From bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net Thu Jun 6 18:22:53 2002 From: bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net) Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 18:22:53 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 28 - June 6, 2002 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C12D715@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #28 - June 6, 2002 To read this newsletter on our site, please go to: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm > To subscribe or unsubscribe, follow the instructions at the end of this message. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages to this mailbox are processed automatically, and are not read by a person. If you would like to contact us, send messages to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > Help spread the word - forward this e-mail to your friends. NURSES VOTE TO JOIN FEDERATION Delegates to the BC Nurses Union Annual Convention voted June 4 to join the B.C. Federation of Labour. The BCNU represents 25,000 members province-wide. "This decision sends a powerful message to the public and to the Campbell government that nurses will not stand idly by and watch the Liberals destroy our public health care system and other vital public services," says BCNU president Debra McPherson. "Nurses are deepening our involvement with other unions and other groups in the community - seniors, disabled advocates, students, anti- poverty organizations, and environmentalists who are opposed to the Campbell agenda. "Obviously, we're very happy with the outcome," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "Despite this government's attempts to divide people, it is clear that a growing number of people reject the direction of this government and are uniting against them. The BCNU will make an invaluable contribution to the Federation." For more information: < http://www.bcnu.org/nr059_2002.htm > +++ LIBERAL SUPPORT PLUMMETING IN LABOUR HOUSEHOLDS A year after the Liberals took power, public opinion polling by Ipsos Reid shows a steady decline in Liberal support among private and public sector union voters. Support for the Liberal party in union households dropped by twenty percentage points between December 2001 and May 2002. Both the NDP and the Green Party have gained in popularity. Among decided voters, more than half of the men polled would support the Liberal party in an election today, compared with just 38 percent of women. Support for the Liberal party is weakest on Vancouver Island, and highest in the Interior region. Voters are overwhelmingly disappointed with Gordon Campbell's performance across all genders and among both public and private sector union voters. +++ TAX CUT PIE UNFAIR: CCPA STUDY A new study released by the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA-BC) on the anniversary of the Liberal tax cuts shows that the 1.1 percent of BC taxpayers earning over $150,000 per year got over 20 percent of the tax cut. The statistics also show those earning less than $30,000 a year -- a group representing nearly half of BC taxpayers -- got just 13.4 percent of the tax cuts and will bear more of the burden for service cuts. "None of the BC government's reckless spending cuts needs to happen," writes BC director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Seth Klein. "The remaking of our province is being justified by the twin false claims that BC's spending was out of control, and that our taxes were among the highest in the country. Neither assertion is supported by the facts." CCPA-BC has produced an analysis and charts showing how the tax cuts were divided. For more information: < http://www.policyalternatives.ca/bc/bccsummer01.htm l > < http://www.policyalternatives.ca/bc/btn-let-them-eat-cake.pdf > +++ HEU MEMBERS SUPPORT ACTION TO PROTECT JOBS AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES The largest health care union in BC is carrying out a province-wide strike vote among its 46,000 members to protect jobs and health care services in the province. The vote is two thirds complete, and the results so far indicate a 90 percent approval rating for a decisive and comprehensive action plan. "These members -- who are overwhelmingly women -- have an added sense of urgency," says HEU spokesperson Chris Allnutt. "They know that the widespread privatization of health care being pushed by Victoria and large multinational corporations will have a devastating impact by lowering wages when their families can least afford it." The special strike vote began in late March and is expected to be complete before the end of June. For more information: < http://www.heu.org > +++ FORMER SOUTHAM EXECUTIVES LAUNCH WEBSITE CRITICIZING MEDIA CONCENTRATION Prominent Southam executives today signed a declaration and called on Canadians and lawmakers to reject increasing media concentration. The signatories claim that CanWest, which currently has access to an incredible 97 percent of English speaking newspapers and television stations in Canada, has imposed what amounts to a gag order on editorial and news writers across the country. They also say CanWest editorial policy has skewed editorial, commentary and news coverage. CanWest declined to run the message in their newspapers. For more information: < http://www.diversityofvoices.ca > +++ EVENTS SEND YOUR REQUESTS FOR EVENT POSTING TO: < mailto:publish at bcfed.com > We are especially interested in hearing about events in areas outside the Lower Mainland. HEALTH CARE RALLY IN MISSION June 6, 2002 at 7:00 pm Organized by the concerned citizens of Mission +++ DANCE, FUNDRAISER, RETIREMENT PARTY Saturday, June 8, 2002 | 8:00 pm to 1:00 am BAND: The Ginger Group with Heidi Archibald (blues/rock) BENEFIT: BC Coalition of Women's Centres RETIREMENT: Jean-Claude Parrot Maritime Labour Centre, Vancouver Tickets available at the door. Organized by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers +++ INVESTING IN HEALTH CFRO Co-op radio 102.7 FM First Thursday of every month 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Call in and voice your opinion at 604-684-7561 +++ THINK ECO-CITY A two day festival and conference on urban sustainability SUMMERFEST - June 15 Creek side park (south of Science World) 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Free admission ECO-CITY CONFERENCE - June 16 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Admission: $10 to $15 Register in advance for conference: 604-253-4607 e-mail: < mailto:thinkeco-city at telus.net > < http://www.vancouver.indymedia.org/thinkcity > +++ GREG PALAST - THE BEST DEMOCRACY MONEY CAN BUY Award-winning BBC investigative journalist exposes truth about globalization Thursday, June 20 - 7:30 pm IWA Hall - 2859 Commercial Drive Contact: < mailto:khudson at vcn.bc.ca > 604-274-1191 For more information: < http://www.gregpalast.com > +++ ELECTRONIC RESOURCES Write your MLA and local newspapers through the Professional Employees' Association's Access to Justice Website: < http://www.accesstojustice.ca/newspaper_list.cfm > Read the government discussion paper on the Results-based forest practices code: < http://www.resultsbasedcode.ca/ > +++ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: To subscribe to BC Labour E-News, visit: < http:www.bcfed.com/sub.htm > If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g., change your password, suspend E-news while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personal subscription page at: < http://bcfed.net/cgibin/mailman/options/bc_labour_enews/(add_your_email_addr ess_here)> To get helpful information, send a message to: < http://www.BC_Labour_Enews-request at bcfed.net > with "help" in the subject line, (no quotation marks). opeiu 15 > From bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net Fri Jun 14 15:53:14 2002 From: bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 15:53:14 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 29 - June 14, 2002 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C12D737@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #29 - June 14, 2002 To read this newsletter on our site, please go to: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm > To subscribe or unsubscribe, follow the instructions at the end of this message. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages to this mailbox are processed automatically, and are not read by a person. If you would like to contact us, send messages to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > Help spread the word - forward this e-mail to your friends. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BURNABY GENERAL HOSPITAL SHUTDOWN DRAWS STRONG SUPPORT It's been a busy week for Lower Mainland health care unions, as the Hospital Employees' Union launched a major advertising campaign June 12th and shutdown Burnaby General Hospital June 11th with a 350 member- strong picket line. Both the job action and the ad campaign have been designed to draw attention to the dangers of health care privatization and bed closures championed by Campbell's Liberal government. Picket lines went up at 6:00 am and lasted until noon. IWA President Dave Haggard and B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair joined leaders from CUPE and the BCNU in a strong show of solidarity for the HEU's job action. The advertising campaign, one of the largest ever undertaken by the union, is designed to raise awareness about the companies currently bidding for hospital service contracts that the Campbell government plans to put out for tender. The ads depict questionable practices by the same companies running catering and cleaning services in Britain and the United States, including French based corporation Sohexho. For more information: < http://www.heu.org > +++ MEDIA ERRS IN PORTRAYAL OF LABOUR/NDP SPLIT For the second time in two weeks, the B.C. Federation of Labour has sent a correction to media outlets that have erroneously reported on a so- called split between the BC labour movement and the New Democratic Party. On Monday, CKNW ran a story in which B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair was erroneously quoted as saying that the NDP was not the vehicle to win a provincial election victory against the Liberals. Sinclair actually said that "labour was working to revive the NDP and ensure that that the party is in a position to win the next provincial election." A week later, the Province ran an opinion piece along the same lines. This time, the writer listed several events, including the fact that neither MLA Jenny Kwan nor leader Joy MacPhail spoke at the May 25th march and rally, as "proof" that labour was snubbing the NDP. In fact, aside from Sinclair, no labour leader was asked to speak either. MacPhail and Kwan were welcomed on the stage to greet both demonstrations. "The labour movement is united as never before in its belief that this government is taking BC in the wrong direction and must be defeated at the polls," wrote Sinclair on June 10. " Far from distancing ourselves from the NDP, we are working hard for its renewal. Labour's job is to re-establish the connection in our member's minds between pay cheques and politics." Delegates to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Convention in Vancouver this week reaffirmed their support to strengthen and support the NDP both within BC and across the country. +++ HANDS OFF HYDRO CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF The leader of the Office and Professional Employees' International Union (OPEIU), Local 378 is asking the public to protect one of BC's most cherished public institutions. "It's critically important to stop the sale of BC Hydro, for consumers of small and large businesses and for our economy," said OPEIU 378 President Jerri New. "BC Hydro provides government with much-needed revenue for health care, education and other services - last year, BC Hydro contributed $790 million to the province and local governments." BC's Energy Policy Task Force is recommending de- regulation of electricity, market pricing and the break up of BC Hydro. Electricity rates are expected to increase by between 30 - 100 percent. BC Hydro is one of BC's most profitable public utilities, providing affordable, reliable and clean power to its owners, the taxpayers of British Columbia. Right-wing pundits have suggested that the Liberals will have to sell or significantly de- regulate one or more public assets to solve the deficit crisis created by corporate and high income tax breaks. Delegates to the 23rd Convention of the CLC in Vancouver passed a resolution June 13th to protect public power companies by allocating and raising resources to build and fund coalitions to fight deregulation. "BC Hydro belongs to the people of BC," said OPEIU Local 378 President Jerri New during the Convention. "You know BC is in trouble when even BC's biggest industries agree with us that privatizing BC Hydro would hurt the economy." CEP National President Brian Payne warned delegates not to be fooled by government statements that they won't sell valuable publicly owned companies. The CEP and CUPE recently won a legal battle against the Ontario government when they attempted to sell Ontario Hydro. "We'll prevail in the end," said Payne. "It's up to all of us to send a message to the provincial government that selling and de-regulating our power companies is not in their mandate." To support the campaign, please distribute materials and sign up to protect BC Hydro. Citizens for Public Power: < http://citizensforpublicpower.ca > Hands off hydro: < http://www.handsoffhydro.com > Sign a petition to protect BC Hydro: < http://www.petitiononline.com/BCHydro/petition.html > +++ CLC DELEGATES SLAM CANADIAN AND AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS FOR SOFTWOOD CRISIS Convention delegates in Vancouver on June 13th voted in favour of a resolution calling on the federal government to halt raw log exports to the United States and provide economic assistance to communities and workers affected by the trade dispute. American companies lobbied to have Canadian softwood lumber exports subjected to a punishing 27 percent duty, after accusing the Canadian government of subsidizing the industry. The extra costs are crippling many small and medium sized mills in Canada, particularly in resource-dependent British Columbia. "We have a President in America who runs around touting free trade, and yet they turn around and build a wall along the Canada/U.S. border," said IWA President Dave Haggard. "This should be completely unacceptable to the governments of this country." Haggard thanked the CLC for their swift assistance and called on delegates to do everything in their power to ensure Canada wins the softwood lumber dispute. "When California had an energy crisis, the US spent $12 billion CDN to bail them out, said B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Angela Schira. "What the US is doing is absolute hypocrisy. Stop the export of raw logs out of Canada -- those are jobs being shipped out of Canada and we have to send a clear message to Jean Chretien and Gordon Campbell." +++ EVENTS TRAIL Candle Light Vigil at KIRO HELP SAVE KIRO MANOR & OUR RESIDENT'S HOME (SILENT PROTEST, NOT A RALLY!) Father's Day June 16 ,2002 7:00 pm 1500 Columbia Ave. TRAIL, BC +++ Live Street Theatre Liberal attitudes are unacceptable Relationship abuse is not acceptable Liberals want women in the dark ages Thursday, June 20th at Noon Trail, between the West Kootenay Power (Utilicorp) and medical buildings, on the Esplanade. Sponsored by the completely outraged Trail Women's Group. Download a poster for this event: < http://www.kootenaycuts.com/PDFfiles/trailstreettheatre.pdf > +++|+++ NELSON Activists Appreciation Night June 18, 2002 Best Western Baker Street Inn 153 Baker Street, Nelson, BC 5:30 pm Download a poster for this event: < http://www.communityactionnetwork.bc.ca/nelson/BCFed.pdf > +++ Public Forum on Managing Our Heritage for the Future Using the Your Forested Region as an example you are invited to help build a sustainable model for Our Future based on Sound Science and an Open Democratic Process that reflects Society's Interests and Values. June 22, 2002 8:45 am - 4:00 pm Best Western Baker Street, Nelson BC Nelson, BC For more information: Mike Romaine Executive Director, PSE (Public Service Employees for Environmental Ethics) Phone (604) 899-2724 Fax: (604) 899- 2725 Send e-mail to: < mailto:m_romaine at pse.ca > +++|+++ CASTLEGAR Download a poster for this event: Jenny Kwan and Jim Sinclair June 19, 2002 Castlegar Recreation Complex Castlegar, BC Download a poster for this event: < http://www.kootenaycuts.com/PDFfiles/ndp_bcfed.pdf > +++|+++ RISE UP - CELEBRATE PRIDE Multi-union Pride Events throughout BC and Canada: < http://www.campaignbc.ca/files/calendar/pridevents.PDF > +++|+++ QUALICUM BEACH Tommy Douglas Day Saturday, June 15 8:00 am Lighthouse Community Park North of Qualicum Beach For more information on this event, please visit: < http://www.campaignbc.ca/index.cfm/fuseaction/calendar.event/eventID/3099/in dex.cfm > +++|+++ CURRENT DISPUTES VOLUME 26, NO. 11 June 6, 2002 Strikes and Lockouts United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (Carpenters), Local 1928 - VS - W. Kreykenbohm Corporation (Surrey) Major Issues: Wages, Benefits Commenced: May 9, 2002 **** International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada (IATSE), Local 348 - VS - Famous Players (Various Locations) Major Issues: Wages Commenced: Locked-out April 27, 2002 **** United Steelworkers of America (USWA), Local 2952 - VS - Modern Auto Plating Limited (Vancouver) Major Issues: Working Conditions, Wages, Benefits Commenced: January 24, 2002 **** Construction and Specialized Workers' Union, Local 1611 - VS - Wescon Enterprises Ltd. (Armstrong) Major Issues: Seniority, Benefits, Concessions Commenced: July 25, 2001 **** National Automotive Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW), Local 3000 - VS - Royal Diamond Casino (Vancouver) Major Issues: Concessions, Benefits, Contracting-out Commenced: Locked-out July 15, 2001 **** Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 2000 - VS - Castlegar Sun (Castlegar) Major Issues: Wages Commenced: November 4, 1999 **** SETTLED United Food and Commercial Workers' International Union (UFCW), Local 1518 - VS - Extra Foods #8568 (Prince Rupert) **** HOT EDICT Construction and Specialized Workers' Union, Local 1611 - VS - Wescon Enterprises Ltd. (Armstrong) **** BOYCOTTS Non-Union Postal Outlets - CLC/BCFL - CUPW Philips Electronic Products, Quebec - CLC - USWA 7812 +++|+++ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: To subscribe to BC Labour E-News, visit < www.bcfed.com/sub.htm > If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg., change your password, suspend E-news while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personal subscription page at: < http://bcfed.net/cgibin/mailman/options/bc_labour_enews/(add_your_email_addr ess_here) > To get helpful information, send a message to: < http://www.BC_Labour_Enews-request at bcfed.net > with "help" in the subject line, (no quotation marks). opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net Fri Jun 28 17:38:56 2002 From: bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 17:38:56 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #30 - June 28, 2002 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C12D77A@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #30 - June 28, 2002 To read this newsletter on our site, please go to: To subscribe or unsubscribe, follow the instructions at the end of this message. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. Messages to this mailbox are processed automatically, and are not read by a person. If you would like to contact us, send messages to: Help spread the word - forward this e-mail to your friends. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONTENTS CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC POWER SAY LIBERALS ARE PULLING THE PLUG ON BC HYDRO A new report released June 20 by BC Citizens for Public Power (BCCPP) says BC will face higher energy rates if the Liberal plan to dismantle and privatize BC Hydro proceeds. BC's largest seniors' organization agrees, and they're telling Gordon Campbell to keep his hands off hydro. MORE: JOB NUMBERS SHOW LIBERAL TAX CUT STRATEGY HAS FAILED The loss of 11,000 jobs last month confirms the failure of the Campbell government's strategy for economic recovery, says BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. MORE: ANGRY COMMUNITY DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM LABOUR MINISTER Hundreds of protesters in Trail gathered outside the Chamber of Commerce June 27 to ask Graham Bruce why his government has forged ahead with plans to change the Employment Standards Act, the Labour Relations Code and the Workers Compensation Act. MORE: LABOUR BOARD RULES AGAINST INVERMERE IGA Citing employer interference on June 24, the Labour Relations Board ordered a certification vote at the IGA store in Invermere. MORE: FERRY WORKERS RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF BC FERRIES With the peak tourist season well underway, the BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union issued a warning June 27 about the condition of the BC Ferry fleet. MORE: LIBERAL OFFICIAL MET WITH PRIVATE U.K. HOSPITAL CONTRACTORS The Hospital Employees' Union has obtained documents showing that a top BC Liberal finance officer met with corporate representatives involved in privately operated hospitals in Britain. MORE: NELSON CITIZENS RAISE FUNDS TO FIGHT CLOSURE OF KOOTENAY LAKE HOSPITAL Don't mess with this small town, say the organizers of the Save our Services (SOS) citizens group in Nelson. SOS set a $10,000 target to raise funds for a legal injunction and court battle against the closure of their community hospital. As of June 18 -- a full week before their deadline, the fund had grown to over $12,000. MORE: CANADA'S COMMISSIONAIRES LAUNCH NATION-WIDE ORGANIZING DRIVE The Public Service Alliance of Canada and BC's Commissionaires have joined forces in an effort to organize nationwide. Commissionaires are employed by the Canadian Corps Commissionaires, a rivate non-profit company with over 500 contracts across the country. MORE: +++|+++ EVENTS Vancouver Stop gutting public health care July 14 12:00 noon Vancouver Coastal Health Authority 520 West 6th Avenue (near Cambie) +++|+++ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: To subscribe to BC Labour E-News, visit If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg., change your password, suspend E-news while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personal subscription page at: To get helpful information, send a message to: with "help" in the subject line, (no quotation marks).