Stepping up to the Plate
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ADRIAN CANADIAN DIX UNION OF PAGE 14 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES B.C. DIVISION FALL 2011 employee STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE CUPE MEMBERS PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN COMMUNITY ELECTIONS PLUS MULTI-LINGUAL ELECTION INSERT WATER COALITIONS SFU LOCKOUT NEW EXECUTIVE CETA ALERT CUPE HABITAT leading us barry o’neill “Efforts to support local development should never be guided by partisan loyalty … we all want to make our communities better.” Here’s to public-private partnerships we can ‘‘really get excited about A few years ago, when I began touring the province to talk about strengthening local economies, some reporters asked MEET YOU HALFWAY Whenever he’s on the road, CUPE BC why “Big Labour” was spending so much time hobnobbing president Barry O’Neill enjoys a good roundtable discussion — like this one, with the mayor and councillors of Williams Lake — where with business people, chambers of commerce, and even BC people of all political stripes can find common ground on local Liberal MLAs. The implication seemed to be: “You’re natu- development issues. ral enemies. What common ground could there possibly be?” ened with lockouts or lay-offs, the Steelworkers have our That thinking was misguided. Sure, I’m not exactly back – because they’ve been there. It’s a natural alliance. chummy with these folks when our members are being leg- But when it comes to those who seem more like natural islated back to work – or the local board of trade is endors- adversaries, we need to think outside the box and empha- ing Philip Hochstein’s view of the world. But regardless of size what unites, rather than divides us. If you talk to your what side of the political fence they’re on, Liberal MLAs and local, BC Liberal-voting mom & pop storefront owner, or business operators are part of a local community, just like board of trade representative, you may be surprised by how us. And, when it comes right down to it, we all want the much agreement you’ll find, for example, on our opposition same for our communities: good jobs, a healthy and safe to trade deals like the TILMA and CETA, or our support for environment for our kids, and a local economy that doesn’t the Ten Percent Shift and other local investment initiatives. depend on global capital for its very survival. Last year, I attended the official opening of the Seymour Efforts to support local development should never be guided Water filtration plant. I didn’t get to speak, and there was by partisan loyalty. That’s why CUPE BC is proud to work no announcement of new CUPE jobs or anything like that. with small- and medium-sized, independent private busi- Really, there was nothing in it for us except the satisfaction nesses – just as we do with charities, church groups, com- of seeing a core public service defended and proven to be munity coalitions and other local organizations. We all want world-class. In the fight to keep this plant public, CUPE to make our communities better – regardless of our political had stood beside small business owners and local activists biases, religious beliefs or even ethnic backgrounds. alike, from secular private citizens to church groups. Nor should our status as public or private sector work- The success of that campaign is a good reminder that – ers be a factor. CUPE and the United Steelworkers – B.C.’s now more than ever – we need to break down barriers to largest public and private sector unions – have done a lot of keep our communities strong. work together in recent years. When USW forestry workers Barry O’Neill is president of CUPE BC. were being laid off and their communities began to suffer economically, they relied more, not less, on the services that MORE ONLINE www.cupe.bc.ca + News + CUPE members provide. When our members are threat- Commentary + Leaders’ voices 2 THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE CUPE action members on the fr ont line NEW DEAL — AND CUTS — IN COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES BURNABY | After several months of on-again, off-again bargaining for British Columbia’s 15,000 community- based social services workers, a tenta- tive agreement was finally reached in mid-August, averting a strike only days before the nine unions involved were prepared to take job action. Key bargaining demands were met, including those for job security and A MATTER OF RESPECT fair work practices for workers, such Hundreds of people showed up at SFU’s main campus in Burnaby on September 13 to support locked out CUPE members whose employer wants to cut as bumping, job selection language wages by up to 40 per cent. and bullying. In addition, the govern- ment approved a $600,000 retraining grant for workers in the sector. Taking a stand on the SFU campus “This agreement offers important directors to end the lockout, return to improvements for workers who sup- Student Society lockout of support staff draws fire the bargaining table and restore student port children, women, adults with services. developmental disabilities, and other BURNABY | As a bitter lockout of O’Neill brought greetings from CUPE vulnerable members in our commu- Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) National president Paul Moist and nities,” said CUPE’s CSS bargaining staff entered its third month in mid- described the staff’s efforts to reach a fair coordinator Cheryl Colborne. September, CUPE 3338 members were collective agreement as a “just and right” However, Colborne added, cuts and encouraged by the broad range of public cause that CUPE BC will support one closures continue to occur in group support for their struggle with a disre- hundred per cent. homes, employment support and spectful employer. He also called out the SFSS board for volunteer programs throughout the At SFU’s main campus on September its “insulting” treatment of staff. In its province. 13, hundreds showed up at a rally to last offer, the board wanted to cut wages “Premier Clark’s announcement of support the workers. Speakers including by up to 40 per cent, reduce permanent $8.9 million in additional funding CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill, SFU positions and pit current staff against does very little to address continuing Labour Studies instructor John-Henry future employees by reducing wages for needs when the shortfall is $70 mil- Harter, NDP MLA Spencer Chandra- new hires. At press time, the lockout, lion – $85 million if we were to main- Herbert and SFSS staff member Nadine which began on July 10, was still in tain 2005 levels.” Chambers called on the SFSS board of effect. Pitt Meadows, Surrey munities want to work with our mem- bers to help make neighbourhoods and embrace “City Watch” communities safer and more secure,” CUPE BC’s City Watch program con- said CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Mark tinues to grow, with new participating Hancock. municipalities Surrey and Pitt Meadows TEAM EFFORT ”City Watch” combines “It’s such a natural fit with the work the latest to join. Nearly 30 B.C. com- the resources of city hall, police and CUPE. our members do every day, and it should munities are now participating in CUPE’s serve as a reminder that CUPE members popular program, which brings the eyes reduce crime and increase public safety. don’t just work in their communities— and ears of civic workers to fight and “We’re very pleased by how many com- they’re part of them.” FALLFALL 20112011 33 CUPE action VOICES “Our caretakers…. felt the impact of the cuts last year when all their sections were increased by an average of 1,000 to 1,500 square feet—the equivalent of a medium-size house.” CUPE 728 president Janice Meehan, in a letter to the editor, comments on the impact of budget cuts on Surrey schools. Cloverdale Reporter, Tuesday, August 30, 2011. TOMORROW’S LEADERS CUPE BC’s third young workers “They drive the competition out of the area. They buy build- conference inspired delegates with a range of ideas on how to ings, set it all up and then they’ve got themselves a real estate engage in union activism. Keynote speaker Spencer Chandra-Herbert investment. They are not really in this because they believe in reinforced the message that you’re never too young to have your child care.” voice heard. CUPE 1936 president and CUPE BC child care working group chair Michael Lanier describes the modus operandi of the for-profit, Young workers inspired publicly traded Education Learning Universe (Edleun) Group, which NARAMATA | CUPE BC’s young workers task force held its plans to open seven child care centres in B.C. third two-day conference July 6-8, with more than 70 CUPE Maple Ridge News, Wednesday, August 3, 2011. members under the age of 30 taking part. Delegates partici- pated in workshops and heard guest speakers on a range of “We are certainly not there to cause any disturbance. We do topics. The keynote address was delivered by NDP Opposition have a letter for the captain of the ship and for the members MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert, himself a “young worker” of the Esmeralda.” (he was first elected to the BC Legislature CUPE 50 member Carlos Flores pledges to protest the impending when he was just 27). August 1 arrival of a Chilean navy ship that was used as a torture CUPE BC general vice-president Trevor vessel under the fascist regime of Augusto Pinochet. Davies, also co-chair of CUPE National’s Victoria News, Wednesday, July 27, 2011. young workers committee, said the con- “I question this logic as it would mean that Bennett himself ference went even better than he had (considering he received close to 2,500 votes last municipal expected.