Dear Members,
We are excited to announce the kickoff of a logo design contest to create a new logo for our Local!
The contest is open to all current CUPE Local 374 members in good standing, their spouses, and their dependents.Please submit your logo design by February 24, 2024. You can find the full contest rules and submission details at cupe374.ca/logocontest.
The winning logo will be announced at the General Membership Meeting on March 13.
This is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity and leave your mark on our Local. The selected logo will represent CUPE Local 374 on our website, newsletters, apparel, and more. We look forward to seeing submissions that capture the spirit of our diverse and dedicated membership.
Member Focus is an ongoing series helping members learn more about each other across roles and work sites.
Steve Migliarese serves on the 374 Executive as our Unit VP for Esquimalt. He’s worked there since 2014, and before that he worked at the District of Saanich, another CUPE workplace.
How long were you/have you been a member of CUPE? In what roles?
Been a CUPE member since 2007. Been an active union rep since 2016 or so.
Was asked to step up as a Shop Steward by then VP. Suddenly before I could say “no thanks” I found myself elected Vice-President of Esquimalt.
Remained VP since, whether that’s due to doing a good job or no one else wanting to do the job, it doesn’t matter to me.
I enjoy constantly learning, achieving victories as they come our way and meeting new people with which to exchange ideas and strategies.
Getting to see new places I would never otherwise go to has been a massive bonus.
Steve (whose Italian Aunties call him “Salvatore”) has been a CUPE member for over 15 years, and is also a talented musician.
“There’s so many things needing to get done. The variety is endless. Get involved.”
Tell us about your life outside of work.
Been with my Gabrielle for 20 years now, for which we celebrated earlier this year by going on a 20 night cruise from Miami through the Panama Canal up the West Coast and back home to Victoria.
G is my rock and my engine who keeps me going day to day.
Our family welcomed a surprise little boy to the world two years ago who was named Cruze. He is my nephew and our family treasure. The funniest, sharpest, wildest of the Migliareses.
My life outside work and family has been music. The longest running band by far is Acorn Hell with my old school brutha and PW co-worker Craig Stewart on drums while I play guitar and make vocal noises.
The most notorious project was Meatlocker Seven; video on Muchmusic, Canadian Tour, multiple Western Canadian tours and with many great bands both famous and not so famous… all great nonetheless.
Rotterdam was my full on frontman vocalist experiment band which expelled one album.
Currently I play bass and vocalize in Run Like Hell which has nothing to do with Pink Floyd.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Managing to go to work almost every day while living with a painful permanent partial physical disability and not using it as a way to get special treatment.
What advice do you have for those who are new to the workforce?
Nevermind what everyone else is doing or getting away with…just do your work thoroughly and safely and if you want some new experiences to fall back on later, consider getting involved with union work.
There’s so many things needing to get done. The variety is endless.
Get involved.
If you don’t get involved, give support and respect to your co-workers that do. It can be rewarding as much as thankless depending on who and where it is happening.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Read your Collective Agreement and get to know it.
If your issue is not covered under the CA, Labor Law or Human Rights, then it is merely a complaint and you may be SOL.
Remember… we can’t force employers to do what you want though we wish we had such magic powers!
Lastly… solidarity is our greatest strength. If we stand together for what is just and fair, it’s an offer no one can refuse.
This is a reminder that we will have our annual general membership meeting Wednesday, November 15th @ 7pm via Zoom.
Highlights of Meeting Agenda:
Elections for the following positions:
Recording Secretary – 3 Year Term (ending Fall 2026)
Trustee – 3 Year Term (ending Fall 2026)
Please click here to register for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you have any questions, please contact your Unit VP.
Recording Secretary – 3 Year Term (ending Fall 2026)
Trustee – 3 Year Term (ending Fall 2026)
Please email your nominations to colwoodvp@shaw.ca stating Nomination for Recording Secretary or Nomination for Trustee in the subject line. Please add the member that you are nominating to the email so that they will have a chance to stand/accept the nomination.
Cut-offs for nominations will be on November 8th, 2023 end of day.
Elections will take place during the AGM on November 15th, 2023.
Please register here to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email.
Any questions or concerns please reach out to your Unit VP.
Elections will take place on Thursday October 26th, 2023, in the Discovery Room in the Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Ballots will be conducted from 10:00AM- 1:30PM.
Adam Major and Simon Vickers are the nominated runners. Please do your best to make it out to vote for CUPE 374 Unit Vice President for Oak Bay.
Nominations have been accepted by 3 members for the position of Oak Bay Unit Vice President.
The candidates are:
Tim Roberts Parks
Adam Major Public Works
Simon Vickers Recreation (Tennis)
We will conduct the votes on Thursday, October 19th. We will be on site from 10am to 2pm with 2 voting stations for the duration of the time. Please bring some ID (i.e. DL, credit or debit card, work I.D.)
Oak Bay Rec Centre (Discovery Room): 10am to 2pm
City Hall: 10am to 2pm
It is time for The District of Oak Bay’s bi-annual VP Election.
Please email your nominations to colwoodvp@shaw.ca stating “Oak Bay VP Nomination” in the subject line. Please add the member that you are nominating to the email so that they will have a chance to stand/accept the nomination.
Nominations will be open until Wednesday, October 11th. If there is more than one (1) nominee, we will arrange a voting process to select the seat via live polls which will happen on October 19th, 2023. Location to be determined. If you are not already receiving email updates from the Local, please subscribe at www.cupe374.ca to receive them.
If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please contact Shaun Bradley – Colwood VP colwoodvp@shaw.ca who is helping conduct this coming election.
Member Focus is an ongoing series helping members learn more about each other across roles and work sites.
Sarah Fairbrass serves on the 374 Executive as our Unit VP for North Saanich, where she works in Administration.
How long were you/have you been a member of CUPE? In what roles?
I became a CUPE member in 1999. I quickly found my place in the union as a Union Counsellor and soaked up the educational opportunities CUPE provided. Within months I found myself sitting on several committees within my local, became a delegate to the CUPE Vancouver Island District Council, and joined their OH&S committee.
I can’t begin to name the courses I have taken. I have been a Shop Steward, a Local Vice President, a national facilitator, an Ombudsperson, chaired the District Council OH&S and Anti-Poverty committees and have been Vice President of the Council for approximately 12 years.
Sarah has been involved with CUPE for nearly 25 years, and has volunteered countless hours in roles including Shop Steward, VIDC Committee chair, Ombudsperson and national facilitator.
“Get involved with your union, give back and be all you can be in all aspects of your life. Also, remember you are a public employee and provide the best customer service you can.”
Tell us about your life outside of work.
Outside of work my life is mostly about furry friends, crocheting and gardening. I have a lovely 11-year-old dog named Nella who I adore, and we enjoy community pack walks and training together. I am a ROAM volunteer, assisting in searching for lost pets and a rescue fosterer. I also volunteer for various rescue dog fundraisers. My garden brings me immense joy and relaxation, and when I’m not out and about, I crochet Kitten blankets for a project called Knittins’ for Kittens as well as creating hats for the homeless.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I consider my greatest achievement (union wise) the respect and friendship I have with my membership and my fellow Local board members. We truly all work together to provide the best representation for our members we can and have developed very special friendships.
Sarah is passionate about animals and volunteers for several animal welfare-related causes.
What advice do you have for those who are new to the workforce?
My advice to new workers is educate yourself, move through the ranks and never forget where you started out. Get involved with your union, give back and be all you can be in all aspects of your life. Also, remember you are a public employee and provide the best customer service you can.
