April 4, 2020

Contract Ratification Vote Results

Our CUPE 2950 membership voted 98.4% in favour of the memorandum of agreement between the Union and the University.

1068 – YES – 98.4%
17 – NO – 1.6%

Thank you for your participation and support.

In (social) solidarity,

Adam Huizinga (Chair)
Jaimie Miller
Adam Huizinga
Chloe Martin-Cabanne
Jack Lloyd
Julie Carlsten
Karen Ranalletta
Frans Van de Ven
Ross Idler (CUPE National)

Dear Friends,

Given the current circumstances, we have received permission from CUPE National to hold our contract ratification online through an application called Simply Voting.

Here is some basic information in regards to the vote:

Voting

• The vote will go live on Wednesday April 1, 2020 at 1:00pm and will close on April 3, 2020 at 8pm.

• You will receive a user ID (your staff ID#) and a password from vote@simplyvoting.com . Please add this email address to your safe sender list so it doesn’t land in your junk mail.

• The ballot will have 2 documents attached. A summary of all of the amendments and improvements as well as the full Memorandum of Agreement.

• Please DO NOT forward the union office any emails from Simply Voting that has your user name and password – if you have questions, give us a call or send us a separate email.

Information Webinar

• You will be emailed a link to an information webinar from GoToWebinar.

• Karen, Ross (CUPE National) and Adam (Contract Chair) will hold an information webinar at 1pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 – you will be able to watch a live presentation of the tentative agreement and will have the ability to ask questions.

• We will email the summary of the changes to the collective agreement at 10am on April 1st, prior to the webinar.

• The webinar will be recorded and posted for later viewing if you cannot join us live.

The Contract Committee is recommending voting yes to the tentative agreement.

In (social) solidarity,

Adam Huizinga (Chair)
Jaimie Miller
Adam Huizinga
Chloe Martin-Cabanne
Jack Lloyd
Julie Carlsten
Karen Ranalletta
Frans Van de Ven
Ross Idler (CUPE National)

COVID-19 Update March 26, 2020

Dear Friends,

Since we last reached out to you on March 20th, so much has changed in our worlds. We know how hard you’ve been working to adapt to the constantly changing circumstances and we can’t express enough how much we appreciate the work you are doing. The ways that you are reaching out to us and to each other, and the efforts you are making to keep yourselves and your communities healthy and safe are nothing less than inspiring!

The COVID-19 situation is having an impact across the globe, across the country, across our sector, and, indeed, across UBC. Earlier this week, the Public Sector’s Employers’ Council Secretariat (the arm of the Ministry of Finance that is responsible for public sector labour relations in BC) issued a letter to the CEOs of the following employer associations:

• Health Employers’ Association of BC

• Post-Secondary Employers’ Association

• BC Public School Employers’ Association

• Community Social Services Employers’ Association

• University Public Sector Employers’ Association

The letter indicated that wages and benefits would be continued until the end of April with the idea that the situation will be reassessed for what happens next and for employee layoffs to be avoided during this time. This is not unique to UBC – this is happening across the public sector. UBC posted the memo sent to senior leadership across campus here.

While it might feel scary, it is important to remember that this is the BC Government’s initial announcement about protecting the pay and jobs of people in the public service. This is not a formal notice of impending closures of programs or schools or services. We believe this was meant to provide some stability to the public sector and the economy, to give the provincial government and our employers time to respond to the rapidly changing environment, including waiting on announcements from the federal government. We anticipate further announcements in future.

Your Union is working with UBC to ensure that in their planning, your rights under the Collective Agreement are protected. Though there are no absolute guarantees in a changing landscape that if there are going to be layoffs, we can assure you that UBC HR and the Union would follow the processes defined in our collective agreement and/or the labour code if that were to happen.

We continue to be in frequent communication with Employee Relations, CUPE 116 and 2278 as well as our contacts at CUPE BC, the broader labour movement and government. We suspect that there will be many rumours in the coming days and we encourage you to contact us when you hear something or have a question – we can’t stress enough that we are here for you.

As always, CUPE 2950 will continue to advocate for the best possible outcomes for our members.

In (social) solidarity, on behalf of your CUPE 2950 Executive and Staff,

Karen Ranalletta, President CUPE 2950

Dearest Friends,

This has been quite a couple of weeks in the union office. I just want to personally express my appreciation for the patience you’ve shown me and Leslie while we work on getting answers to your questions. We continue to be in frequent communication with CUPE 116 and 2278 as well as with Employee Relations (HR) as things progress during the COVID-19 pandemic and UBC’s response.

We are going to close our physical CUPE 2950 Office this afternoon. Rest assured Karen and Leslie will still be available. We will be on email and will be checking voicemails regularly.  You can reach us at:

• Karen – president@cupe2950.ca and 604-822-1478

• Leslie – office@cupe2950.ca and 604-822-1494

This is a very stressful time and I want to remind you once again of the supports and benefits available to you:

• The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers a number of options to access support for a wide range of issues related to work and life. You can access EFAP through workhealthlife.com or 1-800-387-4765

• You are eligible for up to $2500 in psychologist/clinical counsellors/social workers benefits – information about all of your extended health benefits are at : http://www.hr.ubc.ca/wellbeing-benefits/benefits/details/extended-health/cupe-2950

Contract Ratification Vote:

• We are looking into online options to conduct the contract ratification vote online. We will be in contact in the next week or so with instructions on this will work.

Essential/Critical Services:

• Nothing has changed since the last time we raised this with you. At this point essential and critical services have not been decided by the University and the union has not been informed of anyone in the bargaining unit deemed as such. If your manager is telling you that you are an essential service, please let the union office know right away

When we have information to share we will and we encourage you to continue to monitor https://covid19.ubc.ca/ for the latest information.

Take care of yourselves, your families and friends – we are in this together!

In solidarity on behalf of CUPE 2950 Staff and Executive,

Karen Ranalletta, President CUPE 2950

COVID-19 Update – March 18, 2020

We recognize that COVID-19 is causing great concern and stress for our members and we continue to be in regular communication with Employee Relations for each phase of The University’s response.

• The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offers a number of options to access support for a wide range of issues related to work and life. You can access EFAP through workhealthlife.com or 1-800-387-4765

• Telecommuting:

  •  “As UBC continues to navigate the COVID-19 outbreak, and in support of social distancing protocols, the University has implemented a Remote Work Arrangement pilot for employees who are able to do so. This applies to employees of the university regardless of their membership in any union or association and it includes our employees who are postdoctoral fellows, graduate students or those in student appointments.”

    • If you can work from home, you are permitted to telecommute. If you are being told that you are not allowed, please email the union office.

• Essential/Critical Services:

  • At this point, essential and critical services have not yet been decided by the University and the Union has not been informed of anyone in the bargaining unit deemed as such. If your manager is telling you that you are an essential service, please email the union office right away.

We appreciate your patience as we deal with the amount of questions coming into the office related to COVID-19.

Please continue to monitor https://covid19.ubc.ca/ for more information

Take care – we are in this together!

In solidarity on behalf of CUPE 2950 Staff and Executive,

Karen Ranalletta, President CUPE 2950

The union is working with the University on all of the different protocols and measures being taken as we navigate the pandemic. 

We will be communicating with members as soon as we have information to share. We appreciate your patience.

**POSTPONED CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTES** Tentative Agreement Reached!

March 13, 2020 **The contract ratification votes are postponed on the advice of the provincial government’s ban on events of 250 or more. We will announce the new dates for UBC Point Grey and other worksites in the coming weeks.**

After multiple meetings over the past 6 months, including 3 full days of bargaining last week, your Contract Committee reached a tentative collective agreement with UBC at 1:00 am on March 7th.

This was another challenging round of bargaining. The Contract Committee worked very hard to negotiate the best possible deal for our members within the restrictions of the Public Sector Employer’s Council’s (PSEC) Sustainable Services mandate.

The Contract Committee is recommending to accept the tentative agreement.

In solidarity, your contract committee,

Adam Huizinga (Chair)
Jaimie Miller
Adam Huizinga
Chloe Martin-Cabanne
Jack Lloyd
Julie Carlsten
Karen Ranalletta
Frans Van de Ven
Ross Idler (CUPE National)

January 15, 2020

WEATHER ADVISORY:

Please watch the weather advisories for information related to University closure.

At this point UBC classes are cancelled. All non-essential staff should stay home. Do not put your safety at risk.

In the event of a snow closure as per the Letter of Agreement (13.01), the union and Human Resources will have specific messaging related to the curtailment of services .

If you cannot get to work due to weather conditions please contact your manager as soon as possible.

If you have questions call  604-822-1478 and leave a voicemail or email president@cupe2950.ca

CUPE 2950 History Project – Film Screening, Panel Discussion & Plaque Unveiling – November 13th 6pm

Date: Wednesday, November 13th

Time:6:00pm-9:00pm

Location: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts  – Reception – 6pm – Great Performers Lounge and 7pm – Film Screening/Panel/Plaque Unveiling – Royal Bank Theatre

Come celebrate the founding of the Association of University and College Employees Local 1 (now CUPE 2950)!

**Please join us at 6pm for a reception in the Great Performers Lounge at the Chan Centre**

In 2015, CUPE 2950 embarked on an extensive project to honour and capture the important history of our local. We will show off the incredible accession and digitization work that has made our historical materials accessible to researchers and the public through the UBC Library’s Open Collections portal.

There will be also be screening a short video the union commissioned called “AUCE 1: A Union for Working Women” which features members of the 1973 AUCE 1 Contract Committee reflecting on the organizing of the local and the first set of negotiations.

Afterward, there will be a panel discussion featuring some of the members from the 1973 AUCE contract committee.

Finally, we will be unveiling a commemorative plaque in partnership with the BC Labour Heritage Centre to recognize AUCE 1’s socialist and feminist roots and the historic gain in being the first union in Canada to negotiate maternity leave top-up.

Please RSVP to office@cupe2950.ca

The details for the next General Membership Meeting will be as follows:

February 27th- Union Meeting – Social Work Room 124 – 2080 West Mall

The details for the next General Membership Meeting will be as follows:

• Date: February 27, 2020
• Time: 12:00-2:00pm
• Location: Social Work – Room 124 – 2080 West Mall
  

Just a reminder that our GMMs are on employer paid time (the two hours must include your regular lunch).

If you have any questions or comments please call the union office at 604-822-1494 or Karen directly at 604-822-1478.

AGENDA

Roll Call of Officers

1. Equality Statement
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Adoption of Minutes of October 2019
   
4. Business Arising from the Minutes:
5. Nominations for CUPE Local 2950 Executive (2020 – 2022):

• Treasurer
• Communications Committee Chair
• Health and Safety Committee Chair
  

1. Unfinished Business
2. Executive Report – (Karen Ranalletta – President)
3. Business Agent’s Report – (Frans Van de Ven)
4. Treasurer’s Report
5.  Committee Reports:

• Grievance Committee – (Jaimie Miller)
  
• Chief Shop Steward – Hollie Griffin
  
• Contract Committee – (Adam Huizinga – 2^nd VP/Chair)
• Communications Committee
• Diversity Committee- (Odette Rivers, Chair)
• Education Committee (Lily Liew, Chair)
  
• Health and Safety Committee
  
• Job Evaluation Committee (Rey Astronomo, Chair)

10.       New Business:

Open and close nominations for the 2020 CUPE BC Convention – April 22-25 Westin Bayshore – Vancouver