Community
Fair Contract Rally
Due to a lack of progress in negotiations, UNITE HERE Local 40 Hilton workers will be holding a Fair Contract Rally on Tuesday, February 23 at 4:30pm at the Hilton Metrotown Hotel.
Please join them to send a clear message to Hilton management that your union supports these workers in their struggle for a fair contract now!
For information, updates and other Local 40 news, follow them on Facebook & Twitter.
Call Mr. Robeson
Playing at the Anvil Centre Theatre on February 25-28, 2016
777 Columbia Street, New Westminster
A wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of the Labour Movement in an entertaining and inspiring way.
Call Mr. Robeson is perfect, moving, fascinating and intense. This performance is not to be missed.
Call Mr. Robeson, a Life, with Songs is a sensitive dramatization of the life and songs of Paul Robeson, a Pioneer of the Labour Union Movement, written and performed by Tayo Aluko, an award-winning performer from England.
Equity and Human Rights Committee Pizza Forum
Any one who is interested in learning about equity and human rights issues and those interested in participating in the Equity and Human Rights Committee are invited to attend this pizza forum!
When: Saturday, March 12, 2016 @ 10:00 AM
Where: The Union Hall 114-4940 Canada Way
Email: admin@cupe23.ca
CUPE National Survey
Sisters and Brothers,
As you’re more than aware, one of the more difficult challenges of our lives is finding a balance between our work, our families and dealing with care-giving issues. It’s not easy to do and often we find ourselves making sacrifices and hard choices. This creates tension and conflict both at work and at home and results in un-needed stress with its emotional and physical consequences.
If we can make changes to our working lives which will result in an ability to manage these challenges more easily and reduce the stress they produce then we need to do so. CUPE is embarking on a national survey of our members to gather information which can then be used to raise awareness of the issues, develop policies and design contract language which will benefit us all as we try to find ways to deal with care-giving and work/life balance.
Please take a few minutes and fill out the survey.
Thanks,
Simon.
Pumpkin Patch
Our Local was recognized by CUPE BC; on their website they had this to say about Brother Chris Revitt and the volunteers who helped organize and run the Pumpkin Patch this year:
BURNABY — CUPE 23 member Chris Revitt and his family turned their enjoyment of choosing pumpkins at a pumpkin patch into a community event for neighbourhood children, who may be physically or financially unable to get to one.
“I have three kids of my own and every year they visit the pumpkin patch. We realized some of their classmates don’t have the opportunity to go to a pumpkin patch, so we bring the pumpkin patch to them,” said Revitt.
The family built a pumpkin patch last year at South Slope Elementary & BC School for the Deaf. Revitt’s union, CUPE Local 23 that represents civic workers in Burnaby, stepped up to provide sponsorship. That allowed the event to be expanded to include Douglas Road Elementary.
“We work and live in the community so we like to reach out to our community and be active in it,” says CUPE 23 Chairperson Bruce Campbell.
Revitt, a Burnaby Parks Board irrigation worker, says that a good relationship with the schools helps make the event a success. Work gets underway a month before and begins with coordinating with school principals who set up a schedule and ask parents to volunteer.
A lot goes into the community event. Pumpkins, bales of hay and decorations are picked up. Enough popcorn is popped and hot chocolate brewed to serve about 700 students. CUPE 23 members, parents and others in the community get an early start setting up between 350 and 400 pumpkins on fields at both schools over two days. This year pre-school classes were also invited to visit the pumpkin patch.
Each class comes outside in the morning and gets hot chocolate and popcorn to munch while they tour the field and select a pumpkin. Teachers help students paint pumpkins or carve them, and some may even make pumpkin seeds. Last year some children brought their decorated pumpkins to a nearby seniors’ home for them to enjoy as well.
Revitt says that it’s rewarding because the community gets involved. Everyone who stops by is invited to come in and participate.
“You only have to watch the kids, and the parents. When you look at the faces of the kids, they’re so excited to be able to pick a pumpkin,” said Revitt.
Everything gets donated at the end. Pumpkins are given away to siblings and family members and some will go to Children’s Hospital. The hay bales go to an animal rescue organization. Decorations get donated back to schools for their school dance or Halloween parties.
“This is an awesome event,” says Kim Pearson, a CUPE 23 member who runs the hot meal program at the school. “It’s very multi-cultural here and this is a great way for everyone to learn about new traditions.”
Remembrance Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
for a
Remembrance Day ceremonial placement of a wreath at the Burnaby Village Museum beside the church. The placement of the wreath will occur at 12:00 noon and is open to all members.
Attendance is encouraged!
For information and directions click here.