From bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net Wed Oct 2 16:45:15 2002 From: bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net) Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 16:45:15 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Issue 35 - October 2, 2002 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EE90E@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #35 - October 2, 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. +++|+++ CONTENTS MUNICIPAL LEADERS ENDORSE HYDRO CLASS ACTION SUIT ROUND II: DAY OF ACTION IN VICTORIA PLANNED FOR OCT 7 BC SHIPYARDS UNDERCUT FOREIGN BIDS FOR FERRY WORK FOR-PROFIT HIGHWAYS UNFAIR TO SMALL COMMUNITIES NEWSPAPERS SNUB UNION ADS TALKS RESUME IN TIMES-COLONIST DISPUTE OMBUDSMAN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE SENIORS' MORTALITY RATES FAST FACTS ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY EVENTS FEEDBACK ON E-NEWS ++++ MUNICIPAL LEADERS ENDORSE HYDRO CLASS ACTION SUIT Mayors and councilors from across the province are endorsing BC Citizens for Public Power's class action suit to stop the privatization and deregulation of BC Hydro, says Union of BC Municipalities' (UBCM) past president Jim Abram. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#hydro > Read about and endorse BC Citizens for Public Power's class action suit: < http://www.citizensforpublicpower.ca/classaction/index.html > +++ ROUND II: DAY OF DEFIANCE IN VICTORIA PLANNED FOR OCT 7 Victoria is gearing up for a day of action to coincide with the opening of the legislature October 7. Organizers are planning a march and rally, beginning at 10 a.m. from Centennial Square in Victoria. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#action > For updated information, including a poster, visit: < http://members.shaw.ca/solidarity/ > < http://www.campaignbc.ca > +++ BC SHIPYARDS UNDERCUT FOREIGN BIDS FOR FERRY WORK One of BC's shipyards has beaten the foreign competition with the lowest bid in the first tender for the refit of five BC Ferries' ships, says the Shipyard General Workers' Federation. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#ferry > +++ FOR-PROFIT HIGHWAYS UNFAIR TO SMALL COMMUNITIES The poeple who design and maintain BC's highways have strongly criticized Gordon Campbell's plan to impose billions of dollars worth of tolls and allow for-profit companies to own and operate the highway system. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#highway > +++ NEWSPAPERS SNUB UNION ADS Three lower mainland newspapers refused to run UFCW local 1518 newspaper ads last month that were designed to raise support for Loman's Warehouse workers about to lose their jobs. For more information, visit the UFCW 1518 website: < http://www.ufcw1518.com/ > +++ TALKS RESUME IN TIMES-COLONIST DISPUTE Talks between unionized workers and management of the Times-Colonist newspaper in Victoria resumed this week. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#ads > Visit the Victoria-Vancouver Island Newspaper Guild's site for more information on this dispute: < http://www.vving.ca/ > +++ OMBUDSMAN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE SENIORS' MORTALITY RATES Seniors' groups and health advocates are asking the B.C. Ombudsman to investigate whether the elderly are at risk as a result of the provincial government policy to close nursing homes. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#mortality > For more information: < http://www.bchealthcoalition.ca > +++ FAST FACTS ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY IN AMERICA In 1975, 71 percent of employees had "defined benefit" pension plans. In 1999, only 29 percent had them. -- Jeff Faux, The American Prospect. "Twenty years ago, employers paid an average of sixty-three cents into employee pensions for each hour worked. In 1996, they paid forty-five cents. Medical benefits have similarly eroded." -- Atlantic Monthly, October 2002. To the website: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#fastfacts > +++ EVENTS Read event listings on the website: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#events > ROUND II - DAY OF DEFIANCE Fight back! October 7 Rally and March 10:00 a.m. Centennial Square Victoria, BC +++ OPPOSITION CAUCUS LEVEE Saturday, October 5 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Science World 1455 Quebec Street Vancouver, BC Silent auction, cash bar, interactive displays, complimentary appetizers Tickets (all tickets tax receipted): Patrons: $1000 - Receive 10 tickets, recognition in the program and a commemorative gift. Host: $500 - Receive 5 tickets, recognition in the program and a commemorative gift. Supporter - $200 - Receive 2 tickets and recognition in the program. Contributor - $100 - Receive 1 ticket and recognition in the program. Regular tickets: $50. To order tickets and for more information, call the BC NDP Provincial Office at 604-430-8600 email: < mailto:bcndp at bcdnp.ca > website: < http://www.bcndp.ca > +++ Federated Anti-Poverty Group Conference Sunday, October 06, 2002 to Wednesday, October 09, 2002 This anti-poverty group has been having a annual conference with groups from BC for 25 years. Connecting Legal Services, Women's Groups, Advocacy Groups, Disability Groups, Metal Health Groups, Union Groups, and volunteers. The cost is approximately $400.00 for 5 days. Info: < mailto:tiarablkcat at hotmail.com > +++ BC HYDRO CLASS ACTION SUIT SIGN-UP CAMPAIGN BC Citizens for Public Power needs volunteers in the Lower Mainland Saturday, October 5, 2002 If you are available to volunteer in the Lower Mainland, please call: Marj Owen at 604-473-3884 +++ FEEDBACK ON E-NEWS To the website: < http://www.bcfed.com/news/Enews/Enews.htm#feedback > Re: WCB It wasn't bad enough that they announced the Cranbrook WCB office will close, the local MLA (Bill Bennett) on the same day said they were closing it because they didn't provide a good service and that there were some problems. Shame on these bastards. Have we had enough yet? Sharron Gardner Chair 608 BCGEU Cranbrook +++ 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 (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_address_here) To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_Enews-request at bcfed.net > with "help" in the subject line, but without quotation marks. TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send e-mail to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > wp/opeiu 15 Oct 2/02 From bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net Fri Oct 11 12:02:12 2002 From: bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 12:02:12 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] October 11, 2002 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EE97D@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR E-NEWS Issue #36 - October 11, 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. +++|+++ CONTENTS FEDERATION, COMMUNITY COALITIONS GEAR UP FOR SPEAK OUT BC IN PENTICTON Community coalitions across the Interior have issued a call to head to Penticton October 26 to show the Liberals the strength and spirit of BC communities. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#penticton > +++ THOUSANDS PROTEST IN VICTORIA OCTOBER 7 FOR DAY OF DEFIANCE At least 2,000 people protested against the BC Liberal government in Victoria on Monday, shutting down the university and several government before marching to the Legislature. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#march > +++ IWA TELLS OTTAWA SOFTWOOD AID PACKAGE WON'T SAVE JOBS IWA President Dave Haggard met with federal MP and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley October 9 to tell him that the government's $246.5 million softwood lumber aid package announced early this week won't help workers or solve the forest industry's problems in BC. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#march > +++ NURSES ANGRY OVER HEALTH AUTHORITY PLANS TO FUND PRIVATE HOSPITAL Nurses are incensed that the BC Liberals' Interior Health Authority is planning to finance a private hospital in Kelowna to perform day surgeries, after the cutting back acute care beds and surgical services in public facilities throughout the region. Full story: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#nurses > +++ TIMES-COLONIST PUBLISHES SCAB NEWSPAPER Management of the Times-Colonist issued a special edition of the Times-Colonist during the Queen's visit last week, and plans are under way to continue publishing a scab paper on a weekly basis. Find out how to help: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#strike > +++ MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANNED FOR HOMER STEVENS A memorial service has been planned for Homer Stevens, who served for many years as President of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union. Stevens died October 2 in Nanaimo. The service is scheduled for 1:00 pm Saturday, October 19, 2002 Maritime Labour Centre 1880 Triumph at Victoria Drive in Vancouver. +++ EVENTS New Solutions for the BC Economy October 16 Westin Bayshore Hotel Sponsored by BC's Unions For more information: < http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/MEDIA/Extra/solutionsbw.pdf > +++ BC Hydro Information and Skills Building Workshop Presented by the Council of Canadians and BC Citizens for Public Power Saturday, October 12, 2002 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver, BC +++ The 11th Annual Labour Appreciation Night Sponsored by United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Vancouver & District Labour Council and New Westminster & District Labour Council Thursday, December 5, 2002 Sheraton Guildford Hotel 15269-104 Avenue Surrey, BC Tickets $30 For more information, contact 604 294-8929, local 2216 +++ The B.C. Federation of Labour's Health and Safety project has expanded. The Health and Safety project now offers an advanced toxins course and a special program for younger workers, to be offered through BC high schools. These courses are open to both union and non-union workers. Details below: REGISTRATION: 604-430-1421 All courses: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and cost of $85.00 BASIC COURSES Chilliwack - October 15 Evergreen Hall 9291 Corbould Street, Chilliwack Nelson - October 15 Kootenay Lake Hospital, Rm 415 #3 View Street, Nelson Victoria - October 17 BCGEU 2994 Douglas Street, Victoria Golden - October 18 Golden Town Hall Meeting Room 810 - 9 Avenue South Duncan - October 24 Cowichan Community Centre, Quamichan Room, 2687 James Street, Duncan Fort St. John - October 28 Fort St. John Hospital Board Room 9636-100 Avenue, Fort St. John Surrey - November 5 UFCW Education Centre 101 - 12827 76 Ave. Surrey, BC Terrace - November 7 BCGEU office 114-4710 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace Salmon Arm - November 13 Fletcher Park Seniors' Resource Centre Society 51 -6 Street NE, Salmon Arm Kamloops - November 14 University College of the Cariboo - Campus Activity Center 900 McGill Rd., Kamloops Port Coquitlam -November 14 Eagle Ridge Hospital 475 Guildford Way, Port Moody Williams Lake - Dec. 2 IWA Hall, 124 C-2nd Avenue, Williams Lake Vancouver - December 5 BC Federation of Labour 200 - 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver +++|+++ TOXINS Prince George - October 22 College of New Caledonia 3330 22 Avenue, Prince George Kootenays - October 30 Selkirk Community College 2001 Silver King Road, Nelson Victoria - November 6 BCGEU 2994 Douglas Street, Victoria Vancouver - November 13 Hospital Employees' Union 5000 North Fraser Way, Burnaby +++ Media Democracy Day Friday, October 18, 2002 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM **FREE EVENT** Every era has its human rights struggle. So what's the fight of the Information Age? How about the right to communicate. The most powerful tools of democratic expression remain the private properties of media corporations. How do we build new, public powers of expression and debate? Join others who are asking the same thing - or who think they have an answer - at the second annual Media D-Day. Media Fair Vancouver's largest gathering of media alternatives. 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm Vancouver Public Library Workshops Pen vs. Sword: The News We Need in Wartime Mindshare: The Privatization of Communication Follow the Money: Funding Independent Media Next Steps: A Community Plan for Media D-Day 2003 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Alma Van Dusen & Peter Kaye Rooms Keynote Panel Reform Without Censorship: Towards Media Democracy James MacKinnon * editor * Adbusters Magazine Lynne Van Luven * journalist * UVic prof Bill Tieleman * Georgia Straight columnist Moderator * Jim Sinclair * President, B.C. Federation of Labour 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Alice Mackay Room Info: < http://www.mediademocracyday.org > or call 604-602-1204. Organized by: Campaign for Press and Broadcast Freedom and the Vancouver Public Library. Sponsored by: Adbusters Media Foundation, BCGEU, B.C. Federation of Labour, BC Nurses' Union, BC Teachers' Federation, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Communication Energy and Paperworkers' Union, Canadian Association of Media Educators, Information Policy Committee of the BC Library Association, SFU School of Communication, SFU Faculty of Applied Science. +++ BC Hydro Anti- Privatization Demonstration Saturday, October 19, 2002 9:00 am to 11:00 am Meet in front of the office of Karn Manhas, MLA 6106 - 2850 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam (corner of Shaughnessy St. and Lougheed Hwy) For more info, phone Joan Spira at 604-461-8150. Plan to attend -- and pass the word on to others. +++ Damaged Care? Get the inside information on US-style care from the doctor who blew the whistle on a system that denies benefits to thousands of patients. Dr. Linda Peeno - Former medical director for private "managed care" health companies, now a renowned critic of for-profit health care will speak in the following communities: Vancouver - Monday, October 21, 7:00 pm., SFU downtown campus, 515 W. Hastings Kelowna - Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 pm., Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Gaston Avenue Victoria - Wednesday, October 23, 7:00 pm., Conference Centre, Saanich Room, 720 Douglas Street Burnaby - Thursday, October 24, 1:00 pm., Edmonds Community Centre Auditorium, 7282 Kingsway Surrey - Thursday, October 24, 7:00 pm., Sheraton Guildford Fraser Room, 15259 -104 Avenue Sponsored by the BC Nurses' Union, Council of Senior Citizens Organizations, Seniors on Guard for Medicare and the BC Health Coalition. For more information: 604-433-2268 or 1-800-663-9991 +++ Union Celebrity Chili Cook Off "Some Like it Hot" Saturday, November 2 New Westminster Secondary School Pearson Cafeteria 835 - 8th Street (enter off 10th Avenue) Taste some of the finest chili in town when union celebrities come together for this hot competition. You get to be the judge. Admission: $10.00 at the door Beer & Wine Cash Bar Hosted by Affiliates of the New Westminster & District Labour Council For more information: 604-524-9311 +++ SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: To subscribe to BC Labour E-News, visit: < > 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_address_here) To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_Enews-request at bcfed.net > with "help" in the subject line, but without quotation marks. TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send e-mail to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > opeiu 15