Members of CUPE 4879 joined TRU students and faculty in the 2018 TRU Pride Parade on September 12. Though the weather was cool for this year’s parade, there was a huge turn-out of CUPE members for the parade.

Spirits were high to hear CUPE President Lois Rugg’s speech in support of LGBTTQI workers both inside and outside our workplace: “We know that thirty percent of members of LGBTTQI communities experience discrimination in the workplace, and we recognize that transgender, gender-diverse and two-spirit people experience disproportionate unemployment levels, harassment and discrimination at work. We encourage our members and everyone in the TRU community to work towards equity and fairness.”

CUPE members wore brightly coloured necklaces and carried flags and home-made signs to show their solidarity and support of LGBTTQI students and workers.

The Pride Parade was hosted by the TRUSU Equity Committee to celebrate the LGBTTQI+ community and make TRU a safe space to study, work, and live no matter of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

CUPE 4879’s Executive and Negotiation Committee have been working with HR to meet commitments made in the job evaluation letter of understanding (LOU) ratified earlier this year.

Though there was a delay in the first payment, we are happy to report that red-circled CUPE members have been receiving the lump-sum payments promised in the July 2018 LOU. Under the terms of the LOU, members who were red-circled in their positions after JE review between January 2015 to July 2018 have received lump sum payments for lost wage increases during this time period. The July deadline specified in the LOU was not met due to staff shortages in HR and Finance; however, it appears all eligible CUPE members have received the payments owed as of the middle of August. There will be one more payment made for increases not covered by the first payment date, as per the letter of understanding.

Your Negotiations Committee has met several times this summer and brought in an expert in job evaluation from CUPE National to meet the September 28 deadline for an agreement with TRU to improve the JE point system. The Union hopes to be able to negotiate changes that will bring some members out of red-circling completely, and the changes we are suggesting to the point system may also lift other members in positions that are not red-circled into a higher pay band if negotiations are successful. According to Lois Rugg, President of CUPE 4879, “It will be challenging to help those affected by a payband loss of two or more levels. Unfortunately, we don’t anticipate that all members will be un-redcircled as a result of these negotiations, but the employer seems earnest in wanting to make the much-needed changes. It will likely come down to what those changes will cost the employer. We’re doing everything we can to support our members and create a fair system for job evaluation.”

The committee met with the employer on September 13th and 14th to present proposals for changes, and CUPE Executive will report the results once an agreement has been reached. Any changes to the plan will be brought back to the membership for their approval.

Welcome to our NEW CUPE 4879 members

Bring yourself and a friend to the upcoming CUPE lunch and learn session.  The session is scheduled to take place on:

Date: September 26, 2018

Time: 12:00-1:00 pm

Place: TRUSU Lecture Hall (Campus Activity Centre)

Not only will there be a FREE pizza lunch, but you will also have the opportunity to meet other new members like yourself and learn about what CUPE 4879 can do for you.

Some of the topics that will be covered in the session:

• Introduction to CUPE 4879
• What is the purpose of the union?
• Various ways to get involved
• Communication and knowing your collective agreement
• Benefits information
• Questions and answers

If you would like a FREE pizza lunch and are especially interested in what our union can do to support you, we strongly encourage you to attend this session.  We know that the information that you will learn will be valuable throughout your career at TRU. There is limited seating so please register as soon as possible.

As new members, we would also like the opportunity to get to know you!  Please send us a short introduction about yourself.  We look forward to meeting you!  Send your introductions via email to cupe4879@shaw.ca

Mark your calendars for the Annual KDLC Labour Day Picnic on September 4th, 2017, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the McDonald Park Bandshell on the North Shore.

As always, we will feature local musicians, free kids activities, food,  prizes and giveaways and much more.

As always, this is a great opportunity to meet and greet labour and community groups in our community and we hope that you will be part of it.

Everyone is welcome!!!  Free and Fun, Rain or Shine…

How are you celebrating May day?

CUPE recognizes International Workers’ Day today, May 1, in solidarity with millions of workers around the world. In commemoration of the struggle for an eight-hour work day, we recognize the historic struggles of workers who have gone before us and their hard-fought gains we benefit from today.

https://cupe.ca/may-1-international-workers-day

As the campaign continues… A picture can be worth a thousand words.

The 4879 Executive would like to announce the See Red Wear Red picture contest.  We  are asking our creative CUPE 4879 colleagues to create a poster, picture, photo or drawing that supports our See Red Wear Red campaign (crayon drawing submissions will be accepted).  Submit your creative images in support of the red-circling issue on campus.  The image may demonstrate how it affects our members financially or how it affects morale etc. 

Humor is welcomed but serious is ok too because it is a serious issue.  You can create a meme using meme generators such as Imgur or Imgflip to create original memes or create other interesting posters/images using other methods.  Just show that you  support the See Red Wear Red campaign and the people affected by red-circling.  

Selected images will be published on our social media  throughout the campaign to the end of May.  The Executive will select the top 6 images to be presented at the June GM.  From the top six, one will be selected to win a $100 GC to Earls and the runner up will receive a $50 GC to Earls.  Winners will be voted on at the June meeting.  Submit your entries to CUPE4879@shaw.ca. 

The contest will run until May 31^st.

Don’t forget to wear red on Thursday!  .  #seeredwearred #mytru #cupe4879

  
Exhibit  1:  Photo by Val in Student Development