Worker Education

Due to a recent increase of violent incidents across the country – friendly reminder to take the Violence and Harassment in Schools survey – CUPE476 is recommending that members keep journals to track their day-to-day experiences on the job.

Keeping a journal is a great way to act with more intention in your role, noting the efficacy of your interventions, tracking the progress of your students, and having a record of successes. In addition it can prove useful if you are injured or experience a violent incident to prove that you followed procedures.

How to keep a work journal:

• Update daily, weekly, or as needed.
  • Doesn’t need to be exhaustive, just the important parts.
• Record incidents, near misses, conversations with superiors or parents.
• Keep track of interventions and methods used, and their efficacy.
• Keep track of student interactions and progress.
• Include time and place + Important details.
• Use a book, phone app, or document file.
  • Do not use a document on employer-owned server. This is your personal record.

Whatever form your journal takes, keep it professional:

• Instead of using full names, use initials only.
• Don’t let students see you writing about them.
• Keeping a journal doesn’t replace official reporting:
  • Fill out the appropriate WorkSafe forms to report an injury or near miss.
  • Fill out the appropriate qathet School District forms if you experience violence, bullying or harassment.
  • Contact the Union if you feel as though your concerns have not been taken seriously, or you are asked to do something you aren’t comfortable with.

It is important that members of CUPE 476 have their own personal email address. Any email sent via employer email can be accessed by management, so the Union will not send sensitive information this way.

The above said, members should CC the CUPE476 office with any communication to or from the district with regards to their employment. Members are entitled to representation from their union leadership, and taking this step can help avoid any arbitrary or unfair treatment by the employer, and will help us better prepare for interventions we may need to take.