British Columbia Federation of Labour

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Stories

Make it safe for late night workers

In June 2007, the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) will be holding Public Hearings in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Nelson, Prince George and Kelowna on changes to the OH&S Regulations.  A number of changes will be discussed including amendments to the Working Alone Regulation.

Public Hearings offer the public the opportunity to provide feedback on regulatory changes and are a means of lobbying the WCB. Hearings are open to everyone, and anyone who would like to speak on the changes can do so.

The B.C. Federation of Labour will assist people in preparing for the Hearings including hosting skills building workshops in each community. Please contact Dayna Sykes at ywsafety@bcfed.ca for more information.  Learn more.

Picket line arrests merit public inquiry

Vancouver - Tuesday’s arrest of six members of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) members on strike against CP Rail in Coquitlam merits a full public inquiry into the railway’s use of private police, says B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair.

The arrest of the six strikers who were picketing legally on public property was "outrageous behaviour on behalf of CP Rail," Sinclair said. "They took the law into their own hands."  Read more.

New Westminster latest City Council to back $10 minimum wage call - BC Fed challenges Campbell to meet with minimum wage earners

Vancouver - As the Campbell Liberals move closer to finalizing a 29 percent pay boost for MLAs, City Councillors in New Westminster last night voted unanimously to call on Victoria to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour.

"We're grateful for the support for our efforts to win a raise for BC's lowest-paid workers," says B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair.  "The vote is an important sign of the widespread pressure that's mounting on the BC government to boost the minimum wage."  Read more.

450 care aides terminated in largest mass firing of health care workers since BC Liberals' first term in office

Four hundred and fifty care aides who provide personal care for seniors at three taxpayer-funded facilities in the Lower Mainland have been handed termination notices in the largest mass firing in health care since the Campbell government’s first term in office.

It’s a move that will disrupt care for hundreds of seniors and result in economic hardship for a workforce that is almost entirely female, says the Hospital Employees’ Union.  Read more.

Governments should immediately reject applications from a Chinese company to bring Chinese coal miners to Canada, say the United Steelworkers

USW Western Canada Director Steve Hunt urged rejection of Dehau International Mines Inc.'s plan to bring 400 coal miners from China to operate its Gething Coal Project near Hudson's Hope, BC.

"There are so many things wrong with this that it's hard to know where to begin," said Hunt. "In less than five years Canada has lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs.  Can't we train any of those workers to mine coal?  There is a skilled worker shortage and, at the same time, thousands of skilled workers have lost their jobs.  Workers from declining sectors should be trained to do the emerging jobs.  As well, government should be working with First Nations on employment opportunities."  Read more.

Nanaimo rallies behind fired workers at publicly-funded care facility

More than 200 people rallied on Saturday morning to support 168 health care workers who have been laid off for the third time at Nanaimo Seniors Village.

Using the provisions of Bill 29, the publicly funded, for-profit facility flipped its contract with the subcontractor employing the HEU members just weeks after a first collective agreement was signed.  Read more.

Fairness for civic workers

CUPE's 12,000 Lower Mainland civic workers need your support. They are facing demands for unprecedented concessions and slow or stalled negotiations everywhere. Almost all Lower Mainland CUPE civic collective agreements expired on December 31, 2006. They feel that they are being forced into job action in order to get a fair contract.

Civic workers make our communities work, providing vital public services that we all rely upon. To avert job action, Lower Mainland civic workers launched a public campaign called "FAIRNESS for civic workers" that DEPENDS ON YOU taking action now to put pressure on your local municipal politicians to:

*REMOVE all proposed concessions from the table.*RETURN to the bargaining table with the intent to make progress.*RESPECT civic workers and vital services they provide by negotiating fair contracts.TAKING ACTION IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3

1. Visit http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/ 

2. Click on the flag of the municipality in which you reside and press TAKE ACTION. (short cuts below)3. Press SEND.THE SUCCESS OF THIS CAMPAIGN DEPENDS ON YOUR SUPPORT.  PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!

In solidarity,

CUPE's Lower Mainland civic workers

CUPE 15, CUPE 391, CUPE 1004, CUPE 389, CUPE 561, CUPE 3966, CUPE 402-2, CUPE 23, CUPE 386, CUPE 402-1, CUPE 403, CUPE 454, CUPE 2058, CUPE 622, CUPE 387, CUPE 402, CUPE 394 & 718, CUPE 498

HERE ARE THE SHORTCUTS TO TAKE ACTION FOR EACH OF YOUR MUNICIPALITIES:

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/vancouver

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/burnaby

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/coquitlam

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/delta

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/citylangley

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/langley

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/mapleridge

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/newwestminster

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/northvancouver

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/pittmeadows

http://www.fairnessforcivicworkers.ca/fairnessaction/whiterock

Events

Community Healthcare Discussion

Date: Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Bare Hallways--Addressing labour shortages in healthcare and its impact on the community.

Location: Collingwood Neighbourhood House

Learn more.

2007 Summer Institute For Union Women - "Strong Women Taking Action"

Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Greater Vancouver

Date: Thursday, June 14, 2007 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

The repercussions of violence for workers are devastating, affecting their physical and mental health and job satisfaction. For employers it means reduced productivity.  This course assists OH & S Committee members in identifying potentially violent situations in their workplace and developing a plan for violence prevention.

Registration Deadline: June 7, 2007

Learn more.

Songs of Work and Struggle

Date: Saturday, June 16, 2007 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

The Vancouver & District Labour Council Presents Songs of Work & Struggle featuring George Hewison & the Rank 'n File Band with Friends, the Diggers and Solidarity Notes.

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver, BC

Admission: $10.00

7:00 pm Doors
7:30 pm Music

Learn more.

Convention 2007--Changing times, transforming our unions                   

November 26, 27 & 28, 2007--Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, B.C

This year’s B.C. Federation of Labour Policy Convention is being organized around the overall theme of Changing times, transforming our unions. BC’s working families face growing insecurity.  They know their work makes BC one of the wealthiest places in the world, but global corporations are taking a growing share of that wealth – including control of our public services – while working people face insecurity and uncertainty.  The Premier claims BC is the "best place on earth," but our record of child poverty, worksafe injury and disease, stagnant wages and environmental decline don’t support the message.

Publications

Join The Tyee

Many of you are already familiar with The Tyee - BC's leading independent online news source.  If not, you should be! They're filling in big gaps left by the bigger corporate media.

They have an online readership drive going right now with a very funny video about media concentration and some great prizes.  Check it out and consider signing up for their free headlines by email.