April 11, 2012 is the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia and Transphobia in schools and communities.

http://www.canadianlabour.ca

Celebrate diversity and raise awareness to end bullying by downloading your very own D.I.Y Day of Pink Solidarity decal below. Just print it using iron-on transfer paper to create your own t-shirt. A light pink shirt will work best. Show your solidarity by wearing the t-shirt and organizing Day of Pink events in your workplace, communities and schools. Together, we can put a stop to homophobic and transphobic bullying, discrimination and violence.

Learn more about the Day of Pink by visiting: http://www.dayofpink.org/

 

Solidarity is Pink DIY Shirt instructions

For light coloured fabric:

1. Buy Iron-On T-Shirt Transfers designed for use on light coloured cotton or cotton/poly blends. Be sure to buy paper that is designed for your printer type (ink jet or laser). You can get Iron-On Transfer Paper at craft and business supply stores.
2. Get a (union made!) t-shirt that is made from cotton or cotton/poly blends that is light pink or white.
3. Load your paper into your printer following the directions on the paper package.
4. Download and print the decal from the website. Be sure to print the decal image that is flipped or mirror image.
5. Cut and trim around the decal to your desired shape.
6. Iron on following the package directions.

For dark or vivid coloured fabric:

1. Buy Dark T-Shirt Transfers designed for use on vivid or dark fabric cotton/poly blends.Be sure to buy paper that is designed for your printer type (ink jet or laser).  You can get Dark  T-shirt Transfers at craft and business supply stores.
2. Get a (union made!) t-shirt that is made from cotton or cotton/poly blends that is dark pink or vivid pink
3. Load your paper into your printer following the directions on the paper package.
4. Download and print the decal from the website. Be sure to print the decal that is not reversed or flipped.
5. Since this decal has a white background be sure to carefully cut and trim the edges off the decal, following the outline.
6. Iron on following the package directions.

Downloadable PDF Transfers:

For dark shirts: Small - Large  For light shirts: Small - Large

Citing bias and flawed process, BCTF requests mediator to withdraw, asks LRB to intervene

BCTF News Release   April 5, 2012

The BC Teachers’ Federation this morning has made application to the Labour Relations Board seeking to have the appointment of Dr. Charles Jago as mediator in the current labour dispute quashed.

On April 2, BCTF President Susan Lambert wrote to Dr. Jago respectfully requesting that he step down as mediator, citing numerous factors that create an apprehension of bias. One day later, Dr. Jago wrote back, saying he declined to withdraw.

Despite Dr. Jago’s assurances of his impartiality, the BCTF remains unsatisfied that he could reasonably be viewed as impartial. Therefore the BCTF has gone to the LRB. “This government has legislated a biased process and appointed a mediator who not only lacks experience, but evidently lacks impartiality as well,” Lambert said.

The BCTF is concerned about a 2006 report on public education in BC done by Dr. Jago on commission to former Premier Gordon Campbell’s Progress Board. The report’s findings clearly foreshadow positions taken by the BC Public School Employers’ Association at the bargaining table and also reflect policy directions laid out in Bill 22. “Obviously there is a strong linkage between Dr. Jago’s thinking, and the bargaining and policy objectives of this government,” Lambert said.

The BCTF is also deeply troubled by the fact that, according to Dr. Jago, Deputy Education Minister James Gorman first approached him about taking on the mediation role in early February, at which time Dr. Jago tentatively accepted. This agreement was reached long before Education Minister George Abbott asked the BCTF for suggestions as to who teachers thought might successfully mediate the dispute. The BCTF suggested Justice Stephen Kelleher or Justice Ian Donald, both senior judges with extensive experience in labour relations and mediation.

Also in early February, and equally disturbing, Dr. Jago told BCTF representatives that he was given the opportunity to review and “to wordsmith” a draft of Bill 22 before it was tabled in the Legislature. He agreed, even though this was the very legislation he would later be expected to interpret impartially as a mediator. Abbott publicly announced Dr. Jago’s appointment on March 28. The BCTF learned about the appointment from media reports, not from the minister himself.

“Clearly there is a reasonable apprehension of bias here,” Lambert said. “What faith can teachers put in this mock mediation process, which is already so fundamentally skewed against us?”

To read the full text of Lambert’s letter to Dr. Jago and his reply, see: http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/BargainingContracts/2012-04-02-BCTF-JagoLtr.pdf

 

 

CUPW Raises Concerns about the Canadian Postal Services Charter

April 2, 2012  -  14:30

Your Public Post Office Delivers Campaign / Letter

Steven Fletcher
Minister of State (Transport)
Place de Ville, Tower C, 29^th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario 
K1A 0N5

Dear Mr. Fletcher,

I am writing to raise concerns about the Canadian Postal Service Charter, which is the government policy document outlining expectations for Canada Post in regard to service standards and other matters.

CUPW and others have lived with the Canadian Postal Service Charter for two and a half years now. We know, based on Charter provision #20, that the government will review this policy document in another two and a half years.

The union would like you to consider our views and our experience to date as you prepare for the upcoming review.

We would also like the government to take steps to ensure that Canada Post is living up to Charter expectations.

Moratorium on closures needs to be clarified

The Charter maintains the existing moratorium that has been in effect since 1994. This moratorium protects public post offices in rural and small one-post-office towns. Unfortunately, it appears that Canada Post does not believe the moratorium protects the public nature of post offices. The corporation says each situation will be “determined on a case-by-case ba­sis in consultation with the affected community.”

The Charter should be revised in a way that protects the public nature of the post offices and outlets covered by the moratorium.

Consultation period needs to be extended – Consultation process needs to be dramatically improved

The Charter says:

"13. Where Canada Post plans to change delivery methods Canada Post will communicate, either in person or in writing, with affected customers and communities at least one month in advance to explain decisions and explore options that address customer concerns.

14. At least one month before deciding to permanently close, move or amalgamate corporate post offices, Canada Post will meet with affected customers and communities to jointly explore options and find practical solutions that address customer concerns."

In short, Canada Post has to in­form people at least one month prior to closing, moving or amal­gamating their public post office or changing their method of delivery. The corporation is also expected to explore options that address people’s concerns. But one month is not enough time to do this.

The Charter should be revised to dramatically extend the con­sultation period.

The consultation process also needs to be improved.  The process Canada Post uses does not adhere to the spirit of Charter provisions.

Many rural residents have complained that they were not consulted or adequately consulted when their rural mail box delivery was changed to delivery at a community mailbox, green group box or post office. It appears that Canada Post does not always "explain decisions or explore options that address customers concerns."

As well, many communities have been shocked to find that they were not consulted about a post office closure. Canada Post currently puts a notice on a post office door or window to let people know it is considering closing an office. It does not "meet" with communities to jointly explore options and find practical solutions that address their concerns.

The government should take immediate steps to ensure that Canada Post is living up to the spirit of Charter provisions on community outreach and consultation. Canada Post should hold public meetings when it considers closing a post office. The government should consult with the public, municipalities, Members of Parliament, postal unions and other major stakeholders to develop a reasonable, uniform and democratic process for making changes to the postal and delivery network.

Exceptions to moratorium need to go

There are too many exceptions to the moratorium. Communities may face post office closures due to retirement, illness, death, fire or termination of lease, etc.

The Charter should be revised to remove the exceptions to the moratorium on closures.

List of post offices covered by the moratorium needs to be publicly posted

The list of post offices covered by the moratorium has not been made public by Canada Post or the government.

The government should request that Canada Post put the list of post offices covered by the moratorium on closures in a prominent place on its website.

Community outreach and consultation process needs to be posted

The process that is to be followed when Canada Post closes, moves or amalgamates a public post office or changes the method of delivery has not been made public by Canada Post or the government.

The government should request that Canada Post put information on its community outreach and consultation process in a prominent place on its website.

Canada Post shouldn’t report on its own performance

Canada Post shouldn’t report on its own performance in meeting Charter expectations. This job should be given to an inde­pendent Canada Post ombudsper­son. There is currently an ombudsperson for complaints regarding the corporation’s compliance with the Canadian Postal Service Charter, but the independence of this ombudsperson is questionable. The Canada Post ombudsperson is appointed by the Canada Post Board of Directors, a board that includes the Canada Post President. Furthermore, the person in this position was a Canada Post employee for many years. We need a truly independent ombudsperson.

The Charter should be revised to say that an independent ombudsperson will report on Canada Post’s performance in meeting each of the expectations in the Canadian Postal Service Charter and that this report will be published each year. The government should take steps to create a truly independent ombudsperson for complaints regarding Canada Post’s compliance with the Canadian Postal Service Charter and other matters.

The public and key stakeholders need to be consulted on the Charter

The people who own Canada Post –the public – were never asked what a Canadian Postal Service Charter should say. The government should consult with the public, municipalities, Members of Parliament, postal unions and other major stakeholders to improve the Charter.

The government should hold public consultations during the upcoming review ofthe Canadian Postal Service Charter to assess the need to improve the Charter.

I look forward to your response.

Yours truly,

Denis Lemelin
National President

c.c.

National Executive Committee
Regional Executive Committees
National Union Representatives
Regional Union Representatives
Specialists
All CUPW locals
Deepak Chopra, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post Corporation
Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Olivia Chow, MP
Jamie Nicholls, MP
Denis Coderre, MP
Maria Mourani, MP
Elizabeth May, Leader Green Party

ILO cites over 20 ongoing labour rights violations by Canadian governments

http://nupge.ca

The ILO “has been expressing concern for many years on the exclusion of wide categories of workers from statutory protection of freedom of association and on the restrictions on the right to strike in several provinces.”

Geneva (04 April 2012) – In a recent report reviewing the extent of Canada’s compliance to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) most fundamental Convention – No. 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, the ILO cited over 20 instances where governments across Canada have refused to change labour laws which have been found to be in contravention of Convention No. 87.

Convention No. 87 establishes the universal right of all workers to form and join unions of their own choosing, as well as the right to engage in free collective bargaining and strike action. Canada, with the support of all provincial and territorial governments, ratified Convention No. 87 in March 1972.

In its report, the ILO “stressed the importance of ensuring to all workers [in Canada], without distinction whatsoever, the right to form and join the organization of their own choosing and, accordingly, expressed the firm hope that all necessary measures would be adopted in the near future to provide full guarantees of the rights set forth in the Convention to all workers.”

The ILO noted that it “has been expressing concern for many years on the exclusion of wide categories of workers from statutory protection of freedom of association and on the restrictions on the right to strike in several provinces.”

The denial of the right to join a union

Among the violations noted, the ILO cites the following categories of workers who continue to be denied the fundamental right to join a union:

• Agricultural workers in Alberta and Ontario;
• Domestic workers, in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, PEI and Saskatchewan;
• Architects, dentists, land surveyors, engineers and lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Saskatchewan;
• Nurse practitioners in Alberta; 
• University faculty in Alberta; and 
• Part-time employees of community colleges in Ontario.

The report made reference to the April 2011 Supreme Court of Canada decision regarding the Ontario Agricultural Employees Protection Act (AEPA) which found the legislation constitutional because it allowed for “good faith” negotiations between agricultural workers and their employers. But according to the ILO, good faith which merely obliges employers to give a reasonable opportunity for employee representations and listen or read them, is not good enough.

“While acknowledging the Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the AEPA, the [ILO] Committee nevertheless notes with regret that the Government of Ontario is not considering any amendments to the AEPA aimed at ensuring sufficient guarantees for the full exercise of freedom of association rights by agricultural workers, particularly bearing in mind the obstacles to organizing that are inherent to the nature of this work, as well as the conditions necessary to enable these workers to have recourse to industrial actions without sanction.”

With respect to part-time employees of community colleges in Ontario, the ILO noted the Ontario government amended legislation in 2008 that gave the employees the right to bargain collectively and that the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) had filed certification applications over three years ago to represent both the part-time academic staff and part-time support staff.

The ILO, however, condemned the fact that certification has not been granted as a result of ongoing and costly litigation caused by the colleges. It has asked the Ontario government “to lift any obstacle in law and practice which would hinder these rights as provided in the Convention”.

The denial of the right to strike

The ILO report cites a number of categories of workers in Canada who are restricted from exercising on their right to strike such as:

• Teachers in B.C. and Manitoba;
• Certain categories of workers employed by Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities, like gardeners, labourers and other non-essential services employees;
• Over 500,000 public employees in Quebec who, as a result of the Charest government’s Bill 43 in 2006, had their right to strike (as well as their right to bargain collectively) suspended for five years; and
• Public sector workers in Saskatchewan who are effectively denied the right to strike as a result of the 2008 far reaching essential services legislation passed by the Brad Wall government.

Each of the legislative violations cited in the ILO report were subject to an ILO complaint from a Canadian union. Since 1982, there have been 81 ILO complaints filed against Canadian federal and provincial labour legislation. The 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has submitted 26 of these complaints on behalf of its provincial Component unions during that period.

The review did not consider the three most recent retrictive labour laws passed in Canada, namely two passed by the Harper government – one in June 2011 denying postal workers from taking strike action (Bill C-2), another passed last month preventing two of Air Canada’s unions from going on strike (Bill C-33) and a BC law passed last month preventing any further strike action by B.C. teachers (Bill 22).

Video: Bill-C30: How to stop the bill and protect your privacy online. A public forum.

By Jase Tanner   http://rabble.ca

| April 7, 2012

Libby Davies, Vancouver East MP, hosts a public forum in Vancouver about Bill C-30, the Conservative Bill that aims to violate our privacy on the internet. Find out what you can do to prevent the passage of the bill. Moderator: Libby Davies (NDP Member of Parliament, Vancouver East). Speakers: Jasbir Sandhu (NDP Critic for Public Safety), Lindsey Pinto and Glyn Lewis (Open Media.ca), Jim Sayre (President, VCN – Vancouver Community Network) and Michael Vonn (BC Liberties Association). Recorded and livestreamed on rabbletv by Jase Tanner March 21, 2012, at W2.

Part 1

Part 2

Morale low as local federal workers await cuts

By Karena Walter, The Standard

Friday, April 6, 2012 7:24:14 EDT PM   http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com

Federal workers in Niagara continue to face unknown futures as the government begins eliminating thousands of public-servant jobs across the country.

“I think the not knowing part of it is the hardest,” said Debbie Willett, Public Service Alliance of Canada’s area council representative for Ontario.

“If you’re told, ‘Yes, it’s you,’ it’s going to be an initial shock, but at least you can start planning to figure out what you’re going to do. Not knowing is the hardest part.”

Last month’s federal budget outlined plans to eliminate 19,200 public servant positions to save $5 billion, resulting in 12,000 people losing their jobs. The other positions will be lost through attrition.

On Wednesday, 1,500 of those jobs were cut at the Defence Ministry, but other federal workers are still waiting for word on how the cuts will impact their departments.

Willett, who lives in Niagara Falls and works in St. Catharines, said the union represents between 1,000 to 1,200 federal workers from Grimsby to Fort Erie.

They include immigration, passport, agriculture, parole, parks, Canada border services and revenue employees.

“We’re not hearing anything yet in the way of numbers or who, we’re just hearing it has to come out of the budget somehow, somewhere,” she said.

Willett said the hope is that the cuts will come from retirements or people choosing to leave on their own accord, but workers are still in the dark.

“We know cuts are coming, but each department hasn’t told the members or employees where the cuts are going to be,” Willett said.

“It’s gloomy. The morale is definitely down. It’s not necessarily the person that’ll go, it could be the position.

“You could be the best worker ever, but if it’s your job they’re eliminating, it would be you.”

When the announcements will be made is unknown and Willett said she’s heard word it could come down any time from mid-April to June.

Willett said the job cuts will impact the public at large.

“If we’re gone, it’s the services they’re going to lose. It does affect you because it’s the services we provide you’re no longer going to see or you may have to travel distances to get the services.”

On March 1, 160 Niagara members of PSAC and the Professional Institute of the Public Services of Canada protested in St. Catharines outside the tax services office the cuts the federal government was expected to announce in the March 29 budget.

The National office of the Public Service Alliance of Canada called on the government this week to detail a department by department accounting of what services are going to be cut, where, when and how.

kwalter@stcatharinesstandard.ca

Reminder of WKLC Election of Executive and Trustee

At the April 17, 2012 WKLC meeting, we will be holding elections for the following positions:

President,

1st Vice President,

2nd Vice President,

2rd Vice President,

Treasurer,

Secretary,

Members at Large (one each for Trail, Nelson, Castlegar),

Seargent at Arms,

Trustee (3-year term)

If you are interested in any of these positions you must be present at the April 17, 2012 meeting for nomination including to accept nomination or send written notice of your nomination and your intent to accept the nomination. NOTE: Your union affiliate must provide a WKLC credential, if not done so, to the WKLC, to stand for election and conduct business of the Council.

The meeting starts at 7:00 pm at the BCGEU area office, 2316 Columbia, Castlegar BC.

Quorum is 10 delegate from 3 different unions and 3 executive members. If we don’t have quorum elections cannot be held. Please attend.Thank you.