What’s up with my Dues? July 17, 2014

Third of Four $10 Special Assessments Deducted.

During the CUPW National Convention held in October of 2011, motions were passed making changes in an attempt to trim our costs in the face of a declining membership and rising costs.

Conventions will now be held every 4 years instead of 3. Area councils have been eliminated. Video conferencing will replace some trips to Ottawa. These changes alone will save the Union substantial costs, but not enough to solve the financial difficulties we face.

In light of this, the National Executive Board (NEB) decided to make use of section 7.09 of our National Constitution which allows the NEB to “levy special assessments” not to “exceed $10.00 in any one year” to pass the following motion:

“That the National Executive Board levy a special assessment of $10.00 per year on all members over the duration of this term and that these funds be allocated to the 2015 National Convention.”

There was an additional $10 amount added to your Union dues deduction in January of 2012, August of 2012 and, most recently, July 17th, 2014. The fourth and final special assessment will be deducted in January of 2015.

The NEB chose these months to deduct the assessments as three pay periods fall within all of them.

Apply to attend the People’s Social Forum

Interested in attending a historic event?
Apply to attend the People’s Social Forum

This summer a historic event will be taking place in Ottawa from August 21 – 24th – The Peoples Social Forum. This event will bring together activists from all movements and organizations who are fighting for the environment, Indigenous people, peace, human rights, women’s rights, social justice, equality, youth and much more. The event will hold various workshops on topics and issues that are a fundamental part of our national constitution as well as issues that are important to us all as workers.

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New VHE-9 Position Coming for Vehicle Mechanic/Technician at Glen Drive

Some CUPW members may not be aware that the Urban Collective Agreement includes vehicle mechanics/technicians who work in the garage located on Glen Drive in Vancouver. Glen Drive is responsible for vehicle maintenance and repairs throughout much of the Lower Mainland. Most of these workers are classified as VHE-9 and their wages can be found under Group 3 in Appendix “A” of the Collective Agreement.

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BC Teachers Picket Lines

The Teachers are now engaged in full scale job action.

At this point in negotiations, few of the teachers’ issues have being resolved. Our public education system is under attack by our right wing governments just like Canada Post while people like Christy Clark enroll their children in private education classes to avoid the cuts they have imposed. It can be easily seen why teachers are on strike.

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BCTF Strike: Picket Lines and the Right of Refusal

As a result of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) strike, Canada Post has predictably re-issued its order book notice, “Crossing Picket Lines”. In that order book notice, Canada Post employees are instructed to cross BCTF picket lines under threat of suspension. While Canada Post’s preoccupation with a punitive labour relations approach continues to astound, we continue to retain our rights under the Collective Agreement and Canada Labour Code.

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