[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] B.C. Federation of Labour E-News November 17, 2006

[bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net]

B.C. Federation of Labour E-News November 17, 2006




  

Stories

WCB hearings-first step to improved safety for gas station workers
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/615> 

The B.C. Federation of Labour is urging its members to participate in
key public hearings scheduled by WorkSafe BC during the next two weeks
to consider new Regulations designed to protect late night workers from
"Gas-and-Dash" violence of the sort that cost the life of gas station
attendant Grant Depatie. 

The draft Regulations under consideration to require prepayment for gas
purchased between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am are a step in the right
direction, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair, but do
not go far enough. Learn more. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/615> 

Armed Forces reservists deserve job protection - No one should lose his
or her job for serving Canada <http://www.bcfed.com/node/613> 

Vancouver - Reservists in Canada's armed forces deserve job protection
and continued benefits, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim
Sinclair.

"This Remembrance Day, let's not only remember those who have sacrificed
to serve Canada in the past, but those that are sacrificing their jobs
and livelihoods today," said Sinclair. Read more.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/613> 

Segregation of health care providers from public forums undermines
"health conversation," say unions
<http://www.heu.org/News/2006/11/NewsRelease6302/index.cfm?call2=HOMEPAG
E&type=1> 

The provincial government should reverse its plan to exclude health care
providers from the 16 regional public forums that are the centerpiece of
the $10-million "Conversation on Health." 

Health union leaders told Health Minister George Abbott today that the
government's plan to declare more than 100,000 British Columbians who
are health care providers as ineligible to participate in the public
meetings will deepen public skepticism of the consultation process. Read
more.
<http://www.heu.org/News/2006/11/NewsRelease6302/index.cfm?call2=HOMEPAG
E&type=1> 

Or sign up to the Conversation on Health Care
<http://www.heu.org/conversation_on_heal/> . 

Health care workers may not be allowed to participate but Gordon
Campbell can't ignore working people and their views on health care.
Whether a mill worker, or a teacher, a construction worker or municipal
employee tell Gordon Campbell <http://www.heu.org/conversation_on_heal/>
working families need a strong public health care system, not more
privatization.

Western forest products shuts mills, sells logs: province needs to act
to protect and restore sector, says steelworkers
<http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3734.php?lan=en>  

BURNABY, BC - It's wrong that Western Forest Products sells nearly a
third of the publicly-owned logs it harvests but says it can't run its
New Westminster sawmill, says the United Steelworkers (USW). And it's a
travesty that the BC government can't or won't do anything about it. 

In response to Western's planned February closure of the New Westminster
mill, the USW has unveiled a series of measures to boost investment and
address the log-export-crisis that is destroying coastal communities. 
Learn more. <http://www.usw.ca/program/content/3734.php?lan=en> 

Events

B.C. Federation of Labour Convention-A proud history. A strong future.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/407> 

The B.C. Federation of Labour's 50th Annual Convention takes place
November 27 through December 1, 2006 at the Vancouver Convention and
Exhibition Centre.

This year's theme: A proud history. A strong future. celebrates the B.C.
Federation's 50th Anniversary. Learn more.
<http://www.bcfed.com/about_us/convention> 

"Strike up the band" B.C. Federation of Labour 50th anniversary concert
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/611> 

Thursday November 30, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Orpheum Theater

In conjunction with our upcoming Convention, we have been working with
the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society to hold a special concert to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Learn
more. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/611> 

National Day of Remembrance--Action on Violence Against Women
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/614> 

Wednesday December 6, 2006 from 7:30 am to 7:30 am

Join union sisters and brother, partners from the community and other
guests as we remember women who have been victims of violence and work
to end violence against women. Learn more.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/614> 

Publications

The Fluke that Made BC Boom <http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/11/15/Boom/> 

Do Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberals deserve credit for the province's
improved economic and fiscal fortunes? That question sparked
considerable debate a year and a half ago, during the 2005 provincial
general election. Yes! B.C. Liberal supporters loudly proclaimed. No!
screamed their political opponents.

More than a few members of the news media enthusiastically joined the
former group. One was Vancouver Sun editorialist Harvey Enchin, who
wrote a lengthy column that appeared on May 14, 2005 -- mere days before
voters went to the polls. B.C. Liberal policies, Enchin claimed, "have,
in fact, kickstarted a dramatic economic turnaround."

However, two recent reports from independent entities headquartered
outside the province indicate that government policies have had little
to do with BC's improved circumstances. The first was written by Scotia
Economics, a division of Scotiabank, while the second came from Moody's
Investor Services. Both reports illustrate that British Columbia's
current prosperity is primarily due to a historic boom in global
commodity prices. Read more. <http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/11/15/Boom/> 

Coroner's Inquest Demanded in Sullivan Mine Deaths
<http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/11/14/Sullivan/> 

Between May 15 and 17 this year, four workers died
<http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/05/18/bc_mine-upda
te20060518.html>  inside a dark, airless shed on the grounds of Teck
Cominco's decommissioned Sullivan Mine near Cranbrook in the East
Kootenays. Now the government report
<http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/10/30/mine-deaths.
html>  on this tragedy is at the centre of a storm of controversy.
Family members, the MLA for the region, and the union that represented
workers at Sullivan when the lead/zinc/silver mine was open are calling
for a coroner's inquest. They say there is more to know about the facts,
and who is responsible. 

Doug Erickson, an environmental contractor working for Pryzm
Environmental, and Bob Newcombe, a Teck Cominco employee, were the first
to succumb to an oxygen-depleted atmosphere inside the tiny
water-monitoring structure build over a tailings dump. B.C. Ambulance
paramedics Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier died trying to rescue Erickson
and Newcombe. Read more. <http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/11/14/Sullivan/> 

cope 15

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