May Day Rally!
Circulated on behalf of VDLC
Join us on May 1st, International Workers’ Day, at 5:00pm for a rally at Vancouver City Hall!
This May Day let’s all stand together for a city that works for all of us. Let’s stand up for living wages, renter rights, affordable housing, and real action on Reconciliation, equity, the opioid crisis, and climate change!
Let’s send a powerful message that we will not accept our coworkers, neighbours, and communities being left behind.
Please attend, bring a friend, and share the event: https://vdlc.ca/events/may-day-rally/
More details coming soon!
The Vancouver and District Labour Council acknowledges that this event takes place on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) nations.
WE ARE A MEMBER OF
Canadian Labour Congress
BC Federation of Labour
604-254-0703
Suite 170 – 111 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, BC, V5L 4C4
Private Members Bill C-228: Pension Protection
Shared on behalf of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
This update is on Private Members Bill C-228 (Pension Protection). Below is the link to the C-228 Committee Report referring the Bill back to the Senate for Report Stage and Third Reading the week of March 20 – 24.
https://sencanada.ca/en/committees/BANC/Report/113264/44-1
The Hill Times last week published an op-ed from Bea this week. The link to the op-ed is below.
Enough is enough: It’s time to put workers and pensioners before big banks and CEOs.
We encourage you to share the link and post the Facebook post, provided below.
https://unionretiree.ca/protect-pensions/
FPSE-HRISC Speakers Tour 2023: Academic Freedom
FPSE-HRISC Speakers Tour 2023 Academic Freedom
(Monday, March 20th @1pm PT)
RSVP for Online (Zoom) Registration
Although academic freedom is protected under most collective agreements, its use and scope are poorly understood on college and university campuses. This panel will survey a wide variety of examples where academic freedom has been infringed and explores why faculty are often reluctant to exercise these rights. Discussion will focus on what constitutes academic freedom, its unique history within the academy, and its importance to the advancement of knowledge, creative expression, and the healthy functioning of civil society.
2023 FPSE Human Rights and International Solidarity Speakers Tour
The FPSE Human Rights and International Solidarity Committee is proud to present the 2023 edition of the annual Speakers Tour, which will focus on international students and academic freedom.
FPSE-BC’s Human Rights and International Solidarity Committee (HRISC) is hosting our second of two Speakers Tour 2023 Panel discussions. On March 20th we will be focusing on Academic Freedom in Canada. Speakers include Mark Ayyash [Mt. Royal], Jennifer Bardahl [UBC], Root Gorelick [Carleton], Jim Turk [TMU] and Ben Lee [ECUAD]. The event will be co-moderated by Alexandra Phillips [ECUAD] & Sheena Svitich [CoR].
Please join us online live on Monday, March 20th @1pm PT.
Register soon and save this event in your calendar. Monday, March 20th, @1pm PST – REGISTER HERE:
2023 FPSE Human Rights and International Solidarity Speakers Tour
Living Wage for Families Campaign
Circulated on behalf of VDLC
Yesterday we were dismayed to learn that the ABC majority mayor and council had made a closed-door decision to walk away from the City of Vancouver’s commitment to operate as a living wage employer.
For the past five years, the city has maintained certification as a living wage employer with the Living Wage for Families campaign. The campaign has certified a wide array of employers across British Columbia, including municipalities such as Victoria, Port Coquitlam, the City of North Vancouver, and Quesnel.
Affordability continues to be a crisis for working people and families in Metro Vancouver. This decision will deepen that crisis for those in the city’s most precarious and lowest paid jobs.
CLICK HERE to take action via an online petition launched by OneCity.
We also ask you to read and share the VDLC’s media advisory and Living Wage for Families Campaign’s statement.
Black History Month 2023
Shared on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress
In The Loop
This Black History Month, Canada’s unions are acknowledging and celebrating the long history and legacy of black care workers – read on to learn more and take action:
Fraser Valley transit strike to ramp up with service disruptions on Monday
Shared on behalf of CUPE BC
Fraser Valley transit strike to ramp up with service disruptions on Monday
February 24, 2023
Fraser Valley transit strike to ramp up with service disruptions on Monday
Take Action in support of these workers here:
https://act.newmode.net/action/cupe561
BCFED Remembers Ray Haynes
Shared on behalf of the BC Federation of Labour
Union members throughout BC are grieving the loss of long-time labour activist and leader Ray Haynes, secretary-treasurer of the BCFED from 1966 to 1973. Ray passed away Monday, February 20 at 94. The BCFED released the following statement from President Sussanne Skidmore and Secretary-Treasurer Hermender Singh Kailley:
For seven decades, unions in BC have been able to count on Ray Haynes’ passion, leadership and courage — not to mention his warmth and humour. Many of us are hurting at the thought he won’t be here anymore to give us his advice and, at times, gentle prodding.
Ray Haynes dove into the labour movement at a time when outright legal oppression of unions was widespread and often violent.
But he didn’t let that keep him from quickly learning the ropes of organizing, and rising through the ranks of labour leadership.
He took the reins at the BCFED during years of social, political and labour upheaval. He rose to that challenge, not only in BC but well outside our borders. He made our Federation a voice on issues like the Vietnam war, nuclear testing and the California grape boycott. Facing off against the Socred government, he wrestled their draconian Mediation Commission Act to a stalemate until it could be repealed in 1972 by the new David Barrett government — a crowning victory as leader of the BCFED.
Nothing could have been more fitting for our 60th convention than to be blessed with the chance to honour Ray and hear from him one last time. The warmth and magnitude of delegates’ cheering and their multiple ovations said a lot about his legacy — not to mention his undiminished ability to bring a thousand people to their feet.
Ray Haynes inspired us then, and he continues to inspire us today. Our deepest condolences to Ray’s family and his many friends. And to Ray Haynes, our endless gratitude for sharing your dedication and solidarity with the workers of British Columbia and beyond throughout your life. We will miss you.
Life on the line
A look at the legacy of longtime labour leader Ray Haynes [The Tyee]
Join the Care Campaign
Shared on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress
Join the Care campaign.
We’re fighting for better working conditions for care workers, and better care services for everyone. We need to act now…..
Care workers are often overlooked and underpaid. Care services are inaccessible, underfunded or privatized.
We need the government to address Canada’s care crisis by investing in quality care services and creating better jobs that reward care workers equitably and ensure decent working conditions. Together, we can secure fair and decent work for all care workers and ensure our communities have access to the quality care services they need.
It’s time for us to act now and #ShowWeCare.
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/c9L6bX0jte4
Add your voice: https://showwecare.ca/take-action/join/
Golden Tree Farmworkers’ Memorial 2023
Shared on behalf of the BC Federation of Labour
Dear Friends,
Please join the BCFED, the families, Archway Community Services and PICS for our annual memorial to remember Amarjit Kaur Bal, Sukhvinder Kaur Punia, and Sarabjit Kaur Sidhu, the three farmworkers killed on the morning of March 7, 2007, while being transported to work in an overloaded passenger van. This ceremony also honours all farmworkers in recognition of the important work they do and their ongoing struggle for dignity and safety.
COVID-19 protocol
We strongly encourage participants to wear a mask during the indoor ceremony. We know that masks are the most effective way to keep yourself and others safe. This simple act of masking up will ensure that others around you can fully participate. Please do not attend if you have any symptoms.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be available.
The Matsqui Centennial Auditorium seats 600 and there will be room to distance.
Light food will be served.
Golden Tree Farmworkers’ Memorial 2023
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2023
Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Matsqui Centennial Auditorium and Friendship Garden
32315 South Fraser Way
Abbotsford BC
The program for the ceremony is here: English; Punjabi; Spanish.
We hope to see you there.
FPSE-HRISC Speaker’s Tour 2023
FPSE-HRISC Speaker’s Tour 2023 | International Students in Canada (March 3 | 1pm PT)
RSVP for In-Person (Capilano University, Shipyard) or Online (Zoom)
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University and college students in BC (and beyond) are reporting health, housing and food insecurity challenges. International students often face these and other challenges in navigating their schools, communities and governmentalities. Our moderated March 3rd afternoon panel will focus on longstanding (and current) issues facing international students, including discrimination and racism; tuition fee increases; health care, housing and food access challenges; job insecurity and changing workplace regulations; recruitment misrepresentation and/or challenging pathways to citizenship; administrative nightmares; access to union organizing and limitations on academic freedoms.
FPSE-BC’s Human Rights and International Solidarity Committee (HRISC) is our first of two Speaker’s Tour 2023 Panel discussions. On March 3rd our focus will be on International Students in Canada. This year we have assembled a dynamic group of 6 activist-scholars, advocates and organizers, including two undergrad and two masters’ students, along with two national-level student / union campaigners. We hope you can join us!
Register soon to avoid disappointment; and save this event in your calendar.
Student union and student media and other media inquiries are highly encouraged. Please share word of this event with students and networks !
Friday, March 3rd, 1pm PST REGISTER HERE: 2023 FPSE Human Rights and International Solidarity Speakers Tour
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For media or other inquiries:
Contact: David Sadoway (FPSE-HRISC, Local 05) Co-moderator
Contact: Eduardo Azmitia (FPSE-HRISC, Local 01) Co-moderator
Contact: Joel Blok (FPSE-BC, Admin Coordinator) 604-873-8988
Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of B.C. (FPSE-HRISC).
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Joel Blok
Administrative Coordinator | Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC | fpse.ca
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish)
& səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories | he/him/his
