CUPE BC is urging CUPE members throughout British Columbia to join thousands of other Canadians on October 28 (Saturday) in a national day of action to call for the withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan. There will be peace demonstrations in communities right across the country on October 28th. The union is calling for a strong contingent of CUPE members to march in towns and cities throughout B.C. to protest the Harper government’s support for George Bush’s military strategy in Afghanistan. Canadian combat troops are no longer involved in a reconstruction or peacekeeping operation. Canadian and Afghan lives are in danger. On Saturday, labour will join a diverse coalition of voices demanding that the federal government listen to the Canadian public, support our troops, and bring them home. This day of action has been endorsed by the Canadian Labour Congress and the CUPE National Executive Board. CUPE BC is asking locals to inform and mobilize members to march for peace. In the Lower Mainland, CUPE is gathering at noon at Waterfront Station on Saturday, October 28th. Look for the CUPE flags near the BC Labour Against the War banner on the west side of Waterfront Station. Other areas in the province including Comox, Grand Forks, Nanaimo, Nelson and Victoria are joining together to march for peace. COPE 491*dn

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Last month, the BC Liberal government launched a 12-month “Conversation on Health”.
As with previous attempts at dialogue on important policy matters, the government says it is seeking input from all British Columbians on the future of our public health care system.

Let’s take the government at its word. Let’s join the conversation and let Victoria know what we think.

To register for regional forums being organized across B.C., visit bcconversationonhealth.ca

For more contacts and other information on how to get involved, visit the Hospital Employees’ Union website at www.heu.org and look for the “Get in on the Health Conversation” button.

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Thanks to all of you for your support around the upcoming town hall meetings in the Lower Mainland.

You will likely notice that there are several town hall meetings that are intended for CUPE Sisters of Colour.

Canadian Parliament Votes 167 to 101 in favour of Anti-Scab Legislation

October 25, 2006

In an historic vote in the House ofCommons, MPs voted 167 to 101 to approve in principal Bill C-257 that would ban the use of scabs during labour disputes in any federally regulated
jurisdiction.

In Canada, federal jurisdiction includes all industries that cross provincial boundaries such as transportation, banking and communications as well as all federal government employees andall employees working in the three northern territories.

The vote on second reading came on a private members bill introduced by the Bloc Quebecois and supported by the New Democratic Party and many individual Liberal MPs.

A smattering of Conservative MPs also voted in favour but the entire Conservative Government Cabinet voted against the bill.

The bill will now move to Committee stage where some amendments are possible before coming back to Parliament for a final vote on third reading.

The third reading vote usually closely approximates a vote on second reading which gives approval “in principal” to the main clauses of the bill.

Senate approval and official proclamation of the legislation is also required before the measure actually becomes enforceable legislation in Canada.

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On September 27th, 2006, Laura Safarian and Alex Youngberg presented two reports to the Library Board.  Laura gave an overview of the report and survey, and handed out copies to Board members.  Alex read out her report on Code of Conduct and Employment checks and also gave the Board copies. All three items are on the main website at http://cupe391.ca/index.php/Resources/surveys_and_reports/.
Laura Safarian, Lis Nygaard and Aliza Nevarie compiled and coalated the results of the information from the Workload Survey that was given to members earlier this year.  This entailed many hours of work from these member.  The results of their hard work and the members answers reveal unsettling commentary about an organization’s failure to fully communicate the extent and intent of planning proposals with staff and a lack of interest in dealing with the fallout from attendent workload issues.

Alex’s report to the Board outlines the mayor’s proposed Code of Conduct and the implications that implementing a similar version will have on members wishing to engage Management in dialogue regarding such issues as the effects of increased workload.  The report also discusses the unnecessarily natureintrusive of the proposed “Employment checks” on members which are more suited to somone applying for work in Federal maximum security prison.
Alex asked if the Board wished to propose a motion for a standalone “Whistleblower’s Policy to protect members freedom of speech.  They are resisting this temptation so far but asked several questions.

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