[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 26 - May 30, 2002

Thu May 30 16:56:22 PDT 2002

BC LABOUR E-NEWS

Issue #26 - May 30, 2002

We are updating the website and are unable to provide this issue of LABOUR
E-NEWS on the website at this time.

This website version will be uploaded within two days.

+++

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.

+++++++++++

COMMUNITY PICKETS ASSURE BUSINESS AS USUAL DISRUPTED IN DUNCAN

Pickets went up at schools, hospitals and public buildings in Duncan until
noon today, effectively shutting down public services for the day in Labour
Minister Graham Bruce's riding.

The demonstration was organized by community groups angry about the
Liberal's use of closure to ram through reductions in employment standards
and benefits for injured workers.  The Liberals have passed changes to the
Labour Code, WCB pension benefits already this week, and expect to pass
changes to employment standards by the end of the week.

"If this government invokes closure to shut down debate on issues as
fundamental as the eight-hour day and limits on overtime, he can expect
working people to respond in kind," said B.C. Federation of Labour President
Jim Sinclair.

At 11:00 am, the demonstrators met for a rally in front of Bruce's
constituency office.  IWA members, CUPE members, health workers, provincial
government worksites, school teachers and support workers and municipal
workers all took part, though essential services levels were maintained.

"The message to the government is clear -- the Liberals are out of step with
how these changes are affecting people in their communities," said Sinclair.

For more information:

< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/duncan.htm >

+++

LIBERALS RAM THROUGH LAWS TO CUT WORKPLACE RIGHTS

Gordon Campbell's Liberals rammed through legislation to cut workplace
standards in the dying hours of the current Legislative session today, then
introduced a bill to reduce appeals for workers seeking workers'
compensation.

"This is a travesty of democracy," said B.C. Federation of Labour President
Jim Sinclair.  "The labour and workplace legislation introduced during this
session will take back the province 50 years.

"Parents can send children out to work at 12 years of age without government
oversight.  People can now worker longer hours without overtime.  We are
actually punishing good employers by forcing them to compete with abusive
employers.  It's a cheap labour strategy."

Other regressive changes introduced by the Liberals today included:

* A bill to reduce appeals for injured workers.  Changes to WCB
in this session will mean "less money for people who are injured and now
less justice," Sinclair said.

*A bill to eliminate the Human Rights Commission.

"BC will now be the only jurisdiction in Canada, and perhaps even North
America, that does not have an independent Human Rights Commission,"
Sinclair said.

The human rights legislation will not pass until the Fall.

"This is yet another example of where people are being put last in order to
fulfill the wish list of the BC Business Council," added Sinclair, and paid
tribute to the tireless work of opposition MLA's Joy MacPhail and Jenny
Kwan.

"This is a government that defers legislation to assure British Columbians
have clean drinking water but rams through changes to cut workers pay
cheques.  The two NDP MLAs have done an outstanding job holding this
government to account."

+++

LABOUR MINISTER SAYS NO NEED TO LEGISLATE AGAINST EMPLOYER ABUSE

Claiming that increased penalties will be enough to convince employers to
comply with a code of 'best practices', Labour Minister Graham Bruce today
continued to press ahead with regressive reforms to the Employment Standards
Act in the legislature.

Critics of the changes, including former Director David Ages, who resigned
before the legislation was introduced, have warned that changes to the
Employment Standards Act put the burden of responsibility on workers and
ease restrictions on employers. 

"Penalties will be levied per offense, rather than per employee, effectively
reducing the real penalty for larger employers" said Ages on the day the
legislation was introduced.  He added that he does not believe the
Employment Standards Branch has either the will or resources to see that
employers stay in line.

The government has already passed legislation in record time that will
reduce benefits for injured workers, limit benefits for the disabled and
bias the Labour Code in favour of employers.  The Liberals invoked closure
on a range of Bills that will profoundly affect thousands of British
Columbians (see issue 26, May 27).

"Child employment now will be governed by regulation instead of the act,"
said NDP Opposition Leader Joy MacPhail.  "The employment standards branch
won't participate in the process of monitoring the employment of children
under 15 years of age, and each industry will have its own set of
regulations to follow."

Bruce attempted to deflect suggestions that the legislation watered down
protection for children under 14, saying that the government believes
parental authority and responsibility was sufficient.

"We believe parents should have the authority and the responsibility in that
respect," said Bruce.

For more information on the morning debate:

< http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/hansard/37th3rd/h20530a-blues.htm >

+++

NO PUBLIC DEBATE ON FUTURE OF HYDRO: NEUFELD

The long-awaited report of the provincial government's Energy Task Force
Review on the future of BC Hydro will be released and implemented without
public consultation, Energy Minister Richard Neufeld confirmed today in the
Legislature.

Neufeld told NDP MLA Jenny Kwan during Question Period that "we will be
releasing the energy task force report at the same time as we put forward
our views on how we'll continue to keep BC Hydro at a competitive advantage
in British Columbia."

Kwan challenged Neufeld to promise there would be no privatization of core
assets of BC Hydro, including transmission lines.  Sale of the transmission
lines has been demanded in recent days by BC business leaders.

Neufeld ducked the question, but appeared to confirm that the core assets -
whatever they are - will remain in public hands. 

The Office and Professional Employees' International Union (OPEIU) expects
an announcement any day that almost
two-thirds of the crown corporation's head office employees have been
contracted to Accenture, an American firm.

For details of the debate go to
< http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/hansard/37th3rd/h20530p-blues.htm >

+++

WOMEN'S CENTRES CONDEMN DECISION TO CLOSE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The BC Coalition of Women's Centres has warned the government that it will
not permit the government to turn the clock back on women's rights.

The coalition is angry over the Liberal's decision to disband the BC Human
Rights Commission, restrict debate in the legislature and allow some spousal
assaults to be carried out without criminal charges.

"The BC Coalition of Women's Centres puts this government on notice.  This
government will not balance the budget on the backs of women.  We will not
tolerate this government's calculated and deliberate violence against
women."

The coalition claims that during a conference held at Harrison Hot Springs
May 2-3, four hundred BC prosecutors were instructed to be more tolerant of
spousal assaults.

"We hope that the changes introduced by government will not impede the
Commission's ability to speak out for the human rights of British
Columbians," said Acting Chief Harinder Mahinder, in a prepared statement
released less than a week ago.

Mahil was fired today, before legislation eliminating the commission had
been tabled in the legislature.

VIEW THE BC COALITION OF WOMEN'S CENTRE'S PRESS RELEASE:

< http://www3.telus.net/bcwomen/archives/breach_of_public_trust_may_02.html
>

VIEW THE FEDERATION'S PRESS RELEASE:

< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/hrc.htm >

BCGEU COVERAGE:

< http://www.bcgeu.org/nr_020530b.html >

THE BC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:

< http://www.bchrc.gov.bc.ca/home.htm >

+++

PURDY'S WORKERS GET CLOSED SHOP

The biggest issue for the Purdy's Chocolates workers of CEP Local 2000 was
having a closed shop.  The company had vowed never to agree to a full closed
shop, but as a condition of signing the collective agreement they agreed to
go to binding arbitration to settle the issue.

Arbitrator Vince Ready issued his decision today, which gives the Purdy's
workers a full closed shop.

Congratulations goes out to these valiant workers and CEP Local 2000.
Special thanks goes out to all the many supporters of the Purdy's sisters
and brothers during this difficult struggle.

+++

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION:

Subscribe or unsubscribe:

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://BC_Labour_Enews-request@bcfed.net >

with "help" in the subject line, but without quotation marks.

opeiu 15