LOCAL 374 GENERAL MEMBER BULLETIN

July 27, 2026

Dear Members,

We are now accepting applications for the Quarter 3 Sponsorship Award until Friday, September 4, 2026. The draw date will be September 9th.

Applications and detailed guidelines can be found here:

Guidelines

Application Form

3 sponsorships awarded quarterly at $500, $300, and $200 each

The sponsorship provides funds to cover expenses outside of normal
registration fees and personal equipment costs. For example, supporting
travel for tournaments, performances, uniforms and team equipment.

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a CUPE 374 member or dependent (spouse, common-law spouse,
  children, step-children, and anyone defined as a dependent).
• You must be able to provide proof of association within a recognized
  sport, arts or cultural organization that requires sponsorship or
  fundraising as part of the activity before funds will be disbursed.
• You have not already received a sponsorship award in the current
  calendar year.

Only email applications will be accepted at this time.

Please submit completed applications as follows:

Email: admin@cupe374.ca

Subject: CUPE 374 Sponsorship Application

In Solidarity,

Sarah Monaghan-Covacic, Treasurer

COLWOOD — City of Colwood workers, represented by CUPE 374, and the City of Colwood have reached a tentative agreement.

 “After a challenging round of negotiations, we’re pleased that mediation was able to help the parties reach a deal that is in line with other settlements in Greater Victoria and also preserves health and wellness supports for workers,” says CUPE 374 President Shireen Clark. “We feel this new agreement strikes a fair balance. It addresses the challenges facing the City, while also recognizing the value of the workers who deliver the services Colwood residents and businesses count on.”

 Details of the tentative agreement will not be released until it has been presented to members for ratification.

COLWOOD — Municipal workers in Colwood, represented by CUPE 374, have voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action.

“This result sends a clear message that workers believe the employer needs to take a different approach. We hope the City and Council will take this opportunity to find common ground and work with us to negotiate a fair agreement that supports both workers and the services residents rely on,” says CUPE 374 President Shireen Clark.

The central outstanding issue is the City’s insistence that workers accept cuts to health-related leave in exchange for wage increases in line with what other workers in the region have already negotiated. The union says that since this type of leave is offered by other municipal employers in the region, and that eliminating this benefit will make it harder for Colwood to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the skilled and experienced workers needed to support a growing community.

“Residents rely on municipal workers every day, whether it’s maintaining roads and parks, supporting public safety, or providing services at City Hall,” says Clark. “To continue delivering the quality services residents expect, Colwood needs to remain competitive with other municipalities in the region when it comes to attracting and retaining skilled workers.”

CUPE 374 and the City of Colwood began bargaining in December 2025 and engaged the assistance of a BC Labour Relations Board mediator in April but were unable to reach an agreement.

The parties are currently awaiting a decision on their Essential Services Order from the BC Labour Relations Board. Once the order is issued, CUPE 374 will be in a legal strike position.

At this time no additional bargaining dates have been set. However, a mediator from the Labour Relations Board remains assigned to this file and is available to meet with the parties and continue negotiations.

“Job action is always a last resort,” emphasized Clark. “Our members want to be focused on serving residents, not preparing for potential strike action. We remain hopeful a deal can be reached, but that will require the City to prioritize finding a resolution that does not contain cuts. We’re ready to resume negotiations if that is the case.”

CUPE Local 374 represents municipal workers who provide quality public services in the City of Colwood, including maintaining roads, parks, and public infrastructure, supporting administrative services and municipal operations, and helping keep community facilities and public safety services running smoothly.

Contact:

Kathryn Davies, CUPE Communications Representative

250-886-6502, kdavies@cupe.ca

Shireen Clark, President CUPE 374

778-679-8903, president@cupe374.ca