New deadline for community social services member survey – November 30, 2008
BURNABY— Over the past year, CUPE has worked as part of a multi-union campaign – Community Social Services Matter – to highlight issues like inadequate government funding, growing waitlists for services, and retention and recruitment challenges throughout the sector.
The next phase of the campaign – where each union will survey their members – is now underway. CUPE posted its survey on-line last month and responses from members are trickling in, but we need to hear from everyone. Why? Because no one can tell it like you can. Please take the time to tell us what we need to know about the complexities and challenges of your work. With this information, CUPE can continue to advocate for better funding and management of the community social services sector.
The campaign kicked off when CSSBA designated the month of March as Community Social Services Awareness month. We developed a municipal government lobbying effort with a comprehensive how-to package geared to building local government support. CSSBA also commissioned a report from the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) that looked at recruitment and retention issues for the community social services sector. The report validated the many concerns that CUPE members have raised in their workplaces.
Every day CUPE members invest energy and passion into making a difference in the lives of children and young people, families, individuals and communities. We want to put an end to the chronic underfunding that compromises service delivery while putting an unfair burden on those who serve, aid and protect the people who need assistance and care.
Please take the time to fill out the survey by November 30th. Help your union make the case that your work deserves real respect and that your community deserves services that are properly funded.
Members can participate by filling in the survey online or you can download a copy.
Go to cupe.bc.ca/communitysocialservices
More information is available from CUPE National research representative, Ruth Scher rscher@cupe.ca
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