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Keep track of the Fight Back campaign HEU members are joining others in their communities, telling the Liberals they’re outraged at the gutting of public services and health care. And threats to their contracts. Community pressure is growing as British Columbians realize how the Liberal agenda is going to impact on them and on their families. Massive cuts to health care on top of widespread job loss and the shrinking of the public service will be devastating to B.C. communities. HEU members are involved because they are committed to protecting health care services.

Here are today’s events and several more from around the province that re in the works.

FEBRUARY 14, VALENTINE’S DAY
Surrey

Rally from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to confront the Liberal accusations of HEU’s ’sweetheart deals’. Corner of 96th Avenue and King George Highway. All invited to attend – staff and management – because everyone’s jobs are in jeopardy. For more information please check the HEU board in main hallway outside the cafeteria or call the HEU office at local 2501.

FEBRUARY 15
Vancouver

A rally outside Vancouver Kingsway MLA Rob Nijjar’s office, 5022 Joyce Street at 1:00 p.m.. This is being organized by HEU’s St. Michael’s local. Chairperson Boni Barcia will be meeting with Nijjar at 1:30 p.m.
Salmo
Rally at noon on 4th Street. Hosted by the local community health workers, UFCW Local 1518, but all welcome
Salmon Arm
Coalition group plans to crash meeting between MLA and mayor if they are not allowed inside to attend.

FEBRUARY 16
Ladysmith

HEU members at Ladysmith Hospital have planned a rally for 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. The group is having a coffin built and a local trading company is supplying black ribbons and pins. Six doctors to act as pallbearers for the coffin bearing the message ’death of health care.’ The ambulance attendants will be there with an ambulance carrying the message ’sorry – next hospital please’. Black ribbons are being worn daily by staff including the doctors. The rally will be at the Temple gas station lot north of Ladysmith (it is now empty and the owner has given permission for its use). The community of Ladysmith as well as all the health care workers are up in arms about the possibility of losing its hospital and there will be a petition to save their hospital at the rally for people to sign.

FEBRUARY 17
Nanaimo

A coalition of education groups are meeting to discuss education from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the Beban Park Lounge.
White Rock
Public meeting at the Star of the Sea Community Centre,15262 Pacific Avenue, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Guest speakers, Gordon Hogg has been invited, as has the mayor of White Rock and a member of the Fraser Health authority. Bring your family, friends, neighbours and concerns.

FEBRUARY 21
Vancouver

Seniors talk back to cuts. 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at 411 Dunsmuir Street. Speaker is Mary Woo Sims, previously the chief commissioner of the B.C. Human Rights Commission. Cosponsored by the Seniors Network B.C., COSCO, Seniors Summit and WE*ACT. More info, call 604-684-8171.
Hope
Public meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Legion Auditorium, 344 Fort Street, regarding the potential closure of the Fraser Canyon Hospital. MLA Dave Chutter and a member of the Fraser Health Authority have been invited. More information, call 604-869-5671.
Lytton
Town hall meeting. City council, Interior Health Authority representative and the MLA all attending.

FEBRUARY 23
Victoria

Campaign BC Rally, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Centennial Square behind City Hall between Douglas and Government at Pandora will be the rallying point for members of the public. Demonstrators should meet at Centennial Square by 11:00 a.m. to join the march to the Legislature, which will leave Centennial Square at about 11:20 a.m. HEU has 15 buses will be traveling to Victoria from the Lower Mainland on six different sailings. All spaces have been reserved. HEU locals will know by Friday, January 15 who among their members have been assigned seats on these buses. If you plan travelling on your own on B.C. Ferries, it is suggested you make a reservation and carpool wherever possible. Busloads of community, senior, youth and labour groups are expected to descend on the province’s capital on this important day. Simultaneous rallies, protests and other events will take place around the province. See below and stay tuned.
Castlegar
Town Hall Meeting, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with MLAs Sandy Santori & Blair Sufferdine, Fireside Room, Best Western Inn, 1810 8th Avenue. This is a unionized hotel. Contact Jim Waldie for information.
Prince George
Town Hall Meeting, 2-4:30 pm at the Prince George Civic Centre. A very important opportunity for you to hear from your MLAs and provide feedback on the provincial budget. Sponsored by Prince George and District Labour Council and Prince George United Way
Quesnel
We are having a rally and speeches at the Quesnel Seniors’ Centre from noon to 4:00 p.m. This is being sponsored by the Quesnel Action Coalition. They have invited MLA John Wilson, but so far there’s no answer.
Kamloops
Town hall meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Vernon
Rally at Polson Park, 10:30 a.m. starts with a march along the highway. It will end at the bandshell in the park. There will be various speakers from different community groups talking about cuts to their services. Confirmed speakers include a teacher and representatives of a women’s centre and North Okanagan Youth and Family Services. This rally has been timed so at the end of it people can go to the Kelowna rally at 1:00.
Sechelt
A Fight Back forum with Seth Klein from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Leslie Moore, executive director of End Legislated Poverty; HEU president Fred Muzin; Bill Forst, president of the B.C. School Counsellors’ Association and Glen McClughan, executive director of the Community Living Association of the Sunshine Coast. At the Sechelt Legion Hall, 2:00 p.m. Free admission, all welcome. Sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Labour Council and the Sunshine Coast NDP Club.

FEBRUARY 24
Terrace

Town Hall meeting.

MARCH 8
Vancouver

International Women’s Day, A gathering at the Women’s Memorial at Thornton Park at 12 noon, sponsored by the Western Region Women’s

Conference featuring Jenny Kwan, Libby Davies and Angela Schira. All welcome. Two days from March 8 - 10. Union strategies for the Liberal era: a conference where union members can learn skills and strategies to protect their sisters and brothers, their rights and their communities. Co-sponsored by the Capilano College Labour Studies Program and the B.C. Federation of Labour. Contact Jean Greatbatch, 604-984-4901,  lsp@capcollege.bc.ca

MARCH 11
Victoria

MARCH 12
Vancouver

Maude Barlow will be embarking on a cross-country tour this March to talk about the importance of preserving public and accessible health care for all Canadians. She has written a report called Profit is Not the Cure and will be launching this report on the tour.

For information on past events visit HEU website heu.org