[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] September 13, 2002

[bc_labour_enews-admin at bcfed.net]

BC LABOUR E-NEWS
Issue #34 - September 13, 2002 

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IT'S OFFICIAL - BCNU JOINS BC FEDERATION OF LABOUR
BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair and Secretary-
Treasurer Angela Schira officially welcomed the British Columbia 
Nurses' Union into the house of labour last week. BCNU President 
Debra McPherson accepted the affiliation certificate on behalf 
of BC's nurses.

View a photo of this event:
< http://www.bcfed.com/news/images/nurses.gif >

CONTENTS
HYDRO CLASS ACTION SUIT COULD BE LARGEST IN CANADIAN HISTORY

WEST COAST GRAIN SHIPMENTS HALTED

WORKERS COMPENSATION BOARD CUTS JEOPARDIZE WORKERS

WELLS SCHOOL GETS HELP FROM ALL QUARTERS

FEDERAL LIBERALS REJECT SOFTWOOD AID PROPOSAL

LOMAN'S WAREHOUSE WORKERS FIGHT BIG GROCERY CHAINS

THE COST OF THE CUTS

BUSINESS DOWN THIRTY PERCENT FOR VICTORIA GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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HYDRO CLASS ACTION SUIT COULD BE LARGEST IN CANADIAN HISTORY
Every BC Hydro customer can now sign a letter of intent to 
support a class action suit, filed September 4 by the BC 
Citizens for Public Power (BCCPP), a grassroots organization 
fighting the privatization and break-up of BC Hydro.

FULL STORY: 
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#hydro >

SIGN UP ONLINE TO SUPPORT THE CLASS ACTION SUIT:
< http://www.citizensforpublicpower.ca/classaction/letter.html >

+++

WEST COAST GRAIN SHIPMENTS HALTED
Locked out grain handlers set up picket lines in Prince Rupert 
September 10, halting all grain shipments through west coast 
Canadian ports.
About 650 grain handlers at Vancouver's five grain terminals 
were locked out by the B.C. Terminal Elevator Operators 
Association on August 26. Since then, the companies have 
diverted grain shipments to Prince Rupert.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#grain >

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WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD CUTS JEOPARDIZE WORKERS 
The Workers' Compensation Board announced September 4 that it 
expects to eliminate more than 500 positions in accident 
prevention, workplace inspection, compensation services and 
rehabilitation and training services.
The BC Federation of Labour has warned that cuts to services 
will lead to more death and injury for workers on the job.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#wcb >

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WELLS SCHOOL GETS HELP FROM ALL QUARTERS
The community of Wells may have found a way to win their battle 
and keep their local elementary school from closing.
In a 4-3 decision, Quesnel and District School Trustees ordered 
the elementary school closed July 5 to deal with a budget 
shortfall caused by Liberal under-funding.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#wells >

+++

FEDERAL LIBERALS REJECT SOFTWOOD AID PROPOSAL
BC's labour leaders have condemned a federal Cabinet decision to 
reject a proposal to help BC's forest dependent communities.
"The federal Liberals, like their counterparts in Victoria, just 
don't get it," said Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. 
"The softwood lumber trade dispute is devastating communities 
and we need the federal government to make good on a proposal to 
help those communities.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#softwood >

+++

LOMAN'S WAREHOUSE WORKERS FIGHT BIG GROCERY CHAINS
UFCW Local 1518 members employed at the Overwaitea-Loman 
warehouse in Langley continue to leaflet customers of Save-On 
Foods and Overwaitea Foods stores, asking them to take their 
business to other union grocery chains.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#lomans >

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THE COST OF THE CUTS
Thousands of poor families and children have to make due with 
far less money since the Campbell Liberals took power in British 
Columbia.
A report released last month by End Legislated Poverty studied 
client and caseload statistics for the Ministry of Human 
Resources from March to July 2002 to determine how policy 
changes have affected families by cuts to welfare and the child 
care subsidy.

FULL STORY:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#cost >

+++

BUSINESS DOWN THIRTY PERCENT FOR VICTORIA GRAPHIC DESIGNER
A graphic designer wrote to tell us that his business has 
dropped 30 percent over the past year under the BC Liberal 
government.

Read his comments:
< http://www.bcfed.com/NEWS/Enews/Enews.htm#satire >

View his satirical website at:
< http://www.artdepartmentdesign.com/vagc.html >

+++
EVENTS

RALLY FOR COOPER PLACE 
Cooper Place long term care facility is closing effective 
November 15. The plan is to head towards supportive living with 
no clear definition from the employer what that is. 
Monday, September 16
3:00-6:00 p.m. 
306 E. Cordova Street 

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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 >

+++
COPE PRESENTS NAOMI KLEIN
Thursday, September 19, 2002 at 7:00 PM
Please join Naomi Klein and the Coalition of Progressive 
Electors (COPE) for an evening of discussion of local democracy, 
7PM Thursday, September 19, at the Vogue Theatre. You can buy 
tickets online:

< http://www.cope.bc.ca >

or call the ticket line at 604-708-5740.

+++
NEW SOLUTIONS FOR THE BC ECONOMY
A BC Federation of Labour Conference on jobs, investment and 
sustainable public services
October 16, 2002
Westin Bayshore Hotel
1601 Bayshore Drive
Vancouver, BC
Registration Fee: $125
Deadline for registration: October 4, 2002
Childcare available.

Download a conference poster:
< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/extra/solutionsbw.pdf >

Download an agenda:
< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/extra/agenda.pdf >

Download a registration form:
< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/extra/registration.pdf >

Register for childcare:
< http://www.bcfed.com/news/media/extra/childcare.pdf >

+++
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 >

+++
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