Voices for public sewage treatment in Victoria
VICTORIA—At meetings on February 25 and March 10, the house was full as Capital Regional District residents shared their views on sewage treatment procurement. Members of the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee heard passionate and reasoned arguments about why privatization is wrong for Greater Victoria’s new sewage treatment from a broad cross section of […]
Public Services International activist visits B.C.
BURNABY—Indah Budiarti, the organizing and communications coordinator for the Southeast Asian region for Public Services International (PSI), visited B.C. regional office on March 12 to meet with staff and share perspectives in the global fight against privatization. Currently studying for her Master’s Degree at the Global Labour University in Germany, Budiarti is currently on a […]
CUPE 118 scores in Port Alberni!
PORT ALBERNI – CUPE 118, municipal workers in Port Alberni, sponsored the first playoff hockey game of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs last night as part of their action to build community support for public services. The Local welcomed local hockey fans at the CUPE booth that featured photos of members at work in Port Alberni […]
The community comes out for public sewage in Victoria
VICTORIA-The house was full at the second public meeting for citizens in the Capital Regional District to share their views on sewage treatment procurement. On March 10, the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee heard from a cross section of residents sending a powerful message that they do not want sewage treatment handed to private […]
Support strong for paramedics – poll
BURNABY – A new poll shows solid support for B.C.’s ambulance paramedics in their demands to improve ambulance service in B.C. and negotiate a collective agreement. When the provincial government passed Bill 21 “back to work” legislation on Nov. 7, the 3,500 ambulance paramedics had been on strike for seven months, but were already working […]
An ice time had by all!
POWELL RIVER – More than 125 people enjoyed a free public skate Saturday hosted by CUPE. The event was sponsored by CUPE Locals 798, 476 and 873 (representing Powell River municipal, regional, library, school board workers and ambulance paramedics). Skaters had a chance to visit with Santa, have a hot chocolate and talk with local […]
Minister rejects offer from paramedics
VICTORIA – Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon was quick to reject union efforts to secure a contract for the province’s 3,500 ambulance paramedics. Falcon did admit that the ambulance service is broken and needs fixing, which the union has been saying for the past four years. In a bid for a new contract after more […]
Paramedics agree on contract roll-over
RICHMOND – In an effort to conclude stymied contract talks, the Ambulance Paramedics of BC have agreed to roll over their collective agreement until April 1, 2012. CUPE 873 president John Strohmaier says the move to extend the current collective agreement “would at least give paramedics and emergency dispatchers some much needed stability while allowing […]
CRD vulnerable to trade restrictions with sewage P3
BURNABY—If local governments opt for public private partnerships (P3s), something which is under consideration for the Capital Regional District’s new sewage treatment, they are more vulnerable to the restrictions of the Canada-United States Procurement Agreement (CUPA). A new legal opinion by Steven Shrybman of Sack Goldblatt Mitchell says the CUPA contains temporary rules that will […]
Bread and roses at IWD breakfast
BURNABY – Union women celebrated International Women’s Day with a breakfast that included bread and roses, as well as inspiring and moving words from Adrienne Montani of First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition and BC NDP Leader Carole James. Angie Shira, secretary treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour, kicked off the morning talking […]
