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Provincial - March 2013 (PDF) - BC Government and Service ...

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<strong>BC</strong>GEU seniors’ campaignvs.B.C. Liberals’ track recordWe owe it to our seniors tocare for them as they age.But we have a long way togo to provide high quality, accessible,publicly funded care that meets theneeds of seniors in theircommunities.Investing inmore commun-ity-based health care, including homesupport <strong>and</strong> residential care, will keeppeople well in their homes <strong>and</strong> out ofacute care, which creates long-termsavings.B.C. Liberal policies continue to failB.C. seniors <strong>and</strong> their families.Contracting out (Bill 29) is just one example.Despite research showing theimportant connection betweencontinuity of staff <strong>and</strong> qualitycare, a number of B.C. residentialcare facilities have usedthis legislation to terminatecontracts, fire staff <strong>and</strong> engagenew subcontractors with a newworkforce.We have also seen thecontinued erosion ofhome support, makingit harder for seniors toTime for $10 a day childcareaccess services. The length of home supportvisits has been reduced, <strong>and</strong> workingconditions for community healthworkers have deteriorated, negativelyimpacting the quality of care that theyare able to deliver.<strong>BC</strong>GEU supports quality care for seniors:• Exp<strong>and</strong>ed home support servicesto ensure access according to need;• An increase in direct care hours inresidential care to at least 3.5 hoursper resident per day;• Investment in training for seniors’care workers;• An end to contracting out of staff(repeal of Bills 29 <strong>and</strong> Bill 94);• More not-for-profit residential carebeds; <strong>and</strong>• Strong rights for seniors, as recommendedby B.C.’s Ombudsperson.<strong>BC</strong>’s childcare system is broken.Exorbitant fees <strong>and</strong> lack ofspaces are the norm, whilemany early childhood educators arepaid babysitter wages. The currentsystem is failing parents <strong>and</strong> earlychildhood educators, <strong>and</strong> negativelyaffects businesses.The B.C. Liberals have done nothingto improve the situation in the last 10years. The recently announced childtax benefit will not help build a childcaresystem.The $10 a day plan proposes a new systemof affordable, accessible, publiclyfunded care <strong>and</strong> learning. The planis endorsed by municipalities, schoolboards <strong>and</strong> labour unions – includingthe <strong>BC</strong>GEU.Business groups recognize the impactof poor childcare – the Surrey <strong>and</strong> BurnabyBoards of Trade have endorsedthe plan.We need $10 a day childcare because…• Young <strong>BC</strong> families are squeezed:housing & childcare are unaffordable.• Childcare costs $9000/year for a 2-yearold in <strong>BC</strong>; $14,000 in Vancouver.• There’s only one licensed childcarespace for every five B.C. children.• B.C. mothers have the lowest labourparticipation rate in Canada.<strong>BC</strong>GEU supports affordable, accesible,publicly funded child care that will:• Cap childcare fees at $10 a day; freefor families under $40,000/year.• Create more child care spaces.• Give school boards the m<strong>and</strong>ateto fund <strong>and</strong> governearly care learning.• Improve wages <strong>and</strong> trainingfor licensed Early ChildhoodEducators.The plan is affordable in the short-termtoo: immediately reducing fees to $10/day in every licensed infant <strong>and</strong> toddlerspace in B.C. is $88 million – a thirdless than the flawed tax benefit approachpromoted by the B.C. Liberals.Visit www.cantaffordchildcare.ca toview some funny videos that delivera serious message, <strong>and</strong> petition thegovernment to implement $10 a daychildcare. Spread the word!3


gram, the watering down of WorkSafe<strong>BC</strong> <strong>and</strong> the labour code, <strong>and</strong> the sellingoff of our revenue-generating resources,it’s time.”Paul Komer, organizer in East Kootenay,said members have a social responsibilityto vote.“They can change the future to give ourchildren the guarantee of quality education,health care, <strong>and</strong> employmentopportunities that will allow them tobe able to secure a promising future fortheir own families.”“We have the powerto make the changesthis province needs.Cuts to our health caresystem, education,services to seniors,wage freezes —all thisneeds to end now. ”Angie Panoulias, organizer in the PeaceRiver, said members need to st<strong>and</strong> up<strong>and</strong> be counted. “We have the powerto make the changes this provinceneeds. Cuts to our health care system,education, services to seniors, wagefreezes—all this needs to end now. Wedon’t have time for apathy anymore.”Added Kimberlee Macgregor, organizerin the Fraser Valley: “We have to showthe government of the day that we havehad enough, <strong>and</strong> the only way to do thisis to step up <strong>and</strong> vote.”Check www.bcgeuvotes.ca for campaignupdates <strong>and</strong> activities in yourarea. To volunteer on the campaign,email bcgeuvotes@bcgeu.ca.Pictured: (top right) Team Quesnelorganizers <strong>and</strong> volunteers; (2nd fromtop) VP Mike Clarke campaigns doorto-doorwith Westside-Kelownac<strong>and</strong>idate Carole Gordon; (3rd fromtop) Treasurer Stephanie Smithcanvassing with Abbotsford-Missionc<strong>and</strong>idate Preet Rai; (bottom) VPBrenda Brown <strong>and</strong> organizers atcampaign kickoff.5


Fair Labour LawsBUILDING A STRONG ECONOMYSTARTS WITH RESPECT FORWORKING PEOPLEA good labour relations climate is essential if we hope tobuild a strong economy that provides profits for employers<strong>and</strong> fair wages for workers.For employers <strong>and</strong> workers alike, it is the key to stability,productivity, <strong>and</strong> growth in a changing economy. In everysector, we can do better by working together.Working families face significanteconomic challengesMore <strong>and</strong> more workers are stuck in jobs with low wages,little security, <strong>and</strong> no hope of advancement. The middleclass is shrinking <strong>and</strong> it’s harder to get ahead, particularlyfor young people.It’s harder to join a union. New loopholes in labour lawshave given unscrupulous employers the ability to underminethe right of workers to belong to unions.Over the last decade, the <strong>BC</strong> Liberals have steadily madelabour laws unfair <strong>and</strong> unbalanced.They have torn up legal contracts <strong>and</strong> taken away the rightto bargain key issues such as contracting out in health care<strong>and</strong> class size in public education. Students, patients, <strong>and</strong> workers have all paid the price.It’s time for more balance <strong>and</strong> fairness in the laws thatgovern how we work together.93% of British Columbiansagree government shouldrequire facilities for seniors<strong>and</strong> people with disabilitiesto treat their employeesfairly <strong>and</strong> respectcollective agreements.Download the complete “We Vote” <strong>PDF</strong> package at:www.bcgeuvotes.caBalancing <strong>BC</strong>’s Labour LawsJoin us in calling on the provincial government to takethese necessary steps to restore balance in labour laws<strong>and</strong> make it easier to join a union:• End employer intimidation <strong>and</strong> threats;• Respect the right to join a union by granting certificationwhen 55 percent of employees have signed amembership card;• Grant easier access to mediation to help in negotiatingfirst agreement that meets industry st<strong>and</strong>ards;• Close the contract-flipping loopholes that employersare using to de-unionize their workforces;• Protect the right to collective bargaining by repealingheavy-h<strong>and</strong>ed legislation; <strong>and</strong>• Fix the Labour Board by bring balance in employer<strong>and</strong> labour appointments.66


EconomyAN ECONOMY THAT WORKSFOR EVERYONEGood, family-supporting jobs are critical to sustainable development<strong>and</strong> an economy that works for everyone. We needaction to ensure that ordinary people, <strong>and</strong> especially youngpeople, will have opportunities to succeed <strong>and</strong> get ahead.The <strong>BC</strong> Liberals have favoured the fewUnder the <strong>BC</strong> Liberals, the middle class is shrinking. The1% elite are getting richer. The rest of us are falling behindas the gap continues to grow. Our province has Canada’slowest growth in average hourly wages, <strong>and</strong> the country’shighest rate of child poverty.• The Liberals froze the minimum wage for a decade;• They tore up collective agreements to drive down workers’wages;• They made it harder for young people to go to universityby more than doubling tuition fees;• They closed 191 public schools;• They failed to address the need to train 160,000 skilledworkers, instead relying on cheap labour from abroad; <strong>and</strong>• They made it harder for workers to join unions <strong>and</strong> negotiatefair wages.The <strong>BC</strong> government gave cabinet ministers <strong>and</strong> seniormanagers massive pay hikes.They shifted taxes away from the rich, <strong>and</strong> imposed hugefee <strong>and</strong> rate increases on everyone else. During the lastelection campaign, they misled voters about the HST, thenimmediately shifted $1.3 billion in taxes away from largecorporations. This measure alone cost average families$521 a year.35,000 forestry jobslost under the<strong>BC</strong> LiberalsPractical Steps to create economic opportunityJoin us in calling on the next provincial governmentto take these practical steps to reduce inequality <strong>and</strong>create economic opportunities for everyone:• Invest in transportation, energy efficiency <strong>and</strong> retrofittingof older buildings to create green jobs <strong>and</strong>reduce emissions;• Respect legal contracts, <strong>and</strong> the right of workers tojoin unions;• Raise the minimum wage, <strong>and</strong> increase it annually;• Increase vacation time for all workers to three weeks;• Improve the apprenticeship system to meet the skillsshortage, <strong>and</strong> give local people the opportunity towork on projects in their community;• Reduce barriers to postsecondary education, as wellas over-crowding in public schools;• Cut raw log exports, which have soared 1,000 percentwhile 35,000 forestry workers have lost their jobs;• Stop privatization projects that create profits fora few, but cost the public hundreds of millions ofdollars; <strong>and</strong>• Ensure that all employers meet their obligation toprovide safe workplaces, rather than treat workerinjuries as a cost of doing business.77


<strong>BC</strong>GEU campaign toursforest communitiesSince the <strong>BC</strong> Liberal governmentdid away with local wood processingregulations <strong>and</strong> openedthe door to raw log exports, at least 75mills have closed in British Columbia.Employment in B.C.’s forestry sectorhas fallen by almost 50 per cent since2001.In 2011, raw log exports increased 79per cent while lumber exports fell 23per cent over the year before. Over50,000 jobs have been eliminated inthe milling industry in the past twodecades, with 1,660 forest sector workersthrown out of work in the pastyear alone.At the same time, pine beetle infestationhas impacted over 14.5 millionhectares – more than four times thesize of Vancouver Isl<strong>and</strong>.The <strong>BC</strong> Liberals’ <strong>2013</strong> budget cutsanother $40 million from resourceministries already devastated frommassive budget cuts <strong>and</strong> the loss of1,100 Forest Ministry jobs.Acting on a 2011 Convention resolution,the <strong>BC</strong>GEU has joined withcommunity partners CCPA, USW<strong>and</strong> CEP to initiate a second roundof community consultations on B.C.’sforestry crisis.Community meetings have beenheld in 8 towns <strong>and</strong> cities across<strong>BC</strong> – Kelowna, Kamloops, 100 MileHouse, Williams Lake, Prince George,Nanaimo <strong>and</strong> Courtenay/Comox –seeking solutions to help our forestindustry rebuild <strong>and</strong> ensure healthyforests.The <strong>BC</strong>GEU supports measures to:• Strengthen public oversight <strong>and</strong>accountability.• Recommit to good forest stewardship.• Reconnect communities with theirlocal forests.• Generate more value from B.C. forests.Find more information: www.bcgeu.ca/forestry_dialogue_video_<strong>and</strong>_resources.Watch a video on the impactof government policies on the town ofMackenzie: www.forestsforbc.caCampaign focuses on <strong>BC</strong> Liberal neglect of <strong>BC</strong> ParksQ: to serve B.C.’s 1000How many full-timepark rangers are leftparks <strong>and</strong> protected areas,with more than 32 million acres of l<strong>and</strong>?A: 10 only, down from 27 in 2001.Seasonal park ranger staff has also beencut by 60 per cent in the last decade,while $10.7 million was cut from B.C.Parks budget.Documents obtained by the <strong>BC</strong>GEUshow that, in the past two years, morethan 40 park vehicles have been cut. Fuel<strong>and</strong> travel budgets to patrol B.C. parkshave also been slashed. In some cases,park rangers considered patrolling parksby Greyhound buses or taxis. Some parkshave no budget for toilet paper.B.C. parks, a major economic tourismdriver in the province, have sufferedfrom more than a decade of neglect,by a government more concerned withbudget-cutting <strong>and</strong> tax breaks thanmaintaining valuable public services.For the past two years, the <strong>BC</strong>GEU hasdrawn public attention to the seriousdecay in our parks system. Traditionaladvertising combined with earnedmedia, billboards, online advertising<strong>and</strong> social media to bring people toour campaign page (www.save<strong>BC</strong>parks.ca).More than 24,000 visits <strong>and</strong> over 250personal emails have been sent to thePremier, Minister <strong>and</strong> Opposition dem<strong>and</strong>ingrestored B.C. Parks funding.The <strong>BC</strong>GEU supports measures to:• Immediately restore <strong>BC</strong> Parks fundingto 2001 levels.• Invest in improving <strong>BC</strong> Parks infrastructureas part of a province-wideeconomic <strong>and</strong> tourism strategy.• Implement the recommendationsof the 2010 Auditor General’s Reporton <strong>BC</strong> Parks.More info: www.save<strong>BC</strong>parks.ca10


<strong>Government</strong> cuts towomen’s servicesManycuts made by the B.C. Liberal governmenthave negatively impacted women during thelast decade:• Eliminated the Ministry of Women’s Equality <strong>and</strong> corefunding for all 37 women’s centres.• Cut Women’s Health Bureau <strong>and</strong> Advisory Council onWomen’s Health.• Reduced access for senior women to home support.• Cut sexual assault support programs, women’s assaultcentres <strong>and</strong> local rape crisis lines.• Reduced social assistance.• Eliminated the $100 child support exemption.• Cut childcare funding.• Removed pay equity from the Human Rights Code.• Cut thous<strong>and</strong>s of jobs in the public service.• Used Bill 29 to strip union contracts of “no contractingout” provisions, impacting thous<strong>and</strong>s of women in thehealth sector.• Reduced employment st<strong>and</strong>ards.• Cut legal aid.• Eliminated the tuition freeze.• Eliminated student grants for women with dependents.• Cut funding for services to developmentally disabledpeople.Stephanie Smith – <strong>BC</strong>GEU Treasurer <strong>and</strong>Chairperson of the Women’s Committee:I’m furious. In every communitywomen are trying to dig out from a decadeof cruel <strong>and</strong> vicious attacks by theB.C. Liberals. We need to turn our fearinto hope <strong>and</strong> our anger into action. Weneed to make our voices heard especially at the ballot box.”Lorene Oikawa – <strong>BC</strong>GEU VP:Brenda Brown – <strong>BC</strong>GEU VP:“The Liberal record in office has beendismal for women. We need to elect agovernment that will advance women,not push us further into inequality.”“Why does our union get involvedin politics? Political action allows usto work towards changing publicpolicies. It enables us to advance ourmembers’ rights.”The continuing crisisin community livingThe Liberal government is failing to properly fundservices that help vulnerable families, includingadults with developmental disabilities.The crisis in community living garnered widespread mediaattention in 2011-12, including:• Numerous media stories illustrating the chronic crisissituations faced by developmentally disabled people <strong>and</strong>their families;• Lack of funding for community living programs, 65 grouphomes closures (2010), <strong>and</strong> a complete lack of respitecare for caregivers;• Budget-led service redesign, fiscal mismanagement <strong>and</strong>conflict of interest at Community Living <strong>BC</strong> – leading tothe firing of the CEO <strong>and</strong> demotion of a Minister (2011).In January 2012, the government admitted that CommunityLiving <strong>BC</strong> (CL<strong>BC</strong>) had “lost sight of its core values.” A January<strong>2013</strong> workers survey revealed that chronic underfundingremains a huge problem.Over 40 per cent of surveyed workers had been required tocut services considered necessary for their clients’ health orwell-being. Only one-quarter of workers believed the government’sso-called “12-point” plan would resolve the crisis.<strong>BC</strong>GEU actively participates in a broad-based coalitionknown as the <strong>BC</strong>-Community Living Action Group (<strong>BC</strong>-CLAG) that includes families, self-advocates, service providers<strong>and</strong> unionized community living workers.<strong>BC</strong>GEU supports properly funded services for adultswith developmental disabilities <strong>and</strong> vulnerable families.We support:• Critical emergency <strong>and</strong> operational funding into <strong>BC</strong>’scommunity living sector to address outst<strong>and</strong>ing servicerequests;• A comprehensive external review of CL<strong>BC</strong>’s m<strong>and</strong>ate<strong>and</strong> operations;• An independent advocate for adults with developmentaldisabilities;• <strong>Provincial</strong> legislation setting out the inclusion rights<strong>and</strong> support entitlements of adults with developmentaldisabilities;• Regulating home sharing.11


Meet your <strong>BC</strong>GGeorge Heyman<strong>BC</strong> NDP c<strong>and</strong>idate —Vancouver-FairviewGeorge Heyman served asexecutive director of SierraClub B.C. from 2009to 2012 — acting as the primarypublic spokesperson on issuesregarding energy, mining, conservationof species <strong>and</strong> habitat, climate change, forest management<strong>and</strong> sustainable economic alternatives. He’s a formersteering committee member of Green Jobs <strong>BC</strong>.Heyman has been an active New Democrat for close to 35years. He was vice-chair of the NDP’s St<strong>and</strong>ing Committeeon the Environment <strong>and</strong> the Economy for several years.Heyman served as president of the B.C. <strong>Government</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>Service</strong> Employees’ Union (<strong>BC</strong>GEU) from June 1999 toJune 2008, <strong>and</strong> vice-president for 12 years. Throughout hisunion career, he led education programs, environmental<strong>and</strong> occupational health <strong>and</strong> safety policy development,<strong>and</strong> developed policy submissions to the provincial <strong>and</strong> federalgovernments on workers’ compensation, occupationalhealth regulation <strong>and</strong> forest resource utilization.Heyman is a strong social justice <strong>and</strong> human rights advocate.He has been a thoughtful <strong>and</strong> effective communicatorwith a consistent media presence on issues such as childpoverty, welfare, health care, access to post secondary education,childcare, environmental protection <strong>and</strong> resource use.Mike Nuyens<strong>BC</strong> NDP C<strong>and</strong>idate —Kelowna-Lake CountryMike Nuyens has lived hisentire life in Lake Country<strong>and</strong> is well connected inthe community.Nuyens, the chair of <strong>BC</strong>GEU’sOperational <strong>Service</strong>s Component,has served on the provincial executive for more thana dozen years.His union activism began in the mid-1980s at the Ministryof Highways. Nuyens is a machine operator for a contractorin the privatized highways sector in Kelowna.Nuyens has held a number of key positions on committeesin the labour movement, which have challenged himto deal with many complex situations largely triggered byaggressive employers <strong>and</strong> changing government policiesthat were designed to weaken B.C.’s public service.Nuyens’ background also includes owning <strong>and</strong> operatingtwo businesses in the Okanagan <strong>and</strong> volunteering as afirefighter in his community.He’s excited about the chance to bring positive change toBritish Columbia, especially in his community. He says the<strong>BC</strong>NDP is taking practical steps to bring change for thebetter to Kelowna-Lake Country.Judy Fox-McGuire<strong>BC</strong> NDP c<strong>and</strong>idate — Peace River NorthJudy Fox-McGuire was born <strong>and</strong> raised in Fort St. John. She has workedfor the B.C. <strong>Government</strong> as an adult probation office for a decade. She’salso active in the labour movement in her community <strong>and</strong> provincially.She’s the local chair in the <strong>BC</strong>GEU’s Social, Information <strong>and</strong> Health component<strong>and</strong> the second vice chair provincially. She has also been appointedto two joint management- labour committees to deal with issues facing frontline public service workers.Fox-McGuire said she has become more involved in political action as her conscience <strong>and</strong> viewpointof the world has exp<strong>and</strong>ed through <strong>BC</strong>GEU-sponsored activities in which she has participated. Asher involvement has deepened, so has her interest in stepping forward <strong>and</strong> putting her h<strong>and</strong> up tomake a difference by participating in politics, rather than simply watching from the sidelines.One of Fox-McGuire’s goals is to increase voter participation in her riding. The North Peace currentlyhas about 40 per cent of eligible voters who cast their vote. She thinks engagement is critical to thedemocratic process. For democracy to work, she said, we need participation.12


EU C<strong>and</strong>idatesSherry Ogasawara<strong>BC</strong> NDP c<strong>and</strong>idate —Prince George-ValemountSherry Ogasawara is a wellknowncommunity dietitianfitness expert, localmedia personality, <strong>and</strong> is proud tohold the position of <strong>BC</strong>GEU Local411/10 chair. She also serves on theunion’s women’s committee.A strong advocate for healthy northern living, Ogasawarais a recognized media authority on fitness, nutrition <strong>and</strong>lifestyle issues. Besides specializing in health promotion <strong>and</strong>disease prevention, she has experience within the acute caresector as well as in clinical therapeutic areas.Ogasawara has a long history of active community involvementin Prince George. In 2011, she spearheaded a localinitiative to encourage local consumers to allocate 10 percent of their monthly budget to locally produced goods<strong>and</strong> services.As an activist, Ogasawara has worked behind the sceneson many campaigns. She said her concern for the welfareof others <strong>and</strong> social justice is a part of her DNA. She haswatched the government make decisions that undercuteducation, healthcare <strong>and</strong> social services. She feels she couldno longer take a back seat <strong>and</strong> watch — that she needed todo more. That’s why she decided to put her name forwardas a c<strong>and</strong>idate.Sussanne SkidmoreHewlett<strong>BC</strong> NDP c<strong>and</strong>idate —Nechako LakesSkidmore Hewlett is a longtimesocial justice activistin the B.C. <strong>Government</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>Service</strong> Employees’ Union(<strong>BC</strong>GEU). A court clerk in theCourt <strong>Service</strong>s Branch of the Ministry of Justice for nineyears, she’s currently field educator in the northern region.Hewlett became active in the <strong>BC</strong>GEU early in her career.She has served in nearly every elected position in her unionlocal, from steward to executive.Skidmore Hewlett also serves as second vice-president ofthe <strong>BC</strong>GEU Administrative <strong>Service</strong>s component. She’sa member of the <strong>BC</strong>GEU’s equity & human rights <strong>and</strong>women’s committees. Skidmore Hewlett also serves as theelected vice-president of the North Central Labour Council.Sussanne has a long history of activism in the NDP <strong>and</strong> hasfought many elections at all levels. She has been an activemember of the Prince George-Valemount NDP executivesince 2005 <strong>and</strong> did fundraising <strong>and</strong> voter contact in the 2005<strong>and</strong> 2009 provincial elections. She has served as the northernrepresentative of the NDP women’s rights committee.Skidmore Hewlett is also active in her community, organizingPride <strong>and</strong> other social justice activities.Preet Rai<strong>BC</strong> NDP c<strong>and</strong>idate — Abbotsford-MissionPreet Rai is in his second term as a School Trustee on the Board ofEducation in Abbotsford. His upbringing instilled in him a desire<strong>and</strong> a sense of responsibility around family, community involvement<strong>and</strong> education. It’s the reason he’s seeking office as an MLA with the NDPin the Abbotsford-Mission riding. A chartered accountant from India, Raimoved to Canada in 1995 <strong>and</strong> has been working for the <strong>Government</strong> ofBritish Columbia since 1997.Rai’s community involvement includes serving with various organizations in Abbotsford, includingthe Canuck Place Campaign Executive Committee <strong>and</strong> Abby Fest, the Reach Board, Literacy MattersBoard, MSA Museum Board, Sister City Committee <strong>and</strong> the Abbotsford Youth Commission.Rai believes the top issues we have to address are having a healthcare system that’s reflective of thegrowing population with a special emphasis on reducing wait times, <strong>and</strong> ensuring we’re producinga well-educated <strong>and</strong> skilled workforce. We need, he says, to ensure everyone has the opportunity toget the education <strong>and</strong> training they require to excel in their fields <strong>and</strong> keep our economy strong<strong>and</strong> vibrant by being fiscally responsible.13


Changes needed to ensure workplace safetyIn 2011 17,160 workers sufferedserious injuries <strong>and</strong> last year181 died on the job in B.C. It’s astaggering number. Experiencetells us almost all workplace injuriescan be prevented, <strong>and</strong> should be.We need laws that keep people safeon the job, provide full compensationwhen workers are injured, <strong>and</strong> meaningfulrehabilitation to help workersget back to work.Over the last decades these protectionshave been weakened instead ofstrengthened.Major changes to the Workers’ CompensationBoard began in 2002. The<strong>BC</strong> Liberal goverment initiated thechanges after an aggressive employerlobby. The changes were designedto do one thing: reduce employercosts. These changes have come at aprofound cost to workers <strong>and</strong> to thetreatment <strong>and</strong> benefits that injuredworkers receive.The <strong>BC</strong> Liberal government guttedsafety regulations, cut enforcement,lowered benefits <strong>and</strong> cut people offpensions, then used the savings toreduce employer premiums.Negligent employers continue to facetrivial fines. Just last year an employerwho failed to provide any safety instruction,training or supervision wasfined just $3,250 when a worker fellto his death.The <strong>BC</strong>GEU supports a WCB systemwith adequate resources to preventinjuries in the workplace <strong>and</strong> supportinjured workers:• Restore full compensation to injuredworkers.• Reinstate a loss of earnings pensionfor injured workers who are permanentlydisabled.• Restore lifetime pensions instead ofending pensions for disabled workersat age 65.• Increase enforcement <strong>and</strong> meaningfulpenalties when employers fail toprovide safe workplaces.• Provide vocational rehabilitation forinjured workers returning to work.Strategic Reforms <strong>and</strong> Investmentneeded for the Justice System14<strong>BC</strong>’s justice system is in crisis.A cornerstone of our democracyhas fallen victim toa decade of budget slashing.Staffing shortages <strong>and</strong> courtroomclosures have created a backlog of criminalcases. Prolonged waiting timesmean hundreds of cases risk beingdismissed, our prisons are dangerouslyovercrowded <strong>and</strong> rehabilitative effortsare failing.Its not hard to see why. Since 2001:• The budget for court services was cut42 per cent;• The budget for legal aid was cut by36 per cent;• The corrections budget, which includesprobation <strong>and</strong> correctionsofficers, was reduced by 29 per cent.It’s the perserverence of the <strong>BC</strong>GEUmembers who work in the justicesystem that have kept it from collapsing.That’s a true testament to theirdedication, given the massive budgetcuts <strong>and</strong> increased caseloads.The <strong>BC</strong>GEU supports strategic reforms<strong>and</strong> an investment in our justice systemto repair the damage caused by budgetcuts. We support:• Maintaining Crown pre-chargescreening of criminal offenses;• Investment in a fully funded legalaid program;• Investment in mental health programsto offer alternatives to criminaljustice for those in crisis;• Restored funding to correctionsto reduce inmate-officer ratios <strong>and</strong>reduce overcrowding;• Investment in bail supervisionprograms;• Reduction in probation officer caseloadsto increase programs to reducerecidivism; <strong>and</strong>• Increased complement of provincialjudges <strong>and</strong> restored court administrative<strong>and</strong> security staffing levels.We need an investment in our justicesystem combined with strategic reformsto fix the damage that has beendone by the <strong>BC</strong> Liberals.


Community Social<strong>Service</strong>sA tentative two-year collective agreementhas been reached for CommunityLiving <strong>and</strong> General <strong>Service</strong>s that includesa wage increase, protects health<strong>and</strong> welfare benefits, <strong>and</strong> includes alabour market adjustment review.Aboriginal <strong>Service</strong> workers remainat the bargaining table at the time ofwriting.Community HealthHealth care workers in the CommunityHealth <strong>and</strong> Support subsector havevoted 86 per cent in favour of a twoyearcontract that provides an acrossthe board wage increase plus improvedworkplace <strong>and</strong> scheduling provisions.Health ScienceProfessionalsAfter almost a year of bargaining fora new contract, the Health ScienceProfessionals Bargaining Association(HSPBA) ratified the collective agreementfor nearly 17,000 health scienceprofessionals working in hospitals <strong>and</strong>communities across British Columbia.Vancity ratifies adjustedwage grid & appeal processAn Adjusted Wage Grid <strong>and</strong> AppealProcess were ratified by unionizedVancity locations. The result is a newwage grid that, in addition to the currentcollective agreement entitlements,includes an additional wage increasefor most employees.<strong>BC</strong> Housing (Maintenance)collective agreementratified by 79 per centThe two-year agreement includes ageneral wage increase totaling 4%over two years, updating<strong>and</strong> revisionsto the job descriptionsof every classification,new language to promotethe prevention of infectiousdiseases <strong>and</strong> parasitic infestations.<strong>BC</strong> Housing (Administration)collective agreement ratifiedby 90 per centThe improvements include a 4% salaryincrease over the two-year period<strong>and</strong> a joint process <strong>and</strong> review of alljob descriptions of every classification.Deal reached withNorthern Savings CreditUnion – Masset <strong>and</strong>Queen Charlotte CityThis three-year agreement includesstronger vacation scheduling language,bullying language, <strong>and</strong> conversionlanguage for casuals <strong>and</strong> part timeemployees.We also improved vacation time <strong>and</strong>medical travel language. Wage lifts runfrom 9.57% over 3 years to a maximumof 21.72%. Members voted 93% infavour of this agreement.New agreement for the<strong>BC</strong> NDP CAsHighlights of the two year agreementinclude wage increases totaling 4.5%over the term of the agreement, enhancedemployment security: memberswho leave to work in government<strong>and</strong> are rehired <strong>and</strong> retain seniorityfor 4 years. This is up from 2 years inrecognition of the electoral cycle.Post-SecondaryBargaining UpdateCurrently, all post-secondary supportstaff <strong>and</strong> faculty certifications had ratifiedcollective agreements or are in theprocess of ratification.Vancouver Isl<strong>and</strong> University facultyhave recently ratified their agreement.Bargaining at VIU continued as the<strong>Provincial</strong> went to press.LifeLabs ratifiescollective agreementLifeLabs ratified its tentative collectiveagreement in late February.Highlights include a retroactive wageincrease, short-term illness <strong>and</strong> injuryplan for regular employees, improvedhours of work <strong>and</strong> scheduling provisions,<strong>and</strong> improved substitution pay.<strong>BC</strong> Place (Pavco) ratifiesnew agreementMembers have ratified a new threeyearcollective agreement. Changesinclude a new procedure for schedulingevent employees, additions toharassment language <strong>and</strong> new workfor bargaining unit members.15


Agreement No. 40010201

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