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CUPE 389 – Member Update, District of North Vancouver members

CUPE 389 – Member Update, District of North Vancouver members

November 21, 2023

 

Inflationary support payment update

Since our last message we were able to get in touch with the mediator we worked with to negotiate our new collective agreement. The mediator has confirmed that he agrees with the union’s interpretation about how the inflationary support payment is to be administered. Our position is the inflationary support payment applies to any active employee (at date of ratification) who worked in 2022. The 3.5% and 1% lump sums are to be calculated on the hours worked by those employees in 2022.

 

However, even though the mediator has confirmed he agrees with our interpretation, the employer continues to refuse to change their position on this issue. In our opinion the employer has reneged on the negotiated terms of the collective agreement and we find this extremely disappointing.

 

What happens now?

We know that many of our members who are owed the inflationary support payment did not receive it when it was paid last week.

 

We have filed a group grievance on behalf of all members who did not receive the payment but should have. Our goal with the grievance is to make sure that everyone who should have received the inflationary support payment, receives that payment.

 

If I didn’t receive the payment and believe I should have, do I need to do anything?

The grievance does not require any action on your part, and we will make every effort to push for an expedient and successful outcome to the grievance; one that results in the full inflationary support payment to all employees as of the date of ratification.

 

When will we know the outcome of the grievance?

The grievance procedure is laid out in the collective agreement and requires the employer to meet with us within 5 working days of the date of the grievance, then the grievance is referred to arbitration if not resolved within an additional 10 working days. Given this timeline, we anticipate having an additional update for you in 3-4 weeks.

 

We will keep you in the loop.

We remain confident that the inflationary support payment applies as we have stated, and should this dispute require arbitration we believe we have the facts on our side for an arbitrator to rule in our favour. Thank you for the patience and the support you continue to show for your bargaining committee and your union while we work through this issue.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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NVTA Climate Justice Workshop

The NVTA Social Justice Committee is inviting you to join us for the following workshop:

Climate Justice 101
Date: Monday, November 6, 2023
When: 3:45pm – 5:15pm
Where: Sutherland Secondary Library
To register: go to Booking Central, look under “NVTA Climate Justice Workshop” Session Code E501S1L1

(This workshop is only for School District CUPE Staff)

Workshop description: This workshop provides an introduction to the science and politics of climate change, and then explores how we can be agents for change within the education system. The first section of the workshop explores the reality of our changing climate, including modelling for future warming and extreme weather events. Actual impacts on BC teachers are foregrounded, as well as the inequitable distribution of impacts worldwide. This includes how climate disproportionately impacts Indigenous peoples, racialized folks, women and the global south. In the second half of the workshop, teachers examine how school districts have or haven’t addressed carbon emissions and planning for a carbon zero world, and then how teachers and students can advocate to influence this work.

Facilitator: Tara Ehrcke is an educator, teaching secondary math in the Lekwungen speaking territories (Greater Victoria) and facilitating union workshops across the province to colleagues in the BC Teachers’ Federation. Tara is currently a member of the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice, as well as the BC Federation of Labour Climate Justice & Jobs Committee. A lifelong trade union activist, Tara is excited to work with others to strengthen relationships between labour and the community so that we can collectively build the power to change the world.

Please know that we are grateful whenever CUPE colleagues are able to join us, and you are always invited to the workshops that the NVTA Social Justice committee books!

Light snacks will be provided.