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B.C. Federation of Labour E-News November 17, 2006
November 17, 2006
Stories
WCB hearings—first step to improved safety for gas station workers
The B.C. Federation of Labour is urging its members to participate in key public hearings scheduled by WorkSafe BC during the next two weeks to consider new Regulations designed to protect late night workers from "Gas-and-Dash" violence of the sort that cost the life of gas station attendant Grant Depatie. The draft Regulations under consideration to require prepayment for gas purchased between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am are a step in the right direction, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair, but do not go far enough. Learn more. Vancouver - Reservists in Canada's armed forces deserve job protection and continued benefits, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. "This Remembrance Day, let's not only remember those who have sacrificed to serve Canada in the past, but those that are sacrificing their jobs and livelihoods today," said Sinclair. Read more. Segregation of health care providers from public forums undermines "health conversation," say unions The provincial government should reverse its plan to exclude health care providers from the 16 regional public forums that are the centerpiece of the $10-million "Conversation on Health." Health union leaders told Health Minister George Abbott today that the government's plan to declare more than 100,000 British Columbians who are health care providers as ineligible to participate in the public meetings will deepen public skepticism of the consultation process. Read more. Health care workers may not be allowed to participate but Gordon Campbell can’t ignore working people and their views on health care. Whether a mill worker, or a teacher, a construction worker or municipal employee tell Gordon Campbell working families need a strong public health care system, not more privatization. BURNABY, BC – It’s wrong that Western Forest Products sells nearly a third of the publicly-owned logs it harvests but says it can’t run its New Westminster sawmill, says the United Steelworkers (USW). And it’s a travesty that the BC government can’t or won’t do anything about it. In response to Western’s planned February closure of the New Westminster mill, the USW has unveiled a series of measures to boost investment and address the log-export-crisis that is destroying coastal communities. Learn more. Events B.C. Federation of Labour Convention—A proud history. A strong future. The B.C. Federation of Labour's 50th Annual Convention takes place November 27 through December 1, 2006 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year's theme: A proud history. A strong future. celebrates the B.C. Federation's 50th Anniversary. Learn more. "Strike up the band" B.C. Federation of Labour 50th anniversary concert Thursday November 30, 2006 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Orpheum Theater In conjunction with our upcoming Convention, we have been working with the Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society to hold a special concert to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Learn more. National Day of Remembrance--Action on Violence Against Women Wednesday December 6, 2006 from 7:30 am to 7:30 am Join union sisters and brother, partners from the community and other guests as we remember women who have been victims of violence and work to end violence against women. Learn more. Publications Do Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberals deserve credit for the province's improved economic and fiscal fortunes? That question sparked considerable debate a year and a half ago, during the 2005 provincial general election. Yes! B.C. Liberal supporters loudly proclaimed. No! screamed their political opponents. More than a few members of the news media enthusiastically joined the former group. One was Vancouver Sun editorialist Harvey Enchin, who wrote a lengthy column that appeared on May 14, 2005 -- mere days before voters went to the polls. B.C. Liberal policies, Enchin claimed, "have, in fact, kickstarted a dramatic economic turnaround." However, two recent reports from independent entities headquartered outside the province indicate that government policies have had little to do with BC’s improved circumstances. The first was written by Scotia Economics, a division of Scotiabank, while the second came from Moody's Investor Services. Both reports illustrate that British Columbia's current prosperity is primarily due to a historic boom in global commodity prices. Read more. Coroner's Inquest Demanded in Sullivan Mine Deaths Doug Erickson, an environmental contractor working for Pryzm Environmental, and Bob Newcombe, a Teck Cominco employee, were the first to succumb to an oxygen-depleted atmosphere inside the tiny water-monitoring structure build over a tailings dump. B.C. Ambulance paramedics Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier died trying to rescue Erickson and Newcombe. Read more. cope 15
