Subject: Rescheduling of Women’s Conference / Report de la Conférence sur la condition féminine
We have made the difficult decision to postpone the National Women's Conference scheduled for November 6-9, 2011 here in Toronto . It seems that due to the number and timing of the provincial elections, and the Local Unions' participation this year in the National Health, Safety & Environment Conference, Federal Election, the International Convention and other events, resources are strained and indications are we will not have the desired level of registration for this conference.
No new dates have been selected yet, but will likely be sometime in 2012. When new dates are confirmed, we will send out a new conference call and registration package in our local union mailing, but we will also email you directly with the new information.
If you have paid your registration fee, you have the option of obtaining a refund (to you or your local union, whoever paid), or simply leaving your registration and payment with us, and we will apply to the conference when it is re-scheduled. If you wish a refund, please simply reply to this email with the statement "Refund please".
***
Nous avons pris la décision difficile de reporter la Conférence nationale sur la condition féminine qui devait avoir lieu du 6 au 9 novembre 2011 ici à Toronto. Il semble qu’en raison du nombre d’élections provinciales à venir et du moment où elles auront lieu, de la participation des sections locales cette année au Congrès national sur la santé, la sécurité et l’environnement, aux élections fédérales, au Congrès international et à d’autres activités, un manque de ressources se fasse sentir et tout indique que nous n’obtiendrons pas le niveau espéré d’inscriptions à la conférence.
Nous n’avons pas encore choisi de nouvelles dates pour la Conférence, mais elle aura probablement lieu dans le courant de 2012. Lorsque nous les aurons confirmées, nous vous enverrons une nouvelle convocation et une trousse d’inscription dans le cadre d’un envoi aux sections locales, et nous vous ferons également parvenir ces informations directement par courriel.
Si vous avez déjà payé vos frais d’inscription, vous avez le choix d'obtenir un remboursement (à vous-même ou à votre section locale, selon qui a payé les frais), ou de tout simplement nous laisser le paiement, que nous appliquerons à la conférence lorsque nous saurons la date exacte à laquelle elle aura lieu. Si vous désirez obtenir un remboursement, veuillez tout simplement répondre au présent courriel en indiquant la mention « Veuillez rembourser ».
Ken N.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Drug Free Workplace
What can you do?
According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology some 3.9 million workers were using at least one illicit drug while working. The impact of your co-worker using drugs is a problem that extends far beyond him or her. In fact, it puts everyone in danger.
Substance abusers are known to have slower reaction speed. They make more mistakes, and they have higher absenteeism.
What can you do if you know a co-worker is abusing substances?
-Talk to your supervisor in conficence about what you know. Don't approach the co-worker yourself.
-If you suspect that the drug deal is in progress, do not intervene on your own. Contact security or notify the police.
Substance abuse on the job is not something to be taken lightly. It can affect lives.
According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology some 3.9 million workers were using at least one illicit drug while working. The impact of your co-worker using drugs is a problem that extends far beyond him or her. In fact, it puts everyone in danger.
Substance abusers are known to have slower reaction speed. They make more mistakes, and they have higher absenteeism.
What can you do if you know a co-worker is abusing substances?
-Talk to your supervisor in conficence about what you know. Don't approach the co-worker yourself.
-If you suspect that the drug deal is in progress, do not intervene on your own. Contact security or notify the police.
Substance abuse on the job is not something to be taken lightly. It can affect lives.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Why Unions matter
The Daily News (Kamloops)
Why unions matter: Unions shelter in an economic storm
Fri Sep 2 2011
Darryl Walker
Over the past year, unions and union members around the world have faced unprecedented challenges from right wing governments and employers who are looking for someone to blame for the most recent economic crisis.
Governments are wrongly pointing the finger at public sector workers, and in response, are cutting public services and public sector jobs, deregulating and privatizing services, attacking workers' pensions and benefits and severely limiting workers' rights, such as the right to free collective bargaining. This along with corporate tax cuts and corporate bailouts is the road map directing right-wing governments to economic recovery.
The truth is, workers have done their part during these difficult economic times. Members of the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU) who work for the provincial government settled for an agreement with a net zero-and-zero increase. Over the past decade wage increases hovered around 0.15 per cent when you take inflation into account.
Yet despite these sacrifices public sector workers are still being blamed and workers and the public punished with severe cuts to public and community services.
Workers, communities, and unions are fighting back around the world. Last summer saw hundreds of thousands of people all over Europe -- Greece, Spain, France and Italy -- demonstrating, demanding the economic recovery not be on the backs of ordinary people.
Also, in February and March of this year a number of demonstrations bringing out more than 100,000 workers, families, seniors and community groups marched in Wisconsin in response to the draconian measures Governor Scott Walker rammed through the legislature to curtail the power and strength of unions.
People in cities in 50 states across the U.S. protested in solidarity, fearing the attack on unions in their community was merely a matter of time. In London 400,000 people marched in the street on March 26, protesting deep government budget cuts and cuts to public services such as health care and education.
And, at the start of April, British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon labour movements organized a protest at the Peace Arch, at the Canada-U.S. border in solidarity with workers in Wisconsin and around the world demanding an end to the attack on workers' rights.
The collective actions of the labour movement more than one hundred years ago won workers, unionized or not, many basic rights we take for granted -- the eight hour day, health and safety laws, the right to join a union, the right to free collective bargaining, safe and decent working conditions, and a minimum wage. In Canada unions also fought for and won the Canada pension plan for all workers, an insurance system for unemployed workers, and a universal public health care system.
These hard-won rights are now under attack. But we are not going to let them take these rights away. Together we will fight to defend them. Moreover, together unions and the community are fighting to bring an end to corporate tax cuts anddemanding a fair taxation system that will afford quality public services for all.
That's why unions matter.
(c) 2011 The Daily News (Kamloops)
Why unions matter: Unions shelter in an economic storm
Fri Sep 2 2011
Darryl Walker
Over the past year, unions and union members around the world have faced unprecedented challenges from right wing governments and employers who are looking for someone to blame for the most recent economic crisis.
Governments are wrongly pointing the finger at public sector workers, and in response, are cutting public services and public sector jobs, deregulating and privatizing services, attacking workers' pensions and benefits and severely limiting workers' rights, such as the right to free collective bargaining. This along with corporate tax cuts and corporate bailouts is the road map directing right-wing governments to economic recovery.
The truth is, workers have done their part during these difficult economic times. Members of the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU) who work for the provincial government settled for an agreement with a net zero-and-zero increase. Over the past decade wage increases hovered around 0.15 per cent when you take inflation into account.
Yet despite these sacrifices public sector workers are still being blamed and workers and the public punished with severe cuts to public and community services.
Workers, communities, and unions are fighting back around the world. Last summer saw hundreds of thousands of people all over Europe -- Greece, Spain, France and Italy -- demonstrating, demanding the economic recovery not be on the backs of ordinary people.
Also, in February and March of this year a number of demonstrations bringing out more than 100,000 workers, families, seniors and community groups marched in Wisconsin in response to the draconian measures Governor Scott Walker rammed through the legislature to curtail the power and strength of unions.
People in cities in 50 states across the U.S. protested in solidarity, fearing the attack on unions in their community was merely a matter of time. In London 400,000 people marched in the street on March 26, protesting deep government budget cuts and cuts to public services such as health care and education.
And, at the start of April, British Columbia, Washington State and Oregon labour movements organized a protest at the Peace Arch, at the Canada-U.S. border in solidarity with workers in Wisconsin and around the world demanding an end to the attack on workers' rights.
The collective actions of the labour movement more than one hundred years ago won workers, unionized or not, many basic rights we take for granted -- the eight hour day, health and safety laws, the right to join a union, the right to free collective bargaining, safe and decent working conditions, and a minimum wage. In Canada unions also fought for and won the Canada pension plan for all workers, an insurance system for unemployed workers, and a universal public health care system.
These hard-won rights are now under attack. But we are not going to let them take these rights away. Together we will fight to defend them. Moreover, together unions and the community are fighting to bring an end to corporate tax cuts anddemanding a fair taxation system that will afford quality public services for all.
That's why unions matter.
(c) 2011 The Daily News (Kamloops)
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