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Port Moody to contract-in solid waste

CUPE 825 members will once again be looking after recycling and solid waste removal in Port Moody, BC.

The city council of Port Moody, a Vancouver suburb, voted to contract out the services ten years ago.

But CUPE 825 president Maria Wahl says her members never gave up trying to bring the service back in house.

This is a very sweet victory for our local,” Wahl said.


CUPE releases privatization dominos video

Privatization can be like dominos.  Knock over one public service and they all start to fall.  But solidarity works like that too.  One victory can bring the whole sell-off to a halt.

That’s the message in CUPE’s video on the power of collective action against P3s and other privatization.  The video was shown at division conventions this spring, and is now being sent to all CUPE locals.

The two-minute DVD is a useful mobilizing tool for locals.  Use it to start a discussion with members – and share it with friends and allies in your community.  See

http://cupe.ca/video/Privatization_domino


CUPE 3906 settlement sets a pattern for post-secondary sector

Academic workers at McMaster University have a new agreement that sets a good precedent for university sector bargaining.

CUPE 3906 is the first of more than 20 post-secondary locals whose agreements expire in 2008.

CUPE 3906 President Mary Ellen Campbell called the agreement “historic”.

Among the gains in the agreement:

• limited right of first refusal for future teaching;
• sessional lecturers can use their seniority as teaching or research assistants
• paid pregnancy, parental and adoption leave; and
• cumulative wage increase of between 12% and 16.75%.

The contract is set to expire within the OUWCC’s coordinated bargaining window.


Matthew Firth named to Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety board

CUPE National staff member Matthew Firth has been appointed to the board of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

The Hamilton, Ontario centre was created in 1978 to promote the fundamental right to a healthy and safe working environment.  A joint union, management, and government project, the centre provides unbiased and relevant information on health and safety issues in the workplace.


CUPE PEI fights P3 nursing homes

PEI health care workers are leading the fight against plans to build seven new nursing homes – called manors in PEI - as P3s.

The “Keep our manors public” campaign includes radio ads, meetings with key government officials and the creative use of a billboard outside CUPE’s Charlottetown office.

The campaign web site also encourages voters to send their MLA a message.

Many of PEI’s manors are in desperate need of repair or replacement.  Last fall, the province hired a consultant to review the state of the province’s manors.

The “Keep our manors public” campaign will move into high gear this fall.  CUPE PEI expects a final decision on P3s when the province tables its capital budget this fall.


BC privatizes seniors’ care, HEU members lose jobs

More than 250 HEU members on Vancouver Island will lose their jobs when the VIHA closes 350 long-term care beds over the summer.

The announcement affects care aides, LPNs, activity aides, rehab assistants, unit clerks, housekeeping, laundry, and food service workers in eight facilities in Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville and Victoria.

The move is part of the BC government’s privatization of seniors’ care.  The vast majority of new beds opening on the island will be owned and operated by private, for-profit companies.


CUPE members support Kingston Hospital’s fired CEO

CUPE members rallied this week to demand full funding for the Kingston Hospital and to support its CEO, who was fired for refusing to make cutbacks.

Joe De Mora was fired for refusing to cut $17 million from the hospital’s budget.

CUPE 1974 President Louis Rodrigues said more and more Ontario hospitals were being put under administration for refusing to cut services.


CUPE holds 12-hour rock-a-thon for nursing homes standards of care in
North Bay

Long term care workers, residents and their families held a rocking chair marathon in North Bay this week to push for regulated standards of care in Ontario nursing homes.

The twelve-hour long “rock-a-thon”, organized by CUPE 146 and the North Bay District CUPE Council, brought attention to the McGuinty government’s broken promise on care standards.


CUPE to hold national conference on women and bargaining

CUPE will hold its first National Women’s Bargaining Conference from February 10-13, 2009 in Montréal.

The conference, titled “Setting the Table for Bargaining Women’s Equality” has as its objectives:

• build bargaining strength to advance women’s equality; and
• set achievable goals on bargaining issues for women.

Locals should send members who want to be part of this exciting development for CUPE women. 

Registration information will be coming soon. 

For more information, email myoung@cupe.ca


CUPE 1252 reaches a tentative agreement

CUPE 1252, which represents more than 8000 health care workers in New Brunswick, reached a tentative agreement with the province this week.

The negotiating committee is recommending the membership’s acceptance of this tentative agreement”, said CUPE 1252 President Norma Robinson.

The details of the tentative agreement will not be released before a July 16 ratification vote.

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