By Terri (She/Her) Inouye Announcements • Education • News 0 Comments

CUPE BC UPDATES

Dear members,  

Please read on for general CUPE BC announcements and to learn more about upcoming events, learning resources, and community engagement opportunities. If this email was forwarded to you and you wish to be added to our mailing list, please send an email request to info@cupe.bc.ca.

Reminder | CUPE BC Committees | Nominations Call

Per the announcement sent out June 7, CUPE BC is currently accepting nominations online for all 21 committees for the 2021-2023 term. 

Online Nomination Form: Click here

Committee Terms of Reference: Click here

Submission Deadline:  Monday, July 5, 2021 (end of day)

Please note that the 2021-2023 committee nomination process has been revised to bring it into closer alignment with CUPE National processes. In addition, we are asking nominees (applicants) to submit their own nominations, which will allow us to capture information to help build more inclusive committees. If you are a nominator (i.e. Local or District Council) completing the form online on behalf of a nominee, please consult and obtain permission from the nominee prior to submitting the form.  If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email the CUPE BC Office (info@cupe.bc.ca) for further assistance.

T-Shirt Fundraiser | Orange Shirt Day | Sept 30

CUPE BC encourages members to visit the Orange Shirt Society website and consider a t-shirt purchase for Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2021. Partial proceeds from all t-shirt and merchandise sales will go towards the Orange Shirt Society and support the organization’s reconciliation events and activities.  T-shirts may also be purchased directly from various London Drugs locations.

The Orange Shirt Day Society was formed in Williams Lake by Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis (Jack) Webstad to create awareness of the inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Day activities.  For more information, please click here.

2021 UALE Summer Institute for Union Women | August 5-7

Mark your calendar for the 2021 UALE Summer Institute for Union Women, which will be held online on August 5, 6, and 7, 2021.  Registration for this year’s online Summer School for Women Workers will be open soon.  For more information, please see the attached poster and visit the UALE website.

CUPE Education | Upcoming Health & Safety Webinars | Summer 2021

CUPE Education will be sharing information over the coming weeks for its online Health & Safety webinar offerings in August and September.  Please stay tuned for more details, and make sure to check the CUPE Education Calendar (click here) regularly for up-to-date information on the wide range of learning opportunities available for members.

Workers Arts and Heritage Centre | Virtual On to Ottawa Tour

Hosted by the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, this virtual walk/run/roll is unique! Discover the historical events of the 1935 On to Ottawa Trek as you log kilometres and hit key waypoints along your chosen route and earn a custom enamel pin when you finish. There’s no deadline; move at your own pace. Sign up here.

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email info@cupe.bc.ca for additional information.

In solidarity,

CUPE BC Executive Board

By Erica (she/her) Rogers Education • News 0 Comments

Cupe BC News Updates

COURSES & ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CUPE BC

If you wish to be added to CUPE BC email list, please send an email request to info@cupe.bc.ca.

CUPE BC Web Conference | Build Your Resilience | June 15

Please join CUPE BC’s Summer 2021 Web Conference led by Diana Vissers, Occupational Health Consultant and CEO of Work to Wellness.  In this webinar, Diana will introduce a framework for understanding mental health and wellness and share tools for managing the stress of the pandemic.

Build Your Resilience: Tools for Managing the Stress of COVID-19

Date:  June 15, 2021

Time:  9:30-11:00 am Pacific Time (90 minutes)

Presenter: Diana Vissers

Free Registration: Click here

Registration Deadline:  Monday, June 14, 2021 at 12:00 pm PST

Live captioning and translation in French will be provided.  Members of all affiliated and non-affiliated locals are welcome to attend.

2022 Election Training Workshop | So You Want to Run for Local Office | June 22

Are you considering running for Council, School Board, or Regional District Board in 2022 in your community? The CLC and the Winch Institute are hosting a 90-minute workshop for potential candidates, which will consist of a panel discussion with current and former councillors and trustees, regional breakout groups, and expert instruction. The workshop will be part of a series of campaign workshops and community forums in the lead up to the 2022 Local Government Elections. This workshop will focus on the reasons to run for public office, the work of elected officials, and what you need to start doing now in order to win in 2022.

So You Want to Run for Local Office?

Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Time: 7:00 – 8:30 pm Pacific Time (90 minutes)

Application Form:  Click here

Organizer Contact:  Neil Gaudreault (e: neilgaudreault@gmail.com | p: 778-980-5670)

Canadian Heritage | National Indigenous Peoples Day | June 21

This June 21, 2021 is the national 25th anniversary of celebrating the heritage, cultures and outstanding achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. For more information on First Nations, Inuit and Métis-led virtual activities, please visit the Department of Canadian Heritage website (click here) and join the conversation via social media:

Twitter: @GCIndigenous and @GovCanNorth use the hashtag #NIHM2021

Facebook: GCIndigenous, GovCanNorth and @GCIndigenousHealth

Instagram: @gcindigenous use the hashtag #NIHM2021

YouTube

CLC Resources | Truth & Reconciliation | Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

CUPE BC stands in solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the country who are mourning the loss of not only the 215 children found buried at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, but the thousands of other children who never came home. Please see the following information from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and BC Federation of Labour, which includes actions that union members can take in the wake of the recent news from the territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc People.

Write to your elected representatives

Let federal and provincial leaders and elected representatives know that you want to see real commitments and concrete action for justice for Indigenous people and communities.

Click here to send an electronic letter.

Learn more about Reconciliation

Many Canadians were shocked by the reports of this discovery in Kamloops, but Indigenous peoples weren’t, because they knew and they know there will be more. You can learn more about the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission via the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, but the best place to start is the 94 Calls to Action.

If you have yet to do so, please also take this opportunity to learn more about the long history of discrimination against First Nations children; read the Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future Summary of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada; and review the findings from the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the 230+ Calls for Justice in the Final Report of the National Inquiry.

Stay Informed

The Hon. Murray Sinclair chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and delivered its final report and 94 Calls to Action.  He released a statement after the discovery in Kamloops, and he says there will be more.  Click here to watch Murray Sinclair’s Video Statement dated June 1, 2021.

To learn more about what the labour movement is doing provincially and nationally, please also read the following statements:

BCFED Statement – On the confirmation of mass grave of children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School

CLC Statement – Canada’s unions mourn with Indigenous communities, call for action

Support Resources | Indian Residential School Survivors Society

If you or any members you know are suffering trauma from ongoing discussions online and in the media about the Kamloops Indian Residential School discovery, please contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society 24 hour Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.  To learn more about the Indian Residential School Survivors Society and its support services, please click here.

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email info@cupe.bc.ca for further information.

Website

cupe.bc.ca
CUPE BC
By Erica (she/her) Rogers Education • News 0 Comments

Education Request Form

Are you interested in taking a CUPE sponsored educational course?

We would appreciate it if you could fill out the applicable sections of this form and return by scanning your completed application and attaching it to an email. Address it to the CUPE office at cupe716office@gmail.com. 

Your application will be forwarded to the Education Committee. You may otherwise wish to return your application by interschool mail. If you choose to send it via interschool mail, please be sure to send it as early in advance of the deadline as possible.

Address it to CUPE Office, Sea Island School or complete the online form below.

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Education Request Form

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By Erica (she/her) Rogers Announcements • Education • General Information • Internal Union Matters • News 0 Comments

May Pro-D Day – SOGI for Cupe

Please join us in this SOGI session for CUPE members. During our session, we will be covering what SOGI inclusive learning environments look like, sound like and feel like. We will also be joined by student leaders from Burnett and Cambie, who will share their experiences of schooling with adults who hear and accept them as LGBTQ2S+ youths. Our session together will:

  • explore our own intersectionality and how that plays a role in the way we interact with students and colleagues
  • do a self assessment for what we are already doing and what we can do to contribute to inclusive learning environments
  • discuss why it’s important to practise gender neutral language with students and colleagues​
  • ​answer some questions about how young SOGI can go
  • include some resources for further professional development in SOGI ​

Facilitators for this session are Loreen Thomson, CUPE; Ellen Hsu, RTA; and Destiny Lang, Student Leader – Burnett

May 21st 9-11am – Registration is open now on the portal!

By Terri (She/Her) Inouye Education • News 0 Comments

Professional Development Day Suggestions

Dear CUPE 716 Members
The last common Professional Development Day for 2020/21 school year is May 21st. We want all members in all departments to have the same opportunities for professional development. Please send your ideas or suggestions to Ian Hillman via email Ihillmancupe716@gmail.com.
In Solidarity,
CUPE716 Executive

By Terri (She/Her) Inouye Education • General Information • News 0 Comments

Support Staff SSEC Survey

CUPE, other support staff unions, and BCPSEA are jointly launching this survey with a view to soliciting input to help define priorities for, and interest in, support staff training and upgrading. This survey will help inform the work of the Support Staff Education Committee (SSEC), which was struck as per item 6 of the Provincial Framework Agreement.
We anticipate that the survey will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SGLYD3F
Please complete the survey by February 8, 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact your local president.

By Terri (She/Her) Inouye Education • General Information • News 0 Comments

CUPE BC UPDATES ANNOUNCEMENTS | UPCOMING EVENTS

Dear members,

We hope January is treating you well so far, and wish you all a healthy, happy and fulfilling 2021. Please read on to learn more about upcoming events, learning resources, and community engagement opportunities in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in the BC Fed courses must first apply to the union through Stacey Robinson

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CUPE BC 2021 Virtual Convention | May 19-21 **Save the Date**
Please save the date for CUPE BC’s 57th Annual Convention, which will be held virtually (online) over three days from May 19 – May 21st. Further information will be included in the Convention Call, which will be sent out to all locals and District Councils in the near future.

Convention Dates: May 19-21, 2021 (3 days)
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00pm (daily) PST
**Resolution Cutoff Date**: March 22, 2021 at 12:00pm PST

CRA News Release | Home Office Expenses for Employees
The Canada Revenue Agency has simplified the rules to help make Canadians working from home eligible for a tax deduction. Under the new rules, employees having worked from home more than 50% of the time over a period of a least four consecutive weeks in 2020 due to COVID-19 are eligible to claim the home office expenses deduction for 2020. Please read the CRA news release here and visit the CRA website for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Diversity and Inclusion Webinar | From Bystander to Allyship | Jan 13
Alden Habacon, who led CUPE BC’s first Fall 2020 webinar on Inclusion for Unions, is offering a free webinar on allyship and ways to meaningfully address non-inclusive language and behaviour in the community and the workplace. For a full workshop description, please click the registration link below.

Date: January 13, 2021
Time: 9:00-11:00am PST
Registration: click here
Cost: Free

Stratagem Black History Month Events | Black Queer Futures | Jan 23-Feb 28
Stratagem: Black Queer Futures is a series of virtual talks and workshops by Black activists dedicated to exploring the nuances of Black queer identity, resistance and movement building. Spread out over Black History Month, a wide range of workshops are being offered to provide participants with an intersectional experience of Black LBGTQ2S+ lived realities and histories. For more information, please see below and/or contact the organizers at info@cicelyblainconsulting.com.

Dates: Various offerings starting Jan 23, ending Feb 28
Workshop Schedule: Click here
Registrations: Click here **NOTE: Black Community Access tickets ($25) and 50-100% scholarships are available for anyone in need.
Anyone interested in the BC Fed courses must first apply to the union through Stacey Robinson
BCFED Health & Safety Centre | Professional Development Programs
The BCFED Health & Safety Centre will be offering a range of professional development programs over the coming months, including those listed below. Detailed course descriptions can be found on BCFED Health & Safety Centre course calendar (click here). For more information, please contact the BCFED OH&S Centre by phone (1-888-223-5669) or via email (ohsadmin@bcfed.ca).

OH&S Committee Part 1
Various Dates (Jan/Feb 2021)
1 day session | 8:30am-4:30pm
Delivery: Online
Registration: Click here for list of options Mental Health First Aid
Various Dates (March/April 2021)
2 day session | 8:30am-4:30pm
Delivery: In Person (Burnaby)
Registration: Click here for list of options

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email info@cupe.bc.ca for additional information.

By Terri (She/Her) Inouye Education • News 0 Comments

Are you interested in becoming a k̓ʷəməyɬəm volunteer?

As part of our district work towards the goals of our SD38 Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement, we would encourage all schools to have a volunteer k̓ʷəməyɬəm (meaning raise a child in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓) on staff.

This focuses on Goal #1 of our Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement, which reads Richmond’s students with Aboriginal ancestry will work toward a strong sense of belonging through pride in their cultural heritage. Students will be honoured for their stories, celebrated for their individual strengths, and supported throughout their learning journey.

The role is intended to increase a sense of belonging at school for students through connections to the greater school community. This role is voluntary, and is meant to complement the work of the Aboriginal Success team. The role is not curricular, or cultural in nature, and is focused on the relationships that students have in and with the school. While the role will depend on context, and is evolving, k̓ʷəməyɬəm will be a friendly face in the halls, and a person who provides encouragement or a safe space if necessary. The role can be filled by a teacher, support staff, or administrator.

If you have questions, suggestions or concerns, please contact Leanne McColl, District Aboriginal Education Teacher Consultant.