[BC_Labour_E-NEWS] B.C. Federation of Labour E-News--September 8, 2006

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

B.C. Federation of Labour E-News--September 8, 2006

Stories

Canadian Jobs At Risk--Golden Ears Bridge Project Raises Serious
Concerns about Conservative Immigration Policy
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/514> 

VANCOUVER - In an attempt to drive down wages and drive up profits, the
Golden Ears Bridge Project contractor, Bilfinger Berger, is looking for
the federal government's approval to bring foreign workers to Canada to
do the work that qualified Canadian workers would be proud to do.
Bilfinger's application for temporary foreign workers is now before the
federal government. The BC building trades and the B.C. Federation of
Labour, together with Harris Rebar, are united in their opposition to
the application. Read more. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/514> 

Union movement challenges Campbell to give BC's poorest British
Columbians a raise as Labour Day present <http://www.bcfed.com/node/513>


B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair today challenged
Premier Gordon Campbell to give BC's poorest British Columbians a raise,
with a three-part Labour Day gift that would benefit minimum wage
earners and welfare recipients. Read more or view a clip of Jim's Labour
Day address. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/513> 

B.C. Federation of Labour urges unions to withdraw Island Savings
deposits to support striking workers <http://www.bcfed.com/node/481> 

The B.C. Federation of Labour has urged its affiliated unions to follow
the example of the United Steelworkers Local 1-80, which has withdrawn
$500,000 of its funds from Island Savings Credit Union to show its
support for members of Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union,
Local 15 (COPE) on strike for a new contract. Read more.
<http://www.bcfed.com/node/481> 

Vancouver Firefighters Challenge Management Exemption 

IAFF Local 18 is fighting City of Vancouver's management's decision to
exclude the Division Chief Mechanic position, and recommends union
members not apply for the recently posted job. Local 18 President Rod
MacDonald reports that the position has been in the union's jurisdiction
for many years, and the employer decided to post the job as an exempt
management position without the agreement of the union. Local 18 is
taking legal steps to challenge the city's decision and job applicants
should be aware that they may lose the job if the union is successful.
To learn more contact IAFF Local 18 <http://www.iaff18.org/> .

Publications

Canadian Ironworkers Shut out of Big Bridge Job, Say Unions, Contractors
<http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/09/01/Ironworkers/> 
<http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/09/01/Ironworkers/> 

German firm's plan for guest workers sparks anger.

Like mysteries? Think of this one as "the case of the missing
ironworkers." 

When it comes to one of BC's controversial new "public private
partnerships," the construction of the new Golden Ears Bridge across the
Fraser between Maple Ridge and Langley, the German company recently
granted the Translink construction contract says that finding skilled
workers in Canada is murder. The firm, Bilfinger Berger, is asking for
government permission to bring in workers from offshore to address what
they portray as a shortage of skilled workers. 

Local labour and business leaders, on the other hand, are calling on the
government to deny Bilfinger Berger's request, insisting that there are
more than enough skilled Canadian tradespeople looking for work to meet
the project's needs, and that the company's attempts to hire Canadian
workers have been half-hearted at best. Read more at The Tyee..
<http://thetyee.ca/News/2006/09/01/Ironworkers/> 

Events

Rally to Ban Raw Log Exports--Victoria, BC

Date: Saturday September 16, 2006 

Time: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

To find more information click here. <http://www.bcfed.com/event> 

Pension Investment & Governance 

Date: September 25-28, 2006 End: 

If you are a Pension Trustee, a Pension Advisory Committee member or a
Union Officer, SHARE's Pension Investment and Governance Courses will
help you fulfill your duties to plan members and beneficiaries in a
financially prudent and socially responsible manner. To find out more 
click here. <http://www.bcfed.com/node/404> 

JU/mp

cope 15 

0500-06enews-ju-sep 8

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