and to recognize the financial realities of the Regional District.

Settlement highlights include improvements to paramedical benefits and sick days and wage increases providing an 8.5 per cent lift over five years. The agreement also recognizes CUPE members’ right to be represented by their union. 

CHILLIWACK - For the first year ever, CUPE 411 – representing Chilliwack education support workers – was at the Chilliwack Classic Car Show, one of the summer’s “hottest” events in the Fraser Valley. 

“It’s been just great, such a family event,” said CUPE 411 president Rod Isaac about the June 22 event that drew hundreds of people to the CUPE BC community events trailer. “We’re definitely already thinking of ideas we can build on for next year.”

Members of the PNE bargaining team (left to right): Gerry Wong, Max Harrison, Ron Pizzolon, Giovanni Cianelli, Deborah Skerry, Dennis Donnelly, Rob Froescher

VANCOUVER - Members of CUPE Local 1004 and the Pacific National Exhibition have begun bargaining for a new collective agreement.

The current agreement expired on December 31, 2013.

GIBSONS — The Gibsons and District Public Library Board and its workers, who are members of  CUPE 391, have reached a new four-year collective agreement.

CUPE 391 members held a ratification vote on June 4, while the Library Board ratified the agreement on June 14.

CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Paul Faoro addresses crowd from the community events trailer.

CUMBERLAND—This year’s miners memorial event, an annual highlight on the Vancouver Island labour calendar, was busier than usual thanks to a large conference taking place at the same time this past weekend.

VANCOUVER – The K-12 Presidents’ Council today ratified the provincial framework agreement it negotiated on behalf of education support workers with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA).

“Every region of the province was represented at the bargaining table,” said K-12 Presidents’ Council Chair Marcel Marsolais. “The ratification gives us a really good sense that the majority of locals are satisfied with moving this forward to the next step, which is to get local bargaining done and ratified at the local level.”

CUPE National rep Cheryl Colborne and CUPE BC regional vice-president Michael Lanier at Inclusion BC conference.

NANAIMO—CUPE BC’s strong support for social justice issues and campaigns continued this week with the union’s sponsorship contribution and presence at the Inclusion B.C. - Tides of Change Conference (June 11-14).