Menu

News & Updates

Subscribe to News & Updates

National Union pledges $5 million strike fund to striking community social services workers

May 5, 1999
Striking community social services workers belonging to the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and Health Sciences Association got a boost from their national union yesterday. The 320,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is putting its $5 million strike fund at the disposal of the striking workers, should they need it. The BCGEU and HSA are components of NUPGE.

Community social services workers to picket Ministry for Children and Families office

May 4, 1999
Workers at Fraserside Community Services will set up a picket line tomorrow (May 5) at the Ministry for Children and Families office at 237 E. Columbia Street in New Westminster, a worksite they share with the Ministry. Also tomorrow, community social services workers in Victoria will hold a rally outside the office of the Public Sector Employers' Council located at 468 Belleville Street.

Social services workers call on Premier Clark to follow through on commitment

May 3, 1999
Unions representing striking community social services workers today called on Premier Glen Clark to follow through on the government's commitment to end wage and benefit discrimination against the workers. "There seems to be a communications problem in Victoria," CUPE negotiator Bill Harper said at a strike co-ordination meeting in Burnaby today. "The government's commitment to equity is not being reflected at the bargaining table."

What are my rights if I have a substance addiction?

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by JUDITH McCORMACK In BC, the law is clear on workers who have asubstance addiction: the employer must make every reasonable effort to accommodate aworkers disabilities by either allowing her to take time to get treatment for aproblem, or by providing some alternate form of employment at the worksite.

Training, dedication to help union members

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by LYN BLENKINSOP Over the last three years it has been my very great privilege to have receivedHSA scholarships to train as a Union Counsellor. This has been one of the most valuableand rewarding experiences of my twenty-one years as an HSA member. The Union Counselling program is mainly taught at the CLC WinterSchool at Harrison Hot Springs, BC. It is sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress andtaught by the Labour Participation Department of the United Way of the Lower Mainland.

Does BC really have a debt problem?

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by MARC LEE The recent provincial budget was, for many commentators, a real dog. After all,$890 million is an awfully big number for a late-1990s provincial deficit. But there isgood reason to step back and put the numbers in their proper context. Despite all of thebarking, the bite is not really that bad.

What's up and what's not with union actions and grievances

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 HSA welcomes CDC health services and support workers  Fifteen employees at Fort St. John Child Development Centrejoined HSA in February. These new members work in health services and support at the FortSt. John and Fort Nelson sites of the Centre in administration and child care. Welcome to new member atCedarview Lodge

Motivating youth through inspiration and hope

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by YUKIE KURAHASHI

New OH&S regulation in effect April 15

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by HANNELORE GIDORA A new Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, to replace theold Industrial Health and Safety Regulation, came into effect on April 15, 1998. Employerswere given a one-year grace period to work towards compliance. As of April 15, 1999, thisyear is up, so that almost all of the requirements are now in force. (There are a fewexceptions; for example Section 4.83(3) on environmental tobacco smoke gives certainestablishments until January 1, 2000 to comply.)

At a crossroads: union direction and a personal journey of activism

May 1, 1999
The Report: May / June 1999 vol.19 num.7 by KELLY FINLAYSON In contemplating what to write for my report as Director for Region 1, mythoughts cross many boundaries. There are many things I want to communicate to and aboutmy members, the people who work in our 41 HSA sites on Vancouver Island from Duncan north,the Sechelt Peninsula including Powell River, and the Squamish to Pemberton area.

Pages