Executive Council Report
The first COPE 378 Executive Council meeting of 2008 was held on February 11 in Burnaby.
Councillors from around the province gathered to consider a number of pending priorities, including the 2008 operating budget, the upcoming COPE 378 elections, and a number of new policy resolutions.
2008 Operating Budget
Councillors considered and passed the union’s 2008 Operating Budget, prepared by COPE 378 Secretary-Treasurer Lori Mayhew.
Highlights of the budget included increases in membership revenue, several increases in core committee budgets, and the continued growth of the Job Defence Fund to over $15 million.
Elections Report
Councillors heard a report on the policies and procedures of COPE 378’s pending elections given by Wendy Payne, the union’s Returning Officer.
Payne outlined the components of the union’s constitution which apply to elections, and also went over the comprehensive election timeline, including nominations procedures, deadlines for nominations and the receipt of ballots, and rules and procedures covering the ballot count.
For more information on the COPE 378 elections, members can visit www.cope378.ca/elections-2008.
Young Workers Committee Launched
Executive Board member Tamara Kamachi and Committee Co-Chair Stephen Von Sychowski outlined the goals and mandate of the new COPE 378 Young Workers Committee, which plans to begin recruiting members immediately.
Among its core goals, the Young Workers Committee plans to help build and grow the union for the future by encouraging more involvement and participation by younger members in helping to steer the course of the union.
‘Pink Shirt’ Day
Councillors endorsed the international ‘Pink Shirt’ Day to stand up to bullying. The campaign, which is being embraced across Canada and around the world, ask people to wear a pink shirt to school or work on February 27 to show their support in taking a stand against bullying.
Pink Shirt Day has also been endorsed by the BC Federation of Labour.
BCGEU Highway Safety Campaign
The guest speakers at the February Council meeting were Mike Nuyens and Jeff Fox from the BCGEU, who spoke to Councillors about their campaigns for highway safety.
The BCGEU represents members working for privatized highways maintenance contractors throughout the province, and have been concerned about the deterioration of road and highway conditions that have resulted from privatization. The BCGEU is asking drivers across BC to help them in enforcing the basic conditions for highway safety and quality conditions.
For more information, please visit www.bcgeu.ca.
2010 Women Ski Jumpers
Councillors also endorsed a resolution from COPE 378 Vice President David Black calling on the International Olympic Committee to allow women’s ski jump as an event at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Women’s Ski Jump is not currently an Olympic event, despite Male’s Ski Jump being a longstanding Olympic tradition.
The next COPE 378 Executive Council meeting is Monday March 17 at the Coast Plaza Stanley Park.
