Civic Strike: send a letter to Mayor Sam Sullivan and city council

The Vancouver civic strike is affecting many aspects of life in Vancouver.  From community centres, garbage pick-up, permits, parking, city business and of course libraries!

This is the first strike in our union's 77 year history!!!  In previous years, we have worked without a contract to ensure the smooth operation of library services.  But now.. the process is turned upside down.  The Library board is not in charge of negotiations. 

City Hall's human resources is directing it with the GVRD Labour Relations Council, with the aid of the Wilcox Group – a PR firm hired to handle labour disputes, crisis management as well as VANOC.  Why has the city hired a PR firm to create political spins on contract negotiations instead of hiring a mediator to find resolution.  Why hire a PR firm that advertises a “War Room” on their website, when we should be seeking “Peace”…. I thought that Vancouver's nick name was “City of Peace.”  Check out the information found by CUPE 15, released through a Freedom of Information application:
http://cupe.ca/news/Wilcox_Group_reveale

For information about the strike please check:
www.cupe391.ca/blog2/
www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca

Main issues are pay equity, respect and bargaining fairly… not asking for more concessions!

Here is a letter that you can download, and send to Vancouver city council and your friends. It reads:

Community support for CUPE 391 Vancouver Library workers from Author Terry Glavin and Dr. Fred Bass – former city councillor

Author Terry Glavin speaks about the important role library workers have in aiding authors for their research – photo Todd Wong

Renowned author, columnist, journalist and UBC faculty intructor –  Terry Glavin came by to give words of support to striking Vancouver Library workers.  Former city councillor Dr. Fred Bass also attended and gave words of support too!

Glavin says he probably spent a year of his life on the picket line, during 15 years of work including 3 strikes at Pacific Press when he was a writer for the Vancouver Sun.  His first union strike experience was 30 years ago for pay equity at the Daily Columbian newspaper where he discovered veteran female workers earning far less than brand new male workers.

Aliza wrote on the CUPE 391 blog:

Glavin is a self-admitting fan of Gung Haggis Fat Choy and wanted to interview me for a piece he is writing about diversity.  Earlier this year, he recommended me to a German Public television company ZDF TV, which is making a travelogue about multiculturalism in Vancouver.  It will be aired in Europe in December.  Hopefully we can have Terry as a featured Canadian writer of Irish-Celtic descent at a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinne in Victoria one day.

Read Terry's blog at http://transmontanus.blogspot.com/
or check out his new column in The Tyee :: Views :: thetyee.ca

Dr. Fred Bass came by give Todd Wong some support on the picket line
and listened to Terry Glavin speak – photo Peggy Watkins/Todd Wong
Collection

Dr. Fred Bass, former City Councillor also came by to say hello and give support to the striking Vancouver Library Workers.  By coincidence, Bass' daughter Jennifer works for the library too – we've worked beside and known each other for years…  Fred even had some words to say how Mayor Sam Sullivan likes to operate in city council. 

Even Doug Perry, perennial provincial and federal Green Party candidate for Vancouver Fraserview and Vancouver South, asked to address the crowd to give words of support.

Dr. Fred Bass, former Vancouver City councillor talks with Vancouver library workers on the strike line – photo Todd Wong

In the morning, our union executive came by with Jim Gorman.
Aliza wrote on the CUPE 391 blog

Jim gave the crowd a quick overview of the
five days we spent last week in bargaining and then he and the members
of the committee answered some questions.

 The one of everyone’s mind was probably “how long can this go on?”
The City of Vancouver spokesman was quoted as saying six to eight
weeks. A frightening thought, but I can assure you that the bargaining
committee will do everything it can to end it sooner. If it should last
that long, it is because that is how the city wants it. Regardless, the
members of CUPE 391 will stand strong together.

In the afternoon… Vancouver Library workers moved en masse to Georgia Street to wave to cars drawing supportive honks from many rush hour commuters.  A City TV camera crew captured the scene and told me that it was great action to film and witnessing the interaction between the striking workers and the general public.  The mood was positive and lots of cars, buses and trucks honked their horns receiving uplifted cheers from the library workers.

CUPE 391 Vancouver City Library workers wave to cars in the Tuesday afternoon rush hour – photo Todd Wong

CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Workers wave to the trolle car honking support – photo Todd Wong

Vancouver Library Workers CUPE 391 wave to the afternoon rush hour traffic – photo Todd Wong

Other strike issues can be found on
www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca

My library friends on the picket line

The biggest plus about being on the picket line is having lots of time to socialize and chat with my fellow co-workers.  Usually I am always so busy answering questions or helping patrons with their books, or even shelving books onto the shelves that sometimes we don't get a chance to talk and catch up with each other.

Ross Bliss' gypsy jazz guitar and Todd Wong's classical accordion meet for cultural fusion – photo T.Wong collection

I have known Ross Bliss for a few years… usually we pass at Central Branch, in between organzing programs.  Ross has created the Jazz 101 series and also plays gypsy jazz guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt…  okay maybe not that incredible… but incredible for us non-guitar players.  Ross often plays at the Kino Cafe in Vancouver on Cambie St.  It was great to try some duets with Ross – even though he improvises gypsy jazz and I sight read classical.  We worked out some nice stuff on O Sole Mio, Avalon and Carnaval of Venice.

Lily Gee, longtime Vancouver city library worker – photo Todd Wong

Last week Lily Gee asked me to sign her autograph book celebrating her 35 years of service at the Vancouver Public Library.  I first met Lily when I was a teenager and worked on Sundays in the Stacks department at the Central Library.  Our paths have often crossed, and it is always with a smile.  Lily is great to work with!

Diana Keng and Tasha are fellow CUPE 391 picketers – photo Todd Wong

I have worked with Diana at at many branches over the years.  She really enjoys travelling and always shows me her latest travel pictures.  She is one of the first facebook users I know, and started up the VPL facebookers group.  I have only met Tasha a few times at Kitsilano library, and have enjoyed her company and conversation.  Both of these fellow co-workers are great people, and they are constructively using the picket time to knit caps that are being sold to help needy people at the Carnegie Centre.