High bacterial rates found in bottled water

More than 70 per cent of bottled water samples from Canada contain bacterial rates that far exceed recommended limits in the U.S., suggests a study presented Tuesday at the general meeting of the American Society of Microbiology in San Diego. Full article on CBC Website.

Your Water, Your Future!

The Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition will be hosting a two day public Forum on Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, May 30th. The entire event is FREE for all attendees. Our registration e-mail and phone number for this forum is at the bottom of this article. Please advise which days you are going to attend when you register.

Saturday,May 29th -9:00 a.m. - Bowen Park will see bus tours leaving for the City of Nanaimo Water facilities and a bus tour into a watershed. Each tour will operate twice so all attendees will be able to go to both. It is estimated that the City tour will take 2 hours and the watershed tour will take three hours. Lunch will be provided following each tour.

Sunday, May 30th - Beban Park Our day will begin at 9:00 a.m. We have amazing speakers;
Maude Barlow, Rafe Mair, Corky Evans and Arthur Caldicott. The day will also include four workshops by four great "teachers". Andrew Gage - Environmental lawyer with West Coast Environmental law - "Legal options for Source Protection"; Ingmar Lee- Community Activist - "The Industrial Logging of Nanaimo's Drinking Watershed"; Trevor Wicks - "Looking at the Source: A Well protected Drinking Water Supply"; Robin Mathews - "Privatization: Local, National, and International Theft". The intent is to enable all attendees to get to all workshops by keeping the workshops limited in time.
A full lunch will be provided on this day as well.

Registration will need to occur to enable us to hire buses for the "Water" tours as well as to adequately prepare for the meals.

Our registration e-mail is:islandwatershedprotection@gmail.com.

If you want to call, from April 15th onward, the phone number is 250-716-6964.
Please advise which days you are going to attend when you register.

Results of May 3, 2010 Special Meeting

(Cowichan Region)

The Cowichan Region Executive want to thank everyone who came to last night's meeting.

Democracy is important!

Members debated the motion to seperate from CUPE Local 606 and after a number of speakers, the vote was called.

Your Region Executive is pleased to announce that the motion to seperate was defeated and we will remain a part of Local 606.

Together we stand!

In Solidarity,

Your Region Executive

Tara Brooks, 1st Regional VP
Sherrene Ross, 2nd Regional VP
Gloria Waldron, Secretary-Treasurer
Vera Cairns, Sgt-At-Arms
Ayn Cargill, GVP

To: CUPE Local 606 Members (Cowichan Region)
From: Rob Zver, President Date: April 23, 2010
Re: Anonymous Bulletin

The Executive of CUPE Local 606 has been made aware of a bulletin that has been circulating in the workplace related to the special meeting of May 3, 2010. You are advised that this bulletin is not authorized or endorsed by the executive. We believe all opinions and comment are best presented during the debate at the special meeting and not through anonymous bulletins. Please make every effort to the attend the special meeting.

To: CUPE Local 606 Members (Cowichan Region)
From: Rob Zver, President Date: April 16, 2010
Re: School District Budget Update

Since mid March, the start of the budget process, a great many of the partner groups representing the Cowichan District Teachers Association (CDTA), Lake Cowichan Teachers Association (LCTA), CUPE Local 606, USW 1-80, The Hwulmuhw Mustimuhw Educaiton Council, as well as, 4 trustees (Hannan Seymour, Di Gunderson, Deb Foster, Eden Haythornwaite) asked the Board of Education (Cowichan Valley School District) to put in a deficit budget that would represent the needs of the district.

CUPE has taken the stand to oppose further cuts which includes the two week spring break. At the last meeting held on April 14, 2010, a motion was passed to build a student success budget (needs budget) and a further motion was passed for the Finance Committee to turn over the building of the compliance budget (balanced budget) to senior staff and trustees. The parties could not agree on how to proceed in making the cuts necessary to build a compliance budget (balanced budget).

CUPE Local 606 encourages all members to attend the public Board meetings being held at the School District Board Room at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
We also encourage you to lobby the other Trustees on the importance of defending public education!

SD#79 Finance Committee Votes "No" To Cuts!!
On April 14th the School District 79 Finance Committee passed a motion identifying elements of our public education system which must be protected from cuts during budget talks. Committe members supporting the motion include partners representing teachers, support workers, parents and Hwulmuhw (Aborignal) communities as well as 4 trustees (Hannah Seymour, Di Gunderson, Deb Foster, Eden Haythornthwaite). Full article in PDF format. . .

February 10, 2010 is the final day for Registration
for the February 22, 2010 Nanaimo Region
CUPE Professional Development Day
at Wellington Secondary School

Pro-D Booklet Cover Pro-D Morning Sessions Pro-D Afternoon Sessions
Pro-D Full Day Sessions Registration Form

Greetings,

I want to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and the CUPE Local 606 Executive to wish you and your families, a safe and joyous holiday. Green Xmas Tree

I hope that we take the time and reflect back on 2009 and remind ourselves of the students, School District staff, parents and community we have supported throughout the year.

We will continue to make public education a safe and supportive environment.

May the New Year bring peace and prosperity to all.

In solidarity,

Rob Zver
President CUPE Local 606

Bargaining Survey

TO: All CUPE Local 606 Members

FROM: CUPE Local 606 Executive

DATE: December 15, 2009

RE: Members’ Survey

As bargaining will be fast approaching in the New Year, CUPE BC K-12 Presidents’ Council has set-up an online survey available at <Survey is now closed>. As a member, you will need to enter the Local’s number and School District number and then proceed to the questions. The Members’ Survey will close on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

Please take the time to fill out this survey as this will help guide the K-12 Presidents’ Council in setting the priorities when going into bargaining.

There will also be a Local bargaining questionnaire coming out in the New Year from the Local so that the Region bargaining committees can set their own priorities as to dealing with Local issues.

Thank you for your cooperation.

In Solidarity,

Rob Zver - President of CUPE Local 606

Canadian Labour International Film Festival

1:00PM-5:30PM
Saturday, November 28th
Building 356, Room 109
Vancouver Island University (VIU)

Printable Schedule

Building Relationships Across Difference: A Community Dialogue
The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society is hosting the second community dialogue on
Saturday November 14 2009
Bowen Park Auditorium, 500 Bowen Road Nanaimo
Sign-in and refreshments: from 9:00
Dialogue 10 am to 3 pm with lunch

Participants must pre-register by November 9 2009, by contacting
Terre Flower at 250-753-6911 or tflower@cvims.org

Full Press Press Release - PDF Printable Poster -PDF

Mass layoff notices mark beginning of school year

Sept 1, 2009: PENTICTON—Last minute cuts announced by the Ministry of Education have led the Okanagan Skaha School District (67) to take the unprecedented step of issuing layoff notices to almost 50 staff.

The services provided by members of CUPE local 523 who include maintenance, grounds, custodial and bussing staff will be affected by layoffs resulting from a $1.3 million cut to the district’s Annual Facilities Grant (AFG).

More instability for education
with new funding cuts

BURNABY-CUPE BC is calling on government to reverse school district funding cuts announced yesterday, just as students and staff are preparing to begin the school year. In a letter to school districts Deputy Education Minister Jim Gorman says that the annual facility grant to districts worth $110 million is being cancelled.

“This is a double whammy for district staff and boards of education who have been working diligently to deal with the budget that they were asked to work within just a few months ago,” says CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill. “Throwing this curveball into the mix is irresponsible and sends a message that you can’t trust this government to stand by its commitments or to really put a priority on students and education.”

Nanaimo Global Film Festival Presents
"The Day After Peace"
on International Peace Day Monday, September 21, 2009 7:30 PM Theatre, Building 310 VIU.
Admission by Donation (suggested $10)
http://www.nanaimofilmfest.org

Nanaimo Global Film Festival Presents
"Rising from the Ashes"
on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 7:00 PM at Brechin United Church, 1998 Estevan Road.
Admission by Donation
http://www.nanaimofilmfest.org

Welcome to the 2009/2010 School Year!

On behalf of the Executive members of CUPE Local 606, I want to take this opportunity to thank-you, the members, for your commitment in keeping education a priority in this Province.

We know we might be faced with some tough times ahead of us this year. However, if we work closely together with our other colleagues one can only hope we will have a positive outcome. Let’s take pride in all we do as we truly are some of the unsung heroes.

All the best to each of you in the 2009/2010 school year!

In Solidarity,

Rob Zver, President
On behalf of the CUPE Local 606 Executive

To: All CUPE Local 606 Members
Election Results
From June 6, 2009 Meetings

Results for Cowichan Region Members

Results for Nanaimo Region Members

Summer office hours for CUPE Local 606
July 20 to July 24th 9:30AM to 1:30 PM
August 19 to August 31, 2009 - 8AM to 3:30PM
The office will be closed from Monday July 27th
until Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 (inclusive).

Full Memo in PDF format

Cowichan Region Meeting &
Retirement Tea
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
4:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Khowhemun Elementary School Library, Duncan
Please read PDF for RSVP instructions
Please Come and Celebrate

A Celebration!
Retirement Reception to honour
our fellow CUPE workers
who retired through 2008 & 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Nanaimo German Club
71 Calendonia Avenue

Multicultural Family Games & Youth Gym Night
hosted by the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society
Wednesday Nights from 7PM to 9PM
Open PDF for location and eligibility

All Candidates Meetings for the upcoming Provincial Election
on May 12, 2009

May 2, 2009 1:30pm - The Ratepayers’ Association is sponsoring an all candidates meeting on Saturday May 2nd at 1:30pm. It will be at the Gabriola Community Hall.

May 4, 2009 6:00pm - All Candidates Forum to address education issues. The Meeting will be held at Nanaimo District Secondary School. Sponsored by SD68, Harewood Community Schools - NDSS, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 606, Nanaimo District Teachers Association (NDTA), NDSS Parent Advisory Council (PAC).

May 5, 2009 6:30pm - The Men's Resource Centre is sponsoring an All Candidates forum to be held in downtown Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Candidates from Nanaimo and Nanaimo-North Cowichan will attend.

The listed All Candidates Meetings are organized by various groups, and are subject to change. The format of the meetings is the responsibility of the sponsoring group.

Very important Memo & Survey for all
CUPE 606 Cowichan Valley worksites

Due to a budget shortfall in the 2009/2010 school year, the Cowichan Valley Board of Education is considering closing schools for one week just before or after Spring Break. Please read full memo for important information regarding proposal and survey.

Link to Cowichan Valley School District Budget Survey

Nanaimo Region Sunshine Committee has a new email address
Wanda Deisman from the CUPE 606 Sunshine Committee has a new email address. If you know of a member who is ill, on bereavement leave, or needs to be congratulated, please contact Wanda.

"You, Me, and the S.P.P: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule"
will premiere at
7pm on Thursday, February 5th
in the main drama theatre in building 310 at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo

Seventh Annual

Joseph Mairs Memorial

Sunday - January 25th, 2009 - 1PM

St Mary's Church - 1135 4th Avenue Ladysmith

For more information please contact Joseph Mairs Memorial Committee

Phone: 250-709-7975 Web josephmairs.ca

CUPE Holiday Season Office Closure

Please be advised that the CUPE Local 606 Office will be closed from Thursday, December 25, 2008 to Friday, January 2, 2009. The office will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2009

Seasons Greetings
To All CUPE Local 606 Members:

CUPE Local 606 Executive hopes that your holiday season will be filled with love, laughter, happiness, peace and that your goodwill will be shared with all that you meet during this festive time!

Enjoy your holidays with family and friends.

Best Wishes for the New Year!

School Trustee Election Results

Official election results for Nov. 15, 2008 (SD68 website)

School Trustees 2008

(standing, left to right) Newly elected Trustees Dot Neary,Carol McNamee, Sharon Welch, David Murchie
Andrea Bonkowski, Nelson Allen, Ron Dale, Jamie Brennan.
(seated) Superintendent Michael Munro, Board Chair Donna Allen, Secretary-Treasurer David Green.

New Sunshine Committee

CUPE Local 606 would like to express their appreciation to John and Susan Ward for their years of service as Co-Chairs of the Sunshine Committee.

Wanda Deisman has offered to take over the Sunshine Committee and the Local would like to thank Wanda for putting her name forward.

If you know of a member that is ill, on bereavement leave, or need to be congratulated, please contact Wanda Deisman.

Welcome to the 2008/2009 School!

18th Annual Labour Day Picnic
Monday September 1st, 2008
Transfer Beach, Ladysmith

Summer Office Closure

The CUPE 606 Office will be closed from Tuesday, August 5 until Friday, August 22, 2008 inclusive.

June 14, 2008 General Meeting

Election Results

Thank you from Past President Marlene Crozier

Hi Sisters and Brothers,

As many of you know the attendees at my retirement contributed to a travel voucher gift of gratitude. The attachment is to let you know that in May I did utilize the voucher. I was joined by Bryan and Donna Murphy on an Alaskan cruise. It was an experience of a lifetime with the great weather, the calm seas, and the terrific multi-cultural crew and passengers all contributing to a memorable trip.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of the CUPE members and friends that contributed to the travel voucher gift.

In Solidarity,

Marlene Crozier

Education Assistants Survey
extended to June 30th, 2008

Please complete the survey at the following website:
www.bceducationassistants.ca

On behalf of CUPE BC, CUPE Local 606 is asking all Education Assistants, Aboriginal Education Assistants and Child, Youth and Family Support Workers to complete a survey which focuses on the issue of unpaid work performed routinely and on a voluntary basis.
Full memo sent to work sites.

CUPE Education Workshop
Retirement Planning Seminar
April 24 - 26, 2008
Regretfully this seminar has been cancelled.

CUPE LOCAL 606 MEMBERS
(Nanaimo and Cowichan Regions)
FROM: Rob Zver, President
DATE: April 14, 2008
RE: Address/Phone Number Changes and WCB Information

CUPE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DAY
Monday, February 25, 2008
9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
JOHN BARSBY SCHOOL
CUPE LEARNING AND WORKING TOGETHER

Staff Development Course Booklet

Staff Development Registration Form

O'Neill to launch provincial tour on Vancouver Island
Public presentations to focus on local solutions to boost economy

BURNABY—As part of the union’s ongoing “Strong Communities” campaign, and following through on a resolution from last year’s convention, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill is hitting the road to talk about local investment and alternatives to privatization in B.C. communities. more...

"Your Move" Campaign
Nanaimo Students fundraiser to support AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe.
11AM-4PM Saturday, October 13
Library Square
Downtown Nanaimo

General Meeting Notice
Election for General Vice President
Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 10AM
Ladysmith Secondary School
Multipurpose Room
710 Sixth Avenue, Ladysmith, BC

War Made Easy
Film Screening
7PM Wednesday, October 10
Malaspina College
Theatre in Building 355
admission by donation
Hosted by Nanaimo Global Film Festival Group

2007 Farmer's Showcase
50 Booths displaying produce, meats, dairy, value added food and local artisans.
10AM-4PM Saturday, October 20
CO-OP Parking Lot, 2517 Bowen Road
Sponsored by the Food Sustainability Committee of the Mid Island CO-OP

United Way Campaign Breakfast
Beban Park, Sept 21, 2007

In the red shirt, Rob Zver can be seen counting off raffle tickets as School District 68 representatives dig into wallets and purses for funds to support the cause.

Rob is serving his sixth year representing CUPE 606 as a volunteer for the United Way. Rob is serving his second year as 2nd vice president on the local United Way board.

A tremendous portion of United Way contributions are made by working people through payroll deduction.

Link to United Way of Nanaimo & District

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