From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Wed Apr 21 16:47:27 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:47:27 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] April 21 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EF00B@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour April 21, 2004 ________________________________________________ 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 1> Mediator books out of health care negotiations: Front line health care workers need support and solidarity 2> BC Liberals impose legislation on class size provisions already quashed by Supreme Court 3> Federal government workers in Kelowna, Abbotsford to hold strike votes 4> BC Government Employees' Union and New Democratic Party fight privatization of confidential information to American firms 5> Members of the Canadian Merchant Service Guild on strike since April 15 6> Leaked details of secret rail sale show BC Liberals continue to mislead the public 7> Voices for Justice - Planning nearly completed for May Day event 8> Shipyard Workers Federation says BC government should insist on build-in-BC ++++++|++++++ 1> Mediator books out of health care talks: Front line health care workers need support and solidarity Labour Relations Board mediator Stephen Rinfret, appointed at the request of health employers in a dispute between the Hospital Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the Facilities Subsector Bargaining Association (FSBA), yesterday booked himself out of talks when it became clear that HEABC has no intention of putting a hold on layoffs during negotiations or revising their concessions package. The Labour Relations Board is today expected to set essential services levels and unions representing 43,000 hospital and long-term care staff could be on strike as early as the end of the week. Health care workers gave the multi-union bargaining association an 89 percent strike vote after the Health Employers Association of B.C. tabled a 100-page package of concession demands and refused to put a hold on layoffs during negotiations. Concessions included wage rollbacks of up to 16 percent, reduced sick leave, restricted access to long-term disability benefits, vacation leave roll backs, fewer benefits from part-time workers and elimination of pay equity. More than 2,500 pink slips have been issued since bargaining began January 9. Though health employers continued to issue layoff notices during the March 15 -26 strike vote period, turnout was heavy across the province. "We believe the attack on health care workers is part of a larger government drive to put public health care in private hands," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair in a bulletin released today. "We are calling upon all union members throughout the province to show strong support on picket lines and at rallies." The Hospital Employees' Union, which represents 40,000 of the 43,000 affected workers, released a poll April 19 showing that seven out of ten British Columbians put quality care before cost cutting in contract talks. "This poll reflects the public's day-to-day interactions with the health care system," says Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. "British Columbians have no illusions about what the impact of further attacks on the wages and benefits of health care would be on health care - lower quality care and less access to services." Union members can send messages of support to affected workers on HEU's website: < http://www.heu.org > +++|+++ 2> BC Liberals impose legislation on class size provisions already quashed by Supreme Court The BC Liberal government introduced legislation April 20 that prohibits contractual guarantees on class-size limits, services to students with special needs or support from specialist teachers in BC schools. The legislation exactly mirrors an arbitrator's decision that was quashed four months ago by the BC Supreme Court. "This bill reflects an utter disregard for the decision of the BC Supreme Court," said British Columbia Teachers' Federation Second Vice-president Irene Lanzinger. "Clearly, this government is prepared to go to any length to remove services from children." Bill 19, the Education Services Collective Agreement Amendment Act, imposes in law the contract stripping that was earlier conducted by a government-appointed arbitrator. Eric Rice, appointed by Labour Minister Graham Bruce, zealously stripped from the teachers' collective agreements many provisions that protected learning conditions for children. The BC Teachers' Federation challenged Rice's ruling in the BC Supreme Court and won. Now, with Bill 19, that fundamentally flawed ruling has been made law. Perhaps most frightening for what it says about the government's attitude to legal restraints on its powers, Bill 19 actually provides that it applies "despite any decision of a court to the contrary." Here are some examples of provisions that will be stripped under Bill 19: >From the Kamloops-Thompson collective agreement: "Clear administrative procedures shall be established for the carrying out of fire and earthquake drills that expedite the evacuation and care of students with special needs." >From the Cariboo-Chilcotin collective agreement: "The placement of a student with special needs shall be determined by the student's intellectual, emotional, and physical needs." >From the Qualicum collective agreement: "Where safety is a factor, the number of students in a laboratory, shop or other specialized class shall not exceed the number for which the facility is designed." "Teachers have worked hard at the bargaining table to ensure services for students are available. But this government is intent on making it illegal for us to bargain provisions that protect the education and safety of our students. Once again, they are imposing policies that will hurt the most vulnerable," Lanzinger said. +++|+++ 3> Federal government workers in Kelowna, Abbotsford to hold strike votes More than 500 unionized employees of the federal government in Kelowna and Abbotsford began holding strike votes April 20 to back up demands for a fair contract settlement from the Martin government. Negotiations for new contracts, which began last September, have bogged down says Patty Ducharme, spokesperson for the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Key issues for front line workers in the bargaining dispute include a fair wage increase, job security measures to protect important government services for the public, improvements for temporary workers, and "whistleblower" protection so that unionized employees can help keep the government accountable without fear of retribution. Ducharme says the only wage offer made by government negotiators so far is annual percentage increases of 1.75, 1.25 and 1.25 over three years, which she says is conditional on rollbacks in other existing contract provisions. "The offer is particularly insulting given the whopping pay boosts already granted by the Liberals to senior public sector managers," she says. "Our members are the people behind important services and programs that Canadians rely on every day. We deserve more respect at the bargaining table from the Martin government." About 400 PSAC members in the Abbotsford area work at Human Resources Development Canada, Corrections Canada, Transport Canada, and Agriculture Canada; and as Customs and Immigration officials at nearby border crossings. In Kelowna, 130 union members work at Canada Employment and Immigration, and Industry Canada; and as Customs officials at the airport, and civilian staff at the RCMP. Today's votes are part of a cross Canada strike ballot involving some 100,000 federal government employees. The strike votes began March 25 and will wrap up at the end of April when the results will be announced. Ducharme says she's optimistic that a strong mandate for job action will put pressure on the Martin government to return to the table with a more constructive approach to bargaining. Contracts for the government workers expired last summer. +++|+++ 4> BC Government and Service Employees' Union and New Democratic Party fight privatization of confidential information to American firms Privacy commissioners across the country are rushing to determine whether private information on Canadians could end up in the hands of American security organizations after the BCGEU released a legal opinion that says private information could be subject to the U.S. Patriot Act. Under the Act, confidential data on Canadians can be seized by American security agencies without approval from the company. The Act further prohibits the company from revealing that the records had been seized. The BC Liberals announced last month that they had chosen Maximus, a private U.S. based multinational, to administer BC's Medical Services Plan and Pharmacare programs. The BCGEU has launched legal action to stop the privatization of MSP and Pharmacare until the full implication of the Patriot Act is known. The MSP and Pharmacare programs are just two of the latest examples of contracting out sensitive Canadian data to American corporations. BC Hydro customer information was contracted out to Accenture last year, a Bermuda-based company with a main office in the United States. The federal Liberals admitted last October that Lockheed Martin, an American defense company, would be awarded the contract for the 2006 Canadian Census, worth as much as $85 million. In the House of Commons that week, Federal NDP MP Bill Blaikie demanded to know which wing of the Pentagon the information would be stored in. On April 20, in response to a question from Blaikie, MP Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, said that the government would review the decision if the confidentiality and security of Canadian Census information could not be fulfilled. For more information on this issue, visit the BCGEU website: < http://www.bcgeu.ca > +++|+++ 5> Members of the Canadian Merchant Service Guild on strike since April 15 The Federal government yesterday appointed mediator Bill Lewis to help resolve a dispute between the Council of Marine Carriers and the Canadian Merchant Service Guild (CMSG). The CMSG, which represents about 800 Masters, Mates, Pilots, Engineers and other marine officers along the B.C. Coast, has been on strike since April 15. Tug and barge operators, who tow everything from medical supplies to building materials, have been in negotiations since last summer, but have yet to receive a fair wage offer. +++|+++ 6> Leaked details of secret rail sale show BC Liberals continue to mislead the public With more public revelations regarding the sale of BC Rail coming to light over the weekend, B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair today called on the BC Liberals to come clean, stop misleading the public and release the secret details of the deal. "The more we learn about this deal, the more we know it stinks," said Sinclair, commenting on media reports over the weekend which revealed the government has signed away control of BC Rail to CN Rail for potentially 990 years. Sinclair says the latest revelations are not surprising, noting that in 1996, CN donated $122,000 to the Liberals. "Far from the government's promise of restored passenger service, this deal will allow CN to discontinue service on any part of the rail line," said Sinclair. "If that happens, valuable tracts of land now owned by the public could be sold to CN Rail for just one dollar." Community leaders from up and down the rail line have already called on the government to suspend the sale of BC Rail while the deal is still related to an ongoing criminal investigation involving raids on the BC legislature. The provincial government has since been forced to cancel the sale of the BC Rail Roberts Bank Port Sub-division. "We will continue our campaign to stop the sale of BC Rail and have plans to make representations to the Canada Competition Bureau when the issue is discussed," added Sinclair. "We will continue supporting the workers and the communities that depend on BC Rail as they hold this government accountable for selling off the railway after they promised not to sell it." +++|+++ 7> Voices for Justice - Planning nearly complete for May Day event Organizers at the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the B.C. Federation of Labour say planning is well underway for Voices for Justice, the May Day march and concert planned for May 1 in downtown Vancouver. March participants will gather in front of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (corner Georgia and Hamilton Streets) at 11:00 a.m. Activities, including street theatre, face painting and other entertainment will take place between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. The rally and a free 90-minute concert, featuring Shari Ulrich, Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes (UHF) begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver). The B.C. Federation of Labour will be collecting donations during the concert to help support the fight by BC Women's Centres to restore government funding. CUPE BC will be collecting non-perishable food items to distribute to BC food banks. "The response to this event has been very encouraging," says Acting Community and Social Action Director Marie Decaire. "We're still meeting weekly to ensure the event runs smoothly and are actively seeking volunteers for the balloon team and public marshalling." Voices for Justice is sponsored by the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the New Westminster and District Labour Council. The event is open to everyone and entertainment and activities are suitable for all ages. If you'd like to volunteer time to the May Day event, please contact Marie Decaire at 604-430-1421 or send an email: < mailto:community at bcfed.com To download a PDF poster for this event, click on the link below: < http://www.bcfed.com/NR/rdonlyres/efrzplf4anrqdbwxwcwn3u6qjfowbxp2lmtyzixcln oqfv47h6jjyqq6ffvn3t6gbqsfl35jy6o2toyait5o6vdcl3c/postersmall-opeiu.pdf > +++|+++ 8> Shipyard Workers Federation says new ferries should be built in BC Washington Marine Group, which owns Vancouver Shipyards, today confirmed that it has been excluded from bidding on construction of 2 Super-C Class ferries for BC Ferry Services. The Shipyard General Workers Federation is calling on the provincial government to intervene and demand new ferries be built in British Columbia. "With just this one disastrous decision alone, BC shipyards and workers will lose more than 1,500 jobs and $220 million in investment," says Federation president George MacPherson. "But BC Ferry Services plans on spending up to $2 billion in total for new ships in the years ahead - that investment and those jobs should be in British Columbia, not South Korea or Germany or China." WMG senior vice-president Rollie Webb confirmed in Province and CKNW reports today that the firm, which owns Vancouver Shipyards, has been told by BC Ferry Services that it will not be allowed to bid for the 2 new superferries. The WMG statement confirmed information released by Shipyard General Workers Federation Tuesday, based on sources within the ferry system. MacPherson said it is clear that BC Ferry Services spokesman Mark Stefanson and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon are not being straightforward with the public about their intention to export BC jobs and investment to foreign countries. He said both Falcon and Stefanson indicated no decision had been made to exclude BC bidders but clearly WMG has heard differently. "BC shipyards and shipyard workers are not only being denied jobs and investment, the BC government and BC Ferry Services isn't even giving us a fair chance to compete with foreign shipyards," MacPherson said. "We know that when you factor in the benefits of direct and indirect job creation, workers and companies paying taxes here in BC and the boost this gives local industries to bring in additional shipyard work, that the BC government should insist on investing in our province, not in South Korea or Germany or China," MacPherson said. The construction job would create about 1,500 direct and indirect jobs over three years. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To subscribe to E-News, visit: < > If you want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g, change your password, suspend E-News while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personalsubscription page at: < http://bcfed.net/cgibin/mailman/options/bc_labour_enews/ > To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_E-News >with "help" in the subject line (no quotation marks). TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send an email to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Thu Apr 22 17:24:05 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:24:05 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] April 22 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EF018@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour April 22, 2004 ________________________________________________ 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. +++|+++ Federation calls on BC Liberals to instruct health care employers to get back to the table and engage in meaningful bargaining Vancouver - If employers are serious about avoiding strike action in the health care sector, B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair says there's still time to get back to the table and engage in meaningful bargaining. "No one wants to see health care services disrupted in BC," said Sinclair. "Waitlists are growing and the system is already under strain because the government made it their number one priority to rip up contracts, and pick a fight with health care workers." Sinclair made his comments following 72-hour strike noticed issued today by the Facilities Sub-sector Bargaining Association (FSBA), which represents 43,000 front line health care workers currently bargaining for an agreement with the Hospital Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC). "Our goal is a fair collective agreement," continued Sinclair. "If the government is truly interested in patient care, they'll instruct HEABC to stop firing people and take concessions off the table." Sinclair says workers have been warning of lower standards and a climate of uncertainty since the BC Liberals took power, as the government instructed Health Boards to make do with scarce funding for critical needs like patient care and wages for front line workers. "Instead of concessions for health care workers, employers could stop handing out big pay raises for executives, new Director's fees for Health Board appointees and money for fat advertising budgets," said Sinclair. "Evidently, patient care is not their number one priority." "Health care workers have borne the brunt of BC Liberal efforts to privatize and cripple our health care system," said Sinclair. "Some patients have already felt the effects of lower standards of care and long waitlists - conditions created entirely by the BC Liberals in their rush to contract out public health care jobs." Sinclair called on all affiliates to fully back health care workers on picket lines and at rallies. The B.C. Federation of Labour represents over 450,000 unionized workers in British Columbia. For up to date information on this dispute, please visit HEU's website: < http://www.heu.org > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To subscribe to E-News, visit: < > If you want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g, change your password, suspend E-News while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personalsubscription page at: < http://bcfed.net/cgibin/mailman/options/bc_labour_enews/ > To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_E-News >with "help" in the subject line (no quotation marks). TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send an email to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Apr 23 16:16:22 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 16:16:22 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] April 23 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EF026@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour April 23, 2004 ________________________________________________ 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 1> Federation, CLC and local Labour Councils to pay tribute to workers injured and killed on the job 2> Health Care Workers Rally planned for Sunday, April 25, 4:00 pm. 3> Statistics Canada reports long-term unemployment higher in BC and Quebec than other provinces ++++++|++++++ 1> Federation, CLC and local Labour Councils to pay tribute to workers injured and killed on the job On the 20th anniversary of the International Day of Mourning, the B.C. Federation of Labour will hold its annual ceremony to pay tribute to workers killed and injured on the job. Please come out to support the family and friends of survivors. Wednesday, April 28, 2004 Day of Mourning Ceremony 7:30 am Vancouver City Hall Workers Memorial Site 453 West 12th Avenue ++++++|++++++ 2> Health Care Workers Rally planned for Sunday, April 25, 4:00 pm. The Hospital Employees' Union, backed by the B.C. Federation of Labour, Labour Councils and other organizations supporting front line health care workers are planning rallies around the province on Sunday, April 25 at 4:00 p.m. Please check with local Labour Councils for events occurring in your community. Lower Mainland locations will include Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital. ++++++|++++++ 3> Statistics Canada reports long-term unemployment higher in BC and Quebec than other provinces Long-term unemployment data released by Statistics Canada April 21 shows that British Columbia leads the country in long-term unemployment, followed closely by Quebec, at 13 percent and 12 percent respectively. Long-term unemployment peaked in 1994, when roughly 17 percent of unemployed Canadians couldn't find work within the year. The data shows those numbers were down significantly for the majority of Canadians, with just 10 percent falling into the same category in 2003. Groups most likely to be affected by long term unemployment included, men, older workers, those with less education and those living in British Columbia and Quebec. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To subscribe to E-News, visit: < > If you 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/ > To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_E-News >with "help" in the subject line (no quotation marks). TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send an email to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Apr 30 16:45:10 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 16:45:10 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] April 30 -1 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628CA12A01@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour April 30, 2004 - first release ________________________________________________ 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. +++|+++ Today's CKNW poll question is: Would you support back-to-work legislation in the HEU strike? You can vote by clicking < http://www.cknw.com/station/frame_poll2.cfm > Vote no, and pass it on! ++++++|++++++ To subscribe to E-News, visit: < > If you want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g, change your password, suspend E-News while you are on vacation, etc.), visit your personalsubscription page at: < http://bcfed.net/cgibin/mailman/options/bc_labour_enews/ > To get helpful information, send a message to: < mailto:BC_Labour_E-News >with "help" in the subject line (no quotation marks). TO CONTACT THE FEDERATION, send an email to: < mailto:bcfed at bcfed.com > opeiu 15