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December 2010 A Publication of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union www.bcgeu.ca Agreement No. 40010201 Volume 58, Number 5 Inside: Fall Conferences • Colombia Diary • A Gift of Life
In this issue:
From the President................. 2
Getting to Green...................... 3
Community Living program
Home Support Crisis.............. 4-5 cuts short-change the
Conferences, Bargaining..... 6-7 developmentally disabled
T
Columbia Diary..................... 8-9 he B.C. Liberal government has made numerous staff and programming cuts
over the past 9 years, in an effort to reduce the role of government. But
Ministry Re-Org...................... 10 perhaps one of the most troubling developments has been their recent target-
ing of developmentally disabled people.
The Gift of Life..................... 11
We’ve become alarmed by many stories about Community Living BC (CLBC)-funded
BCGEU Community..........12-15 agencies and group homes being squeezed to find roughly $22-million in “efficiencies”
(read cuts). We’ve been told that CLBC is pressuring agencies to make significant staff
cuts, and to move group home residents into ‘home sharing,’ a residential service
model that is largely unregulated, untested and in most cases does not serve the clients’
best interests.
The Provincial is published up to seven times a
year by Solidarity Publications Ltd., Suite 206 — At least 19 group homes have closed or are closing across the
4911 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3W3 E-mail:
theprovincial@bcgeu.ca
province, impacting families and the support workers who work
Contributing Editors: Brian Gardiner, Karen Tankard, Oliver
with the clients. CLBC has also confirmed another 23 group
Rohlfs, Erin Sikora, Chris Bradshaw, Lynn Bueckert. Design closures by March 2011.
& Layout: Chris Bradshaw.
Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the The government claims that Community Living funding has
publishers. We cannot guarantee the return of unsolicited
editorial contributions.
The government increased, but budget documents show that CLBC’s funding is
claims that Com- being frozen for the next 4 years, while caseloads are projected
Provincial Executive munity Living fund- to grow by 10 per cent – a funding cut in all but name. The gov-
President: Darryl Walker ing has increased, ernment also says it is not closing group homes to save money.
Treasurer: Judi Filion
but budget docu- However, CLBC’s service plan states that the introduction of
Vice-President: Michael Clarke
Vice-President: Dan Bradford ments show that alternate residential settings “has reduced the average residential
Vice-President: Colleen Jones CLBC funding is cost by 12 per cent over the last seven years.”
Vice-President: Lorene Oikawa
Component 1: Dean Purdy being frozen for the Other developments are equally troubling. The government
Component 2: Susanne Francoeur next 4 years, while claims they are not forcing clients into the new living
Component 3: James Cavalluzzo
Stephanie Smith caseloads are arrangements, but Powell River’s executive director of the local
Component 4: Brenda Brown projected to grow community living association was quoted as saying, “I can’t say
Carla Dempsey
Component 5: Craig MacKay by 10 per cent. they’re not. Against the family wishes, people were moved, yes.”
Component 6: Doug Kinna
Component 7: Stu Seifert While the government claims that home share contractors are
Component 10: Mike Nuyens experienced service operators, some agencies have been forced to turn to Craigslist to
Component 12: Sandi McLean
Lori Joaquin
recruit home service contractors.
Component 17: Dave MacDonald
Component 20: Byron Goerz The BCGEU has been working with community partners to raise public awareness
about the impact of CLBC cuts – in part by co-sponsoring community meetings in
Victoria and Vancouver with stakeholder groups, including: Moms on the Move, the
B.C. Association for Community Living and B.C. FamilyNet.
4911 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3W3 A number of proposals have come out of these meetings, including a call to focus
Phone: 604-291-9611
Fax: 604-291-6030 more public attention on the issue, along with the protection of group homes and a
1-800-663-1674 (toll free) demand that the government appoint an independent representative for adults with
www.bcgeu.ca developmental disabilities, with powers similar to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the
A component of the National Union of Public and General Representative for Children and Youth.
Employees. Affiliated with the B.C. Federation of Labour and
the Canadian Labour Congress
The BCGEU will continue building relationships with stakeholders and we pledge
we will continue to push to save group homes and increase funding for people with
developmental disabilities, to help them achieve their full potential.
22.
Getting to Green
Union continues journey to reduce environmental footprint
C
arbon footprint. cool the buildings. assume we are
We see the phrase used making posti-
everywhere, every Given the prominent role that tive changes,
day – in news stories weather plays in heating and cool- we know we
and in casual conversa- ing facilities, it stands to reason are because we
tion with friends. But what does it that results will vary year over measure our BCGEU’s annual
mean, really? year. In the past four years, total consumption. GHG emissions
GHG emissions have ranged from We now know COLLEEN has been
Dictionary.com defines carbon foot- a low of 475 tonnes (2008), to a which areas FORSHAW reduced from
print as “a measure of the amount high of 533 tonnes (2009). Over- need closer
4.06 tonnes
of carbon dioxide released into the all, the BCGEU’s annual GHG monitoring and are continuing to
atmosphere by a single endeav- improve in those areas.” per employee
emissions has been reduced from
our or by a company, household, 4.06 tonnes per employee to 3.76 to 3.76 tonnes
or individual through day-to-day tonnes in 2009, with the lowest BCGEU president Darryl Walker in 2009, with
activities over a given period.” year, 2008 reaching 3.37 tonnes. notes that the union continues the lowest year,
to make progress in reducing its 2008 reaching
Delegates at the 2006 BCGEU Some significant steps have overall carbon footprint. 3.37 tonnes.
Policy Convention passed a already been taken by the union
resolution directing the union to reduce our carbon footprint. “We are moving into phase 2 now,
to initiate a campaign to reduce Video conferencing equipment which is to bring the remaining
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) has been installed in HQ and area buildings owned by the BCGEU
and reduce the impact of busi- offices, which is expected to have into the program. A baseline
ness travel. Since then, the union a significant impact on vehicle study will be completed for those
has taken a number of steps to and air travel. buildings as well. Experience tells
become more sustainable. us that even small measures can
Conservation measures have reduce our carbon
One of the most significant resulted in a 33 per cent footprint.”
measures has been to engage an reduction in the use of standard
environmental consulting firm envelopes from 2008–2009. One
to assess the BCGEU’s actual hundred per cent recycled paper
carbon footprint created by our is now used for photocopiers and
Burnaby headquarters and Lower printers. Outdoor watering has
Mainland Area Office (LMAO) ceased, as drought-resistant
– with 2009 marking the fourth plant varieties are used at
year that assessment data has both facilities.
been compiled.
Colleen Forshaw, BCGEU’s
The results have been instruct- environmental officer and
ive. The union has learned, for mail centre supervisor, took
example, that facilities operations a moment to reflect on what
accounted for 61 per cent of total the union has learned since
GHG emissions in 2009, followed embarking on this journey
by vehicle travel at 29 per cent, toward sustainability.
and air travel at 10 per cent.
Sixty seven per cent of facilities “We found that taking the time to
emissions at the Burnaby HQ is establish a baseline was a valu-
created by natural gas consump- able tool in measuring our carbon
tion, which is used to heat and footprint. We don’t guess or
3
ommunity tion has moved into secondary not in that situation, we have two
health workers progressive MS. She can’t walk, wonderful children who support
are the unsung can’t see well and has difficulty us in a major way and we work
heroes of our using her hands. She relies on four together. But I can’t imagine what
health care system. hours of home support a day for it must be like for people who have
personal care, help around the no one but themselves. They’re Regardless of
Home support greatly house and physiotherapy. basically isolated.” data showing
improves quality of life for seniors that home
and people living with chronic Bill and the rest of the family help Regardless of data showing that support saves
conditions or illness – helping out, but they wouldn’t be able to home support saves our health care our health care
them stay out of hospital and live manage without home support. system money, client time has been system money,
in their homes longer. cut significantly in the past decade client time has
“It’s also important for the in-house due to funding cuts. been cut signifi-
Preventative health measures care-giver,” says Bill. “If a person
“Most palliative patients don’t get cantly in the
delivered by community health tries to do this on their own, from
workers save the health care system the time they need from agencies – past decade.
what I’ve observed, they end up in
millions, possibly billions of dollars worse shape than the client over yet government is saying that
annually in acute care costs. time. It’s not a one-person job to clients need to max out allot-
take care of somebody.” ted home support hours before
Couples like Bill and Bonnie Gies accessing other services such as
in Delta depend on home support. Bill feels that home support is facilities and hospitals,” said Carla
Bonnie, 68, was diagnosed with extremely important for those Dempsey, chair of BCGEU Com-
secondary progressive Multiple living alone. munity Health Component 8 and a
Sclerosis (MS) in the early ‘90s. home support worker for 18 years.
“It gets to be critical if you are a “In the end, the clients, mostly
For over a decade, Bonnie’s condi- single person living alone. We’re seniors, are not getting what they Carla Dempsey
4
need to prevent catastrophic community health worker
health problems.” because I wanted to help people
and I believe that home support
Funding continues to be a signifi- provides dignity for seniors and
cant issue, says Dempsey. people living with disabilities,”
said Dempsey.
“Health authorities don’t get
enough money from the B.C. “But instability in the sector makes
government, so they cut funding it hard for people to stay in this
to the agencies, who have to find a line of work.”
way to do the same work for less.
That’s how we’ve ended up in this What’s the solution?
crisis, where agencies are finding
The CCPA outlines key solutions in
it difficult, and sometimes
their Plan for an Enhanced and More
impossible to operate.”
Accessible System of Home Support.
The lack of adequate funding for First,increase community health
home support is also taking a toll workers’ wages to improve
on workers in the field. recruitment and retention.
According to a Canadian Centre CCPA notes that many community
for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) health workers move into Facili-
report, Towards an Enhanced and ties, where workers are often paid
More Accessible Home Support System higher wages and receive more
for BC’s Seniors, home support assistance to provide care.
agencies across B.C. are facing Bill and Bonnie Gies of Delta rely on home support, which
significant recruitment and Improving wages would also help allows Bonnie to live independently at home. Bonnie was
retention issues. address the issue of unpaid work. diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the early 1990s.
The report notes that as work- “Community health workers put
ing conditions deteriorate and in a lot of free time, gathering
community health workers are client information, reading care
expected to deliver more complex plans and preparing schedules for
care in less time with no increase the next day,” says Dempsey.
in pay, many workers are driven
out of the field. Second, the report also recom-
mends that health authorities and
Fewer trained workers and high agencies redesign home support to
staff turnover present a challenge improve teamwork and stability. In response to the crisis in seniors’
for continuity of care – which care, both in facilities and in home
clients like Bonnie Gies consider Finally, the CCPA insists that client support, the BCGEU has launched a
paramount to her well-being. hours be increased – allowing campaign aimed at raising awareness
community health workers to around seniors’ care issues.
“Each visit on each day is differ- provide personal care as well as
ent. It’s important that I have basic services like housekeeping, The campaign, titled
people who know the routine, laundry and meal preparation – Building a Better Future For Seniors
and it’s important that they are allowing seniors to age safely and features a toolkit for activists to use in
well-trained,” says Gies. comfortably in their own homes. response to crisis in seniors’ care in
local communities.
Unfortunately, continuity of care “Something has to happen,” says
becomes difficult in a climate Dempsey. “With our aging popula- Visit www.bcgeu.ca/seniorscare
where contracts are turned over tion, we need to take home sup- and download copies of leaflets,
and funding is reduced. port more seriously. The solutions fact sheets and more
are there and are affordable. All information on the campaign.
“Like most others, I became a we need now is the political will.”
5
Connecting unions & communities
Prince George Regional Conference
October 21-23
C
onference participants attended workshops and
discussed ways that the union can reach out to the
public and community partners when dealing with
justice issues in the workplace and community.
BCGEU president Darryl Walker provided an overview in his
keynote speech, outlining many of the challenges members UNION LEADERS – BCGEU president Darryl Walker (left) and BCGEU
face in the north, including cuts to forestry and the closure of Treasurer Judi Filion (right) stand with guest speaker and Mexico union
facilities for the developmentally disabled. president Napoleon Gomez.
“Since the Liberal government was elected, they have gut- Workshops were led by three well-known experts in their
ted the Ministry of Forests,” Walker said. “You live in forest- field. Wade Rathke, the Chief Organizer for Acorn Inter-
dependent communities and you know first-hand how the national, Dr.Charlotte Yates, the Dean of Political Science/
government has let this industry slide and how we need to Labour Studies at McMaster University in Hamilton and Chris
fight to rebuild it.” Corrigan, a noted facilitator for progressive organizations.
Keynote speaker Napoleon Gomez, president of the United Rathke’s workshop looked at how unions link with community
Mine and Metallurgic Works in Mexico, brought an important organizations in grassroots campaigns.Yates discussed the his-
international perspective to the conference. tory and future of unions, noting how new workers place new
demands on union leadership. Corrigan’s “World Café” session
“The miners in Mexico are seeking justice and the right to had delegates listing issues their union should address.
safety and good working conditions on their job,” said Gomez.
“Our struggles are much like yours.” ‘Champions of Change’ Mona Dykes (Local 612) and Kelly
McDonald (Local 1006) hosted a presentation on the National
Jim Sinclair, president of the B.C. Federation of Labour spoke Union of Public and General Employees’ All Together Now cam-
about reaching out to workers who are not members of a paign, which calls for quality public services and tax fairness
union, through the “Employee Action & Rights Network” set across the country. Dykes, McDonald, and ten other ‘cham-
up by the federation for workers to learn about their rights. pions’ are talking to members around the province.
Stand-Alone Bargaining
Kelowna Child Care Society ratifies collective agreement access to overtime. The BCGEU represents 30 employees at the
Society working in the daycare, homeless shelter, recreation,
BCGEU members employed by the Kelowna Child Care maintenance, and other positions.
Society voted to ratify a two-year agreement in November. It
includes a first year wage raise between 3.2 per cent and 5.7 Pro Trans BC bargaining reaches stalemate – mediator called in
per cent depending on positions. Pay adjustments have been
introduced for the lower two classifications, resulting in 17 Bargaining with Pro Trans BC, which operates the successful
to 20 per cent pay increases. The agreement foresees modest skytrain Canada Line between downtown Vancouver and the
increases in annual vacation, and expires on March 31, 2012. airport, broke down at the end of November.
Van. Aboriginal Friendship Centre ratifies 3-year agreement The BCGEU bargaining committee explained that the
employer was not prepared to make the necessary monetary
BCGEU members at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship improvements to conclude a first collective agreement.
Centre Society have ratified a three-year agreement that The outstanding monetary issues include wages, pension and
includes wage protection but a reduction in hours of work, an health and welfare benefits. A Labour Relations Board mediator
increase in benefits for non-status workers, and improved has been appointed.
6
BCGEU Region 2 women explore life-work issues
B
e strategic with your time. Give up superwoman
aspirations. These were some of the pieces of sage
advice delivered to 100 participants at the BC-
GEU’s Region 2 Women’s Conference, Double Duty:
Finding Life/Work Harmony.
The two-day conference, held in mid-October, featured guest
speakers, panel discussions and the chance for BCGEU mem-
bers to share ideas to better achieve balance in their busy lives.
Delegates agreed on one thing: juggling life and work is an
endless challenge.
“As social workers, we’re always looking after everyone else,”
said Local 604 member Dorothy Birch. “We have families and
we look after them. Our parents age and we’re looking after
our parents. When are we looking after ourselves? What kind
of trouble does that get us into?”
“At this point in my life, I don’t think I have a work-life
Conference panel: BCGEU VPs Lorene Oikawa (left) and Colleen
balance because I feel like I’m living to work,” admitted Local Jones (right) joined other panelists to discuss work-life balance.
403 member Maria Lopez, who said she attended the
conference in the hope of learning ways to achieve balance.
The members’ sentiments are echoed in a recent NUPGE
survey on women’s lives. The survey, which was presented at
the conference, found women are experiencing higher levels
of work-life conflict due to unpaid care-giving, lack of control
over their time, and an unequal division of labour in the home.
Participants identified a variety of other barriers to life-work
harmony, including a lack of flexible work hours, guilt about
taking time for themselves, family responsibilities, and the
threat of job loss. They also outlined a number of possible
remedies they and the BCGEU ought to undertake. Conference participants (Pictured l-r): Maria Lopez, (Local 403);
and Gladys Radek, Walk 4Justice
Recommendations included better worker education and
communication on workplace rights, standards for flexible
work hours and job sharing, a women’s blog site, time
management training, and learning to say a guilt-free “no”
to demands on their time.
Attendees said the chance to network and speak with other
busy women at the conference was beneficial. “I found it
interesting to learn how other women are balancing their
work and life,” said Local 303 member Pamela Pye. “I’m not
feeling alone. I’m learning how to shuffle things and go
forward personally.”
Organizers said the conference was so successful that plans are
already in the works for future women’s conferences in other Conference participants (Pictured l-r): Brenda Vallancourt (504);
Audrey Todd (203), Kim Keys (203); Pamela Pye (303)
regions of the province.
7
BCGEU vice-president Colleen Jones, along with
BCGEU president Darryl Walker, was part of a delegation
that visited labour and community groups in Colombia in October 2010.
Here is Colleen’s diary of the trip.
October 23 hungry. Any food that wasn’t taken was fed to the community
dogs. These people care passionately about the environment
It was great seeing everyone making the trip at Vancouver air- and each other. I was so honoured to have met these women
port. I’m excited, yet nervous because I’ve visited Colombia who do much with so little.
before. I know we will face different challenges everyday.
October 25
October 24
Our journey was amaz-
We travelled to Cali and met with our partners from NOMA- ing. We travelled for
DESC, a human rights organization that works with unions 2 hours on a long and
and communities. We met the wives of sugar cane cutters and winding, rough, hilly
heard their stories of struggle and desperation. The husbands road. Saw amazing
are losing work to modernization. scenery. We ended
up in a city called
There are no health and safety regulations, illegal weighing of Buenaventura, a
the sugar cane means less income and less sugar cane being poor but comfort-
cut. Children are hungry and seemingly have no future. The able place. Then we
women are on the front lines fighting for their husbands and travelled about 2
their future. They’re the ones facing off against the govern- more hours by boat
ment, the employer. to a village. Along
the way, a huge
dead fish was seen
on
shua Bers
floating on the
water. Apparently
Photos: Jo
whoever spots
the fish gets to
keep it, so we retrieved it. What a celebration
there was on the boat! The fish would be shared
by everyone.
The village was nothing but shanty shacks. We had an interest-
ing meeting with community councillors. They asked us to
support their project to create community governance, saying
it would change their lives completely. During the meeting,
about 15 paramilitary officers showed up and stood outside
We shared a great the room. They made sure we saw them. The community
meal of rice and chicken. Each woman provided her members told us they hadn’t been seen in their villages for
own dishes and some of the food. Leftovers got wrapped and quite awhile. When we left, I prayed that the community
put out for any hungry souls. They don’t want anyone to go would be okay and safe.
8
October 26 This displaced community has only one entrance and exit, a
checkpoint managed by paramilitary, and no water or electri-
This was a mentally emotional day. In the morning, we trav- city. People here want to rescue their core values and restore
elled into a displaced community and spoke with the leaders. rightful services. During the course of the day, we saw the gulf
We learned it was a dangerous place and were told to keep our between affluence and poverty. It is hard to reconcile at times.
bags close to our bodies, and stay close together. The village
was quiet and clean, but worn. With heavy hearts, people told October 29
us their stories. Some had been threatened and forced to
move their families. On this day, we dressed in our best clothes to meet with
Canadian Embassy personnel in Bogota. We told them of the
One man’s eight brothers had been killed by the FARC, the stories we’d heard and what we had seen. We asked that they
revolutionary armed force. A woman spoke about human share our concerns with the Colombian government.
rights violations and being threatened with death and rape.
This community was largely made up of Afro-Colombians;
people who, in the past, were often kidnapped and turned into
slaves. They struggle to defend human rights and are trying to
develop allies. They’re grateful for NOMADESC’s support.
They have a vision for the year 2020 to service basic needs
with a holistic approach.
October 27
We met with members of FENALTRASE, the National Federa-
tion of Public Service Workers, in Colombia. It’s a partner of
the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The organization has
been struggling. It has claimed bankruptcy,
had new
We asked why labour leaders and
activists are being killed or threatened. It was a good meeting.
I hope we made a difference in some way. We also met with
the Colombian Ministry of the Interior & Justice, where we
were told everything we wanted to hear.
We were told displaced people would get restitution for their
land, that there would be health services and work done to
end poverty and inequality, that trade unions and their leaders
would be protected and that a human rights office would be
created. It all seemed too good to be true.
Later, we dined with Jose Alvear Restrepo, the head lawyer
from the Colombian Lawyers’ Collective, who advised against
elections and, in 2009, trusting what we had been told earlier by the government.
reactivated the union in solidarity with hospital workers. Yessika Hoyos, who spoke at our NUPGE convention in Van-
couver recently, was also there. It was great to see her and learn
The federation has some strong activists who are dedicated more about the work she’s doing for the labour movement.
to the labour movement. What was remarkable was our
common issues, such as privatization, job cuts and a loss October 30
of public services.
Sightseeing in Bogota. A beautiful city of contrasts. So much
October 28 wealth and poverty.
Met again with FENALTRASE and did some visits to the October 31
barrio. We rode a cable car to one low-income community
that was left behind after the 2005 Pan-Am Summer Games. Yay!!! I can’t wait to get home and hug my family.
9
Public service reorganization
is still a ‘work in progress’
W
eeks after the will be losing staff to the new Nat- changes lines of communication,
October 25 ural Resources ministry have been freezes spending, suspends
cabinet shuffle meeting to look at how employees projects, and delays approvals
announced by will be placed. A number of the of staff requests until the new
premier Gordon committees have met and are structures gel enough to become
Campbell, it appears the change trying to work their way through productive.” Stress levels
to the public service are starting to the massive number of changes of all workers
settle in. that will take place. “The scale of these changes is huge
are high as we
and I would encourage members
to check our web site regularly for are all trying to
When the shuffle was announced, Many government employees
there was a major re-organization updates,” said Walker. figure out how
have been through a number of
of government, especially the restructuring changes, and there to achieve the
creation of the Ministry of Natural are inevitably problems and delays “We also want to hear from our key goals and
Resource Operations, which has with each shift in policy. members on how the changes are priorities with
assumed many of the responsibil- progressing.” even less
ities from the ministries of forests, “The union is not opposed to Members can send their com- than we
mines and agriculture. change, especially if it can be ments to Darryl Walker by e-mail: had already.
shown that they will improve the president@bcgeu.ca.
“There is no doubt there delivery of service to the public,”
were many questions about the said Walker.
re-organization when it was first
announced,” said Darryl Walker, BCGEU members expressed con-
BCGEU president. cern about the changes, responding
to the union’s call for comments
“We have met with government about the re-organization.
officials and are actively working
with them to see that the transition “Basically we are meeting our legal
is as smooth as possible. They have obligations and not much beyond,”
made it clear that the re-organiza- said one member. “Stress levels of
tion is proceeding. all workers are high as we are all
trying to figure out how to achieve
“There was no consultation with the key goals and priorities with
the union before the change and even less than we had already.”
I think the government has
learned that working with the Another member noted that:
union on these major changes can “since the March 2010 re-org of
make them go a lot smoother.” the Forest Service, I and many of
my colleagues in various ‘dirt’
Around 2,400 employees will be ministries have not had a job
moving from ministry to ministry description, never mind a re-clas-
or program to program. sification. The latest re-org has all
but halted that.”
Under the collective agreement,
the joint union/employer Article The comments were not restricted RE-ORG AT A GLANCE – At 44 pages, the Orders in Council
29 committees have met to to changes in the resource minis- (OIC) that created the resource ministries’ reorganization was
consider the changes. tries. One member wrote: “Our longer than the OIC for the B.C. Liberals’ entire government
organization has been restructured reorganization in 2001. In front is a colour coded diagram of
Committees for the ministries that four times in three years. Each one the re-org, created by a UBC forestry student.
10Union sisters share a kidney
ne Thursday even- of medical tests to ensure she was
ing in June, Sun- medically and psychologically ready
shine Gudlaugson to donate a live organ. The tests
was checking email at were all favourable; Gudlaugson
home. In her inbox was a was the perfect universal donor.
desperate cry for help: a former
workplace colleague was in the Gudlaugson immediately called
final stages of kidney failure. After Dhaliwal: “What are you doing on
a few hours of research, Sunshine September 27?” she asked, refer-
made up her mind: she would ring to the planned operation date.
donate one of her healthy kidneys,
if she possibly could. “I was sleeping when she called,
so my reaction was slow, like in a
“My sense of justice was immedi- dream,” says Dhaliwal. “After a few
ately outraged,” says Gudlaugson. minutes, the reality of what she was
“Here was this kind, beautiful telling me sank in. I became very
young mother, my age, clinging to excited. We talked about how we
life by her fingernails. If that was were going to celebrate, and then
me and I was dying and I had kids, hung up to call our husbands and
I would want somebody to step share the good news.”
up for me.”
To her supportive husband,
Gudlaugson works as an employ- Gudlaugson said, “Let’s get this
ment and assistance worker at the kidney show on the road!”
Ministry of Housing and Social GIFT OF LIFE – Local 603 member Laurreen Dhaliwal
Development, and is a member of The operation was a success: (top, with children) received a kidney donation from former
BCGEU local 603. “Sunshine’s kidney, my new kidney co-worker Sunshine Gudlaugson (bottom, with husband).
began working immediately. I
Laurreen Dhaliwal is another went from six per cent kidney
BCGEU local 603 member, who function to 50 per cent overnight, gift,” says Dhaliwal. “We now have a lifelong friendship
worked alongside Gudlaugson in and it has continued to improve and I consider Sunshine part of my family.”
the Vancouver ministry office for all to 60-70 per cent,” Dhaliwal says.
Her recovery process has been “A lot of people have this idea that giving up a kidney
of one week in December 2009. will ruin your life,” says Gudlaugson. “That is simply
tougher than she imagined; she
By summer 2010, Dhaliwal’s will need to take anti-rejection not true. Short of martial arts, I can continue to do
kidneys were functioning at just medication for up to a year. The anything I want.” She encourages everyone to
six percent of normal capacity. overall prognosis is good, how- consider becoming organ donors. “Little miracles
The mass email was an act of ever. As an added bonus, Dha- can happen every day.”
desperation by her husband, Jesse. liwal appears to have inherited
Laurreen has a rare blood type, Gudlaugson’s low blood pressure,
and the expected wait time for a which is partly controlled by the Donor leave protection
donor from the deceased donor dominant kidney. Sunshine Gudlaugson is thankful for Article 20.15 of
registry was around eight years. the 15th Master Agreement with the B.C. govern-
With her kidney functions shut- Gudlaugson is recovering as well:
ment, which states: ‘An employee shall be granted
ting down, Laurreen was getting the bruises have disappeared, and
the necessary leave of absence with pay for the
weaker by the day. She faced the scars are quite small, she says. The
purpose of donating bone marrow or an organ.’
prospect of spending four days a women celebrated the first month
week in hospital for dialysis – anniversary of their operation “I would have donated my kidney anyways, but
for the rest of her life. together: they went to the spa, and thanks to this article, I don’t need to feel stressed
had their nails done. “I will forever about my recovery,” Gudlaugson says. To learn more
Gudlaugson underwent a series be thankful for Sunshine’s generous about organ donation visit www.transplant.bc.ca
11Our Shared Future:
Summit to Build
a Better B.C.
M
Summit participants gathered at Simon Fraser University’s Wosk Centre
ore than 60 put this conversation for Dialogue in Vancouver at the end of October to develop principles
people from more on the political agenda.” and goals for the Coalition to Build a Better B.C.
than two dozen
organizations Other coalition members
attended the were invited to share their visions Reid Johnson, president of the
Coalition to Build a Better BC for a better B.C. Health Sciences Association,
conference Our Shared Future: Sum- pointed to health care service
mit to Build a Better BC. The event Amir Ali Alibhai, Executive Direc- cuts that he and his members
was held on Saturday, October 30 tor of the Alliance for Arts and witness every day.
at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue Culture spoke of the importance We wanted
in Vancouver. of creating a healthy democratic “Being political means influencing to be for
society that is constantly evolving decision-makers. A coalition like
– one where cultural diversity is something.
The summit built on the this can do that,” Johnson told the
coalition’s earlier events this year. valued and our individual stories We wanted to
summit. “We need to influence
A day long dialogue was held in are told. the decision-makers to propel the create a vision
March, which identified a need province towards a just society.” that we could
for community partners to work Gwen Barlee, policy director of take to British
together. This was followed by the Wilderness Committee, cited Summit participants then formed Columbians and
the CBBBC Rally to Stop the Cuts the staffing cuts, regulations cuts, smaller breakout groups and spent engage them.
in April, the largest political rally and reduced standards around time discussing what the coalition We must build
held in the province in the wildlife protection and mining. should be focusing on in the a movement
last year. coming months. that is going to
“We need to put the public good
put this conver-
The summit brought together ahead of profits and stop evaluat- Two action themes emerged
ing everything through a market sation on the
a diverse range of participants, from the afternoon: the coali-
including coalition members and lens,” Barlee said. “This surely tion must continue to expand and political agenda.
invited guests. By the time the day breaks down communities.” strengthen; and the coalition must
was over, participants had better develop a simple message about
defined the coalition’s vision for “More than ever it is important for fair taxation and communicate
the province plus concrete actions us to share a common understand- that message effectively to British
the coalition would develop to ing and goals,” Tracy Porteous, Columbians.
make this vision a reality. executive director of the Ending
Violence Association, told summit A campaign aimed at educat-
Jim Sinclair, president of the B.C. participants. “When I imagine a ing the public about fair taxation
Federation of Labour opened the better B.C. I see more investment has recently been rolled out by
summit by reminding participants to break the multigenerational NUPGE, the National Union of
of the aim of the coalition. cycle of domestic violence.” Public and General Employees.
“We wanted to be for something. Porteous pointed to the need for The recommendations from the
We wanted to create a vision that more counselling and advocacy summit will be brought to the
we could take to British Colum- services, affordable childcare, coalition’s governing body for
bians and engage them. We must housing and funded legal aid to help consideration, of which BCGEU
build a movement that is going to women leave abusive situations. is a member.
12AirCare close to
2020 extension
T
he Lower Mainland personal vehicle
emissions testing program, AirCare, will
likely be extended and even expanded until
2020. In November, Metro Vancouver
mayors and councilors unanimously
recommended extending the program, and expanding
it to focus on heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
“This is a big endorsement for AirCare,” says BCGEU
president Darryl Walker. “The union did some focused
campaigning to ensure Metro Vancouver mayors under-
stand the measurable environmental and economic HEALTHY INVESTMENT – (l-r) Dave Cumming, chair of Local 1003, with AirCare
benefits of emissions testing for older vehicles.” member Ken Kan at East Vancouver AirCare location on Charles Street.
AirCare has been in place since 1992, and the current
program had been scheduled to end on December 31, review concluded. Transportation still accounts for
2011. One hundred and fourteen BCGEU members nearly 40 per cent of British Columbia’s greenhouse
work at AirCare facilities in the Lower Mainland. gas emissions. Cutting our exhaust emissions is not
only a very important way to keep our air breath-
“We are doing our bit for the environment,” says able, but also helps avert the potentially catastrophic
Local 1003 member Roy Cross,– who works at the effects of climate change. Cars need to be properly Metro
South Vancouver AirCare testing station. “I can see maintained to make sure they do not pollute more Vancouver’s
why some cars fail and others pass, it’s sometimes than necessary. The emission performance of newer recommenda-
pretty obvious. I think AirCare is beneficial for every- vehicles is actually deteriorating more rapidly than tion follows an
one, including our environment.” initially thought, the review report warned.
independent
“I have visited several AirCare testing centres, and Around $77 million in healthcare costs will be saved review process
I know our members are proud of the positive by AirCare’s extension, the report found. The benefits which conclud-
environmental impact of their work,” says Walker. may be hard to quantify, but more auto pollution does ed that AirCare
“Their jobs are real green jobs that drive economic mean increased rates of cancer, premature births, and is the most
growth and help limit our environmental footprint. hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. cost-effective
Around $35 million in car repairs and $21 million way of removing
in new car purchases every year can be linked to the “The bottom line is that AirCare means better air auto emissions
emissions testing program.” quality and better health for British Columbians, and from the air we
especially for Fraser Valley residents who are most
all breathe.
Metro Vancouver’s recommendation follows an affected by air quality issues,” Darryl Walker says.
independent review process which concluded that
AirCare is the most cost-effective way of removing The final decision regarding AirCare’s extension rests
auto emissions from the air we all breathe. In fact, the with the government of British Columbia. A decision
program is cheaper and more efficient than any other is due in the coming months. Victoria is unlikely to
transportation-based measure to reduce pollution, go against the unanimous recommendation issued by
the report said. AirCare catches nearly 50,000 cars Metro Vancouver – that AirCare is not only environ-
that still fail the test every year – nearly 15 per cent mentally effective, it is also revenue neutral for the
of the total. government. When that decision is finalized,
British Columbia will join other jurisdictions such as
AirCare’s environmental and health benefits will Ontario and California in extending their respective
outweigh the program costs until at least 2020, the emissions testing programs.
13BCGEU activists champion public
services and tax fairness
“Never doubt that a small group of Walker said ir-
thoughtful, committed citizens can responsible tax
change the world; indeed, it’s the only policies are the
thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead real reason why
F
the government
says there’s
amed cultural anthro-
no money for
pologist Margaret Mead
public servi-
could have been talking
ces or public
about a handful of
employees. The
BCGEU activists who’ve
number of cor-
taken on the challenge of educating
porations paying
union members, community allies BCGEU Champions of Change 2010
no income tax in
and the public in BC around public
BC is five times
services and tax fairness.
higher than when the BC Liberals them as it has for the people they’ve talked to.
took office. The number of people
These 12 BCGEU ‘Champions for Sandy Terlecki, BCGEU champion in Castlegar, said
making $100,000 - $200,000 a
Change’, along with the BCGEU she never thought about the revenue versus deficit
year, yet paying no income tax is
provincial vice-presidents, are part connection prior to the campaign: “Once I realized
eight times higher than 2001. And
of All Together Now!, a national how important revenue is in keeping public services
the number of people making over
member-to-member campaign rather than worrying about deficit, I was energized.
$200,000 a year, yet paying no
spearheaded by the National Once I realized that the taxation in our province is
income tax is three times higher.
Union of Public and General extremely unfair, I was more energized.”
Employees (NUPGE). The cam- “BC doesn’t have a spending
paign involves activists across the problem, we have a revenue The champions say the campaign has been a hit with
country talking to co-workers, problem. And we have a revenue members, and has touched a nerve.
friends, families and the public problem because we have a tax
about the need for fair tax policies fairness problem.” “Members are very supportive and encouraging,”
and to achieve greater prosperity, said Vincent Sherry, from Prince George. Kelly Mc-
opportunity and living standards After attending a three-day training Donald, from Bridge Lake, agreed: “The response has
for Canadians. session in Ottawa at the end of been positive everywhere I have made a
September, the BCGEU champions presentation.”
“This campaign is getting our mes- hit the ground running, giving
sage out that the Campbell Liberal dozens of campaign presentations Added Sharron Gardner, from Kamloops: “It’s a bit
government’s reckless economic across the province to co-workers, of an uphill battle because of the impact all the cuts
policies and deep cuts to public union meetings, labour councils, and job loss has had on the membership. But I think
services are having a profound im- seniors, young workers, commun- this is a good starting place to build solidarity and
pact on families and communities ity organizations, MPs, MLAs, begin to build a stronger union.”
across our province,” says BCGEU municipal councils, and more.
president Darryl Walker. The campaign runs through to June 2011 and will
To date, they have gathered over culminate in a series of “days of action” across the
“The Liberals want us to believe 600 signed equality pledges and country. Contact the BCGEU coordinator at:
that government spending is out of proclamations, and posted photos, carol.adams@bcgeu.ca to arrange for a free
control and it’s time to cut back. news and updates on the campaign presentation to your group from one of our 12 local
The truth is, government spending website (alltogethernow.nupge.ca), champions across British Columbia.
in our province has steadily Facebook page (ATNcampaign)
declined over the past decade and and Twitter. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40010201
BC has the smallest public RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
sector per capita of all the prov- For the champions, it’s been as 4911 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3W3
inces. There is no fat left to trim.” much a learning experience for Email: theprovincial@bcgeu.ca
14
14Shop Public
Where you shop does
make a difference
I
t doesn’t matter what time of the year it is.
If you are planning to pick up a case of beer,
a bottle of wine, or some other alcoholic
beverage, you should “shop public.”
That’s the message from Craig MacKay, the
chair of the union’s retail and warehouse component
at the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB).
“I think the public knows that the $877 million in net
revenue (2009/2010) the LDB makes goes towards
health and education in the province,” said MacKay.
“Our campaign reminds consumers of that message
so that they will be encouraged to shop at public
liquor stores.”
During peak entertaining periods of the year like B.C. Value, selection, expertise and responsibility – Staff at the Port Coquitlam
Day and Christmas, the Retail, Stores and Warehouse Signature liquor store on Westwood gather before opening for a briefing on wine
Component 5 has run ads promoting public stores. selection from an in-house wine consultant
This December, they picked up the pace with a wider
range of promotions. purchase alcoholic beverages.
“In addition to our advertizing we’ve been distributing This is borne out by an independent report done for
promotional items to the public, and we’re delighted government that shows that public stores are twice as
with the response,” says MacKay. good at checking identification for underage cus-
tomers as privately-owned liquor
“We want people to enjoy their outlets. I think the public
beverage of choice and to think knows that the
about how shopping at the LDB The RCMP are currently investi- $877 million
means that tax revenue is returned gating a currently number of in net revenue
to the public. private stores for violation of (2009/2010)
policies on ID checks. the LDB makes
“If the response to our promotions
goes towards
is any example, we are definitely “We want people to enjoy their
getting the message out. People health and
beverage of choice, but to enjoy
are making the connection about education in
it responsibly,” says Mackay. “The
why they should shop at public union has worked hard to get the the province.
stores,” said MacKay. message out about the value of the
public liquor stores.”
One of the union’s key messages
is that staff at LDB stores are More information on the union’s
responsible in ensuring that min- promotional campaign is available
ors are not able to Craig MacKay, Component 5 Chair at: www.ShopPublic.ca.
15PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40010201
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