New Brunswick re-instates education funding
The New Brunswick government announced this week it will reverse a $2.9 million cut to school districts. The cuts would have cost 300 library assistants, teaching assistants, and other education workers their jobs, while hundreds more would have seen their hours reduced.
“This victory is in no small part due to the efforts of CUPE members across New Brunswick’s education sector,” said Paul Moist. “These people have worked tirelessly to force the Liberal government to face facts – that everyone benefits when our kids have the support and services they need at school.”
Ad sales reps at TVA Publications join CUPE
Ad sales reps at TVA Publications have voted to join their colleagues as CUPE members.
The workers, who sell ads in Québecor Média magazines, are in Montréal.
CUPE already represents employees at TVA as part of its 7,250 members in the communications sector in Québec.
CUPE campaigns against ambulance privatization in West Nipissing
Paramedics in West Nippissing in Ontario’s near north held a town hall meeting this week to fight efforts to privatize ambulance service.
The local argues that introducing a profit motive will reduce paramedic coverage and lengthen response times.
But the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) is talking to private companies about taking over ambulance service in West Nipissing.
The union argues that the board should run the service directly.
Talks in Ontario municipal strikes proceed… slowly
CUPE 82 and 543 were back at the table with the City of Windsor this week, for the first time in three weeks.
The negotiations took place under a media blackout with newly- appointed mediator John Miller.
Meanwhile, City of Toronto workers - CUPE 416 and 79 - started week three of their strike this week with talks continuing slowly.
Lanark ACL workers on strike for a pension
The 90 members of CUPE 1521-02 ended the first week of their strike against the Association for Community Living in Lanark County still looking for a pension.
The local wants to join the Multi-Sector Pension Plan, like many of their colleagues throughout Ontario. But even though the local’s proposal is cost neutral, the employer is saying ‘no’.
The local has launched an online action. So far more than 500 people have sent letters to the board of the Lanark County ACL asking for a fair settlement. To send a message, visit:
Montréal north shore school board workers join CUPE
School board workers in Laval, des Affluents and Seigneurie-des-Mille- Îles, on the north shore of Montréal have voted to join CUPE.
The workers were represented by an independent union, the Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels de Laval-Rive-Nord (SPPLRN), which has had a servicing agreement with CUPE for eight years.
“We’re happy to have taken this important step in our union life and would like to thank all the members who came out and demonstrated their confidence,” said union president Roger Bazinet.
Convention call sent to chartered organizations
CUPE-affiliated divisions, councils and locals should have received their official call to the upcoming CUPE National Convention in Montréal October 5-9.
Locals who want to attend convention must send their credentials and registration fees to the CUPE national office by August 21.
For more information and other forms, visit: www.cupe.ca/convention
CUPE writes to support parole for Leonard Peltier
Paul Moist and Claude Généreux wrote a letter to the US parole commission to support Leonard Peltier’s application for parole.
Peltier has been in jail for 33 years even though the evidence used to convict him of the murder of two FBI agents in 1976 was tampered with and fabricated. His case has been the subject of a lengthy campaign.
Several movies have been made, songs, and books written about the circumstances around his arrest. For more, see:
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/
HEU takes nurses to court over LPN recruitment campaign
HEU and other members of the Facilities Bargaining Association have taken the BC Nurses Union to the BC Supreme Court over their ‘associate member’ campaign for Licensed Practical Nurses.
The BCNU has been running ads offering LPNs advice on grievances and arbitration if they sign up as “associate members”.
HEU argues on its website that the campaign is interfering with its obligation to service its members.
“By advising LPNs on a collective agreement they do not administer on a day-to-day basis, BCNU could jeopardize HEU members’ rights,” the union writes.
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