[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 29 - June 14, 2002

Fri Jun 14 15:53:14 PDT 2002

BC LABOUR E-NEWS

Issue #29 - June 14, 2002

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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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

+++|+++

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