July 29, 2010

Final wage rates for the facilities subsector Rehabilitation Assistant, Program Coordinator I (formerly Activity Worker III) and Program Coordinator II (formerly Activity Worker IV) benchmarks have been determined by classification arbitrator John Kinzie.

Language and wage rate changes were negotiated during the “Page 209” benchmark series review in 2008 and 2009 for affected members in the Facilities Bargaining Association.

These three benchmarks received an “interim” rate, retroactive to April 1, 2008, in the implementation agreement.  The unions took the issue of the final wage rates before Kinzie in classification hearings held on April 12 and 22.

Kinzie awarded the following rates:

These new wage rates will be effective July 23, 2010, the date the arbitrator published his award.

Kinzie was clear that his decision was based on classification principles: “…the current pay scale and its internal equities weighed against the significance of the change in duties and responsibilities reflected in the new or revised benchmark.” He also applied the same principles where job qualifications were changed in a benchmark.

The unions expect that employers will implement these wage adjustments as soon as possible.  Should there be problems in receiving these new rates, contact your local shop steward.

International Union of Operating Engineers is supporting CUPE in the disparance of Lyle and Marie McCann. We are urging our members to support the seach for Lyle and Marie McCann, family members of a Cupe 30 member who have been missing since July 3.

The elderly couple disappeared on the road between St. Albert, Albert and Abbotsford, British Columbia. Their burned – out motor home was abandoned near Edson, Alberta.

Residents of Prince George, British Columbia have recently spotted the McCann’s SUV, according to media reports.

You can help by circulating photos of the McCanns and information about their missing vehicle, a light green Hyundai Tucson with the license plate ZPK 289.

1600 UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Renaissance Hotel, Westin Bayshore and Four Seasons are currently working without a union contract. There is little to no progress in bargaining. The hotels are refusing to even discuss key issues for Local 40 members like housekeeping workload and the devasting fake “green” program at the Westin Bayshore designed to slash housekeepers’ jobs.

Major protest at the Hyatt on July 22 at 5:00pm.

It has come to the attention of the union that some employers have not yet implemented new clerical members that resulted from the clerical benchmark review contained in the 2006-2010 agreement (“page208″).

Under the final settlement and implementation agreement reached in January, health employers to implement the new rates of pay for benchmarks covered by the review no later than April 1, 2010.

The adjustments are retroactive to April 1, 2007, and health employers were also required to provide retroactive payments by no later than May 13.

It’s important that you contact your union if work is matched to one of the affected benchmarks your employer has not adjusted your pay rate or provided you with retroactive pay.

Please review the following list of benchmarks to see if you may be affected.

Finance and Payroll

• Benchmark 10205 Clerk IV, Accounts Receivable – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10206 Clerk IV, Accounts Payable – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10209 Clerk V, Accounts Receivable (Patient Billing) – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10210 Clerk V, Accounts Payable – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10212 Accounting – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10703 Payroll – previously Grid 16 is now Grid 17
• Benchmark 10704 Payroll Supervisor I – previously Grid 21 is now Grid 22
• Benchmark 10705 Payroll Supervisor II – previously Grid 24 is now Grid 25
• Benchmark 10706 Payroll Supervisor III – previously Grid 26 is now Grid 27

Please raise this issue with your employer and contact you local shop steward.

Following the footsteps of our ancestors, while building a future for our children

Share the Celebration of First Nations Culture

June 18, 2010

IUOE is welcoming a decision from the province’s Labour Relations Board dismissing all raid applications submitted by the BC Nurses’ Union to represent LPNs who are members of IUOE, HEU and other unions of Facilities Bargaining Association.

“Today’s ruling confirms what the vast majority of LPNs have told us all along – they want to remain united and independent within their unions, where they can continue to advocate for their own, unique professional interests.”

“In dismissing each of BCNU’s seven separate raid applications, the Board has made it crystal clear that BCNU could not garner enough support for its raid in even a single health region, let alone on a province-wide basis.”

I want to thank LPN members for standing by their union, often under intense pressure from BCNU organizers.  I also want to thank members across the province for standing with their LPN colleagues throughout the year-long raid.

“Facilities Bargaining Association members understand the true meaning of solidarity,” says Darcy, Chair and Spokesperson for the Facilities Bargaining Association. “They know an attack on one group of members is an assault on all members. And they know our strength is forged by standing strong and united for one another.”

She says she is hopeful that today’s unequivocal decision by the LRB will give the BCNU leadership an opportunity to reconsider their direction and abandon their divisive tactics in the future.

“As colleagues in health care, Facilities Bargaining Association and BCNU members share common values and objectives that are worth preserving,” says Darcy.

“Now it’s time to focus on the work that unites our members on the health care team.”

As a result of today’s ruling, the BCNU has been barred from mounting a future raid for 22 months from the date of their original application filed on November 30, 2009.

Please Come and join the Walk4Justice

Kamloops, BC to Winnipeg, Manitoba

June 22, 2010 to July 28, 2010

This walk is to continue to voice our concern about on-going violence against our women and children in Canada.

We want to honour our lost, but not forgotten, women who have died through violence and/or are still missing for over 40 years.

We will continue to walk to seek justice, closure, equality and accountability for the families of these victims. We are still demanding a public inquiry into all of the cases we have already presented to all the politicians and leadership nationwide. We want them to stop ongoing genocide and the legacy of “systemic racism” still happening in this country.

We want Accountability for the children of these women who are still missing and unaccounted for, they are our future leaders and we want them to know that somebody cares.

We will be leaving Kamloops, BC on June 22, 2010 and arriving in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 28, 2010.

For more information, please visit our Website: http://www.walk4justice.com

Contacts:

Laurie Rogers: admin@walk4justice.com

Gladys Radek: frillyfrog08@yahoo.ca

604-569-5989

Petition for the Missing and Murdered Women of Canada

“JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!”

Good day all my relations.

This petition is to gather names and support for all women who have been missing or murdered across Canada in the last 4 decades.

Walk4Justice needs to take a stand

for justice, closure, equality, basic human rights and ACCOUNTABILITY

for the missing and murdered women, their families and the children they left behind. We need to let them know that these women were loved and never to be forgotten. We need to be their voice so that we can stop this ongoing legacy of genocide by murder. Please, if you know someone who is missing or has been found murdered and still unsolved, give us their names, where and when they went missing. Then we can present, to the leaderships of this country a true sense of the numbers of our women who have been victimized by this horrible legacy. We can be the voices for their children, our future leaders. Let them know that we want all these acts of violence towards women to stop. Prayers to all for safety, health and prosperity and thank you for your invaluable time and support for this worthy cause.

Respect, Walk4Justice http://www.petitiononline.com/gjustice/petition.html

To make it a successful journey we need volunteers, drivers, vehicles, walkers spiritual guidance, cash donations, drummers, singers, traditional medicines such as sage and tobacco, community involvement, medical supplies, food, accommodations, water, adequate clothing such as shoes, socks, hats and raingear, memory cards for camera’s, batteries, calling cards, cell phones, sleeping bags, large tarps, propane tanks, portable barbeque, sun screen, bug repellent, Coleman lamps, grocery, gas and coffee cards, safety signs for vehicles, letters of support and the names of the loved ones from the family members, and lots of love and respect for the families of these beautiful women.

All cash donations can go to the Union of BC Indian Chief’s Scotia Bank account number 00271-11, transit number 10140. For checks mark memo Walk4Justice. Contact Don Bain at UBCIC 604-684-0231

Our thanks to the BCGEU in Burnaby, CEP457/ COPE 378 and BC Federation of Labour for their invaluable support!

We want to raise funds for the children for health facilities, counselling, cultural awareness, treatment centers and education facilities. We want to help build for these children’s futures and stop the violence for their generations.

Walk4Justice 2010 Route Plan

1. Kamloops, BC to Chase (21st – events, 22 Walk) – 58.1 km

2. Chase to Salmon Arm – 51.9 km

3. Salmon Arm to Sicamous – 31.4 km

4. Sicamous to Enderby – 37.2 km

5. Enderby to Armstrong – 13.8 km

6. Armstrong to Vernon – 23.7 km

7. Vernon to Kelowna – 52.3 km (Presentation,June 24)

8. Kelowna to Peachland – 24.3 km

9. Peachland, to Summerland – 22.2 km

10. Summerland to Penticton – 18.6 km

11. Penticton to Oliver

Presentations, Penticton, June 28) – 39.8 km

12. Oliver to Osoyoos – 21.1 km Total kilometers Kamloops to Osoyoos – 394.4 km

13. (Drive Sicamous to Revelstoke ( June 29)

14. Osoyoos to Penticton – 60.9 km

15. Penticton to Summerland – 18.6 km

16. Summerland to Peachland – 22.2 km

17. Peachland to Kelowna – 24.4 km

18. Kelowna to Vernon – 52.4 km

19. Vernon to Armstrong – 23.7 km

20. Armstrong to Salmon Arm – 38.7 km

21. Armstrong to Sicamous – 51.2 km

22. Salmon Arm to Sicamous -31.4 km

23. Sicamous to Revelstoke -73.4 km

24. Revelstoke to Glacier National Park – 60.3 km

25. Glacier National Park to Golden – (July 1) 69.8 km

26. Golden to Lake Louise, Alberta - 84.7 km

27. Lake Louise to Banff, Alberta - 58.7 km

28. Banff to Canmore – 23.9 km

29. Canmore to Morely, Alberta – 35.6 km

30. Morely to Calgary, Alberta – 56.9 km

31. Airdrie to Red Deer -116 km

32. Red Deer to Hobbema, Alberta – 79.2 km

33. Hobbema to Edmonton, Alberta – 95 km

34. Edmonton – Vegreville – 102 km

35. Vegreville, AB to Innisfree, Saskatchewan -41.3 km

36. Innisfree to Lloydminister, SK (Powwow, July 16) -109 km

37. Lloydminister to North Battleford – 140 km

38. North Battleford to Saskatoon -138 km

39. Saskatoon to Viscount – 81.2 km

40. Viscount to Wynyard, Saskatchewan – 110 km

41. Wynyard to Foam Lake – 49.4 km

42. Foam Lake to Yorkton – 92.1 km

43. Yorkton, SK to Russel, Manitoba – 104 km

44. Russel, Manitoba to Shoal Lake, Manitoba – 76.4 km

45. Shoal Lake to Neepawa – 90.5 km

46. Neepawa to Portage LaPrairie – 100 km

47. Portage La Prairie to Winnipeg, – 82.9 km

W4J WISH LIST 2010

 Donations of any of the following would be greatly appreciated:

Memory Cards for cameras Batteries, double AA, Triple A Flashlights

First Aid kits

Rain Gear, Shoes, and socks

Lap top with wireless stick

Cell phones. Calling cards

Gas cards

Sleeping Bags

Portable Barbeque

Large Tarps

Propane Tanks

Coleman Lamps

Sun screen

Bug repellent

Water

grocery cards

Coffee gift cards

Sage, tobacco and traditional medicines

locks for trailer

Money

Caution Walker signs for vehicles

Safety vests for walkers

Please visit our website for further information and to see the finalized route plan. Website: http://www.walk4justice.com

EXCEPTIONAL COVERAGE AND EXCLUSIVE GROUP RATES FOR MEMBERS OF UNIONS AFFILIATED TO UNION SAVINGS BENEFIT PROGRAMS

Union Savings Benefit Programs announces the new RBC Insurance preferred group Home & Auto Insurance offering with exclusive savings.

HOME INSURANCE

• Multiple Policy Options
• Sewer Back up Coverage (Canada Wide)
• Guaranteed Replacement Cost

AUTO INSURANCE (not available in MB, SK, BC)

Your group plan rates are just the beginning.  You could be eligible for these additional discounts:

• Discount for more than one vehicle
• Anti-theft auto alarm discount
• Mature age discount
• New home discount
• Home alarm discount
• Mortgage free discount

Save even more:

• With combined home and car insurance coverage
• Quote online and you could save up to an additional 5%

Reliable service and convenience:

• Licensed insurance advisors ensure you get the coverage that’s right for you
• 30 day money back guarantee and a 60 day quote guarantee
• Call out 24 hour emergency claims response team for help any time
• Valet Service in most Metropolitan areas
• Choose a payment method that suits you – credit card, pre-authorized monthly or annual payment – with no carrying fees
• No double down payment

Start saving on your car and home insurance today!

Contact RBC Insurance today for your free no-obligation quote.

CALL: 1-800-Royal-29 (1-800-769-2529) and speak to a licensed insurance advisor.  Be sure to mention you are a member of Union Savings to receive your group discount.

CLICK: www.rbcinsurance.com/quote/unionsavings get a quote online anytime, anywhere you have Internet access. It’s simple, secure and completely confidential.  Plus you could be eligible for an additional 5% discount.

Or VISIT any local RBC Insurance branch. 

FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO www.unionsavings.ca

With just over two weeks until all of Canada’s Finance Ministers meet to discuss the options they have to help people save more for retirement, our campaign has shifted into high gear.

Our national workplace canvass put over 1,000,000 leaflets into the hands of union members. Over 3,000 union locals were contacted and are now asking their members to get in touch with their local politicians – most importantly their provincial or territorial Finance Ministers.

Over the next two weeks, geographically-targeted advertising on the radio and on-line will spread the word out about the best way to guarantee that everyone has enough when they retire and that it’s time to expand the CPP.

If you haven’t sent a message to your local MP or you provincial/territorial Finance Minister, this is the week to do it. Remind all of your facebook friends about our campaign one more time. Tell them about the ad campaign and why taking action this week matters.

Don’t let our politicians rely on what the banks and their lobbyists say. Working people deserve future. Keep up the great work.

Being a QPR Gatekeeper has made a real difference in how I do my job. I am certainly more aware of anxiety and mental illness issues and their connection to suicide. Now I can address these issues with the students I see. (I would have been afraid to do this before I’d had the Gatekeeper training.) And you know, I believe this makes our campus safer- for everybody. Another Gatekeeper just spreads that safety net a little wider.     -Tim Conklin, UBC Academic Adviser

What is QPR?

QPR stands for Questions, Persuade, Refer. QPR is a program that helps us recongnize the early warning signs of suicidal intent and provides us with the knowledge to persuade and refer individuals at risk to appropriate help.

What is QPR Gatekeeper Training?

QPR Gatekeeper Training is a 1.5 – 2 hour on-campus instruction session which enhances general awareness about suicide and teaches basic intervention skills (QPR) that can help avert suicide. Participants learn about the nature of suicide communication and how it may be used to identify someone who may be at risk. Participants also gain the confidence and competence requried to make interventions and and referrals.

Who are the QPR Gatekeeper Instructors?

QPR Gatekeeper Instructors are UBC faculty and staff volunteer members who have been trained by a master trainer to provide QPR Gatekeeper-training. Since its launch in February 2006, ninety-one QPR Instructors across the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses have provided Gatekeeper training for 1200 students, faculty and staff.

How do I get involved?

QPR Instructors and Gatekeepers represent a wide variety of services and academic departments, faculties and libraries at UBC. You can become trained in QPR and play a part in offering hope and potentially saving a life. For more information on becoming a QPR Gatekeeper, please visit www.students.ubc.ca/counselling/qpr