From update at heu.org Thu Aug 7 09:44:20 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 09:44:20 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU News Release - Victoria workers to rally at Salvation Army headquarters in Burnaby at 11:30 a.m. today Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601A5B19C@mx1.heu.org> Victoria workers to rally at Salvation Army headquarters in Burnaby at 11:30 a.m. today Laid-off staff from the Sally Ann's Sunset Lodge want talks to preserve resident care and save jobs Health care workers from the Salvation Army's Sunset Lodge, a long-term care facility in Victoria, will rally today outside the Sally Ann's Burnaby headquarters in an attempt to halt the imminent contracting out of important resident support and direct care jobs. The employees, members of the Hospital Employees' Union, want the Salvation Army to negotiate alternatives that would preserve quality of care for the lodge's 100 residents and keep more than 50 long-serving staff working. The workers have already presented two proposals to the employer aimed at meeting the facility's stated budget shortfalls and preventing contracting out plans but both have been rejected. The last day of work for the laid-off nurses, care aides, housekeepers and dietary and clerical staff is August 9. WHAT: Rally for quality long-term care WHEN: August 7 (today) 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Salvation Army Headquarters #101-3833 Henning Drive (1 block south of the Lougheed Highway at Boundary) WHO: HEU Sunset Lodge workers and supporters labcomm at bcfed.netJim Sinclair, president, B.C. Federation of Labour Debra McPherson, president, B.C. Nurses' Union Contact: Margi Blamey, 604-456-7094 (direct), 604-785-5324 (cell) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Thu Aug 7 10:05:27 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 10:05:27 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter - Revelstoke not giving up fight to save Moberly Manor Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601AC9792@mx1.heu.org> Revelstoke not giving up fight to save Moberly Manor Seniors led a march of more than 200 protesters through the streets of Revelstoke on Aug. 6, as part of the community's renewed fight against the Interior Health Authority's plans to shut down Moberly Manor, the well-loved facility that has been home to elderly citizens of this close-knit town for more than 30 years. The march from the seniors' center to Moberly Manor - where 20 seniors currently reside - was only the latest of many demonstrations, rallies and other public events held over the last 15 months. At the rally following the march, speakers praised the role of HEU members to save the place the people they care for call home. They also told of the facility's place in the history of this town of 7,000. "The people of Revelstoke built Moberly Manor," says Margaret McMahon, march organizer and a member of Revelstoke Senior Citizens' Association. "We planned it, lobbied government and raised the money. The B.C. Liberals never put one nail in that building and now they want to take it away from us." Last spring when the IHA announced the closure of the facility, they gave the elderly residents 30-days' notice to find somewhere else to live. That outrageous and callous announcement infuriated the people of Revelstoke, and when the IHA actually tried to move one resident against her wishes, the community rallied to stop it. In an unprecedented act of community solidarity, over 400 townspeople encircled the facility and physically barred management from moving anyone. The IHA backed down and granted a reprieve and a promise of consultation - a promise the community feels it has not lived up to and the reason it continues to hold rallies and protests. "Your actions over a year ago, to blockade the Moberly Manor to make sure the government did not close the facility and evict people from their homes, has continued to serve as an inspiration for all social activists in the province," said HEU president Fred Muzin in a letter of support sent to the Revelstoke seniors in advance of the march. The Revelstoke Save Our Services Coalition asks others to add their voices to the fight to save Moberly Manor by sending e-mails to peter at revelstoke.net. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. labcomm at bcfed.net From update at heu.org Thu Aug 7 17:01:04 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 17:01:04 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: Sally Ann's head honcho turns back on workers Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601AC9B7B@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Newsletters August 7, 2003 Sally Ann's head honcho turns back on workers Lieut-Colonel Don Copple, Divisional Commander of the Salvation Army, refused to meet today with about a dozen health care workers from Sunset Lodge, a Victoria seniors' care home run by the Sally Ann, who showed up at the organization's Burnaby headquarters to talk to him about the contracting out of their jobs. Instead he chose to talk to the RCMP about throwing them out of the building. The workers, who are set to lose their jobs in two days, had an earlier request for a meeting with the organization's top decision-maker ignored. So they felt they had no choice but to show up at the Sally Ann's head office and demand a meeting face-to-face. While supporters gathered outside, the Sunset Lodge workers, including local chair Brenda Jordison, asked to see Copple. Minutes later he appeared on the staircase leading into the reception area. Looking down on the health care workers, he informed them that while they were free to assemble outside, they were not permitted inside the building and that he had called the police. He repeatedly refused to meet with the workers, telling them that the decision to lay them off had been made, it was a "done deal" and it was no use trying to talk to him. He continued to refuse to meet with them for the next 20 minutes. "Most of us have worked for you for years," said Jordison, "We have been the ones to care for the people who come to you for help. We think you owe us at least five minutes of your time." Outside, HEU president Fred Muzin addressed supporters, questioning the principles of the Salvation Army when it lays off more than 50 long-time workers in order to balance their budget - when workers had proposed alternatives that would preserve their jobs and the continuity and quality of care for the 100 seniors who live at the lodge. "You have the power to reverse the decision to contract out these jobs - at least to delay it long enough to sit down and discuss the proposals they have made," said HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt, who along with Victoria Labour Council president Colin Graham had accompanied the workers into the building. Copple replied that he would not break contracts that he had signed with the private company, but was silent when asked about breaking contracts with his own employees. Later, the workers joined the many supporters rallying outside. B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair and B.C. Nurses' Union president Deborah McPherson condemned the Sally Ann for its actions that will hurt not only the nurses, care aides, housekeepers, dietary and clerical staff that are losing their jobs, but the seniors who depend on them. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From hkhaira at cupe.ca Fri Aug 8 10:23:16 2003 From: hkhaira at cupe.ca (Harprit Khaira) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 10:23:16 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] PRESS RELEASE: August 7 re: ANOTHER BAMBOOZLE HITS CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT Message-ID: ANOTHER BAMBOOZLE HITS CITY COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT PRINCE GEORGE?Citizens and taxpayers might want to get in line for front seats at city council next Monday night, August 11 as the Service Delivery Task Force, appointed by the former city council presents a report in which it claims that its work is done and its ?mandate achieved.? Just what all that means will be packaged in a report to council by Edmonton-based consulting companies Western Management Consultants and Urban Systems. The CUPE locals that represent the city?s inside and outside staff obtained a copy of the report earlier today and were stunned by its implications. ?I can only say that everyone?s frustration grows,? said Kevin McConnachie, president of CUPE local 399, in response to news that ?a report that cost who-knows-how much is telling city council that we don?t do too much right in Prince George and that things won?t improve until we contract-out more work and hire more consultants.? McConnachie and his counterpart in Local 1048 Carlene Keddie want to know just why it is that city council and city administration have to spend money to hire outside consultants to tell us how to run the city. ?Why,? says Keddie, ?aren?t we consulting each other? Why doesn?t management talk to its own workers and why aren?t the public far more involved in making decisions about priorities?? CUPE is concerned about the singularly business orientation of the consultants? report. ?Where are the people in this report?? say Keddie and McConnachie. ?When do they get their say about priorities?? One example of the confusion and frustration, says Keddie, is where the report states that on the one hand Prince George?s development costs are already the lowest around and then goes on to suggest that those same charges should be lower. ?I know one thing for sure,? says McConnachie, ?consultants won?t fix the street lights, and they won?t repair the roads and they won?t fix those sidewalks to prevent injury as people walk around in our city. To me, that?s the bottom line.? -30- Information: Leanne Dawson, CUPE national representative 250-612-7516 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Aug 7 03 Prince George Local 399.doc Type: application/msword Size: 366592 bytes Desc: not available URL: From hkhaira at cupe.ca Tue Aug 12 15:32:17 2003 From: hkhaira at cupe.ca (Harprit Khaira) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 15:32:17 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] PRESS RELEASE: August 12 re: What exactly did city council approve last night? Message-ID: CUPE Communique August 12, 2003 What exactly did city council approve last night? PRINCE GEORGE?City employees in Prince George are expressing concern and recommending caution to city councillors after last night's agreement in principle by City Council to accept five recommendations aimed at rearranging the way Prince George does business. "Council's vote last night could see hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on "strategies" and "communications plans but not one cent on concrete actions that would improve eroding public infrastructure, issues that are among the stated priorities of citizens and tax payers " said Leann Dawson, CUPE national representative." Dawson is cautioning councillors who are concerned with all Prince George citizens, not just its corporate citizens, to pay heed to the fact that the out-of-province consultants who developed these recommendations on behalf of the city council-appointed but business-controlled Service Delivery to Business Customers Task Force, did not feel any compulsion to talk to the public or to front-line city workers. "In their zeal to present a case that would benefit business though not necessarily ordinary citizens, these consultants, under the direction of the task force did not even bother consulting with ordinary people." Some members of city council voted in favour of the agreement in principle based on assurances that public and employee consultation would become part of the process but no specific amendments were agreed to, and the city manager was given the go-ahead to proceed. "If councillors concerns are to be taken seriously then those concerns should be formally reflected in any authority to proceed." CUPE will present its own investigative findings in a report to both the public and to city council in the coming weeks. City staff, inside and outside workers, have requested time at the next council meeting scheduled for Monday August 25, 2003. -30- Information: Leann Dawson (250) 612-7516, CUPE national representative -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Aug 12 03 Prince George.doc Type: application/msword Size: 364544 bytes Desc: not available URL: From update at heu.org Wed Aug 13 15:52:48 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 15:52:48 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter - Sunset Lodge fightback gains momentum Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601AC9F63@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Sunset Lodge fightback gains momentum Help support the Appeal for Justice campaign A fight for justice over the Salvation Army's mass firing of dietary, maintenance, housekeeping and clerical staff at Victoria's Sunset Lodge is gaining momentum as trade unionists and community activists continue to throw their support behind the laid-off workers. An Appeal for Justice campaign, launched by the B.C. Nurses' Union on August 10, and a strongly worded letter from the B.C. Federation of Labour, challenge the Salvation Army to live up to its moral responsibilities and reinstate the fired workers. All HEU locals are asked to circulate the appeal as widely as possible, in solidarity with our members in Victoria, and join the growing number of citizens who are standing up against the Salvation Army's cold-hearted decision to axe its long time staff and replace them with privatized services. "These workers have been waging a remarkable fightback against an employer that hides behind its public mission to help the poor, while throwing women into poverty," said HEU secretary business-manager Chris Allnutt. "By supporting the Appeal for Justice campaign we have an opportunity to expose the Sally Ann's hypocrisy as well as pressure their top leadership into re-evaluating the kind of exploitative labour practices that have disrupted the lives of Sunset Lodge workers and residents." The health services workers, whose last day on the job was August 9, are demanding an investigation into the Salvation Army's treatment of staff and residents at Sunset Lodge. Click here for a copy of the Appeal for Justice petition. Click here for a copy the letter sent by Jim Sinclair, BC. Fed president, to the Salvation Army. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Thu Aug 14 09:51:54 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:51:54 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Web links in Sunset Lodge fightback newsletter Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601ACA34C@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Sunset Lodge Fightback Newsletter Weblinks The links on the Sunset Lodge fightback newsletter (Sunset Lodge fightback gains momentum) do not work. To access the petition and Jim Sinclair's letter go to www.heu.org. The newsletter is at the top of the sidebar. The links on the website do work. My apologies. I wasn't aware that e-bulletins don't support web links. Carol Bjarnason Desktop Production Communications Department 604.456.7095 cbjarnason at heu.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. labcomm at bcfed.net From update at heu.org Thu Aug 14 13:03:00 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 13:03:00 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU News Release: VCHA's move to privatize security Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601ACA72F@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net News Releases August 14, 2003 Vancouver Coastal Health Authority's move to privatize security puts patients and workers at risk The Hospital Employees' Union (CUPE) says today's announcement by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Providence Health Care, awarding a multi-million dollar contract to a private for-profit company, will put patients and health care workers at risk. And the union is demanding that the health authority make public the details of the five-year deal with Paladin Security Group, including the company's profit expectations and the wages they'll pay their workers. The lucrative $23 million contract will put more than 200 skilled, experienced security officers out of work at hospitals throughout the Lower Mainland. "These are hospitals, not shopping malls or parking lots," says HEU secretary business-manager Chris Allnutt. "They have unique protection needs that require the skills and experience of an in-house hospital security force - one that is trained to operate within the hospital team." Allnutt says that the arms-length reporting relationship between the contracted out security guards and hospital staff will result in delayed response times to crisis situations that emerge in our large urban hospitals. And he expressed concern about the private contractor's ability to respond to the unique situations that arise in health care settings. As recently as a last week, a Paladin Security Group manager was receiving training in how to deal with violent and aggressive incidents involving psychiatric patients. In contrast, Allnutt noted, the decades-old security force at St. Paul's hospital has been recognized for its excellence in dealing with patients with mental health issues. "It's disappointing and unacceptable that the health authority has put the government's privatization agenda ahead of maintaining their quality, in-house security forces," says Allnutt. "By ignoring the concerns expressed by nurses and other health care workers they are showing a callous disregard for the safety of patients, health care workers and the visiting public." -30- For more information,contact Patty Gibson, communications officer, at 604-456-7007 (direct) or 604-328-7393 (cell). ------------------------------------------------------------------ NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Thu Aug 14 15:44:15 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 15:44:15 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: LTD Plan changes Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B080AF@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Newsletters August 14, 2003 LTD Plan changes mean more support for some claimants HEU and health employers recently agreed to two indexing changes that mean that some long-term disability claimants may be entitled to increased support. Changes to the long-term disability plan in the facilities subsector collective agreement - see page 98 - mean that certain eligible LTD claimants will receive increased benefits. The changes are: ? As of April 1, 2003, the calculation of LTD benefits for anyone disabled after April 1, 2003 will be based on 70 per cent of the first $3,352 of pre-disability income (up from $3,211), and 50 per cent on the pre-disability monthly earnings above that amount; and ? LTD claimants who were disabled between April 1, 1999 and March 31, 2000 will have their monthly benefits increased by the four-year indexing provision in the agreement. Depending on the amount of other disability incomes the claimant receives such as Canada Pension Plan Disability or WCB benefits, this indexing may increase the monthly benefit by as much as $200 a month. Under the old LTD plan, there was no indexing. There are no other changes to the long-term disability plan. If there are any questions about these LTD changes, members can contact their local HEU servicing representative. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From shannon at bcpolicyalternatives.org Fri Aug 15 10:30:04 2003 From: shannon at bcpolicyalternatives.org (Shannon Daub) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 10:30:04 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Deer Lake Folk Concert, benefit for CCPA Message-ID: Hi all, The CCPA is having a benefit folk concert at the Shadbolt Centre in Deer Lake Park Sunday August 24. I?m hoping that you can help us spread the word by forwarding the notice below to your networks. A pdf of the poster is also attached in case you?d like to post it online. Thanks, and hope to see you there. Shannon Daub Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives ____ Deer Lake Folk Concert ?A Benefit Event for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives? Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:00 to 9:00 PM Featuring: Shari Ulrich Roy Forbes Veda Hille Rae Spoon & Donna?s Boy (Aboriginal Blues Band) Concert to be held in the outdoor amphitheatre in Deer Lake Park off Canada Way in Burnaby. Only 5 minutes from Metrotown and 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. Take Hwy 1 to Exit 33 (Canada Way) or Bus 144 from Metrotown or Sperling Station to the Shadbolt Centre and Deer Lake Park. Blankets or backrest seating only please. Accessible for persons with special needs. Tickets: $30 ($10 for low income) / Children Free Available at the Shadbolt Centre Box Office (on Canada Way across from Burnaby City Hall), 604-205-3000 (phone orders are accepted), e-mail: boxoffice at city.burnaby.bc.ca. Box office open Tuesday through Saturday noon to 5 and Thursday until 7 pm. This concert is made possible by the generous support of the performers and with the assistance of the Burnaby Parks and Recreation Commission. Proceeds to support the progressive policy research work of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). ---- Shannon Daub, Communications Coordinator Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office http://www.policyalternatives.ca 1400-207 West Hastings St, Vancouver, V6B 1H7 Direct tel: (604) 801-5509 Fax: (604) 801-5122 CAW3000 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: CCPA concert flyer.pdf Type: application/octet-stream Size: 97029 bytes Desc: not available URL: From update at heu.org Fri Aug 15 11:41:19 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 11:41:19 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: Comox Valley campaign to stop contracting out Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B08490@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Newsletters August 15, 2003 Comox Valley campaign to stop contracting out gains public support Health care workers say, "Not a penny for profit" A campaign to stop the privatization of housekeeping, laundry and security services at St. Joseph's Hospital in the Comox Valley is gradually gaining community-wide attention and support. Using the slogan, "Not a Penny for Profit", health care workers have staged a series of afternoon rush-hour rallies over the past three weeks, circulated petitions and voiced their opposition to contracting out in the local media and other forums. The result? Organizers say a growing number of community members are anxious to throw their support behind the 50 health care workers who stand to lose their jobs if the hospital follows through on its privatization plans. "Support has been tremendous," says local HEU chair Bonnie Mcglashan. "People are eager to sign the petition. They not only honk their horns during our rush-hour rallies, some people actually make a point of getting out of the cars to join us, or come over and talk with us about the implications of what is happening at the hospital." Although St. Joseph's issued a Request for Proposals last month, which will close August 20, a spokesman for the hospital insists privatization is not a done deal. "We still need to determine if contracting out is actually the way we want to go," Gib French told local media. In the meantime, the campaign to build community support for public health care services continues. Next steps include a community-wide demonstration on August 27, weekly sidewalk rallies and a presentation to the hospital's board of directors on September 4. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From Anita.Miotto at bcgeu.ca Tue Aug 19 13:00:04 2003 From: Anita.Miotto at bcgeu.ca (Miotto, Anita) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 13:00:04 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Work fiction anthology - pls circulate call for writing Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD68DE7FD@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTS Work Fiction Anthology Do you have stories dealing with the daily grind, challenges, joys of work? We are looking for short fiction, published and un-published, which deals with the "insider's" experience of work in Canada. The deadline is August 31, 2003. Please send all submissions, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and email address, to the address listed below, and forward this request to other writers and friends who may be interested. WORK FICTION ANTHOLOGY Box 1586 Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P7 Contact: ahaller at sfu.ca For more information see: www.sfu.ca/labour/callforworkfiction.html From hkhaira at cupe.ca Tue Aug 19 14:14:23 2003 From: hkhaira at cupe.ca (Harprit Khaira) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 14:14:23 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] PRESS RELEASE: August 19 re: City report dubbed 'business wish list' Message-ID: CUPE Communique August 19, 2003 City report dubbed ?business wish list? PRINCE GEORGE ? Concerned about the recommendations in a consultant?s report, CUPE has called on city council and citizens to ?stay alert to the pressure to give away everything that residents have worked so hard to build.? In releasing its analysis of the report, given to city council last week, CUPE expressed grave concerns today about both the process and the recommendations contained in the report. ?They call it the ?Service Delivery to Business Customers task force report? ,? said Leann Dawson, CUPE national servicing representative commenting on behalf of Local 399 (outside workers). ?Our research suggests that it would be more aptly identified as a business wish list.? ?This was by no means an independent report,? she added. ?Consultants were chosen without tendering and were directed to speak to certain city staff and members of the business community. They were even directed as to which communities Prince George should be compared.? CUPE?s analysis argues that the report, which came in 11 months late and cost $20,000 more than originally budgeted, is nothing more than the opinions of a select group of corporate interests. ?This report offers a potpourri of measures that represent every giveaway that business could imagine,? Dawson said. ?The consultants don?t even deny that their report lacks independence. It is no basis for future action.? -30- Contact: Leanne Dawson, CUPE national representative, 250-612-7586 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Aug 19 03 Prince George Local 399 Reports.doc Type: application/msword Size: 364544 bytes Desc: not available URL: From hkhaira at cupe.ca Tue Aug 19 15:26:39 2003 From: hkhaira at cupe.ca (Harprit Khaira) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 15:26:39 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] REVISED PRESS RELEASE: City report dubbed 'business wish list' Message-ID: CUPE Communique August 19, 2003 City report dubbed ?business wish list? PRINCE GEORGE ? Concerned about the recommendations in a consultant?s report, CUPE has called on city council and citizens to ?stay alert to the pressure to give away everything that residents have worked so hard to build.? In releasing its analysis of the report, given to city council last week, CUPE expressed grave concerns today about both the process and the recommendations contained in the report. ?They call it the ?Service Delivery to Business Customers task force report? ,? said Leann Dawson, CUPE national servicing representative commenting on behalf of Local 399 (outside workers) and Local 1048 (inside workers). ?Our research suggests that it would be more aptly identified as a business wish list.? ?This was by no means an independent report,? she added. ?Consultants were chosen without tendering and were directed to speak to certain city staff and members of the business community. They were even directed as to which communities Prince George should be compared.? CUPE?s analysis argues that the report, which came in 11 months late and cost $20,000 more than originally budgeted, is nothing more than the opinions of a select group of corporate interests. ?This report offers a potpourri of measures that represent every giveaway that business could imagine,? Dawson said. ?The consultants don?t even deny that their report lacks independence. It is no basis for future action.? -30- Contact: Leanne Dawson, CUPE national representative, 250-612-7586 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Aug 19 03 Prince George Local 399 Reports.doc Type: application/msword Size: 365056 bytes Desc: not available URL: From update at heu.org Thu Aug 21 12:31:47 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 12:31:47 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU News Release: Public unimpressed with B.C. Liberals' health care performance Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B08875@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net News Releases August 21, 2003 Public unimpressed with B.C. Liberals' health care performance - poll 47 per cent give government "poor" health rating; 58 per cent oppose P3 hospitals; 60 per cent doubt health service quality can be maintained by private contractors The B.C. Liberals' performance on health care is rated as poor by 47 per cent of British Columbians, according to a Mustel Group poll commissioned by the Hospital Employees' Union. That's up sharply from 40 per cent in January and represents the second poorest ranking of a B.C. government since HEU began polling on this question in 1993. The August 6-11 telephone survey of 501 British Columbians indicates that just 7 per cent rated the government's health care performance as excellent or very good. A further 17 per cent rate their performance as good and 26 per cent as fair. "Facility closures, service cuts and privatization combined with MSP and Pharmacare hikes are eroding public confidence in this government's health care reforms," says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt. "British Columbians have quickly discovered that the New Era commitment to health care 'where and when you need it' is an empty commitment." The survey also shows a public deeply suspicious of government's plans to privatize health care infrastructure and support services. In the aftermath of government's failed plan to use public-private partnerships to operate the Coquihalla Highway, the HEU/Mustel Group survey shows that 58 per cent (including 32 per cent of B.C. Liberal supporters) oppose government plans to use similar P3 arrangements to build, own and operate hospitals, highways and schools. And on the question of contracting out health care services, 60 per cent of British Columbians are not persuaded by health authorities' claims that they can replace existing staff with private contractors and still maintain high quality health services. "The public understands that we can't build a quality health care system by throwing thousands of skilled, experienced workers out on the street," says Allnutt. About 9,000 health care workers are expected to lose their jobs by the end of 2004 due to privatization and contracting out. HEU's survey questions form part of a larger Mustel Group omnibus poll that included political preference numbers released by the polling company earlier this week. The results are considered accurate to within 4.4 per cent, 19 out of 20 times. Here are the questions: How would you rate the performance of the current B.C. Liberal government's handling of health care issues? Excellent - 1.6% Very good - 5.2% Good - 17.4% Fair - 25.5% Poor - 46.7% Don't know - 3.6% The B.C. Liberal government has proposed using private-public partnerships in which private companies would build, own and operate public infrastructure like hospitals, highways and schools. Based on what you know about private-public partnerships, do you support or oppose this approach? Strongly agree - 9.0% Somewhat agree - 23.2% Somewhat disagree - 17.9% Strongly disagree - 40.0% Don't know - 9.9% Total agree - 32.2% Total disagree - 57.9% B.C.'s health authorities say they can replace thousands of existing staff with private contractors and maintain high quality services. Do you agree or disagree with that statement? Strongly agree - 15.6% Somewhat agree - 16.6% Somewhat disagree - 18.9% Strongly disagree - 41.1% Don't know - 7.8% Total agree - 32.2% Total disagree - 60.0% -30- Contact: Mike Old, acting communications director, 604-828-6771 (cell) -------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Fri Aug 22 14:45:01 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 14:45:01 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: St. Mary's restructures hospital security services Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B08C56@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Newsletters August 22, 2003 St. Mary's restructures hospital security services Plant engineers to fill gap resulting from laid-off security officers In a sign of things to come, the recent restructuring of security services at Saint Mary's Hospital in New Westminster provides a disturbing glimpse into how one health care facility is preparing to manage future security problems. Security at that hospital is being handed over to the facility's plant engineers who will be expected to respond to all codes, including code whites, as well as conduct interior and exterior patrols, and provide escorts to parking lots when needed. That's on top of their regular job duties. As to what happens when a security problem surfaces at the same time as a critical incident within the plant - management has told workers the plant takes precedence over security. Not only that, the engineers have not yet received any advanced crisis prevention and intervention training. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of complaints and serious safety hazards for patients, visitors and staff. That's why the HEU local is advising plant engineers that they have the right to refuse to do work that is unsafe. The result of inadequate security training could be an unsafe work environment. And this training has not been provided despite the fact that the employer's plans have been in place for some time. The last day of work for the seven laid-off security staff - who are all HEU members - is Friday, August 22. -------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Tue Aug 26 17:00:02 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 17:00:02 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: ECG Techs' professional qualifications recognized in job review arbitration Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B4BCD6@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.net Newsletters August 26, 2003 ECG Techs' professional qualifications recognized in job review arbitration Evolving professional requirements for ECG Technologists have been recognized in a long-awaited job review arbitration award handed down last week in Vancouver. Stemming from a 1993 job review request from Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, the award acknowledges the upgraded qualifications required by ECG techs working in health care and in particular, the requirement to maintain registration in the Canadian Society of Radiology Technologists. Society registration includes a mandatory two-year program of training. With the award in place, the union is now in a position to create a new benchmark for ECG Techs and argue for an adjustment to the rate of pay. Here is the link for the arbitrators' full decision in pdf format.http://www.heu.org/Classification-award-ECGtechs.pdf PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From update at heu.org Tue Aug 26 17:06:29 2003 From: update at heu.org (update) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 17:06:29 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] HEU Newsletter: Pharmacy Techs wage rates adjusted to reflect self-supervision Message-ID: <939F74432D62C94F8F4795A0A09F491601B4C0B3@mx1.heu.org> labcomm at bcfed.netNewsletters August 26, 2003 Pharmacy Techs wage rates adjusted to reflect self-supervision Pharmacy Technicians work with a great degree of autonomy and as a result, a new benchmark has been established which raises wage rates for the Pharmacy Technician I by 3.25 per cent. The classification referee established that those holding the Pharmacy Technician I positions did not require their work to be checked by a pharmacist for accuracy and completeness but in fact checked each other's work. With the change in duties comes a shift in wage rate from a PC 11B to a PC 12. HEU is moving to make changes to the Pharmacy Technician II benchmark to recognize similar shifts in responsibility. As part of the review, the class series has been changed to Pharmacy Technicians from Pharmacy Assistants. Here is the link to download the Classification Award in pdf format. http://www.heu.org/Classification-award-pharmacytech.pdf PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 which can be downloaded for free from http://www.adobe.com/ Here is the link to download the new benchmark for Pharmacy Technician I. http://www.heu.org/Benchmark-Pharmacy-Tech.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This email address is NOT monitored for incoming mail except address changes and subscription requests. All e-mail, other than address changes, must be sent to heu at heu.org in order to be forwarded to the appropriate departments. To unsubscribe from this email list, reply to sender with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. If you find you have been unintentionally removed from this list and wish to re-subscribe, send an email to update at heu.org with subscribe in the subject line. Please include your name and what facility you work at (if you work in a facility) in the body of the message. All of the information and addresses in this email list are kept strictly confidential to the Hospital Employees' Union. From Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca Wed Aug 27 09:46:04 2003 From: Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca (Marshall, Teresa) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 09:46:04 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Campbell government to give boat loads of your money to private inland ferry operators? Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD601487B88@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Wednesday, August 27, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CAMPBELL GOVERNMENT TO GIVE BOAT LOADS OF YOUR MONEY TO PRIVATE INLAND FERRY OPERATORS? The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union is warning that the Campbell government may be giving away boat loads of taxpayers' money by turning over B.C.'s inland ferries to private operators. The union is challenging the provincial government to prove its plans will bring cost savings and no immediate cost increases. Until this is clearly demonstrated to the public, the union is demanding the government put a moratorium on the privatization of inland ferries. "B.C. taxpayers have a right to know whether we are all going to be paying more to subsidize this privatization scheme," says Byron Goerz, a BCGEU provincial executive member. "Further, the Campbell government needs to guarantee local communities that the quality of ferry service will not go down." There's a whole checklist of questions this government must responsibly answer, before proceeding with privatization of inland ferries, Goerz says. He points out that the provincial government buys fuel tax-free, but a private company must add tax costs. The government can also borrow money for new ferries or expanded services at much lower rates than private business. While the government self-insures its operations, private contractors face escalating insurance costs. Goerz asks, "How will private operators avoid introducing tolls when their operating costs will be higher than the government's? Or, will we be paying more through a contractor's inflated bid price?" The B.C. Auditor General's recent report on public-private partnerships (P3's) noted that the public expects the government to identify the risks associated with each partnership and to explain how it intends to manage these projects in an open and transparent manner. The government is expected to announce soon the successful bidder who will take over operating the Francois Lake ferry, south of Burns Lake. Goerz suggests that if this private contract proceeds, the government should audit its operations for three years to prove whether there are clear cost benefits. Meanwhile, he says, it doesn't make fiscal sense to go ahead with further privatization. "I urge British Columbians to let their local MLAs know that - just like the Coquihalla Highway - our public inland ferry system is not for sale." The Campbell government has indicated it plans to privatize all inland ferries by March 31, 2004. The inland ferries are vital links in our Interior economy - for the forest sector, the tourism industry, and local residents who need access to schools, hospitals, and groceries. -30- Media, please contact Byron Goerz (604) 790-1666 or Teresa Marshall, BCGEU communications (604) 291-9611 ext. 454 opeiu 378 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca Wed Aug 27 14:16:54 2003 From: Teresa.Marshall at bcgeu.ca (Marshall, Teresa) Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 14:16:54 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] Fears spread with wildfires of more cuts to forest ministry jobs Message-ID: <517DADDBB3EDAF44A2620DCB53689BD601487B91@exchange.bcgeu.bc.ca> Wednesday, August 27, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fears spread with wildfires of more cuts to forest ministry jobs Cost of firefighting may to lead to layoffs VANCOUVER - The Ministry of Forests has requested a joint labour-management meeting with the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union this Thursday, August 28 - sparking fears that the Campbell government intends to announce more ministry cuts - as deep as 30 percent - to offset the cost of fighting fires. "I call on Premier Campbell and the Minister of Forests to immediately put the concerns of workers and communities to rest. The rumours are spreading as dramatically as B.C.'s wildfires," says George Heyman, BCGEU president, noting that for the past two years the only time this committee meets is to deal with government downsizing. "It would be the harshest reward imaginable to the professional men and women who have been working day and night supporting workers on the frontline, or working on the line themselves - to be told 'thanks very much for saving communities such as Kelowna, and now here's your pink slip,'" Heyman says. "It will not matter where these cuts are made - the entire budget for forest management is related to safeguarding our public forests," Heyman says. "It will be dangerously irresponsible to the security of our communities and resources, not to mention grievously disrespectful to these dedicated public forest workers - to make any further cutbacks." Heyman notes that British Columbians are already asking for the Auditor General to review how previous cuts made by this government may have contributed to the fire disasters seen this year. The Campbell government has slashed Protection of Forest and Range Assets by 32 percent. And, approximately 1100 forests ministry positions will be eliminated by the end of this fiscal year. "This government should be using the half-billion dollars it set aside in its current budget to 'cushion against negative developments,'" Heyman says. "It makes no sense to slash the Ministry of Forests further. The cuts have already been too deep." -30- Media, please contact: Jeff Fox 250-388-9948 or cell 250-812-8185 or Teresa Marshall 604-291-9611 ext. 454 opeiu 378 To receive BCGEU news releases by e-mail send the message subscribe news to majordomo at bcgeu.bc.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: