SD36 has paired up with Bright Spaces to create modules for all SD36 employees. Each module is approximately 30-45 minutes in length and consists of interactive questions and tasks to challenge your thinking and perception If you deleted the emails or can’t find them in your district email, please follow the information below.
The Racism Modules will need to be completed by June 2026
All Staff will have time to complete the modules through a combination of Pro-D, staff meetings, and workday schedules.
This is to be done on PAID TIME
The Gender Diversity Basics modules will be coming out around May 15th. Please watch the memos and CUPE728’s department page for more information.
Everyone is still enrolled in the course even if they have deleted the emails. They can use the same instructions to get in:
Here’s the link to access the online modules: https://surreyschools.brightspace.com
- Click on the purple button to log in
- Sign in using your district email and password
If you are a Caretaker employee, you can find information pertaining to your specific job on this page. This page will be continually updated by information from your Shop Steward. Please check back frequently.
Edward Parsotam
cell: 604-812-2611
sscaretakers@cupe728.ca.
CUPE 728 President email: president@cupe728.ca
- Caretaker (Caretaker I)
- Custodian (Caretaker III)
- Day Custodian (Caretaker IV)
- Day Custodian (Caretaker V)
- District Theater Attendant
- Head Caretaker (Caretaker II)
- Senior Head Caretaker (Caretaker II)
- Senior Head Caretaker (Caretaker III)
- Senior Head Caretaker (Caretaker IV)
- Senior Head Caretaker (Caretaker V)
May 21, 2025
Caretaker Report
Caretaker General Meeting Report
Good evening, Caretakers,
First, I would like to start off by sharing my condolences and sympathy with those that were affected by the tragic event the occurred at the Lapu Lapu festival.
It seems to have been a long time since my last report and I am happy to provide you with updates on what I have been doing in the last month.
As member for Metro District labour council, I attended the meeting and was re-elected as Secretary Treasurer.
Laura Hager Goube was re-elected Recording Secretary
At the meeting we heard reports from other locals that were negative in nature and should start to prepare ourselves for similar at ours. Cuts are being made to many areas of K-12 and other provincially funded areas. We need to be strategic and not knee jerk reactive to what is happening as this could affect us for at least the next 4 years.
Vancouver School Board has had to drop 10-20 casual workers and 25% pay cuts as Vancouver has cut ties with the Living wage BC.
Our executive will be keeping a close eye on all the other cuts taking place and will be present for the budget presentation by the board.
This is another reason it is important as employees of the district keep their watchful eyes on politics as our leaders are selected by us and the decisions they make are the ones that keep us in our jobs or not.
Karen Ranelleta, President of CUPEBC reported that the effects of the tariffs and annexation. Her message was that we need to invest in childcare to increase employment.
Tony Rebelo, Secretary Treasurer CUPEBC, reported that transit funding was coming with a $300 million dollar payment from province with a $25 housing tax increase and fares.
BCFed Human Rights committee meeting
At this meeting many of the unions are on the same page, all preparing for if not already engaged in bargaining and trying to aim for language that is more inclusive of elimination barriers. More indigenous inclusive language, further diversity training and further push for childminding at reasonable rates.
Hospital Employees Union is having similar issues to K-12 in CUPE with contracting in and sectors hare beginning to be worrisome.
Racial Justice committee and Joint equity caucus
At these sessions we had a combined caucus with all diversity committees to work together on developing strategies on how to overcome obstacles and barriers within CUPE.
With CUPE National convention months away, the task was to have our diverse points of view considered regularly without pushing to have special seats or special treatment.
We were able to accomplish some good conversations along with some great keynote speeches. At the end of the time together we were able to accomplish multiple resolutions that we hope will hit the floor at convention.
At our committee break out we were able to establish 2 solid resolutions that have been put to our local for endorsement. One is a constitutional amendment to have the National equity committee send one delegate with voice and vote to the National convention at nationals’ cost. And the other is to have the National Executive Board have yearly equity training.
Along with this we have 4 other resolutions that have been put forward for the locals to put forward if they see fit.
Red dress event
The red dress event was put on April 27th at Bear Creek Park
I was super happy to see that caretakers came out to see learn and participate in the event. These are the community events we need to be part of to show our support. Thank you to the members that put on the event and with ample respect I look forward to the next one to help make it more successful.
CUPEBC Convention 2025
The convention started for me on Tuesday morning and ended on Saturday evening with super early mornings and long networking nights.
Convention was successful as we were able to get 60+ resolutions in with only could being contested. K-12 was represented well, and a message of hope and support was waved across the floor of 600+ delegates and guests.
I was re-elected Diversity Vice President for Racialized workers, and fellow 728 members
Debra Merrier re-elected as Diversity Vice President for Indigenous workers and newly elected Reginal Vice President Tammy Murphy!
Networking
Talking to many people from other locals in the k-12 sector I have heard some horror stories. There are situations that we must be aware of and will keep you in the loop, please attend the upcoming caretaker unit meeting where I will get into the details.
Pensions are not a benefit that isavailable to all, and it was a great spot for us to understand the great benefit that it is and learn how then functional elements of how they work are uncovered. We attended a seminar on pensions at the convention, and they had representatives from “Share investors summit” come and explain how the inner working elements work and how tariffs and other issues could interrupt.
This is a great reminder to register with our local Pension seminar for June 7th, 2025, 10am at LA Matheson. Please register online through the pension committee webpage.
Violence in the workplace was a hot topic this year. We seemed to have gone through phases that we are at a peek again. Violence in the workplace is a damaging disadvantage that puts our workers into situations of broken body parts, and permanent injuries. The drive to combat workplaces to do more when it comes to participation in solutions to childcare is vital conversations needed to turn into actions as we passed many resolutions to support this.
Contracting out
Stop Volunteerism at work! There are multiple ways that jobs are contracted without realization. “I can help” is an awesome answer to hear when requests for help are searched for. But did you know that if you get help in your workspace for work that you are supposed to be doing by someone else its seen as an agreement?
Let us try another scenario:
If you are in a classroom sweeping and a teacher says I can help you get it done faster so that you can do other things in my room.
That is not a tradeoff that is approved. That is an agreement or verbal contract to get your work done quicker so that you can do more. This situation leaves others in a predicament as once you are away or leave the site it would be expected for others to follow, which is not OK. Do the work that your class specifications or handbook describe. You do not get a prize for getting more than you are asked to accomplish, the guides are to ensure your personal safety is protected from getting injured.
The reason this is being said is to highlight that the work that needs to be done is getting done and that the work that is being left behind is highlighted and addressed for staffing issues. If the work gets done, then it means the time allotted is correct and more assistance is not required. There will be times when you will be overwhelmed in the sections you have no matter if we do not hit the square footage requirements. This can be discussed more at the unit meeting on May 31, 2025, 10am.
Assistance
Lots of calls this month with issues from sick days, Bereavement days, Leaves, and payroll issues.
Although these seemed to have been the load of calls the ones that I have had to spend most time on were members not having a good relationship with members.
I would like to remind you all that we are workers of Surrey Schools. We have an obligation to take on the task of cleaning sections of the school in which we have posted into or called out to clean for the day. Nowhere does it say in our collective agreement that we must be friends, but nowhere does it state that we should not treat people with dignity and respect.
Please provide the same curtesy and respect you want treated with.
If equipment is needed and you are not getting an answer from the Head Caretaker, please contact the assistant manager and they will have to do their jobs and provide you with an answer to your question.
DO NOT FORGET to fill out Injury reports even for the smallest of injuries. We had a member cut themselves on a box and it became a big infection days later leading to time off. Please fill out your forms or ask for help.
Lunch and Learn
I will be starting Lunch and learn zoom session later this month. The lunch and learning session will be an 8pm start on a zoom link you must register to attend. Registration will be so your attendance is recorded into CUPE 728 log.
These sessions will be open to a highlight of the collective agreement article and a quick question period. We will be starting on time and finishing in time for you to get back to work.
In solidarity,
Edward Parsotam
