Parks worker forced into confrontation
VICTORIA – A CUPE Local 50 municipal parks worker splashed with what may have been urine Tuesday in Centennial Square was directed into the confrontational situation by a City of Victoria manager. The City of Victoria arborist was initially hesitant to attempt to remove a bicycle in a tree in which an Occupy Victoria protester was […]
Water conservation tops topics at Council
ABBOTSFORD—The mood was decidedly public Monday night at Abbotsford City Council. The last regular meeting before the November 19 municipal elections and P3 referendum heard three presentations – all opposed to the city’s P3 plan to privatize drinking water delivery. Much of the criticism centred on the lack of a city water conservation program. Elizabeth […]
CUPE voices opposition to P3 plan
ABBOTSFORD – More than 200 local residents took time Sunday for a public meeting on Abbotsford’s controversial P3 water plan. The mostly South Asian audience heard from municipal candidates, residents and local temple and society leaders. The event was sponsored by Water Watch Mission-Abbotsford and the Council of Canadians. Every speaker opposed the City of […]
Alberni Valley campaign sinks P3 – keeps water public
BEAVER CREEK – Beaver Creek residents are keeping their water public. They saw little value in a proposed P3 water infrastructure plan. They proved it by voting 73 per cent against a pricey P3 plan on Oct. 29. Instead, the improvement district will be converted into a regional service area within the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD). “It’s […]
The case for Public Water – online and on TV
ABBOTSFORD –The Abbotsford Water for Life /Maude Barlow show is online! Working TV’s production of the outspoken Council of Canadians leader speaking on public water and Water Watch Mission-Abbotsford’s own video The Future of Water in Abbotsford have been melded into a two-part production available at: Part 1: http://vimeo.com/31182583Part 2: http://vimeo.com/31182878 The program is also […]
District pressures Ottawa on P3 rules
CHILLIWACK—Fraser Valley communities are pressuring the provincial and federal government to offer alternatives to P3 (public private partnership) funding. Wendy Bales, Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Area C Director, moved a motion last week for the board to contact the government requesting that funding be made available for non-P3 water infrastructure projects. Ottawa has insisted […]
Longtime Kamloops union activist honoured
VANCOUVER – Kamloops union leader and peace activist Bill Ferguson was honoured this week at the CUPE National Convention in Vancouver. Ferguson received a rousing standing ovation from the 2,500 delegates for his 60+ years of service to the union movement. Ferguson was a founding member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees back in […]
CUPE 1004 cuts the cake for its first century
VANCOUVER—CUPE 1004 celebrated its 100th birthday this week with a gala reception at the city-owned Pavilion in Stanley Park. As well as lots of rank-and-file city workers and shop stewards, the event attracted an impressive list of longtime 1004 and CUPE movers and shakers. Those on hand to cut the cake included CUPE 1004 president […]
