Bulletin – Update on COVID-19 safety measures in K-12 schools

 The Public Health Officer and BCCDC have updated the process for COVID-19 exposures in K-12 schools. Exposure notices will be posted online. Links can be found on the BCCDC website. The Ministry of Education has also released an update on COVID-19 safety measures for the K-12 education system that provides further guidance regarding proof of […]

CUPE BC Statement on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

CUPE BC’s Executive Board today issued the following statement: This Thursday, September 30, is the first observance of the new federal statutory holiday to mark a National day for Truth and Reconciliation. CUPE BC supports reconciliation, and we hope that CUPE members in British Columbia will look at September 30 as a day of commemoration […]

CUPE 1136 bylaw officers lauded for quick action in saving man’s life

TIMELY INTERVENTION–Summerland bylaw officers Darren Krell, left, and Dan Maja, right, pose with Al Klar on September 17 after being presented with Vital Link awards from the local ambulance service for saving Klar’s life. SUMMERLAND—Two bylaw officers who are members of CUPE 1136 (Summerland Municipal Workers) are being lauded for their quick response and use […]

CUPE 7000 SkyTrain members awarded 2-per-cent trades rate adjustment

BURNABY—Approximately 400 members of CUPE 7000 who work for SkyTrain, classified as Trades or Technicians, will receive a 2-per-cent trades rate increase retroactive to September 1, thanks to an arbitration process negotiated as part of the Local’s last collective agreement in 2019. The process concluded on August 16 with arbitrator Vince Ready issuing his decision […]

CUPE health presidents prepare for bargaining conference, awareness campaign

BURNABY—At its quarterly meeting this week, CUPE’s Health Care Presidents Council (HCPC) finalized plans for the upcoming Health Sector Bargaining Conference and held a detailed strategy discussion around a CUPE National cost-share campaign scheduled to begin in earnest in early 2022. Discussing the bargaining conference (October 6), HCPC members voted to shift from an in-person […]

Bulletin – Help prevent workplace violence in schools

K-12 Health & Safety Toolkit workshop on September 23rd K-12 schools are unique and complex workplaces, and both the number of claims and the injury rate related to workplace violence in K-12 schools rose steadily between 2015 and 2019. Workers may interact with people who do not yet have the capacity to understand that their […]

Bulletin – Employer Proof of Vaccine Requests

While there are currently no public health orders (PHOs) that directly address mandatory immunization for education workers, some of our members may be indirectly impacted by the B.C. Government’s vaccine certificate program. Where an employee’s job duties place them in locations or at events that require vaccination, employers may require vaccination status disclosures. Such policies […]

In-house cleaning and food services the most progressive route for SFU: CUPE 3338

BURNABY—Simon Fraser University announced last week that the consulting firm Deloitte has been hired to conduct an analysis of in-house versus contracted-out cleaning and food services. While a review might be commendable, it still leaves the door open for contracted-out services—the wrong direction for the university, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. CUPE Local […]