Hello everybody

By now you have likely heard that Postal workers across Canada have gone on strike, after a strike vote of more than 95% of their 55,000 workers.

Below is a link to an article from CBC covering some details of their strike:

Canada Post Strike

We would like to encourage you to show your support for these workers who are have been trying to negotiate a reasonable contract for an entire year now, but are not willing to accept the offer on the table.

It’s easy to show your support:

If you’re driving past a picket line at a Postal outlet, honk your horn and give them a wave.

If you have the time, then go speak to the picketers and tell them that you support them.

You can even go join them on the picket lines.

Little things like these can mean a lot to these workers.

With the help of our membership, and the support of all the other unions across Canada, we can show Canada Post that we value their workers.

This being the first time going to one of CUPE’s week-long school events, I was honestly a little trepidacious about the event. I had expected it be uncomfortable and for my anxiety to be tested. I was wrong.

Throughout the entire event, CUPE BC and National staff made sure that everything about the event was inclusive, comfortable and most importantly, educational. This is not to say that it was easy. In fact, we covered some quite difficult material in the Shop Steward series that myself, Jason Insley and Virgie Stewart attended and Lynne Johnson found the Health and Safety course equally challenging. By the time we had completed our courses though, we all came out of it with a wealth of knowledge, and a new respect for our positions within the local.

Included with our enrollment was free admission to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre which we toured after we completed classes on Thursday, after we had spent Wednesday morning learning about Indigenous culture in B.C. (Pictured below)

While this may have been my first time at one of these events, it will certainly not be my last.
All in all, it was a great experience for each of us.

Recording Secretary
Dave Sylvest

Pictured: Everybody from all classes, including instructors

Shop Steward Series, including Dave Sylvest, Jason Insley and Virgie Stewart

Health and Safety Series, including Lynne Johnson

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Virgie Steward with one of our facilitators for the Shop Steward Series, National Rep Deea Bailey

It has been a long road working towards updating our bylaws, but we are near the end of the road for this project.

Before this update, our bylaws that we have been using were last updated in 2005 so our Bylaws committee has been working hard to bring the language up to modern day. The new language takes into account many things that were not addressed 19 years ago with the previous iteration, so feel free to read them over and share your thoughts at the next general meeting.

2024 Bylaws update Docx file                   2024 Bylaws update PDF file

L917 Bylaw Amendments Summary of Changes 2024-09-17

Before these bylaws can be adopted, we will need to do a vote at an upcoming General meeting.

CUPE 917 and UVic agreed to a JE program in the last round of bargaining. This
negotiated and binding agreement includes both developing the JE plan and a process
to putting it in place. It also established the JE Steering Committee and the JJEC. These
joint committees are responsible for carrying out all the steps in the JE program and
ensuring that all points of view are fairly represented.
The Joint Job Evaluation Steering Committee (JJEC) has been working on our JE Plan
which will continue to be a working document as we move through to implementation.

Job Descriptions:

Currently:
Departments across UVic are updating Job Descriptions (JD), some are decades old.
Once updated, they are shared with CUPE 917 for approval. This is the same process
that we currently use, and have been using for many years when updating job
description. The main difference is that there is a new JD template that is being used.
The purpose of this exercise is to ensure we have job descriptions in the new job
description template and for roles that do not have a job description, one is created.
We are not evaluating these up dated job descriptions through the soon to be created
JE plan yet. This is just to make sure we have JD’s for each CUPE 917 job. This is a task
that is lead by management with the collaboration from those in the roles.

Once the JE Plan is Established:
Each of the updated job descriptions (mentioned above) plus a soon to be developed
job evaluation questionnaire (JEQ) will be used to create the foundation for the JJEC to
review aspects of the job that are compensable, such as knowledges, skills, abilities and
responsibilities. The compensable factors are found in the Joint Job Evaluations Plan that
is currently being developed. The JEQ’s and Job Descriptions will reviewed by the JJEC
for consistency and completeness.

Next Steps:
The next step is to finalize the job evaluation questionnaire (JEQ) templates that will be
used by incumbents and managers to answer questions about job duties.
The purpose of the questionnaires is to provide a structured approach to understanding
the duties, roles and responsibilities effectively and to give an opportunity to provide
feedback on their roles.
The JJEC will then begin testing the plan with a number of the finalized Job Descriptions
and JEQs to identify if there are any irregularities which need to be addressed. Following the testing phase, we will schedule refresher training for the JJEC so they begin the work
of rating all the jobs. This is a collaborative process.

JE Steering Committee members are:
CUPE 917:
Shane Randall, President CUPE 917
Dave Chiddle
James Mason
Jason Insley

CUPE Staff:
Tracey Mathieson, JE Specialist
Micha Pesta, CUPE National Representative

University of Victoria:
Michael Lancaster, Associate Director Labour Relations
Larissa Pepper, Manager, Compensation and Recruitment
Russell Banzet, Human Resources Consultant

Your JE Steering Committee will be providing periodically updates on our progress on this important project. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Steering Committee at Contact@cupe917.ca

CUPE 917
General Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024

MacLaurin D110 at 4:15pm

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81507365575 

Meeting ID: 815 0736 5575

This meeting will be held both in person and via zoom simultaneously.

All members attending via Zoom are required to display their full name before being admitted.

Hybrid meeting voting note:
Due to CUPE National guidelines, all secret votes for elections, ratifications, bargaining and strike votes must be done using a singular platform.

As such, all voting in this manner will be done in person using paper ballots to ensure the integrity of the votes.
Any vote that only requires a show of hands may still be done via Zoom.

Meeting Agenda:

Nominations for Member at Large, Recording Secretary, Membership Officer, and Vice President

Security Reorganization

Job Evaluation committee update

U Club Bargaining update

Christmas party update

Winnipeg Sectoral Conference on post-secondary education

In solidarity,

Dave Sylvest
Recording Secretary, CUPE 917
Outside Workers | University of Victoria

On Nov 16, 2024 CUPE National Diversity Vice-Presidents are inviting all CUPE members to join in a Zoom meeting to discuss racism in the workplace.

Indigenous, Black, and racialized CUPE members and allies are invited to a national gathering about how we keep building an anti-racist union.

Register now and spread the word!

Click this link for more information

We have reached a tentative settlement, pending ratification.

Ratification votes are being planned for next week and details will be shared once finalized.

2024 Greater Victoria CUPE Scholarship Applications

Click here to download the application form

CUPE Local 917 members have once again contributed generously to this scholarship fund! These scholarships are open to children of active members of contributing locals (410, 788, 917, 951, 2011, and 2081) of the Canadian Union of Public Employees of the Greater Victoria area.

Applicants from any of these CUPE locals can use the PDF application package attached.

We are now accepting applications for the 2024 awards. Recipients will be chosen in November 2024, and awards will be disbursed in late November or early December.

The selection will be based on a combination of academic standing, one reference letter, and a one-page letter of introduction. Students may receive an award from the fund in one year only. More information, eligibility criteria, and FAQs are included in the application package.

The application form is also available in PDF form on the websites of participating CUPE locals.

STUDENTS MUST USE THE CURRENT FORM: “GV CUPE Scholarship Award Application Form for 2024.”  Using an older version of the form may disadvantage applicants.

Deadline: Completed applications must be received by 11:59 pm PST on October 15, 2024 at gvscholarshipcommittee@gmail.com

For more information, contact CUPE Local 917’s Representative to the GV CUPE Scholarship Fund.

CUPE 917 General Meeting

Wednesday, Aug 21 2024

Clearihue A317 at 4:15pm

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89875943710

Meeting ID: 898 7594 3710

This meeting will be held both in person and via zoom simultaneously.

All members attending via Zoom are required to display their full name before being admitted.

Hybrid meeting voting note:
Due to CUPE National guidelines, all secret votes for elections, ratifications, bargaining and strike votes must be done using a singular platform. As such, all voting in this manner will be done in person using paper ballots to ensure the integrity of the votes.
Any vote that only requires a show of hands may still be done via Zoom.

Meeting Agenda:
Nominations for 2 Member at Large positions

Update on Job Evaluation Committee

U Club Bargaining update

Upcoming Education opportunities

New logo design

Volunteers are needed for canvassing for NDP candidates

In solidarity,

Dave Sylvest
Recording Secretary, CUPE 917
Outside Workers | University of Victoria

CUPE Education will be offering 3 in-person workshops being held at the CUPE Victoria Area office located at 737 Yates Street, Suite 200, Victoria, BC, V8W 1L6

Time(s): 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (PACIFIC)

Space is limited, and you must pre-register to hold your spot. See all details below.

If you are interested in taking any of these courses, please email me at Education@Cupe917.ca

 

 

TUESDAY, 08-OCT-2024

INTRODUCTION TO STEWARDING

What does a CUPE steward do? If you are a new steward and want to learn how to help CUPE members solve workplace problems, this introductory workshop is for you! In this workshop, you will learn:
• investigating workplace problems;
• filing a grievance;
• meeting with management;
• dealing with workplace complaints.
NOTE: Please bring a copy of your collective agreement to the workshop.

 

TUESDAY, 05-NOV-2024

SLS – GRIEVANCE HANDLING (morning session)

Share tips and successful practices with other stewards and learn strategies for handling difficult grievances.
NOTE: Please bring your collective agreement and Steward  Handbook to the workshop.

SLS – HANDLING DISCIPLINE AND DISCHARGE (afternoon session)

Learn about key legal concepts and terms, and the role of stewards during an employer’s investigation, when discipline is given, and during grievance meetings.
NOTE: Please bring your collective agreement and Steward Handbook to the workshop.

 

TUESDAY, 03-DEC-2024

BARG – How Bargaining Works (morning session)

This module can be added to other parts of the Bargaining Education Program. It covers the legal framework for collective bargaining and where we get our power as a union.

BARG – Notetaking for bargaining (afternoon session)

Bargaining notes are critical – during bargaining and when new language is being implemented after bargaining has ended. Learn how to read the room, understand body language, take good notes, and store notes after bargaining.
NOTE: This workshop is for bargaining committee members.