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CUPE challenges employer’s effort to force vote on Vancouver city workers

CUPE has asked the provincial labour board to halt a scheduled vote on the City of Vancouver’s so-called final offer. The unions say the city’s efforts amount to bad faith bargaining. CUPE Local 15 President Paul Faoro said the city was “playing games”. Both CUPE 15 and CUPE 1004 negotiators have received solid strike mandates from their membership. Meanwhile, the City of Vancouver has cut off CUPE 15’s longstanding access to the city email system, cutting members off from access to their union.

Six in ten Ontario school boards will cut staff this year

The Ontario government’s funding formula for its public schools will cause staff cuts in over 60 per cent of school boards, according to a CUPE survey. Other boards are coping with underfunding by cutting programs or spending reserve funds. CUPE Ontario Division President Sid Ryan said the McGuinty government’s decision to let some school boards run deficits smacks of politics. CUPE’s figures, based on 45 of 72 boards reporting, show an estimated funding shortfall of more than $166 million.

Still time to sign up for social services conference

CUPE social services workers will gather in Ottawa November 21-23 to discuss and develop strategies to meet the many challenges facing the sector. The meeting will allow workers to share experiences, choose priorities, and develop strategies. For more information or to register, visit http://cupe.ca/socialservices.

CUPE and Oxfam team up to campaign for public services

CUPE and Oxfam have teamed up to fight for strong, accessible public services in Canada and around the world. CUPE and Oxfam’s joint work includes pressure on the Canadian government to increase aid that focuses on human rights and ending poverty through strong public services. The campaign also calls for Canada to push the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stop tying loans to privatization and cuts in social spending.

Surveillance in the workplace: what are our rights?

Cupe.ca published an interview this week with CUPE researcher Linda Craig, author of At work and under surveillance, on workplace surveillance. Craig argues that unionized workers are better protected against employer surveillance, but that workers have to be cautious. “There are limits to employer surveillance,” she argues. “It is necessary to have solid grounds to perform specific surveillance” of one person or a group of people.

The book Au travail et sous surveillance is available (in French only) for $25 from CUPE Quebec at 514-384-9681.

FastFacts in your inbox!

Did you know you can get FastFacts by e-mail? To sign up for this service, please send an e-mail to clandry@cupe.ca. Make sure to include your name, Local number, e-mail address and province. If you were receiving FastFacts by fax, also include your fax number so that we may delete your name from the fax list.