From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Oct 6 15:02:17 2006 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 15:02:17 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] B.C. Federation of Labour E-news Oct. 6, 2006 Message-ID: <1EFB83EC494285438D10B2CCC12063764B73C5@bcfednt.bcfed.local> B.C. Federation of Labour E-News Oct. 6, 2006 Stories Conservative government abandons working women Vancouver - The Steven Harper Conservatives' funding cuts and backtracking on previous policy commitments are a clear sign that the federal Conservative government is abandoning working women says B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer, Angela Schira. Read more. Campbell government should mark World Teachers' Day with a commitment to fully fund students needs Vancouver-Campbell government should mark World Teachers' Day today with a commitment to fully fund students needs, says Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour. "The BC Liberals want to give the impression they support education," said Sinclair, "but the reality is very different." Read more. HEU urges moratorium on privatization during "Conversation on Health," 65 per cent believe outcome is predetermined -- poll Richmond, BC- The Hospital Employees' Union is urging the provincial government to take concrete steps that demonstrate it hasn't already determined the outcome of its year-long "Conversation on Health Care." Read more. Foreign workers on RAV line deserve same wages as Canadian workers Vancouver-Foreign workers building BC's taxpayer-funded RAV line deserve the same wages and rights as Canadian workers says B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair. Members of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union, the BC Teachers' Federation, the Hospital Employees' Union and the BC and Yukon Building Trades rallied outside the RAV line tunnel project in Vancouver on Monday to show their support for foreign workers, organized by the Labourers Union, who are taking a strike vote against SNC-SELI, the project operators. Read more. Federal anti-scab legislation to be debated in House of Commons On October 18, 2006, the House of Commons will debate second reading on Bill C-257, the federal anti-scab legislation. In all likelihood, the House will vote on the Bill the following week. The legislation which is a Private Members Bill introduced by the Bloc and supported by the NDP would make it illegal for employers to hire new staff while their own employees are locked out or on strike. This is similar to legislation already in place in BC and Quebec. Learn more. Labour calls for immediate restoration of pine-beetle funding Conservative cuts come on same day federal report says 80 percent of BC's pine forest will be affected. Vancouver-Funding to tackle BC's growing pine-beetle problem should never have been on the chopping block, says B.C Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair, and the Conservatives should restore the money immediately. Read more. Support ACCESS Community Health Centre Each year, VanCity donates 30 percent of its net profits back to the community. This includes the $1-million VanCity Award which goes to an organization that supports the well-being of the community. VanCity members get to vote on which project should receive funding from this award. There are four excellent proposals for consideration this year. AIDS Vancouver Island and the Cool Aid Society, Atira Women's Resource Society, The Crisis Centre, and the Quest Outreach Society are all looking for support from VanCity members. While all four organizations are deserving of this award, I am writing to urge union members to consider supporting the AIDS Vancouver Island and Cool Aid Society proposal. The BCGEU represents staff at AIDS Vancouver Island and Cool Aid, and your vote will help ensure this exciting project gets the funding it needs. Both agencies are working together to provide prevention and support services under one roof, and are the only unionized agencies under consideration for the award. The new ACCESS Community Health Centre in Victoria will reach some of the society's most under-served citizens, including HIV-positive street youth, sex workers and injection drug users. The facility can play a large role in not only improving health outcomes and stability for those most in need, but also in alleviating demands on emergency and hospital services. The BC Federation of Labour encourages those members who bank with VanCity to vote before Oct. 13th. Find out more. Events Advanced OHS Course-Vancouver Date: Thursday October 12, 2006 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm The Advanced OH&S Course has been designed to allow participants to develop the tools, resources and strategies to build on their successes and to tackle the tough OH&S issues at their workplaces. Find out more about this course or other health and safety courses. Pensions Under Pressure--Pension Roundtable Date: Thursday October 12, 2006 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm A roundtable for public and private sector union pension trustees, advocates, activists and staff to share experience, explore issues, and develop strategies to protect our members. Find out more. Greater Vancouver Homelessness Awareness Week October 16th to 22, 2006 is the first annual Homelessness Awareness Week in Greater Vancouver. Our theme for this year is Homelessness and Health. Through Homelessness Awareness Week people living in the Greater Vancouver area are invited to learn more about what is causing homelessness; how homelessness affects the health of individuals and society at large; and why working together is the only way we will solve the crisis of homelessness in our community. Find out more. Media Democracy Day Date: Thursday October 19, 2006 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm "Remaking Media: The struggle to democratize media in Vancouver" A panel discussion and independent media displays, as part of Media Democracy Day 2006. Find out more. PUBLIC FORUM: Selling Us Down the River - What's at stake by privatizing BC's Run-of-the-River energy resources? Saturday, October 21 @ 7:30PM,Alice McKay Room, Vancouver Public Library Hear an overview of how current threats to public ownership of BC's water will effect you and your community. Learn about three communities actively fighting large corporation's bids to control our invaluable natural resource. Find out more. Publications Trades Apprentices Talk Union "Why do pensions matter?" That was just one of the questions facing Jim Sinclair as he spent his morning with a group of young apprentices. Thirty-three 1st and 4th year apprentices, members of the Sheet Metal Workers Union (SMWU) Local 280 opened their classroom to hear Sinclair's views on the labour movement. "It's about respect. Respect for the craft and respect for us as workers," the B.C. Federation of Labour President said as he outlined the history of the SMWU and their predecessor guilds. Most in the room were first time union members, their only experience with a union often just what they've seen of picket lines on the news. Read more. Shhhhh! It's 'Right to Know Week' BC Libs so quiet about their own proclamation, you'd hardly know. >From thetyee.ca This is Right to Know Week, according to a proclamation from the B.C. government. The formal announcement declaring this joyous week is filled with some pretty lofty thoughts. For instance: "Whereas the government of British Columbia has adopted the principle of open and transparent government..." Read more. JU/smo COPE 15 0500-06prl-JU E-news Oct 6.doc -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 162948 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net Fri Oct 20 17:37:14 2006 From: bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net (bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net) Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:37:14 -0700 Subject: [BC_Labour_E-NEWS] B.C. Federation of Labour E-News October 20, 2006 Message-ID: <1EFB83EC494285438D10B2CCC12063764B7D7E@bcfednt.bcfed.local> E-News October 20, 2006 Stories Hundreds rally to highlight Canada's growing forest crisis-B.C. Federation of Labour makes submission to government review of raw log exports Vancouver-B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair joined delegates to the Communication Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) National Convention at a rally to highlight Canada's growing forest crisis. This year over 5000 jobs have been lost in the Canadian forest industry, with almost half that number occurring in the last two weeks. "Our industry is being hurt from all sides and both the provincial and federal government's seem to have the blinders on," Sinclair said. From raw log exports to the softwood sell-out to the growing pine beetle crisis, BC's forest communities are facing a tough future. Delegates to the National CEP Convention rally to highlight Canada's growing forestry crisis This week the Federation met with Bill Dumont and Don Wright, who were appointed by the provincial government to review the growing export of raw logs from BC. "Enough logs to fill 125,000 logging trucks left BC last year," said Sinclair, "that's the export of 3300 jobs that could have been created in BC." Download a copy of the Federation's submission on raw exports. While the Softwood Lumber Agreement was in its early day's of implementation, Weyerheuser who supported the agreement announced a two-week closure of their sawmill operations in Kamloops, BC. 175 workers, represented by Local 1-417 of the United Steelworkers have been laid off, with the company admitting that even more downtime is likely. Days later, 130 workers, members of Steelworkers Local 1-423, employed at Tolko Industries' plywood division in Kelowna were informed that their jobs are being permanently eliminated effective in January 2007. Tell your MP to stop the Softwood Sell-out and stand up for BC jobs. BC Liberal appointment creates serious setback for labour relations Vancouver-The BC government's decision to reappoint Brent Mullin as Chair of the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) is a serious setback to constructive labour relations in the province, says Jim Sinclair, President, B.C. Federation of Labour. "The provincial government has a long way to go to restore confidence in the LRB, which, frankly, many on both sides have lost," Sinclair said. Read more. Labour leader from Costa Rica visits Vancouver to support RAV line foreign workers in fight to win first union contract VANCOUVER - Canadian Labour Congress President, Ken Georgetti, today welcomed a visit by a top union leader from Costa Rica who is here to support foreign workers on the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver rapid transit line attempt to win a first union contract. And Georgetti and B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair warned Canadian employers that organized labour here and around the world will not allow foreign workers to be exploited with low wages and poor working conditions while undercutting Canadian labour standards. Read more. "Pay before you pump" -important milestone on road to full regulations for gas station, convenience store workers working alone Vancouver --Today's announcement by WorkSafeBC that "Pay Before You Pump" regulations will go to public hearing before the end of the year are an important milestone in the fight for full protection for those working alone in gas stations and convenience stores, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair, and a tribute to the courage and initiative of the Grant Depatie family. Learn more. Ferry Workers' Union calls for judicial review following damning statements from former BC Ferries' safety director Victoria-The BC Ferry and Marine Workers' Union (BCFMWU) has reviewed Captain Darin Bowland's affidavit regarding safety issues at BC Ferries and are forwarding it to legal counsel for their input and evaluation. Captain Bowland's statements confirm concerns the Union has raised over the years about operational and occupational health and safety matters at BC Ferries. (Read Bowland's statement.) The Union is supportive of the operational safety policy review currently being conducted by Mr. George Morfitt and his team. The Union encourages the auditor to investigate the statements contained in the affidavit in the context of the overall operational safety audit. Further, given the controversy regarding safety at BC Ferries, the BCFMWU is requesting a judicial review, as per the Nemetz Inquiry, be convened into the sinking of the MV Queen of the North and a full and complete audit be conducted into all aspects of the safety management system at BC Ferries including worker health and safety and environmental impact issues. The Union has no comment at this time regarding the Divisional Inquiry into the grounding of the MV Queen of Oak Bay. To learn more contact the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union, Minimum wage increase, income assistance boost BC's next budget should reduce income inequality and boost BC's energy capacity, says the B.C. Federation of Labour, with a minimum wage increase and a return to public power generation. "BC has the highest poverty rates in the country," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair in his Submission to the Finance Committee of the Legislature, which is conducting pre-budget consultations. Read more or download a copy of the Federation's submission. WorkSafeBC premium cut for employers won't do any thing to improve workers' safety and does nothing to help injured workers Vancouver - Today's WorkSafeBC premium cut for employers won't do anything to improve workers' safety and does nothing to help injured workers, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "Last year we recorded the highest number of worker fatalities in 25 years, yet see some of the lowest premium rates for employers. Something is definitely wrong with this picture," said Sinclair. Read more. Events PUBLIC FORUM: Selling Us Down the River - What's at stake by privatizing BC's Run-of-the-River energy resources? Selling Us Down the River-Hear an overview of how current threats to public ownership of BC's water will effect you and your community. Learn about three communities actively fighting large corporations' bids to control our invaluable natural resource. Saturday, October 21 @ 7:30PM, Alice McKay Room, Vancouver Public Library Learn more or download the event poster. Softwood Agreement--Community Forum Date: Thursday October 26, 2006 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT UNFAIR TRADE WITH THE U.S.? NOT SURE IF IT AFFECTS YOU ? IT'S NOT TOO LATE ! Come to an Open Community Forum and learn about the Harper/Bush Softwood Agreement. Learn more. NWDLC 40th Anniversary Celebration Friday October 27, 2006, 6:00 pm Operating Engineers Hall - 4333 Ledger Ave, Burnaby Tickets $100, Featuring Bob Robertson, of "Double Exposure" Learn more. Health and Safety Education The Occupational Health and Safety Education Resource Centre provides health and safety education to throughout British Columbia. This education allows workers to participate more effectively in health and safety issues, leading to positive change in the workplace. Courses are offered throughout the year in communities around British Columbia. Arrangements can also be made to provide education and training to joint committees in the workplace. Learn more about upcoming courses offered in your community. B.C. Federation of Labour 50th Convention-A proud history. A strong future. 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. Please check here for resolutions, reports, news and information related to the Convention. Publications The Softwood Hard Sell-Deal a bitter pill for some B.C. lumber firms, especially 'remanufacturers.' Stephen Harper claimed the deal to end the softwood lumber dispute "quickly won support" in provinces like British Columbia. However, the Agreement, which came into effect yesterday , is bitterly criticized by some industry executives in BC, especially those in the business of turning raw logs into the kinds of products that also create more jobs. Comments on the record by execs have been scarce. One central Interior reporter, who didn't want to be named, used the words "unusually tough" to describe getting managers and company presidents to comment publicly on the deal. But some timber execs have unburdened themselves to union members, claims Terry Tate, Financial Secretary with the United Steelworkers in Williams Lake. "They're telling us behind closed doors that this deal is horrible." Read the rest of this Tyee story. cope 15 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: winmail.dat Type: application/ms-tnef Size: 191693 bytes Desc: not available URL: