members in focus

Reminder: Ethel Lau Scholarship

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The Ethel Lau Scholarship was established in 2001 and is issued on behalf of the Burnaby Civic Employees’ Union. It honours the memory of Ethel Lau, a past union activist and recognizes her service of over 20 years.The Fund has been established for the exclusive purpose of awarding non-repayable educational scholarships to qualified recipients who are continuing their education. There are seven (7) one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) scholarships awarded annually at the discretion of the Executive Board of CUPE Local 23.

This award is for members or their children for post-secondary, undergraduate studies.

The deadline for the Ethel Lau Scholarship has been extended to June 30, 2016.

– For further details regarding the Ethel Lau Scholarship please follow this link.

– To apply for the scholarship click here  then print and submit a copy to the Union office via email, internal mail, or in person during business hours.

Please contact the Union office should you have any further questions.

Email: admin@cupe23.ca | Telephone: 604-298-0200
Website: www.cupe23.ca

Equity and Human Rights Committee Pizza Forum

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Equity and Human Rights - Pizza Forum Flyer 2015-11-05

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

 

Pumpkin Patch

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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: 

Pumpkin Patch 2015

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.Pumpkin Patch 2015 2

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.”

Important information about a Membership Survey

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Membership Survey

Sisters and Brothers:

Arising from a motion at the January 21, 2015 Membership Meeting, we have engaged the services of Strategic Research, an independent research company, to conduct a telephone survey of our members. The purpose of this survey is to gather information on how we feel about working conditions with the City of Burnaby.

This is a confidential survey and individual results will not be disclosed. The survey will consist of approximately 20 questions and will take about 10 minutes to do.

We have approximately 2,500 members in our Local Union. To ensure that the survey is as accurate as possible, we will have to get 300 interviews completed.

In the next few days you may receive a call from Strategic Research. We hope that you will look for their call and participate in this very important and confidential survey. The phone number that should show on your call display is: 604-323-2694. In some cases due to network incompatibility the number may not be displayed.

Strategic Research intends to begin the survey on February 23, 2015, and anticipates that it will take about a week to complete.

It’s really important that we get as much participation as we possibly can for this survey because it will provide us with very useful information that we can use for bargaining purposes.

Simon Challenger, President