Nova Scotia public sector unions want workplace violence legislation
Nova Scotia’s four major public sector unions have called on the provincial government to put legislation in place to protect workers from violence on the job.
A poll of 400 union members conducted by Vector Research for the coalition shows the types and frequency of violence experienced by public sector workers is on the rise.
Half the men and half the women in the four public sector unions surveyed said they have been victims of workplace violence.
CUPE NS and other public sector unions in the province have formed the Coalition Against Workplace Violence to push for legislation or an appropriate amendment to the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
CUPE proposes six-step plan for the Fraser Institute
A new Fraser Institute report on Canada’s debt is designed to create public alarm about rising levels of government debt and push for severe cuts to health and social spending, says CUPE.
The report, which claims that each Canadian taxpayer owes $171,032 in federal, provincial and local liabilities, is a typical Fraser Institute cocktail of dubious facts, misleading analysis, opaque calculations, significant omissions, and wildly overreaching policy lessons.
Visit http://www.cupe.ca/economics/A_Six_Step_Plan_for_ to view our full response.
CUPE Alberta photo contest
Once again this year, CUPE Alberta is inviting shutterbug members to send in their pictures and compete for prizes.
The categories are:
- CUPE at work: pictures of CUPE members working at their jobsite.
- CUPE in the community: pictures of CUPE members contributing to their community.
- The lighter side of CUPE: funny pictures featuring CUPE or a CUPE member.
The best overall picture will win the grand prize of $500. First prize in each category gets $150. Runners up win a CUPE sweatshirt. All submissions will be posted on the CUPE Alberta website.
The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2007. Send your pictures to Lou Arab, Communications, larab@cupe.ca and visit www.cupealberta.ab.ca for all the details and rules.
Hamilton Children’s Aid Society workers demand equal pay for equal work
Hamilton Children’s Aid Society workers want equal pay for equal work. The union and employer enter conciliation talks on November 21.
The 160 child protection workers are represented by CUPE 3042.
Foster care support workers are paid thousands of dollars less than child and youth workers at the society for providing similar adoption and support services to families and children. The workers’ last contract expired on March 31, 2006.
CUPE proposes resolution to Mount Orford lockout
Unionized staff at Quebec’s Mount Orford ski centre have put forward a proposal to put an end to a two-week lockout.
The members of CUPE 1232 unanimously rejected the employer’s proposal last week. Details of the union’s counterproposal cannot be released until the employer has responded.
About a quarter of Mount Orford’s 400 employees are affected by the lockout, which threatens the start of the ski season.
Workers say snow removal is a problem in Edmonton
CUPE Alberta is supporting calls for Edmonton to improve its snow removal.
CUPE 30 president Dennis Mol said the slow pace of snow removal after last weekend’s storm is directly related to Edmonton’s over-reliance on contractors.
“By putting so many of our eggs in the contractor basket, the city left itself vulnerable to swings in labour supply,” said Mol. “By purchasing more graders and putting more people on the city payroll, we would be better able to respond to big storms when they happen.”
Halton social service workers at breaking point
Social service workers in Halton, Ontario, say the municipality’s practice of ‘gapping’ vacant positions is hurting both workers and the public.
Management is leaving jobs vacant for up to 11 months, resulting in high workloads, unmanageable caseloads, and unhealthy stress levels for the 70 regional staff who provide services to Halton’s growing number of unemployed.
CUPE 3732 is currently in contract negotiations with the region. Members have voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike.
CUPE 290 launches “sock it to ‘em” campaign
Sock Mountain will rise again.
For the fourth year in a row, employees of schools in and around Lethbridge, Alberta, are sponsoring a sock drive for local charities. The initiative, sponsored by CUPE 290, is enthusiastically supported by school staff, students, parents and the public.
CUPE NS hospital workers ratify new deal
An overwhelming majority of CUPE hospital workers in Nova Scotia have accepted a new contract with the Nova Scotia Assocaition of Health Organizations (NSAHO).
The new three-year agreement includes wage increases of 2.9 per cent in each of the three years. For the first time, benefits will be extended to retirees outside of the capital district.
CUPE sends letters on behalf of Philippino and South Korean workers
CUPE National President Paul Moist sent letters this week to the governments of the Philippines and South Korea, on behalf of workers struggling there for both recognition and survival.
The letter writing campaigns, sponsored by the Public Service International, seek to protect leaders of Philippine and South Korean public sector unions from harassment, repression and even death.
For the full story see http://cupe.ca/globaljustice.