British Columbia Federation of Labour

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News

Minimum wage campaign continues to grow

As the Campbell government continues to press forward with plans for a massive 29 percent pay boost for MLAs, the campaign to win an increase in the minimum wage continues to gather support.

Young workers will be out in force on the May long weekend gathering petition signatures calling for $10 NOW at the two day Virginfest music festival at UBC Thunderbird Stadium.

Activists have been petitioning in Kamloops at a number of events including the local farmers market, a monster truck show and the Falklands Rodeo.  It’s expected that local politicians in the city will be asked to support the $10 NOW call in June.

Meanwhile, Premier Campbell’s stubborn refusal to increase the minimum is now out of step even with Alberta.  The Conservative government there has pledged to boost the province’s rate to help deal with the high cost of living—especially housing.

To sign the $10 NOW petition please click here.

New allegations at Basi-Virk trial underline need for public inquiry into BC Rail privatization

Vancouver - New allegations of Liberal dirty tricks against the BC Federation of Labour, disclosed today in the Basi-Virk trial, underline the need for a full public inquiry into the BC Rail privatization, says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.

"BC's interior communities lost hundreds of jobs from the sale of BC Rail to CN Rail," said Sinclair, "in a privatization which was a direct betrayal of Gordon Campbell's campaign promises. Those communities continue to pay the price, including serious safety and derailment risks, some involving loss of life or serious environmental damage by CN Rail."  Read more.

Proposed WorksafeBC “working alone” regulation best in North America

Vancouver - A proposed WorksafeBC regulation to address the health and safety of people "working alone" in late night retail occupations is the best in North America, says Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

The regulation reflects earlier calls from the Federation to ensure that late night retail operations such as convenience stores and gas stations take better measures to protect workers.

If adopted the regulation would ensure that at least two workers are on shift between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, or in the case of a lone worker, that the worker must be protected by locked doors or security barriers that prevent physical contact.  Read more.

Former union organizer profiled during Chinese Canadian Citizenship week

Roy Mah, who in his twenties was a former organizer with the IWA, celebrated his 89th birthday this April. 

In the 1940s Mah successfully organized thousands of workers not only in Vancouver, but along the Fraser River to Hope, and throughout communities on Vancouver Island.  Read more.

NDP Child Care Act passes at committee

OTTAWA – Amid a growing crisis facing ordinary parents and working families, there is now light at the end of the tunnel for the passage of the NDP’s Early Learning and Child Care Act. Bill C-303 passed second reading last fall and has been studied for the last three weeks at the Standing Committee on Human Resources and Social Development.

“With this landmark Child Care Act we will ensure that all children have access to high-quality and affordable early learning opportunities,” said Denise Savoie, the NDP MP who moved the bill.  Read more.

Publications

Basi, Virk 'Hung Out to Dry': Lawyer--But Crown says aides acted on their own.

Two key documents in the B.C. Legislature Raid case are missing, according to defence lawyers. And perhaps it's not surprising in such a politically-charged trial that one piece of evidence is connected to the federal Liberal Party of Canada, while the other relates to the B.C. Liberal party.

David Basi and Bob Virk are the two former B.C. Liberal ministerial aides charged in B.C. Supreme Court with breach of trust and fraud for allegedly leaking confidential government documents to OmniTRAX, a bidder in the $1 billion privatization of B.C. Rail.  Read more at theTyee.ca.

Events

British Columbia Pension Forum 2007

THURSDAY, MAY 24TH, 2007 VANCOUVER, BC--The third B.C. Federation of Labour Pension Forum, held jointly with the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE), will take place in Vancouver May 24th, 2007.

The conference brings together union leaders, pension trustees, pension advisory committee members and pension activists with investment managers, public policy makers and leading international thinkers to discuss and debate crucial pension plan governance, funding and investment issues.  Learn more.

Manufacturing Matters

Thursday May 24, 2007 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

CAW Manufacturing Job Loss Forum

Place: CAW Hall, 326 12th Street, New Westminster

To learn more please click here.

ASIAN HERITAGE EVENTS

Date: Thursday May 24, 2007 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

MOVIE NIGHT!

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, the BCGEU Equity + Human Rights Committee is pleased to invite you to a night of film. (Light refreshments provided.)

"The War Between Us" ~ a bittersweet drama about a Japanese-Canadian family and the internment of 23,000 West Coast Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.

"Caught in Between" ~ a documentary about Japanese- and Muslim-Americans standing together for human rights, and the connection with the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II and the current "War on Terrorism."

To learn more please click here.

Childcare Forum--Richmond

Date: Friday May 25, 2007 from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Best Western Richmond Hotel and Convention Centre

This event wraps up a province wide tour of child care events hosted by the BCGEU and will include guest speakers and a slide show.  To learn more please click here.

Community Healthcare Discussion