From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Tue Mar 2 17:33:10 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 17:33:10 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] New Revelations about Raid at BC Legislature Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C41CBF4@BCFEDNT> March 2, 2004 New Revelations about Raid at BC Legislature-- Cloud of Scandal over Sale of BC Rail Continues to Grow B.C. Federation of Labour Calls for Halt to Sale of BC Rail and asks for Gary Collins' Resignation Vancouver-The Liberal government must immediately stop the sale of BC Rail after new revelations connect Liberal political aides, and their activities in Finance Minister Gary Collins' office to allegations of criminal breach of trust involving the sale of BC Rail, said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "This confirms a direct link between the raid on the legislature and the sale of BC Rail. Until the public is fully satisfied there were no criminal activities involving BC Rail, the sale of BC Rail must be stopped," demanded Sinclair. Sinclair commented on the most recent revelation made public in connection with search warrants executed on the legislative offices of the Liberal Finance and Transportation Ministers. "There's also a growing cloud over Finance Minister Gary Collins," said Sinclair, "a breach of trust may have occurred under his watch. To preserve the integrity of his office Collins must step aside until this matter is resolved." Concerns regarding the privatization of BC Rail had been raised last year during the bidding process. "All along the government has conducted secret negotiations and closed door meetings to keep details away from the public. It's a bad deal and the public knows it, and the Liberals have been trying to hide it," said Sinclair. "Now there are clouds of criminal activity and potential criminal breach of trust hang over this deal, communities along the BC Rail line deserve better." "This scandal will sink what little confidence British Columbians have in Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal government," said Sinclair. "Working families have paid the price for lost services and privatized assets; the only people who have gained under this government are Liberal friends and insiders. Breaking their campaign promise was bad enough, but to allow the sale of BC Rail to proceed would certainly be a moral breach of trust with the voters of BC," said Sinclair. The campaign to stop the sale of BC Rail is continuing and the Federation plans to make representations to the Canada Competition Bureau when the issue is discussed, added Sinclair. The Federation will also continue to support the efforts of the workers and the community in their attempts to hold this government accountable for the sale. -30- For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739. opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Mar 5 17:03:24 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 17:03:24 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 5, 2004 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEEAB@BCFEDNT> Cloud of suspicion hangs over sale of B.C. Rail BACKGROUND In December, 2003, a police raid on the BC Legislature cast a cloud of suspicion over the deal to sell BC Rail. A search warrant summary released March 2, 2004 shows that two BC Liberal insiders may have tampered with the BC Rail Privatization deal in order to obtain personal benefits. Given the suspicions outlined in the court file, two Sections of the Criminal Code could have been violated -- accepting benefits and breach of trust. The B.C. Federation of Labour has called for the government to halt the sale of BC Rail and for Finance Minister Gary Collins to step aside until the criminal investigation is complete. What the BC Liberals are saying Collins acknowledged that if the allegations are proven, "Then one could say, 'Yeah, the process would be tainted under that situation.'" "This obviously is not good for government. It's not good for the people of British Columbia." BC Finance Minister Gary Collins in the Times Colonist, March 3, 2004 What British Columbians are saying "You cannot take a public asset that's under criminal investigation and then proceed with the sale. On what basis can you do that? That you're going to close your eyes and hope there's nothing to it?" B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair "[The] BC Rail corruption case stinks to high heaven....We're a national laughing stock again." Michael Smyth, Columnist for The Province, March 3, 2004 "It can't be that hard to understand that you simply don't do a $1-billion deal while criminal charges directly related to the sale are being considered." Bob Sharpe, Chairman, Council of Trade Unions on BC Rail "By allowing CN access to BC Rail's customers at a time when CPR was prohibited by its confidentiality agreement from contacting such customers, the province has, whether intentionally or not, provided CN with an unfair competitive advantage." Neil Marshall, lawyer for Lawson Lundell in a letter to Allan Wallace, the CIBC consultant managing the BC Rail sale on behalf of the government "The very integrity of our public institutions has been called into disrepute." BC NDP Leader Carole James "This went on right under the nose of the Minister of Finance, and he claims to know nothing. Will he do the right thing today and resign?" BC NDP MLA Joy MacPhail +++|+++ Labourstart promotes global labour survey Eric Lee, editor of Labourstart, wants you to participate in a global labour survey. Here's his letter to explain the project: Every year, the World Economic Forum -- you know, the people who meet at Davos -- produces a "Global Competitiveness Report". They ask the World Bank and corporate executives around the world about economic conditions in different countries. But they don't ask us -- people who know the labour scene -- about how workers and unions fare around the world. Our friends at Harvard University's Labor and Worklife Program thought it would be a good idea to try to conduct a survey of our own. They're calling it the Global Labour Survey. It is aimed at people like yourselves and when the results are announced in May 2004, they expect to receive worldwide attention. We interviewed Richard Freeman, author of the survey, and you can hear what he has to say about it on Radio LabourStart, http://radio.labourstart.org We're convinced that if we can get a large number of you to take the time to fill out this online survey, we can present an alternative view to the one the WEF is presenting. A view based on your own experience as trade unionists. It's hugely important and we'll need thousands of you to respond in order to get this right. The survey is located here: http://gls.law.harvard.edu/ It's available in English, French and Spanish. This survey is completely confidential. You will not be identified nor will you be added to any mailing lists. We know that it takes a few minutes of your time to fill this in, and we appreciate the effort that you'll be making. You have our gratitude. Once you've filled in the survey yourself, please pass on this message and make sure that your union's publication mentions the survey as well. +++|+++ International Women's Day Events The following events are supported by the Vancouver and District Labour Council. For information on local Women's Day events, please contact your labour council. March 6 International Women's Day March and Rally Theme: Stop Attacks on Women at Home and Abroad Time: 11:00 a.m. Gather at Burrard Skytrain Station and march to the Vancouver Public Library on Georgia Street for noon rally. Bring a banner. Information fair to take place in the Alice MacKay room in the library. Time: 1-3 p.m. March 6 The Philippine Women's Centre Political Action Fashion show 3952 Fraser Street Vancouver Tickets $15. Silent Auction. For more information, 604-215-1103 March 8 Grassroots Women IWD Rally and March Time: 5:00 p.m. Vancouver Art Gallery Robson Street side Vancouver Also on March 8, Grassroots Women are holding an evening of dance, music, culture and politics - under the theme "Celebrate our Resistance". Time: 7:00 p.m. Mouse and Bean Antoieria Mexicana 204 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Tue Mar 9 16:54:00 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 16:54:00 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 9 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEEB3@BCFEDNT> E-News March 9 1) Op-Ed by B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair 2) Press release issued by the B.C. Federation of Labour on proposed changes to WCB regulations. A Case to halt the Sale of BC Rail Op Ed by Jim Sinclair, President News that a $1 billion sale of a Crown Corporation is the subject of a criminal investigation would cause any responsible government to re-evaluate its decision to proceed with the deal - and then there are the BC Liberals. Gordon Campbell's decision to ram through the BC Rail privatization deal while the RCMP are still investigating BC Liberal insiders connected to the deal is completely irresponsible - it betrays the trust placed in his government by BC voters. Whether or not one agrees with the government's decision to sell BC Rail, you simply cannot do a $1 billion deal while criminal charges directly related to the sale are being investigated. When we consider all the information that is available to the public today, a reasonable person would conclude that proceeding with this sale is just plain reckless-the act of a government in denial. What do we know for certain? We know from the BC Supreme Court summary of search warrant that the RCMP is investigating breach of trust allegations against two government officials in connection with the sale of BC Rail. We know from the BC Rail Fairness Advisor report that confidential information was provided to one of the bidders. And we know Canadian Pacific - a major corporation - pulled out of the bidding process citing a government bias towards CN Rail. Just this week Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon admitted that CN was leaked confidential information during a crucial part of the bidding process. This information is never fully disclosed in the Fairness Advisor's report, and only emerges in dribs and drabs as more and more public scrutiny is placed on the deal. The other shoe has dropped, and British Columbians know there's more to this scheme than they've been told. What don't we know? We don't know if leaked information prevented taxpayers from getting top dollar for BC Rail. We don't know if the withdrawal of Canadian Pacific's bid left the government with two inferior bids to service rural communities. And we don't know what evidence was discovered as a result of the search warrant. Where does this leave us? Consider this. What can the government do if these two government officials are charged and convicted of breach of trust after BC Rail is sold to CN? There will be little they could do to reverse the deal once BC Rail is sold, that's why it is important that we wait until the police investigation is completed. Even Finance Minister Gary Collins has been forced to acknowledge that criminal charges will taint the deal. Well unfortunately for the BC Liberals, as clouds over this deal only continue to grow, it's already tainted. A major corporation has complained that the bidding process has been biased towards CN Rail. The RCMP is investigating two key government officials involved in the sale. A government report says confidential information was leaked to a BC Rail bidder. Anything else? These are serious allegations by three different groups of people. This is on top of the fact that the Premier promised not to sell or privatize the railway in the first place. Earlier this year a Liberal cabinet minister was forced to resign over allegations involving Doug Walls, a relative of the premier who received un-tendered government contracts. The government is about to embark on major contract work to build facilities and infrastructure for the 2010 Olympics. What confidence will anybody have in the bidding on those contracts if the government doesn't show it takes these allegations seriously? It's clear Mr. Premier it's time to halt the sale of BC Rail. Do the responsible thing and wait until the next election and earn the public's support to sell BC Rail. Broken promises are bad enough, but now criminal investigations-the people deserve a say. ++++ March 9, 2004 ** For Immediate Release ** B.C. Federation of Labour Fights Cuts to Workers' Health and Safety Regulations at WCB Public Hearings in Prince George Today Vancouver - B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair today warned that cuts to health and safety regulations will reduce health and safety protection for workers, leading to more accidents and injuries on the job. Sinclair was commenting on public hearings taking place in Prince George today, where the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) is proposing changes to a vast array of health and safety regulations, driven by a BC Liberal directive to reduce 'red tape'. "The proposed changes have been driven entirely by the provincial government's short-sighted view that all regulations are bad, and that more health and safety decisions should be left up to the employer," said Sinclair. "That's like saying we should consider getting rid of the speed limit because it's a regulation and that drivers should determine what speed limit is appropriate." The WCB is seeking public input on proposals to water down regulations on violence in the workplace, noise vibration, ladders and scaffolds, radiation, and temperature and fall protection. They are also considering several changes in the agriculture sector. "Cutting enforcement, in the guise of 'new flexible regulations' just makes things worse," said Sinclair. "Workers don't want to put their health and safety at risk just so the Liberals can pay back their corporate friends." The WCB's own statistics show that over the last ten years WCB has carried out far less enforcement activity. Over the period, inspection reports issued by the Board declined by 50 percent, orders fell by more than 44 percent, and employer penalties decreased by 71 percent. In 2002: * 232 workers were killed on the job, * 5 workers between the ages of 15 and 24 died on the job, * 159,000 workers reported work injuries, and * 5,000 workers were permanently injured. "Clearly much more work is required to ensure that workers return to their families at the end of a work day, healthy and safe. Fewer and flexible regulations are not the answer," concluded Sinclair. The WCB is holding five hearings across the province, beginning today in Prince George. A representative from the labour community will be present at every meeting to ensure that the impact of any change is properly studied. -30- For more information contact: Lynn Bueckert 1-250 563-1116 or Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421. opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Thu Mar 11 17:42:06 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 17:42:06 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 11 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEEBA@BCFEDNT> BC Citizen News from the BC Federation of Labour March 11, 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. March 10, 2004 Latest Liberal Revelation Shows Tainted BC Rail Privatization Deal must be Cancelled Vancouver - B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair today called on the BC Liberals to cancel the whole BC rail deal, saying the latest revelation from Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon is just more evidence that the deal to privatize the company is tainted. Falcon admitted that the Liberals have been forced to cancel the sale of the BC Rail Port Subdivision due to an ongoing criminal investigation linked to police raids on the Legislative offices of the Transportation and Finance Minister's Office. "Since the raid on the Finance Minister's office and the firing of Mr. Basi, every decision made by the Liberal government has shown the government knows more about this criminal investigation than they've revealed to the public," said Sinclair. "Now we learn Falcon had been advised by a senior government official on March 2 that there were problems with this deal, publicly denied it, and then waited over a week to tell the public. What other information is the government hiding?" asked Sinclair. After earlier attempts to deny any wrongdoing with the bidding process for the sale of BC Rail, Falcon admitted four days ago that CN Rail received confidential information. "The government has the evidence to suggest the port subdivision deal is tainted," said Sinclair. "The same situation applies to the larger deal, the whole privatization scheme is tainted." Sinclair stressed that the provincial government faces the same problems with sale of BC Rail to CN Rail. "There's an ongoing criminal investigation of government officials and lobbyists with close ties to the BC Liberals here," said Sinclair. "Instead of coming clean with the information they have, they're hiding crucial information from the public. The only realistic and responsible decision is to cancel the whole deal." "The government has an opportunity to show some semblance of integrity and allow the voters of BC to determine the future of BC Rail. So far, they've provided no information to demonstrate the sale of BC Rail is not implicated in this criminal investigation," concluded Sinclair. For more information contact: Jessie Uppal office: 604-430-1421 or cell 604-220-0739. opeiu 15 ++++ March 10, 2004 Decent jobs lost, quality health care at risk as health authority takes a gamble on French corporation Go to < http://www.heu/2004/nr-03-10-04-sodexho.pdf > for the Printer Friendly Version. A lucrative contract for patient food services in Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast hospitals tying taxpayers to a $300 million payout over ten years has been awarded to a foreign corporation and will result in 1,300 staff - most of them women - losing their jobs. The Hospital Employees' Union says the move is a risky gamble that will deprive communities from Richmond to Gibsons of skilled hospital workers who will be replaced by contract workers earning less than ten dollars an hour with few benefits. And while most affected workers have already received lay off notices, HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt says that the timing of today's announcement is designed to intimidate union members who are in the midst of province-wide strike votes. "This move is typical of B.C.'s health employers who've shown total disregard for the collective bargaining process and utter contempt for the hardworking women and men on health care's front lines," says Allnutt. "But to be quite frank, this announcement is just more proof to our members and the public that health employers will put everything at risk for the sake of privatization." Health employers have issued more than 2,500 pink slips to health workers since bargaining began at the beginning of the year on top of 6,000 workers who've already lost their jobs since the provincial government shredded health care collective agreements in January, 2002. Sodexho - the French corporation awarded the contract by Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Providence Health Care - has published a union avoidance manual and was dumped by a Scottish hospital in 2002 where workers had raised concerns about staffing levels falling by more than half after cleaning services were privatized. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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/cgi-bin/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 Mar 12 10:28:00 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 10:28:00 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] 36,000 Jobs lost in BC, Highest in Canada; Unemployment increases to 7.9% - B.C. Federation of Labour Calls for Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C745ECB@BCFEDNT> March 12, 2004 ** For Immediate Release ** 36,000 Jobs lost in BC, Highest in Canada; Unemployment increases to 7.9% - B.C. Federation of Labour Calls for Economic Summit Vancouver - Climbing unemployment and the loss of 36,000 jobs shows the BC Liberal economic plan just isn't working and it's time for a provincial economic summit, said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "Unemployment is at 7.9 percent and British Columbians can't find any hope in Finance Minister Gary Collins' budget," said Sinclair. According to Statistics Canada youth employment fell by 28.2 percent from January 2004 to February 2004. "Young people in our province are being held hostage to skyrocketing tuition fees and the elimination of post-secondary student grants the Liberal economic plan offers nothing for their future," Sinclair stated. "Recording Canada's highest job loss is not the way we want to be leading the country," said Sinclair. "Clearly this government has no economic plan and working families are bearing the brunt of it." Sinclair stressed the only way a solution could be found to BC's economic woes was if all stakeholders worked together. "We need an economic summit to bring forward some different perspectives on how to build our economy. We need more than the 2010 Olympics to turn our province's economy around," added Sinclair. "And it's not getting better in the so-called heartlands, added Sinclair." While the government stubbornly proceeds with privatizing BC Rail, Statistics Canada reports unemployment in the Prince George region spiked to 14.4 percent last month from 12.1 percent in January, and climbed to 10.7 percent from 9.8 percent. "The 'heartlands' have truly become the 'hurtlands' under the Liberal watch," concluded Sinclair. -30- For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739. sm/ P:/archive/0500-04pr-unemployment-bc opeiu 15 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Mar 12 13:01:03 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 13:01:03 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Union Women Outraged at Arrest of Women's Centres Advocates Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C745ECD@BCFEDNT> March 12, 2004 ** For Immediate Release ** Union Women Outraged at Arrest of Women's Centres Advocates Vancouver - B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary Treasurer, Angela Schira, expressed outrage at the arrest of five women advocating for funding restoration for BC's women's centre. "It's an absolute disgrace," said Schira, "the BC Liberals may be used to having police in the Legislature, BC women are not." Five representatives were arrested following a meeting with Liberal Women's Services Minister of State Ida Chong. Chong refused to restore the drastic women's centres funding cuts the Liberals made two years earlier. "The Liberals have been condemned by the United Nations for their draconian cuts to women's services, and when women's advocates finally have an opportunity to meet with the government, they end up arrested. No wonder polls show plummeting support for the Liberals among women voters." The arrested women had been calling on the government to restore the $1.7 million funding traditionally provided to women's centres. "These women only pointed out that if the Liberals put an end to the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on political health care ads, women's centres could be funded for 11 years." Some estimates say the BC Liberals have already spent close to $20 million on their self-promoting health care ads. "A picture speaks a thousand words, and the picture of these women handcuffed by the BC Liberals says it all," Schira stated. Schira noted that these women have a right to political protest. "Women in British Columbia have been abandoned by this mean-spirited government. When they stand up to draw attention to it, the Liberals have them arrested. So much for open and accountable, so much for democracy," added Schira. Schira noted that women's centres often serve as the last lifeline for thousand of women and children across BC. "We won't take these attacks on women lightly, we'll be working with women's organizations in every corner of BC, we're fighting back," concluded Schira, pledging the support of the B.C. Federation of Labour in this struggle. -30- For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739. sm/ P:/archive/0500-04pr-women arrested opeiu 15 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Mon Mar 15 16:47:16 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 16:47:16 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 15, 2004 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEEC2@BCFEDNT> BC Citizen News from the BC Federation of Labour March 15, 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. +++|+++ The British Columbia & Yukon Territory Building & Construction Trades Council today held a protest rally at Library Square in Vancouver to keep pressure on the federal government for allowing 50 U.S. Ironworkers to take jobs as rod workers at the Victoria Arena. The company is paying non-union foreign workers at rates far below union scale, despite the loss of 36,000 B.C. jobs just last month. Organizers are planning another protest for Tuesday, March 16 at 12 noon. Please join the building trades and other union members at noon tomorrow: HRDC - Regional Headquarters - Library Square - 300 W. Georgia St. Vancouver For more information: British Columbia & Yukon Territory Building & Construction Trades Council #204 - 4333 Ledger Avenue Burnaby, BC 604-291-9020 www.bcbuildingtrades.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 Wed Mar 17 17:17:53 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:17:53 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 17 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEEDB@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour March 17, 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> B.C. Federation of Labour releases leaked documents showing Premier has backroom plan to eliminate WCB control of workers' health and safety in oil and gas sector 2> B.C.G.E.U. asks courts to save Medical Services Plan 3> CCPA releases Alternative Federal Budget ++++++|++++++ Leaked information shows Premier has backroom plan to eliminate WCB control of workers' Health and Safety in oil and gas sector Industry representatives say plan is disastrous 1> Vancouver - B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair today said Gordon Campbell should keep his hands off workers' health and safety. Sinclair made the comments in connection with leaked information that shows overwhelming industry opposition to a backroom plan that would eliminate Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) oversight of health and safety in the oil and gas sector. "At a time when industry insiders are calling the provincial Oil and Gas Commission a mess, the Premier wants to give the Commission responsibility for safety," said Sinclair. "It's a dumb plan." Hatched in the Premier's office, the plan proposes new legislation to take jurisdiction for worker's health and safety in the oil and gas sector away from the WCB and transfer it to the Oil and Gas Commission (OGC). According to information obtained in a leaked government e-mail, the new Act would 'supercede the Workers' Compensation Act.' "This is a high-risk industry that demands more scrutiny and vigilant enforcement," said Sinclair. "Workers' health and safety is not a political tool for the Premier to use to pay back his corporate sponsors." Leaked e-mail correspondence also shows concerns raised by industry groups and associations that represent employers involved in oil and gas fieldwork. Mike Doyle, President of the Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors expressed "...strong opposition to such an endeavor". Patrick Delaney, Petroleum Services Association of Canada's Director of Health, Safety and Government Relations echoed those concerns. "Moving OH&S (occupational health and safety) enforcement to the Oil and Gas Commission would be a disaster," he writes. "We need to make our views known to the government before this initiative takes on a life of its own and is impossible to stop." Small Explorers and Producers Association Director Brian Vermeulan points out that "...having OH&S under an already dysfunctional regime will just cause further disorganized mayhem." "The Liberal government's history in this area shows just how little concern they have for worker health and safety," said Sinclair. "In 2002, while the industry recorded record increases in activity, the Liberals reduced WCB Safety and Prevention Officers from nine to four." Sinclair called the government's plan particularly surprising given the WCB is currently conducting public hearings regarding changes to health and safety regulations. "There's been no talk of the Premier's plans, nor has there been any consultation with the labour movement," Sinclair said. According to WCB statistics, between 1998 and 2002 the number of fatalities in the oil and gas sector has increased from four per year to eleven. Sinclair called on the government to immediately shelve their plan and put workers' health and safety first. "Workers gave up plenty of their personal rights to put the WCB into place in exchange for safer, healthier working environments," said Sinclair. "The government has no right to take that away." +++|+++ 2> BCGEU asks courts to save Medical Services Plan Sell-off to private U.S. firm may put medical records in FBI hands Victoria - The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has asked the courts to review plans by the province's Liberal government to sell off the provincial Medical Services Plan to a U.S. company. "We are asking the court to find that selling the administration of medicare is a violation of the B.C. Medicare Protection Act, the Canada Health Act, and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act," says BCGEU president George Heyman. The government plans to turn over MSP to either IBM or Maximus - both American multinational corporations - by the end of August. "In addition to worries about how this will affect our health care system, there are serious issues of personal privacy," said Heyman. "It should remain in the care of public employees who are bound by an oath of office to keep it confidential." The expert opinion BCGEU will provide the court says the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could have access to MSP records under the so-called USA Patriot Act. This information includes health treatment, pharmacy, income tax, mental health and criminal records, as well as records from the ministries of children and family development and human resources. An expert opinion to be submitted to the court says the U.S. Patriot Act allows the FBI to obtain entire databases of records. The expert opinion says Section 215 of the Patriot Act allows the FBI to obtain medical records and other personal information of innocent people. U.S. legal precedents also suggest that even if the information is held by a Canadian subsidiary, the American parent company could be required to disclose it. A formal petition and supporting documents were filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Victoria on Tuesday. The provincial Medicare Protection Act requires the Medical Services Commission to operate in accordance with the Canada Health Act. The Canada Health Act requires that the "health care insurance plan of a province must be administered and operated on a non-profit basis by a public authority." An online petition to oppose the government's move is available to review and sign at: < http://www.petitiononline.com/publicpc/ > +++|+++ 3> Tenth Annual Alternative Federal Budget released by Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) The 10th annual CCPA Alternative Federal Budget cuts to the heart of federal funding scandals - not with more tax cuts and spending restraints but with hard measures of accountability to clean up federal corporate cronyism. The AFB's emphasis on accountability includes: no more P3 deals, no more federal-provincial cash transfers that come without strings attached, no more Barbados tax havens, and no more patronage appointments. To get your free copy of Alternative Federal Budget 2004: Rebuilding the Foundations, please visit the CCPA website. < http://www.policyalternatives.ca > +++|+++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To subscribe to E-News, visit: < http://www.bcfed.com/sub.htm > 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 Wed Mar 24 17:18:00 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 17:18:00 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 24 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEF09@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour March 24, 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> B.C. Federation of Labour releases open letter to Premier calling for a halt to sale of BC Rail 2> New West Council gives unanimous support to Kiwanis contracted-out care aides 3> Provincial Capital Commission to close Victoria's Crystal Garden 4> Federal budget ignores BC's working families 5> Burnaby Council denounces Liberal cuts to programs and services for vulnerable people 6> Meadow Gardens Golf Course locks out Service Employees International Union 244 7> CUPE Flight Attendants win pay equity case PUBLICATIONS 1> Eye on the Economy - March, 2004 - published by the B.C. Federation of Labour Please download this publication from our website at: < http://www.bcfed.com/NR/rdonlyres/euegwpcycvrepuu6ek2m2flnq25uj5gpcgwhptza4r tbgevginajbv3turvppqcmapweuytviwrp555yh3womelzdyb/EOTEmarch04.pdf > ++++++|++++++ B.C. Federation of Labour releases open letter to premier calling for a halt to sale of BC Rail 1> Following revelations that the sale of BC Rail is connected to an RCMP criminal investigation, elected municipal leaders, businesses and labour groups have issued a call to BC Premier Gordon Campbell to halt the sale of BC Rail. The letter states that the criminal investigation and broken promise 'betray the trust of the people of British Columbia'. The letter was signed by labour and political leaders, businesses and more than a dozen Mayors and Councillors from North Vancouver to Fort St. James. "The latest revelation that the sale of BC Rail is connected to criminal investigation by the RCMP has increased the momentum towards scrapping this deal," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "There has been a broad coalition of people and groups opposed to the sale of BC Rail from the beginning and we want the Premier to finally listen to the people who depend on this railway." Opposition to the sale of the railway has been growing steadily as it became clear the government did not intend to honour their election promise. * More than 13 City Councils and Regional Districts passed resolutions calling on the provincial government to stop the sale of BC Rail. * Two separate polls in Prince George that showed over 75 percent of the public is opposed to the sale of BC Rail. * Over 32,000 citizens living along the rail line signed a petition opposing the sale of the Crown Corporation. * Former Premier Bill Vander Zalm joined business leaders, labour groups and over 1,000 concerned citizens at a Rally to stop the sale of BC Rail in Prince George. * Two full-page newspaper ads opposing the sale of BC Rail were signed by over 200 businesses in Squamish and Prince George. +++|+++ New West Council gives unanimous support to Kiwanis contracted-out care aides 2> CARE AIDES from Kiwanis Care Centre in New Westminster - solidly supported by labour and community activists - received unanimous support from the City's Mayor and Council March 22 after their impassioned plea for help to stop the contracting out of seniors' care at KCC. After hearing presentations about the devastating impact contracting-out has on residents and workers alike, New Westminster City Council unanimously passed a motion to write to the Kiwanis administrator asking for an explanation of the decision to contract out. +++|+++ Provincial Capital Commission to close Victoria's Crystal Garden 3> March 24-VICTORIA-The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) called on Community Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister, Murray Coell, to intervene with the Board of the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) and halt their reckless plan to shut down the Crystal Gardens. "The decision of the PCC to issue notices to staff today is premature and should be reversed," said BCGEU President George Heyman. "Only a few weeks ago, the PCC issued a public call for proposals for the Gardens, and now without even waiting to consider these submissions, they are moving to lay off the dedicated staff who maintain the horticultural displays and care for the many endangered species who call the Gardens their home." The result of these notices will mean that staff of the Gardens will be laid off in June, two months earlier than the PCC Board has said the facility would close. +++|+++ Federal budget ignores BC's working families 4> After nine years of Paul Martin budgets, B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair says BC's working families are getting nothing new in Budget 2004. Sinclair pointed out that while the government is focussing on debt repayment, and phasing out the federal corporate tax, it's allowing student and family debt to grow. "Once again Paul Martin has chosen corporate tax give-aways over support for working families," said Sinclair. In response to the federal government's learning bond, which will allow future students to access close to $3,000 beginning in 2022, Sinclair noted that students and their families have seen tuition costs double and can't afford to wait until 2022. He also criticized the government for not providing real tuition relief, instead offering access to deeper debt. "Healthcare is no different, said Sinclair." Instead of a national drug strategy as outlined in the Romanow report, the federal government is only beginning to reinvest the billions Paul Martin has cut from health care in the last decade. "Working families don't want private health care options, they can't afford them," stated Sinclair. While farmers hurting from the mad cow crisis received a billion dollars, Sinclair noted there was no aid for workers in the meat packing industry. Sinclair stressed that workers also need to be considered, as several poultry farms in BC have recently been investigated for outbreaks of the avian bird flu. Sinclair also noted there was no aid dollars in the budget for forest workers and their communities who continue to be affected by the government's failure to resolve the Softwood Lumber dispute. Sinclair also pointed out that Paul Martin continues to lowball surplus estimates at the expense of any long-term investment in Canada's social programs. "This budget ignores child care needs, has no room for affordable housing, and talks of cities but chooses not to invest in them." +++|+++ Burnaby Council denounces Liberal cuts to programs and services for vulnerable people 5> Burnaby City Council unanimously passed a resolution March 23 denouncing cuts to programs and services for vulnerable people and calling on the Campbell Liberals to halt plans to cut another $70 million in funding on top of the $100 million the government has already cut to date. The resolution also calls on the government to restore funding for community social services to pre-2001 levels. Cherrill Colley, a Burnaby community social services worker, described for Council the devastating impact the funding cuts have had on the community's most vulnerable residents, including women, children, and people with disabilities. "Group homes that have been in existence for years and have provided a stable environment for the individuals that dearly need such stability are being split up to save dollars," Colley told Council. "Staffing levels are being decreased, which increases the risks to both residents and staff. All of this seriously sets back the work being done at these homes assisting developmentally disabled members of the community to become more self-sufficient and lead their lives with dignity and respect. Women's centres will lose 100 percent of provincial funding as of April 1 and will face the prospect of either cutting their programs to the minimum or closing their doors altogether. "There is a reduction in funding for suicide prevention, crisis centres and 24-hour hotlines for people in distress, all with serious ramifications to the health and well-being of our citizens. Programs supporting new immigrant families to our city have been reduced, leaving many with nowhere to turn in times of confusion and anxiety," Colley said. Burnaby joins a growing list of Councils that have passed the resolution. To date, 27 Councils have supported the resolution that is being presented by workers as part of the Union Bargaining Association's campaign to protect services for BC's most vulnerable citizens. +++|+++ Meadow Gardens Golf Course locks out Service Employees International Union 244 6> PITT MEADOWS, BC - Outside maintenance workers have been locked out by Meadow Gardens Golf Course (MGGC) in Pitt Meadows. The workers, members of SEIU Local 244, tend the greens, fairways, sand traps and provide all other course maintenance. "The employer didn't even give negotiations a chance," says Local 244 negotiator Roger Fitzpatrick. "SEIU has made numerous attempts to get the employer back to the bargaining table, but MGGC has not responded to any of them and has just proceeded to lock us out." Only five brief bargaining sessions have been held to date. "MGGC calls itself the 'premier' golf facility in Vancouver," says Mike McDonald, President of Local 244. Wouldn't a 'premier' golf facility treat its employees with dignity and respect? All we want is a fair contract." Even though the unit is locked out, it plans to do everything possible to get MGGC back to the table. Maintenance employees unanimously rejected the employer's final offer on March 12. It included many concessions that would weaken job security language, make it much more difficult to qualify for health and welfare benefits, create a new two-tiered wage grid and force employees to hand-over 2.4 bargaining unit positions. For more information, contact: Lynn Simmons SEIU National Communications Coordinator, 416-931-4217 (cell); Roger Fitzpatrick, Local 244, 604-802-2991. +++|+++ CUPE Flight Attendants win pay equity case 7> The Canadian Union of Public Employees' ground-breaking pay equity victory is long-overdue justice for flight attendants at Air Canada that will benefit women workers across the country, said CUPE Air Canada Component president Pamela Sachs today. Sachs was reacting to the Federal Court of Appeal's decision that CUPE flight attendants at Air Canada should receive pay equity with male workers performing other jobs within the company. "Air Canada had argued that the flight attendants, who are mainly women, don't work in the same 'establishment' as defined in the legislation, as pilots and mechanics who are mainly men. The court has ruled that they do," said Sachs. "This is a ground-breaking decision for Canadian women. The narrow interpretation of 'establishment' as outlined in section 11 of the Pay Equity Act has been thrown out," Sachs said. "The Court of Appeal's decision redefines 'establishment' to include workers within the same company and therefore opens the door to long-overdue justice for women workers who are underpaid compared to their male counterparts working for the same employer. Our victory will certainly have positive implications for women in other industries." "CUPE has been working hard in every sector to raise women's wages and achieve fairness and equity for women," said CUPE National President Paul Moist. "We're concerned about how long it has taken us to get to this point with Air Canada but we hope that the employer will stop stalling and make a commitment to pay equity now." "CUPE fought long and hard, our members stood firm despite all the arguments and delays made by the company. We are very proud of the significant landmark flight attendants have reached for women workers today and we expect Air Canada to comply with this ruling and to stop fighting fair treatment of its flight attendants," Sachs said. The court handed down its ruling late Thursday, March 18. The union first filed a complaint to the pay equity tribunal in 1987. For more information: Alejandra Bravo, (416) 798-3399 ext. 270 (office), (416) 305-8095 (cell.) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To subscribe to BC Labour News Network, 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 > Opeiu 15 From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Mon Mar 29 17:03:31 2004 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 17:03:31 -0800 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 29 Message-ID: <3D6D51D9DD03D611BBA700508B97628C1EEF23@BCFEDNT> BC LABOUR NEWS NETWORK Electronic News from the B.C. Federation of Labour March 29, 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> Health Care workers deliver 89 percent strike mandate Events 1> Plans underway for Mayday march and concert in Vancouver ++++++|++++++ Health Care workers deliver 89 percent strike mandate 1> Health care workers deliver 89 per cent strike mandate Unions representing 43,000 hospital and long-term care staff will head back to the bargaining table with a convincing 89 per cent strike mandate in hand. The multi-union bargaining association called for the province-wide 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 fro 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. "This bargaining environment is a disgrace," said B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Angela Schira. "These workers are the people we depend on for services when we're least able to look after ourselves." Schira pledged full support for the province's health care unions in their struggle for a fair contract. Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt, who speaks for the union bargaining association, is urging health employers to rethink their bargaining strategy. "Our members are telling health employers in no uncertain terms that they won't be bullied or intimidated into a contract that contains massive wage and benefit rollbacks with no employment security," says Allnutt. "We'll see if health employers have understood that message when we return to the bargaining table later this week." Both sides have tentatively agreed to meet on Wednesday - the same day the current contract expires. The Union Facilities Sub-sector Bargaining Association represents 43,000 workers affected by the contract talks. The HEU represents about 40,000 workers affected by the contract talks. Ten other unions in the bargaining association represent the remaining 3,000 workers. +++|+++ EVENTS Mayday Bring your family, friends and co-workers out to celebrate on May 1. Join labour and community groups on International Workers' Day in Vancouver. The B.C. Federation of Labour, the New Westminster and District Labour Council and the Vancouver and District Labour Council are sponsoring a march and concert, featuring Shari Ulrich, Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes (UHF) at the Art Gallery. We will be collecting donations at the concert to help support women's centres, which are scheduled to lose provincial funding April 1. Gather at 11:00 a.m. in the Queen Elizabeth Plaza (Corner of Georgia and Hamilton streets, in front of the Q.E. theatre). The rally and concert starts at 1:00 p.m. at the Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver. Posters and further information will be posted here and available on the Federation's website shortly. +++|+++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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