http://savecanadapost.ca & Sustainable Communities.  Click the link for more info about unions in the Vancouver area and the rest of Canada!

PRESENTATION FROM SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE

Rob Duffy, Sustainable Communities Initiative

-      Sustainable Communities proposed a provincial bylaw to reduce waste, targeting the practice of companies taking waste out of Metro Vancouver to avoid tipping fees. Province blocked it.

-      Metro Vancouver is considering a regional incinerator

-      Mayor's Council transportation plan passed June 12, including big boosts in transit spending and access. Province rejected key points: carbon tax revenue for Translink, wants to use tolls and municipal property taxes for transit, no funding for HandyDART. Province insisting on referendum, probably won't happen until March 2015 by mail-in ballot. Vision is supporting the transit plan, NPA sending mixed messages.

-      Ports issues: legal challenge of air quality jurisdiction between Vancouver and Fraser Surrey Docks over dust from transporting soy products; Metro Vancouver considering 'short sea' shipping to cut back road traffic; Fraser Surrey Port pursuing an inland Port in Ashcroft, not clear if they'll get support.

-      UBCM Convention: Union of BC Municipalities passed a motion for reduced ferry fares and Province rejected it; Motions for greater regulation of worker camps in the north; For environment re: coal and pipelines; for energy and energy efficient programs.

Joey

-      We asked Rob to come because we're a month away from the Municipal election and who gets elected will count a lot towards whether these

PRESIDENT'S REPORT (JOEY)

-      CLC is working on distributing voting cards

-      The Executive has replaced one North Vancouver School Board candidate recommendation with another due to a withdrawl. Now is Jessica Stanley

-      Labour school programs are booking up, so if you want to attend, book ahead.

-      Metro Vancouver Alliance had a huge assembly of almost 800 people on October 9th; their first electoral assembly. Brings together labour, faith and community groups for the common good. Brought three candidates for Mayor plus a Green council candidate to listen to presentations on housing, transport, social isolation, and health. All mayoral candidates pledged to work with the MVA on these issues.

-      Protein for People: fisher union providing fish for communities. Will be happening November 20th from 3-6pm. Call-out for unions to come volunteer and wear union colours.

-      VDLC's 125th anniversary, come to a wine and cheese celebration at VDLC from 5-8pm on Friday November 21st.

 

CORRESPONDENCE LIST

-      Ivan requests for the letter from TSSU delegates to the executive be included in the correspondence list. Joey says it was not included because it was an email, agrees to include it in the list for next month.

 

BILL C-377 RETURNS

-      Bill C-377, a piece of federal legislation amending the income tax act. It's based on the so-called “Right to Work” state laws in the southern US, requiring unions declare what they spend all their money and resources on, will bog us down in paperwork. It seeks to “uncover” what we do to the general public. We are private groups who are accountable to our members not the general public.

-      VDLC asking members to contact MP-s, particularly Conservative MP-s, and ask them not to support the bill. It previously (before last proroguing) had been blocked by a Conservative Senator who is no longer there. Need to stop it now.

 

UNION REPORTS

 

CUP-W

-      Yesterday was the last day of door-to-door delivery in Montreal, Calgary, and other cities, forcing all mail recipients to walk to so-called “community” depots.

-      Ending door-to-door delivery will disproportionately harm seniors and people with disabilities. CUP-W is launching a charter challenge in partnership with a Senior's and Disabled Women's organization.

-      CUP-W is asking for support in lobbying and rallies. See http://savecanadapost.ca

 

PENSION PLAN

-      Legislation from Harper Conservatives coming to attack Defined Benefit Pension Plans to place pension shortfalls on the shoulders of individual workers rather than the companies and government.

 

REPORT OF COMMITTEES

 

Solidarity in Action Committee

-      Ikea labour dispute still ongoing though there could be an end in sight. Ikea and Teamsters have gone back into mediation with Vince Ready, and if it doesn't work then Ready is empowered to visit binding arbitration on them

 

Women's Committee

-      Working with Women Transforming Cities in launching and supporting their Hot Pink Paper, to push forward issues affecting women and girls in the municipal election. See the Hot Pink Paper at http://womentransformingcities.org

 

CLC Report

-      Regional political action conference in the spring focused on retirement, jobs, public health care, and childcare organized by CLC with eyes to the 2015 Federal election

-      Affiliates participating sending out poll cards (a long list of unions) will be sending out the CLC poll cards and emails with the same info. 35,000 poll cards will be going out in the Vancouver area.

-      LNG Tax announced today, it's half the amount they pledged. It's going to be 3%, so now they're pledging it will take twice as long to get out of defecit

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

-      World Peace Forum: Imperialism, resistance, and alternatives. This Saturday October 25, 9-5pm at SFU Harbour Centre. See: http://www.peaceforumteachin.org

-      Rally against the bombing of Iraq and Syria, Saturday October 25, 12noon at Waterfront Station. See http://stopwar.ca

-      March against homelessness, Monday November 3rd, 5:30pm starting at the Vancouver Art Gallery. See http://socialhousingbc.com