From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Oct 7 18:01:00 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2005 17:01:00 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP votes against teachers' legislation at conclusion of all-night debate Message-ID: NDP votes against teachers' legislation at conclusion of all-night debate VICTORIA -- At the conclusion of a debate that lasted through the night, the BC NDP Opposition today voted against legislation imposing a contract on BC teachers. NDP Leader Carole James said that Premier Gordon Campbell chose conflict and confrontation instead of working with teachers to find lasting solutions to this impasse. She said that by deliberately escalating the conflict with teachers, the government is hurting education and contributing to a climate of anger and frustration. "Rather than working with teachers to find solutions for the benefit of our children, Gordon Campbell is treating teachers as if they don't matter," said James. "It's time for the Premier to change his attitude, sit down with teachers and work on reducing class sizes and improving learning conditions for young people." James said that the issues in this dispute are important to all British Columbians. She said the Campbell government's cuts to education and the downloading of costs onto school boards have resulted in overcrowded classrooms, demoralized educators and fewer resources for students. "Education is simply not a priority for this government," said James. "If the government was serious about putting students first, we wouldn't be where we are today -- with frustrated teachers backed into a corner by the government." NDP Education Critic John Horgan said that for four years the Campbell government has deliberately provoked conflicts with teachers. "Time and again, Gordon Campbell has used teachers for political purposes," said Horgan. "He tore up their contract in 2002. He stripped teachers of their self-governing body in 2003. He overruled a BC Supreme Court decision on classroom composition in 2004. And he refused to meet with teachers when he had a chance to make progress." "Responsibility for the escalation of this dispute lies squarely with Premier Gordon Campbell and his government," said Horgan. "The BC Liberal government always chooses conflict and confrontation as its first option. And, this time parents, students and teachers are the ones paying the price." To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Tue Oct 11 17:56:00 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 16:56:00 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] James releases statement on government dispute with BC teachers Message-ID: James releases statement on government dispute with BC teachers NDP Opposition Leader Carole James released the following statement this afternoon: ------------- "As the teachers' dispute enters its second week, parents are looking to the Premier to provide leadership. Instead, the Premier has chosen to walk away from the mess his government created. Today, I am calling on Premier Campbell to return to British Columbia and to make a personal commitment to address the serious issues at stake in this dispute. Since assuming office in 2001, the government has consistently and deliberately betrayed teachers, doctors, crown prosecutors and others. They have overruled court decisions, dismissed third-party recommendations, and used the legislature to short-circuit good-faith negotiations and impose contracts rather than bargain them. And now they are abdicating any responsibility for finding a solution to re-open BC schools. British Columbians expect more from their Premier, especially during a crisis. They expect leadership. They expect the government to make responsible decisions in the public interest. What is needed right now from the Premier is a personal commitment to sit down and talk directly with teachers. Mr. Campbell must make a personal guarantee that real action will be taken by his government to resolve the issues of class size, class composition, and the other learning conditions issues at the centre of this dispute. Over the last 18 months, the government has taken every opportunity to be confrontational with teachers. Their approach has contributed to a climate of anger and mistrust. It has put parents and students at the centre of a political dispute when the government should have been working to bring the parties together around common goals for education. By his absence, Premier Campbell is sending the wrong signal to all British Columbians. He is acting as though he doesn't care that over 600 thousand young people are not in school. To date, the Premier and his ministers have done all they can do to create a crisis. It's time they did much more to help find a solution to this serious impasse. This crisis is largely the fault of the Campbell government. At numerous points in the past week, The Liberal government had the option to choose positive solutions and a non-confrontational approach to this dispute. Last week, the NDP Opposition suggested the government put Bill 12 on hold in order that discussions could take place between the government and teachers in an atmosphere of good faith. The government rejected that idea. Over the weekend, the government had three days to sit down and find a resolution to the crisis, but chose instead to do nothing, and this morning, the Minister of Labour said the dispute is out of the government's hands. It's critical that the Premier acknowledge the role his government played in getting the province to this point. By abdicating all responsibility for this dispute, the Premier has left parents and students to pay the price. Mr. Campbell must step back and begin the serious work of getting students and teachers back in the classroom." To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Oct 14 15:10:03 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 14:10:03 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Time for reason to prevail in government dispute with teachers Message-ID: Time for reason to prevail in government dispute with teachers VICTORIA - NDP Education critic John Horgan today condemned Mike de Jong's lack of action on the teacher's dispute, saying that it was in the best interest of parents and children that discussions between government and teachers take place over the weekend. "With 600,000 students out of school and parents struggling to make arrangements, the Campbell government has a duty to sit down with teachers over the weekend to find a solution to the crisis that this government created," said Horgan. Horgan said that despite de Jong's insistence that he won't talk until teachers end their protest, there is nothing preventing serious negotiations over the weekend. He pointed out that the Campbell government negotiated with the HEU in 2004 despite a court ruling that said that job action was also illegal. "The Premier and his Ministers have made this decision based on their political interest only," said Horgan. "In the interests of students, he needs to put aside the government's confrontational approach and work towards solutions, not aggravate an already tense situation." Horgan said that 26 school boards are also calling on the government to negotiate directly with teachers. "All parties involved in this dispute understand what the government must do - sit down with teachers and enter into real discussions about the issues at hand, class size and composition," said Horgan. "Teachers have already said that they are willing to meet any time any place. It is now up to the Premier and the Minister of Labour to take up that offer and get to work." To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Mon Oct 17 19:41:02 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:41:02 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Premier failing leadership test on education dispute Message-ID: Premier failing leadership test on education dispute VICTORIA - Premier Gordon Campbell continues to fail students and parents by refusing to talk to teachers to re-open B.C. schools, NDP Education Critic John Horgan said today. Horgan said that the Premier seems content to let 600,000 students lose millions more classroom days while the crisis threatens to spiral out of control. "Premier Campbell should stop the pointless 'tough talk' and open up lines of communication to find common ground and an end to this impasse," said Horgan. "To date, all Mr. Campbell has done is increase confrontation and add to the tension. His approach is not working for B.C.'s parents and students." Horgan said that 3 million school days have already been missed by students in this dispute. He said millions more will be lost if the government continues to refuse to talk to teachers. In 2004, during a dispute with the Hospital Employees Union, the government opened lines of communication to find a settlement. Horgan said that by contrast the government insists on taking a hard-line political approach in this dispute, refusing to look for a settlement. "Gordon Campbell backed himself into a corner with legislation that increased tension and frustration. But B.C. parents and children should not have to pay for the Premier's short-sighted confrontational approach to education," said Horgan. "It's time for the Premier to step back, get talking with B.C. teachers, and find a solution that gets students back into the classroom. To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lleclair at cupe.ca Mon Oct 17 19:43:56 2005 From: lleclair at cupe.ca (Louise Leclair) Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:43:56 -0700 Subject: [LabComm] CUPE to follow Solidarity Monday with protest in Prince George In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <0ceb0fd82a3f2225af8097e4627805ab@cupe.ca> CUPE to follow ?Solidarity Monday? with protest in Prince George Victoria rally draws 20,000; Island workers walk off the job to support BCTF BURNABY?Education Minister Shirley Bond will get a lesson in the ABCs of democracy tomorrow (Tuesday) when the Canadian Union of Public Employees holds a massive rally outside her Prince George offices demanding that the BC Liberal government repeal Bill 12 and return to the bargaining table with B.C. teachers. The rally comes a day after a crowd of more than 20,000 gathered at the provincial legislature to support striking members of the BC Teachers? Federation?a day that will be remembered throughout Vancouver Island as a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for free collective bargaining in B.C. Despite rainy weather, the large demonstration was accompanied by a massive work shutdown in Victoria and surrounding communities including Saanich, Sooke, Ladysmith and Chemainus. Municipal government, transit and a variety of regional services were shut down by working people acting in support of the assault on B.C. teachers? collective bargaining rights in the wake of Bill 12, the legislation that prematurely terminated collective bargaining by extending the teachers? collective agreement until June, 2006. While thousands gathered in Victoria, CUPE members were ?solid in Saanich? where most services from the pools to the dump remained shut for the day. From Nanaimo to the North Island covering Comox, Campbell River, Tofino, Gold River and Port Alice, stories of tremendous support were reported from CUPE picket lines. And in Powell River, managers brought coffee and doughnuts to the protest lines. Throughout all this, CUPE members ensured that many childcare operations and all health care and social services needs were maintained. Tuesday?s CUPE protest in Prince George follows today?s rally in front of MLA Pat Bell?s office. On October 18, CUPE Prince George members from city, school, post secondary and the regional district will walk off the job and attend a protest and street barbeque in front of Shirley Bond?s office. Special guests will be announced in the morning. In the neighbouring Northern communities of Smithers, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Houston, Telqua and Hazelton, CUPE members will join the teachers on their picket lines. In Mackenzie, CUPE members will also support teacher picket lines as well as hosting a Candlelight Vigil at 7:00 p.m. -30- Contact: Louise Leclair, CUPE Communications Representative 778-228-2099. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Oct 17 05 CUPE to follow Solidarity Monday with protest in PG.doc Type: application/msword Size: 364544 bytes Desc: not available URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Tue Oct 18 18:50:01 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 17:50:01 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP urges government to end dispute with emergency motion Message-ID: NDP urges government to end dispute with emergency motion VICTORIA - The NDP Caucus introduced an emergency motion Monday afternoon in an effort to find a resolution to the ongoing dispute between the government and BC's teachers, Opposition House Leader Mike Farnworth said today. "The Opposition put forward a motion to suspend regular business in the Legislature to allow for a comprehensive debate on the government's role in the teachers dispute," said Farnworth. "Every single day the job action continues is another difficult day for British Columbia students, parents and teachers. The government has a responsibility to sit down with teachers and negotiate a new agreement. The emergency debate would have allowed MLAs to express the deep concern all parties have about this ongoing crisis and press government to take action." Just before the House concluded business for Monday's dinner break, the Speaker ruled that the urgency of the issue had not been established and ruled against the motion. "Unfortunately, the motion was not able to pass certain parliamentary tests and we respect the Speaker's ruling," said Farnworth. "The ruling, however, does not change the urgency teachers, students and parents are feeling across BC." Education critic John Horgan added that the Premier must show commitment and leadership today to end the dispute. "This is a crisis of the government's making," said Horgan. "Premier Campbell has refused to take any responsibility for this situation. He ripped up collective agreements, overturned a BC Supreme Court ruling and abdicated his government's responsibility to negotiate a fair settlement to improve learning conditions in classrooms. He has to take responsibility for his role in this crisis and take steps today to get our children back into the schools. "His government negotiated with the Hospital Employees Union in 2004 during similar job action and he must do it now," said Horgan. "BC students have already lost millions of education days because of the Premier's lack of leadership. He can prevent them from losing any more." To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Sat Oct 22 16:50:09 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 15:50:09 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] Statement from Carole James regarding government dispute with teachers Message-ID: Statement from Carole James regarding government dispute with teachers VICTORIA - NDP Opposition Leader, Carole James, today released the following statement: ---------------- Now that both the government and the BC Teachers' Federation have recommended the acceptance of Vince Ready's recommendations, it is important that we take lessons from a dispute that caused enormous disruption for students, parents, and educators. The Campbell government's deliberately provocative actions and confrontational approach created the conditions for this dispute. Teachers took on this government regarding critical issues facing education in B.C. And teachers have won a significant admission from the Campbell government that learning conditions in our schools, class sizes and classroom composition, are serious issues facing students in B.C., serious issues that must be resolved. Once again, the Campbell government underestimated public tolerance for uncalled-for confrontation and conflict. Once again, the Campbell government's confrontational approach failed British Columbians. Students lost the largest number of school days in provincial history. Parents and students across the province were subjected to unnecessary chaos and uncertainty, because the government preferred to politicize education rather than acknowledge concerns being raised by teachers and the public regarding learning conditions and class sizes. This dispute underscores the failure of the Gordon Campbell government to listen. The Premier was faced with a critical leadership test, and he failed that test. At issue now is the lack of trust between Premier Gordon Campbell's government and teachers, parents, and students. As the Opposition we intend to take a strong role in the weeks ahead, holding the government accountable. We will continue to press the government to live up to its commitments, and make sure that the recommendations in Mr. Ready's report are implemented. Mr. Ready recognized what the government would not: that there are serious challenges facing students in our classrooms and the government must address them. Public support for addressing those concerns was very clear. The public wants government to address - in a meaningful way - the concerns raised about education throughout the dispute. And we will continue to raise those concerns in the Legislature. To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Oct 27 16:11:06 2005 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP NEWSWIRE) Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:11:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] What's Gordon Campbell afraid of? Message-ID: What's Gordon Campbell afraid of? Why won't Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals insist on public hearings into the sale of Terasen Gas to a Texas-based energy giant? What's he afraid British Columbians might say? Over 800,000 homes and businesses throughout BC depend on the services of Terasen Gas, yet to date Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals have refused to hold full public hearings into the sale. The Campbell government has an obligation to put the public interest first and have open public hearings in every region of this province through the BC Utilities Commission, now - before Terasen is sold. Corky Evans, New Democrat Opposition Critic for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has released an open letter calling on people around the province to speak up about the Campbell government's plan to allow the sale Terasen Gas to Texas-based Kinder-Morgan. Evans is asking British Columbians to get involved by immediately sending an e-mail to Premier Gordon Campbell. Here's how you can help: 1. Click here to read the full text of Corky's open letter, then send an e-mail to Gordon Campbell. 2. Let others know what's going on. Forward this message to your friends and co-workers. 3. Join the campaign - click here to sign up as a BC NDP iCampaigner and help get others to write to Premier Campbell with their concerns about the Terasen deal. 4. Make a donation - follow this link to help Carole James and the NDP team stand up to Gordon Campbell. To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: