Moist congratulates Greg Selinger
Paul Moist congratulated Manitoba’s new premier this week. Manitoba NDP delegates elected Greg Selinger as party leader and premier of the province.
“On behalf of all 600,000 CUPE members, we wish you every success and look forward to working with your government to defend public services and to build a better future for all Manitobans”, Moist wrote.
Selinger replaces Doer who announced his resignation in August.
CUPE releases long term care research paper
CUPE has released an in-depth research paper on working and caring conditions in Canada’s long-term care sector.
CUPE represents 67,000 people who work in long-term care facilities across Canada, caring for the 200,000 people who live in these facilities.
This 101-page paper, which documents the access and quality problems in residential long-term care and their causes, urges governments and employers to improve seniors’ care and offers proven solutions.
The paper is aimed at providing supporting evidence and argument for the union’s upcoming speaking tour on long term care.
For more information, see: http://cupe.ca/long-term-care-tour
Mike Skatfeld is CUPE Manitoba’s new president
CUPE 722 member and division executive Mike Skatfeld is CUPE Manitoba’s new president.
An employee of the St. James School Division in Winnipeg’s West End, Skatfeld was elected from the CUPE Manitoba executive after Kevin Rebeck stepped down to become president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour.
An active member of his local and the Manitoba division, Skatfeld also served as a temporary executive assistant to the president.
Paul Moist congratulated Mike Skatfeld on being chosen as CUPE Manitoba’s new president.
“We know you will continue the hard work of your predecessor and we look forward to working with you to defend public services in Manitoba and for the betterment of our 24,000 members in the province,” Moist wrote.
Nova Scotia hospital talks clear process hurdle
Talks between CUPE and Nova Scotia health care employers moved forward this week when negotiators came to an agreement… on how to negotiate.
CUPE represents some 3,500 hospital workers in dozens of health care facilities outside the Capitol District.
CUPE’s Acute Care Co-ordinator Wayne Thomas says, “The parties have agreed to use the conciliation session, which starts this morning in Sydney, as a lead bargaining table and have agreed in writing to replicate any settlement negotiated in Sydney at all of CUPE’s other 17 bargaining units.”
CUPE Ontario, Council of Canadians tour on trade
CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan is touring Ontario with Council of Canadians chair Maude Barlow, speaking on interprovincial trade.
The ‘Say bye to buy local’ tour aims to spread the word about the dangers of several interprovincial and international trade deals, being negotiated behind closed doors, which threaten local economies, communities, jobs and the environment.
“As Ontarians, we are all affected – when our elected politicians lose their ability to make the best decisions – we all lose,” said Ryan.
The speaking tour will cover Toronto, Sudbury, Windsor, Kingston, London, and Hamilton after starting in Kitchener and Waterloo.
Indigenous sovereignty week
Saturday, October 24 to Saturday, October 31 is Indigenous Sovereignty Week, a pan-Canadian event in support of Indigenous rights, self-determination, and justice.
The event is organized by Defenders of the Land, a group of Indigenous Peoples in Canada who are defending lands and water, ways of life, and rights for Indigenous Peoples.
CUPE has pledged strong support for the event, and will assist in organizing events across the country this week.
For more information see: www.defendersoftheland.org (available in English only)
BC corporate tax refuser has to pay up
A BC court has ruled that Catalyst Paper must pay its municipal taxes in Port Alberni, North Cowichan, Campbell River, and Powell River, BC.
The company had sued the municipalities, claiming that their tax rate was unreasonable and illegal.
“The failure of corporations to pay property taxes threatens the health, well-being, and sustainability of B.C.’s communities,” says CUPE BC President Barry O’Neill. “It’s obscene that these corporations make money in a community, but don’t believe they have any obligation to that community.”
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