[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 37

[bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net]

BC Citizen
News from the BC Federation of Labour

ISSUE #37 - November 8, 2002


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+++|+++

Fast Fact:

Three out of four British Columbians say they don't approve of the Campbell
Liberal government's approach to health care.

McIntyre & Mustel Poll 
Released by HEU, October 25, 2002 
 

++++ In this Issue +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BC Fed Commentary
---
Readers' Letters
---
Stories

Speak Out BC draws 2,000 to parade and rally in Penticton

Union urges coroner's inquest into Kamloops tragedy

Union leaders visit communities affected by WCB cuts

Times-Colonist workers vote in favour of new contract

Campbell's cuts to child care leave parents scrambling

Federation to join annual Take Back the Night tradition at Library square
and the downtown eastside 

Closure of 20 Ministry of Forests offices spells loss of public resource
control

Delta hospital emergency ward to remain open 24/7
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Coming Events
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Publications
--
Subscription Information


++++ BC Fed Commentary +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mind the growing gap: Inequality in the global economy

by Marc Lee
 
The growing gap between the world's haves and have-nots is one of the most
pressing issues of our time. Recently, Prime Minister Chretien acknowledged
the perils of the global divide, to the dismay of right-wing commentators,
who have responded by denying the problem. Two things in this debate need to
be pointed out: global inequality is extremely high and has been rising; and
this trend is intimately connected to the laissez faire economic policies so
promoted by those commentators....
 
Full story:

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#commentary >


++++ Readers' Letters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We want to hear from you!
 
Send your comments to us and we'll do our best to include them in the next
issue of the newsletter.
 
Please remember to keep your letter short (250 words max.)


++++ Stories +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Speak Out BC draws 2,000 to parade and rally in Penticton

Community coalitions across the province gathered in Penticton October 25-26
to show the BC Liberals that their policy direction has severe economic and
social consequences in non-metropolitan areas of the province.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#penticton >

+++

Union urges coroner's inquest into Kamloops tragedy

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) on October 17
called on the coroner to conduct an inquest into the tragic deaths of three
public service workers in Kamloops.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#kamloops >

+++

Union leaders visit communities affected by WCB cuts

October 21, 2002

BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair and Compensation Employees'
Union President Bill Hawkins visited the community of Cranbrook October 21
and 22 to meet with union members, local politicians and business leaders
over proposed cuts to Workers' Compensation Board services in the community.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#cranbrook >

+++

Times-Colonist workers vote in favour of new contract

November 5, 2002

After a lengthy nine-week strike, five unions have ratified a deal with
Victoria's only daily newspaper, the Times-Colonist.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#timescolonist >

+++

Campbell's cuts to child care leave parents scrambling

The Campbell government's funding axe has swung again, this time affecting
licensed child care in the Kootenays.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#fundingcuts >

+++

Federation to join annual Take Back the Night tradition November 8 at
Library square and the downtown eastside

B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Angela Schira this week called
on women living in the Lower Mainland to join together November 8 to take
back the night as part of an international tradition to make communities a
safer place for women.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#tbtn >

+++

Closure of 20 Ministry of Forests offices spells loss of public resource
control

Rural communities already devastated by the softwood lumber crisis will
suffer even more as the Campbell Liberals cut over 1000 jobs in B.C.'s
forest and environmental ministries in the coming year, leading unions and
environmental groups jointly charged October 29. 

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#forest >

+++

Grain shipments halted

Pickets are up again at the Prince Rupert grain terminal, after the B.C.
Court of Appeal overturned an earlier B.C. Supreme Court injunction that
barred 650 locked out grain workers from picketing the grain elevator in
Prince Rupert. The decision, by Justices Ian Donald, Kenneth Mackenzie and
Kenneth Smith came late on November 4. "This is a great victory," said Ron
Burton, Secretary-Treasurer of the Grain Workers Union, Local 333, which
represents grain handlers in both Vancouver and Prince Rupert. "Maybe now
the employers will listen and come back to the table with a more realistic
offer." Since the lockout began the employers have been directing grain
shipments to Prince Rupert. "Prince Rupert Grain is a common employer owned
by the same companies that handle grain exports in Vancouver and the courts
have confirmed that,"said Burton. "They can't lock out their employees in
Vancouver and expect business to continue as usual in Prince Rupert." The
workers have been locked out by the B.C. Terminal Elevator Operators
Association since midnight, August 25. The last contract expired January 1,
2001.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#gwu >

+++

Delta hospital emergency ward to remain open 24/7

Protests paid off in Delta November 1, when the Fraser Health Authority
(FHA) and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) announced a partnership
between FHA's Delta Hospital, and the VCHA's Richmond Hospital that will
ensure hospitals have the resources needed to care for their patients.

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/issue37/index.htm#deltawin >


++++ Events +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLC Pacific Region Winter School
Sunday, January 19, 2003

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#CLCwinter >
 
Say no to war on Iraq
Sunday, November 17, 2002

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#peacemarch >

Take Back the Night - Take Back the Province
Friday, November 08, 2002

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#TBTN 2002 >

BC Federation of Labour Annual Convention
Monday, November 25, 2002

< www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#convention2002 > 

The 11th Annual Labour Appreciation Night
Thursday, December 05, 2002

< http://www.bcfed.com/News/E-Newsletter/2002/ISSUE37/index.htm#events >


++++ Publications +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Snakes and Ladders 
A policy brief on poverty dynamics 
 
+++

"Pulling the Plug" A Report on BC Hydro from Citizens for Public Power [158
KB - pdf] 
How the Liberals' plan to dismantle BCHydro threatens taxpayers, businesses,
communities and jobs. 
 
+++

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