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Hi CUPE 402-02,

All staff, including casuals and clerks, will continue to be paid for scheduled shifts, and I encourage you to communicate regularly with your managers. If you do not have email access from home, take the initiative to reach out to your managers.

We are here to support you in any way we can. Please continue to forward your questions and concerns to us through email, phone or text.

Stay safe everyone
In Solidarity
Denise, Eileen, Raqiya, Jan, Sandra, and Colin.

The following is a message from Surinder

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and patience during these times of great uncertainty. As I’m sure most of you are aware, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow locally and the responses of health authorities and all levels of government continues to escalate.  With our Libraries closed to the public for the foreseeable future, and as COVID-19 cases grow in our communities,  our efforts today have been to prioritize as many staff as possible to work from home. Our intent is to have 100% of our workforce working from home by Wednesday. If there is the occasional need to physically go to your work site beyond tomorrow, please speak to your manager.

Please also read today’s email from City Manager, Vincent Lalonde.  As the City moves to planning for this pandemic, three levels of service have been established. Excerpt below:

• Level One – Business As Usual.  This is our normal level of service, equal to how we operated prior to the pandemic.
• Level Two – Critical Business Functions.  There are critical activities and processes that are required to meet the needs of our organization and satisfy regulations.
• Level Three – City Essential Services.  These are critical activities that are necessary to preserve life, health and basic societal function.

While we have closed many of our recreational and cultural facilities, we are continuing to operate at Level One. We are regularly evaluating with the latest health notices, when it may be necessary to advance to Level Two. Should we need to advance to Level Two or Three, your Manager will be sharing more information with you on what a change in level of service will mean to you

The Library is currently operating at Level 1, with reduced service levels. We continue to respond to email questions, update our website/social media, and support online services. We have been working on many collection maintenance tasks in the branches and will continue to have work and training opportunities for all staff as you transition to work from home. Please see email sent by Kristen Andrews today with instructions and a ‘Working from Home Template’

All staff, including casuals and clerks, will continue to be paid for scheduled shifts, and I encourage you to communicate regularly with your managers. If you do not have email access from home, take the initiative to reach out to your managers.

At this time, the City is continuing to analyze the financial and operational impacts of closures and we will continue to keep you updated. As we’ve had a number of requests for Records of Employment (ROE),  we are working on a process with the City to expedite that request for any casual staff or clerks, in order to apply for Employment Insurance.  Please stay tuned  – we hope to have more details tomorrow.

It’s going to be strange, and new for all of us. Please find ways to stay connected while practicing social distancing measures.  Take care of yourselves, and each other. I am so impressed with everyone’s dedication and hard work during these past few days.

Thank you,

SURINDER BHOGAL | CHIEF LIBRARIAN – SURREY LIBRARIES

Tel: 604.598.7304  Email: sbhogal@surrey.ca

Discover something new at Surrey Libraries!

Surrey Libraries recognizes that our work takes place on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the SEMYOME (Semiahmoo),  q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations and on the ancestral and traditional territory of the sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nation.

A new page is added to the system sub-site of surrey library citynet.

Title: Message from Chief Librarian – March 20, 2020

URL: https://citynet.surrey.ca/departments/libraries/system/Pages/Message-from-Chief-Librarian—March-20%2C-2020.aspx

Created By: Seline Kutan

Created Date: 2020-03-20 4:14:30 PM

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Message from Chief Librarian – March 20, 2020

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are looking after yourselves, your loved ones and your colleagues – how our world has changed in one week!  Here’s today’s update:

• The Library and Union have agreed on an Interim Flexible Work Program and procedures. This will be rolled out next week, giving staff options around working in branch or from home. There are many variables to consider for remote work such as access to technology, whether work can be performed remotely, etc. There is still much work that can be completed in the library and staff who choose to work at the library can still do so. Please discuss with your manager and we will try best to accommodate your needs.  We are collating staff requests from across the system for over 200 staff, so please be patient as there are many logistics to sort out. We aim to roll this out on Tuesday March 24.

• Given the high call volume to 8-1-1, if staff who are feeling ill use the online self-assessment tool to determine whether they should self-isolate, the Library will accept the recommendation of the self-assessment tool as the required medical recommendation to self-isolate.

• I know there are still many unknowns regarding when the Library will reopen, how staff will be compensated in the future, etc. To reiterate, the Library commits to compensating staff for all scheduled shifts, including casuals and clerks.  At this point there is ample work for staff to complete – either at a physical library location or, starting from mid-next week, from home. If casuals choose to cancel their shifts, they will not be compensated. The Library and Union are working with the City and there is no confirmed decision yet, so please stay tuned.  I understand the uncertainty is difficult – many of our neighbouring libraries are in the same predicament as we work with our various levels of government to resolve this unprecedented issue.

• On a lighter note, use of our online services has skyrocketed. We’re gathering some info and will share next week.

Stay safe and healthy, and please continue to practice social distancing measures while at work.

Surinder Bhogal

Chief Librarian

Hi Everyone,

Please take the time to care for yourself and your family.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact a member of the executive.

Please pass this email to anyone who needs it.

In Solidarity,
Sandra

A new page is added to the system sub-site of surrey library citynet.

Title: Message from Chief Librarian – March 19, 2020

URL: https://citynet.surrey.ca/departments/libraries/system/Pages/Message-from-Chief-Librarian—March-19%2C-2020.aspx

Created By: Seline Kutan

Created Date: 2020-03-19 5:08:25 PM

News Content:

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Message from Chief Librarian – March 19, 2020

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your patience, resourcefulness and resiliency in this challenging time. I am committed to providing you daily updates and share as much information with you as available. Your questions and concerns are forwarded to me from your managers and union rep. The Ops team meets daily via teleconference to discuss solutions and I am providing updates to you here from those meetings.

Yesterday we had a joint meeting with the union executive, and we had a labour management meeting today. In these fast-changing times, decisions are being updated with new information daily. Where possible, we align with the City of Surrey practices, so please continue to read the ‘Staff Communications’ emails from the City. Here are some updates from today:

• Branch book drops will be closed and deliveries to Collections Services are being cancelled to minimize the risk of exposure.
• InterLINK and InterLibrary loans have been suspended.
• Dues dates and holds have been extended to April 30.
• We’ve seen a rise in the use of our online resources and we’re investigating options for people to register for a new card remotely.
• We’re working on updating branch voicemail messages to indicate branches are closed.
• We’ve developed guidelines around working remotely and we’ll be prioritizing the projects that can be worked on remotely and assessing the availability of laptops to perform this work.

• Staff who are within walking distance of a branch may switch their shifts to that branch to avoid travel on public transit – ask your manager if this applies to you.

We have heard that many of you are questioning why you are still being asked to come to work when public libraries across Canada are sending library staff home. We appreciate and understand your concern. These decisions are made at a local level in alignment with municipalities. Closing the Library to the public has reduced the level of risk, and we have adopted social isolation measures for staff coming in to work. While the Library is not open to the public, it is still operating and there is work for staff to do. In Surrey our city colleagues are still working at City Hall and many other City locations and continue to serve the public.

We are working to minimize risk for staff which is why we are closing book drops and canceling deliveries to Collections Services. Additionally, work schedules will no longer be limited to daytime only in order to spread out shifts and further reduce the number of people working at one time. Finally, we are reviewing options for remote work, although this may not be possible for all job functions.

If you are still uncomfortable about coming in to work, you may choose to remain home and use your vacation leave or banked time.

As the days progress, and we continue to face challenges and uncertainty, please take care of yourself. I encourage you to take advantage of the Employee and Family Assistance program, open to all staff including casuals. Do fun things – yoga, go for walks in the sunshine, have a daily branch dance party! We have amazing staff who are caring and kind, and even though our world is changing, I’m so fortunate to be in a workplace with such dedicated and wonderful staff!

Surinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian

Important Reminders:

• If you have flu like symptoms, do not come to work. Stay home and take care of yourself.

• If you have been ill and no longer have any symptoms of illness, you may return to work. Medically clearance to return to work is only required for people with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

• Wear gloves when handling material and try not to touch your face.

Book drops will be closed from tomorrow, but if you are able to do so safely, clean returned items.

COVID-19 Compared to other common conditions

Sources: WHO, CDC, American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Hi Everyone,

Information is important.

Here is a fact sheet from CUPE regarding COVID 19
https://cupe.ca/general-occupational-guidelines-covid-19

This is a link to CUPE BC for more information for our members
https://www.cupe.bc.ca/information_on_covid_19_for_cupe_members_in_b_c

As always, send any concerns and questions to the union executive.

In Solidarity,
Sandra

PS Wash your hands

Hi Everyone,

In these unprecedented times communication is key.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact a member of the executive.

Please pass this email to anyone who needs it.

In Solidarity,
Sandra

Title: Message from Chief Librarian – March 18, 2020

URL: https://citynet.surrey.ca/departments/libraries/system/Pages/Message-from-Chief-Librarian—March-18%2C-2020.aspx

Created By: Seline Kutan

Created Date: 2020-03-18 4:48:27 PM

News Content:

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Message from Chief Librarian – March 18, 2020

Please rest assured that we’re sharing information as we’re getting it. We are working closely with the City, and do not have answers to all your questions. We appreciate your patience as we work through some complex and unique issues.  Here are some things we are working on:

Concerns around handling materials, accepting returns, and accepting deliveries at CS.

The reason we left book returns open is that very little advance notice was given to the public.  We are hearing that materials are still being returned, and we also want there to be tasks for staff to work on. However, we understand staff concerns and want to minimize risks in the workplace.  We are reviewing this and should have more information for you tomorrow.

Options to work remotely

We’re working on options for our staff to work remotely and should be able to share guidelines. Not all positions are suited to remote work so we are reviewing this carefully and will have more information in tomorrow’s update.

System and Branch Projects

We’ve started an inventory of projects to work on in the system and at branches, and remotely – thanks to all of you have brought ideas.

I had a conference call with BC Public Library Directors this afternoon and everyone is dealing with the same issues as us.  It is a time of great uncertainty throughout the world, and many public libraries are working closely with municipal counterparts on our approaches.

I urge you to continue practicing social isolation when at work, and not come in if experiencing flu-like symptoms.  We have been providing daily updates and instructions, and things are changing very rapidly. Please read both the City and Library updates, and talk to your manager or reach out to me if you have any questions.