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2025 Year in Review Newsletter

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.

Hello everyone,

As we wrap up the year, we want to extend our warmest holiday wishes to you and your loved ones. This season gives us a chance to pause and appreciate the power of community: how much stronger we are when we look out for one another, celebrate each other’s wins, and face challenges with collective resolve. Throughout 2025, your dedication, care, and solidarity have shaped not only our workplaces but the broader communities we are part of. Whether you spend this time resting, gathering with loved ones, or reconnecting with what grounds you, we hope the coming weeks bring you comfort, joy, and well-deserved peace. Thank you for the strength you bring to CUPE 3338 every day. Wishing you a restorative holiday season and a hopeful, bright start to the new year.

As this is our final newsletter of the year, we have included a collection of photos below that highlight some of the moments, events, and collective efforts that shaped 2025 for our local. We hope these snapshots serve as both a reflection of what we have built together and an inspiration for the work and community we will continue to strengthen in the year ahead.

CUPE BC Convention

Bridget, Brianna, Linh, Fiona and Trish met David Eby at the CUPE BC Convention

CUPE BC – One Big Committee Meeting (OBCM)

CUPE 3338 members on CUPE BC Committees for the 2025-2027 term:

Shaneza Bacchus: Post-Secondary; Racialized Workers
Bridget Barker: Women’s and Gender Rights
Fiona Lenfesty: Pension
David Kloepfer: Libraries
Brianna Price: Young Workers

CUPE National Convention

Anna, David, and Bridget at the CUPE National Convention; Wab Kinew on screen

Bargaining Updates

Unit 1/SFU: The membership recently approved the proposal package we’ll be taking to the table with SFU in January. Our first meeting date with SFU is January 8th, with dates scheduled throughout January and February.

Unit 4/BEST: We will soon be accepting nominations for the 2026 Bargaining Committee, please stay tuned for more information.

Unit 5/SFSS: We recently met with the SFSS on December 11th. The session was largely unproductive. We will eventually meet again in the new year.

Unit 6/GSS: We will bargain with the GSS in March and April of this year, details still to be finalized.

Membership Engagement

We are looking ahead to 2026 with a renewed focus on building a more connected and engaged membership. Strong unions grow from relationships: workers knowing one another, showing up for each other, and creating space to build trust and community. We hope to offer more social events, wellness walks, cultural days, and picnics across all campuses, but these gatherings thrive when our members help make them happen. Your involvement – whether organizing, attending, or simply spreading the word – strengthens our collective voice and reminds us that we are part of a vibrant, caring campus community.

President Shaneza Bacchus and Unit 4 Representative Khushpreet Kaur at the Summer Institute for Union Women

International Women’s Day Dinner             CUPE 3338 at SFU Clubs Days

Wellness Wednesday Walks – the crowd is growing!

Moment of Silence at AGM

During the November 26th Annual General Meeting, we held a moment of silence for the members we lost this year: Kulbir Kaila (left, Unit 4 / BEST) and Kathryn Hunter (right, Unit 1 / SFU).

The 2026 budget, approved at the November 2025 AGM, includes two new annual bursaries in honour of Kulbir Kaila of $1250.00 each to be given to Unit 4 members for professional development/education purposes for themselves or a family member.

CUPE 3338 will donate $500.00 in honour of Kathryn (Kat) Hunter to SAINTS Dog rescue, a cause that Kathryn cared about deeply and also donated to herself. SFU’s Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies (GSWS) department has also set up a memorial fund in Kat’s name. If you would like to donate to the fund, you may do so here: https://www.sfu.ca/gsws/donate/kathryn-hunter-memorial-fund.html

Solidarity On and Off Campus

CUPE 3338 at the UNITE HERE Local 40 Rally on November 5th

Bridget with CUPE BC friends at QMUNITY’s IDAHOBIT Breakfast on May 15th

Winter Closure
The CUPE 3338 office will be closed from December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2025, reopening on January 5th, 2026. For urgent inquiries, please email info@cupe3338.ca through this time.

We wish you a peaceful and relaxing winter holiday with family and friends – see you in the new year!

Dear members,

This year’s Aubrey Burton/Reg Ford Memorial Scholarship is now available online here until August 19, 2024. We are taking submissions according to the following criteria:

1. Parent, Guardian or Spouse of Applicant, or the Applicant must be a member in good standing of a CUPE Local affiliated to CUPE BC at the time of application.

2. Applicant must have completed Grade 12 in the current or previous calendar year, or the applicant must be a mature student who has not previously enrolled at a Post-Secondary Institution.

3. Applicant must be entering first year of a recognized public post-secondary institution in BC. A copy of the acceptance letter from the admitting institution must be supplied.

4. Applicant must complete anonlineapplication form supported by copies of the Senior Secondary Statement and Letter(s) of Reference from a School Principal or Counsellor.

Five hundred dollar ($500) scholarships will be awarded to each of the following:

1. One attending a public University (applicant with the highest GPA).

2. One attending a public Community College (applicant with the highest GPA).

3. One attending a public trades or technical institution (applicant with the highest GPA).

4. One based on a “lottery draw” of all applications.

We look forward to online scholarship applications within the August 19^th deadline and thank all applicants in advance for their interest.

Should you have any questions regarding this update, please email info@cupe.bc.ca for additional information.

In solidarity,

CUPE BC Executive Board
CUPE British Columbia
#410-6222 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5H 0G3
P: 604.291.9119
www.cupe.bc.ca

Dear Members of CUPE Local 3338,

I hope this finds you well. Content warning: this message discusses gender and race-based violence. Please consider your capacity to engage with this before you continue reading. Support resources are also included at the bottom of this post.

May 5th, known as Red Dress Day, is the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit people (MMIWG2S).  We wanted to take a moment to remind you of the significance of this day and extend an invitation to participate in Red Dress Day learning and engagement.

May 5th marks a day of remembrance and an opportunity for us to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit Individuals and to show solidarity with Indigenous communities across the country.  Approximately 4,000 Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals were reported missing between 1980 and 2021.  According to the 2019 Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the alarming rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls are categorized as a form of race-based genocide.

First established in 2010, the REDress Project began as an art installation by Indigenous artist Jamie Black. Today, red dresses serve as a powerful symbol of our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and ending gender-based violence against indigenous women, girls, and 2 Spirit people. By participating in Red Dress Day, we can amplify the voices of those who have been silenced and advocate for meaningful change.

We encourage all members of CUPE Local 3338 to join in respectful acknowledgement of Red Dress Day on May 5th.  There are many events and activities happening in our community to mark Red Dress Day.  We encourage you to seek out opportunities to engage with Indigenous-led initiatives and to learn more about how we can all contribute to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals.

How to Support MMIWG2S

• Wear Red on May 5th to show your support and raise awareness;
• Attend a MMIWG2S awareness event to learn more;
• Hang a red dress in your window to support women who are on the frontlines fighting for all of us everyday
• Read the final report from the National Inquiry on MMIWG2S;
• Donate to initiatives that support Indigenous women in our community:
• Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
• Native Women’s Association of Canada
• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society

We encourage you to take some time on May 5th to honor the lives lost, support survivors, and work towards a future where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  

Trish Everett, Vice President 2-Equity & Inclusion

On behalf of The Executive Board of CUPE Local 3338

Dear Union members at Local 3338,

Our allies from Local 2278 are seeking our help in signing the petition “Research is Work”. Please take a moment to review the petition, exercise your judgment, and add your name to support our fellow locals.

Parking Services has recently reached out to CUPE 3338 regarding their efforts to restart the Parking Appeals Review Committee (PARC).

As you may or may not be aware, the Appeals Committee is comprised of one representative from each of SFUFA, APSA, CUPE, PolyParty, TSSU, and SFSS.  The purpose of the committee is to review appeals which have otherwise been denied by the Director, Parking & Sustainable Mobility Services, or his designate.

The committee has the authority to confirm, vary or overturn any parking infraction and its associated penalty, their decision is final.

For those that are not familiar with SFU’s appeal process, please see the parking regulations here: https://www.sfu.ca/parking/Parking/parking-regulations.html

The PARC Meeting is held on the last Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. There are no meetings in July, August, or December.

Volunteers may contact Parking Services directly at parking@sfu.ca for more information and further details.

In Solidarity,
CUPE 3338