[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] B.C. Federation of Labour E-news Oct. 6, 2006

[bc_labour_enews at bcfed.net]

B.C. Federation of Labour E-News Oct. 6, 2006


  

Stories 

Conservative government abandons working women
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/578> 

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.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/578> 

Campbell government should mark World Teachers' Day with a commitment to
fully fund students needs <http://www.bcfed.com/node/577> 

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.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/577> 

HEU urges moratorium on privatization during "Conversation on Health,"
65 per cent believe outcome is predetermined -- poll
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/576> 

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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/576> 

Foreign workers on RAV line deserve same wages as Canadian workers
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/575> 

 

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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/575> 

Federal anti-scab legislation to be debated in House of Commons
<http://canadianlabour.ca/index.php/antiscab_legislation> 

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.
<http://canadianlabour.ca/index.php/antiscab_legislation> 

Labour calls for immediate restoration of pine-beetle funding
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/570> 

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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/570> 

Support ACCESS Community Health Centre
<http://www.accesshealthcentre.ca/> 

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.
<http://www.accesshealthcentre.ca/> 




Events


Advanced OHS Course-Vancouver <http://www.bcfed.com/node/548> 

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.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/548> 

Pensions Under Pressure--Pension Roundtable
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/562> 

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.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/562> 

Greater Vancouver Homelessness Awareness Week
<http://www.stophomelessness.ca/> 
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.
<http://www.stophomelessness.ca/> 

Media Democracy Day <http://www.bcfed.com/node/580> 

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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/580> 

PUBLIC FORUM: Selling Us Down the River - What's at stake by privatizing
BC's Run-of-the-River energy resources? <http://www.bcfed.com/node/579> 

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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/579> 




Publications


Trades Apprentices Talk Union <http://www.bcfed.com/node/573> 

"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. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/573> 

Shhhhh! It's 'Right to Know Week'
<http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/09/28/RightToKnow/> 
<http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/09/28/RightToKnow/> 

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
<http://www.oipcbc.org/news/rlsgen/NR-Right_to_Know_Week.pdf>  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.
<http://thetyee.ca/Views/2006/09/28/RightToKnow/> 

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: <http://bcfed.net/pipermail/bc_labour_enews/attachments/20061006/ba69246c/attachment.bin>