Garbage and recycling back in-house in Port Moody, BC
Garbage and recycling collection was a publicly-delivered service this week in Port Moody, BC for the first time in ten years.
CUPE 825 members held a pancake breakfast on the first day of the newly contracted in service to celebrate.
“Our members care very deeply about our community and the residents. Quality public services and CUPE are one and the same,” said CUPE 825 president Maria Wahl. “The residents of Port Moody will finally receive the same quality in solid waste as they have become accustomed to in all of the services that CUPE members provide.”
The city announced their decision to contract-in waste management in June 2008.
Claude Généreux was on hand to congratulate the local, Port Moody residents, and council.
“Bringing waste collection back in- house controlled by the city, done by city workers, means that it will be completely public and fully accountable,” he said.
Moist urges Harper to call for Honduran president’s return
Paul Moist wrote a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper this week condemning the coup d’état in Honduras and asking the Prime Minister to be clear on what his government is asking for.
The letter states:
“We note, that although Foreign Minister Kent condemned the institutional crisis in democracy and called for the restoration of the rule of law in Honduras, he did not mention President Zelaya’s name nor explicitly state that Canada wants him reinstated unconditionally and immediately.”
Moist urged Harper to support an Organization of American States resolution calling for the reinstatement of the democratically elected government of Manuel Zelaya Rosales.
Still time to apply for CLC’s Labour College
Labour College’s application deadline is extended to July 31, 2009.
The 2010 Labour College Intensive Program provides a unique educational opportunity for activists to improve their capacity to provide effective leadership in the labour movement and in their community.
CUPE will provide financial support for successful applicants in partnership with the applicant’s local union or provincial division. The amount of support will depend on the number of CUPE applicants and the financial capacity of the sponsoring local union or provincial division.
More information and application forms at www.labourcollege.ca
Peterborough-area catholic school board casual workers join CUPE
Casual school board workers with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board have voted unanimously to join CUPE.
“We are delighted to welcome our new members,” said Debbie Oldfield, CUPE organizing representative, who led the campaign to organize the school board workers. “In these uncertain economic times, our new members will have the backing of Canada’s biggest union to help them improve their working and earning conditions.”
When the new school year starts in September, the 219 casual educational assistants (EAs), clerical, technical, and caretaking staff will join 520 full-time school board workers already represented by CUPE.
“The relief staff will now have a way to address issues that affect their casual employment,” said Derek Blackadder, CUPE national representative who services full-time school board workers. “Our goal is to ensure that casual staff will enjoy similar workplace rights as their full-time counterpart. After all, they work for the same employer.”
CUPE International Solidarity Report available online
The annual report for CUPE’s international solidarity efforts is now available on CUPE’s website.
The report touches on CUPE funded solidarity projects in Colombia, the Philippines, Burma, Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, South Africa, and others.
http://cupe.ca/global-justice/international-solidarity-report-2008-09
Compass cited at Victoria hospitals (again) for health and safety violations
BC’s workplace health and safety agency has cited the cleaning contractor at two Victoria hospitals for health and safety code violations.
The citations say Compass:
• fails to conduct meaningful accident investigations;
• fails to provide housekeeping staff with the training, information, and personal protective equipment needed to safely handle hazardous cleaning chemicals; and
• systematically “over-tasks” workers and pressures them to “save time” causing short cuts and errors.
The health and safety report came days after the Vancouver Island Health Authority released a report on a major outbreak of c.difficile.
:te/cope 491