vp3338

CUPE respectfully acknowledges that Simon Fraser University campuses occupies unceded, traditional Coast Salish territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Nations.

CUPE Local 3338 is a non-profit union organization. We represent approximately 1000 members in six bargaining units each with their own employer across all three campuses of Simon Fraser University.  Our vision is to advocate for just and diverse workplaces and communities, and to foster respect, dignity, and equity for our members, and for all working people.

President’s Message

Hi Everyone,

We hope that the start of spring and increased daylight hours finds you well.  The Local continues to be very busy and we are moving forward step-by-step.

Executive Board: We are doing the best we can operating with 7 out of 14 exec members but the current situation is not sustainable for the long term.  The high priorities are: workload, SFU’s budget, bargaining and membership engagement.  Day-to-day priorities are: budget planning, addressing workplace concerns, labour management with employers.

SFSS Bargaining: 3 of the 7 exec members were embedded in Unit 5/SFSS bargaining from March 11-28 and we thank you for your understanding as we took a little longer than normal to get back to you (and to send this newsletter).

New Stewards: Thank you to those who have expressed their interest to step into this work.  We are excited to onboard you and continue union work together!  We hope more people will continue to come forward for these opportunities throughout the year.

In solidarity and on behalf of the 2025 executive board,

Shaneza Bacchus

 

General Membership Meeting (GMM)

The last General Membership Meeting was held on March 19, 2025 from 12:00-1:00pm.  This was a very important GMM and we thank you for your attendance and participation!  The next GMM is on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, time and location TBC.

 

2025 Executive Board 

Meet your current exec members! We will announce the new table officers soon, keep an eye out for that.

 

 

2025 Executive Board Vacancies

Do you want to feel like you are making a difference in the workplace?  The following roles are vacant and we would love to have new individuals join the hardworking team.  Any member in good standing can step into these positions.  Written and verbal English skills are necessary but additional training and education are available and paid book-off from work.

 

Unit Updates

Unit 1/SFU

• It has been great to see names coming forward for the various committees we put the callouts for – thank you for your interest! We look forward to working more closely and regularly with you in the near future.

• New Professional Development Fund reimbursement process: Beginning March 17th, 2025, employees can now submit a professional development claim directly through SFU’s Financial Information System (FINS), including receipts and supporting documentation. SFU says this new process will help ensure a more efficient and user-friendly experience that empowers employees to make the most of their learning and development benefits.

Unit 2/CUPW

• Shaneza and Bridget met with the member mid-February and it was really good to have that engagement, both for updates on the workplace and social connection.

 Unit 4/BEST

• Ongoing priorities: workload, professional and respectful communications in the workplace and membership engagement.

• Thanks to important labour relations, we were able to address and resolve certain key issues with the employer.

Unit 5/SFSS

• Bargaining March 11-28 | CUPE National Rep Melissa Schuurman, Shaneza Bacchus, Anna Reva, Trish Everett, Brianna Price, Nancy Mah and Ricky Che.

• The bargaining process is highly confidential, specifics will not be discussed beyond both parties at the table.  Weekly email communications were sent to the membership about how bargaining is proceeding.

Unit 6/GSS and U7/SFPIRG

• Business as usual.

 

Membership Engagement

Starting on April 9th, the second Wednesday of each month will be dedicated to membership engagement across all units, with the aim of rotating through the three campuses. Stay tuned for weekly announcements on ways we will plan to connect with you: drop-in office time, ‘pizza with the president’, Wellness Wednesdays, etc.

Residence & Housing Meet-and-Greet with CUPE 3338 | April 8th, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | EAS boardroom
Come have some snacks and refreshments with CUPE 3338 Vice President – Lead Steward, Bridget Barker, and Membership Officer – Young Worker, Sarp Yalçin, and ask us about:
– any questions you may have about being a union member
– your workplace rights and responsibilities
– questions about how to interpret the Collective Agreement and Residence & Housing LOA
– how to get involved with the CUPE 3338 Young Workers Committee
– anything else we can help you with!
Shaneza Bacchus was planning to attend as well but has had to pivot to a Local priority instead.  

Young Workers Committee – Kick-off Meeting | April 9th, 12:00 to 1:00 pm (AQ Boardroom, 5135)
The Young Workers Committee is open to members from all units of CUPE 3338 who are 30 years old and under. To join the committee, please send an email to info@cupe3338.ca, and we will add you to our WhatsApp chat. The first meeting will be a meet-and-greet and planning session amongst committee members to determine goals for the remainder of the year.

CUPE BC Young Worker Social | May 2, 2025 | Registration closure April 4
Young workers (30 and under) interested in attending the Young Worker Social event happening at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver on Friday, May 2nd are asked to register online here before the April 4, 2025 deadline. You do not have to be a delegate to the CUPE BC Convention in order to attend. The event will feature light refreshments, prizes and games. A group photo will take place at 5:15pm just before the social, with all attendees to gather at the Convention registration desk on the main floor.

 

For Workers with Temporary Immigration Status

Upcoming Events, Holidays and Observations

Please let us know of any events that would be important to highlight and/or engagements the Local can step into.

• International Transgender Day of Visibility: March 31, 2025

• National Indigenous Languages Day: March 31, 2025

Did You Know…

1. You cannot be required to “volunteer” extra hours to compensate for increased workload demands due to insufficient staffing levels.  Please flag any attempts by an employer to informally adjust job descriptions and/or pressure you for volunteer work by writing to the union (info@cupe3338.ca).  Any additional work and/or overtime should be fairly compensated with either overtime pay or time in lieu.

2. For Unit 1/SFU: If you are a new or recent hire at SFU, you should have been invited to a New Employee Orientation. Temporary employees and student workers are supposed to be included in those invitations. If you have not yet attended a New Employee Orientation, please reach out to People, Equity and Inclusion (otherwise known as Human Resources) via pei_reception@sfu.ca to get on the list for the next one.

3. CUPE 3338 started out as the Association of University and College Employees, Local 2 (AUCE #2) back in 1974. AUCE #1 at UBC eventually became CUPE 2950. On December 12, 1991 the motion was passed that effective December 31, 1991, AUCE #2 would withdraw as the representative of non-academic and non-professional staff, in favour of CUPE Local 3338. For more details on our history, please visit https://atom.archives.sfu.ca/association-of-university-and-college-employees-local-2

CUPE Updates & Resources

CUPE National Newsroom and CUPE BC Newsroom

To keep up with Local 3338’s most recent news, please visit https://cupe3338.ca

Have content to share with the CUPE 3338 community? Submit it to this newsletter by emailing communications@cupe3338.ca.  To contact the union: 778.782.5494 or info@cupe3338.ca. Offices are in AQ 5131 and 5132 and drop ins are welcomed but it’s recommended to schedule an appointment.

CUPE respectfully acknowledges that Simon Fraser University campuses occupies unceded, traditional Coast Salish territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Nations.

CUPE Local 3338 is a non-profit union organization. We represent approximately 1000 members in six bargaining units each with their own employer across all three campuses of Simon Fraser University.  Our vision is to advocate for just and diverse workplaces and communities, and to foster respect, dignity, and equity for our members, and for all working people.

President’s Message

Hi Everyone,

February ran away with the exec board a little so please bear with us on a slightly delayed newsletter.  Some key highlights for February:

Executive Board: The executive board is down to 7 out of 14 positions.  Key positions are vacant.  While there are three paid officers, the executive board complement is reduced and as such, the union’s ability to respond to workplace concerns will be impacted.  We know these roles can seem big and involved but please be assured we will ensure anyone who is interested is fully supported with training and mentorship.  We want to share the skills and knowledge we have gained with new activists.

SFU Budgetary Restrictions: we continue to pay close attention to the effects of SFU budget decisions, specifically around workload, job precarity and migration of duties.  We know that the current situation has caused increased fear – please let us know right away if you are seeing changes in your workplace, especially if work is being reduced and/or transferred (within CUPE or into other employee groups).

Solidarity on Campus: ongoing collaboration with other employee groups on campus on joint concerns and efforts.  For example, reviving our participation within Contract Worker Justice (CWJ) to raise awareness about contracted-out work.  We are stepping into some important actions and we look forward to sharing updates when plans are more formalized.

CUPE BC President’s Academy: I was selected to attend this week-long educational opportunity.  It was extremely valuable to connect with other CUPE presidents across different sectors and have a focused overview about CUPE structure and functionality.  I am excited to share the knowledge gained and implement fun strategies within the local!

Research is Work CUPE 2278 (UBC) campaign:
We wanted to lend our voice to amplify the status of organizing research workers at UBC.  We encourage you to read the information from the link above and lend your voice in solidarity with their important actions.

We have important work to do as the year moves forward full steam ahead.  We very much look forward to stepping back into membership engagement across all units and rebuilding much needed connection with one another.

In solidarity and on behalf of the 2025 executive board,

Shaneza Bacchus

 

2025 Executive Board

Vacant Positions

Do you have some time and pent up energy that could be channeled productively?  Do you want to feel like you are making a difference in the workplace?  Your union always needs your help!  The following roles are vacant and we would love to have new individuals join the hardworking team.  Any member in good standing can step into these positions.  Written and verbal English skills are necessary but additional training and education are available and paid book-off from work is an option.  Please email info@cupe3338.ca if you’d like to find out how to get involved!

• Recording Secretary: “behind the scenes” work, taking minutes, and to help keep the union office organized.

• Communications Officer: “behind the scenes” work to research, compose  communications, update the website and in the future, perhaps social media.

• Unit 1/SFU | U4/BEST | U6/GSS | U7/SFPIRG Representatives: meets with members and employers.  A new rep would start by attending initial CUPE training, shadowing an experienced rep as a notetaker, and eventually meet with members on their own.  A rep must be from the bargaining unit they work in.

• Stewards: Your union needs more stewards!  These roles primarily function as a point of contact among teams/colleagues and liaison between your team and the union.

Meet the Current Exec!

We’ll be updating the website soon with photos and a brief introduction to your 2025 executive board!

Unit Updates

Unit 1/SFU

• Bargaining committee call out closed on February 14, 2025.  Stay tuned for other ways to be involved in bargaining.

• Reminder: Organizational Health is the only office that should be handling your medical documentation. If your supervisor asks you for a doctor’s note for a medical absence, politely advise them that medical notes are handled exclusively by Organizational Health.

Unit 2/CUPW

• Connecting with the member next week.

 Unit 4/BEST

• Regular labour management meetings to address ongoing workplace concerns: workload, safety, bullying and harassment.

• Regular unit check-ins/meetings will be scheduled.

• Members are encouraged to contact the office (drop by, call, email) to speak with a rep and/or schedule a meeting.

Unit 5/SFSS

• Bargaining is scheduled for March 10-28

  • February 20 & 24 | info sessions

  • February 27 | Proposal presentation and ratification (details will be sent by email)

• CUPE and the new SLO team met at the end of January.  It was a very good first meeting, the tone was collaborative and engaged.  We look forward to working with the new SFSS management team.  We will be scheduling regular Working Conditions meetings to address workplace concerns and labour relations.

Unit 6/GSS and U7/SFPIRG

• Business as usual.

 

Membership Engagement

We are very excited to announce that we will be dedicated the 2nd Wednesday of each month starting in April for membership engagement across all units and campuses.  Stay tuned for weekly announcements on ways to connect: drop-in office time, ‘pizza with the president’, Wellness Wednesdays, etc.  We have some fun outdoor activities in mind once the weather is more agreeable.

 

Committees

Pension

Terms of reference: “The CUPE L3338 Pension Committee promotes and supports pension literacy for our members. In addition to educating members about the SFU Pension Plan for Administrative/Union Staff, we advocate and explore pension plan improvements for all plan members by meeting regularly with members of the Employee Joint Pension Committee (or, EJPC), a joint employee group committee represented by CUPE, Poly Party and APSA.”

Advocacy & Activism

President and Vice President 2-Equity & Inclusion will be the exec leads for this committee.  Due to U5/SFSS bargaining priority we will meet in early April to finalise ‘terms of reference’ and focus on actions.  A second call out will be sent to the membership for participation.

CUPE National’s Anti-Racism Strategy identifies actions to challenge systemic racism in our workplaces, union and communities. It acknowledges that our union and locals must work towards meaningful change for Black, Indigenous and racialized members, including those with intersecting identities.

CUPE BC Racialised Workers Committee has created a ‘glossary of terms’ that we hope to have available very soon.

Young Workers

This committee is now up and running, stay tuned for the first engagement in April!

Social

Are you energized by talking and connecting with colleagues?  The social part of membership engagement is a fun way to step into union work without having to attend meetings!  Please let us know if you would like to be involved in creating greater engagement among colleagues.

Upcoming Events/Dates of Importance

Please let us know of any events and/or cultural days of significance that would be important to highlight.  Once we have a more robust exec board and stewards, the Local will be able to step into more social and political engagement.

Upcoming Dates of Importance

• March 8 | International Women’s Day

• March 15 | International Day to Combat Islamophobia

• March 21, 2025 | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

• March 25 | International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade

• March 31 | International Transgender Day of Visibility

• March 31 | Indigenous Languages Day

 

CUPE Updates & Resources

CUPE National Newsroom

CUPE BC Newsroom

Did You Know…

1. Reporting a safety incident to your supervisor is one step in addressing safety concerns.  SFU Safety & Risk Services also recommends submitting the formal safety incident report.

2. (For all units) … that your employer has a Duty to Accommodate?
   Employer role: Once an employer has been made aware (either by the union or the employee) of a disability or medical condition requiring accommodation, they must begin the process of finding a reasonable accommodation.
   Worker role: has a duty to disclose the general nature of their disability and any restrictions to the employer. This information makes it possible for the employer to properly accommodate the worker. The worker must provide sufficient information concerning limitations, however revealing an actual diagnosis is not always necessary and should be avoided wherever possible.
   Union role: The union must be actively involved in the process of accommodation.
   Read more: https://cupe.ca/what-duty-accommodate-0

3. If you have a question about your workplace, it is likely others are wondering the same thing! We are considering starting up a sort of workers’ rights advice column in future newsletters. Please feel free to send in questions you would like to see answered in an “Ask CUPE” style.

To keep up with our most recent news, please visit https://cupe3338.ca for union updates.

To contact the union: 778.782.5494 or info@cupe3338.ca. Offices are in AQ 5131 and 5132 and drop ins are welcomed but it’s recommended to schedule an appointment.

Dear Members,

We are reaching out about the ongoing budget cuts at SFU that have unfortunately impacted CUPE again.

On January 6, 2025 SFU informed CUPE 3338 that there will be a departmental closure within the Community Engagement portfolio, resulting in the elimination of 4 CUPE positions.  (APSA was impacted as well but we’ll let APSA speak to their specifics).  At this time, the closure and position eliminations are specific to this one department within Unit 1/SFU bargaining unit.

CUPE’s focus was prioritizing and protecting impacted members’ dignity and confidentiality, as well as, proceeding with a trauma-informed perspective.  We are profoundly disappointed in how the position elimination meetings were structured and the lack of transparency in information to CUPE and impacted members.  There is a fundamental disconnect on respectful engagement that prioritizes people and lived experiences.  CUPE made every effort to secure additional options above the current CUPE-SFU Collective Agreement language for the impacted members and while we were not able to achieve what we advocated for, we would like to acknowledge that the employer moved on a few items to reach an agreement for additional support.

We know this news will result in a high level of concern and fear, especially after the 2024 Notice of Restructure which forced us to say goodbye to 50 CUPE colleagues across two bargaining units.  At this time, SFU has informed CUPE it is not proceeding with another notice of restructure.  That said, we do not have any assurance that there will be no further layoffs.

As many of you know, there is major upheaval happening across the post-secondary system in every part of the country.  This is in large part, perhaps nearly entirely, as a result of recent changes at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada restricting the number of international students that may study in Canada, and their post-study residency.  As public funding has been cut from our system in the past 20+ years, institutions have become increasingly reliant on revenue from international education.  Now, as we see a cut in international student numbers, it has created a funding crisis for colleges and universities.  SFU is experiencing this crisis and the effects are resulting in further cuts.

CUPE is extremely frustrated with SFU’s ongoing targeting of CUPE positions for elimination in response to budget challenges.  Targeting lower wage workers is neither fair nor effective in addressing financial shortfalls, as the work of CUPE members is vital to the university’s operation and CUPE wages are not a substantial cost to the institution as compared to the many new administrative positions that have been added in recent years.

Our hearts go out to the members affected and their families.

January 29, 2025 General Membership Meeting
We know this is a highly uncertain time, which is why we made the decision to move the January 22 GMM to January 29: to support impacted members from the closure, as well as, be able to meet with the membership after.  Questions can be asked at the GMM and/or sent to info@cupe3338.ca, which will be compiled for FAQs on the website (and may not be individually responded to).

In solidarity and on behalf of the executive board,

Shaneza Bacchus
President, CUPE 3338

CUPE respectfully acknowledges that Simon Fraser University campuses occupies unceded, traditional Coast Salish territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Nations.

CUPE Local 3338 is a non-profit union organization. We represent nearly 1200 members in six bargaining units each with their own employer across all three campuses of Simon Fraser University. Our vision is to advocate for just and diverse workplaces and communities, and to foster respect, dignity, and equity for our members, and for all working people.

President’s Message

Hi Everyone,

I hope the second week back finds you stepping into the new year with renewed energy.  Your 2025 executive board is keen to continue the Local’s work.  The Union’s focus for the start of the new year will be:

• SFU budget update: In the December 2024 newsletter, I wrote “the writing on the wall is clear for all to see”.  I should not have been so vague with that statement – I meant that the current measures SFU has implemented are ongoing and CUPE will continue to pay close attention to the ongoing hiring freeze, workload and reduction/migration of duties.

We need your help here: If we don’t know when duties are being reduced or transferred to APSA personnel, we cannot protect CUPE work.

• Layoffs: CUPE will be as transparent as possible while adhering to Collective Agreement language on confidentiality.  We will communicate with you as soon as possible should SFU notify the union of any further layoffs.

• Bargaining: Unit 5/SFSS is scheduled for March 2025 and Unit 1/SFU bargaining prep will start soon.

• Membership engagement: setting up drop-in office hours at each campus, regular unit meetings, socials.

• Solidarity on campus: ongoing collaboration with other employee groups on campus and with Contract Worker Justice (CWJ).

We will have lots to do together this year, let’s be mindful of our well-being and maintain the necessary balance between our various demands.

In solidarity and on behalf of the 2025 executive board,

Shaneza Bacchus

January 2025 General Membership Meeting (GMM)

Due to a high priority within the Local, the January 22 GMM will be moved to January 29.  Please refer to the email notice sent on January 16, 2025.

 

2025 Executive Board

 

Nominations for Vacant Executive Board Positions

As you can see, the executive board has a high number of vacancies and an executive board of 7 out 14 will not be able to function at an ideal level.  We urge you to consider stepping forward and contributing to the important work needed within your union.

Important: Introductory training will be required to hold an executive board or trustee position.  Any member in good standing can step into these positions.  Written and verbal English skills are necessary.

Please refer to the nomination notice that was emailed on January 16, 2025.  Nominations for vacant executive board and trustee positions are open from Thursday, January 16, 2025 and will close at 4:00pm on Wednesday, January 29.

Steward Training

Stewards are an essential part of union activism. A steward is a point of contact between members and the union. We encourage anyone who is interested in workers’ rights and ensuring the collective agreement is protected to contact the office. Becoming a steward is a great way to develop professional skills: note taking, understanding the collective agreement and its practical application, helping to inform others of their rights, and conflict resolution.

There is steward training throughout the year. Please let us know if you would be interested in becoming a steward and attending this training! .

 

Unit Updates

Community Consultation: Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing Policy (GP41)

SFU consulted with CUPE on GP41.  CUPE’s feedback focused on the gap between the terms “employee” and “SFU community member”.  Initially, the scope of GP41 only included direct employees of SFU, which meant CUPE members in BEST, SFSS, GSS and SFPIRG who work on SFU campuses and with SFU employees were excluded.

• Changes were made to expand the scope of “SFU community members”: “contractors” and “agents” were included in the policy.  BEST would be “contractors”; SFSS, GSS and SFPIRG would be “agents”.

• Goals of GP41: to support a culture of speaking up and to have protection if you do: address mechanisms for reporting, conflict of interest, reprisals, etc.

• Once finalised, this policy will be part of SFU’s “community support” page.

SFU is seeking public consultation and you are encouraged to read through the information in the link above.  Feedback can be submitted to board_admin@sfu.ca by January 24, 2025.

 

Membership Engagement

We want to engage with you more frequently and will start doing so with both impromptu drop-bys and also holding regular drop-in hours at all campuses.  Stay tuned for further details!

What would you like to see from your Local?  More social/membership engagement activities?  More involvement in advocacy and activism spaces?  Do you have any ideas on how union meetings can be more interesting or fun?  Please let us know any ideas you may have that will help us engage with you more.

Upcoming Events

January 29, 2025: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, Green Square Campaign
Wear a green square to support the fight against Islamophobia.
On National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, we honor the victims and survivors of the 2017 attack, and recommit to eliminating Islamophobia, hatred and racism in Canada.

In January 2020, Muslim communities launched the Green Square Campaign. CUPE is inviting its members to participate in the campaign and wear a square of green cloth the week preceding January 29. The green square represents the green carpets in the Quebec City Mosque: wear it in memory of the victims and in solidarity with their relatives and everyone who is suffering the consequences of hate-related violence.

For more details, please see https://cupe.ca/event/wear-green-square-support-fight-against-islamophobia

January 29 – Lunar New Year

February is Black History Month
Black History Month is a time to celebrate and highlight Black History and culture, and to honour the ancestors and leaders within Black communities, their accomplishments and their continued fight for liberation. Together, let’s educate one month, and celebrate every month.

Black History should be recognized 365 days a year and not limited to a single month.

Black History acknowledgement is also a time for all people in Canada to reflect and educate ourselves on the history of Black enslavement and the ongoing discrimination and criminalization of people of African descent, and to remember that anti-Black racism still exists.

CUPE’s Anti-Racism Strategy identifies actions to challenge systemic racism in our workplaces, union and communities. It acknowledges that our union and locals must work towards meaningful change for Black, Indigenous and racialized members, including those with intersecting identities.

 

Events

We will look to add more events and see what CUPE 3338 can support, either by attending or via donation.  Please let us know of any events that would be important to highlight and/or engagements the Local can step into.

Black in BC: Celebrating Black Excellence 2025
Friday, February 7, 2025, 3:00-7:00 pm, Surrey Arts Centre
https://www.dcrs.ca/event-details/black-in-bc-celebrating-black-excellence-2025

Afro Gala 2025 – A Black History Month Event
Saturday, February 8, 2025, 6:00 pm – 12:00 am, Thomas Haney Rotunda (23000 116 Ave Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0T8)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/afro-gala-2025-a-black-history-month-event-tickets-1106867132389

Coquitlam Black History Month Family Day Celebration
Saturday, February 15, 2025, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Maillardville Community Centre
https://www.coquitlamheritage.ca/events/black-history-month-family-day.

 

Did You Know…

1. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union, with 750,000 members across the country.  CUPE represents workers in health care, emergency services, education, early learning and child care, municipalities, social services, libraries, utilities, transportation, airlines and more.

2. You may have disciplinary letters (otherwise known as “adverse reports” or “warning letters”) removed from your employee file after a specified amount of time has passed as per your Collective Agreement:

• Unit 1 (SFU): “On the request of an employee, an adverse report shall be removed from the employee’s file in Human Resources, provided that twenty-four (24) months have elapsed since the issuance of the report and no other adverse reports have been received.”

• Unit 4 (BEST): “Any discipline that has been imposed on an employee shall be removed from the employee’s employment file within eighteen (18) months and only if discipline free during that period of when the discipline was imposed.”

• Unit 5 (SFSS): “If, in the twelve (12) months after the issuance of a disciplinary letter, no further disciplinary action is recorded against the Employee, the disciplinary letter shall automatically be removed from the Employee’s record and may not be held against him/her thereafter.”

• Unit 6 (GSS): “If, in the twelve (12) months after the issuance of a disciplinary letter or suspension, no further disciplinary action is recorded against the employee, all record of that disciplinary letter or suspension shall automatically be removed from the employee’s record and may not be held against them thereafter.”

• Unit 7 (SFPIRG): “If, in the eighteen (18) months after the issuance of a warning letter, no further disciplinary action is recorded against the employee, the warning letter and any previous warning letters shall automatically be removed from the employee’s record and may not be held against him/her thereafter.”

3. Union work is often very fun and social. We also learn how to develop professional skills and network for future opportunities. Reach out about how to get involved!

 

CUPE Updates & Resources

CUPE National Newsroom

Highlights of the December 2024 National Executive Board meeting:
Read the NEB highlights online

National President’s Report and National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report to the December 2024 National Executive Board meeting:
Read the National President’s Report online
Read the National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report online

To keep up with our most recent news, please visit https://cupe3338.ca for union updates.

Have content to share with the CUPE 3338 community? Submit it to this newsletter by emailing communications@cupe3338.ca.

To contact the union: 778.782.5494 or info@cupe3338.ca. Offices are in AQ 5131 and 5132 and drop ins are welcomed but it’s recommended to schedule an appointment.

CUPE Local 3338 is a non-profit union organization. We represent nearly 1200 members in six bargaining units each with their own employer across all three campuses of Simon Fraser University. Our vision is to advocate for just and diverse workplaces and communities, and to foster respect, dignity, and equity for our members, and for all working people.

 President’s Message

Hi everyone, it feels like summer has found us quite quickly, we hope you are keeping as well as can be. Your executive board would like to express gratitude for your understanding while we were embedded in two employer layoff processes and supporting impacted employees.

Thank you for joining us at the July 17, 2024 General Membership Meeting (GMM). It was very important for us to connect with you, the membership, to provide updates on what the Local has been focused on.  A highlight is attached for those who weren’t able to join. We look forward to engaging with you again at the next GMM. A reminder: If you attended the full GMM and would like to be included in the draw for CFL tickets on August 18, please email info@cupe3338.ca. The deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, August 2. Winners will be contacted directly.

The first six months of 2024 have been extremely busy for the Local and I can safely say that I look forward to precedent times together. We are taking this opportunity to reconnect in a few ways: membership meetings, an upcoming summer social, and relaunching a 3338 newsletter!

Shaneza Bacchus

Important Information

Unit 1 / SFU

Executive Board Updates

Your Executive board attended CUPE BC Convention on April 24-27. Convention is the democracy of CUPE: delegates engage in discussions and vote on resolutions.  It’s also a great opportunity for everyone to connect outside the regular day-to-day work and network with other CUPE activists.

Upcoming Events and Community Engagement Opportunities

CBC Vancouver (May 15, 2024) | “SFU lays off dozens of employees, citing financial challenges” | Watch here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sfu-layoffs-1.7205775

City News (May 16, 2024) | “Simon Fraser University cuts English, translation programs due to rising costs” | Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpnzKWihY2o

Global TV (May 18, 2024) | “Canadian universities’ growing deficits, layoffs concern unions across country” | Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6yW7qy4xgM

 

Hello everybody,

CUPE BC is excited to be partnering with the BC Federation of Labour in the delivery of several sessions of Electing a Future Worth Fighting For. This one-day course will focus on building our members’ capacity to talk about politics with other members, and will help get us ready for the upcoming provincial election on October 19, 2024.

CUPE BC and CUPE National have developed a budget that will allow for them to pay for dozens of members to attend training in their region, or virtually.

If you would like to attend this training, please reach out to info@cupe3338.ca. This will allow us to go through the necessary approval processes for CUPE BC. Available seats for these sessions are limited by budget and space constraints. Participants will be brought into our rapidly growing Political Action Network.

The following training is available in your region:

City	Date	Location
Richmond	May 9	Richmond Teachers’ Association Office
Virtual	June 5	Zoom
Surrey	June 6	Surrey Central Public Library
Langley	June 10	USW 2009 Hall
Burnaby	June 11	IUOE 115 Hall
Chilliwack	June 17	Coast Hotel Chilliwack

We look forward to hearing from you about your interest in this important work.

In Solidarity,
The CUPE 3338 Executive Board