[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] Teachers' Dispute Update - October 13, 2005

Thu Oct 13 17:23:51 PDT 2005

B.C. LABOUR E-NEWS - TEACHERS' DISPUTE UPDATE - October 13, 2005 

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CONTENTS

1.> MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS RIGHT NOW

2.> SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE AND BEYOND

3.> HEALTH CARE WORKERS VS. SODEXHO - RALLY IN VANCOUVER

4.> VESTA PUB NIGHT

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++
Correction - The link to the poster for the Monday Rally in Victoria 
was too  long for most email programs. As a result, the link was 
split over two lines and did not work.

Please copy and paste the following link into your web browser 
(Internet Explorer, Netscape or other program) to download, view 
and/or print the poster:

http://www.bctf.ca/bargain/negotiations2004/TeachersTakeAStand/RallyF
lyer.pdf
------------------

1.> MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS RIGHT NOW

1. Talk to your friends and family and encourage them to contact the 
government to protest their mishandling of the BCTF strike. 

2. Pick up some of the "Parents Support Teachers" buttons from your 
local Labour Council and hand them out at grocery checkout lines or 
anywhere you meet people who are willing to show their support. 

Labour Council List:

Campbell River, Courtenay & District Labour Council
< mailto:mjudd at telus.net >
(250) 923-5548
---
East Kootenay District Labour Council
< mailto:ekdlc at telus.net >
(250) 426-2670
---
Kamloops & District Labour Council
< mailto:mcdiarmidr at agr.gc.ca >
(250) 374-7310
---
Kitimat, Terrace & District Labour Council
< mailto:rayraj at rayraj.com >
(250) 635-5080
---
Mackenzie & District Committee Of Labour
< mailto: lavalleeb at telus.net >
Phone: (250) 997-3351
---
Mount Waddington, North Vancouver Island
and District Labour Council
< mailto:crash at island.net >
Fax: (250) 284-3239
---
Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council
< mailto:nddlc at shaw.ca >
Phone: (250) 753-0201
---
New Westminster & District Labour Council
< mailto:nwdlc at telus.net >
(604) 524-9311
---
North Okanagan Labour Council
< mailto:nolc at telus.net >
(250) 763-5050
---
Peace River District Labour Council
< mailto:lloyd.glibbery at bcgeu.ca >
(250)785-6185
---
Port Alberni & District Labour Council
< mailto:jmcln at shaw.ca >
(250) 724-7966
---
Powell River & District Labour Council
< mailto:cl-jones at shaw.ca >
(604) 483-9800
---
Prince George & District Labour Council
< mailto:wmills at iuoe115.com >
(250) 564-4224
---
Prince Rupert Labour Council
< mailto:metis at citytel.net >
(250) 627-8833
---
Quesnel & District Labour Council
< mailto:qdlc at telus.net >
(250) 992-6337
---
Shuswap Columbia Labour Council
< mailto:giffle at jetstream.net >
( 250) 832-8509
---
South Cariboo Labour Council
< mailto:nprevost at iwa425.bc.ca >
(250) 398-8248
---
South Okanagan Boundary Labour Council
< mailto:soblc-clc at telus.net >
(250) 492-7252
---
Squamish & District Committee of Labour
< mailto:sdlc2001 at hotmail.com >
(604) 815-0811
---
Sunshine Coast & District Labour Council
< mailto:louisehood at dccnet.com >
(604) 886-2733
< http://www.sclc.ca >
---
Vancouver & District Labour Council
< mailto:vdlc at telus.net >
< http://www.vdlc.ca >
(604) 254-0703
---
Victoria Labour Council
< mailto:vlc at telus.net >
(250) 384-8331
---
West Kootenay Labour Council
< mailto:wklc at telus.net >
(250)352-9223

3.	Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and phone 
in to a radio talk show.

---------------------------------------------------------------
2.> SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE AND BEYOND

Support for BC's teachers has been coming in from far and wide. 
Teachers' organizations, individuals and unions as far away as South 
Africa have written letters of support to the BC Teachers' Federation 
and many have also written letters to MLAs, the Minister of 
Education, the Premier and the Minister of Labour.

To date, 26 BC School Boards have passed motions urging the BC 
Liberals to negotiate with teachers. Some have called for Bill 12 to 
be rescinded and others want a return to local bargaining. 

Support from individuals has been evident on the picket lines, by e-
mail, and on the phone. In one case, a parent dropped off a cheque 
and a brief letter of support for Jinny Sims. In another, at the 
Penticton Rally, a child in grade 2 gathered 43 signatures from among
her classmates in support of teachers. And at a picket line in Delta, a
neighbour came by with a patio warmer.

In Boundary, while teachers and CUPE members were on the picket line 
at Grand Forks Secondary School, a Selkirk College instructor asked 
for a sign to join them. While he was getting ready, a car pulled up 
and two vacationing teachers from Scotland stopped for a visit and 
offered some words of support.

+++|+++

At less than $10.50 an hour, a Sodexho job is a passport to poverty -
and if the Paris-based corporation has its way, that's how it will 
stay. 

4.> HEALTH CARE WORKERS VS. SODEXHO - RALLY IN VANCOUVER

What: Solidarity Rally 
When: 3:00 p.m. * Friday, October 14
Where: Sapperton Park (across from Royal Columbian Hospital)
East Columbia Street at Sherbrook in New Westminster

THE MAIN ISSUE IS WAGES

Sodexho pays 90 per cent of its employees who clean operating rooms 
and special care nurseries, and prepare and serve meals that meet the 
specific dietary needs of patients and frail seniors in health 
facilities throughout the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health
Authorities, less than $10.50 an hour.

The low wages - for Sodexho cleaners, the lowest in the country - 
mean that staff turnover is as high as 50 per cent a year, creating 
crushing workloads and threatening the health and safety of patients 
and workers. 

Sodexho took in more than $17 billion in global revenues last year 
and paid its CEO $1.4 million. The company will pocket more than $400
million from BC taxpayers for service contracts signed with the 
Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities. 

Sodexho can afford to pay its employees a family-supporting wage. 

On October 14, 350 more Sodexho employees will join the 1,150 workers
already on strike against the corporation since September 15 for a fair,
first collective agreement. 

Join them as they fight for decent wages and quality health support 
services. 

++|+++

5.> VESTA PUB NIGHT 

The Vancouver Elementary Teachers Association (VESTA) invites all 
union members and supporters to attend a special "Pub 
Night" in support of teachers.

Friday, October 14
2:00 pm - ?
West Point Grey Legion
3679 West Broadway

All union members and supporters are invited to come out and 
socialize with the teachers.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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