Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Today the B.C. Federation of Labour launched the Employee Action and Rights Network (EARN) in Vancouver.

In 2002, the Liberal government gutted employment standards in BC. This included eliminating the requirement that basic employment standards be posted in all workplaces. As a result the Federation regularly gets phone calls from workers who do not understand many of their fundamental rights on the job.

“There are laws in place to protect people at work, but too often workers aren’t given this information and they don’t know where to find it,” says Federation President Jim Sinclair.

Today, Federation volunteers conducted a street survey quiz, explained basic employment standards and began signing up members to EARN.

“EARN will be an important new resource for people anywhere in the province who want to know more about their workplace rights” says Sinclair. “The EARN network will provide answers to the questions these workers have. The EARN network will also create an opportunity for people who want to work together to begin to improve their working conditions. It will be a place to share stories and find out how other workers have dealt with similar situations.”

• If a customer leaves a restaurant without paying, who has to pay the bill?
• How much paid vacation time are you entitled to?
• What is the minimum working age in BC?

Visit wwwearnbc.ca and take the street survey quiz to see how well you know basic workplace rights.



Federal Health & Safety Committee Training – delivered by the BC Federation of Labour Health & Safety Centre

• Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street
• June 1 & 2, 2010 – 8:30 am–4:30 pm
• Course Cost: $150.00 for 2 days

This two-day course aims to prepare workers in the Federal jurisdiction to play an active and confident role on their workplace Joint OH&S Committees.

Participants will discuss and develop strategies to improve working conditions through the Joint Committee structure. They will review relevant legislation, principles of control along with processes and strategies for inspections and investigations. The legal requirements for the development and implementation of hazard prevention programs in workplaces under Federal jurisdiction is also reviewed.

To register or for more information contact the BC Fed Health and Safety Centre toll free at 1-888-223-5669, 604-430-1421 in Vancouver, or visit bcfed.ca.

Why is occupational health & safety training essential?

It saves lives. British Columbia workers go to their grave each year as a direct result of workplace hazards. More die annually from cancer and other diseases caused by hazardous workplace exposures.

It prevents injuries and illnesses. Thousands suffer workplace injuries or develop work-related illnesses each year in BC. In 2008 there were 160 accepted fatality claims and 2.8 million total days lost from work due to injury and illness.

It is a sound economic and social investment. Injuries, occupational illnesses and fatalities affect the bottom line of any business – the average lost-time injury in BC costs $98,000 and the social costs associated with pain and suffering experienced by affected workers, their families and their communities can never be adequately gauged.

The BC Federation of Labour has just released their Occupational Health & Safety course schedule for the spring/summer. Visit bcfed.com for  course descriptions and more information.

via BC Federation of Labour

JOIN US FOR A WORKERS LUNCH � HOT DOGS AND STRAIGHT�TALK.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7 � 11:00 at the VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTER

Next Tuesday, Gordon Campbell is holding the unofficial launch for the Liberal election campaign at the new Vancouver Convention Centre. �Leadership in Tough Times� he calls it.

The well-heeled corporate crowd is paying $125 a plate for this Vancouver Board of Trade event, it will be a welcoming crowd. After all, they are the only British Columbians who benefited from the last eight years of tax cuts, de-regulation and the sell-off of public services. They are set to survive the tough times quite comfortably, if they can re-elect the Liberals to do their bidding.

Join us to let the guests, the media, the public � and Premier Campbell himself � see that you know he is leading the province in the wrong direction. We can�t afford four more years of Liberal �leadership�. Not when we have such tough challenges ahead.

Download the poster

Forestry Communities in crisis: town hall meetings on the future of our Province

Sponsored by

• B.C. Federation of Labour
• Canadian Labour Congress
• B.C. Government and Service Employees� Union
• Canadian Union of Public Employees
• Communications, Energy and Paperworks Union
• United Steelworkers

• Tuesday, March 31 � 7:00 PM Room 2621 Old Main Building, Thompson Rivers University � Kamloops
• Wednesday, April 8 � 7:00 PM Campbell River Labour Centre, 830 14th Ave � Campbell River, BC
• Thursday, April 16 � 7:00 PM College of New Caledonia, 3330 � 22nd Avenue � Prince George, BC

Download the posters: Campbell River | Kamloops | Prince George

The election is only 75 days away, and we need your help! Your ideas and experiences will help us plan our Campaign for change.

This is your opportunity to help determine what issues regular, hard-working people in BC are talking about, and where they want to take this province, so we’ve prepared a survey to help you share those issues with us. Our survey takes only five minutes to complete. Plus, you’ll be entered to win $250 in Translink passes or gas for your car.

The labour movement has always been a force for positive change in BC. Working together, we won the weekend, public healthcare, employment insurance, and so many of the other benefits we take for granted. Once again, we need to work together to protect what we’ve won, and work for the change that our province so desperately needs.

• Take the survey here!

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

In solidarity, Jim Sinclair, President BCFL

Delegates to the BC Federation of Labour Convention have once again stood in Solidarity with PSAC members and federal government workers. Yesterday afternoon delegates passed the following resolution, which calls on the three opposition parties to defeat Harper�s anti-worker, undemocratic legislation, bring down the government and form a coalition government to pursue economic policies that support workers facing difficult economic times.

Recent news reports indicate the opposition got part of the message: read more for the text of Emergency Resolution #8.

(more…)

On November 15, make your vote count! Vote for someone who supports you!

In municipalities across British Columbia, district labour councils have endorsed progressive candidates for the coming municipal elections. The B.C. Federation of Labour, in cooperation with the Canadian Labour Congress, has produced poll cards identifying labour council endorsed candidates for most regions in B.C.

Click to download the list of endorsed candidates/poll cards for your city (all pdf)

• Campbell River, Courtenay, Regional District of Comox
• Nanaimo, Duncan, Parksville, North Cowichan
• Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford
• Kamloops, Logan Lake
• Kitimat, Terrace
• Burnaby, City of Langley, Delta, Surrey, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Langley Township, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, White Rock, Anmore, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody
• Kelowna
• Port Alberni
• Powell River
• Prince George, Fort St. James
• Prince Rupert
• Quesnel
• Revelstoke
• Williams Lake, Cariboo-Chilcotin
• Penticton, Okanagan Skaha
• Gibsons, Sechelt, Sunshine Coat Regional District
• Vancouver, Richmond, City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver
• Victoria, Esquimalt, Langford, Central Saanich, View Royal, Islands Trust, Sooke, Saanich, Oak Bay, Metchosin
• Trail, Nelson, Castlegar, Central Kootenay Regional District, Salmo

• Thursday, August 28, 7 pm
• BC Fed Office, 200 – 2118 Joyce St Vancouver (across from Joyce St. skytrain station)

Unions mean better pay, benefits for you and your family, dignity, and respect in your workplace – join a union, it’s your right!

Find out how – hear from young workers who have organized unions and won. Meet organizers from unions in your field of work who can help you make it happen.

Panel of young organizers including – Jason Mann (Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’), Katherine Shea (UNITE HERE), Darren Miller (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), and more.

via BC Fed

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Please find attached three Job Opportunities for the B.C. Federation of Labour Count Me In Campaign. All Resumes should be sent to the attention of Lynn Bueckert, Assistant to the President, either by e-mail at policy@bcfed.ca or by mail to the B.C. Federation of Labour office at 200 � 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC V5R 4H1. Please note that any resumes sent by e-mail must be in PDF format.

• Job Postings: Details
• Count Me In Field Organizer
• Count Me In Communications Specialist

Please post and circulate these Job Opportunities to your members.

via BC Federation of Labour

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The B.C. Federation of Labour is supporting women who are making a journey from British Columbia to Ottawa in honour of missing and murdered women across Canada. This Walk is supported by Amnesty International, B.C. Federation of Labour, BCGEU, ILWU Local 500, United Native Nations, Native Women’s Association of Canada and countless other organizations across Canada.

This important walk begins in Vancouver, BC on June 21, 2008 and ends with a huge event in Ottawa on September 15, 2008 where there will be a full day session on Parliament Hill and presentation of a petition. On June 21 in Vancouver, an event is being organized to launch the walk and more details will be provided.

These women need your help, and we are asking unions, labour councils and communities along their route to pitch in and help support this important Walk. Even if you are not en route, you can help by sending a donation to support the walkers.

(more…)

PSAC-BC Young Workers support the BCFED $10 NOW minimum wage campaign. View the latest video and find out why more than 50,000 people have joined this campaign.

Visit bcfed.com for more information on the $10 NOW! campaign, and to send an email to your MLA.

Women Behaving Politically: Organizing for Change.

The Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women offers an intensive week of learning within a supportive environment in which union women can develop their skills as workers, activists and leaders.

Sponsored by the British Columbia Federation of Labour, the Institute will be held at the University of Victoria (UVIC). The Western Regional SIUW brings together union women from BC, Washington State, Oregon and California.

Our theme, Women Behaving Politically: Organizing for Change, reflects labour’s commitment to providing women with both the skills and strategies to understand the key issues for labour and how that understanding can help us participate in the upcoming elections, and develop stronger leadership among women within our unions and political institutions. We need the world to hear more women’s voices speaking out on issues that matter to us like: pay equity, a higher minimum wage, universal childcare, health care, the economy, poverty and the right to join a union.

Read more, and download a brochure and registration form at bcfed.ca.

Mark Your Calendars and Grab a Sleeping Bag!!!!

The B.C. Federation of Labour will be hosting a Conference for Young Workers on May 30 – June 1, 2008.
This Conference is open to all young union members between the ages of 19 – 30. It will be held at Camp Jubilee which is only a short boat ride just outside of Vancouver. Join other Young Workers from across the province for workshops and seminars ranging from skills building to labour history.

Keep an eye out for the registration form that will be coming soon. If you would like further information, please contact Dayna Sykes at dsykes@bcfed.ca or 604-430-1421.

Download the poster (pdf).

Rights, Not Wrongs: The role of unions in creating a better world

A joint conference for human rights activists in the labour movement sponsored by the BC Federation of Labour and the BC Teachers’ Federation. The conference will focus on emerging human rights issues, featuring leading BC human rights specialists in First Nations, peace, anti-poverty, women’s rights, antiracism, international issues and many more.

• Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• April 3-5 2008
• Keynote Speaker: Stephen Lewis, Friday April 4th @ 7:30PM

Organized by the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice and the BC Federation of Labour Human Rights Commitee. For more information, visit www.bctf.ca or www.bcfed.ca. Download the Rights not Wrongs poster (pdf).

The Vancouver District Labour Council Young Workers Committee (VDLC) is having a rally in front of Gordon Campbell’s office on Saturday February 16th at 1:00pm to promote the increase of minimum wage. Currently the minimum wage is $8.00 an hour (below the poverty level.) and there is a bogus training wage for new workers where employers are paying as little as $6.00 an hour for the 1 st 500 hours to young and immigrant workers.

Many of the other provinces have already legislated an increase to Minimum wage, BC is falling behind and we have some of the highest costs of living in all of Canada. The labour movement is calling for the abolishment of the $6 training wage and an increase to the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour.

Come out and support some of our provinces most vulnerable workers and the VDLC Young workers. Let’s make this rally a success!

• February 16th /08
• 3615 W. 4th Ave. (In Front Of Gordon Campbell’s Office.)
• 1:00pm
• 8 Bucks Sucks!

You can also show your support by signing the petition on the BC Federation of Labour website.

Upcoming courses put on by the BC Federation of Labour Health & Safety Centre. For more information, course descriptions or registration call the Fed @ 604-430-1421, 1-888-BCFL NOW or visit www.bcfed.ca. There is an $85 registration fee for most courses.

• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Cranbrook – Feb 21
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Fernie – Feb 22
• Basic OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Feb 26
• Basic OHS Course Nanaimo – Feb 27
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Victoria – Feb 28
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Parksville – Mar 4
• Basic OHS Course Campbell River – Mar 5
• Basic OHS Course Salmon Arm – Mar 6
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Revelstoke – Mar 7
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Surrey – Mar 7
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Mar 11
• Workplace Toxins OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Mar 12
• Basic OHS Course Powell River – Mar 13
• Basic OHS Course Kimberley – Mar 14
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Victoria – Mar 25
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Duncan – Mar 26
• Advanced OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Mar 28
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Chilliwack – Mar 31
• Whole Body Vibration OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Apr 2
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Apr 3
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Nanaimo – Apr 8
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Surrey – Apr 14
• Basic OHS Course Abbotsford – Apr 17
• Advanced OHS Course Victoria – Apr 21
• Basic OHS Course Courtenay – Apr 23
• Advanced OHS Course Parksville – Apr 24
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Creston – Apr 29
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Prince George – May 1
• Basic OHS Course Prince George – May 1
• Advanced OHS Course Prince George – May 1
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Prince George – May 1
• Whole Body Vibration OHS Course Victoria – May 6
• Workplace Ergonomics OHS Course Surrey – May 9
• Stress in the Workplace OHS Course Greater Vancouver – May 12
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Powell River – May 15
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Chilliwack – May 20
• Prevention of Violence in the Workplace OHS Course Nanaimo – May 22
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Greater Vancouver – Jun 4
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Campbell River – Jun 5
• Accident/Incident Investigations OHS Course Abbotsford – Jun 9

BC’s labour movement backs up support for locked-out Sears workers with $20,000 contribution to strike fund

BC’s unions are contributing $20,000 to locked-out Sears Canada workers today, says B.C. Federation of Labour Jim Sinclair, to underline labour’s determination to help them win a fair collective agreement.

“This contribution is intended to underline our call to consumers to refrain from shopping at Sears until this company negotiates a fair collective agreement with these members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213,” Sinclair said. “Seventy-seven (77) workers who repair appliances for Sears have been locked out since October 1st, ordered to take pay cuts and face concessions on overtime and time off.”

Sinclair and other representatives of the Federation made the contribution during a lunchtime leafleting blitz outside the Vancouver store at Robson and Howe.

Sinclair said Sears, which had profits of $150 million last year, is taking a hard line with its workers that amounts to union-busting.  “This is unacceptable in this province and our boycott indicates labour’s rejection of this approach.”

Sinclair said the $20,000, collected from Federation affiliates in the last week, will help the union support its members during the Christmas season. During the past few days, IBEW has distributed flyers about the boycott to hundreds of thousands of homes in the province.

The labour movement in BC says shoppers have a choice to make during this busy holiday season.

“They’ve told them if they want to come back to work, they have to take less money in real terms than what they had before.” He says the company also took away their right to two days off in a row, and eliminated overtime when it imposed a contract.  “It’s completely unfair, and it’s just a question of deciding if you support these workers and their families, or Sears, which made $150 million last year in Canada.”

Sinclair claims Sears has a notoriously anti-union attitude, and believes the lock-out is an effort to break this union local.
- 30 -

For more information, please call Geoff Meggs 604 220-3095.

Locked out workers take boycott of Sears to holiday shoppers

Vancouver – Locked out service technicians employed by Sears Canada, will be taking their boycott of Sears straight to holiday shoppers this weekend.

The 77 workers, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 213, have been locked out since October 1, 2007, when Sears Canada imposed a collective agreement, with no negotiated wage increases, cuts to holiday time, and a longer work week with no overtime.

The workers will be joined by Jim Sinclair, President, B.C. Federation of Labour, and Rick Dowling, International Executive Council Member, Business-Manager, IBEW 213.

WHAT: SEARS CANADA BOYCOTT
WHEN: 10:30 am, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007
WHERE: OUTSIDE METROTOWN SEARS (4750 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C.)

For more information, please contact Jessie Uppal at 604-220-0739

UNITE HERE Local 40 members at 3 Vancouver area hotels are currently bargaining new contracts. These hotels are the Hilton Metrotown, the Holiday Inn Broadway and the Delta Vancouver Airport. UNITE HERE is committed to fighting for the same standards at these 3 hotels that workers in the downtown hotels achieved in their recent contract campaign and need our support.

Please take a moment to fill out the attached Unite HERE pledge (pdf), which reads:

I/We Publicly Endorse UNITE HERE members and their struggle for justice in the following hotels: Delta Vancouver Airport, Hilton Metrotown, Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre. I/We will not Eat, Sleep, or Meet at the Delta Vancouver Airport, Hilton Metrotown, or Holiday Inn Vancouver centre in the event of a labour dispute.

And mail or fax back to the UNITE HERE office at: UNITE HERE! Local 40,4853 Hastings Street, Burnaby BC V5C 2L1 -fax: 604-291-2676

In addition if your Component, Local, or other group is planning on holding an event at any of these hotels, we ask that you contact the hotel directly (sample letters: hilton, delta – both MS Word .doc) and let them know you support UNITE HERE members in their fight for a fair collective agreement.

For more information, visit www.local40union.com or www.hotelworkersrising.org