[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] March 5, 2004

[bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net]

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