Online Event – The New Frontline: Building Solidarity in 2021
— Circulated on behalf of The New Frontline: Building Solidarity in 2021 —
Hello!
I’m contacting you about an online event we are organizing called The New Frontline: Building Solidarity in 2021, where we will be watching The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel – sequel to the 2002 documentary film The Corporation; followed by a panel discussion on labour organizing and strategizing frontline worker solidarity. Our hope is to use the film as a platform to galvanize support and solidarity for different progressive social movements – especially labour movements.
The Arts and Cultural Workers Union is working towards a long term goal of a Worker’s Action Centre, focusing on low-wage unrepresented workers. We aim to work with labour partners to build up protections and supports for unrepresented workers.
INFO and to REGISTER – The New Frontline: Building Solidarity in 2021
Thank you!
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
CLC Winter School
— Re-circulated on behalf of the CLC —
Greetings,
As per my report at the BCFED Officers’ meeting today, our Winter School evening sessions are listed below.
Please feel free to send this information out to your membership/delegates. We can fit up to 300 people if needed and are live streaming on Facebook. We are also posting recordings of the panels.
Monday Night Political Panel
Jan 18 – Pandemic Recovery and Good Jobs
Jan 25 – Opioid Crisis and What Labour Can Do to Help
Feb 1 – Impact of COVID on Women
You can register here for Monday’s: Webinar Registration – Zoom
Wednesday Night Webinars
Jan 20 – No webinar
Jan 27 – COVID and Labour Law. Presented by Victory Square Law Office
Feb 3 – TBA
You can register here for Wednesday’s: Webinar Registration – Zoom
In Solidarity,
Orion Irvine
Regional Director
Canadian Labour Congress Pacific Region
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
News & Upcoming Events
Re-circulated by the New Westminster & District Labour Council
Labour Movement mourns passing of two activists
Former fisherman, labour and NDP activist, CLC representative and Burnaby Citizens Association president, Gordie Larkin is being mourned by friends and colleagues after dying of COVID-19 on January 6th at age 78. Larkin was raised in East Vancouver and was a long time Burnaby resident.
He got his start in the labour movement through his work in the fishing industry, getting involved in the fisherman’s union, which ultimately became part of Unifor. He then went on to work with the Canadian Labour Congress and was active with the United Way through the CLC. He was also a member of the Board of the BC Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM).
The New Westminster & District Labour Council sends our deepest condolences to Gordie’s wife Barb, and to his family and friends.
Glenn Girard passed away December 19, 2020 in Surrey after a long illness. Glenn was a dedicated IAM&AW LL 764 delegate to the NWDLC from May 2009 until October 2019. He was 65.
Glenn retired from Air Canada in 2019. He was socially caring, active in his Union and local politics, and a staunch supporter of the NDP. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Glenn’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.
Memorial tributes to support research on early onset Dementia may be made to The Alzheimer Society of Canada. His family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the Surrey Memorial Hospital staff for bringing comfort to him in his final days.
The NWDLC send our sincere condolences to Glenn’s family and friends.
Shared on behalf of Canada’s NDP
Earlier this year, the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group that promotes white supremacist views made international headlines after being bolstered by Donald Trump.
Since then, they’ve escalated their hatred. Members of the Proud Boys joined a group armed with deadly weapons as they led an assault on the U.S. Capitol – this was an act of domestic terrorism. Alarmingly, their founder is from Canada.
Add your name and join Jagmeet in calling on Justin Trudeau’s government to immediately ban and designate the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization.
https://www.ndp.ca/ban-the-proud-boys
Re-circulated on behalf of Take back Delta Hospice
The Hospice we know today are two buildings located in Ladner, B.C. beside Delta Hospital on Fraser Health Authority lands. The Delta Cares Capital Campaign was widely supported by the community, business and major donors and the Province of B.C., and the funds raised built the Irene Thomas Hospice and Harold and Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care, which were officially opened in January of 2010.
The Hospice was built to provide equal access to end-of-life care, grief and bereavement counselling for children, youth and adults since they were opened in 2010. Highly trained professional staff and volunteers supported patients and their loved ones with compassion, ensuring a meaningful end-of-life transition and support through the process of grief and bereavement.
However, the Board was recently taken over and the current Delta Hospice Board of Directors is pursuing drastic changes to the Society’s Constitution and Bylaws to suggest a very strict religious ideology. Because of the refusal of the new DHS Board to provide MAiD support the Fraser Health Authority is ceasing the relationship https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/health-minister-dix-fha-urged-to-prevent-sabotage-of-delta-hospice-3252953 Further, the Delta Hospice Board rejected hundreds of membership applications from Hospice donors, staff, volunteers, and concerned community members in an attempt to influence the results of the upcoming vote to change the constitution and bylaws of DHS. As a result the new Board lost a court challenge on memberships.
Take back DHS are urgently asking for community members (in Delta and across the Metro region) to join the society for $10 https://takebackdeltahospice.ca/membership/ and to be available to vote at the next AGM to return control of the DHS to local residents for whom inclusion and access are a priority, instead of foreign influences with exclusive ideologies.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
CLC winter school evening forums open to all
CLC winter school is on now and Forum nights are open to all labour activists through the CLC winter school Facebook page here: https://m.facebook.com/CLCWinterSchool/?tsid=0.030214730055013628&source=result
105-3920 Norland Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5G 4K7
Phone: 604-291-9306
Facebook: nwdlc Twitter: @nwdlc
VDLC Education – Winter Spring Session 2021
The VDLC is happy to announce that our Winter/Spring 2021 Education Session will be open for registration Tuesday December 15 at 9:00am.
This session includes a great variety of topics from Job Steward Level 1 & 2, Duty to Accommodate, Effective Representation in High-Conflict Situations, WCB Level 1 & 2, and much more. All classes will be held via Zoom.
You can register on Eventbrite.ca (search vdlc). You can also sign up through the VDLC website; just follow the link for each course at vdlc.ca/education
Our Winter/Spring 2021 brochure is HERE
If you have any questions, you can email us at office@vdlc.ca or call 604-254-0703.
Thank you!
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
News & Upcoming Events
Re-circulated by the New Westminster & District Labour Council
Thank you to everyone who attended our December 6th Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. We are especially grateful to MLA Rachna Singh, BC Fed ST Sussanne Skidmore, HEU PE member and delegate Louella Vincent, BCTF Surrey Teachers’ Association First VP and delegate Julia MacRae and NEVR facilitator and KPU Faculty of Health and FPSE member Dr. Balbir Gurm for speaking, and CUPW Pacific Region National Director and NWDLC C&SA Co-Chair Coleen Jones for reading the names of the 14 women killed in Montreal at L’ecole Polytechnique in Montreal in 1989.
There is also a petition to the House of Commons in Parliament you can sign to take action on Gender Based Violence:
We, the undersigned, citizens (or residents) of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to develop a national prevention plan that includes a media campaign on healthy relationships and the consequences of relationship violence and to proactively address educational goals and societal change to establish a society with healthier and happier relationships.
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2881
Another big thank you to attendees and panelists at our Accessibility and COVID-19: Planning an Inclusive Recovery community discussion on December 7, 2020 5:00-6:00pm We are grateful to Peter Julian, Member of Parliament New Westminster-Burnaby, Shane Polak, Members with Disabilities Coordinator, PSAC Pacific Region and Barb Shukin, HEU member, care aide and Interim Treasurer of the East Kootenay & District Labour Council for their thoughtful insights and discussion on how we can make sure the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive and accessible to all.
Good news shared by Marcel Marsolais and CUPE Local 409 at our December 2, 2020 meeting!
New Westminster School District signing on to living wage policy: https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/new-westminster-school-district-signing-on-to-living-wage-policy-3141529
Shared on behalf of Peter Julian, MP New Westminster-Burnaby
*To Join the Workshop: https://mailchi.mp/0550c7526222/green-new-deal-facebook-live?e=dc420238ab
Shared on behalf of the BC Office of Human Rights Commissioner
BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner invites you to celebrate International Human Rights Day with us on Thursday, Dec. 10, to mark the anniversary of the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Thursday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. for 15 minutes
Livestream via Facebook Live on our Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/humanrights4BC/
(Note: You do not need a Facebook account to participate.)
We hope you can recognize this important day with us. Please share via your networks and social media. Follow us on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts to keep up to date with the latest news and events from BCOHRC.
Shared on behalf of the Burnaby Primary Care Networks
For more information or to donate: https://www.burnabycoronavirus.com/food-drive
The community agencies and Primary Care Network partners are coming together to collectively create an evening of fun for all to enjoy. The program will take the audience on a virtual tour across the participating agencies, with entertainment at every stop. Everyone is welcome to join online to follow along with; cooking, crafts, stories, songs and so much more!
Join us on December 16th at 4:00 pm for a tour of Burnaby like you’ve never seen it before.
Register for the link to watch here:
https://tinyurl.com/bbyhome4holidays
Shared on behalf of the Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam NDP
Enjoy Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam’s very own Adam Turpin as he sings your favourite holiday songs accompanied by pianist Jaya Story. As well as stories including The Night Before Christmas and a guest appearance by Port Coquitlam Councillor Laura Dupont.
Ticket purchase allows the whole family to watch!
Virtual event. Viewing links will be emailed to each ticket holder a few days before the event.
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 8 PM. This is an online fundraising event. Please join us. Tickets $40 via Eventbrite.
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2799517490328916
Shared on behalf of Canada’s NDP
One of the biggest concerns is the situation in long-term care homes — and the possibility of more deadly outbreaks there. The Liberals still haven’t done anything to avoid more devastation like what we saw in the spring. But Jagmeet and our team have been persistent trying to find ways to improve the situation.
Add your name
Be part of the solution — and support this petition to end profit in long-term care: www.ndp.ca/care
Shared on behalf of Community Savings Credit Union
This year Community Savings has two scholarships available: one for Young workers in Action and one for Unions in the Community. Please contact Lisa Langan at 604-637-5015 for more information.
Shared on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress
Seniors are struggling more than ever during this pandemic. It’s time to focus on better housing, health care, and long-term care services.
The federal government promised to do more in its fiscal update. That’s a start but we need much more. Those living in long-term care have faced some of the worst health outcomes during this pandemic – many have even lost their lives. Send your MP a message today before Parliament rises next week to make long-term care part of our public health care system now.
25 Years of the Employment Equity Act
December 15, 2020 is the 25th anniversary of the federal Employment Equity Act. Join a virtual event to discuss its impact and where we need to go from here. The event will take place in French and English and have closed captioning.
December 15, 2020
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (EST)
Speakers:
Carol Agócs is a Professor Emerita from Western University in London, Ontario. Her research and publications address issues of racial and gender inequality and discrimination in employment and employment equity policy and its implementation. Her publications include Employment Equity in Canada: The Legacy of the Abella Report, Workplace Equality: International Perspectives on Legislation, Policy and Practice and Employment Equity: Cooperative Strategies for Organizational Change.
Larry Rousseau is the Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Larry has a long history of trade union and political activism, particularly on issues like labour relations, health and safety, human rights, and equity. His involvement in the LGBTQ2SI, anti-racism and peace movements has been an integral part of his engagement and commitment to social justice.
Malinda S. Smith is a political science professor and the inaugural Vice Provost (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) at the University of Calgary. She currently serves as Chair of the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Advisory Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization, the Statistics Canada Working Group on Black communities in Canada, the Canada Research Chairs Advisory and more. Her publications include The Equity Myth: Racialization and Indigenity at Canadian Universities, and the forthcoming, Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian Academy.
If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Marcel Roy, CAUT Meeting & Event Planner, for assistance (roy@caut.ca or 613-726-5167).
International Women’s Day 2021 Virtual Celebration
-Circulated on behalf of the VDLC Women’s Committee-
Save the Date!
International Women’s Day
Monday March 8, 2021
The VDLC Women’s Committee will be hosting a virtual event for International Women’s Day with the theme, “She-Session: The Economic Impact on Women and Families Because of the Pandemic”.
Tickets will be on sale soon with more details to follow.
Thank you,
VDLC Women’s Committee
Vancouver and District Labour Council
BC FORUM Membership
-Shared on behalf of BC FORUM-
Union members 50 or better, working or retired are eligible to take out membership in BC FORUM. This can be done on-line at our website, by phone or by mail. If you would like BC FORUM to send you copies of our brochure which does contain the application for BC FORUM membership, please let Diane Wood know. Finally, BC FORUM offers six group benefit plans for our members through WE Consulting and Benefits.
We continue to be grateful for several affiliates that pay for their members’ first year membership in BC FORUM.
Mailing Address:
#200 – 5118 Joyce St. Vancouver, BC V5R 4H1
Phone: 604-688-4565 Fax: 604-430-5917 Toll Free: 1-800-896-5678
Email: bcforum@bcfed.ca
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
Minimum Wage Increases are Needed Here in Metro Vancouver
The frontline workers we rely on here in Metro Vancouver have the highest risk of exposure, and don’t have adequate sick pay or benefits. We need to help them out.
Workers from across the country need your help. Join with the thousands from coast to coast who have already sent a message to the government demanding a $15 minimum wage.
We need to ensure our Member of Parliament and the Prime Minister hear from people here in Metro Vancouver. Let’s make workers’ priorities impossible to ignore in Ottawa.
Join the call right now, and demand that the federal government:
- Immediately implements their promised $15 an hour minimum wage; and
- Coordinates with provinces and territories to ensure workers in all jurisdictions earn a living wage.
We can get this done.
-Stephen
Stephen von Sychowski
President
Vancouver and District Labour Council
Standing up for workers and their families
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
Honouring the MacPaps
– Circulated on behalf of Erased by History –
“Canada didn’t understand at first what you were doing, but understands now, and as time goes on, you will have more friends, more honour, because you have done one of the most gallant things done in history” ~ Reverend Salem Bland Toronto Union station greeting returning International Brigades
Over fifteen hundred Canadian volunteers fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) yet their story is little known. At Remembrance Day ceremonies around the country it’s rare to hear mention of this forgotten group – the Canadian volunteers of the International Brigades, collectively known as the Mackenzie -Papineau Battalion or MacPaps.
This Remembrance Day, a special tribute is being organized to honour the MacPaps. The organizers are hoping that district councils, locals and individual volunteers can visit a Mac-Pap volunteer’s grave and pay tribute by placing a white rose/flower and international flag at it. Last year, more than forty volunteers across Canada visited over seventy MacPap graves.
Most of the MacPaps were at their core labour activists. They were organizers of many locals and participants in Canada’s 1930’s labour protests and strikes, including relief camps strikes, the Ballantyne Pier Riot and the On to Ottawa trek. Most were lifelong social justice activists in their communities. Many of these individuals are in unmarked graves with little evidence of the sacrifices they made to support democracy in Spain and improve working conditions in Canada.
If you are interested in joining other district councils, locals and individuals in paying tribute to the MacPaps this November 11th, please email: macpaptribute@gmail.com
In Solidarity,
Pamela Vivian, CUPE 2081 and grandniece of Peter Johnson, a member of the International Brigades from North Vancouver
Ray Hoff, son of Mackenzie-Papineau and Lincoln-Washington Veteran Harold Hoff
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/3utEmB6IL
Vancouver and District Labour Council
http://www.vdlc.ca/
