Economic fightback

Read the full letter by CNA faculty members

NUPGE

Workers Week of Action events held across the country

dduffy — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:26:17 -0400

Workers come together to organize against Harper's harmful EI changes.

Charlottetown (29 April 2013) – A May Day rally will be held in Charlottetown in front of the Prince Edward Island legislature on May 1 at 4:30 p.m. to mark International Workers’ Day.

There will be entertainment and speakers at the May Day rally, including Debbie Bovyer, President of the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE).

EI, labour rights highlighted

The rally will address critical issues facing working people today in PEI, in Canada and around the world. Special emphasis will be put on Stephen Harper’s attack on workers with his Employment Insurance cuts. The rally is being organized by Common Causes which is an assembly of social movements dedicated to defending democracy, the environment, and human rights.

Workers Rights Week

On April 27, major demonstrations were held against the cuts to EI which kicked off events for Workers Week of Action. Common Causes invites you to take action in your community. There will be locally organized events and actions from coast to coast during the Week, including actions in front of Members of Parliament offices organized by the Canadian Labour Congress, and May Day events in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax.

NUPGE

MGEU provincial report card evaluates Budget 2013

dduffy — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:01:25 -0400

How does the Manitoba government's budget meet the needs of communities? Read the Report Card.

Winnipeg (29 April 2013) – Maintaining high-quality, effective services for all Manitobans is budget priority number one for the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE).

Pre-budget submission: Services First

In general, the MGEU/NUPGE believes the 2013 budget makes significant strides to protect services in key areas like protection of children, corrections, health care and education. These are areas of real concern outlined by our members and presented in Services First, our pre-budget submission.

However, while eight departments saw budget increases, ten saw decreases. We remain concerned that government is not ensuring sufficient resources for all government services, particularly Conservation and Water Stewardship programs.

Tax changes needed

Our brief recommended that all revenue options should be on the table. While the one per cent increase to the PST is dedicated to infrastructure, including flood protection, and expires after 10 years, the union's preference is for tax changes that emphasize fairness by asking large corporations and individuals, who have done well in the economy, to contribute a bit more.

We are alarmed that federal policies to constrain national transfer programs did not move the Province to suggest a non-partisan, cooperative approach for all Manitobans to help convince Ottawa to change their stance. The MGEU/NUPGE remains ready to help where it can.

Province "on track" to eliminate 600 jobs by 2015

The budget announced no further provincial job cuts. However, the province remains committed to the elimination of 600 positions by 2015 and boasts it is “on track”. This is a harsh reminder that Manitobans will ultimately pay the price for these cuts through declining quality of services.

Official Opposition provides little positive proposals

The official Opposition also offered some proposals with many of them echoing the policies pursued by the provincial government during the 1990s. Many do not remember that era of high case loads, jail riots, home care strikes and Filmon Fridays fondly.

Considering that the opposition's plan is only designed to replace a sales tax increase, imagine how destructive their plans to balance the whole budget would be - twice as many job losses and service cuts. Cutting services in order to balance the books by a self-imposed date is irresponsible. Job losses and further reductions to services that Manitobans depend on make no sense.

Report Card

The budget evaluation, 2013 Manitoba Budget Report Card, compares the MGEU/NUPGE recommendations from Services First to the budget priorities of the Government and the official Opposition.

NUPGE

Concerned faculty speak out against cuts to the College of the North Atlantic

dduffy — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:23:01 -0400

“We believe that this letter from concerned faculty contains a number of compelling arguments against the cuts to CNA as well as the privatization of ABE." - Carol Furlong, NAPE President.

St. John's (25 April 2013) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) has forwarded a letter to Premier Kathy Dunderdale on behalf of concerned faculty at the College of the North Atlantic (CNA).

The letter, authored by concerned CNA faculty members from across the province, outlines the group’s concerns regarding the cuts to CNA as well as the proposed privatization of the Adult Basic Education Program (ABE).

Premier must stand by statements to hear arguments

“The Premier has said on numerous occasions that she is open to reviewing budget cuts and layoffs if ‘compelling arguments’ are formally brought to her attention,” stated NAPE President Carol Furlong.

“We firmly believe that this letter from concerned faculty - employees on the front line of our public post-secondary education system - contains a number of compelling arguments against the cuts to CNA as well as the privatization of ABE. The Premier must stand by her statements and give this the same attention and consideration that was extended to the arguments made by lawyers and judges in reversing some of the budget cuts in the Justice Department.”

Serious concerns raised

The letter contains several concerns and counter arguments to government’s rationale for implementing regressive and ill-advised cuts to CNA. The faculty members also put forward the far reaching implications to our education system, our communities and the province as a whole. The letter covers a broad range of issues, such as:

concerns with the figures being espoused by government in terms of cost-per student and success rates
differences between the private and public college system
accessibility for rural and remote learners and
potential increased costs to government and students.

Government must review cuts and layoffs.

NAPE/NUPGE is renewing its call for the government to conduct reviews of the cuts in departments and agencies, including CNA, that were affected by budget cuts and layoffs. The union is also calling on the government to suspend all remaining layoffs until these reviews are complete.

More information:

NUPGE

Cutting fire tower staff poses risk to public

dduffy — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:35:21 -0400

“Public safety is at risk if wildfire detection services are turned over to an automated system that has not been proven to work effectively in any other Canadian jurisdiction." - Bob Bymoen, SGEU President.

Regina (25 April 2013) – Protecting the public from the dangers of wildfires is most effectively done through human surveillance, and Saskatchewan’s current system is safe and sustainable, despite government plans to replace people with cameras, according to SGEU/NUPGE.

Public safety concerns with job eliminations

“Public safety is at risk if wildfire detection services are turned over to an automated system that has not been proven to work effectively in any other Canadian jurisdiction. Human surveillance should continue to be a key strategy in our province’s wildfire detection and prevention program,” says Bob Bymoen, President of the Saskachewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).

Trained, experienced staff ensure safety of communities

“Staff who work as fire tower observers are trained, experienced professionals who have a long record of providing high-quality service to the Saskatchewan public. Most fire tower observers live in the areas where they work, and have a solid commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities,” Bymoen added.

As well as spotting fires, tower staff provide an important communications link between ground crews battling fires and base headquarters. Positioned in the fire zones, they ensure radio contact between the frontlines and those who make decisions and manage resources. Without fire tower observers, wildfire containment will be more difficult and more dangerous.

Wall government plan to cut jobs

Thirty-eight positions will be lost due to automation, mainly in northern communities. Ministries across government have been under pressure to cut public service jobs as a result of a plan launched in 2010 to cut 15 per cent of the government workforce over four years.

The Wall government has cited cost-savings and health and safety concerns for the elimination of jobs. SGEU/NUPGE says that workers are protected by strong safety guidelines and procedures.

“Is the Ministry of the Environment eliminating fire tower staff in order to meet their annual quota of job cuts?” asked Bymoen. “Does this have more to do with downsizing than with concerns about worker safety?”

No proof automated system better than humans

“In the absence of strong evidence to support the elimination of human surveillance in favour of an automated system, we urge government to reconsider this decision and keep trained fire tower staff on the job, protecting our forests and our communities,” says Bymoen.

NUPGE

OPSEU rejects business plan to privatize public services

dduffy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:36:23 -0400

“Privatization does not work, no matter what you call it. The public pays more for lower quality services. Just think Ornge, gas plants, e-Health, Highway 407 – and now, chemo drugs.”

Toronto (24 April 2013) – The President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has dismissed a new business plan to privatize public services, The plan would include health and education, seen another attempt to repeat what has been a costly failure for the Ontarians.

Chamber lobbies for privatization of public services

“The plan puts new words to old ideas,” Warren (Smokey) Thomas said of the paper released by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Certified General Accountants of Ontario.

“Privatization does not work, no matter what you call it. The public pays more for lower quality services. Just think Ornge, gas plants, e-Health, Highway 407 – and now, chemo drugs.”

The Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in bringing about corporate tax cuts that are costing the public $1.5 billion a year. Now, they’re using that lost government revenue to fuel their argument that government cannot afford quality public services.

“These people believe there’s nothing that can't be run by business,” Thomas said.

Growing income inequality furthered by privatization

Ontario’s biggest problem is growing inequality. One of the greatest levelers of inequality is a comprehensive system of quality public services that people can count on.

The Chamber’s plan is to set up yet another transfer of wealth from the public to private business, said Thomas. “Their plan will destroy quality public services, increase inequality, and cost the Ontario public more for less,” said Thomas. “Those are the facts.”

The Chamber’s report says the goal is to “kick-start a conversation among Ontarians about the future of government in the province.” That’s very telling, said Thomas.

“For whatever differences we may have with government and senior bureaucrats, the public is most certainly better off with them than with businesses that want a sell-off of quality public services. They are motivated by the size of investment return they can get in the next quarter and see as impediments those who govern for public good.”

NUPGE

The ATN Campaigner is coming to you!

dduffy — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:07:16 -0400

Income inequality activists never sleep. Check out the ATN Campaigner to find out the great work going on across the country.

Ottawa (22 April 2013) – Wondering what's new in the All Together Now! campaign? Well, check your mail or in-box because it's coming straight to you.

Who's in the spotlight?

In the Spring edition of the ATN Campaigner, you'll get to know Anne Davis, one of our amazing ATN activists. She is a true leader who shares her expertise and knowledge on issues affecting women's economic equality every day.

Townhalls and more

You will also find out more about what happened in Sudbury, Ontario when over 2500 union members joined a townhall meeting, in person and by telephone, to talk about tax fairness, good jobs and quality public services. You'll also read more about the Women 4 Change component of the ATN campaign which looks at how the economy affects women differently.

There's also a story about tax havens and what Canadians for Tax Fairness are doing to expose them.

Follow the campaign on social media

Don't forget, if you haven't followed the campaign online, you can subscribe to the ATN Facebook page or if you like tweets, head over to Twitter and follow us @ATNcampaign.

NUPGE

There cannot be any bystanders - James Clancy interview with Straight Goods

dduffy — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:44:35 -0400

In a wide-ranging interview Clancy laid out the systematic attack that conservatives have waged against unions since 1980 and how these attacks have driven down the wages and well-being of working people.

Ottawa (18 April 2013) – On April 9, Ish Theilheimer, founder and president of Straight Goods News and publisher of the leading, and oldest, independent Canadian online news magazine, StraightGoods.ca, interviewed James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) about the union's on-going work on the issue of income inequality in Canada.

In March, the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights released a report called Why Unions Matter, at a Toronto conference sponsored by NUPGE, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada, and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF). The report documents a divergence in those years between Canadian union coverage and income inequality, with inequality rising as the rate of unionization has fallen.

In a wide-ranging interview, transcribed by SGNews intern Zachary Rankin, Clancy laid out the systematic attack that conservatives have waged against unions since 1980 and how these attacks have driven down the wages and well-being of working people.

You can find the full transcript of SGNews' interview with James Clancy here.

More information:

Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights: Unions Matter

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/143228172522876/?fref=ts

NUPGE

National Union condemns cutting of Health Council

dduffy — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:11:18 -0400

"The money is there to continue funding the Health Accord. This is more about the Harper government's right wing ideology than cost cutting." NUPGE President James Clancy.

Ottawa (17 April 2013) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is condemning the decision of the Harper government to stop funding the Health Council of Canada.

The Health Council was created in 2004 as an independent voice to inform and strengthen our health system and to report on the renewal of Canada's health system, focusing on best practices and innovation. One of its mandates upon creation, following the Romanow Commission, was to monitor the 10 year Health Accord.

The Conservative government claims that since the Health Accord expires in 2014 there is no longer a need for the Council's work.

Total savings through the cuts are estimated at $6 million annually, with there being enough funds available for the Council to continue operating until the end of March 2014.

NUPGE President James Clancy says that "closing the Health Council signals that the federal government intends to back away from requiring provinces to meet national standards.

"Obviously they have no intention of negotiating a new Health Accord and this government is content to let our public medicare system fragment into provincial pieces. Where you live will determine what kind of health care you can get."

Clancy also sees the coordinating role of the Council as being a valuable one that will be lost.

"Poll after poll shows Canadians consider Medicare one of the highest priorities. Canadians want governments to be working together to ensure their health care remains publicly administered and accessible wherever and whenever they need it," he said. "Now is not the time to be backing away from federal, provincial and territorial collaboration and discussion for a system that requires maintenance and investment

Trouble has been brewing over the last year though as Haprer and his ministers refused to sit down to discuss the Health Accord with provincial and territorial representatives. Instead, the Conservatives announced a final offer of funding without debate or room for negotiation.

This approach is not surprising to many, since under the Harper regime the country has seen cut after cut to services and departments which work on issues of importance to Canadians. The Kitsilano Coast Guard Station, Department of Fisheries, Passport office, Environment Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, Veterans Affairs, the National Research Council, Access to Information and Service Canada are just a few examples of departments which have had budgets slashed or offices closed.

"The money is there to continue funding the Health Accord. This is more about the Harper government's right wing ideology than cost cutting."

NUPGE

President's Commentary: The outrage that is outsourcing

dduffy — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:53:49 -0400

This one small story illustrates the larger danger of greed unchecked. All of our jobs and all of our communities are vulnerable to outsourcing and its cousin, privatization. These strategies might boost profits, but at a terrible cost.

Ottawa (10 April 2013) – Massive stories sometimes start small - a simple break-and-enter in 1972 eventually led to the downfall of the world’s most powerful politician - and a small story that broke this past weekend here in Canada is building momentum and has the potential to become huge. Is this a watergate for our business leaders? I hope so.

It started when the CBC reported that a multinational outsourcing company called iGate used the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program to bring a worker into Canada as part of a contract it has with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). This particular worker was allowed into the country to be trained in the processes of the bank’s “investor services” department by the very people whose work is about to be outsourced. Forty-five RBC workers will lose their jobs in the process.

The numbers may be small - it’s just one temporary foreign worker of the tens of thousands brought into Canada every month, and just 45 of hundreds of thousands of middle-class Canadians who’ve lost their jobs to outsourcing over the past decade - but the story has shone a glaring light on the practice of outsourcing, the unabashed greed that underlies it, and the damage that it is doing to us all.

Across the country, people are outraged by this story. RBC is the most profitable of Canadian banks, one of the most stable and successful corporations in the world, and yet its leaders believe they’re perfectly justified in fundamentally disrupting the lives of a couple dozen of their employees in the pursuit of a sliver more in short-term profit.

Outsourcing is often sold as a necessary business tactic in an ever-more competitive global economy; that Canadian companies risk outright bankruptcy if they’re not able to use cheap labour offshore. For some companies, this might be a credible argument. But RBC is hardly a company fighting for its life. As RBC CEO Gord Nixon said while presenting the company’s annual report last year, “2012 was a record year – our annual profit was the largest not only for RBC, but also for any Canadian company … ever.”

A few more quick stats show just how well-fed this bank is:

it made more than $2 billion in profits in the first three months of 2013;
it paid CEO Nixon more than $12 million last year - and another $27 million to his top four VPs; and
its total tax burden has dropped from 32.9 per cent in 2010 to 28.9 per cent in 2012.

And yet despite these clear signs of near-bullet-proof stability and health, RBC’s leaders have hired an aggressive offshore company specializing in cheap labour (one of whose slogans is “It’s criminal to pay for time and materials”) in order to squeeze more profit from its largely Canadian business. What’s worse is that the extra profits they’ll realize from outsourcing the work done by these 45 workers will be minuscule - considering that RBC employs 57,000 Canadians, will saving a few tens of thousands of dollars even register on their financials?

No, there’s something larger at play here. RBC’s leaders have shown us the consequences of living in a society that celebrates unmitigated greed. We've arrived here after more than 30 years of assurances from our political leaders that greed is a virtue and that our only responsibility in life is to our own self-gratification, and the RBC 45 are just the latest of many whose lives have been crushed under this dangerous and corrosive dogma.

Turning the tide on the dogma of greed will not be easy nor quick. But we have an opportunity now to start. Each of us must stand up against corporations and politicians driven only by greed. We yearn instead for more from our leaders: more responsibility, more community-mindedness, and more engagement with the lives of the people who contribute to their own success.

We can send a message that our corporate and government leaders won’t be able to ignore.

In solidarity,

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

James Clancy is the National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

Reconsider budget cuts, NAPE tells Dunderdale

dduffy — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:09:15 -0400

“It is clear that the government was forced to act due to the public outcry on the impact of the cuts and that they are also second guessing themselves." - Carol Furlong, NAPE President.

St. John's (11 April 2013) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is calling on the Dunderdale government to conduct a full review of all cuts in the recent provincial budget following Minister Darin King’s announcement that cuts to the Department of Justice would be reviewed.

“Only days after asking the public and public employees to ‘wait and see’ what the impact of cuts on the justice system would be, Minister Darin King announced that a panel would be put in place to review the cuts to his department,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong. “While we welcome the review for the justice system, this process calls into question the entire decision making process regarding the cuts and layoffs elsewhere in the public service. We believe that this issue is systemic across all budgetary cuts – that little to no proper consultation and review was done prior to the axe coming down.

“It is clear that the government was forced to act due to the public outcry on the impact of the cuts and that they are also second guessing themselves,” stated Furlong. “Whatever the motivation, the government should be worried about the negative impact that these cuts are going to have on the people of this province, not only in the justice system, but across all departments and agencies.”

Now that the government is reviewing, with the possibility of reversing, the Justice Department cuts, NAPE/NUPGE is calling on the provincial government to expand the review process to include other departments and groups that were affected by budget cuts and layoffs. The union is also calling on the government to suspend all remaining layoffs until these reviews are complete.

NUPGE

NAPE supports Canadian Federation of Students protests

dduffy — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:02:57 -0400

Join the protest against cuts to programs at the College of the North Atlantic.

St. John's (10 April 2013) – Demonstrations are being held across Newfoundland and Labrador today to protest the cuts to the College of the North Atlantic (CNA). Organized by the Canadian Federation of Students, these events are supported by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE).

NAPE/NUPGE has been working closely with the CFS for several days, after plans were revealed to make cuts to programs and funding at the CNA, including a specific plan to privatize the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program. The government announced in its budget that a comprehensive review of the College would take place in 2014 but then CNA job and program cuts were announced.

The demonstrations will take place on campuses across the province at noon on April 10. Click here for a full list of locations.

All NAPE/NUPGE members are encouragde to attend these demonstrations to show support for the students and workers affected at the College.

More information:

NUPGE

Federal spending cuts disproportionately focused on services: analysis

dduffy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:12:20 -0400

28,700 federal public service jobs to be cut by 2016

Ottawa (09 April 2013) – Despite assurances by the federal government that spending cuts would target the “back office” and avoid cuts to services, a new analysis by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) finds spending cuts have disproportionately focused on service delivery.

The analysis, by CCPA senior economist David Macdonald, examines over 180 departmental Reports on Plans and Priorities in order to estimate employment cuts down to the program level and determine where federal spending cuts hit the hardest.

“Cuts within large federal departments are not coming from the ‘back office.’ Instead, most of the job cuts in big departments are coming from programs that deliver services to Canadians,” says Macdonald.

According to the analysis, the total number of federal public service jobs cut over the entire austerity period, from March 2012 to March 2016, will be 28,700. By 2016, the total number of people working for the federal government will have fallen by eight per cent, almost double the 4.8 per cent figure reported in Budget 2012.

“Human Resources and Skills Development Canada will experience the largest loss of positions, totaling over 5,700 by 2016. While HRSDC is a large department, this cut will reduce the department’s workforce by 24 per cent,” says Macdonald. “At the program level, the Social Development program supporting homelessness initiatives will suffer a 62% cut to its staff.”

While National Defence and the Canada Revenue Agency are scheduled to cut 3,577 and 2,491 positions respectively, the proportional impact of those cuts represent a relatively smaller four per cent and six per cent drop, respectively.

Proportionally, Statistics Canada will be the hardest hit of the larger federal departments and lose over one-third (35 per cent) of their staff. Veterans Affairs is scheduled to eliminate almost one-quarter of its staff (24 per cent). Both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada will lose one in five of their employees.

“Veterans Affairs will be cutting a third of the staff to the program that supports disability, death, and financial benefits for veterans and 20 per cent of the staff to Veterans Health Care,” says Macdonald.

“It is only after four austerity budgets that there are finally some answers about what services departments are going to cut. Unfortunately, those answers come far too late to decide whether cutting staffing for veterans health care, for instance, is worth doing in order to balance the budget a year or two early.”

More information:

The Fog Finally Clears: The Job and Services Impact of Federal Austerity

NUPGE

Sheriffs laid off in St. John's, remaining already asked to work overtime

dduffy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:35:14 -0400

“This is astounding,” stated Furlong. “The layoffs aren’t even fully in effect yet and already the system can’t handle the mess created by government’s layoff fiasco.”

St. John's (08 April 2013) – Only a few short days after layoff notices were issued, court workers are already being asked to work overtime to cover shortfalls.

According to Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE), an email was sent to Sheriffs asking for volunteers to work weekend overtime.

“This is astounding,” stated Furlong. “The layoffs aren’t even fully in effect yet and already the system can’t handle the mess created by government’s layoff fiasco.”

Twenty of the 40 active sheriffs in St. John’s have received notice of layoff, with fourteen layoffs being effective by April 5, and the remaining six slated for layoff by April 26.

Furlong continued, “This is a clear indication that government’s approach to these layoffs is completely irrational and dysfunctional. Employees are sitting at home with no work while others are being called in at overtime rates. This goes beyond ludicrous.”

“We expect to see more and more examples of similar incompetence as the layoffs take effect,” concluded Furlong.

NUPGE

Cuts to College of the North Atlantic get a failing grade

dduffy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:30:27 -0400

“Privatizing the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program at CNA may be the first sign of privatizing our public education system,” warns NAPE President Carol Furlong.

St. John's (09 April 2013) – The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) says program cuts at the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) could have far reaching implications.

“Privatizing the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program at CNA may be the first sign of privatizing our public education system,” warns NAPE President Carol Furlong.

“Government isn’t simply eliminating the ABE program. It appears they are tendering it out to private industry. This may very well be the beginning of the end of our public college system,” Furlong said.

“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have good reason to be concerned. This action by government causes our union considerable worry and speculation. If government is successful in shifting this program entirely to the private, for-profit system, it sends a message that other CNA programs may be privatized in the future. The College of the North Atlantic, a world class educational institution, could be in jeopardy.”

According to Furlong, the budget speech included funding cuts to CNA, however, the budget speech also announced that there would be a comprehensive review of the College of the North Atlantic in 2014. “We anticipated this review would allow for a process of consultation with stakeholders in the coming year. We were surprised when only hours after the budget was delivered, layoffs and program cuts were announced at the College,” said Furlong.

These cuts could also have a negative financial impact on students. Although the tuition fee freeze will continue at the province’s public post-secondary institutions, it does not apply to the private college system. This could mean higher fees for students and their families at the private colleges which traditionally have much higher fee structures. Additionally, the government could end up paying substantially more to support students in the private system. It should also be noted that CNA has a presence throughout the province and accessibility to programs now being cut may be hindered for students in rural areas of the province.

“Each day since the budget was announced we have become aware of more program cuts,” said Furlong. “This is a far greater issue than privatizing ABE alone. This may very well be about the future survival of our public college system.”

NUPGE

Federal finance committee to hold hearings on income inequality

dduffy — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:00:14 -0400

Four days of Parliamentary hearings will examine the issue of income inequality.

Ottawa (08 April 2013) – After almost a year since the motion was passed, Parliament's finance committee will finally hold meetings to discuss the issue of rising income inequality in Canada.

The motion was first put forward by former Conservative and now Liberal Member of Parliament, Scott Brison.

Witnesses will appear on April 16, April 25 and April 30. The committee will meet again in June to debate a draft of the final report.

"It's great to see Parliamentarians finally taking a look at this issue," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Our union has been working on income inequality issues for years and we're pleased to see that an all-party committee of the House of Commons has taken notice."

"Unfortunately, four days is a short period of time to investigate such a serious problem and the profound implications it has for our eocnomy, society, environment and democracy. We encourage the Committee to look at how strong labour rights, a modern industrial strategy, tax fairness and quality public services can help reduce income inequality."

"And I reiterate my call that the Finance Committee recommend that the government adopt a Fairness Test for all future budgets," said Clancy. "A Fairness Test would evaluate the impact of major tax and spending measures in a budget and tell us whether the budget will reduce income inequality or make the problem worse."

Last month, before the federal budget, the Parliamentary finance committee also held hearings on the issue of tax havens. The federal budget included language saying the federal government would begin to close loopholes in the tax system which allows people to move money offshore without paying their share of taxes.

Few details were announced in the budget but the government may be finding more support for the cause with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' massive release of leaked documents relating to worldwide offshore accounts.

NUPGE

Increased revenue measures in NB budget will allow for everyone to pay their fair share

dduffy — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:49:22 -0400

“We believe that in this time of economic recovery, we all have a role to play and the burden should not rest solely on the public sector." - Susie Proulx-Daigle, NB Union President.

Fredericton (05 April 2013) – The New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE) commends the provincial government on its corporate tax and personal income tax measures which were introduced in the 2013-2014 budget and strongly urges the government to re-invest in public services.

“We believe that in this time of economic recovery, we all have a role to play and the burden should not rest solely on the public sector,” said NB Union President, Susie Proulx-Daigle. “The New Brunswick Union believes this progressive tax system works towards narrowing the gap and allows for everyone to pay their fair share.”

“The cuts in revenue generation over the last few years have greatly impacted many of the public services that our members work hard to provide and we are glad to see that the government has recognized that we cannot cut our way into prosperity."

NUPGE

OPSEU provides TV support for Kingston P3 plebiscite campaign

dduffy — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:13:14 -0400

Kingston (04 April 2013) – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is supporting the Kingston community plebiscite campaign by sponsoring a new television commercial to air over the next two weeks on CKWS-TV.

Produced with the Kingston Health Coalition, the commercial urges community members to vote April 13 on whether or not they want the proposed new psychiatric/rehabilitation hospital to remain fully public.

Ontario is using the controversial public-private partnership (P3) model to replace the aging St. Mary’s Of The Lake and Providence Care hospitals. The P3 configuration means the hospital will be designed, built, financed and maintained for 30 years by a private for-profit consortium.

“At a time when the government is telling us they have no money we can’t understand why the Wynne government would want to proceed with a far more expensive method of replacing these hospitals,” says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President, representing 130,000 members across the province.

When the Auditor General of Ontario looked at Brampton’s William Osler Health Centre privatization in 2008, he concluded that the higher rate of interest paid by the private sector added about $200 million to the cost of the project. He also noted that $28 million in transaction costs were added as a result of using the P3 method. Both of these issues would be factors in the decision to build the new Kingston hospital.

OPSEU/NUPGE has also done the only study of its kind in Canada looking at the impact of P3s on the day-to-day functioning of a public hospital. Examining the Royal Ottawa Health Centre a year after it opened as a P3, the union reports noted additional costs to clinical budgets and frustration among workers who have little control over their physical environment.

NUPGE

Community Living Greater Sudbury strike deadline set for April 7

dduffy — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:41:12 -0400

“This is a quality services issue, but it’s also about quality of life. ” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “More than two thirds of the CLGS workforce is part-time or casual. The frontline staff should be able to afford to work there.”

Sudbury (03 April 2013) – More than 230 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) employed at Community Living Greater Sudbury (CLGS) could be in a legal strike position as soon as midnight on April 7. Mediation has been scheduled for April 2.

The union is calling for a commitment to progressive reduction of part-time and casual jobs. Only 50 staff are currently full-time, while the rest struggle with part-time and casual work.

Another key issue at the table is the scheduling of shifts, which are frequently long and unpredictable to compensate for an inadequate number of relief staff.

“Frontline staff are dedicated to our work and our clients, but there need to be some improvements in shifts and hours for us to be able to do our jobs well,” said June St. Germain, Chair of the bargaining team.

A majority of these workers are female and work part-time. There is no pension plan, 80 per cent of employees are without benefits and there has been no acceptable wage increase since 2008.

So far the employer has demonstrated little willingness to bargain a fair and just contract and expect staff to wait another two years before considering a wage hike. This would amount to a 15-cent an hour wage increase over six years which the employees are not willing to accept.

NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

Enthusiastic speakers and participation at labour rights conference

dduffy — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:36:25 -0400

"Unions are about fairness: workplace fairness; economic fairness; opportunity fairness; political fairness; and democratic fairness. Unions promote fairness, not just for their members, but for all Canadians.” - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Toronto (28 March 2013) – An international conference on labour rights issues has come to a successful conclusion. It succeeded in providing a solid base of knowledge about the critical role that labour and unions play in reducing income inequality, advancing democracy, and promoting the well-being of all Canadians.

The conference, "Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice", was organized by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).

Participants heard from a number of enthusiastic speakers on the final day and left the conference feeling energized and committed to building a broad-based progressive coalition in support of the shared values of Canadians and the labour movement.

Panel #1 Who owns Charter values? How the labour movement can use Charter values as part of a popular mobilization strategy

Eric Tucker, Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School

“It’s not enough for unions to focus on immediate challenges in front of them. Those challenges are important. But it’s critical that unions connect those challenges to a larger vision of the kind of society they want and the fundamental values they want entrenched in the larger society. When unions campaign to change the larger cultural context it will become easier to meet the immediate specific challenges they face.”

Fay Faraday, Founder of Faraday Law and inaugural McMurtry Visiting Fellow at Osgoode Hall Law School

“The Charter is meant to be a living document. Should its meaning be handed over solely to the courts for definition? I think the answer is no. The Charter is too important to leave its meaning up to the courts. The Charter belongs to Canadians and they should control the meaning of the Charter and fundamental freedoms and values.”

Panel #2 Reframing the debate: Knowledge, truth and values

James Clancy, National President, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

“We need to boldly assert a values-based narrative about the critical role unions play in making life better for all Canadians. The key value of that narrative is fairness. At their core, unions are about fairness: workplace fairness; economic fairness; opportunity fairness; political fairness; and democratic fairness. Unions promote fairness, not just for their members, but for all Canadians.”

Anouk Collet, National Representative, UFCW Canada

“The erosion of labour rights should be troublesome for all Canadians because declining unionization rates have been accompanied by a rise in income inequality over the same period.

It’s critical that we reverse this damaging trend. The more labour rights are under attack in Canada the harder it will be to reduce income inequality. That’s why it’s important for all of us, regardless of whether we are trade unionists or not, to focus on labour rights as human rights.”

Panel #3 Building a broad-based popular movement based on the assertion that ‘Unions Matter’ to all Canadians

Wayne Hanley, National President, UFCW Canada

“Canadians want to build a fairer and more equitable and prosperous country. A vibrant and diverse union movement is critical to making this a reality and laying a strong foundation for the next generation. Unions must ramp up their efforts to engage and mobilize their members and non-union workers around shared values and build a broad-based progressive coalition.”

Elisabeth Ballermann, President, Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE)

“It’s essential that we go member-to-member, workplace-to-workplace, community-to-community and start conversations about why unions matter to all Canadians. That’s how we will tackle growing unfairness in Canada and improve the quality of life of all Canadians.”

Guest Speaker: Why unions matter

Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress

"Fairness is a basic Canadian value and we will promote it in every corner of our country. The gains that union members make at the bargaining table spill over into creating healthier and more prosperous communities for everyone. Union members can be good ambassadors in a campaign for greater fairness for all Canadians. We are going to have conversations with our members in the workplace and on the shop floor. We will also ask them to reach out to their families, friends and neighbours in the fight for fairness."

More information:

Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights

NUPGE

Panelists discuss labour rights, democracy, equality and social justice

dduffy — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:09:53 -0400

Vast knowledge shared with conference participants on second day of Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights conference.

Toronto (28 March 2013) – On the second day of an international labour rights conference, participants heard from a number of experts who spoke about the links between labour rights, democracy, equality and social justice.

Panel #1 Income inequality, unions and the retrenchment of labour law

Income Inequality in Canada – History and trends
Armine Yalnizyn, Senior Associate, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

“Income inequality in Canada is much higher today than it was a generation ago. Canada is also experiencing greater inter-generational inequality. And there is more inter-regional income inequality in Canada. These trends can be reversed with strong labour rights, progressive taxation and quality public services.”

The impact of unions and union density on income inequality
Lars Osberg, Professor of Economics, Dalhousie University

“Higher unionization rates are associated with greater income inequality. Unions help raise wages and benefits for all workers. They fight for better minimum wages, unemployment insurance benefits, full employment and quality public services – all of which reduce income inequality.”

Labour law and the new inequality
Michael Lynk, Professor of Law, University of Western Ontario

“The strength of labour laws influences union density rates. Since 1982, more than 200 labour laws have been passed which restricted, suspended or eliminated labour rights. As labour rights have been attacked, income inequality has increased.”

Panel #2 The role of unions in promoting democracy, economic equality and social rights

Keeping democracy strong
Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association

“Unions make an important contribution to democracy …as actors of democracy …by promoting the moral values and ideals of democracy … and by using techniques of democracy such as social protest. These contributions are part of the union heritage and going forward unions need to build a bigger tent, build more alliances, in order to continue improving the quality of our democracy.’

Advancing human rights in the workplace and social rights for all
Paul Champ, Senior Partner, Champ and Associates

“Labour rights are human rights. Unions fought for strong labour rights. They used these labour rights to fight for human rights in workplaces (like equality and protection from discrimination) through collective bargaining and grievances. Then they fought to win these human rights in legislation for all workers. When labour rights are weakened, then unions have less ability to fight for human rights for all workers”

Assisting Vulnerable Workers
Naveen Mehta, General Counsel, UFCW Canada

“Unions have played a critical role in assisting and protecting vulnerable workers both in their workplaces and in broader society. This has made the labour movement stronger, more diverse and inclusive. Unions need to continue protecting vulnerable workers and increasing social and economic equality for all workers.”

Panel 3 Constitutional protection of labour rights as they relate to the Charter’s Freedom of Association and Equality Rights sections

The right to organize and collective bargaining

Paul Cavalluzzo, Senior Partner, Cavalluzzo Shilton McIntyre Cornish LLB

"Freedom of association is the most important of all freedoms. It is about equalizing power so that workers can engage in our democracy at an even level with employers and corporations.”

The right to strike

Steve Barrett, Managing Partner, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP

“If the Supreme Court of Canada is serious in adopting the principle that freedom of association protects the capacity of workers to come together to advance their common interests through a process of meaningful collective bargaining, then it must follow that the right to strike receive constitutional protection.”

Equality rights

Fay Faraday, Founder of Faraday Law and inaugural McMurtry Visiting Fellow at Osgoode Hall Law School

“No worker is inherently vulnerable. Workers are made vulnerable by laws that facilitate relationships of inequality and laws that fail to address exploitation. We need to name both how that inequality is constructed and who benefits from it.”

Guest Speaker: Freedom of Association: An International context

John Hendy, QC, President, International Centre for Trade Union Rights

“The right to strike is necessary to support collective bargaining. Without the right to strike, collective bargaining is no more than collective begging.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

CFLR releases new report

dduffy — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:40:27 -0400

Paper connects regressive labour laws to rising income inequality.

Toronto (27 March 2013) - The Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) released a new research report today which shows that regressive labour laws in Canada have reduced unionization rates which in turn has led to increasing income inequality.

"There is a clear divergence over the years between Canadian union coverage and income inequality," the paper argues.

"At the same time there is extensive research literature that suggests there are significant social and economic benefits for countries with strong labour rights. Income inequality is less extreme,civic engagement is higher, there are more extensive social programs such as health care and pension plans, and the incidence of poverty is significantly smaller."

"Thus, to reduce income inequality, enhance democracy, and improve the quality of life of all Canadians, the federal and provincial governments should be encouraged to strengthen labour rights across the country."

The research report called "Unions Matter" was released at an international conference in Toronto where more than 160 people are gathering to discuss the critical role labour rights and unions play in reducing income inequality, advancing democracy and promoting the social well-being of all Canadians.

The three-day conference, "Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice," is organized by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada), and the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF).

More information:

Unions Matter

NUPGE

International conference on labour rights underway in Toronto

dduffy — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:05:52 -0400

Richard Wilkinson, one of the world’s preeminent researchers on income inequality, delivers keynote speech.

Toronto (27 March 2013) – More than 160 people are gathering in Toronto this week to discuss the critical role labour rights and unions play in reducing income inequality, advancing democracy, and promoting the social well-being of all Canadians.

The three-day conference, "Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice," is organized by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).

The conference got underway on Tuesday night with an engaging keynote speech by acclaimed U.K. author and social epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at University of Nottingham, Honorary Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and Visiting Professor at University of York. He is the co-author of the award-winning book, The Spirit Level.

Wilkinson presented research which shows that income inequality is a serious and growing problem in Canada and around the world. As societies become more unequal, there are a range of economic, social, health and political problems that get a lot worse, according to the statistical evidence presented by Wilkinson.

The effects of large income inequality show up in poorer economic performance, more social divisions, increased environmental damage, weaker democracy, lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, more cases of mental illness and addiction and lower math and literacy scores.

Wilkinson’s research also shows that the negative consequences of income inequality are not confined to the poor but extend to all social classes.

“Income inequality is a general social pollutant that affects everyone in the society,” said Wilkinson. “On the flip-side, everyone in society benefits from greater equality.”

Wilkinson highlighted a number of causes and solutions for income inequality, including improving social programs and making taxation progressive again. He emphasized that stronger trade unions are an essential remedy for the problem of growing income inequality.

“Strong labour laws and higher unionization rates reduce income inequality by raising wages for all workers and ensuring more workers receive a higher proportion of national income,” said Wilkinson. “Countries with higher union density are more equal and social, economic and environmental sustainability depends on greater equality.

“Strong unions are also important because they provide a voice in the media, they represent the 99%, and raise issues like income inequality,” added Wilkinson.

L to R: Wayne Hanely (National President UFCW Canada), Richard Wilkinson (author, professor, social epidemiologist), Paul Taillefer (President Canadian Teachers' Federation), James Clancy (National President NUPGE Canada).

Other speakers at the conference will include Canadian and international human rights advocates, labour leaders, progressive labour relations academics, and labour lawyers recognized for their work on issues related to the conference.

“Income inequality is the canary in the coal mine,” said James Clancy, NUPGE National President and CFLR board member. “The evidence presented by Richard Wilkinson shows that the income inequality gap is the most powerful indicator of how well an economy, society and democracy will perform. The link between unionization rates and income inequality is clear. We encourage the federal and provincial governments to strengthen labour rights as an important way to reduce income inequality.”

Richard Wilkinson (1st row, second from left) and David Barsamian from Alternative Radio (1st row, first from right) also spoke at the NUPGE National Executive Board meeting earlier on Tuesday.

More information:

Doing Learning Earning - Enhanced Apprenticeship Key to solving Canada's skills crisis

Director Bruce McDonald challenges Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak over dues evasion plans

dduffy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:29:51 -0400

“Maybe younger people coming up don’t understand the history of how things got to be so good here in Ontario,” said McDonald. “If it’s going to continue to be good, I think there’s still a fight to be had.”

Toronto (26 March 2013) – Award-winning Canadian film and television director Bruce McDonald is sending a message to Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak about that party’s plans for the province’s unions.

McDonald’s latest short film, a comedy called No Free Ride, takes issue with a PC proposal to allow workers in union shops to receive the benefits of collective bargaining without paying dues.

The film was developed and funded by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) as a way to educate union members about Hudak’s proposal, said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

“Most Ontarians reject the kind of extremism we’re seeing with Hudak as Tory leader, but my great concern is that voters may not be fully aware of the policies he has been proposing,” said Thomas. “No Free Ride is meant to inform union members about a matter that directly affects them and their families.”

The message of No Free Ride is a moral one, Thomas said.

“For the life of me I can’t figure out why a guy like Tim Hudak, who calls himself a conservative, would propose a law that allows anyone to get something for nothing,” he said. “It just shows you how far the PCs have strayed from their real roots.”

No Free Ride features performances from ACTRA members Sean Baek, Aaron Abrams, and Hannah Cheesman. It is available online at www.nofreeride.ca.

NUPGE

Summit tackles growing unfairness in Canada: Unions are part of solution

dduffy — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:49:59 -0400

The gains that union members make at the bargaining table spill over into creating healthier and more prosperous communities for everyone.”

Toronto (25 March 2013) – More than 350 labour leaders met for a one-day summit on March 22 in Toronto to talk about how their members can advocate for greater fairness for all Canadians.

“We met to reaffirm our resolve that all Canadian workers have the right to share in the benefits of their hard labour,” said Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “The message is that people have to be fairly compensated for their labour and that legislative rights must be protected and enhanced,” Georgetti said. “Fairness is a basic Canadian value. It is a right, not a privilege and we will promote it in every corner of our country.”

Georgetti said that labour leaders are alarmed at the extent to which governments are undercutting the wages and security of Canadians. He points to decisions by Ottawa to provide big tax breaks to corporations while cutting back on front line public services, raising the retirement age from 65 to 67, reducing access to Employment Insurance and interfering with collective bargaining. “Governments and some corporations want to reward the greedy and exclude the needy,” Georgetti stated.

“The recent budget allows the tax breaks and cuts to public services to continue, but does nothing to improve access by the unemployed to EI benefits,” Georgetti says.

Georgetti says that workers and their unions are well placed to be part of the solution to the problem of growing unfairness. “We helped to win things like health care, unemployment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. We have helped to raise the standard of living and to build a large middle class in Canada by negotiating fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for millions of Canadians.”

Georgetti says that this “union advantage” is worth a cumulative $793 million per week that is added to the Canadian economy.

He adds that both the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development say that access to broadly-based collective bargaining is the only way to build a healthy middle class in a country. “The gains that union members make at the bargaining table spill over into creating healthier and more prosperous communities for everyone.”

Georgetti says that union members can be good ambassadors in a campaign for greater fairness for all Canadians. “We are going to have conversations with our members in the workplace and on the shop floor. We will also ask them to reach out to their families, friends and neighbours.”

Following the Summit, the CLC welcomed 1,400 delegates to a conference featuring workshops focused on organizing and communications to equip union members to engage in the public debate at every level.The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), a CLC affiliate, participated with a delegation of leaders and activists from across the country.

NUPGE

Federal budget puts short-term political interest ahead of long-term public interest

dduffy — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:33:21 -0400

“Our economy is being held back because the Prime Minister refuses to work with all major stakeholders to develop a comprehensive national skills development strategy." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (21 March 2013) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is concerned that the federal government is missing an opportunity to respond to Canada's underlying economic problems by continuing its hands-off, short-term approach in its 2013 budget.

“The impact of the drop in oil prices should be a warning to the federal government that just exporting more raw materials is not enough. This budget could have been the start of a long-term, active approach to building a balanced economy,” said James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

NUPGE argues that a first step in a long-term strategy to deal with Canada's economic problems should be broad-based consultations with key stakeholders from labour, business, government, educational institutions and research institutes.

“These stakeholders could work together on a framework to improve the long-term prospects for Canada's economy,” said Clancy. “The framework should recognize that people and nature must be at the heart of a modern economic strategy. And it should address questions such as which sectors have the greatest potential and how can they be developed to ensure good jobs are created in Canada while protecting our environment.”

Instead, as the government's approach to skills training in this budget shows, there has been no consultation with most stakeholders. The result is cosmetic solutions that create conflict with the provinces and fail to address fundamental problems.

“Improving skills training so Canadians looking for work are able to get the skills they need to fill the jobs that are out there requires that the federal government sit down with the provinces and other stakeholders,” said Clancy. “Our economy is being held back because the Prime Minister refuses to work with all major stakeholders to develop a comprehensive national skills development strategy.

“That strategy should encompass school-to-work, as well as retraining and skills upgrading for existing workers. Apprenticeship needs to play a major role,” said Clancy. “The barriers and challenges for apprentices and employers are well known and there are a number of practical steps governments can take - if they are willing to work together - to increase the number of apprentices and apprenticeships.”

NUPGE has worked with Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy (CMIS) to produce a discussion paper on how improving apprenticeship can help solve Canada's skills crisis. This paper expresses the issues in concrete terms and provides possible solutions. A copy of the paper can be downloaded here and is also available at www.industrialstrategy.ca.

The continued attack on the public sector in this year's budget is another example of the federal government's refusal to consider the long term impact of its policies.

“Cutting public services, eliminating public sector jobs and attacking public employees' benefits has a direct negative impact on the economy in the short-term and deprives families, communities and businesses of the quality public services they need to succeed in the long-term,” said Clancy. “Reforms intended to make the public sector run more like a business have backfired by reducing accountability and effectiveness. The government needs to take a different approach and look at options to raise more revenue to protect and strengthen quality public services for all Canadians.”

More information:

NUPGE

Frontline job cuts hurt families and lead to higher costs for Saskatchewan people

dduffy — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:52 -0400

“Government must be accountable for both the quality of services delivered to Saskatchewan families, and the cost of providing those services." – Bob Bymoen, SGEU President.

Regina (22 March 2013) – Cuts to public service workers in this year’s Saskatchewan budget will hurt families and communities as frontline services are eroded, and costs escalate as work is contracted out to private companies, says the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).

Approximately 600 positions will be lost over the next year, leaving gaps in service and forcing government ministries to contract out work that still needs to be done – but at a higher cost to taxpayers, according to SGEU President Bob Bymoen.

“In highways, parks, information technology services, and other areas, we have seen government contracting out work to private businesses. Costs will be higher because companies need to make a profit to stay in business, and it’s Saskatchewan families who are paying the price,” says Bymoen.

“Children at risk and vulnerable families will be hurt by the loss of 43 staff in Social Services. There will be 89 positions eliminated from Highways, 45 positions cut from Agriculture, and another 148 jobs will be lost in Central Services,” according to Bymoen.

The job cuts will be carried out throughout the 2013-14 fiscal year. No layoff notices have been issued at this point. SGEU/NUPGE will work with members who are affected by job cuts in the months ahead to ensure that they have access to their rights.

“Government must be accountable for both the quality of services delivered to Saskatchewan families, and the cost of providing those services,” notes Bymoen.

“Government does not disclose the cost of paying external engineering companies to design new roads and bridges - work that used to be performed by public service staff. It does not disclose the cost of paying private contractors to provide information technology services, or maintenance services in our provincial parks,” Bymoen notes.

“Government’s operating expenses have increase by 10 per cent every year for the past three years – even though it has been cutting jobs by four per cent in each of those years. We need government to be transparent and accountable for the costs of contracting out public services,” Bymoen says.

NUPGE

World Water Day provides opportunity to protect a valuable natural resource

dduffy — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:57:11 -0400

World Water Day is a designated United Nations day to recognize the common life sustaining resource that is our fresh water.

Ottawa (22 March 2013) – Every March 22 World Water Day is celebrated around the world. The hope is to focus attention on the importance of fresh water and promote a sustainable management of this precious resource.

This day was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

In Canada, we are fortunate to have an abundance of fresh water. What Canada is lacking is a well thought out plan for water stewardship. Not only that, but under the Conservative government's recent omnibus legislation, the Harper government has reduced environmental protection of 99 per cent of Canada's lakes and rivers. The Conservative government continues to dismantle the environmental regulations required for major projects impacting on waterways. More and more austerity measuresand spending cuts will also mean ensuring communities have safe drinking water becomes more difficult.

The National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) All Together Now! campaign has been highlighting the need to promote quality public services and decent jobs (like water inspections and inspectors) and to fight for tax fairness.

There are many groups across the country working hard to protect this vital natural resource. NUPGE urges its members and the public to get involved to ensure our water is protected for generations to come.

Here's a ist of communities hosting World Water Day events across the country.

More information:

All Together Now! campaign

NUPGE

PEIUPSE: Tackle tax evaders not the unemployed

dduffy — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 10:57:58 -0400

Federal government changes to EI system target unemployed.

Charlottetown (21 March 2013) – Debbie Boyver, President of the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) voices concern over recent cuts to Employment Insurance (EI)benefits and suggests to Prime Minister Harper a solid lead to find missing revenue that could ensure Canadians receive the benefits they need.

The federal government’s changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) system have clearly targeted the unemployed in this country, especially in regions where seasonal industries are the backbone of the economy. And the practice of sending “EI police” to the homes of EI claimants is both intimidating and unfair to claimants who are not abusing the system. Instead of picking on struggling Canadians, the government might do well to boost its efforts in areas where they can actually recoup tax revenue.

For example, offshore tax havens are a problem that require attention. Huge sums of Canadian dollars are being channeled to offshore tax havens. Canadians for Tax Fairness reports that there is approximately $130 billion of untaxed Canadian money located in Barbados, Cayman Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Bermuda.

Barbados is the number one location to shelve money with $53.3 billion untaxed Canadian dollars located there. Tax havens are simply a place to hide dead money to avoid paying tax. This does nothing for our economy, robs citizens of vital public revenue, and lets the rich free ride on average, hard working Canadians who pay their fair share of tax. Perhaps the Harper government should focus as much attention on this issue as they have with EI. I think most Canadians would agree that $4 billion dollars (Canada Revenue Agency) of unpaid taxes in 2012 resulting from money hidden offshore is significant.

More information:

NUPGE

Labour rights focus of International conference set for Toronto, March 26 - 28

dduffy — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:27:41 -0400

Toronto (20 March 2013) – A three-day international conference in Toronto, March 26 - 28, is set to provide a forum for new evidence and research that confirms the critical role labour rights and unions play in advancing democracy, creating greater economic equality, and promoting the social well-being of all Canadians.

The conference, "Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice", is presented by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights (CFLR) and sponsored by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).

With labour rights under attack in many jurisdictions across Canada and around the world, this crucial conference explores how regressive labour laws have increased income inequality, eroded the middle class and threaten the foundations of democracy. The conference is also a strategic forum in building a broad-based progressive coalition in support of shared values of Canadians and the labour movement.

Richard Wilkinson, one of the world’s most preeminent researchers on social inequalities, and author of the bestseller "Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone" will kick off the CFLR conference as the keynote speaker on Tuesday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. His headline-generating research shows that societies with more equal distribution of incomes have better health, fewer social problems and are more productive than ones in which the gap between the rich and poor is greater.

Other speakers will include Canadian and international human rights advocates, labour leaders, progressive labour relations academics, and labour lawyers recognized for their work on issues related to the conference.

WHAT:
International conference presented by the Canadian Foundation for Labour Rights:
Labour Rights and Their Impact on Democracy, Economic Equality and Social Justice

WHEN:
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 27, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Hilton Toronto
145 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON

WHO:

Presenters at the conference include:
James Clancy, National President, NUPGE
Wayne Hanley, National President, UFCW Canada
Paul Taillefer, President, Canadian Teachers' Federation
Richard Wilkinson, Co-Director, The Equality Trust and Co-author, "The Spirit Level"
Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Associate, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Lars Osberg, Professor of Economics, Dalhousie University
Michael Lynk, Professor of Law, Western University
Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Paul Champ, Senior Partner, Champ and Associates
Naveen Mehta, General Counsel, and Director of Human Rights, UFCW Canada
Paul Cavalluzzo, Senior Partner, Cavalluzzo Shilton McIntyre Cornish LLB
Steven Barret, Managing Partner, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP
Fay Faraday, Founder, Faraday Law, and McMurtry Visiting Fellow, Osgoode Hall Law School
John Hendy, QC, President, International Centre for Trade Union Rights
Eric Tucker, Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School
Anouk Collet, National Representative, UFCW Canada
Elisabeth Ballermann, President, Health Sciences Association of Alberta
Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

More information:

More Harm Than Good: Austerity's Impact in Ontario

NUPGE

Racism divides us. It weakens our solidarity.

dduffy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:36:25 -0400

"We cannot give in to the divide and conquer tactics our governments and our employers use. We need to look for the things that join us together." – James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (20 March 2013) – The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, celebrated every year on March 21, was established to commemorate the day in 1960 when police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid "pass laws" in Sharpeville, South Africa. Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. (Resolution 2142 (XXI))

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) supports the UN's call to eliminate racial discrimination.

"We celebrate the work our union members do every day to fight injustice and racial discrimination in the workplace," says James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "We celebrate the partnerships they make in communities across the country to ensure equality is achieved for all.

"As communities struggle against this tide of economic uncertainty, people are being pitted against each other in many ways. Differences become dividing lines," Clancy said. "We cannot give in to the divide and conquer tactics our governments amd our employers use. We need to look for the things that join us together.

"Racism divides us. It weakens our solidarity. Demeaning others is no way to build equality and respect. Together, working with each other and our allies, we will continue to speak out against intolerance and injustice in the workplace, in our communities and in every aspect of society. On this day, and every day."

NUPGE

NSGEU members dishing up nutritious and delicious meals at CDHA

dduffy — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:58:21 -0400

“Every employee that is here takes a lot of pride in the work that they do and they feel very proud that they are providing the service they do to the public, families of patients, and also patients that come down here." – Raymond Theriault, NSGEU Local President.

Halifax (20 March 2013) – When you think of support services workers, restaurant service workers are likely not the first to come to your mind. But at the Capital District Health Authority (CDHA), these workers are an integral part of the service community in hospital ensuring all vistors and staff enjoy healthy meals. Especially after the CDHA implemented its Healthy Eating Strategy at its facilities.

The workers who serve up and prepare meals are members of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE). They provide between 5,500 and 6,500 wholesome meals each and every day. The new strategy includes more fresh fruits and veggies, lower fat items, and less salt, and yes – even the removal of deep fryers, French fries, gravy and donuts from the menus.

Almost everything served in CDHA cafeterias is homemade and made on-site, from scratch. Kelly Swinimer, a Journeyman Cook, has worked for Capital Health for more than 23 years. She cites the pension, job security and decent rate of pay as just a few of the factors that made the job appealing. It’s pretty clear from watching her interact with customers that she loves her job.

In the kitchen, whole seasoned chickens spin slowly on a rotisserie as Steve Huntley, another Journeyman Cook, stirs a vat of one of two daily homemade soup offerings.

Huntley makes soups, entrees and chilis, and decorates cakes for Capital Health’s on-site catering service, as well. He has worked for Capital Health for 19 years, and says that the best part of his job is “… at the end of the day when you’ve accomplished something. You’ve got everything done that you set out to do and you’re part of a team; it just feels good at the end of the day. It doesn’t happen always,” he adds with a smile.

Huntley’s low-sodium soup offerings are nestled right next to Campbell’s Soup varieties, but there’s really no competition – his fresh, from-scratch offerings, like Senegalese (a spicy sweet potato soup seasoned with cumin, curry, apples and raisins) have proven to be overwhelmingly popular with patrons.

Unfortunately, not all patrons are aware that their meals are prepared fresh, on-site.

“I’ve been sitting at a table and I can hear people talking about the butter chicken: ‘Oh, that comes in a bag,’” Steve said. He quickly corrects them.

Local President of the support services bargaining unit at CDHA, Raymond Theriault, is the baker at the Victoria General site. He fills racks with freshly baked loaves of wholegrain bread, pans of wholegrain cinnamon buns, cookies and scones, three varieties of tea biscuits, and multigrain dinner rolls. These treats are then packaged up (complete with nutritional information) and sold at CDHA cafeteria sites.

Theriault practically beams as he walks through his work area, showing off the 100-year-old bread oven and describing the effort that goes into preparing meals for hospital staff, patients and families.

NUPGE

New CCPA-Ontario report shows austerity measures hurting recovery

dduffy — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:50:37 -0400

Austerity measures are compounding the problem, creating a “fiscal drag” effect that is slowing economic growth and undermining budgetary progress.

Ottawa (19 March 2013) – Ontario’s experiment with austerity in 2012 is contributing to an economic slowdown that demands a different course of action in 2013, says a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario office (CCPA-Ontario).

The report, More Harm Than Good: Austerity's Impact in Ontario, by CCPA-Ontario Director Trish Hennessy and Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) economist Jim Stanford, shows the province has not returned to pre-recession economic health. Austerity measures are compounding the problem, creating a “fiscal drag” effect that is slowing economic growth and undermining budgetary progress.

“The combination of federal, provincial and municipal program spending cuts is creating a fiscal drag on Ontario’s economy, reducing the province’s GDP growth by three per cent over the next couple of years,” says Stanford, who is also the CCPA-Ontario Advisory Board chairperson.

Stanford pointed out that Canadian GDP growth slowed almost to zero at the end of 2012. More spending cuts, combined with anemic private sector growth, could well create another recession.

Among the report’s findings:

the deficit predictions that justified the province’s 2012 shift to austerity were wildly overstated: Instead of hurtling toward a $30 billion deficit, Ontario’s deficit has already fallen to $11.9 billion – barely one-third of the inflated forecast;
despite Ontario’s weak economic recovery, the provincial deficit will continue to gradually disappear without need for public service cuts, layoffs and wage freezes;
key indicators such as Ontario’s employment rate, unemployment, youth unemployment and involuntary part-time workers have not bounced back to pre-recession levels;
the sharp decline in the employment rate, with tepid post-recession recovery, means there are a quarter of a million fewer Ontarians working today than if the employment rate had remained stable, contributing to a $52 billion loss in potential labour income;
Ontario’s economy is capable of producing $70 billion more in goods and services. That additional output, given existing provincial revenue streams, would eliminate the deficit.

“Ontario’s economy remains on fragile ground and there is growing evidence that government spending cuts are doing more harm than good,” says CCPA-Ontario Director Trish Hennessy. “It’s time to step down from the austerity ledge and make job creation a top priority.”

More information:

All Together Now! campaign

NUPGE

Canada drops out of the top ten countries on human development

dduffy — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:56:21 -0400

UN report "warns that short-sighted austerity measures, failures to address persistent inequalities, and a lack of opportunities for meaningful civic participation could threaten this progress unless leaders take bold corrective action."

Ottawa (18 March 2013) – Canada has dropped out of the top ten on the United Nations (UN) human development index.

The UN report entitled The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World now ranks Canada as 11th, a disappointing drop from its formerly held first place in the 1990s.

Canada did improve over last years ranking but not nearly as much as some other countries. Although with this years addition of two new indexes to the report - the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and the gender inequality index (GII) - Canada falls further to 18th position.

According to the report, by 2020, the combined output of the three leading South economies—China, India, Brazil—will surpass the aggregate production of the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada.

"When dozens of countries and billions of people move up the development ladder, as they are doing today, it has a direct impact on wealth creation and broader human progress in all countries and regions of the world."

Despite the improvements, the authors of the report are clear that inequality has not been eliminated. Much more needs to be done.

"It is hopeful to see this research from the United Nations," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Seeing the improvements in some of the poorest regions of the world is a signal that someone is thinking differently when it comes to addressing economic inequality."

The report goes further saying "that ambitious, well-conceived policies can sustain this human development progress in coming decades and expand its reach to still more developing countries. But it also warns that short-sighted austerity measures, failures to address persistent inequalities, and a lack of opportunities for meaningful civic participation could threaten this progress unless leaders take bold corrective action."

“More important than getting prices right, a developmental state must get policy priorities right,” the report says. “They should be people-centred, promoting opportunities while protecting against downside risks."

"In Canada, our drop in standing further proves the point we have been making in our All Together Now! campaign," says Clancy. "The Conservative government shift away from providing quality public services for citizens, reducing worker rights and ignoring the need for a modern industrial strategy is having a negative impact on Canadians everywhere."

"Harper needs to take some of the positive lessons from what the South is doing and learn from that experience," Clancy concluded. "Because what they're doing here isn't working."

More information:

The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World

Community social services matter

Continual program cuts hurt the most vulnerable, say B.C. labour leaders

dduffy — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:25:45 -0400

Community social services are about creating and maintaining supportive, healthy, stable and caring communities. The workers who provide these services are the heart and soul of our communities.

Vancouver (15 March 2013) – On March 13, the Vancouver Sun published a joint editorial by labour leaders in B.C. on the issue of the value of community social servIces and the workers who provide them. The column was written to commemorate Community Social Services Month in B.C.

Darryl Walker, President of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE), Barry O'Neill, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (B.C division). and Bonnie Pearson, secretary-business manager for the Hosptial Employees' Union (HEU) argue the government must stop hurting the most vulnerable people in B.C. through cuts to service.

Read the full column below.

Stop devaluing community social services

Every day throughout British Columbia, some of our most vulnerable citizens need assistance with basic life issues — women and children fleeing domestic violence; immigrants and refugees looking for jobs or coping with language and settlement issues; people with disabilities who need help with speech, occupational or physical therapies; parents who need child care or infant development assistance; people living in poverty, or those with addiction issues, who need supported social housing or counselling; and aboriginal families, who have culturally specific needs around one or more of the above.

When people need this kind of help, they turn to community social services provided by various of our provincially funded agencies. Most of us know someone who at some time has had to rely on these services just to keep house and home together, to maintain basic health, or even to survive. But community social services cannot survive without a commitment from government to recognize the vital role that these services—and the workers who provide them—play in our communities.

Since coming to power in 2001, the B.C. Liberal government has launched an unrelenting attack on community social services, making program cuts and closures that have left the sector chronically under-funded. Since 2004, the sector has given up more than $300 million — with more cuts to come. According to this year’s budget documents, the government plans to drastically reduce the average amount of money it spends on adults with developmental disabilities over the next three years. Adults with fetal alcohol disorder and autism who receive services under the personal supports initiative will see the biggest decline, with the average resources per client in that program dropping from $24,000 to $16,000 this year alone — a 33 per cent decline, even as the program’s caseload is expected to more than double.

The consequences of government neglect are obvious. Cuts to health care, mental al health services, women’s services, and now services for adults with developmental disabilities have only increased the pressure on an already overstressed community social services sector. Workers are now dealing with unsustainable workloads due to service cuts, program closures, growing waiting lists and chronic underfunding.

Adding insult to injury is that community social services workers are the lowest paid in B.C.’s public sector. In most of these jobs, the starting wages have actually been reduced. For a residential care worker in 2002, the starting wage was $16.83. Now it’s $15.54. Over the same decade, the cost of living increased by 18.1 per cent. Because of this, recruitment and retention have become a major problem. Workers are often forced to take a second or third job just to make ends meet.

Community social services are based on the belief that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are valuable and contributing members of society. During difficult periods, or when a crisis arises, it’s important that communities respond by providing the supports, services, or skills that people need to deal with life’s challenges. And virtually every family in B.C. has been touched by support from the community social services sector at one time or another. Community social services are about creating and maintaining supportive, healthy, stable and caring communities. The workers who provide these services are the heart and soul of our communities. The provincial government needs to re-invest in this sector right now, and provide the resources it needs to better serve our communities and our citizens.

More information:

NUPGE

Think tank calls on feds to stop growth-killing austerity

dduffy — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:23:51 -0400

Alternative Federal Budget plan tackles Canadians' real concerns.

Ottawa (13 March 2013) – The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) warns more austerity measures from the federal government could further stall an already stagnant economy.

With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA shows how growth-killing austerity can be replaced by a plan that strengthens the economy, leads to a better quality of life for all Canadians, and eliminates the deficit by 2016.

“Canada has a growth problem, not a deficit problem,” says AFB Coordinator David Macdonald. “Federal government cuts are already affecting our economy and are expected to reduce growth by a third next year. More cuts will only lead to less growth and fewer opportunities for Canadians, something we can ill afford at this time. We need to turn off the austerity auto-pilot and get our economy growing again, particularly for young Canadians.”

The AFB shows what the federal government could do if it decided to seriously tackle Canadians’ largest social, economic, and environmental concerns.

"The Europeans have shown conclusively that austerity weakens economies, rather than strengthens them," says CCPA senior economist Armine Yalnizyan. "Instead of budgeting with eyes wide shut, the AFB responds to the issues that most Canadians struggle with every day. It invests in programs that are good for growth and good for Canadians, while balancing the books. Instead of making things worse and leaving Canadians to fend for themselves, the AFB shows we can do better, together."

The AFB plan:

reduces poverty and inequality by investing in child care, pharmacare, affordable housing, income supports, and post-secondary education;
tackles the ongoing crisis for First Nations housing, drinking water, education;
implements a long term, transparent and public plan for investments in infrastructure;
creates 300,000 jobs, lowering the unemployment rate to six per cent by 2014; and
introduces a new top personal income tax bracket, closes the biggest tax loopholes, and introduces a withholding tax on tax havens.

Anyone following the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) All Together Now! campaign will be interested to read the section on Fair and Progressive Taxation as well as the sections on promoting and investing in quality public services.

Each year, the AFB is created with the participation and support of researchers, activists, and a broad spectrum of civil society leadership — representing millions of people living in Canada. NUPGE is a proud supporter of CCPA's work providing an excellent alternative to the Conservative economic vision for Canada.

More information:

Alternative Federal Budget: Doing Better Together

All Together Now! Women 4 Change

NUPGE

Addiction and mental health researchers call for moratorium on privatizing liquor stores

dduffy — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:58:29 -0400

“Given alcohol’s status as the leading risk factor for ill-health, injury and disability in North America” much more needs to be done, according to the researchers.

Regina (13 March 2013) – The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) urges the Saskatchewan government to heed the advice of new evidence-based research that warns provinces not to privatize liquor sales, at the risk of increasing social problems and economic costs.

Provinces should “place a moratorium on private retail outlets” according to a new study, Strategies to Reduce Alcohol-related Harm and Costs in Canada: A Comparison of Provincial Policies, released by the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health. The Centre is Canada’s largest addictions and mental health teaching hospital, as well as one of the world’s leading research centres in its field.

The study says that governments do not pay enough attention to addressing the damaging effects of alcohol on families and communities. There is fleeting attention paid when there is a tragic alcohol-related death but this is not enough, the authors say.

“Given alcohol’s status as the leading risk factor for ill-health, injury and disability in North America” much more needs to be done, according to the researchers.

“It is troubling that Saskatchewan is heading in the wrong direction by privatizing liquor sales. There is a lot at stake here, the safety of young people, and the costs to the health care and criminal justice systems,” says SGEU President Bob Bymoen.

“Research consistently shows that private liquor sales result in greater alcohol-related social harm. Public liquor retailers can make social responsibility a priority. But private businesses need to maximize profits, and so are more likely to sell alcohol to those who shouldn’t have it, such as minors or intoxicated customers,” notes Bymoen.

The Saskatchewan government has recently said that all new liquor stores in the province will be private. Three new private stores have already been announced.

NUPGE

B.C. families demand affordable public childcare in stroller rally

dduffy — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:50:00 -0400

"Social attitudes about early childhood education and educators have been tied to outdated and gendered notions about women's work for decades. This devalues the profession--reflected in low wages and recruitment and retention problems."

Vancouver (12 March 2013) – A large, energetic group of B.C. families, their children and early childhood educators gathered at Jericho Park in Vancouver this morning in support of affordable public childcare.

The event, organized by labour and community organizations, included a short and spirited rally, followed by families, childcare workers and union officers leading a stroller parade to Christy Clark’s nearby constituency office.

Stephanie Smith, Treasurer of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) said that the current system fails to adequately value the role of professional early childhood educators. "Social attitudes about early childhood education and educators have been tied to outdated and gendered notions about women's work for decades. This devalues the profession--reflected in low wages and recruitment and retention problems."

Susan Harney, chairperson of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. explained her organization’s plan, which is heavily endorsed by parents, grandparents, labour, community, business, municipalities and school boards. “Similar to the $7 a day childcare plan that already exists in Quebec, the B.C. plan calls on government to commit to a childcare system with fees for families capped at $10 per day. Families making less than $40,000 a year would pay no user fee. This Plan is good for children, women and the B.C. economy. ”

Messages left at Premier Clark’s constituency office were from mothers and fathers, children, and early childhood educators asking the premier to stand behind her “Families First” commitment.

The event was organized by the B.C. Federation of Labour (BCFED) and its affiliates, B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), Canadian Union of Public Employees of BC (CUPE BC) and the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC).

NUPGE

UFCW voices migrant worker concerns at federal roundtable on Temporary Foreign Worker Program

dduffy — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:58:45 -0400

As a longstanding defender of migrant workers' rights, UFCW Canada expressed a variety of concerns relating to the TFWP in its submission to the Ministers.

Ottawa (12 March 2013) – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada recently participated in an "invitation-only" roundtable regarding the federal government's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The meeting was held in Ottawa and was chaired by Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

The federal government is conducting ongoing consultations that it says are aimed at improving the TFWP following complaints that employers are using the program to exploit migrant workers who lack sufficient employment protections, benefits, and compensation.

"While our grievances with the TFWP remain intact, and nothing was said to indicate that meaningful change is on the horizon, the dialogue with Ministers Kenney and Finley was an important first step in reforming a program that is unwanted by many migrants and is economically unsustainable," says Naveen Mehta, General Counsel for UFCW Canada.

"Constructive dialogue and consultation with all levels of government has been a primary tenant of our long-term strategy to achieve legislative change and eliminate the abuse that is inherent within the TFWP as it is currently structured," adds Mehta, who attended the consultation on behalf of the union.

The UFCW Canada has previously encouraged the federal government to adopt the recommendations of the Fall 2012 Metcalf Foundation report entitled "Made in Canada: How the Law Constructs Migrant Workers' Insecurity." The report found that the TFWP lacks the supports, programming, and services needed to operate efficiently and effectively and recommended that adequate resources be made available to the program. It also called on the federal government to provide more migrant workers with a path to permanent residency and opportunities to improve their skills while working in Canada.

NUPGE

Finance Committee MPs should demand PBO answers on tax gap

dduffy — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:46:52 -0500

"While most Canadians faithfully pay their taxes, this government wants to downplay the fact that hundreds of billions of dollars are going offshore to tax havens – virtually untracked and untaxed. That increases the tax burden for the rest of us.”

Ottawa (11 March 2013) – The House of Commons Finance Committee investigating the impact of tax havens on Canada’s economy should immediately call Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Kevin Page to produce a report on lost revenues. Last week, Page released a document indicating a method to estimate such losses. Last month, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) officials dismissed requests from the committee for such an estimate.

“What don’t they want taxpayers to know?” says Canadians 4 Tax Fairness (C4TF) director Dennis Howlett. “Half the governments in the OECD have ways to estimate the tax gap.”

“It is troubling that when the Parliamentary Budget Officer offers to produce an estimate of the tax gap, CRA refuses to provide the information he needs,” says Howlett. “While most Canadians faithfully pay their taxes, this government wants to downplay the fact that hundreds of billions of dollars are going offshore to tax havens – virtually untracked and untaxed. That increases the tax burden for the rest of us.”

Page said he was unable to obtain data from the CRA that could provide a “tax gap” estimate - the difference between revenue the government ought to be able to collect and what is actually collected.

Members of Parliament need answers about why banks are so heavily involved in tax havens and what policies they have in place to ensure their tax haven subsidiaries are not facilitating tax evasion, organized crime money laundering and financing terrorism. Canadians for Tax Fairness is urging the Finance Committee to repeat their call to the banks to testify and answer these questions.

Canadians for Tax Fairness is a national citizens’ organization dedicated to fair taxation.

More information:

Canadians for Tax Fairness: Tackle Tax Havens

NUPGE

‘Bullying Budget’ makes sick Albertans pay for Tory mismanagement

dduffy — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:21:32 -0500

"A recent poll shows that the vast majority of Albertans reject cuts to public services and agree that there should be an increase on taxes for the wealthy and corporations."- Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President.

Edmonton (08 March 2013) – Sick and injured Albertans are being forced to pay the price for decades of Conservative fiscal mismanagement, says Elisabeth Ballermann, President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), the union of health-care professionals.

“Earlier this week, Finance Minister Doug Horner warned this was going to be a lean, mean budget and he’s delivered one that is worse than mean – it’s a bullying budget, and the victims are, as always, those least able to speak for themselves, including sick Albertans,” says Ballermann, who represents more than 23,000 health-care professionals.

This health budget represents a cut of more than $200 million from the increase promised by the ‘predictable five-year funding plan’ that was to allow the system to recover from Ralph Klein’s devastating cuts.

“The government has failed to match funding to population growth and inflation. That means that front-line services will be cut. Expect wait lists to mushroom and quality to suffer. We simply can’t find those kinds of savings by looking for efficiencies in administration. We can’t lay off our patients or downsize the elderly,” says Ballermann.

“When health-care funding is cut, patients bleed. The minister needs to explain how many surgeries will be cut, how much longer Albertans will have to wait for an ambulance, for home care or rehabilitation, or to be admitted to hospital in an emergency because of this budget,” says Ballermann.

“Instead of meanness, Albertans wanted fairness. They wanted to fix our broken revenue system to make wealthy corporations and individuals pay their fair share, so we can afford the services we need. To be in one of the richest jurisdictions in the world and be unable to afford basic services is indefensible,” she says.

“Unfortunately, the Conservatives figure it’s easier to download their mistakes onto working Albertans than to ask the wealthy to pay their fair share. A recent poll shows that the vast majority of Albertans reject cuts to public services and agree that there should be an increase on taxes for the wealthy and corporations. It is shameful that the government is ignoring Albertans while pandering to the elite.”

NUPGE

International Women's Day celebrates women organizing for economic equality

dduffy — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:30:29 -0500

"When governments give away revenue to their corporate friends, there is less money dedicated to the public services the majority of Canadians need." - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Ottawa (08 March 2013) – On March 8, International Women’s Day, people will join across the globe to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and their contributions to a better world and a better society.

This year, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is celebrating the work of women activists in the campaign to tackle the income inequality crisis. Through the All Together Now! campaign, Women 4 Change have been sharing personal stories about the struggles women have been facing since the start of the economic recession in 2008. And celebrating the fact that since then, women have been at the forefront focusing on social and economic change.

"We know that women have been hit the hardest during this economic crisis," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President, "True to form, our women activists have not shied away from speaking out and organizing on this very serious issue. They know how important it is for women's voices to be strong and loud in order to make the change we need."

In 2007, there were 1.22 million adult women living in poverty. Governments' singular focus on implementing austerity measures, combined with the massive tax cuts for profitable corporations has had an overwhelming negative effect on the face of this country. According to the Toronto Star, in 2012-13 alone, Canada would have had $40.1 billion more revenue if the 2008-2012 tax cuts had not been made. Plus, the promised jobs in return for those cuts never appeared. It is estimated that corporations are still sitting on $50 billion of "dead money."

"When the economy is bad, women are the hardest hit. Women still earn less than men, balance more of the household, childcare and family responsibilities and often do not qualify for any forms of assistance," said Clancy. "When governments give away revenue to their corporate friends, there is less money dedicated to the public services the majority of Canadians need."

"Women's poverty is not on the Conservative radar," said Clancy. "which is why the ATN Women 4 Change program is key to changing the debate and focus. We need to build a community of people who support national programs like a housing strategy and child care that will help lift women out of poverty and on the road to equality."

"On this International Women's Day, we thank all women working to promote equality for all, including income equality, and call on women everywhere to join the struggle."

More information:

NUPGE

Corporate tax cuts create job

dduffy — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:24:51 -0500

"The problem of growing inequality can be resolved in two main ways. The first is by transferring wealth from profits to wages and public services. The second is through tax fairness." – Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (04 March 2013) – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is reacting with shock and surprise after learning that corporate tax cuts implemented by the province have actually created a job.

"We have always maintained that the Liberal government's corporate tax cuts would not create jobs for Ontarians, but the news that former Finance Minister Dwight Duncan begins work today at a Bay Street law firm calls our position into question," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "If corporate tax cuts can create a job for Dwight Duncan, is it possible they could create a job for someone else? This is what we're grappling with."

Duncan has accepted a position with McMillan LLP, a happy landing spot for many a politician who has served Bay Street well.

"Under Dalton McGuinty and Dwight Duncan, government and Bay Street became intertwined as never before," said Thomas. "From former TD vice-president Don Drummond to RBC CEO Gordon Nixon, bankers have had unprecedented influence over government policy, especially since 2009. It's no wonder wealth has been funneled upward from people to profits, to the detriment of 99 per cent of the population."

Thomas said that if new Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to be the "social justice Premier," as she has stated, she will have to realize that social justice cannot occur without redistributing wealth from owners to workers and low-income Ontarians.

"The problem of growing inequality can be resolved in two main ways," Thomas said. "The first is by transferring wealth from profits to wages and public services. The second is through tax fairness.

"Premier Wynne's commitment to social justice will be judged by how she addresses these two major policy areas."

NUPGE

Wynne’s real test will come with the budget: OPSEU

dduffy — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:07:36 -0500

In the weeks ahead OPSEU/NUPGE will assess Wynne’s government to see if the new Premier will commit to preserving quality public services in Ontario and ensuring that services are delivered by professional public sector workers.

Toronto (1 Mar. 2013) — The President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) said that while Premier Wynne’s first throne speech had some promising aspects, it will be her first budget that really spells out the direction of the Ontario government.

“While we’re encouraged that the Liberals will allow people on social assistance to keep more of what they earn, it appears that Wynne’s government still wants to move forward on downloading Ontario Disability Support to the municipalities,” said Thomas. “This will result in a reduction of benefits for sole-support parents on disability.”

Thomas said that, in the weeks ahead, OPSEU/NUPGE will continue to assess Wynne’s government to see if the new Premier will commit to preserving quality public services in Ontario and ensuring that services are delivered by professional public sector workers.

“We are certainly not ‘partners’ with the Liberal government, and our priorities for public services are very clear,” Thomas said. “We want assurances that this government will respect the collective bargaining process for all unionized workers in this province.”

Thomas also hopes this government will focus on putting resources towards the “99 per cent” instead of continuing the course of billion dollar tax breaks for rich and profitable corporations. “We intend to put suggestions forward for the next Ontario budget, and it is our expectation that we can have an open and honest dialogue with the government that will result in making lives better for working Ontarians,” Thomas said. “While economic costs are important, we hope that the new Premier will focus on the human cost of service cuts and strke a better balance than her predecessor."

NUPGE

ts and strike a better balance than her predecessors.” - See more at: http://opseu.org/news/press2013/february-20-2013.htm#sthash.x6MymSAB.dpuf

Homes First rally gains Toronto City Councillors' support

dduffy — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:34:43 -0500

“Thanks to everyone who came out to support these workers today. Our rally provoked the attention and support these workers deserve. Now let’s get them back to work,” said Kathleen Demareski, OPSEU Negotiator.

Toronto (22 Feb. 2013) - Close to 50 Homes First workers and their supporters braved the cold on February 20 to bring their message to Toronto City Hall. A huge banner at the entrance summed up their message for Toronto City Councillors: “Bad management: you’re paying for it.”

Workers at Homes First Society have been on strike since February 18. Their contract expired in March, 2012.

Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida expressed his disbelief that Homes First Society has yet to open their books. “I can’t believe there is still no transparency about the finances of this public agency,” said Almeida. “It is time for them to let everyone see what is really going on.”

“The City of Toronto provides six million in funding to Homes First. We are here to ask our City Councillors to help us get back to the table and negotiate a fair deal,” said OPSEU Negotiator, Kathleen Demareski.

Member of Provincial Parliament for Davenport, Jonah Schein, stopped by to express his solidarity with the picket, and emphasized that the workers at Homes First provide critical services for Toronto’s homeless: people who are vulnerable and in urgent need of decent housing options.

Homes First workers finished their rally with a visit to the City Council session. They were pleased that Councillors Mike Layton and Ana Bailao offered their support. Pam McConnell and Adam Vaughan also showed interest in helping to come to some resolution with the employer.

“Thanks to everyone who came out to support these workers today. Our rally provoked the attention and support these workers deserve. Now let’s get them back to work,” said Demareski.

NUPGE

Liberal pre-election budget offers no hope for British Columbians

dduffy — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:45:23 -0500

Public services will be cut and assets sold off, hurting families and communities across the province.

Vancouver (22 Feb. 2013) - B.C.'s Liberal government’s supposedly balanced budget will come at a high cost to public sector workers and the people and businesses that rely on quality public services.

“After a decade of budget and staffing cuts, extending the hiring freeze will lead to the loss of another 1,350 public sector jobs and most ministries are facing budget cuts or small increases well below the rate of inflation,” says Darryl Walker, President of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

“Our justice system and Community Living BC are both in crisis. Neither are getting the meaningful budget increases they desperately need. Community and social service workers are the lowest paid workers in our health care system. They will see no increase. The Ministry of Children and Family Development will be unable to adequately serve the most vulnerable people in our society. These are just a few examples. BCGEU/NUPGE members know all too well that budget cuts have undermined the delivery of all public services,” says Walker.

Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) agreed saying, "If you reduce spending in health care, you reduce services to British Columbians. It’s that simple." The HSABC/NUPGE, represents 17,000 members of the modern health care team.

“Government is counting on restructuring the delivery of lab services, and containing physician and drug costs to reduce the health care budget. Based on vague ideas about how that might result in savings, they’re telling British Columbians that direct health care services won’t suffer. It just doesn’t add up,” he said.

“There is no plan to focus on the health programs British Columbians count on. There is no plan to address the shortages in the specialized health science professions that lead to longer wait lists and delays in service,” he said.

NUPGE

NUPGE celebrates World Day of Social Justice

dduffy — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:09:05 -0500

"We work on behalf of our members to promote and protect their rights in the workplace but our social justice work ensures that all boats rise together - union and non-union, here in Canada and around the world."

Ottawa (20 Feb. 2013) - In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed February 20 as World Day of Social Justice to promote the efforts of the international community to eliminate poverty, achieve full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social well being and justice."

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has a long history of promoting social justice and economic equality for all.

"If we allow inequities to flourish without action, we will never achieve full equality," said James Clancy, NUPGE President. "We work on behalf of our members to promote and protect their rights in the workplace but our social justice work ensures that all boats rise together - union and non-union - here in Canada and around the world."

"Our All Together Now! campaign, focusing on promoting public services, decent jobs and tax fairness, is a prime example of the commitment NUPGE members have to social and economic justice," Clancy continued.

"Labour unions, by fighting for decent jobs and wages, adequate health care, pay equity, pensions and other social benefits, have created standards that apply to everyone. It is this kind of social justice that inspires us to work to remove any barrier that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability."

The adoption by the International Labour Organization of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization is just one recent example of the UN system’s commitment to social justice. The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.

"On this World Day for Social Justice, we stand in solidarity with all those whose work mirrors ours, solidly based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion."

More information:

Where do we rank on social justice

NUPGE

OPSEU kicks off video competition for $1,500 prize

dduffy — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:30:00 -0500

Ready, set, record!

Toronto (19 Feb. 2013) - How many reasons can you think of to show how unions work for you? Can you come up with a video that shows the value of unions to your family or the community in which you live? If you answered yes, then this contest is for you!

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is calling for submissions for its video competition called Unions Work!

The winning video creater will receive a grand prize of $1,500. You must be an OPSEU/NUPGE member in good standing to participate.

Upload your video submission to YouTube and then email your YouTube link for consideration to OPSEUvideo@opseu.org.

Any questions should be directed to OPSEUvideo@opseu.org.

Contest closes April 15, 2013.

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Harper government must support Bill C-400 and address homelessness

dduffy — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:03:41 -0500

It's about shoring up one of the basic human rights supporting a fair and prosperous Canada. But ultimately, it's about saving lives.

Ottawa (14 Feb. 2013) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is made up of more than 340,000 Canadians who live and work in communities across the country.

Many of us have seen first-hand the suffering of those without basic shelter; some of us have felt it. Nobody chooses to be homeless — they fall into it in fear, poverty, addiction or mental illness. They do not deserve their plight.

So together, we are raising our voices and calling on Stephen Harper to follow the lead of every other G-8 leader and set the stage for us to genuinely address this scourge.

Every Canadian suffers the consequences of homelessness. It strains our social safety net. It squanders our economic productivity. It is such a naked display of inequality that it sickens our spirit.

The consequences are even darker for those 157,000 Canadians who've actually lost or been forced from their homes, which includes a growing number of women and children. Imagine the entire population of Sudbury, Ontario, with no shelter from snow and wind and ice. Homelessness is a death sentence; people are dying on our streets.

We can stop this.

In less than two weeks, a bill to establish a national housing strategy will be debated and voted upon in Parliament. The bill, which is known as C-400 (The Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act) was introduced last year by a Quebec Parliamentarian named Marie-Claude Morin.

Ms. Morin is a member of the New Democractic Party (NDP) but her bill transcends partisan politics: at its heart is the principle that every Canadian deserves an opportunity to succeed and prosper.

Once enacted, Bill C-400 will marshal the talent, energy and innovative thinking of people from across the country to ensure every one of us has at least a safe, dry shelter. It's about buildings. It's about shoring up one of the basic human rights supporting a fair and prosperous Canada. But ultimately, it's about saving lives.

Bill C-400 wasn't introduced by government, but we urge all MPs in the Harper government to support and promptly enact this bill, just as they supported and promptly enacted a private member's bill before Christmas that has committed significant and ongoing government revenue to an issue that pales in urgency to homelessness.

A significant number of Canadians opposed Bill C-377, requiring unions (and only unions) to swamp Revenue Canada staff every year with fine-grained financial information that is already freely available to members. Many understand the damage it does to our basic rights of association and privacy and of unions' ability to advocate for basic fairness and balanced prosperity. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister and his government supported and facilitated the speedy passage of C-377.

Now facing a bill that will literally save lives, and for which there is no credible dissent, we call on the Prime Minister to act again. Ensure the passage of C-400 before it — and countless Canadians — die waiting.

In solidarity,

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

Throne Speech: Bad news for people and businesses that rely on quality public services

dduffy — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:15:05 -0500

The provincial government continues to take credit for tax cuts that have failed to deliver the economic gains that were promised. The government also refuses to accept responsibility for the budget cuts and corresponding service cuts.

Vancouver (14 Feb. 2013) - British Columbia's speech from the throne laid out the meagre plans of the Liberal government.

There was no good news in the throne speech for public sector workers, and there was no good news for the people and businesses that rely on quality public services.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is concerned there will be more budget cuts in next week’s provincial budget.

“Beyond investing in liquified natural gas development and infrastructure, which may deliver jobs and government revenue years from now, the Throne Speech failed to present any new ideas that would create benefits today,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

“Our justice system and Community Living B.C. are both in crisis. However, neither was even mentioned in the Throne Speech. These are just two examples. BCGEU/NUPGE members know all too well that budget cuts have undermined the delivery of almost all public services,” says Walker.

These service cuts continue to have a direct negative impact on the economy. The most obvious example is the enormous permitting backlog in our natural resource sector. These permit backlogs delay economic activity, delay job creation and squander potential government revenue.

Next week's budget will provide more information on possible cuts to public services.

“These are challenging economic times. We need to explore new sources of potential revenue. We need to work to eliminate wasteful spending. We require new thinking and new approaches. There is a better way,” Walker says.

NUPGE

Tax haven critics, bankers to face off at Finance Committee: Show your support for a fair tax system

dduffy — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:44:37 -0500

Send a message to the Finance Committee to demand the government start taking tax havens seriously.

Ottawa (13 Feb. 2013) - Citizen-based Canadians for Tax Fairness (C4TF) will be joined by a top British tax accountant to testify before the House of Common's Finance Committee as it studies the billion-dollar impact of tax havens on the Canadian economy.

C4TF’s Dennis Howlett and Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK are scheduled to appear before the committee as members of the Global Tax Justice Network. Murphy’s appearance is by teleconference. They will be articulating the huge problem avoiding taxes through the use of tax havens creates for the country, governments and citizens. The Canadian Bankers Association is also scheduled to speak at this session.

Read C4TF's presentationa here.

In 2011, $160 Billion, or a quarter of all Canada's direct investment abroad, was sitting recognized tax havens, much of it not taxed. The finance and insurance sector now accounts for over 51 per cent of Canada’s total direct investment overseas and they play a key role in helping very rich individuals and multi-national corporations to avoid paying their
fair share of taxes.

This is not just a Canadian problem, it's a global problem. But the global campaign has gained momentum with leaders in other countries starting to take a stand against the practice of avoiding taxes. British Prime Minister Cameron has indicated that this issue will be a main item on the agenda when the G8 meets in Northern Ireland in May.

Like other countries, if the government of Canada recovered the lost revenue, the money would go a long way in providing essential funding for job creation, improving social programs, paying down the debt and ultimately, ensuring greater tax fairness is achieved.

There is potential for real change that can make Canada a better, fairer country. Send your message to the Finance Committee to tell them to start tackling this important issue.

More information:

Canadians for Tax Fairness brief: Tax Evasion and the Use of Tax Havens

Send a message to the Finance Committee

Canadians for Tax Fairness

NUPGE

What happened at the Sudbury All Together Now! townhall?

dduffy — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:10:51 -0500

Missed what happened in Sudbury on January 8 during the All Together Now! campaign's townhall meeting? Watch the online videos to find out.

Ottawa (12 Feb. 2013) - Over 500 hundred union members gathered in Sudbury on January 9, with another 2500 participating via a teleconference, to talk and learn about the growing problem of income inequality.

The forum was sponsored by eight labour unions - National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Ontario Nurses Association (ONA), Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA), Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Society of Energy Professionals and the United Steelworkers (USW) - brought people together who are concerned about the expanding gap between the wealthy and the shrinking middle class.

As panelists James Clancy, NUPGE National President and Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury pointed out that as governments and employers attack labour and collective bargaining, refuse to create a forward-thinking modern industrial strategy and reform the tax system, more and more families and communities will suffer from the effects.

Footage from the event cover the ATN thinking on the issues but the most compelling stories are those from the workers who shared their personal experiences of helping people who are struggling with inequality while suffering from the same issues themselves.

Watching these videos will make you feel like you were there and inspire you to get more involved.

More information:

ONA The Rich and the Rest of Us

OPSEU/NUPGE The Rich and the Rest of Us

NUPGE

NUPGE urges federal government to establish Fairness Test for upcoming budget

dduffy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:34:27 -0500

NUPGE urges the Conservative government to establish a Fairness Test to assess the distributional impact of key tax and spending policies in budgets and determine whether they will reduce income inequality or make the problem worse.

Ottawa (12 Feb. 2013) - James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging the federal government to implement a Fairness Test to assess the impact the upcoming budget will have on the state of income inequality in Canada.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Clancy writes, "The vast majority of Canadians recognize that the gap between the richest and the poorest is growing. They are concerned about the adverse effect this has on their quality of life, the social fabric of their communities and the identity of their country.

However, they also know that growing income inequality is not inevitable. They understand the federal budget is a lot more than just an exercise in numbers. It is an opportunity to make public policy choices about the kind of country we want to build – a country that has a more equitable and sustainable economy and society."

Read the full letter below:

4 February 2013

The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, PC, MP

Prime Minister of Canada

Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

I am writing again to urge your government to develop a Fairness Test to assess the impact of key tax and spending policies in future federal budgets on income inequality.

Many recent studies have concluded that income inequality has been growing dramatically in Canada. The poorest Canadians and middle-class families have been falling behind while the wealthiest are taking more of the income gains from economic growth than ever before.

A recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives concluded that in the past decade a third of all income growth went to the richest one percent of Canadians. Another recent report by the Conference Board of Canada concluded that income inequality has been rising at a faster rate in Canada than in the US since the mid-1990s. Among 32 OECD nations, Canada has fallen from 14^th most equal to 22^nd.

The research shows that large and growing income inequality weakens economic growth and stability, diminishes the quality of life of all Canadians, causes social divisions and undermines democracy. High income inequality also raises a profound moral question about fairness and social justice.

I urge your government to ensure that the top priority of future federal budgets is to reduce income inequality. This is especially important. If the wrong fiscal policies are chosen, income inequality will grow even larger, causing more damage to people’s lives, our economy and society, and the federal government’s finances.

Your government should establish a Fairness Test to assess the distributional impact of key tax and spending policies in budgets and determine whether they will reduce income inequality or make the problem worse.

This test would embed the principle of fairness into public policy choices and ensure the most vulnerable families are not hit the hardest by these choices. Such a test could be developed and applied by the Department of Finance and published in the budget as part of the fiscal planning framework.

The vast majority of Canadians recognize that the gap between the richest and the poorest is growing. They are concerned about the adverse effect this has on their quality of life, the social fabric of their communities and the identity of their country.

Establishing a Fairness Test for federal budgets would be a transparent and verifiable way for your government to show its commitment to the critical goal of reducing income inequality.

I urge you to take this proposal of a Fairness Test seriously and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

James Clancy

National President

c.c. NUPGE National Executive Board

Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance

Hon. Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

Hon. Bob Rae, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada

More informaton:

The Fairness Test

NUPGE

Over 3000 families mark B.C.’s first family day by demanding affordable childcare

dduffy — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:38:29 -0500

Join the BCGEU/NUPGE www.cantaffordchildcare.ca where families can petition the government and the official opposition to commit to implementing $10 a day childcare.

Vancouver (11 Feb. 2013) - Over 3,000 B.C. families marked the province’s first family day holiday by urging the government to commit to implementing a new $10 a day childcare system.

“On B.C.’s first family day holiday, the government should recognize that young families are financially squeezed. Paying for childcare – when it’s even available - is like having to pay for housing twice,” says Darryl Walker, President of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE). Childcare costs an average of $9,000 per year for a two year old; in Vancouver it’s $14,000. Even so, there is only one licensed childcare space for every five children in B.C.

“B.C. has a childcare crisis: exorbitant fees, not enough spaces and poor working conditions in the sector. We have a solution: a community plan to cap childcare fees to $10 a day and improve early childhood education,” says Walker. High fees and lack of childcare spaces means that B.C. mothers with children under 15 have the lowest labour force participation rate in the whole country. Both the Surrey and Burnaby Boards of Trade have endorsed the $10 a day childcare plan.

In communities across the province, child care workers have collected over 3000 signed postcards from B.C. families asking the government to commit to implementing a community plan that proposes a new system of affordable, accessible, publicly funded early care and learning. Municipalities, boards of education, and labour unions – including the BCGEU/NUPGE - also support the $10 a day childcare plan.

The BCGEU/NUPGE is the leading childcare union in British Columbia, representing over 1,500 early childhood educators in 150 bargaining units, ranging from small not-for-profit daycare societies to large institutional childcare centres at UBC, SFU and the YMCA.

More information:

BCGEU: www.cantaffordchildcare.ca

Stop playing politics with unemployed workers, says CLC

dduffy — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:51:59 -0500

“Unemployment is still unacceptably high and corporations that received tax breaks to create jobs are hoarding cash instead. But the government prefers to demonize the victims of the recession." - Ken Georgetti, CLC President.

Ottawa (11 Feb. 2013) – The federal government should stop playing political games that stigmatize unemployed workers, says Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) President Ken Georgetti.

“Recently, some cabinet ministers have tried to justify their government’s policy failures by describing unemployed workers as cheats and fraudsters,” says Georgetti. “The government should stop stigmatizing people who are out of work through no fault of their own, and start adopting policies that will lead to the creation of good, family supporting jobs.”

Georgetti was commenting on the release by Statistics Canada of its Labour Force Survey for January 2013. “A stunning 45,800 people lost their jobs in January and most of those were full-time jobs. The government has to focus on job creation.”

There were 1,322,800 unemployed Canadians in January and the unemployment rate was 7.0 per cent. In the 15 to 24 age group, unemployment stood at 13.5 per cent and 46.9 per cent of young workers are employed only part-time.

The government forced legislation through parliament in 2012 that makes it more difficult for unemployed workers to receive Employment Insurance. There have been media reports that the government has provided regional offices with monthly quotas for slashing EI benefits. But according to Statistics Canada figures only 37.9 per cent of unemployed Canadians actually qualify for Employment Insurance, and there are 5.0 unemployed people for every job vacancy.

Georgetti adds, “Unemployment is still unacceptably high and corporations that received tax breaks to create jobs are hoarding cash instead. But the government prefers to demonize the victims of the recession. This is politics at its worst and it’s not going to solve the unemployment crisis.”

Job growth in the fall of 2012 had been stronger than economic fundamentals, so many economists anticipated lower growth in January.

Quick analysis

There was an overall loss of 45,800 jobs in January 2013 and a majority of those losses were full time jobs for core age (25-54) workers. There was a gain of nearly 24,000 self-employed workers. The unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 7.0 per cent, as discouraged workers left the job market. The real unemployment rate rose from 9.4 per cent in December to 10.7 per cent in January, due to an increase in discouraged workers and involuntary part-time. For youth aged 15-24, the real unemployment rate rose from a low of 16.9 per cent in December, to 19.4 per cent in January.

NUPGE

Departure of Duncan a chance to put public interest ahead of Bay Street’s: OPSEU

dduffy — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:34:11 -0500

“It is our hope that the next finance minister will come to work for the 99 per cent, not the one per cent. For a change.” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (08 Feb. 2013) - The resignation of Ontario finance minister Dwight Duncan offers incoming premier Kathleen Wynne an opportunity to put the public interest ahead of Bay Street’s for the first time in years, the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) says.

“Dwight Duncan will be remembered as the man who demanded cuts to public services, jobs, and wages for working people while doling out sacks full of cash to the richest corporations in the country, particularly those in the financial services industry,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “It is our hope that the next finance minister will come to work for the 99 per cent, not the one per cent. For a change.”

Under the McGuinty Liberals, tax breaks for the financial services industry alone (not including insurance) have amounted to at least $430 million a year from cuts to the corporate income tax rate and $740 million a year from the elimination of the *Capital Tax, Thomas noted.

“Bay Street is enjoying more than a billion dollars a year in free money thanks to the efforts of Minister Duncan and his predecessor,” Thomas said. “We can hardly wait to see where he lands to collect his earthly reward,” he said.

*Source: Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services (2012), Public Services for Ontarians: a Path to Sustainability and Excellence (Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario), p. 303. All figures in 2011 dollars. Corporate income tax reduction calculated based on changes in the March 2012 Ontario Budget.

NUPGE

February is Black History Month

dduffy — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:53:29 -0500

NUPGE celebrates Black History Month honouring those who have fought for equality and justice everywhere.

Ottawa (06 Feb. 2013) – February, Black History Month, is a time for reflection and recognition of the contributions people of African and Carribean descent have made to our country. It is a time to appreciate the struggles that have been fought to overcome inequality and oppression to be able to live and work with respect and dignity.

In 1995, the Canadian government officially designated February as Black History Month. Events to celebrate the occasion are held throughout February in communities across Canada. And while these events celebrate progress and achievement, some old battles are still being fought.

A 2011 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and the Wellesley Institute "found that during the heyday of Canada’s pre-recession economic boom, racialized Canadians were more willing to work, but experienced higher levels of unemployment and earned less income than non-racialized Canadians." In addition, racialized Canadians tend to be employed in insecure, temporary and low paying jobs, thus making a decent living difficult.

Canada has seen the income gap only worsen for middle and lower income workers and their families since the start of the 2008 recession. "Income inequality is the biggest social, economic and moral issue facing Canada and our failure to tackle this problem comes with serious consequences," said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

"As we continue our work to create a more equal and justice society, we need to take strength and courage from those who have challenged injustice in the past and have made amazing contributions to the fabric of our country," said Clancy. "Because of their preserverance, we know that together we can defeat income inequality entirely."

More information:
Canada's Colour Coded Labour Market: The gap for racialized workers

NUPGE

Union calls for immediate release of report on ambulance services

dduffy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:07:42 -0500

The public has a right to know and needs to know result of HQCA investigation.

Edmonton (01 Feb. 2013) – An urgent request has been sent to Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne calling on him to reverse his decision to delay the public release of a report on ground ambulance service in the province.

“This report from the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) was supposed to have been delivered in October 2012. It was delayed until today – and now we are told that Albertans won’t get to see it for another month. This is unacceptable,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), which represents more than 23,000 paramedical, technical, professional and general support employees in health care.

Ballermann has written to the minister saying: “The HQCA was asked to look into EMS operations a year ago because these are life-and-death issues for Albertans. They have a right to see this report now, so a conversation can begin immediately on solutions. Any delay in releasing the report will cause an unnecessary delay in addressing the problems, thus putting Albertans at unnecessary risk.”

Ballermann says she believes the HQCA report will confirm what frontline workers have been saying for more than a year: Alberta's emergency system is sick and needs treatment. The most recent figures from Alberta Health Services (AHS) tell the same story – a widespread failure to meet targets for wait times at emergency departments in Calgary and Edmonton.

“The solution to these problems cannot be found simply by tweaking the limited resources within EMS. The problems faced by EMS are often ones that have been downloaded to them from other areas of health care. For example, Alberta has 5,000 fewer acute-care beds now than it did in 1989, despite an increase in population of nearly 1.4 million. We also have too few long-term care beds. This means our hospitals are full, our emergency rooms are packed and our ambulances are stuck for hours waiting to transfer patients instead of responding to emergencies,” says Ballermann.

“While it may be unpopular to talk about investing money, that is exactly what is needed. An investment in health care and EMS will not only save money in the future by improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs, it will save the lives of Albertans today.

“Earlier this week, Premier Alison Redford talked about the need to maintain spending on social infrastructure, despite the fiscal challenges facing the province. At HSAA, we can think of no more important social infrastructure than public health care, including our vital EMS services,” says Ballermann.

More information:

HSAA/NUPGE letter to Minister

NUPGE

Alberta’s EMS systems at risk as ambulance gets axe

dduffy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:29:18 -0500

Health-care union fears other programs may be cut.

Edmonton (31 Jan. 2013) – The cancellation of a much-needed ambulance in Camrose should be a warning to all Albertans that spending cuts are threatening health care across the province, says the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE).

“There is no doubt that this ambulance, which provides service during peak hours in Camrose, is needed. It was introduced as a six-month pilot project in 2010. The fact it has been kept busy as part of regular operations since then clearly demonstrates that this is a service upon which the people of Camrose rely,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President, which represents more than 23,000 paramedical technical, professional and general support employees in health care.

“The only reason for the cancellation of the Camrose Peak Car is budgetary. There’s a squeeze on spending, so this vital service has been axed – and it is patients in Camrose who will pay the price. As we have said before, when health-care spending is cut, patients bleed,” says Ballermann.

“Last year, HSAA/NUPGE revealed system-wide problems with EMS resources. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has taken some steps to address those issues, with some success.

“It is ironic that the Camrose ambulance is being axed on January 31, the day the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) is due to deliver its report on Alberta ground ambulance services to the Minister of Health,” she says.

“The Alberta government’s inability, or unwillingness, to fix our broken revenue system means the lives of Albertans are now being put on the line. We fear the situation will only get worse in the forthcoming budget and can only assume that other health-care services are also on the chopping block.

“The Premier of Alberta says she wants a conversation about revenue and spending. We suggest that the next time someone is left waiting for an ambulance or any other health-care service, she ask the patient what he or she thinks. They’ll say what Albertans have always said – that they favour a fair taxation and revenue system to a health-care system that has once again been decimated by needless cuts,” says Ballermann.

NUPGE

NUPGE

Delegates gather in Ottawa for national women's training

dduffy — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:06:26 -0500

"Our Sisters are on the frontlines of the struggle to reduce income inequality everyday. Our union and the movement is stronger because of the leadership role they play in communities and workplaces across this country." — James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Ottawa (28 Jan. 2013) — Women from across the country are meeting in Ottawa for a national training session hosted by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). For two days, participants will be focusing on major issues facing women workers such as life / work balance and growing income inequality and tax fairness. Members will be developing skills through educational workshops and sharing resources through small group discussions.

At this training session, NUPGE will be launching an educational module to be used in each province to educate and involve members on the issue of life / work balance. Members will learn how to faciliate courses and engage other members to make this issue a priority.

Members will also learn how to deliver an educational presentation on the All Together Now! campaign designed to see how the economic crisis and growing gap between the 1% and the rest of us is affecting women and their families.

"It's exciting to see our women activists come together to learn and share from each other," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "Our Sisters are on the frontlines of the struggle to reduce income inequality everyday. Our union and the movement is stronger because of the leadership role they play in communities and workplaces across this country."

Delegates will participate in an event on Parliament Hill at noon on January 28 with activists from the Idle No More movement and Common Causes.

More information:

Life / Work balance research

National Union on Robin Hood Tax

NUPGE

OPSEU greets Ontario Liberal leadership delegates

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:32:09 -0500

"We are asking delegates to consider which candidates have the closest ties to Bay Street, which candidates draw their support from big corporations. Our new Premier must put people before profits,” says Thomas.

Toronto (25 Jan. 2013) — Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) President Warren (Smokey) Thomas will be on hand early Saturday morning to greet the Ontario Liberal Leadership Convention delegates as they arrive at Maple Leaf Gardens. Thomas will be joined by Vice-President/Treasurer, Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida as well as members of the OPSEU Executive Board and hundreds of members from all over Ontario.

A rally will held outside Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton St. in Toronto on Saturday, January 26 from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.

“It is time for an Ontario Premier who stands for the 99 per cent,” says Thomas.
OPSEU/NUPGE members will be handing out flyers and stickers as delegates arrive, and asking them NOT to choose a leader like Dalton McGuinty.

“Ontario needs a Premier who values our democratic rights and will stand up for the best interests of the people of this province. We are asking delegates to consider which candidates have the closest ties to Bay Street, which candidates draw their support from big corporations. Our new Premier must put people before profits,” says Thomas.

“It’s time to put a stop to Ontario’s growing income inequality,” says Almeida. “Concentration of wealth in the hands of the few has been the trend for too long. As union members, we know what it means to fight for living wages, for human rights, to stand up for the little guy. And we expect nothing less from our political leaders.”

Buses of OPSEU/NUPGE members and concerned citizens depart as early as 2 a.m. to make it in time for the early morning rally. Attendees are coming from as far away as Sudbury, Kingston, Ottawa, Orillia and Barrie.

NUPGE

HSAA warns further cuts will put Albertans at risk

dduffy — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:02:06 -0500

"Albertans have made it clear time after time that they favour a fairer tax system over a failing health-care system,” says Ballermann.

Edmonton (24 Jan. 2013) — Alberta’s union of health-care professionals is warning that the provincial government is heading down a dangerous road of health-care cuts.

“There are worrying signs that point to vital health-care services being cut again – and we all know that when health care is cut, patients bleed,” says Elisabeth Ballermann, President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE).

“In a recent speech in Calgary, our Minister of Finance warned of ‘tough choices’ in the coming budget. Furthermore, our health minister has indicated the province is unlikely to meet its commitment to increase health-care funding by 4.5 per cent next year and, shockingly, Alberta Health Services (AHS) chair Stephen Lockwood says he’s fine with that,” she says.

“I suggest they talk to Albertans left waiting for care in our emergency rooms or for ambulances before they make decisions that will affect the level of service. Patients are already waiting months or years for treatment, our long-term care capacity is woefully inadequate and our community-care services under strain. The truth is that part of the problem has been that a squeeze has already been put on spending.”

AHS is already looking for savings of $185 million. In an attempt to address budgetary concerns, overtime has been cut for some EMS workers, which ultimately has led to fewer staff on the roads.

HSAA/NUPGE raised the issue of the serious strain on the EMS system last year. This was followed by an investigation by the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA), which is due to report to the government on January 31. “We pointed out problems with EMS response times, lack of resources, inadequate equipment and difficulties with dispatch. AHS took action and the situation improved for a while.” she says.

“The truth is that our health-care system is under-resourced because for decades the government has chosen to give unnecessary tax and royalty breaks to rich corporations and individuals. The government’s refusal to even think about fixing its broken revenue system is hard to understand. Albertans have made it clear time after time that they favour a fairer tax system over a failing health-care system,” says Ballermann.

NUPGE

"Is this the kind of Canada we want?" asks PEIUPSE President over EI changes

dduffy — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:40:47 -0500

"Government has purposely raised the bar too high for citizens to access their own employment insurance program." — Debbie Bovyer, PEIUPSE President.

Charlottetown (24 Jan. 2013) — "Islanders are understandably upset and angry about the changes to EI made by the Harper government," says Debbie Bovyer, President of the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE). "And despite Senator Duffy’s recent attempt to attribute or blame the changes on Service Canada employees, there is little question that the changes come from the top, are ideologically driven, and are based largely on stereotypes about the Atlantic region."

Bovyer voiced the concerns over the changes to Employment Insurance in an open letter to the Editor.

Read the full letter below

"We have known about it for months and now the Employment Insurance (EI) program changes are here following frequent warnings from labour, municipal and provincial governments, the media, and business in Prince Edward Island. Islanders are understandably upset and angry about the changes to EI made by the Harper government. And despite Senator Duffy’s recent attempt to attribute or blame the changes on Service Canada employees, there is little question that the changes come from the top, are ideologically driven, and are based largely on stereotypes about the Atlantic region.

Our economy isn’t based on one of the largest oil reserves in the world. It’s based mainly on our seasonal industries – fishing, farming, and tourism. Harper’s attack on the unemployed is misguided because it compromises our workers and the seasonal nature of our economy. The EI program in Canada plays an important role in stabilizing seasonal economies. However, an EI program that forces workers to leave their communities in search of work elsewhere will have a detrimental effect on business – especially where industry requires an experienced and trained seasonal workforce as is the case in Prince Edward Island.

Furthermore, and aside from overarching arguments about the health of the economy, the EI program is in place primarily to provide financial assistance to unemployed Canadians. When we change the nature of EI to such an extent that it results in a single mom from Montague having her benefits cut because she lives in a rural community, and has no way of travelling to a larger urban centre over sixty kilometers away - you know government has gone too far. Government has purposely raised the bar too high for citizens to access their own employment insurance program.

Canadians are being forced to accept work at less pay than they received in their previous occupation, and in quite different or even unsuitable occupations. Government is denying EI benefits to Canadians – the very people who fund the program themselves by paying employee and employer premiums. The Harper government’s EI model simply does not account for regional and economic diversity in this country. It is part of an overall plan for Canadians that includes attacking labour, reducing federal health transfers, cutting public services, cutting pensions, raising the retirement age, increasing income inequality, and rewarding large corporations with one of the lowest corporate tax regimes in the world today. Is this the type of Canada we want?

Deborah Bovyer,

President, PEI UPSE

NUPGE

European Finance Ministers vote in favour of Robin Hood Tax

lbush — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:08:43 -0500

"It is a milestone for EU tax policy, as it paves the way for more ambitious member states to progress on a tax file, even when unanimity could not be achieved," said Algirdas Semeta, the european commissioner for tax.

Brussels (23 Jan. 2013) - Finance Ministers for the European Union (EU) have approved, under "enhanced cooperation" rules, the introduction of a new tax on financial transactions by 11 eurozone members.

While not all 27 members of the EU or the 17 members of the eurozone will be introducing the tax some of the regions largest economic players, in particular France and Germany, will be introducing a financial transactions tax (FTT) or commonly referred to as the Robin Hood Tax.

"Those who want to move ahead, and who appreciate the merits of working more closely on taxation at EU level, can do so."

Supporters for the Robin Hood Tax worldwide, including the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), have welcomed the news.

Nicolas Mombrial, Oxfam’s EU policy adviser, said that “this historic vote sends a clear message Europe’s biggest economies are ready to make the financial sector pay to clear up the mess it helped to cause. It is an example the rest of Europe and the world should follow.

“By tackling the worst excesses of casino capitalism, the FTT can stem the tide of growing inequality and make the financial system work for the whole of humanity rather than a global elite.

“But it will only be a Robin Hood Tax if a big chunk of the estimated €37 billion annual revenue is used to help poor people at home and abroad who have been hit hardest by the economic crisis and climate change."

The 11 countries going ahead with an European FTT are Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain. Based on the initial European Commission proposal, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) estimates that an FTT implemented in 11 countries could raise $58 billion Canadian.

More information:

Canadians for the Robin Hood Tax on Facebook

Robin Hood Tax Canada

NUPGE

Oxfam report shows the true cost of rising inequality

dduffy — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:18:13 -0500

Oxfam warns that extreme wealth and income inequality is not only unethical, it is also economically inefficient, politically corrosive, socially divisive and environmentally destructive.

Ottawa (21 Jan. 2013) — The National Union of Public and General Employees welcomes the report by Oxfam, The cost of inequality: how wealth and income extremes hurt us all, which shines yet another light on the rising global crisis of income inequality.

"We are with Oxfam in its push to see a drastic reduction in income inequality around the globe," said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees. "We are pursuing the same goals through our All Together Now! campaign promoting tax fairness, quality public services and a modern industrial strategy."

In its report, Oxfam reveals that the $240 billion net income of the richest 100 billionaires would be enough to eliminate extreme poverty four times over. It states that the "richest one per cent has increased its income by 60 per cent in the last 20 years with the financial crisis accelerating rather than slowing the process."

Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director, Oxfam International, said: “We can no longer pretend that the creation of wealth for a few will inevitably benefit the many – too often the reverse is true.

“Concentration of resources in the hands of the top one per cent depresses economic activity and makes life harder for everyone else – particularly those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

“In a world where even basic resources such as land and water are increasingly scarce, we cannot afford to concentrate assets in the hands of a few and leave the many to struggle over what’s left.”

Oxfam said world leaders should learn from the present-day success of countries such as Brazil which has grown rapidly while reducing inequality – as well as the historical success such as the United States in the 1930s when President Roosevelt’s New Deal helped bring down inequality and tackle vested interests. Roosevelt famously warned that the “political equality we once had won was meaningless in the face of economic inequality.”

Oxfam's report was released a week before the World Economic Forum being held in Davos.

Hobbs said, “We need a global new deal to reverse decades of increasing inequality. From tax havens to weak employment laws, the richest benefit from a global economic system which is rigged in their favour. It is time our leaders reformed the system so that it works in the interests of the whole of humanity rather than a global elite.”

Elements of a global new deal could include:

tax haven crackdown;
a reversal of the trend towards more regressive forms of taxation;
a global minimum corporation tax rate;
measures to boost wages compared with returns available to capital; and
increased investment in free public services and safety nets.

More information:

Oxfam: The cost of inequality: how wealth and income extremes hurt us all

All Together Now! campaign

NUPGE

Rally for a better Ontario

dduffy — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:36:39 -0500

This leadership convention marks a potential sea change for Ontario, where priorities can be shifted to promoting quality public services, taking action on tax fairness and investing in communities with a real job strategy.

Toronto (18 Jan. 2013) — The message Ontarians will be sending to Ontario Liberal Party delegates, as they enter Maple Leaf Gardens on January 26, is that the new Liberal leader — and provincial premier — must govern in the best interest of ALL citizens.

Community and union members concerned about the direction McGuinty's Liberals have been taking the province will greet delegates at a rallyon January 26 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to remind them of the priorities of all Ontarians.

Austerity measures, cutbacks and reduced services have not served the provincial economy or communities well. Income inequality continues to rise and tax fairness is ignored by the ruling Liberals. This leadership convention marks a potential sea change for Ontario, where priorities can be shifted to promoting quality public services, taking action on tax fairness and investing in communities with a real job strategy.

Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) from all workplaces —broader public sector, community colleges and the public service — are being encouraged to participate.

Buses are being organized from various regions across the province. Contact your local union for more infomration.

NUPGE

Shortsighted government underfunding means thousands of special-needs children awaiting therapy

dduffy — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:39:59 -0500

“Kids diagnosed with autism need immediate and intensive therapy. But it’s not just children with autism who are waiting for therapy,” Johnson said.

Vancouver (17 Jan. 2013) — British Columbians were dismayed to learn from a CBC Go Public report that families with autistic children have to wait as long as two and a half years for crucial speech language therapy.

“Therapy programs across B.C. are doing the best they can, but they are often under-resourced,” said Reid Johnson, President of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE). “As therapists, we know that study after study has emphasized the importance of treating special-needs kids as early as possible: the younger the child, the more capacity they have to respond to effective treatment and therapy, and grow up to live a full, independent life.”

“Kids diagnosed with autism need immediate and intensive therapy. But it’s not just children with autism who are waiting for therapy,” he said. “Thousands of children have just as much need for treatment, and they are sitting on wait lists while their optimal window for treatment gets smaller and smaller.”

Johnson said advocates have been calling on the provincial government to stop cutting treatment funds and establish adequate resources for therapy and support.

“In 2009, the BC government cut $3 million from treatment funds for special needs kids, resulting in the elimination of one of the best early intensive behavioural intervention programs in the country – at Queen Alexandra Centre for Children on Vancouver Island.”

“Children who don’t receive timely therapy experience life-long suffering. Put in financial terms, the current best estimate for life-long supports for untreated kids with autism is $2 million per child. A child who has had the benefit of intensive therapy will need far fewer costly medical or mental health interventions and social assistance later in life,” he said.

More information:

“Provincial government eliminates autism intervention program”

“Child who doesn't speak waits 2½ years for therapy”

NUPGE

World Economic Forum: income inequality and climate change among top global risks

lbush — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:36:37 -0500

World Economic Forum releases pessimistic report. The report sees severe income disparity and Climate Change as among top three greatest risks to world economy.

London (10 Jan. 2013) – The world is more at risk as persistent economic weakness saps our ability to tackle environmental challenges, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2013 report (available here).

The report sees severe income inequality and unsustainable government debt as top two most prevalent risks, in a survey of over 1,000 experts and industry leaders.

Following a year scarred by extreme weather, from Hurricane Sandy to flooding in China, respondents rated rising greenhouse gas emissions as the third most likely global risk overall. The failure of world governments to address climate change seen as the environmental risk with the most knock-on effects for the next decade.

“These global risks are essentially a health warning regarding our most critical systems,” warned Lee Howell, the editor of the report and Managing Director at the World Economic Forum.

Axel P. Lehmann, Chief Risk Officer at Zurich Insurance Group, said: “With the growing cost of events like Superstorm Sandy, huge threats to island nations and coastal communities, and no resolution to greenhouse gas emissions, the writing is on the wall. It is time to act.”

Developed with expert contributions from Marsh & McLennan Companies, Swiss Reinsurance Company, Zurich Insurance Group, the Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford), the National University of Singapore and the Wharton Center for Risk Management (University of Pennsylvania), Global Risks 2013 is the flagship initiative of the World Economic Forum’s Risk Response Network, which provides private and public sector leadership with an independent platform to build resilience by mapping, monitoring and managing global risks.

More information:

Global Risks 2013

NUPGE

New study shows that trade treaties jeopardize fisheries regulation

lbush — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:46:05 -0500

New treaties could undermine the ability of Canadians to pursue public policies that curb domination of the fisheries by large corporations and help spread the benefits of the fishery.

Ottawa (10 Jan. 2013) – The proposed Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and other trade and investment treaties threaten the sustainability of fisheries and fishing communities, says a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

Globalization, Trade Treaties and the Future of the Atlantic Canadian Fisheries (available here) describes how new treaties could undermine the ability of Canadians to pursue public policies that curb domination of the fisheries by large corporations and help spread the benefits of the fishery more widely among independent fishers and coastal communities.

When properly regulated within sustainable ecological limits, international trade is vital to the economic well-being of the Atlantic Canadian fisheries. But the trade and investment treaties now under negotiation go far beyond eliminating tariffs.

“Just as the freezer trawlers that ply the world’s oceans today are far more extractive and destructive than earlier fishing vessels, so the latest trade and investment treaties are more intrusive than previous ones,” says the report’s author, CCPA senior researcher Scott Sinclair.

Leaked documents reveal that the EU is pressuring Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec to abolish minimum processing requirements for fish. Minimum processing requirements provide provincial governments with critical leverage to maximize local benefits. Sinclair notes that “without such regulation, these decisions would be left to large fish processing companies to make with no consideration for any other factors than how it affects their corporate bottom line.”

While the CETA exemptions protecting federal regulatory authority over fisheries are fairly strong, there are serious shortcomings in the proposed reservations for provincial measures. Unless provincial governments insist on stronger protection, the report concludes, “they will be surrendering their future legislative and constitutional power through which the wealth generated by fish and other natural resources could contribute to the sustainable development of their province.”

More information:

Globalization, Trade Treaties and the Future of the Atlantic Canadian Fisheries

NUPGE on CETA

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Top 10 reasons to be worried about Social Impact Bonds

dduffy — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:01:46 -0500

Along with Public Private Partnerships (P3s), Social Impact Bonds are a bit like money laundering because they allow politicians to hide debt.

Ottawa (02 Jan. 2013) Social Impact Bonds are the latest magical solution for governments with deficits.

Like other privatization schemes, they are intended to help governments shift costs off their balance sheets. They try to do that by allowing the private sector to run services to make profits for investors.

Services being targeted include: developmental services, homelessness, supports for people with developmental disabilities, mental health, justice and corrections and public health.

Here are the top 10 reasons you should be concerned about the latest privatization scheme known as Social Impact Bonds.

10. There's no proof they even work
In spite of all the hype, there are only two projects up and running around the world. Neither are far enough along to determine whether these risky schemes even work. With that kind of track record, what could possibly go wrong?

9. They allow governments to hide debt and pass costs onto future generations
Along with Public Private Partnerships (P3s), Social Impact Bonds are a bit like money laundering because they allow politicians to hide debt.

Social Impact Bonds are just another “buy now, pay later” scheme for governments to borrow money and pretend it isn't debt. Auditors are now exposing the P3 budget shell game. But Social Impact Bonds provide governments with a new way to repeat that shell game and put more debt into the backpacks of future generations.

8. Setting up Social Impact Bonds is complex and costly
Getting agreement between the private investors and the government for the first Social Impact Bond was described by sources as “a time-consuming and analytically complex process,” even though it was for a relatively simple project. Detailed agreements involving millions of dollars attract expensive corporate lawyers and accountants. While many amazing things have been achieved in our life times, no one has figured out how to bring a lot of corporate lawyers and accountants together without it becoming complex and costly.

7. Governments end up paying no matter what
Just like P3s, it's being claimed that Social Impact Bonds transfer the risk from governments to investors. And just like P3s, it's safe to assume governments will be on the hook no matter what happens. Investors are only going to put money into Social Impact Bond projects that guarantee them a profitable return on their investment. And if something does go wrong, while the private sector may not do a good job of delivering public services, they are very good at negotiating contracts that give them plenty of wiggle room.

6. They undermine community agencies and charities
Decisions about how Social Impact Bond projects will be run are made by an intermediary organization whose first priority is to make money for investors. Community agencies and charities that now have some flexibility to innovate or deliver services in ways that best meet the needs of vulnerable families and communities will find their role reduced to that of a sub-contractor with no flexibility.

5. They provide a smoke screen for cuts to public services
Around the world, the governments most enthusiastic about Social Impact Bonds are those whose usual approach to social services involves a chainsaw. Funding from Social Impact Bonds is only a small fraction of what is being cut, but you'd never know it listening to cabinet ministers talking about them. These politicians hope the hype around Social Impact Bonds will hide the fact that cuts to social services are leaving vulnerable people with nowhere to go for help.

4. Investor profits and extra bureaucracy push up costs
The intermediary organizations setting up and running Social Impact Bonds add a new layer of bureaucracy to delivering public services. Those investing in Social Impact Bonds are being promised a return of up to 12 per cent a year. These are costs we don't have to pay when services are publicly provided.

3. Services are no longer accountable or transparent to the public
With Social Impact Bonds the public loses the right to find out how services are being run and the ability to hold the funders and deliverers accountable. Decisions are made by intermediary organizations who have a legal obligation to put investors' interests first. If there are problems with how the organization is delivering services, unfortunately there's nothing that clients, workers or the community can do.

2. Quality and continuity of services suffer
Those pushing Social Impact Bonds expect us to believe that kindly corporations will invest the money needed to provide services and be more concerned about helping those in need than making money.

The reality is the intermediary organizations running Social Impact Bond projects are legally required to put investor profits first. Serving the public cannot be their top priority. That means quality will suffer. Lack of continuity will also be a problem. Social Impact Bonds are usually a 5-year commitment. People will be left high and dry when funding ends.

1. Investor profits are incompatible with universal programs that provide a safety net for all
Social services are meant to provide a safety net that is there for everyone. They are how we take care of each other. If services are only provided when there is a guarantee investors will make big profits, we will lose that safety net. People who are deemed too difficult and expensive to help (some of the most vulnerable people in our communities) will be excluded from Social Impact Bond projects and will get no help at all.

For more information about Social Impact Bonds, download this research report:
http://www.nupge.ca/files/publications/Social_Impact_Bonds.pdf

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

Union leaders host Sudbury forum to put income inequality on the agenda

mluff — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:17:01 -0500

Top elected leaders from eight major Ontario unions will be in Sudbury Tuesday night to host a forum on income inequality in the province.

Sudbury (07 Jan. 2012) - Inequality is on the rise in Ontario. Wages are falling; profits are soaring. The poor are getting poorer, the middle class is shrinking and the top one per cent is getting a lot richer. The public services we all depend on are being slashed to pay for tax cuts for the richest corporations in the country.

So why is this happening? And what do we do about it?

A live town hall forum featuring panelists James Clancy, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury will explore the issues surrounding income inequality and the impact on the community.

Date: January 8, 2013
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Place: United Steelworkers' Union Hall, 66 Brady Street, Sudbury

"The growing gap between high-income earners and everyone else is the number one economic story of our time, yet with few exceptions our politicians and business leaders are either making it worse or ignoring it altogether," said James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "The purpose of our forum is to engage grassroots union members and make income inequality an issue our leaders ignore at their peril in 2013."

The forum, called "The Rich and the Rest of Us," will marry the event at the Steelworkers Hall with a teleconference of union members across northeastern Ontario. Broadcaster Andrew Nichols will moderate the discussion, which will include members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, NUPGE, the Ontario Nurses' Association, the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Service Employees International Union, the Society of Energy Professionals, and the United Steelworkers.

Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury, will join James Clancy as a panelist for the discussion.

"Social Planning Councils across the province have been working on poverty reduction strategies since we've existed," said Gasparini. "Talking about income inequality gets people talking about poverty in a much broader context. This is not just about poor people - it's about all of us. I'm really looking forward to the discussion."

"Growing income inequality is not an accident," said Clancy. "It is the result of deliberate public policies that have boosted corporate profits while reducing tax fairness, cutting and privatizing public services, undermining collective bargaining, driving down wages, and abandoning any notion that a successful modern province needs a modern industrial strategy. Exploring how we turn this situation around will be a key part of the conversation on Tuesday night."

A light supper will be served at the Steelworkers Hall starting at 5:45 p.m.; child care is available.

To find out more about the issue of income inequality, watch the latest new video on from the All Together Now! campaign.

For further information:

Deborah Duffy (613) 709-0382

NUPGE

OPSEU endorses LCBO plan to expand retail operations

dduffy — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:57:22 -0500

“The public wants to see the LCBO remain a valued public asset that contribute attractive annual dividends to help pay for education, health care and infrastructure.” - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (07 Jan. 2013) — The union representing more than 7,000 LCBO workers has endorsed the Crown agency’s decision to open ‘Express’ stores in several large grocery stores and to inaugurate boutique outlets for the sale of Ontario quality wines.

“This is a step in the right direction for the future of spirits, wine and beer sales in Ontario,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) which represents LCBO workers at retail outlets, distribution centres and at head office. “Consumers have said for years they want the LCBO to remain in public hands, but they also want to see greater convenience and the same high level of social responsibility that the LCBO provides. This approach is balanced and that is what people like to see.”

Thomas said the government’s announcement on December 31, giving the LCBO the green light to open up sales in grocery stores and specialty wine outlets, effectively derails Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak’s reckless pledge to put beer and wine in corner stores and to begin the privatization of the LCBO itself.

“Tim Hudak is on the wrong side of public opinion when it comes to the future of the LCBO,” said Thomas. “The public wants to see it remain a valued public asset that contributes attractive annual dividends to help pay for education, health care and infrastructure.”

Denise Davis, chair of OPSEU’s liquor board employees division, said the LCBO should go one step further and begin repatriating privately-owned and operated “agency” stores once their current contracts expire. Some of these high-revenue outlets are located in major grocery stores already and could easily be converted into regular LCBO retail outlets.

She noted that LCBO Chair Philip Olsson told public hearings in Trenton, Ont., last June that he was prepared to repatriate some agency stores, few of which carry quality Ontario wines or Ontario-produced craft beers.

“With the government’s announcement this week it’s time Mr. Olsson acted on his promise to convert some agency stores into regular LCBO outlets,” said Davis. “As it stands, many of these stores together take in millions in annual private commission fees – monies that more properly should be going to the provincial treasury but which do little for Ontario’s wine industry or craft brewers.”

NUPGE

Live town hall forum on income inequality to be held in Sudbury

dduffy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:17:39 -0500

The rich and the rest of us: A northern forum on jobs, inequality, and the future of Ontario – January 8, 2013.

Sudbury (21 Dec. 2012) - Inequality is on the rise in Ontario. Wages are falling; profits are soaring. The poor are getting poorer, the middle class is shrinking and the top one per cent is getting a lot richer. The public services we all depend on are being slashed to pay for tax cuts for the richest corporations in the country.

So why is this happening? And what do we do about it? A live town hall forum featuring panelists James Clancy, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), and Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury will explore the issues surrounding income inequality and the impact on the community.

Date: Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Time: Dinner at 6:00 p.m.; Live Town Hall Forum & Phone-In Show 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Place: Steelworkers’ Union Hall, 66 Brady Street, Sudbury, Ontario

United Steelworkers (USW) District 6 Director Wayne Fraser, Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, Ontario Professional Firefighters Association (OPFFA) President Mark McKinnon, Society of Energy Professionals (SEP) President Rod Sheppard, Service Employees International Union (SEIU Canada) President Sharleen Stewart, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and more union leaders will be on hand at the town hall event.

Union members in communities across northeastern Ontario will take part in the Forum by phone.

Details will be circualted about how to connect with this exciting event. You can download this poster to help spread the word.

To find out more about the issue of income inequality, watch the latest new video on from the All Together Now! campaign.

For further information, contact national@nupge.ca

NUPGE

Labour supports Chief Theresa Spence and Idle No More campaign

dduffy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:47:46 -0500

Chief Spence’s action has helped to galvanize a movement called Idle No More, which arose as a result of the federal government’s recent omnibus Bill C-45.

Ottawa (20 Dec. 2012) — The Canadian Labour Congress, of which the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is an affiliate, is voicing its support for Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, who is on a hunger strike in Ottawa. Chief Spence is determined not to eat until granted an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss conditions on her reserve and government actions that compromise First Nations communities, land and water. We urge the Prime Minister to meet with Chief Spence.

The deplorable housing situation at Attawapiskat made international headlines in 2011. Leaders there declared a state of emergency for the third time in three years in response to falling temperatures, and the resulting health and safety concerns due to inadequate housing. Many residents were living in tents, trailers and temporary shelters, and many residences and public buildings lacked running water and electricity. In one case, children, the elderly, and the ill were sleeping in rooms just a few feet away from a 2009 raw sewage spill that had not been adequately cleaned up.

The story is all too familiar for Attawapiskat and other First Nations communities. Chief Spence says that the federal government has embarked on an agenda that flies in the face of the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

Chief Spence’s action has helped to galvanize a movement called Idle No More, which arose as a result of the federal government’s recent omnibus Bill C-45. The legislation amends the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which will allow the government to approve projects on more than 160 lakes without consulting First Nations. Bill C-45 also makes changes to the Indian Act, including to land management on reserves that make it easier to lease out land for economic development without consulting band residents. The impact of these changes will be devastating for many First Nations communities. There is also continuing frustration over a lack of action in the cases of more than 600 aboriginal women who have been murdered or gone missing in the past 20 years.

More information:

Idle No More

NUPGE

Flaherty fails Canadians on CPP again

dduffy — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:16:00 -0500

"The real threat to our economy is the constant attack on the wages of Canadians, something being encouraged by the Harper government. When people have less income, they spend less, or they borrow more and they have less to save for retirement. None of these scenarios help build a stable economy," continued Clancy.

Ottawa (20 Dec. 2012) — Once again the federal government is refusing to put the well being of Canadians at the forefront of discussions concerning the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). At a meeting, over the weekend finance ministers from across the country met to discuss improvements to CPP benefits. Despite signalling he would consider improvements to retirement income, Flaherty again stalled the idea suggesting the economy is not yet stable enough to make such a change.

"Should we be thinking that the silver lining is that Flaherty is not slamming the door on the idea altogether?" said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "While that is progress, this wait and see attitude doesn't help those living in poverty during retirement or those having to postpone retirement because of a lack of income."

Government-administered pension plans were initially designed to provide modest benefits to supplement employer-sponsored pensions and personal savings. As the Caledon Institute of Social Policy points out, "The Achilles heel of Canada's retirement income system is that private pensions and savings plans never grew sufficiently to properly serve the replacement objective for many Canadians."

It is becoming clear that many are becoming frustrated with Flaherty's fallback position blaming the provinces for a lack of consensus on the issue. Many provinces have become quite vocal about the need to improve CPP to help Canadians survive.

"The federal government continues to throw up roadblocks on the path to improved CPP benefits," said Clancy. "The Harper government is failing Canadians due to its lack of action on such a critical issue. Their refusal to show leadership on this issue hurts people and families across the country, and hurts our struggling economy."

The next meeting of finance ministers takes place in June 2013. The National Union will, through the Canadian Labour Congress' campaign Retirement Security for Everyone, continue to pressure the federal and provincial governments to make retirement security an urgent priority.

More information:

Retirement Security for Everyone
President's Commentary: The top ten reasons to expand the Canada Pension Plan
CPP biggest pension fund in Canada
Linda McQuaig: Public better than private on pensions

NUPGE

NBUPPE makes donation to Pay Equity Coalition

dduffy — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:47:31 -0500

Pay Equity...it starts with you! campaign by the Coalition for Pay Equity in New Brunswick continues its important work.

Fredericton (19 Dec. 2012) — The issue of pay equity is still being fought in many workplaces across the country. To continue with the important work to ensure that workers receive equal pay for work of equal value, the Coalition for Pay Equity in New Brunswick is receiving an influx in important funding this year for its campaign, Pay Equity...it starts with you!

On behalf of members of the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBUPPE/NUPGE), President Susie Proulx-Daigle made a donation of $8,457 ($1 per member) to Johanne Perron of the Coalition for Pay Equity.

“Our public sector members will have an equal salary for work of equal value, thanks to the law on pay equity passed in 2009, mainly because of the work of the Coalition,” says Ms. Proulx-Daigle.

The public is being encouraged to contribute to the campaign to ensure the inequality in workplaces is rectified. Donations can be made here.

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Research affirms critical role of unions in reducing income inequality

dduffy — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 09:46:11 -0500

We will be doing a disservice to our collective goal of achieving greater equality if all Canadians don't mount a spirited and vigorous offence in support of labour rights and unions.

Ottawa (18 December 2012) – Unions and unionization are critical factors in advancing democracy within nations, creating greater economic equality and promoting the social well-being of all citizens.

Yet, in Canada, labour rights are under intense assault. Egged on by powerful corporate interests, the Harper government and several provincial governments are determined to weaken labour rights and the labour movement's ability to lead and help shape public policy.

Let me just briefly touch on some of the research which affirms the critical role labour rights play in advancing greater income equality.

In the past decade, there have been many social science studies which have established a strong link between declining union density and rising income inequality. In May of this year, a study by five Univerity of British Columbia economists attributed 15 per cent of Canada’s growth in inequality during the 1980s and ’90s to declining unionization.

Union density in Canada rose from 28.4 per cent in 1951 to 41.8 per cent in 1984. During the same period, income growth was shared proportionally across all income groups. Research by the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) shows that this coincided with a major expansion of labour law.

Income inequality has grown steadily over the past three decades. NUPGE research has correlated this rising income inequality with the major erosion of labour rights over the same period. Between 1982 and 2012, there have been 206 labour laws passed in Canada. Of those 206 laws, 199 have restricted, suspended or denied the organizing and collective bargaining rights of Canadian workers.

This dramatic drop in union density and diminishment of Canada's labour laws has had profound implications for Canadian society. As Canadian labour law scholar Michael Lynk has pointed out, this should concern all Canadians. “Labour and employment rights and the laws that buttress them are not the accumulation of privileges by a vigorous lobby of special interests, but the expression of core constitutional and human rights that benefit, directly and indirectly, the majority of citizens living in a modern democratic society.”

Even the notoriously conservative World Bank has noted the positive role unions have on national economies. In a 2003 report which was based on more than a thousand studies of the effects of unions on the performance of national economies, the World Bank found that “high rates of unionization lead to greater income equality, lower unemployment and inflation, higher productivity, and speedier adjustments to economic shocks.”

More recently, a major 2008 International Labour Organization (ILO) study found the countries in which income inequality was lower tended to be those in which a greater proportion of workers were members of unions. The study also found that higher rates of union density had a positive impact on the range of social rights afforded to citizens. The report states, “The countries in which union density rates are higher are also the ones in which the welfare state is more developed, taxation levels higher and more progressive, collective bargaining more centralized and labour law both closer to international labour standards and better implemented.”

Social scientists have consistently shown that unions also play a significant political role in the distribution of incomes. Two American political scientists, Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, in their recent book, Winner-Take-All Politics show how strong unions are consistently associated with low levels of inequality and more generous social programs. As they point out, “On the one hand, they push policy makers to address issues of mounting inequality. On the other, they recognize, highlight and effectively resist policy changes that further inequality.”

This and other social science-based research should provide us with the arguments and the confidence to engage in a national conversation about the valuable role unions play in society. There's no doubt that strong labour rights are a critical factor in countering the increasing corporate power which has been the root of much of the income inequality Canadians face today.

We will be doing a disservice to our collective goal of achieving greater equality if all Canadians don't mount a spirited offence in support of labour rights and unions.

We need to vigorously promote and advance labour rights, not just to protect unions, but to ensure that labour rights continue to be an effective democratic counterweight to the growing power of corporations and the super wealthy.

We must ensure there's a public discussion in Canada about the role of unions in promoting higher levels of economic equality for all citizens. We should not shy away from asserting the critical role unions play in making societies more democratic, equal and just.

In solidarity,

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

Reserve your spot at the Saskatchewan Women's Forum!

dduffy — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:08:14 -0500

For too long, women have been having conversations in isolation from each other about the current context that women and women’s organizations find themselves in.

Regina (17 Dec. 2012) - Interested in women’s rights, in connecting with individuals and organizations who have been working on women’s issues recently and through the decades? Want to spend weekend learning, having fun, and moving a women’s agenda forward in Saskatchewan? If you answered yes to any of those statements, reserve January 18 (evening) and January 19, 2013 for a weekend workshop for women activists.

This Forum, taking place at Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, is being organized by a coalition of women and organizations who have realized that for too long, women have been having conversations in isolation from each other about the current context that women and women’s organizations find themselves in. This weekend will be an opportunity to collectively develop how women in the province can move forward on important issues.

The program, which will be centered on women’s stories and respectful of intergenerational, intercultural and diverse experiences, is being finalized.To register, email michelle.beveridge@oxfam.ca and the program and registration will be sent to you.

In the meantime, please save the date! If you want to be part of the planning, volunteer at the forum in any number of capacities, or have other ideas, contact the organizers.

Registration is $50 per person. (If you are in a situation where you would only be able to attend with a reduced rate, or conversely, if you are able and willing to donate money to assist in covering a portion of registration for others, please let the organizers know.)

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Is Canada now the world's schoolyard bully?

lbush — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:11:39 -0500

The actions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs are out of step with the tradition of diplomacy that Canadians have been so proud of. The belligerent bully is not the persona that I want my country to adopt on the world stage.

Ottawa (05 Dec. 2012) - I have been following the actions of the Harper government as they relate to the recent incarnation of the Israel-Palestine conflict with a great deal of concern. In particular, I find the behaviour of our Foreign Minister, John Baird, quite troubling.

It won't be a surprise to anyone that I, along with the majority of the world's nations, support the UN's granting of statehood to Palestine. While I see it as mainly a symbolic move, it does signify a small step towards the realization of a two state solution in the region. This is another matter that the Harper government and I obviously disagree on.

But being able to respectfully disagree on a policy matter is a cornerstone of democracy. I might even contend it is essential to a healthy and vibrant society.

So, while I disagree with the Harper government's position on Palestine, I have struggled to understand the basic premise of their argument in the hope of engaging them on it. What I do not understand is the extreme and divisive manner in which they have approached the debate. The level of vitriol, accompanied by threats of retaliation, in the matter is wholly inappropriate, unhelpful and frankly embarrassing.

These actions by the Minister of Foreign Affairs are entirely out of step with the tradition of diplomacy that Canadians have been so proud of. The belligerent bully is not the persona that I want my country to adopt on the world stage.

However, it is more than simply a matter of Canada's international reputation that concerns me. Sadly, we have more than one example of our government bringing international condemnation down on our country. And heaven knows we have seen enough bully-boy politics from this government within Canada.

However, in this instance our government's actions also undermine the ability of Canada to play any meaningful role in efforts to resolve the ongoing crisis.

Despite Minister Baird's comments about furthering the peace process, his actions and Canada's vote at the U.N. have effectively ended our ability to influence the process. This is not simply my interpretation of the situation. It is shared by both Palestinians and other commentators on the dispute.

Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, has said that the actions of the Harper government portray Canada as too extreme and partisan to play any effective role in the region. He has said that voting against the resolution is one thing, but Canada’s approach is another.

In an interview in the Globe and Mail, he said that “I believe this government is more Israeli than the Israelis, more settler than the settlers. I think they have disqualified themselves from playing any role in the Middle East peace process.”

This position is shared by others. Journalist and Mideast expert Eric Margolis has said that “Canada can't have it both ways. It can't want to be the neutral peacemaker and, at the same time, be out there very militant on the issue of Palestine.”

I absolutely believe that this is not the approach to Foreign Affairs that Canadians want from their government. This government is betraying decades of work made to create an important peacemaking role for Canada on the world stage. This change in foreign policy conveniently forgets all those who served, and sacrificed, on U.N. peacekeeping missions in the belief that Canada was playing an important mediator role in international affairs.

Furthermore, our government has not gone to the people of this country to determine whether there is agreement to make such a dramatic shift in foreign policy. If we are going to change our international profile so significantly, Canadians deserve a say in the matter.

My union has long called for a full, open, transparent and public consultation on Canada's foreign policy and international presence. Such a consultation is needed now more than ever. There have been significant changes in the global political and economic forces.

It is time that Canadians had a say in setting out our nation's positions in international affairs.

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

When income inequality is allowed to flourish, our human rights are diminished

dduffy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:49:37 -0500

"People know that when economic injustice and inequality exist, our families and our communities suffer. Economic well being is a human right that must be protected." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (10 Dec. 2012) - Human Rights Day, recognized on December 10, has been observed by the international community every year to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration was one of the UN's first major achievements, and remains a powerful instrument and symbol worldwide.

This year, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), on behalf of its 340,000 members across Canada is focusing on the struggle to defeat income inequality, not only in our country but around the globe.

Income inequality flourishes every time one of our human rights is denied. The right to decent employment and working conditions, to a livable wage, the freedom to associate, to live without persecution and violence, to a decent standard of living, to an education are key elements to the Declaration but are slowly being stripped away from us.

Regressive labour legislation, stagnant wages, outsourcing and contracting out jobs to the lowest bidder, lack of affordable housing, high tuition costs are all conditions which allow income inequality to grow. When governments enact legislation to make it harder for Canadians to gain access to support systems such as employment insurance, pensions and health care but refuse to take action on the issue of tax fairness to provide much needed revenue to a suffering economy, income inequality grows.

"Rather than investing in families and communities, governments in Canada and around the world are implementing destructive austerity measures that will make income inequality worse," said James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "The good news is that more and more people are joining social movements focused on preserving quality public services, fighting for tax fairness and defending their human rights."

"More people today are speaking out about issues like tax fairness, the need for an industrial strategy and how unions play an important role in fighting income inequality," Clancy continued.

"People know that when economic injustice and inequality exist, our families and our communities suffer. Economic well being is a human right that must be protected."

"On this Human Rights Day, we want to thank everyone who has joined the conversation about income inequality and who are advocating for public policies that will reduce it."

More information:

Beyond the 1%: What British Columbians think about taxes, inequality and public services

NUPGE

Hudak’s LCBO privatization scheme could kill 10,000 jobs

dduffy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:05:35 -0500

“In many communities they are their family’s sole income earners. Why does Tim Hudak want to kill off these jobs that help build strong communities?”

Toronto (05 Dec. 2012) - Tim Hudak’s plan to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) could destroy as many as 10,000 jobs across the province, says the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).

And women – who make up the majority of employees at the LCBO – could be hit hardest by the job losses that will affect dozens of communities across Ontario.

“How many times are we going to go down this same, old path of selling off the incredibly profitable LCBO?” asked Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU which represents 7,000 full and part-time jobs at the LCBO. That number grows closer to 10,000 when seasonal hiring at Christmas-New Year’s and the summer months are included.

“Mike Harris tried it and he backed off. Dalton McGuinty tried it and he backed off. Why did both of them back away from privatizing the LCBO? Because the people of Ontario have told the government over and over again they want the LCBO to stay in public hands,” said Thomas.

In the LCBO’s last fiscal year, the provincial crown agency had revenues of close to $5 billion and returned a dividend of more than $1.6 billion to the provincial treasury – more than $2 billion including taxes – to pay for health care, education and infrastructure.

Thomas noted Hudak’s statement made no reference to the role the LCBO plays in protecting the health and safety of Ontarians through a strict policy of social responsibility which prohibits minors, those intoxicated and third-party purchasers from buying spirits, wines and beer at retail outlets. Last year alone LCBO sales staff challenged more than 1.2 million would-be customers for reasons of social responsibility.

“Tim Hudak is crossing his fingers, closing his eyes and hoping that private retailers will exercise the same degree of social responsibility as the LCBO does,” said Thomas. “But the evidence from other jurisdictions, like Alberta, points in the opposite direction. When the profit-motive is at stake, private retailers would prefer to make a sale than to protect the health and safety of their communities.”

Denise Davis, chair of the liquor board employees division of OPSEU/NUPGE, said the majority of LCBO employees are women – many of whom hold down one or more jobs in addition to their LCBO work – and they will be hardest hit by Hudak’s plan to eliminate thousands of jobs in towns and cities across Ontario.

“More than 60 per cent of LCBO employees are women, many of whom are lucky if they can get 10 or 15 hours a week of casual employment at a retail outlet,” said Davis. “In many communities they are their family’s sole income earners. Why does Tim Hudak want to kill off these jobs that help build strong communities?”

She said Hudak’s plan also threatens to destroy good jobs and family farms in the wine industry that is located in his own riding in the Niagara Peninsula.

“Does anyone believe that private retailers will carry many brands of Ontario wines, produced from Ontario grapes?” she said. “They’ll stock the most popular off-shore brands and dramatically weaken the Ontario wine industry in the process.”

Thomas said the liquor board employees successfully fought back against Harris’ plan to privatize the LCBO 15 years ago and would do so again if Hudak were to form a future provincial government.

“We forward to working with groups like MADD, police associations and health care workers, among others, in fighting against any plan to privatize the LCBO or put beer and wine in corner stores. We will put the full resources of our union behind this campaign.”

NUPGE

SGEU will continue to advocate for positive changes in labour laws

dduffy — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:29:57 -0500

"We already have six or seven layers of upper and middle management above most unionized workers in government. Why would we need to take another layer of employees out of the union and add them to this managerial bureaucracy?" asked Bymoen.

Regina (05 Dec. 2012) - The Saskatchewan Government and General Employee's Union (SGEU/NUPGE) will be assessing new labour legislation introduced on December 4 and will continue to advocate for changes that will make life better for working families.

"We are pleased that government is giving us the opportunity to continue to make recommendations. Now that we have the details of The Saskatchewan Employment Act, we will be able to offer constructive criticism on the wide range of changes being put forward," said SGEU President Bob Bymoen.

Some changes, such as reducing the qualifying period for maternity, parental and adoption leave, are welcome. In other areas, more needs to be done.

Bymoen pointed to the decision to index the minimum wage to both the cost of living and the average hourly wage as a first step. "Any change that helps the province's lowest paid workers is positive. However, we urge the government to first raise the minimum wage rate to a reasonable level, so that even regularly scheduled future increases do not keep working families in poverty."

SGEU/NUPGE has flagged some proposed changes that have the potential to undermine worker rights, weaken unions and increase conflict in the province's workplaces.

"One significant change that has the potential to fragment unions is a provision to exclude employees with some supervisory duties from membership in their current union," Bymoen said.

"Legislating large numbers of employees out of scope will erode unions' ability to bargain effectively, and may also deprive union members of their Charter right to join a union of their choice," he said.

Rulings by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board have made it clear that only those with the authority to discipline and the power to hire and fire should be out of scope. The vast majority of public service workers who have supervisory duties do not have these responsibilities.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has also stated it is unlawful to move a significant number of employees out of scope if the net result is to weaken the bargaining unit by depriving it of a substantial proportion of members.

Another proposed government change is to allow for the decertification of a union at anytime. Currently, union members can apply to decertify their union during a 30-60 day window each year.

"The existing law balances the rights of members to seek a change in union representation with the need for workplace stability. The proposed change will undermine a union's ability to focus on its number one priority - serving the needs of its members. Time, energy and resources have to be diverted to fending off decertification attempts. Members are better served when there is some certainty in their workplace," said Bymoen.

"We plan to work with government to address these and other concerns in the months ahead. We want to make the collective bargaining process work effectively and ensure that the rights of working people are protected as we move through this revision of our province's labour laws," Bymoen concluded.

NUPGE

Ontario public service members engaged, ready to take action

dduffy — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:50:49 -0500

The Ontario government’s attack on public structures and public service workers is political, said Thomas. “And the solution is political.”

Toronto (05 Dec. 2012) - More than 22,000 members employed in the Ontario public service have met with their bargaining heads and President Warren (Smokey) Thomas by phone and overwhelmingly voted to take action to back their bargaining teams.

“Employers will only give up as much as they have to give up to avoid a strike,” said Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). “What I’m hearing is a very high level of engagement and I think we’re going back to the bargaining table empowered to drive a better deal.”

Roxanne Barnes and Dan Sidsworth, bargaining Chairs for the central/unified and corrections bargainint units, emphasized the value of the direct communication they had with members during the November 28 and 29 telephone town hall meetings.

“This is a great tool to take back to the bargaining table,” said Sidsworth. “We have never had the opportunity to speak directly to so many members at one time during bargaining.”

During the town hall, callers shared questions and concerns and drilled down to the core issues in bargaining for quality public services, safe and secure workplaces and privatization. Over two nights, a strong tide of concern about employer demands for cuts to benefits and short-term sick pay, capped termination pay, an end to surplus factor 80, and two-tier wages and termination pay was demonstrated.

“By using direct communications with the members and a great team of mobilizers out there working with the members,” said Barnes, “the bargaining teams are able to look across the table to the employer and say: ‘This is what our members are saying. And this is what they’re prepared to do to hold their ground.’ The members are there and with their help, we can make a difference.”

The Ontario government’s attack on public structures and public service workers is political, said Thomas. “And the solution is political.”

"Members need to make their voices heard in social media and public forums," he said. “If there’s one place where we do have influence, it’s in the political arena. They (employer and government) can be backed off and backed down.”

NUPGE

Majority of British Columbians support higher income taxes at $100k: Poll

lbush — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:39:03 -0500

Most willing to pay higher taxes to support policies that improve quality of life.

Vancouver (03 Dec. 2012) - An opinion research study released today shows the public is ahead of political leaders when it comes to tax policy. It finds most British Columbians — regardless of how they would vote in a provincial election — are in favour of changes to B.C.’s tax system to ensure everyone pays a fair share and to enable new or enhanced public services.

Beyond the 1%: What British Columbians think about taxes, inequality and public services reports results from an extensive online survey of 1,023 B.C. residents, conducted in July 2012 by Environics Research Group, and nine group interviews conducted in Metro Vancouver, Nanaimo and Kamloops.

Among the key findings are:

British Columbians support tax increases for major corporations and people with high incomes;
67 per cent of respondents think major corporations are asked to pay less tax than they should, and 44 per cent say much less than they should;
78 per cent of respondents say people in the top 20 per cent of incomes are asked to pay less tax than they should, and 63 per cent say much less than they should; and
57 per cent said those making $100,000 and over should pay more, and nearly a third believed the threshold for tax increases should be $85,000.

When asked how they feel about their own level of taxation, most British Columbians (71 per cent) indicated they pay too much tax. However, the respondents were also asked if they would consider paying a slightly higher share of their income to provincial income tax (for most people representing a few hundred dollars per year) in order to help bring about 11 different policy changes. The changes included items such as “provide more access to home and community care for seniors,” “create a $10/day child care program,” “protect B.C.’s forests and endangered species,” and “eliminate MSP premiums.”

68 per cent of respondents indicated they are willing to pay a higher share of their own income in order to support four or more of the 11 policies, and 38 per cent are willing to pay for eight or more;
Respondents’ overall willingness to pay slightly higher income tax for the policies varied depending on which political party they would support in a provincial election – but only slightly. (On average, Liberal voters were willing to pay for 5.4 of 11 policies, Conservative voters for 5.5, NDP voters for 6.5, and Green voters for 6.8.); and
Younger generations (respondents aged 18-29 and 30-44) are significantly more likely to be willing to pay than their older counterparts.

Low trust in government and politicians curbs peoples’ willingness to consider tax increases, but there are steps governments can take to regain the public’s confidence — among them, making government more open and transparent (83 per cent say this would increase their confidence), creating more opportunities for citizens to have a say (76 per cent), reducing the income gap between the wealthy and others (74 per cent), and making public services more accessible to everyone (75 per cent).

“We’ve had this idea that tax increases are a no-go zone in B.C.,” says Shannon Daub, director of communication with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ B.C. Office, who led the study. “But public opinion is shifting, and if anything our political leaders are behind the curve. Not only do most British Columbians want to see tax increases at the higher end of the income ladder, they are prepared to pitch in themselves — if they know the money will support concrete changes, and if we do tax policy in a transparent way.”

“Taxes can be a contentious issue, as we well know in B.C.,” says Randy Galawan, who co-led the study. “But our research shows that we’re ready for a thoughtful, democratic conversation about how to make the tax system more fair and improve our quality of life.”

For more information:

NUPGE

World AIDS Day 2012 – Getting to zero!

lbush — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:25:55 -0500

This years World Health Organization theme for World Aids Day, December 1, Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths is ambitious but achievable says the National Union.

Ottawa (30 Nov. 2012) – As World Aids Day, December 1, approaches the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) hopes that this one won't just be a symbolic gesture.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the theme for World Aids Day until 2015 to be Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS Related Deaths. This year the campaign will be focusing on global health initiatives such as preventing new infections, eradicating AIDS-related deaths and ending the stigma and negative attitudes toward the disease and those living with the disease.

“The goal is certainly an ambitious one,” said NUPGE's National President James Clancy. “It is going to require a concerted effort by all the world's governments and every one of us. But it is achievable.”

There are 33 million people worldwide who have contracted HIV/AIDS. Of these, 5.7 million people live in South Africa. Indeed, the top 10 countries with the highest percentage people with HIV/AIDS are in Africa.

While a vaccine is many years away there are new ways of raising awareness that have been put to work towards eradicating the pandemic. Since the first World AIDS Day, held in December 1988 on the initiative of WHO public officials, James Bunn and Thomas Netter, awareness of the day and the illness grown immensely.

“We all must do more to achieve 'Getting to Zero'”, said Clancy. “It is paramount that the necessary resources are found to fund the global fight against HIV/AIDS. One tool that my union has been advocating for is a financial transactions tax, commonly referred to as the Robin Hood Tax.”

The proposal is that Canada and the world's nations would place a 0.05% (1/20th of one per cent) tax on financial transactions. It is estimated that this would generate £250 billion ($400 billion Cdn) a year. A large number of HIV/AIDS groups around the world have joined in the call for the tax to help fund the efforts to eradicate the disease.

NUPGE

Help stop the privatization of public services in Ontario

dduffy — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:00:14 -0500

Find out where your MPP stands on privatizing public services.

Toronto (30 Nov. 2012) - Bargaining has started for civil service members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) and it has become clear the Ontario government plans to privatize a number of public services across the province.

Privatization takes money from public services and puts it in private pockets. Polls show a majority of Ontarians disapprove, yet the Liberal government still plans to sell of Service Ontario.

The public service bargaining teams have a plan to bargain quality public services and prevent privatization. To privatize or contract out, governments should have to prove in a public, accountable, and transparent process that a sell-off improves services and benefits Ontarians.

OPSEU/NUPGE is encouraging the public to find out where your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) stands on the issue of privatization. Gathering support from MPPs for public services and against selling out vital services for Ontarians provides the bargaining committee strength in negotiations.

Ontarians concerned about these issues can to go the union's website to fill in a form which will be sent to the appropriate MPP. Public services need to be supported for the good of families and communities in every corner of the province. Make sure your voice is heard!

NUPGE

PSI - A Robin Hood Tax for the Common Good

lbush — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:57:22 -0500

Over 1,000 people take to the street to speak out for fair taxes everywhere at Public Services International.

Durban, South Africa (29 Nov. 2012) – Over 1,000 people attending the Public Services International (PSI) World Congress in Durban, South Africa donned bright green Robin Hood hats in support of the global campaign to implement financial transactions taxes (FTT) in countries around the world.

Guest speakers addressed the crowd during a special Robin Hood Tax for the Common Good lunch-hour event at the Durban International Convention Centre outdoor plaza.

PSI affiliate unions from Canada, South Africa, France, Brazil, Japan, the United States and numerous other countries are working with hundreds of civil society organisations in this major international campaign. The European Union is poised to adopt the FTT, following sustained lobbying by campaign partners including PSI affiliates.

In Canada, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has been one of the leading organizations in the campaign. National Secretary-Treasurer Larry Brown participated in one of the PSI Congress' discussion forums on the FTT.

NUPGE delegates to the PSI Derek Fudge, Elisabeth Ballermann and Larry Brown.

Fair taxation is key to the equitable redistribution of wealth. A small tax on financial transactions would mean big change for people. Such a 'Robin Hood Tax' could help fund good sustainable jobs, tackle poverty and inequality, make public services accessible to all, and strengthen the global fight against climate change.

PSI members, who represent 20 million public service workers around the world, and civil society allies are sending a strong message: it's time financiers paid their fair share for the common good.

NUPGE

A new TD bank report reinforces call for investment in early childhood education

dduffy — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:04:38 -0500

"If the TD bank took it's own findings seriously, it would tell the government to act now by investing in this much needed and long overdue public service. Waiting only hurts Canadian families and our economy more." - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Ottawa (28 Nov. 2012) - A recent report published by the TD bank suggests that Canada is behind on its spending for child care compared to other industrialized nations and that investment is needed to allow parents to fully participate in the economy.

The report, Early childhood education has widespread and lasting benefits, authored by Craig Alexander TD's chief economist says that "With an unquestionable number of positive effects, it is evident that more focus should be put on investing in, and improving, the early learning system."

It goes further stating, "There is a great deal of literature showing overwhelming benefits of high-quality, early childhood education – gains not only for children, but for parents and the
economy as a whole. A large number of studies estimate that the benefits of early learning far outweigh the costs."

The report makes the case that:

"Education is the ultimate tool to address many economic and social challenges. Increased education leads to improved skills development, which is the great enabler that allows individuals to unlock their potential. It creates a wider option for careers, raises employment, lowers unemployment and reduces the duration of unemployment. This leads to a higher standard of living for individuals. A more skilled workforce creates a more innovative and productive economy. It can address future pressing issues, like skills shortages. Stronger skills development can also reduce social ills, like poverty."

"This report is a ringing endorsement of everything we've said and the research we've done for decades proving that providing child care and early childhood education is a valuable public service, one that benefits society in general and the economy," says James Clancy, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Now we have the TD bank reaffirming our arguments. The only problem is when the author let's the government off the hook, letting the deficit take precedence over children's education."

Clancy continued, "If the TD bank took it's own findings seriously, it would tell the government to act now by investing in this much needed and long overdue public service. Waiting only hurts Canadian families and our economy more."

More information:

TD Economic Special Report: Early childhood education has widespread and lasting benefits

NUPGE: Our kids gotta come first

National Child Care: Signed Sealed Undelivered - Make Harper Honour the Deal

NUPGE

NUPGE Alberta VP promotes ATN campaign at PSI World Congress

dduffy — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:42:48 -0500

"The best way for any nation to combat income inequalty is to ensure its common wealth is used for its common good." - Elisabeth Ballermann, NUPGE Alberta VP and HSAA President.

Durban, South Africa – (28 Nov. 2012) – Elisabeth Ballermann, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) Alberta Vice-President and President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) led off the debate on a key NUPGE resolution to the Public Services International (PSI) 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa. The resolution calls upon PSI to adopt a policy framework similar to the one that guides NUPGE's All Together Now! (ATN) campaign.

Some 1,200 union leaders representing 20 million public service workers are meeting this week at the PSI’s World Congress in Durban, South Africa. Guided by the Congress' theme, In the people’s interest, PSI members are contributing to a plan of action that advances quality public services and trade union rights for the common good. NUPGE is a Canadian affiliate of the PSI.

In speaking to the NUPGE resolution, Ballermann noted that "growing income inequality is the greatest challenge facing many countries around the world." She added, "The best way for any nation to combat income inequalty is to ensure its common wealth is used for its common good."

Ballermann urged the PSI delegates to adopt a Common Wealth – Common Good framework that is focused on four broad concepts:

quality public services that meet the needs of all citizens and enhance values of equality and inclusion;
tax fairness based on a progressive approach to wealth distribution;
industrial strategies which encourage mixed economies based on sustainable economic growth, green technology, fair wealth distribution and social justice; and
recognition that labour rights are human rights and is a critical instrument to achieve higher levels of economic equality and social rights for all citizens.

Shortly after Ballermann spoke, the resolution was overwhelmingly adopted by PSI Congress delegates.

Discussions at the global union federation’s congress have focused on advancing different approaches to social justice and economic challenges that are based on the needs of the many, not the demands of the elite few who already have so much.

Fair taxes are key to the equitable redistribution of wealth. PSI and affiliate members are working with civil society allies in growing global campaigns to close tax havens and implement financial transaction taxes. For example, a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ could help fund good sustainable jobs, tackle poverty and inequality, make public services accessible to all, and strengthen the global fight against climate change.

Delegates also elected a new PSI General Secretary at this Congress, Italian trade unionist Rosa Pavanelli who vowed to expand PSI's role as a global champion for quality public services.

“Now it is time to work in organizing and fighting to defend public services and the rights of our members, and the right of all citizens to a fairer and more sustainable society. Together we can succeed,” she says.

More information:

NUPGE

Protecting ISC employees' rights a priority, but SGEU also concerned about long-term cost to province

dduffy — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:40:32 -0500

"We urge the government to consider the value of Crown corporations before dismantling public institutions that have provided excellent service and good returns to Saskatchewan people over the years." - Bob Bymoen, SGEU President.

Regina (27 Nov. 2012) - After the introduction of legislation to privatize Saskatchewan's Information Services Corporation (ISC) last week, the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) stated it will be working to ensure that employees' rights are protected in the transition from a public to a private corporation, according to President Bob Bymoen.

"Our first concern is that our members maintain employment security, and continue to receive the rights and benefits of their collective agreement," Bymoen said.

"We have built a solid relationship with ISC management over the years and are committed to working cooperatively to ensure the best possible outcome for our members," he added.

SGEU/NUPGE represents more than 250 ISC employees, who work in information technology, customer services, accounting and administration.

While the union is committed to advocating for the best interests of its members at ISC, it continues to question the decision to privatize. "Public corporations like ISC deliver cost-effective, high-quality services and are accountable to the public," noted Bymoen. "Revenues from Crown corporations flow back to the people of the province, benefiting all of us, not just a few private shareholders."

The government is hoping to net between $90 million and $120 million from the sale of 60 per cent of ISC. "But that is just a one-time payout. ISC earned $93 million over the past five years, and would continue to generate profits on an ongoing basis -money that could be used to fund highways, new schools, and long-term care homes," Bymoen said.

The privatization of ISC follows a similar move by the Nova Scotia government to privatize its government SAP (payroll) service by contracting the work out to IBM Canada. IBM will also be receiving contracts from five provincial universities as well as the Nova Scotia Community College.

More information:

NUPGE Reseach: New forms of privatization

NUPGE

Walmart workers protest on the U.S.'s busiest shopping day of the year

dduffy — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:19:07 -0500

"Walmart is more concerned about furthering its low-wage, McJobs agenda intended to line the pockets of company executives while their workers barely scrape by." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (23 Nov. 2012) - As part of the ongoing campaign for fairness and dignity in the workplace, Walmart workers across the United States (U.S.) are staging protests on the country's busiest shopping day, known as Black Friday.

Walmart workers are organizing protests from coast to coast to protest low wages, lack of benefits, workplace harassment and union-busting tactics of their corporate employer. Similar protests have been taking place for months now but the November 23 protest is aiming to be the biggest and loudest yet. A major goal is to hit Walmart where it hurts the most - its bottomline.

OUR Walmart, is a campaign organized by employees across the U.S. to expose the bargain basement working conditions offered by this profitable company. Walmart associates are being asked to take the Black Friday pledge to join other Walmart members across the country by refusing to work as a way of protest against these continuous acts of retaliation against the workers "who speak out for better pay, affordable health care, improved working conditions, fair schedules, more hours and, most of all respect."

"Walmart's campaign of intimidation and threats against workers who are fighting for constructive change in the workplace is shameful," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Walmart is more concerned about furthering its low-wage, McJobs agenda intended to line the pockets of company executives while their workers barely scrape by."

"The 340,000 members of the National Union stand in solidarity with these workers on Black Friday and in their ongoing fight for respect, decent working conditions and dignity in the workplace."

NUPGE

Saskatchewan government moves to sell off parts of Information Services Corporation

dduffy — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:28:44 -0500

ISC earned $93.3 million for Saskatchewan people from 2007-2011.

Regina (21 Nov. 2012) - The Saskatchewan government introduced a bill in the legislature this week for the partial sale of Information Services Corporation (ISC).

ISC is responsible for the registry of land titles in the province of Saskatchewan.

ISC earned $93.3 million for Saskatchewan people from 2007-2011. It provides high-quality services, at reasonable costs to individuals and businesses in the province. As a crown corporation, it is accountable to the public.

“The success of ISC can almost entirely be attributed to the employees and their commitment to this corporation and the people of this province,” said Bob Bymoen, President of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).

The union will be meeting with the ISC bargaining unit this week to review the new legislation.

SGEU/NUPGE represents more than 250 ISC employees working in high-level customer service, accounting and clerical positions.

NUPGE

Manitoba provincial job cuts hurt families, economy says MGEU

dduffy — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:08:15 -0500

“Manitobans have every right to ask Premier Selinger: What programs and services is he looking to cut and why would he endanger economic growth in this way?”

Winnipeg (21 Nov. 2012) - Manitoba’s NDP Government released its Throne Speech on November 19, which sets a blueprint for the upcoming legislative session and beyond. During the speech, it was announced that government would be looking for future cost savings by cutting approximately 600 jobs through attrition (not filling job vacancies from retirements in government departments and other means) over the next few years.

This will have a significantly negative impact on the programs and services Manitoba families rely on and negatively affect the province’s economy.

“We’re disappointed and more than a little surprised this government would put programs and services in jeopardy by drastically cutting jobs when it has consistently pledged to protect front-line jobs and our economic growth,” said Michelle Gawronsky, President of the Manitoba Government and General Employees (MGEU/NUPGE). “Manitobans have every right to ask Premier Selinger: What programs and services is he looking to cut and why would he endanger economic growth in this way?”

The Manitoba government has enjoyed stable economic growth in the past few years, partly because it has not cut jobs and implemented harmful austerity policies the way other jurisdictions in Canada have. But adherence to its own restrictive balanced budget legislation, which is the most draconian in the country, leaves the Manitoba government in a position where it must cut jobs to meet its own self-imposed budget targets. The MGEU/NUPGE has long been recommending to government that they get rid of balanced budget legislation. According to Gawronsky, it often leads to a weakened economy and an erosion of programs and services that support families.

The federal government has taken a particularly aggressive approach to cutting civil service jobs, and in April, 2012, Manitoba Finance Minister Stan Struthers reflected on Ottawa’s job cuts by saying, "We don’t want to be going across the board with the kind of cuts we see there. We’re not going to take the draconian, extreme, kind of approach that the Conservatives, either in Ottawa or here in Manitoba, seem to want us to take.”

Federal Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page has said restraint and reduction in government spending will act as a drag on economic growth and job creation, pushing the economy further away from its potential and delaying economic growth.

In this speech from the Throne, the province is reversing course and opting instead to follow Ottawa’s lead in cutting jobs for the short-term goal of meeting artificial balanced budget targets.

“What this really amounts to is short-term pain without the long-term gain,” Gawronsky said. “Those jobs will be gone in the short-term, and in the long-term we won’t have those people contributing to our economy. It’s not good economic policy. I think Manitobans support protecting, not eliminating, jobs and services and growing our economy.”

Unfortunately, in Manitoba, the government is choosing a different path, and it is the individuals and families who rely on front-line services most who will be the most adversely affected by this government’s decision to cut jobs today.

NUPGE

National Child Day marked by failure to meet children’s needs

dduffy — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:39:02 -0500

“When you take away those dollars in the name of austerity and deficit-busting, a child and their family are negatively impacted. Is this the sort of legacy our government has chosen to adopt?” - OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Toronto (20 Nov. 2012) - On a day that should be celebrated for achievements made in child protection and treatment, Ontario is shortchanging its most vulnerable young people by failing to provide adequate funding for their needs, says the President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).

“Today, November 20, is National Child Day across Canada,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “But the track record here in Ontario is one marked by a funding shortfall, cutbacks in services and insufficient staff levels to meet the growing demand for child protection and treatment.”

In 1993, the federal government designated November 20 of each year as National Child Day to promote awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) which spells out the basic rights under which children everywhere are entitled to: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. In ratifying that decision, Canada promised children the right to be free of harm and to live and grow to their full potential.

This year alone, Ontario faces a $42 million funding shortfall to the Children's Aid Society (CAS). To balance their budgets local agencies are forced to cut staff and programming at many CAS locations.

OPSEU/NUPGE, which represents more than 6,000 workers with the CAS and other child treatment agencies, is marking National Child Day by organizing noon hour “block walks” and other activities that will draw attention to the province’s neglect of the needs of vulnerable children and their families. The public will be asked to sign postcards to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Laurel Broten, demanding that Queen’s Park restore funding in order to protect and restore programs at risk.

The problem is particularly severe in Waterloo Region where the local CAS has been forced to eliminate almost 30 staff positions in order to cover a $2.5 million deficit.

“What our government doesn’t seem to understand or chooses to willfully ignore is that behind those dollar figures are real children facing real mental, social and physical challenges in their lives,” said Thomas. “When you take away those dollars in the name of austerity and deficit-busting a child and their family are negatively impacted. Is this the sort of legacy our government has chosen to adopt?”

NUPGE

C-377 has PMO support in effort to drive down wages and bulldoze unions

dduffy — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:00:45 -0500

If Conservatives succeed in killing or weakening unions, the real victims will be the Canadian middle class. Union jobs form the foundation of the middle class, even though many members of that class do not belong to unions.

by Ish Theilheimer Ish Theilheimer is founder and president of Straight Goods News and has been publisher of the leading, and oldest, independent Canadian online news magazine, StraightGoods.ca, since September 1999. He is also managing editor of PublicValues.ca.

Ottawa (20 Nov. 2012) - The Harper government is planning a sneak attack on unions that could drive down wages for all Canadians and undermine the Canadian middle class — yet the news has gone mostly unreported in mainstream media, with rare exceptions like Global News.

Bill C-377 is a private member's bill introduced by Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Russ Hiebert (South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale) that claims it will make unions more accountable, even though most unions already provide financial reports to their members frequently.

The actual impact of the bill will be to hobble many smaller unions severely, such as in the building trades — an obvious target. The bill's requirements would drive up all unions' operating costs and dues, and kill many of them in the process. If this bill goes ahead, the true victims will be Canadian workers across the board, whether unionized or not, because unionized competition forces all employers to offer competitive wages and working conditions.

Additionally, unions are always at the forefront of efforts for occupational health and safety. Killing unions or weakening them by draining them of the resources to fight for safe working conditions will mean jobs will become increasingly unsafe.

Although C-377 is supposedly sponsored by a private member, it obviously has Stephen Harper's blessings. Last week in Parliament, the Standing Committee on Finance heard from the bill's supporters, including Terrance Oakey. As the President of Merit Canada, Canada's leading non-union construction association, Oakey has a lot to gain if this bill goes through — his competitors will have to work with their hands tied behind their backs. Indeed, of seven witnesses the committee heard from, four are connected: Merit Canada, plus Canadian Labourwatch Association, Quebec Employers Council, and the Montreal Economic Institute, all having members on one another's boards of directors.

Terrance Oakey is one of Canada’s most vocal and effective union busters and bashers. So it's no wonder that he has such ready access to decision-makers around Harper. In the spring 2012 issue of Merit Canada's magazine, he brags that Merit "played a public and private role in ensuring that unions provide greater financial transparency." Reports from lobbying records recently released show he met with 14 Conservative MPs and senior staff members in October.

The Hiebert bill can be expected to connect with, or ultimately include direct attacks on the Rand Formula which gives workers in union shops automatic union membership. Harper, a former president of the National Citizens Coalition (NCC), where he worked with Terrance Oakey, is sure to like that because the NCC was formed to fight Rand. It lost that fight but went on to drive Canadian politics to the right.

"When union membership thrives, so does the middle class," Antonia Zerbisias reported in the Toronto Star on August 31. She was commenting on studies by Harvard University's non-partisan Center for American Progress (CAP), the union-backed Economic Policy Institute (EPI) in Washington, DC, and the Pew Research Center. All have "shown an incontrovertible correlation between the rate of unionization and the percentage of the nation's total wealth held by the middle class."

"In the U.S.," she writes, "The drop in the well-being of the middle class usually defined as the middle 60 per cent of households in terms of income has been precipitous. In 1968, when 28 per cent of workers were unionized, the middle class claimed 53.2 per cent of the nation's income, according to the CAP. In 2010, union membership had plummeted to 12 per cent, while the middle-class share of income dropped to 46.6 per cent."

C-377 will be a nightmare for unions, big or small. It will force them to fill out two dozen highly detailed financial and information schedules every year that detail all their spending in a myriad of different ways together. These public information returns must include the names and addresses of all the people they employ or have contracted with, detail their political activity, list all separate spending over $5,000 including specific pension and medical payments, staff salaries and the most minute details of their operations made public on the CRA site. If a union doesn't comply, it could be forced to pay a fine of $1,000 a day or $365,000 a year.

There are technical issues that could stop C-377 yet. It will cost an enormous amount — think of the Gun Registry — to administer a system that will review every union expenditure in excess of $5,000, for instance. There are 25,000 union organizations and internal divisions of union organizations in Canada that will have to file incredibly detailed reports under this bill. All those reports will have to be processed.

C-377 is a dream for people like Terrance Oakey because it would allow employers and anti-union groups to get extremely detailed information about everything a union spends money on, and the strength of the unions they are bargaining with. This information — which will be provided to these groups at taxpayers' and union expense — can be used to threaten collective bargaining rights and organizing drives.

Private member's bills are not supposed to cost significant money, so that restriction could kill this particular bill. But a vicious idea never dies with the Harper gang. Also, although the bill also may violate a number of provincial laws and jurisdictions, the courts could take years thrashing out such questions. In the meantime, the damage would long be done.

The only thing that can stop this bill is public outrage over this sneak attack on everyone's wages and working conditions and on the unions of those fortunate enough to have union jobs. At the very least, this bill will drive up union dues because members, ultimately, will pay for unnecessary bureaucracy. Without an outcry, Conservatives are likely to see C-377 as another step on the road toward their dream of killing the Rand Formula — and, along with it, the middle-class aspirations of millions.

NUPGE

Shoppers Drug Mart putting profits before patients

dduffy — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:34:05 -0500

Employees at Calgary outpatient pharmacies warn public care levels being undermined

Calgary (16 Nov. 2012) – Employees at outpatient pharmacies at three Calgary hospitals are warning the public today about a threat to the level of care being provided to patients.

“These pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are committed to providing the best level of care for patients, but their ability to provide that care is being undermined,” says Laine Burlingham, Labour Relations Officer at the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), which represents the nearly 50 employees.

Alberta Health Services has outsourced the outpatient pharmacies at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Foothills Medical Centre and the Peter Lougheed Centre to Shoppers Drug Mart.

In order to boost profits, the new employer is seeking to slash wages of new hires, meaning they’ll get paid between $6,000 and $10,000 per year less than existing employees doing the same work. Shoppers Drug Mart also wants a three-year wage freeze for existing employees and large reductions to vacation, sick leave, maternity/paternity benefits and pensions.

“Such a drastic lowering of wages and working conditions will inevitably lead to a decline in morale and the levels of care provided to patients at these Calgary locations,” says Burlingham. “Under these proposals, all employees at these three sites will earn less than employees doing the same work at hospital sites across the province. In our competitive labour market, qualified and experienced staff will leave to work at other sites and it will be impossible to maintain the levels of service Calgary patients now receive and deserve,” she says.

“Shoppers Drug Mart wants to treat these pharmacies like its retail outlets at your local mall and pay comparable wages. But this ignores the fact that the work done at these outpatient pharmacies is highly specialized and requires extra training and certification. They handle complex medical situations that don’t arise at retail outlets.”

This week, Shoppers Drug Mart reported year-to-date sales are up 2.7 per cent to $8.06 billion. “There is no acceptable reason for Shoppers Drug Mart to be undermining health-care standards for Calgary patients.”

NUPGE

NUPGE urges Harper government not to give into EU drug patent demands

lbush — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:23:45 -0500

Harper government giving into European drug patent demands during free trade negotiations. Move could raise drug prices in Canada by as much as $1 billion.

Ottawa (15 Nov. 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is asking that the Harper government reconsider giving in to European demands on pharmaceuticals in the Canada-EU trade negotiations. The union points out that the proposed changes to patent protections could raise the cost of drugs in Canada by as much as $1 billion.

Canadian Press (CP) is reporting that International Trade Minister Ed Fast will be agreeing to some of the pharmaceutical demands from Europe during upcoming negotiations for the Canada-Europe free trade agreement.

"That the federal government would ignore the interests of provincial governments and the majority of Canadians is unacceptable," said Larry Brown, NUPGE National Secretary-Treasurer.

"Provincial governments need to demand that this crazy push to sign such an expensive trade deal be stopped in its tracks. The federal government needs to remember that it should represent all Canadians and not just large corporations."

Sources have told CP that Fast is agreeing to give the EU longer patent protection for brand-name pharmaceuticals. This comes despite growing opposition from the provinces and Canada's generic drug industry.

Experts point out that the deal would require provincial governments, employers and consumers buy brand-name drugs for a longer period instead of the cheaper generics.

Recently, it was revealed that internal government research estimated the cost of the changes to the patent regime at somewhere between $367 million and $903 million a year.

A poll conducted by Ipsos Reid (available here) for the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Health Coalition, shows that otherwise high support for a Canada-European Union free trade deal collapses on the issue of pharmaceutical drug costs, with 69 per cent of Canadians opposing a deal that would lengthen patent protections for brand name drugs.

NUPGE

November 14 Day of Action for European Trade Unions

lbush — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:11:40 -0500

European Trade Union Confederation is calling upon Europe’s leaders to demonstrate their determination to deal with the deterioration in employment and to respond to the growing social anxiety felt by Europe’s citizens.

Brussels (14 Nov. 2012) - The European trade union movement has declared November 14 a Day of Action and Solidarity with large-scale mobilizations being held across Europe .

The call for action came from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and is calling upon Europe’s leaders to demonstrate their determination to really get to grips with the deterioration in employment and to respond to the growing social anxiety felt by Europe’s citizens.

ETUC is telling the continent's governments that austerity is a dead end and must be abandoned. Social protection and wages can no longer be sacrificed. This is a social emergency, and it is time to listen to what the citizens and workers have to say, and to change course.

The Day of Action will take various forms: for example, there will be strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. For the first time in its history, an ETUC Day of Action will include simultaneous strikes in four countries. Strikes are not the only type of action involved. Demonstrations will be held in France and in some Eastern countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Romania).

This November 14 is also a day of solidarity. Many countries will be holding actions to show their solidarity with the countries which are facing the brutality of the austerity measures and their consequences (Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands etc.).

Approximately 40 trade union organizations from 23 countries will be involved in the European Day of Action and Solidarity.

NUPGE

NSGEU rallies in support of laid-off Counsellor Attendants

dduffy — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:52:57 -0500

Those facing mental health issues need more support, not less.

Halifax (05 Nov. 2012) - Today, November 5, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is holding a series of rallies in support of the six counsellor attendants who were recently given termination notices by the Cape Breton District Health Authority.

These long-serving members of the Mental Health and Addiction Services team have a combined 95 years of invaluable experience treating and supporting patients with substance abuse issues. We fail to see how any educational program could replace the skillset these members have accrued after more than a decade on the job.

This is not the time to be putting people out of work in Cape Breton. Rather, it should be a time where we are focusing on creating new opportunities.

Supporters are being encouraged to join the rallies at 12:15 p.m. at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and at 4 p.m. at the Grand Lake Road Fire Hall. For the NSGEU/NUPGE members outside of the area, another rally will be held outside of the tourism bureau at the Canso Causeway at 12:15 p.m.

NUPGE

NBU members contribute to local food banks

dduffy — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:41:11 -0500

Union members contribute to province's food banks.

Fredericton (05 Nov. 2012) - During the last convention of the New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE), the union's Women's Committee collected financial donations to help fund the province's food banks.

Susie Proulx-Daigle, NBU President, on behalf of its members, presented a cheque for $1000 to New Brunswick Association of Food Banks (NBAFB) President, George Piers.

NBU President Susie Proulx-Daigle presents cheque to NBAFB President George Piers.

The NBAFB is a non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of food banks and soup kitchens throughout the province of New Brunswick to help those in need.

NUPGE

HSAA tells Alberta government: Fix the revenue problem

dduffy — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:06:24 -0400

"When the government cuts a dollar in health-care spending to balance its books, it is the patients who bleed." - HSAA/NUPGE submission to government's Dollars and Sense consultations.

Edmonton (02 Nov. 2012) - The Alberta government issued a question for Albertans to answer in preparation for its next budget: "What would you do if you were Finance Minister?" Rising to the challenge, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) has delivered its submission to the province's consultation on Alberta's fiscal future.

In it, the HSAA/NUPGE tells the government that "For too long, the Alberta government has relied on volatile revenue from non-renewable resources, including oil and gas, to fund everyday vital public services including health care and education."

Plus government has not put away enough savings from any sell offs of resources to ensure economic stability for the long term.

On the frontlines of health care, HSAA/NUPGE members have seen what happens to vulnerable Albertans when provincial government revenue slumps as commodities prices fall. Surpluses quickly turn into deficits – and deficits lead to intense pressure to cut spending on health care.

When the government cuts a dollar in health-care spending to balance its books, it is the patients who bleed.

The submission details how the province’s revenue model can be fixed by balancing the province's account through increased revenue, becoming less dependent on oil and gas money for funding vital day-to-day operations.

"Only then will we be able to create a stable, sustainable program of saving for the future," says HSAA/NUPGE.

More information:

Full HSAA/NUPGE Brief to the Government of Alberta on Dollars & Sense

NUPGE

NSGEU members sock it to poverty with winter campaign

dduffy — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:37:00 -0400

NSGEU/NUPGE are helping families across Nova Scotia prepare for the winter months.

Halifax (02 Nov. 2012) - Members of the the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees' Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) are collecting new winter hats, scarves, mitts, socks, and money (used to purchase warm accessories in bulk) for those in need until January 26.

Last year, NSGEU/NUPGE, supported by the Human Rights Committee, collected thousands of dollars’ worth of goods during our annual campaign. This goal for this year is to do even better.

Winter can be a very difficult time for Nova Scotians who are already struggling to make ends meet. On top of high food bills, they also have to cope with rising power and heating bills as the temperatures dip.

These additional costs often mean that people do not have the money left over to buy what many of us consider “essentials”: winter hats, scarves, mitts, and yes, even socks.

Whatever is collected in a region will stay in that region and will be distributed to organizations by the end of January.

How to get more involved?

Members are encouraged to contact their Local President in order to deliver donations or just bring them to the next union meeting.

Union locals can make a cash donation to the campaign from its discretionary social fund. Cash donations are used by the union's Human Rights Committee to purchase warm accessories in bulk.

Or start a collection in the workplace.

NUPGE

Top tax havens investigator kicks off anti-tax haven campaign

dduffy — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:27:20 -0400

Nearly 25 per cent of all of Canada’s overseas investment dollars end up in tax havens.

Ottawa (01 Nov. 2012) - James Henry, an internationally recognized authority on tax havens helped launch Canadians for Tax Fairness' Tackle Tax Havens campaign at a reception for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators on Parliament Hill on Monday, October 29.

Canadians for Tax Fairness, a partner of the Global Tax Justice Network, has developed this new informative website which features postcards and other messages to Canadians from a cartoon Tax Dollar trapped in offshore tax havens. Clever and smart, the campaign highlights the gross abuses being made by the wealthy and corporations to hide profit from being taxed.

Nearly 25 per cent of all of Canada’s overseas investment dollars end up in tax havens.

In 2011, more than $130 billion Canadian dollars were diverted to Canada’s top five tax havens which include Barbados and the Cayman Islands – an all-time high.

The issue is set for examination later this year by the House of Commons Finance.

Henry’s latest report, The Price of Offshore Revisited, received global attention for its reporting of an estimated $32 trillion in “missing” private wealth and its analysis of lost tax revenue.

The Tackle Tax Havens campaign complements the ongoing work of the National Union of Public Employees' (NUPGE) All Together Now! campaign which promotes quality public services, public service jobs and tax fairness. The ATN campaign, initiated in 2009, has been building a national dialogue about the need to fix the income inequality crisis in order to ensure we have a country that is fair, responsible, equal and full of opportunity.

More information:

www.tackletaxhavens.ca

Send your message of solidarity now

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Hurricane Sandy and reflections on government and public services

lbush — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:20:38 -0400

Events around Hurricane Sandy highlight the importance of government and the public sector. Both in trying prevent these extreme occurrences and in responding to them when they happen.

Ottawa (01 Nov. 2012) - Like you, I have been watching Hurricane Sandy with both awe and concern. The magnitude of the storm and it's destructive power reminds us that the natural world follows its own laws and that we ignore them at our peril.

Hurricane Sandy also brings home to me the absolute importance of government and the public sector. Both in trying to prevent these extreme occurrences and in responding to them when they happen.

It is readily apparent to any reasonable person that we are seeing the impacts of climate change. While no scientist will attribute individual weather events to climate change they will say that higher ocean and air temperatures do create these huge storms more frequently.

This was the conclusion of a recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. In that study the authors demonstrate that higher surface temperatures, ocean and air, create large storm surges in cyclone activity:

"The largest cyclones are most affected by warmer conditions and we detect a statistically significant trend in the frequency of large surge events (roughly corresponding to tropical storm size) since 1923."

"In particular, we estimate that Katrina-magnitude events have been twice as frequent in warm years compared with cold years."

I want to point out that 2005's Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest and most costly storm in U.S. history.

Professor Raymond Bradley, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts, explains that "when storms develop, when they do hit the coast they are going to be bigger and I think that's a fair statement that most people could sign onto."

“In other words, global warming is causing more intense storms,” Bradley said.

The majority of climate scientists think that as our changing climate raises global ocean and air temperatures we will see more and more storms of this magnitude – and larger!

The sheer loss of life and economic impact of this storm alone demonstrates that addressing the effects of climate change is the single most important issue of our times. And this is not even looking at the other possible negative impacts of climate change - such as droughts. Our governments should be acting swiftly to implement laws, regulations and programs to respond to this reality.

Unfortunately, a combination of ideology and corporate greed is preventing many governments from taking the necessary steps to address climate change.

It also must be said that the destructive impact of this storm was very much diminished through the efforts of the public sector. Consider the importance of the weather monitoring and reporting agencies, evacuation efforts, the emergency responders (firefighters and paramedics for example), health care workers and those who maintain our infrastructure. Imagine how many lives would have been lost without these individuals working to protect and assist us.

In the aftermath of the storm will then come the efforts to restore order and rebuild. Once again, the public sector will be front and centre of the work to return these communities to normal life.

However, these very services that served to protect and preserve life and property during this storm are finding themselves the victim of funding cuts. Public sector workers, and the work they do, the subject of attack and insult.

The very existence of those programs needed to restore hundreds of communities have been questioned and threatened by those who wish to shrink or get rid of public services.

I hope that the legacy of Hurricane Sandy won't be solely that of death and destruction but also of renewal in the belief that governments can be used to prevent, protect and rebuild. That there will be a renewed appreciation of the work of those that labour for the public good!

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

Coalition government in Netherlands agree on Robin Hood Tax

lbush — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:06:57 -0400

While previously a holdout on a Financial Transactions Tax the new coalition government of the Netherlands will join the EU initiative.

The Hague (31 Oct. 2012) – The new coalition government of the Netherlands in the agreement for governing the country have decided to join the European Union (EU) initiative for a financial transactions tax (FTT), which is commonly referred to as a Robin Hood Tax.

Previously the Netherlands, under a right-wing government, was seen as a major opponent of introducing a EU wide FTT. The inclusion of the FTT by the Labour Party and the pro-business Liberal Party as part of the coalition government agreement is a considerable achievement.

Campaigners see the change in position as a sign that the idea is gaining even broader appeal.

Under the agreement the Netherlands agrees to join the EU FTT initiative with the conditions that pension funds are unaffected, that the current banking sector won't be unduly hit by taxes and that the tax revenues flow back to the EU member states.

NUPGE

NUPGE urges members to take a stand against poverty this October 17

lbush — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:05:34 -0400

On October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging its members to support the Dignity for All Campaign.

Ottawa (17 Oct. 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is encouraging members to support the Dignity for All Campaign for this years International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Dignity for All: the campaign for a poverty-free Canada encourages people to show their support for ending poverty in Canada by:

Contacting their MP: Share their concerns about poverty;
Spreading the word. Let your friends and networks know that you want to see an end to poverty in Canada;
Tweet this: We need federal leadership against poverty in Canada #cpc #lpc #ndp #gpc #bq @DignityforAllCA http://bit.ly/3LgnjQ; and
Educating yourself.

Members are also encouraged to check out Citizens for Public Justice’s October 17 release of its Poverty Trends Scorecard – Canada 2012, which measures Canada’s progress against poverty based on a variety of indicators, highlights areas of success, and identifies where further work is needed.

Those living in the Ottawa area, check out “Ending Poverty Together: Real Stories, Real Solutions” in person (7 pm, Parliament Hill location TBD.)

Together, we can end poverty in Canada!

More information:

Dignity for All
Canada Without Poverty
Citizens for Public Justice

NUPGE

Strike action in B.C. community social services starts

dduffy — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:03:18 -0400

Members will be conducting strategically targeted strike action on specific days in specific communities around B.C.

Vancouver (16 Oct. 2012) - Targeted job action in community social services has started, beginning with a protest at Christy Clark’s constituency office in Vancouver on Tuesday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. (see BCGEU/NUPGE photos from rally here).

The bargaining committee assures members and the public that it has not taken the decision to strike lightly, but believes that job action is necessary to send a message to the B.C. government:

stop putting the squeeze on community social services!

We need a fair and reasonable deal, including a wage increase.

Members will be conducting strategically targeted strike action on specific days in specific communities around B.C. The one-day job action in Vancouver will be followed by one-day job action in Kamloops on October 17 and Prince George on October 18. Further targeted job action will be announced in due course.

Workers will be contacted directly if their agency or workplace is a target for job action. Plan is to target specific worksites in each community for each day of action.

The bargaining committee is focusing strike efforts on the B.C. government because the workers and the families they serve need a commitment from the government to recognize the vital role community social services– and the workers who provide them – play for vulnerable families in communities across the province.

The Community Social Services Employers Association (CSSEA) has not made a monetary offer at the bargaining table due to the restrictive bargaining mandate imposed by Victoria that dictates that all public sector workers must find “savings” in their collective agreement to fund any wage increase. The provincial government's CSSEA represents 220 agencies in the sector.

The Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA) is the multi-union bargaining committee for BC's unionized community social service workers. The CSSBA includes ten unions with a combined membership of about 15,000. The British Colombia Government and General Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is the largest union in the community social services sector, representing about two-thirds of workers. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Hospital Employees Union (HEU), the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) are the next largest.

NUPGE

Community Living workers rally to pressure employer back to table

dduffy — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:50:19 -0400

“This employer must come back to the table with a fair deal before the strike deadline,” said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “These workers have been without a contract for long enough.”

Picton (16 Oct. 2012) - Workers at Community Living Prince Edward (CLPE) held an information picket on Friday, October 12, as they draw close to an October 26 strike deadline. Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) are putting pressure on the employer to return to the table to negotiate.

“We went to the table ready to bargain,” says OPSEU Local 448 bargaining team Chairperson, Patti Markland. “The employer was unwilling to consider any measures protecting part-time and casual staff. They ignored requests for more reasonable shift length and distribution. In fact, they wouldn’t consider any of our proposals around scheduling at all.”

The employer has postponed their long-planned bid for accreditation, although it has been a long and much anticipated process requiring a lot of resources. This postponement is a clear indication that CLPE expects further confrontations with staff, who are key to the accreditation process.

“We can only understand their decision to postpone accreditation to mean that CLPE continues to be adversarial, and does not intend to negotiate with staff,” said Markland.

Within the last two years, CLPE has promoted a supervisor to manager, a secretary was promoted and a new one hired, and a new manager. In addition, they have posted yet another manager position as well as an accountant position in just the past few weeks.

“How can they say they have no resources to negotiate with staff, when they have just posted a notice to hire yet another manager? Clearly they do not consider their front-line workers a priority,” said Markland.

Community Living Prince Edward is chronically under-staffed. There are currently 90 full-time and 64 part-time staff to serve more than 400 clients.

There are 23,000 people living with disabilities currently on wait lists for Community Living Ontario. Of these, 80 per cent live at home with parents who are 70-79 years of age.

NUPGE

UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance is launched to support Walmart workers

dduffy — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:02:41 -0400

“If we band together and act as one, we can change Walmart.”

Los Angeles (15 Oct. 2012) - A new global coalition of workers was launched in Los Angeles, in conjunction with the strikes organized by Walmart workers to protest unfair treatment, wages and working conditions. The UNI Walmart Global Union Alliance is an international network of union members fighting for fairness, decent working conditions, and ensuring the right to join a union for all Walmart employees.

As one of its first initiatives, the newly formed Alliance released a report called Walmart’s Global Strategy: Undercutting Workers’ Rights which outlines the depth of Walmart’s anti-worker and anti-union stance and calls for the company to change.

Representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada joined striking workers in the U.S. from October 3 to 5 to support the workers in their campaign for change at Walmart.

The activists from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, India, Nicaragua, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia were welcomed by UFCW International President Joe Hansen who encouraged the Alliance to always remember, “If we band together and act as one, we can change Walmart.”

In addition to releasing the new report, the new Global Union Alliance established a world-wide communications network, ratified a Statement of Purpose, and built a strategic work plan for moving the effort forward.

Throughout the three-day conference, members of the Global Alliance met with striking Walmart Workers, and on October 5 they assembled in Pico Rivera to loudly march with the protesting Associates as they returned to work.

The Global Alliance then stood in solidarity with activists from the OUR Walmart campaign who held a press conference in front of Los Angeles City Hall, which received press coverage by a large number of media outlets.

More information:

UNI Global Union Walmart

OUR Walmart

NUPGE

Facility health workers return to the bargaining table to conclude negotiations

dduffy — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:57:02 -0400

Hospital, nursing home and diagnostic treatment centre and emergency health workers who play a vital role in ensuring the health British Columbians resume negotiations for a fair deal.

Vancouver (12 Oct. 2012) - The multi-union Facilities Bargaining Association, of which the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is a member, met again with health employers on October 10 to resume negotiations for a new collective agreement.

“We recently got a fair and reasonable tentative agreement with the B.C. government for our members in the public service. We now expect health employers to work toward the same conclusion for our members in health,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

“Our members have made it clear they want a wage increase while not seeing any of their benefits eroded.”

The collective agreement covers a diverse health care team that includes workers in hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostic treatment centres, as well as emergency health services and shared services such as, logistics and supply operations.

About 46,000 workers in more than 270 job classifications are impacted.

NUPGE

President Wales calls 'increase' in civil service misleading

dduffy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:17:00 -0400

“As Manitobans, we all have to realize that services are always affected. Any position you eliminate, even through attrition, is going to have an impact on the services delivered to Manitobans." - Lois Wales, MGEU President.

Winnipeg (10 Oct. 2012) - In a report released by the Manitoba Civil Service Commission, the number of government employees, as of March 31, 2012, stands at 15,300.

The numbers represent a three per cent increase over the previous year (when the number of civil servants was pegged at 14,878) but Lois Wales, President of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) says that’s not the whole story.

“The number of employees may have gone up, but it’s a little misleading. The figures don’t tell you if those positions are full-time, part-time, casual or term.”

The only places where new hires were seen remains in just a handful of departments, primarily in Justice and Health. Wales noted that in nearly all other government departments, staffing levels have plateaued or dropped.

“In fact, the vacancy rate in some departments is at an all-time high,” says Wales.

From what Finance Minister Stan Struthers said yesterday, it appears the province is not going to ease the burden on those still working in these understaffed areas.

"No doubt, there are positions that are vacant now that we can eliminate and repriorize within the civil service..." Struthers said at a news conference.

“That’s definitely a concern for me,” says Wales. “As Manitobans, we all have to realize that services are always affected. Any position you eliminate, even through attrition, is going to have an impact on the services delivered to Manitobans. Think about it: whenever you hear a politician make a promise like, ‘We want to invest in healthcare,’ or ‘We want to get tough on crime,’ these statements always result in hiring more employees to do the work and improve services. I understand their [the Province’s] need to get the deficit under control, but Manitobans need to understand that there are consequences to eliminating vacant positions.”

As another measure to slay the deficit, the province continues to say it will sell $80 million worth of Crown assets, but has yet to say which assets it plans to sell.

“These are all things we’re watching very closely to see what their decisions mean to our members. If they sell a building somewhere, what happens to the maintenance staff working there? These are the questions I have and I want to see more details on what assets they’re looking to sell because it might have an impact on our members.”

NUPGE

Walmart workers strike in U.S.

dduffy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:55:20 -0400

"Walmart workers need to know that they are not alone in their fight for labour rights. At NUPGE, we know that labour rights are human rights." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (09 Oct. 2012) - Workers in at least two cities in the United States have gone on strike against major discount big box retailer Walmart. As of this morning, workers in Dallas, Texas and Laurel, Maryland walked off the job, while others plan to join the strike in the coming hours and days.

Last week, on October 4, workers at stores throughout southern California led a one-day work stoppage in protest of alleged retaliation against their attempts to organize.

The worker-led Organization United for Respect (OUR) at Walmart has been working for over a year to try to make change at the company. Issues such as scheduling, benefits, wages and most importantly respect in the workplace are priorities for employees but management has been determined not to find solutions.

As per usual company behaviour, known worldwide for its anti-union tactics, Walmart has done its best to silence workers, discipline them for speaking out, made staffing cuts and even fired people for raising concerns.

According to Salon.com, disruptions to Walmart's supply chain is growing: from shrimp workers in Louisiana to warehouse workers in California and Illinois, in addition to the store walkouts.

On Wednesday, October 10, workers will demonstrate outside the company’s annual investor meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas. Other demonstrations are being organized at Walmart workplaces across the U.S. You can send the workers a message to deliver to Walmart management and investors tomorrow.

"These workers are putting themselves on the line against one of the world's worst employers," said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "We need to stand in solidarity with them and show our support, however we can. Walmart workers need to know that they are not alone in their fight for labour rights. At NUPGE, we know that labour rights are human rights."

More information:

Stand up, live better: events October 10

NUPGE

Guest Commentary: Ontario restraint bill much more than two-year wage freeze

dduffy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:28:03 -0400

If approved by the legislature, the Protecting Public Services bill would allow the government to not just freeze the wages it pays to unionized employees — ranging from nurses to home care workers to hydro linemen — but roll them back.

by Thomas Walkom, The Toronto Star

Toronto (09 Oct. 2012) - The Ontario government is selling its new public restraint bill as a simple, two-year wage freeze.

A close reading shows the proposed law is much, much broader.

Unveiled on Wednesday by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, it would give the provincial cabinet wartime-style powers over public sector compensation for at least six years.

It would give cabinet the power to scrap or modify salary grids — as it has already done with the province’s teachers. The government would also be able to unilaterally change or eliminate any non-wage benefits unionized public sector workers now receive.

And the bill would bar unions from either striking or appealing such decisions to the courts.

For essential services such as hospitals, where workers are already barred from striking, the bill would prevent contract arbitrators from basing their rulings on either the Canadian constitution or the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Indeed, the arbitration section is perhaps the most internally contradictory part of the draft legislation.

Arbitration is based on the notion of having a fair-minded umpire decide issues that management and workers cannot. But this bill would allow that fair-minded umpire’s decision to be overturned by the government, which to all intents and purposes is management.

As written, the bill would not necessarily expire in two years. Indeed, it gives cabinet the right to keep this extraordinary regime in place until the provincial fiscal deficit is eliminated — which the government says won’t happen before 2018.

Ironically, the Liberal government is trying to push these new measures through at a time when public sector wage increases are anything but excessive.

Figures produced by the government’s own Labour Ministry show that for most of the last three years, wage increases negotiated by public sector unions have lagged behind those of their private counterparts.

Only in the last few months has there been catch-up. Between January and July, new collective agreements in both the public and private sectors provided identical average base wage hikes of 1.7 per cent.

But for most of the last three years, public sector wage increases were below the rate of inflation.

One could legitimately ask why the government is spending so much effort tackling problems — excessive public sector wage hikes — that don’t exist.

The answer is that Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals have placed themselves in a box.

Fearful that credit rating agencies might downgrade Ontario’s debt (a move that could raise borrowing costs) they are focusing on the province’s $14.8-billion deficit rather than the recession that created it.

Politically, the Liberals figure the easiest way to eliminate that deficit is by cutting back the public sector wage bill.

Whether they can succeed is another matter.

The Liberals already have been punished politically for launching a similar attack on teachers. That, arguably, lost them this month’s Kitchener-Waterloo by-election.

The most recent public opinion poll shows the governing party in third place province-wide.

Nor is it certain that the proposed law can withstand a court challenge.

The government hopes that its plan to let existing contracts expire before applying the hammer will prevent judges from declaring its bill unconstitutional.

But courts are hard to predict.

In 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that similar arbitrary actions by the government of British Columbia were unconstitutional.

In 2003, the top court ruled that an effort initiated by former premier Mike Harris to stack the deck in Ontario arbitration cases offended the principle of creating a “neutral and credible alternative for the right to strike.”

Yet the Supreme Court also ruled last year that while collective bargaining is constitutionally protected, trade unions are not.

So we shall see what happens. This thing is just starting.

Thomas Walkom's column appears Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

NUPGE

McGuinty government now poised for attack on public services

dduffy — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:19:30 -0400

"The government knows this. The only reason for the government to want to come to the bargaining table is to demand concessions, cuts and pave the way for privatizing and selling off public services." - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (10 Oct. 2012) - Less than 24 hours after the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) offered to extend its contract with the Government of Ontario to put on hold any increases to wages and compensation, the McGuinty Liberals have served notice that they want to begin negotiations that will likely produce drastic cuts.

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas said McGuinty and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan have now shown their true colours despite their public rhetoric on “pushing the pause button” on public sector increases.

“There is no ‘pause button’ for this government,” said Thomas, “they only want to hit ‘rewind’. With the legislation they are proposing, it means one thing, and one thing only. They want to strip apart our collective agreement in ways that Mike Harris could only dream of nearly 20 years ago.”

The proposed Protecting Public Services Act would allow the government to basically write their own contract with employees and force it down their throats, Thomas said.

“Absolutely no meaningful bargaining can take place if this Act becomes law,” said Thomas. “The government knows this. The only reason for the government to want to come to the bargaining table is to demand concessions, cuts and pave the way for privatizing and selling off public services. Right now, our collective agreement is the only barrier that prevents the dismantling of public services in this province.”

Thomas demands that the government scrap the proposed law and allow real collective bargaining to take place as it should under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“We are well aware of the economic realities here,” Thomas said. “No one is looking for a pot of gold. We are informed, reasonable and realistic. But this attack by the Liberal government comes before we have had one meeting or even placed one single proposal on the bargaining table. The stench of desperation off this government is obviously clouding their judgement. We invite McGuinty to take a real pause, back off this half-baked legislation, and allow negotiations to take place that will benefit workers, citizens and genuinely protect our public services.”

Major step forward as 11 European countries commit to Robin Hood Tax

lbush — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:03:30 -0400

Details still need to be worked out but 11 EU finance ministers agree to impose tax as part of measures needed to curb risky speculative trading practices.

Luxembourg (8 Oct. 2012) – At a meeting of European Union finance ministers 11 countries agreed to proceed with a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT, and commonly referred to as the Robin Hood Tax) in the near future. While the details of the tax still need to be worked out, the finance ministers agreed to impose the tax as part of measures needed to curb risky speculative trading practices.

Most civil society advocates argue that the funds raised should be used to assist in reducing global poverty and addressing climate change though some governments argue that it could also be used to create a security net for banks and fund the EU’s budget.

The push for the FTT at the governmental level has been led by France and Germany who still hope that it will be adopted by the entire European Union though a few countries, notably the Britain and the Netherlands, have expressed concern about its economic impact.

The 11 countries that agreed to coordinate the implementation of a FTT include: Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. While many of the details need to be worked out though the EU Commission has suggested that trades in bonds and shares be taxed at 0.1 per cent and trades in derivatives be taxed at 0.01 per cent. Other countries can choose to join the process later.

This news comes as international civil society groups, including the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), push Dr. Jim Yong Kim the new President of the World Bank to use his position to advocate for the FTT.

In an open letter they say that given "the budget constraints facing many of the largest donor countries, it is widely accepted that new sources of financing are needed. Our organizations are part of a growing international campaign to promote one of the most promising forms of innovative finance – small taxes on trades of stock, derivatives, currencies, and other financial instruments."

As the global push for a Robin Hood Tax grows, Canadian advocates wonder if Canada will continue to be an obstacle to progress. At recent G8 and G20 meetings the Harper government was a vocal opponent to the proposal.

James Clancy, NUPGE National President, has repeatedly called on Prime Minister Harper to seriously examine the proposal.

According to Clancy "it is time that those most responsible for this crisis, and those that benefited from government bailouts, take greater responsibility for putting things right – both in Canada and around the world."

"As the global economy appears to be slowly recovering from what was the greatest crisis since the Great Depression, it is imperative that all elected leaders examine ways to both steer this recovery and take steps to prevent a re-occurrence."

"In this context we strongly think that a financial transactions tax is an economic policy initiative that merits Canada’s support."

More information:

NUPGE

Guest commentary: A man with a plan - Ed Broadbent on Canada’s growing income gap

dduffy — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:15:38 -0400

Ed Broadbent on ways to bridge Canada’s growing income gap, and why the one per cent should care.

by Michelle Ervin, this magazine

Canada is careering “strongly and wrongly” toward increasing inequality, Ed Broadbent told a crowd last Thursday night at the Steelworkers Hall in Toronto. With social implications that will be felt across the economic strata, we all ought to be concerned – even the one per cent.

The former NDP leader was tapped to talk by Economic Inequality, a group formed in response to the growing income gap in Canada.

Broadbent outlined four broad prescriptions for bridging this gap, and ultimately, for creating a fairer society: investing in good jobs, strengthening income supports, increasing access to public services and reforming the tax regime to make it more progressive.

He wasn’t short on specifics either. Concrete actions toward these goals might include funding skills development in such sectors as early childhood education; introducing a minimum guaranteed income modeled on the system we have for seniors; expanding affordable housing and creating a national child care program; and cracking down on tax evasion and closing “boutique” tax loopholes.

The biggest obstacle, most attendees agreed, is persuading the masses to pay higher taxes. Since slaying the deficit dragon of the 1990s, service cuts have become standard and taxes taboo.

Broadbent, however, borrowed a line from Stanley Knowles, who was fond of saying “taxes are the prices of civility.”

Investing in social services produces better outcomes for most indicators of a country’s well being, including lower crime and poverty rates, as well as stronger economic performance.

Although the discussion seemed to pick up where the Occupy Movement left off, the more than 100 attendees were more grey-haired than youthful like the face of last year’s protests. This may point to a burgeoning crop of ageing baby boomers concerned about making ends meet in retirement.

The growing income gap in Canada over the past few decades has been well documented, particularly by the progressive think tank Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA.) In a December 2010 report entitled The Rise of the Richest 1%, the CCPA found that Canada’s top one per cent had seen its share of income double since the late 1970s.

It was not until the most recent recession that Canada has seen so public a backlash against this increasing inequality.

“It’s long overdue that the top one per cent paid their fair share,” Broadbent said.

NUPGE

NUPGE celebrates World Day for Decent Work: tackling income inequality

dduffy — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:24:55 -0400

"To make a difference, Canadians need to pressure our government to take on the issue of income inequality head-on." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (05 Oct. 2012) - "We know that over 75 million young people are without employment globally, while others are working multiple part-time, temporary or informal jobs," says James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "On the fifth anniversary of World Day for Decent Work (WDDW), we recommit ourselves to working toward a future that builds a value-added economy which puts people, good jobs and nature at the heart of the economy."

The International Confederation of Trade Unions (ITUC), of which NUPGE is a member, has been highlighting the concept of "decent work" for five years. Decent work means a "holistic approach to the world of work, which includes the right to quality jobs, social protection, worker's rights and social dialogue."

This year, to mark the World Day for Decent Work, a special campaign website has been launched which shows, in the form of weather forecasts, the outlook for employment for young people in hundreds of countries all over the world. Young workers can take action by sending an email, tweet or Facebook message to their labour ministers asking for decent employment for young people.

"To make a difference, Canadians need to pressure our government to take on the issue of income inequality head-on. We need to start with fighting for tax fairness, protecting public services and be ready to stand up for worker's rights whenever they are threatened," Clancy continued.

"But to be truly successful, we must demand a modern industrial strategy to ensure that workers, young workers, aren't thrown into precarious work but who can look forward to good jobs to help them to live full lives, contributing to the economy and building their communities. This strategy must recognize labour, government and business all have a role to play in building a strong and sustainable economy."

"Today is a great reminder to all of us, in Canada and around the globe, of the important work that lies ahead for a more fair, just and equal society that we all deserve."

More information:

World Day for Decent Work website

Work forecast for young people

A modern industrial strategy

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care

NUPGE

Repercussions of federal cuts to refugee health care program: confusions, costs and compromised care

dduffy — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:23:52 -0400

Ottawa (05 Oct. 2012) - An investigation by Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care over the last three months has uncovered some disturbing findings regarding the impact of the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) announced by the federal Conservatives in June.

“The IFH Program is in disarray and being mismanaged and the health of all refugees is being placed at risk,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Chief of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital. “We advised the government from the beginning that these program cuts would reduce care, increase costs to other areas of the health system and needlessly threaten public safety, and regrettably, this is exactly what our colleagues are seeing in clinics and hospitals across Canada.”

The organizations has gathered firsthand examples of the treatment refugees are facing across the country, such as:

A refugee claimant, 36 weeks pregnant, is told by her obstetrician that IFH will no longer provide insurance for her pregnancy or delivery and to bring in $3000 for her next appointment. After weeks of anxiety and investigation, the IFH program admits they made a mistake and the woman will be covered;
A female refugee claimant, a senior with diabetes and chronic kidney disease, has her condition deteriorate because of lack of access to medication, regular blood testing and monitoring, and dietician education; and
A man requiring urgent eye surgery to prevent blindness is refused IFH coverage because he is said to be an “illegal migrant expected to leave the country.” Ten days later he receives notification from Citizenship and Immigration Canada that he is eligible for permanent residency status.

“The government is telling some of the most vulnerable members of society they are not eligible for important, possibly life saving health coverage,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College hospital.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is renewing its call for the federal government to reconsider its changes to the IFH Program. At the very least, the group recommends the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration conduct a thoughtful, thorough evaluation of the impact of the cuts to the IFH Program.

“Physicians will continue to track individual patient cases and report back on our findings,” said Dr. Rashid. “We are not going away until the government does the right thing and completely reverse these reckless health care cuts.”

More information:

NUPGE

Ministry proposals harmful to quality, won't improve access to colleges and universities, says OPSEU

dduffy — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:04:11 -0400

"This government is not interested in a genuine conversation with stakeholders on how we can improve and expand the post-secondary education system," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (04 Oct. 2012) - Proposals put forward in a Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities discussion paper will damage the quality of post-secondary education and increase government interference in higher education in Ontario, according to faculty, staff and students. On October 3, provincial faculty, staff and students' unions released their responses to the discussion paper, Strengthening Ontario's Centres of Creativity, Innovation and Knowledge, noting the government expects institutions to do more with less and provides no relief for students paying the highest tuition fees in the country.

"This government is not interested in a genuine conversation with stakeholders on how we can improve and expand the post-secondary education system," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). "Instead, the Ministry discussion paper and roundtables show their agenda is sector-wide cost-cutting that threatens quality education."

"After decades of underfunding, the Ministry's proposals expect colleges and universities to do even more with less," said Janice Folk-Dawson, chair of the Ontario University Workers Coordination Committee of the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Ontario. "Now we're being asked to swallow wage freezes, but the Minister won't discuss the real issues universities face-a lack of transparency and accountability, chronic underfunding and decreasing affordability. Ignoring the real issues facing the sector is a setup for a fatally flawed process."

Currently, colleges and universities in Ontario receive the lowest per-student funding, and pay the highest tuitions fees, in the country. The Minister of Training Colleges and Universities Glen Murray has made it clear throughout the consultation process that the province will not address underfunding in the sector, nor will it address the province's high tuition fees.

"The Ministry's proposals would take away the ability of students, staff and faculty to make meaningful academic decisions," said Constance Adamson, President of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). "Already, staff, professors, and librarians are expected to do more with less, even as government threatens to undermine our constitutionally protected collective bargaining rights. Now the government wants to exert more control over our work. The government does not have the experience or expertise to make good decisions for students. We do."

"Students have been speaking out on our campuses about everything from the impact of high fees on students' mental health to not having enough seats in our lecture halls," said Sarah Jayne King, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "With tuition fees and student debt at record levels in Ontario and youth high rates of youth unemployment, the government's priority should be increasing funding and dropping fees, not cutting corners."

Faculty, staff and students are calling on the government to improve the quality of colleges and universities and make sure that all students can afford to attend.

Collectively, CUPE, OCUFA and OPSEU/NUPGE represent more than 65,000 academic and support staff at colleges and universities, and CFS-Ontario represents over 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students across Ontario.

NUPGE

BCGEU calls for investment in green infrastructure projects and public services

dduffy — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:17:08 -0400

"Austerity measures will exacerbate the economic challenges we face and create undue hardship on many of our province’s most vulnerable citizens,” says Walker.

Vancouver (04 Oct. 2012) - In a submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services today, Darryl Walker, President of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) presented recommendations for provincial tax and program spending priorities.

The BCGEU/NUPGE urged the committee to consider four recommendations which would create a framework to rebuild public services, address the crisis in our resource sector, promote equality, sustainability and productivity, expand government revenues and implement tax fairness.

The recommendations include:

ensure resource ministries that support economic growth are funded to allow them to clear backlogged requests by the end of 2013/14;
ensure adequate funding of social programs to meet increasing demand for services;
provide adequate funding to ensure fair collective agreements in all sectors; and
give due consideration to revenue options to fund needed services and address growing inequality in British Columbia.

“Efforts to reduce the deficit have disproportionately focused on cutting public sector jobs, wages and social programs. Austerity measures will exacerbate the economic challenges we face and create undue hardship on many of our province’s most vulnerable citizens,” says Walker. “We need to focus on increasing provincial revenue and spurring economic activity. This should include expanded hours and Sunday openings at public liquor stores, eliminating the permit backlog and a broad review of Crown agencies.”

“Last week we successfully negotiated a new collective agreement for 25,000 direct government workers. The government can build on that success by negotiating fair and reasonable agreements in other sectors as well. A fair agreement isn’t just good for the men and women who deliver these important public services. It is also good for the province,” says Walker.

“We are committed to productivity, innovation and service,” says Walker. “I would urge the government to consult with front-line public service workers. Their input in the decision-making process will lead to operational and procedural changes that are good for all British Columbians.”

More information:

Read the BCGEU submission

NUPGE

Austerity agenda endangers Ontario’s natural wilderness: OPSEU

dduffy — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:10:15 -0400

“Dalton McGuinty has tossed his so-called ‘green agenda’ into the trash can,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

Toronto (03 Oct. 2012) - The gutting of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has accelerated and the real victims will be future generations of Ontarians who, thanks to the latest round of budget cuts courtesy of the McGuinty government, will scarcely recognize the province’s once rugged charm and beauty.

“Dalton McGuinty has tossed his so-called ‘green agenda’ into the trash can,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). “And with it, the preservation of Ontario’s natural geographic wilderness can now be found in a category titled ‘endangered.’

“This should be of grave concern to all Ontarians and to the millions of out-of-province tourists who visit us precisely because of our wilderness spaces and the amenities they provide to nature lovers.”

Thomas was responding to this week’s announcement by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s to dramatically reduce the number of provincial parks available for overnight camping, a move that includes elimination of the widely-admired Ontario Ranger Program and all visitor services in the affected parks.

In all, this latest attack by Duncan on provincial public services will mean 124 positions, including 102 seasonal employees, will be axed.

Thomas said the loss of the Ontario Ranger Program was especially disturbing. The 68-year summer work experience program (formerly called Junior Rangers) introduced thousands of teens to Ontario’s wilderness, thereby building respect for the outdoors and fostering stewardship of the province’s natural resources.

Duncan’s actions demonstrate his profound indifference to the findings contained in last year’s report by Ontario’s Environment Commissioner. In it, Commissioner Gord Miller harshly criticized the Liberal government for slashing funding to the Ministry of Natural Resources to levels not seen since 1992. The report said that MNR operational funding is 22 per cent less today than it was 20 years ago.

The ongoing devastation of the MNR operating budget comes at a time when the province is aggressively promoting mineral exploitation in the Far North, like the ambitious Ring of Fire.

“More than ever we need the MNR to serve as a watchdog and a custodian of our natural resources in the face of mining industry,” said Thomas. “Instead of gutting the Ministry’s budget, we should be putting more resources into protection of our natural habitats that could be permanently scarred by mining interests."

“The finance minister had the audacity to say these cutbacks at MNR will be achieved in the name of preserving our public services,” he added. “This would be comical if it weren’t so sad. It’s double-speak of the highest order.”

NUPGE

Ministry of Labour gives with one hand, takes from the other

dduffy — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:35:39 -0400

McGuinty uses slight of hand announcement to further his austerity agenda: announces hiring of 18 ESA officers one day; lays off 19 days later.

Toronto (02 Oct. 2012) - An announcement last week by the Ministry of Labour that it intends to strengthen the Employment Standards Act (ESA) by hiring 18 additional enforcement officers was quietly followed days later by a decision to lay off 19 staff doing investigative work.

On September 17, the Ministry announced with considerable media fanfare that it was hiring the additional officers in a bid to “protect” vulnerable workers from predatory employers who fail to meet minimum standards of wages, hours of work, paid holidays and other regulations under the Act.

Three days later, on Sept. 20, 19 employment standards officers were told they were out of a job, as part of the government's austerity agenda. Seventeen of the 19 officers have 20 or more years of service with the provincial government.

“This move has all the hallmarks of how the McGuinty government goes about misguiding the public and distorting the truth about the future of public services in Ontario,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “The Ministry said this was a ‘proactive’ move on its part to protect vulnerable workers; I say it doesn’t move the yardsticks one inch forward in protecting the workplace rights of employees.”

The duties of employment standards officers include investigating complaints from workers, many of whom are new Canadians and who come from minority groups, when their employers fail to meet the requirements of the Act. Each of the affected officers facing layoffs carries an average of 25 investigations at any one time. Under ESA regulations, they are required to clear a case within 40 days or pass the file to a more senior officer.

“When you get past all the bafflegab coming out of the Minister’s office what we really see is how the government is eliminating that first level of investigation by punting cases to other officers who are already overworked,” said Thomas. “No matter how the Ministry wants to spin this, the issue is that these changes do nothing to strengthen working conditions for tens of thousands of marginalized workers who already bear the cost of unethical and unscrupulous employers.”

NUPGE

Correctional officers calling on government to address jail conditions in Ontario

dduffy — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:37:43 -0400

Workers speak out about overcrowding, understaffing, out-dated equipment and increasing violent incidents while Corrections Minister fails to act.

London (28 Sept. 2012) - Correctional officers at London’s Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre will hold an information picket to protest the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ lack of action in addressing deteriorating jail conditions across the province.

The picket will take place at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, 711 Exeter Rd in London, Ontario at noon today.

Officials with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) local which represents the workers at the Detention Centre continue to speak out regarding overcrowding, understaffing, record numbers of violent incidents, outdated equipment and the failure of Liberal Corrections Minister Madeleine Meilleur to act on these issues.

“Jails throughout the province are faced with dangerously low staffing levels as the government imposed hiring freeze continues,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President. “Accompanied by overcrowding, lack of personal protective equipment and infrastructure issues, the recipe for disaster is imminent.”

Dan Sidsworth, Provincial Chair of the union's Corrections Division, said that the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre is on par for reaching 278 inmate-on-inmate assaults by the end of 2012.

“Two coroner’s inquests have recommended hiring more staff to supervise the inmates but this has been rejected by the province,” Sidsworth said. “Correctional officers are working with insufficient and broken equipment, however, the safety of the inmates and staff are subject to Minister Meilleur’s budget.”

NUPGE

Pension battle: "This government can be swayed"

dduffy — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 20:16:08 -0400

As a result of the telephone town hall meetings many members were shocked at the possibility of losing control of their retirement savings, while others questioned the legality of the McGuinty plan.

Toronto (26 Sept. 2012) - Members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) have the power to stop a government takeover of their pension plans, thousands heard on two telephone town hall meetings this week.

“This government can be swayed if there are enough people going in to see them,” said OPSEU Region 2 Vice-President Mike Grimaldi told callers. “There are already splits in Cabinet on this.”

Some 18,000 OPSEU/NUPGE members joined four telephone calls held September 20 and 24 to learn more about the McGuinty government’s plan to pool dozens of pension plans to create a single super-fund controlled by private-sector managers.

“The only people who are going to benefit from this are actuaries who are going to figure out how this works and a bunch of investment bankers who are going control the fund,” said Grimaldi.

Many members were shocked at the possibility of losing control of their retirement savings, while others questioned the legality of the McGuinty plan.

“How can the government have the authority to just take control of our pension plans?” asked one caller. “What stops them from going into our bank accounts and taking our money?” asked another.

Grimaldi and fellow panelists President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and Region 5 Vice-President Nancy Pridham questioned whether the McGuinty plan could survive a court challenge.

“We like our chances on a legal challenge,” said Thomas, who emphasized the importance for members of political action.

“How they would craft legislation is still quite a mystery,” he said. “We’re not quite clear how they would proceed but our goal is to stop them from proceeding.”

Thomas and his fellow Executive Board Members called on OPSEU/NUPGE members to visit the web site at amatteroftrust.org and contact their MPPs.

“If you take four or five of your co-workers in to your MPPs office, that is going to have a major impact on the way this government moves,” said Grimaldi. “We can stop the government. The collective power of people can stop them.”

More information:

OPSEU: A Matter of Trust

NUPGE

NAPE concerned with negative impact of cuts to province’s healthcare system

dduffy — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:54:14 -0400

“We fully expect that the negative impact on our healthcare system will only worsen in the foreseeable future if the current trend of cutbacks is not stopped,” continued Furlong.

St. John's (26 Sept. 2012) - Cuts and other cost saving measures are having a negative impact on the healthcare system, particularly with regards to patient care and staff workloads, says Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE).

“Our members across the province are saying that cost saving measures implemented by the various healthcare authorities is leading to reduced patient care, staffing shortages, reduced hours of work in some important fields, fewer opportunities for professional development, and increased stress and strain on our province’s healthcare workers,” said Furlong.

“Our hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities should not be run like factories. We are talking about our healthcare system – a system that must focus on the patients and ensure that the people of this province have the level of care that they expect and deserve.”

In recent months, the real impact of cutbacks on our province’s healthcare system has become painfully apparent.

Failure to replace staff on leave, increased responsibilities, and reduced hours of work is leading to excessive workloads. As a result, staff-on-duty are left to prioritize patient care which means that the needs of all patients cannot be adequately addressed. Recruitment and retention issues in some areas makes the situation worse. Trades workers are leaving their positions for more lucrative work in the private sector. As some workers retire, positions are not being refilled or are turned into temporary ones making it difficult to recruit the most qualified people.

“We fully expect that the negative impact on our healthcare system will only worsen in the foreseeable future if the current trend is not stopped,” continued Furlong. “The Minister of Health, as well as management at the health authorities, must listen to our province’s health care workers when they raise concerns about their workloads, working conditions, stress and patient care – not ignore them.”

NUPGE

BCGEU questions grim economic picture painted in government’s Quarterly Report

dduffy — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:17:45 -0400

“Spending reductions will put added pressure on public services like social workers and child protection,” said Darryl Walker, BCGEU President.

Vancouver (21 Sept. 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is puzzled by statements outlined in the B.C. government’s Quarterly Report that suggest the province’s economic health has declined.

“On August 7, then Finance Minister Kevin Falcon stated publicly that he had ‘good news coming out of public accounts,’ boasting that ‘once again we outperformed’ and ‘we are on track for a surplus budget next year,’ said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “Today, Finance Minister Mike de Jong is saying that B.C.’s economy has worsened. How could it have changed so drastically in one month’s time?”

The union is also concerned about spending reductions and other measures the government wants to employ to address the shortfall. The government’s own facts point to a better economic picture than Minister de Jong is suggesting. Retails sales are up, employment is up and is forecast to continue on an upward trend.

“Spending reductions will put added pressure on public services like social workers and child protection,” said Walker.

“We expect that any savings realized by the government’s hiring freeze and our overtime ban will go towards a better offer for our members who have not had a raise in three and a half years.”

The BCGEU/NUPGE is also seeking information about the bargaining mandate review announced in the report. The union remains committed to reaching a fair and reasonable settlement for its members who work for the B.C. government and is open to returning to the bargaining table to conclude an agreement.

The union has more than 25,000 members in the B.C. public service. The collective agreement expired on March 31, 2012.

NUPGE

Quebec P3 subject of raid by anti-corruption squad

dduffy — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:18:16 -0400

McGill University Health Centre P3 in the middle of more scandal.

Montreal (20 Sept. 2012) - The recent raid of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) by police investigating concerns about the public-private partnership (P3) project to build a hospital is a reminder of the seamy side of privatization. But this is not the first problem with the MUHC P3 hospital.

This P3 project has come under fire twice already. First, Quebec's auditor general found errors in the cost comparison between the P3 and public options for the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). When those errors were corrected, the P3 option went from being $33.8 million cheaper than the public option to $10.4 million more expensive.

Then, two months ago, it was announced that the P3 hospital would be four months late opening.

Privatization proponents see the MUHC P3 as an example for other private hospitals to follow. In 2010, the MUHC P3 received a Gold Award for Project Financing from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

The MUHC P3 example is one more reminder of the problems caused by keeping information about privatization from the public. Rules requiring transparency and accountability are needed to protect the public interest when the privatization is proposed for public services.

The Public Services Foundation of Canada has put out a five point plan to protect the public interest when privatizing services was proposed. You can find that plan in the Foundation's report Something to Value.

More information:

Public Service Foundation of Canada: Something to Value

NUPGE

Public consultations announced for liquor and lotteries merger in Manitoba

dduffy — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:44:15 -0400

“Liquor and gaming are two very unique industries requiring careful and socially responsible oversight to ensure safe and healthy communities,” said Lois Wales, MGEU President.

Winnipeg (14 Sept. 2012) - The Manitoba government has announced consultations on the merging of the Manitoba Liquor Commission and the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation and has invited the public to make their views known. Manitobans will be asked for their ideas on how to reduce red tape, improve consumer choice, and enhance public safety and social responsibility.

Clearly, employees with the Manitoba Liquor Commissions, the Manitoba Gaming Commission, Manitoba Lotteries, and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, as well as numerous social service agencies, have an interest in the consultations and the next steps in the evolution of the soon to be operational Liquor and Gaming entity.

“Liquor and gaming are two very unique industries requiring careful and socially responsible oversight to ensure safe and healthy communities,” said Lois Wales, President of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE). “Our members work on the front-lines and care about the social and economic impacts of these industries not just as employees but also as community members. Their perspective and ideas need to be taken into account as the government considers these important changes.”

The MGEU will be making a presentation to the Liquor and Gaming Regulatory Consultation Committee on behalf of our members in an effort to bring forward concerns that have arisen since the merger was announced. However, if you or someone you know would like to participate in the consultations, and bring your perspective to the table, you are encouraged to do so.

Public consultations will be held in the following six communities across Manitoba:

Arborg, Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 3 to 7 p.m.;
Thompson, Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 3 to 7 p.m.;
The Pas, Thursday, Sept. 20 from 3 to 7 p.m.;
Brandon, Monday, Sept. 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.;
Winkler, Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 3 to 7 p.m.; and
Winnipeg, Thursday, Sept. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Anyone planning to attend a consultation to make a presentation, is required to register in advance with the Liquor and Gaming Regulatory Consultation Committee by phone at 204-954-9452 or 1-800-782-0363 ext. 452 (toll-free) or by email at consultations@mgcc.mb.ca.

NUPGE

University education in Canada becoming less affordable: CCPA

dduffy — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:42:33 -0400

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) study reminds provincial governments: You can't pay for education with a tax credit.

Ottawa (12 Sept. 2012) - Average tuition and compulsory fees for Canadian undergraduate students are estimated to rise almost 18 per cent over the next four years, from almost $6,200 in 2011-12 to over $7,300, says a study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

The study looks at trends in tuition and compulsory fees in Canada since 1990, projects fees for each province for the next four years, and examines the impact on affordability for median- and low-income families using a Cost of Learning Index.

“Since 1990, with very few exceptions, the tuition fee burden across the country has been increasing faster than incomes. Between 1990 and 2011 the average annual increase in tuition fees and ancillary fees in Canada was 6.2 per cent — nearly three times greater than the rate of inflation,” says Erika Shaker, co-author of the study and director of the CCPA’s education project.

The study’s Cost of Learning Index clearly demonstrates that provincial governments play a significant role in ensuring university education is more—or less—affordable for median and low-income families, particularly when household debt is at an all-time high and incomes have been stagnant for over two decades.

According to the study, Newfoundland and Labrador is the most affordable province for university education, both for median- and low-income families, while Ontario and Nova Scotia are among the least affordable.

“It is now almost three times more affordable for median-income families in Newfoundland and Labrador to send their children to university than it is for median-income families in Ontario. By 2015-16, that will have increased to four times more affordable,” Shaker says.

The study also looks at how the legislated fee hike in Quebec would have impacted the Cost of Learning, particularly in a province that, through low fees, maintained a strong commitment to affordability in the past.

“Instead of reducing tuition fees, the majority of provincial governments have chosen to provide after-the-fact assistance such as debt relief, tax credits, or zero interest,” says Shaker. “While this can provide some modest relief for students who qualify, it does not help with the upfront costs: you can’t pay your university bill with a tax credit.”

More information:

CCPA study: Eduflation and the High Cost of Learning

NUPGE

We are ALL affected: National Day of Action against federal cuts to public services - Sept. 15

dduffy — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:23:18 -0400

Cuts to the federal public service affect us all. Join the opposition to these actions in your community on September 15.

Ottawa (11 Sept. 2012) - Two days before Members of Parliament (MPs) are scheduled to resume work in the House of Commons, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and its supporters will be holding a National Day of Action to highlight the potentially devestating effects of the 2012 Conservative budget.

Immediately after the budget was delivered, announcing the elimination of 19,000 federal public sector jobs, PSAC launched a campaign entitled "We are all affected." The term affected is what the government uses when it advises workers they may be terminated.

As followers and supporters of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)'s All Together Now! campaign know, public services and public service jobs cannot be eliminated without communities everywhere being "affected."

All Canadians are affected because:

we all rely on services like food inspection, Old Age Security, promoting First Nations and Inuit health, environmental protection, preservation of parks and historic sites, search and rescue, assistance to veterans, support for our troops, border security and transportation safety;
public service workers are our families, friends, neighbours, and customers; and
these job cuts are bad for our country and our economy.

This is a chance for all Canadians concerned about what is happening to the fabric of the country's social safety net to speak out and send a message to the government and members of the opposition. Events across the country will vary by community. To find out what is happening in your community, visit the PSAC website for a listing of activities.

More information:

PSAC campaign website: We are all affected

Find your community action

NUPGE's All Together Now! campaign promoting public services, public service workers and tax fairness

NUPGE

Confronting income inequality takes spotlight at NUPGE's 14th Leadership School

dduffy — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:45:50 -0400

NUPGE leadership activists discuss strategy and develop skills to confront the biggest challenge facing workers today: growing income equality.

Keene (30 Aug. 2012) - The exceptional skill and ability of labour activists was front and centre during the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) 14th Annual Leadership Development School. The school held yearly at Elmhirst's Resort, on the north shore of Rice Lake, just outside Peterborough hosted activists from August 25 to August 31.

Enthusiastic and dedicated participants actively engaged in the inspiring and though-provoking lectures from leading experts in a range of fields. The school's goal is to help union leaders develop keener analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as discover ways to deepen public understanding of the value and importance of unions.

Participants in NUPGE's 14th annual Leadership Development School:
1st row: Jason Soklofsky (HSAA/NUPGE), Lynette McAvoy (HSAA/NUPGE), Kathie Bzdel (HSAA/NUPGE), Eddie Almeida (OPSEU/NUPGE), James Clancy (NUPGE).
2nd row: Karla Lanyon (MGEU/NUPGE), Lisa Trolland (BCGEU/NUPGE), Mike Grimaldi (OPSEU/NUPGE), Derek Fudge (NUPGE).
3rd row: Adrienne Leblanc (NSGEU/NUPGE), Muna De Ciman (SGEU/NUPGE), Mike Luff (NUPGE), Lisa Watters (NBUPPE/NUPGE).
4th row: Tony Rabaiotti (UNISON), Dave Lundy (OPSEU/NUPGE), Nancy Pridham (OPSEU/NUPGE), Paul Foley (NAPE/NUPGE), Mark Morey (UNSW), Penny Copeland (MGEU/NUPGE).
5th row: Jamie Tocker (OPSEU/NUPGE), Manuel Melendez (AFSCME), Dave Eckert (SGEU/NUPGE), Jerry Toews (HSAA/NUPGE), Sue Brown (OPSEU/NUPGE).

Twenty-two senior elected members and staff gathered from across the country, representing every NUPGE Component. The school has a history of including international participants as well. This year three participants and presenters from international unions – AFSCME (U.S.), UNISON (U.K.) and UNIONS (New South Wales, Australia) - were welcomed to the school.

Lectures by Elaine Bernard, executive director of the Trade Union Program at Harvard University, provided the core focus of the school. During a series of six seminars participants discussed the two central themes: leadership and organizational change, and strategic choices for union leaders.

Confronting today's biggest challenge: growing inequality

Other presenters complemented Bernard's instruction throughout the week focusing on important areas of public policy. This year's sessions focused heavily on NUPGE's ongoing campaign to confront the biggest challenge facing workers today, growing income equality.

Presenters included:

Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives;
Alex Neve, leading human rights expert and Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada;
Jaimie Biggar, Executive Director, Leadnow
Elaine Mejia, Senior Program Associate, Demos, a U.S.-based institute that promotes the value of public services; and
Alex Himelfarb, former Clerk of the Privy Council and Cabinet and Public Services Foundation of Canada board member.


Armine Yalnizyan	Elaine Bernard	Alex Himelfarb

NUPGE National President James Clancy led an important discussion on the specific challenges facing labour as workes continue to push back against regressive labour laws, austerity measures and conservative government attacks. Participants were asked to consider how unions can help refocus the public discourse to the critical role labour plays in strengthening democracy, promoting greater equality as well as the social and economic well-being of all citizens.

Exposing the corporate agenda post recession was tackled in a session by Larry Brown, NUPGE National Secretary-Treasurer. As government's use the 2008 economic collapse as an excuse to roll back workers rights and wages, Brown discussed how they refuse to address the issue of income inequality which helped create our ongoing unstable economy.

Graduate total climbs

Clancy noted that over the past 14 years there have been over 321 graduates of the Leadership Development School.

"We are truly impressed by the intelligence and commitment of our participants. Our union truly benefits from the active engagement of these bright and committed trade unionists who play a leadership role in the National Union and our Components.”

Bernard said one of the benefits of the school is that it provides an opportunity for union leaders to step out of busy daily routines and analyze a range of important issues.

"Leadership in a time of crisis needs to be bold, imaginative and not just transactional but transformational," said Bernard. "The National Union's Leadership School provides an excellent space for real discussion about building powerful, sustainable coalitions of allies which is essential for our success."

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Labour Day 2012

lbush — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:14:33 -0400

This Labour Day in 2012, NUPGE celebrates the legacy of those who came before us and we commit to continue the fight for fairness.

Ottawa (30 Aug. 2012) - Welcome to Labour Day, the holiday that is so much a part of our culture that Canadians rarely pause to consider its true purpose and meaning. Today, Labour Day is more associated with a day off work, spending time with the kids, and enjoying good music and food, rather than with what it was meant to be - a heartfelt celebration of workers and the labour movement. That's too bad, but not surprising.

In a way, the holiday has become a victim of the labour movement's enduring success in fighting for fairness and improving the lives of all Canadians. The labour movement in Canada has always stood in solidarity with others to fight against poverty, income inequality, racism, sexism, child labour and the poor treatment of workers in other countries. Today, many Canadians take for granted things like the 40-hour work week, universal health care, public education, safe workplaces, unemployment insurance, public pensions, pay equity and minimum wage.

But it's important to remember that these rights and benefits weren’t simply handed out to people. Workers and their unions fought for them. They were long struggles. They faced bitter opposition and sneering attacks from the powerful and privileged. But they won these battles. They fought and won these things because they believed everyone should have a fair chance at living a good life.

As we reflect on this history, we should think about what it means in our current state of affairs. Indeed, the question on the minds of many Canadians today is: “Where’s the fairness?” That’s because, Canada has become, once again, a radically unfair country.

Corporate greed and wrong-headed public policies have fed a growing gap between the top 1% and everyone else. Canadians have been working harder and longer over the last three decades. As a result we’ve been baking a bigger economic pie. But not all the bakers have been getting bigger slices.

The wealthiest in Canada have been getting larger and larger slices of the economic pie while middle and lower income families have seen their slice shrink to a sliver. Most families, when you factor in inflation, are worse off today than they were in 1980. We’ve now reached levels of income inequality not seen since the 1920s. Most families are struggling harder than ever. They know something is wrong. They know the system is unfair. They want change.

So, on this Labour Day in 2012, NUPGE celebrates the legacy of those who came before us and we commit to continue the fight for fairness in five key areas:

Wages: Workers need fair pay for a fair day’s work. One of the best tools they have to get a real raise is to join a union. The union wage advantage is over $5 an hour on average. Governments must recognize that labour rights are human rights and restore the freedom of workers to form unions and bargain collectively for better wages and benefits.
Jobs: It’s unfair that millions of Canadians who want to work aren’t being given an opportunity to do so. Canada has an unacceptably high unemployment rate of 7%. For young people, the real unemployment rate, when you include under-employment, is over 20%. Governments must develop a modern industrial strategy. The strategy must put good jobs, people and nature at the heart of our economy. And it must recognize that labour, government and business all have a role in building a fair and sustainable economy.
Tax fairness: Canadians are being told there’s not enough money to adequately fund public services they need like health care, education and social services. Meanwhile, these same governments have been spending billions on tax cuts for profitable corporations and wealthy corporate executives. Governments must collect more revenue from wealthy people and corporations who can afford to pay more. That would ensure everyone is paying their fair share. And it would help fund the public services and programs that make life more affordable and secure for families.
Pensions: Every Canadian deserves retirement security. But 1.7 million retired seniors are living on the edge of poverty. And two-thirds of Canadians have no pension plan. Meanwhile, the Harper government is changing the rules to make Canadians work longer before they can get Old Age Security benefits. Governments must improve Canada Pension Plan benefits to ensure that every Canadian has an opportunity to retire with security and dignity.
Public services, especially early learning and child care: Every kid should have an equal opportunity to get a head start in life. Parents need the security of knowing their children are safe while they are at work. But Canada has one of the lowest child care access rates in the industrialized world. Governments must create a national not-for-profit early learning and child care program to ensure, affordable, accessible, high-quality services for all.

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

New report shows Ontario falling to last place on income equality

dduffy — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:22:22 -0400

"It is not the inexorable march of global economics alone, but rather choices – choices in public budgets, and in economic and social policy – that have failed to rein in the increasing income inequality distributed by the private market and aided in propelling us down this path."

Toronto (30 Aug. 2012) - Ontario is last when it comes to increasing inequality, poverty and financial investment in public services, says a coalition of community and labour groups formed during the 2011 provincial budget process.

The coalition, Ontario Common Front, released its report, “Falling Behind: Ontario’s backslide into widening inequality, growing poverty and cuts to social programs" showing that Ontario has sunk to last place in Canada when measured against every important social indicator.

“Within two years, Ontario has fallen from seventh place to dead last in funding for all social programs. Ontario residents are paying the shortfall in hundreds of ways: we have the highest tuition fees and school fees, the highest proportion of out-of-pocket health care costs, a burgeoning array of user fees, and thousands of families wait years for support for children with disabilities,” said Natalie Mehra, director of the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and the principal author of the report. “Ontario is at the cusp of a five-year plan for cuts to jobs and services that will cleave an even deeper divide. But there are alternatives and five years of further cuts is not the solution."

The comprehensive report pulled together national research demonstrating that Ontario is at the bottom of the pack when it comes to equality and social programs and that a growing number of Ontarians are falling behind in the economy. The report found that:

40% of Ontarians – fully 600,000 families – are struggling with incomes that are stagnant or declining;
Ontario funds all of its social programs – including health care to education – at the lowest rate in Canada;
While poverty rates fell in five provinces, Ontario had the second highest increase in poverty rates and intensity, leaving 393,000 children in poverty (one in seven);
Ontarians pay the highest school fees, out-of-pocket health care fees and tuition fees in the country; while
Ontario has led the country on cuts to corporate and income taxes.

The report makes clear "that it is not the inexorable march of global economics alone, but rather choices – choices in public budgets, and in economic and social policy – that have failed to rein in the increasing income inequality distributed by the private market and aided in propelling us down this path."

It also details who pays the biggest price when economic inequality is allowed to grow. Middle and lower income families are falling behind, despite putting more hours into the workforce. This has disproportionately impacted women, racialized communities, aboriginals, seniors and children

“Having one in seven children living in poverty is bad enough, but learning that one in two children from certain racialized groups is living in poverty is absolutely appalling,” said Avvy Go from the Colour of Poverty. “It is new immigrants and racialized communities that are the hardest hit by job loss and service cuts. They are struggling at the margins and they are overlooked in the province’s plan for economic recovery.”

The Ontario Common Front brings together more than 90 community groups and labour unions across Ontario that are working to expose growing inequality and propose workable solutions to fix it.

More information:

Download Report: Ontario Common Front Report: www.weareontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/OCF-RPT-FallingBehind-20120829.pdf

NUPGE

"Union advantage” benefits more than just unionized workers, CLC study shows

dduffy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:16:06 -0400

“When workers, through their unions, are able to bargain freely for decent wages, benefits and pensions, there are benefits for the middle class and for society as a whole." - Ken Georgetti, CLC President.

Ottawa (22 Aug. 2012) - The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has released a study showing that on average unionized workers in Canada earn $5.11 an hour more than do non-union workers. “That extra money in the pockets of individual workers means the union advantage is worth a cumulative $793 million per week added to our economy,” says CLC President Ken Georgetti.

The study, called The Union Advantage in Canadian Communities, shows the benefits that workers with unions bring to Canada as a whole, as well as 29 selected communities across the country. “Unions make a positive difference in the incomes and the quality of life of their members,” Georgetti says, “but beyond that they support a healthy middle class in Canadian society.”

Georgetti says that cities and towns with more union members enjoy higher incomes overall and support a richer mix of businesses and services. “These services benefit everyone in the community. In short, they are better places to work and live.”

He says that the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development have confirmed that broadly-based collective bargaining is the best mechanism to build a healthy middle class. “When workers, through their unions, are able to bargain freely for decent wages, benefits and pensions, there are benefits for the middle class and for society as a whole. Unionized workers spend most or all of their pay cheques in businesses in their local community. We believe that decent wages and decent pensions enrich the community and the country.”

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils.

More information:

CLC's The Union Advantage study

NUPGE

Crime fighting unit latest victim of provincial austerity measures: OPSEU

dduffy — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:28:57 -0400

Toronto (20 Aug. 2012) - In its frenzy to bring down the provincial deficit, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has laid off the entire staff of an office responsible for fighting crime through analysis of electronic data.

All six members of the electronics investigation unit of the ministry’s Centre for Forensic Sciences learned this week they will be out of a job by the end of the year, according to notifications given to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). The affected officers work with law enforcement officials and Crown prosecutors to analyze and retrieve materials and data stored in the computers of suspected child pornographers, organized drug rings and other suspected criminals.

“Even by the standards of this government, which has gone after the deficit with outrageous abandon, the loss of highly-skilled experts in crime fighting is beyond comprehension,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “That the government is prepared to go easy in the pursuit of some of our most notorious suspected criminals is an audacious move.”

The officers who face unemployment are highly-educated in the fields of computer sciences, mathematics, criminology or related studies. They are skilled in retrieving data from files that have been erased or deleted from the computers, cell phones and other electronic devices of suspected criminals. They are capable of recovering email and Internet chat logs that assist law enforcement officials by linking suspected criminal individuals and groups.

Other duties performed by the soon-to-be jobless workers involve examination of stun guns and tasers to confirm their standing under terms of the criminal code. They are also skilled at ‘bringing to life’ poor-quality audiotapes to enhance their audibility using digital signal processing technology.

“The loss of these skilled experts represents a setback in the fight against crime in Ontario,” said Chris Pittens, president of OPSEU Local 579, the local which represents the laid-off employees. “It’s a well-known fact that criminals are becoming extremely skilled in their use and abuse of the Internet and other forms of electronic information technology. These layoffs represent a huge step backwards in our pursuit of those who would bring harm to others in Ontario. The work that these officers do is highly specialized and with the elimination of this unit this work simply won’t be done anymore.”

NUPGE

Potential for billions of dollars in increased health cost if Canada-EU trade deal goes through

dduffy — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:34:28 -0400

With Europe in a financial crisis the question remains how far is Canada willing to go to achieve a deal?

Ottawa (16 Aug. 2012) – While negotiators for the proposed Canada-European Union trade deal say that negotiations are in the final stages, serious concerns continue to be raised about some of the provisions expected to be in the agreement. It is reported that negotiators have reached agreement on 3/4s of the text but that there are some serious issues remaining to be addressed.

In particular, Canadian officials say there is a large gap in the negotiations over such issues as investment rules, financial services, and taxation. With Europe in a financial crisis the question remains how far is Canada willing to go to achieve a deal?

A number of commentators suggest the intellectual property chapter of the deal as being particularly difficult.

According to Michael Geist, the University of Ottawa's Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law, the revelation that "provisions from the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement may sneak their way into CETA generated widespread headlines throughout Europe last month with politicians and activists expressing exasperation at the clumsy attempt to secretly revive an agreement that was roundly rejected by the European Parliament."

"The Canadian opposition to the chapter will come from European demands for patent reforms that could result in billions in additional health care costs due to higher pharmaceutical prices. The pharmaceutical demands are one of Europe's top priorities, but Canada has thus far refused to counter the EU proposals, creating a stalemate that has dragged on for years."

Canada's lead negotiator, Steve Verheul, says that the pharmaceutical industries demands won't be on the table during negotiations in September and October.

While big pharma insists that these reforms are needed to increase research and development investment in Canada, past experience suggests otherwise.

In the 1980s, the industry lobbied for patent reforms while promising to increase spending on research and development in Canada to 10 per cent of total sales by 1996. In reality, investment in drug research and development has declined and is as its lowest level since the 1987 reforms.

According to Geist, "given 25 years of mostly failed targets, the rational approach is to put a freeze on any further reforms at least until the industry lives up to its commitments. But with the agreement shrouded in secrecy - the government has steadfastly rejected calls to release the draft text - it appears that the major health care decision will be made behind closed doors with no public discussion, debate, or access to the official text."

NUPGE

Financial inequality hurting Canadian's health, says CMA poll

dduffy — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:44:48 -0400

Governments have a role to play in ensuring citizens live healthy lives.

Ottawa (15 Aug. 2012) - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released results of a poll indicating that the health of Canadians is suffering due to the widening gap between the rich and poor in Canada. Results show that one in four Canadians earning less than $30,000 a year say they have put off, or stopped buying, prescription drugs because they can’t afford them; one in four has skipped meals.

The poll was released as the CMA gathered for its yearly meeting, and echoed themes raised in the speech by doctor and leading health policy expert from the United Kingdom, Sir Michael Marmot. Marmot is also the past president of the British Medical Association and a key adviser to the British government. In his address to the medical community, he said that governments have a moral responsibility to "make it easier for people to be healthy."

Marmot suggested that all government policy should be evaluated "for its likely impact on the lives people are able to lead,” and, by extension, its impact on their health. Marmot is well known for leading the landmark Whitehall study of British civil servants, investigating the relationship between health and social circumstances.

His speech also focused on the role governments must play in creating the conditions for people to live healthy lives.

"That includes giving every child the best possible start in life, creating fair employment and good working conditions and a healthy standard of living for all," he said.

NUPGE

Government should halt Liquor Distribution Branch privatization in face of widespread opposition

dduffy — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:03:12 -0400

Over 25,000 people have signed the petition asking for the LBD to remain public. Opposition to the privatization is broad-based and includes the media, brewers, distillers, bar and restaurant owners, local government and the general public.

Vancouver (27 July 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is renewing its call for the government to cancel the Request for Proposals (RFP) to privatize the Liquor Distribution Branch warehouse and distribution system.

The government released a short list of four possible companies on July 20.

“About 25,000 people have already signed the petition opposing the privatization of the LDB,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “When we tell people there was no public consultation, no business case has been presented and that prices will increase for consumers, they are more than happy to add their name.”

The opposition to the privatization is broad based and includes the media, brewers, distillers, bar and restaurant owners, local government and the general public.

Quesnel, North Vancouver, New Westminster and Burnaby have already passed motions opposing the privatization and other local governments are likely to express their opposition if the RFP proceeds.

“It's clear there is very little support for this privatization except from the bidders who want the profits from operating a private monopoly distributing beer, wine and spirits in our province,” says Walker. “It makes absolutely no sense to selloff this important, revenue producing public agency. Instead of selling it off to the private sector, we should open public stores on Sundays, expand shopping hours and add a few more public liquor stores. We should expand the LDB, not fracture it and start selling off the pieces."

NUPGE

New TJN report shows trillions of dollars hiding offshore

dduffy — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 09:01:13 -0400

“This hidden offshore sector is large enough to make a significant difference to all of our conventional measures of inequality," says James Henry, former McKinsey & Co. chief economist and author of The Price of Offshore Revisited.

(27 July 2012) - According to a new report by the Tax Justice Network (TJN), at least $21 trillion of unreported private financial wealth was owned by wealthy individuals via tax havens at the end of 2010. The research, conducted by former McKinsey & Co. chief economist James Henry, was commissioned by the TJN to examine how much potential tax revenue is being sidelined from legitimate tax authorities, putting more pressure on middle class taxpayers. It comes as concerns continue to grow over the widening gulf between the rich and poor in countries around the world.

The report, The Price of Offshore Revisited, contends there may be as much as $32 trillion of hidden financial assets held offshore by high net worth individuals. The new research is thought to be one of the most detailed and rigours studies ever made of financial assets held in offshore financial centres and secrecy structures.

At the same time, the TJN has also issued an additional report entitled Inequality: You Don't Know the Half of it, which examines the fact that most recent studies on the issue of economic inequality have not taken into account this missing wealth. You Don't Know the Half of it means that the disparity between rich and poor is actually worse than we thought.

“This new report focuses our attention on a huge “black hole” in the world economy that has never before been measured – private offshore wealth, and the vast amounts of untaxed income that it produces," says Henry. "This at a time when governments around the world are starved for resources, and we are more conscious than ever of the costs of economic inequality.”

“This hidden offshore sector is large enough to make a significant difference to all of our conventional measures of inequality," Henry continues. And he points out who is complicit in hiding this wealth from being taxed. "It turns out that this offshore sector - which specializes in tax dodging ‐ is basically designed and operated, not by shady no-name banks located in sultry islands, but by the world’s largest private banks, law firms, and accounting firms, headquartered in First World capitals like London, New York, and Geneva."

In the end though, Henry points out that this study is good news for the economy. "The world has just located a huge pile of financial wealth that might be called upon to contribute to the solution of our most pressing global problems. We have an opportunity to think not only about how to prevent some of the abuses that have led to it, but also to think about how best to make use of the untaxed earnings that it generates.”

More information:

Wealth doesn't trickle down – it just floods offshore, research reveals

The Price of Offshore Revisited

Inequality: You Don't Know the Half of it

NUPGE

The June/July edition of the ATN Campaigner is out!

dduffy — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:37:53 -0400

Get your copy of the ATN Campaigner today!

Ottawa (19 July 2012) - The June/July issue of the All Together Now! campaign newsletter is making the rounds to mailboxes and email in-boxes across the country. Inside you'll find lots of great information about quality public services, good jobs, and how to fight for greater tax fairness.

This issue shines a light on the amazing activism which is taking place in workplaces and communities. Vincent Sherry, a recently retired social worker and member of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), is profiled in this edition as one of the new ATN Champions 4 Pensions (C4P).

Vincent has been spreading the word about the value of public services and the need for tax fairness and has now taken on a new role as a Champion 4 Pensions. As one of nine BCGEU C4Ps, Vincent is preading the word about the importance of pensions and the need to defend workplace pensions and promote expanded benefits for all Canadians.

You'll find out about the activists that took over the streets of Ottawa with the Robin Hood Tax (RHT) message as part of an international day of action on the issue. More than 30 people, including 15 local activists from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), hit Parliament Hill to talk to residents and visitors about the need for a global financial transaction tax, or the RHT. Many don't know that Prime Minister Harper has taken a strong stance against the RHT so people were very receptive to getting involved in the campaign to change his mind.

At the end of the month, Alberta kicked off its first C4P presentation at the Health Sciences Association of Alberta's (HSAA/NUPGE) Annual General Meeting. Over 100 pledges were signed at the meeting, a good sign that these activists give a persuasive presentation!

In June, young workers gathered in Ottawa work together to tackle some of the many difficult challenges they are facing - unemployment, growing income inequality, austerity measures and cutbacks and other workplace stress, just to name a few. Over the day and a half, the participants heard first hand about the ATN campaign and how to bring their ideas and energy to make it even more successful in their regions and workplaces.

As in every issue, the ATN Campaigner provides resources to help people continue the important conversations about economic inquality in our country and the need to protect our valuable public services. You'll read about the new video from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Canada Without Povrety's Tax Benefits Day and NUPGE's recent paper on a new privatization idea, Social Impact Bonds.

Download a copy of the June/July newsletter

More information:

All Together Now! campaign http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca

Like ATN on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ATNcampaign

Follow ATN on Twitter @ATNcampaign

NUPGE

Cuts to the workplace equity program means more inequality for Canadians

dduffy — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:17:10 -0400

Employment inequality likely to increase due to reduced monitoring resources of government department.

Ottawa (20 July 2012) - According to the six public sector unions operating under the umbrella of the Professionals Serving Canadians, the federal government's Workplace Equity Program will be facing increased difficulty due to diminished resources.

The program monitors private sector employers to see if they respect the legislation on employment equity. The program itself will not be cut, but at least 18 of its 35 employees will be affected. The cuts compromise important monitoring of private sector legislation concerning employment equality and means that private sector employers who do not follow the legislation will not be monitored as frequently. Without a check and balance, workers may face more difficulty in having their rights respected.

Like the cuts to the National Council of Welfare, the dismantaling of Rights and Democracy, and the gutting of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the reduction in service at the Workplace Equity Program continues a trend of the government eliminating valuable resources to ensuring the rights and well being of Canadians is respected.

The list of Harper's attack on democracy and public institutions is growling every day. For an accounting of the Harper government's democractic deficit, visit the National Union of Public and General Employee's (NUPGE) inventory at http://nupge.ca/issues/harpers-democratic-deficit.

NUPGE

NAPE ad campaign highlights cuts to health care

dduffy — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:39:13 -0400

"The people of the province expect and deserve a health care system they can they have confidence in and depend on when needed." - Carol Furlong, NAPE President.

St. John's (19 July 2012) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) launched a new awareness campaign calling attention to the 550 equivalent health care positions that are being cut by the Eastern Health Authority.

NAPE hopes to bring public awareness to the decisions being made and what the implications are for a system already stressed. Patient care will suffer and may not be there when most needed by the community. The union has also been meeting community members during local information pickets across the province to help people understand what is at stake.

In a recent national poll, Newfoundland and Labrador scored lowest in terms of satisfaction with the overal health care system.

"These cuts will do nothing to reassure the people of the province that our health care system is improving. If anything it sends the opposite message," said Carol Furlong, NAPE President.

"It seems that our system is under attack when emphasis should be on improving health care. The people of the province expect and deserve a health care system they can they have confidence in and depend on when needed,” states Furlong.

Furlong says the people are speaking out and government should pay attention to this poll, heed what the people are saying and stop the cuts to health care.

More information:

NAPE/NUPGE - Health care cuts campaign

NUPGE

Health care activists send Premiers and Harper a message on National Day of Action on 2014 Health Accord: Get back to the table!

dduffy — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:00:39 -0400

On July 18 Canadians will be sending provincial premiers and the Harper government a message to resume negotiations on the 2014 Health Accord.

Halifax (17 July 2012) - The federal government is turning its back on health care at a time when we need elected leaders to help build a caring future for Canada, say advocates of publicly-funded health care who are organizing a National Day of Action on the 2014 Health Accord set for July 18. Many are concerned that the federal government has already walked away from the negotiating table before negotiations have even started with the provinces. The current Health Accord expires in 2014.

At a meeting of Finance Ministers from across the country in December 2011, Flaherty announced that the federal government would extend the six per cent escalator clause, part of the 2004 Health Accord, for the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) only until the 2016-17 fiscal year. After that, until at least 2024, annual increases in the CHT will be tied to nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), criticized the Harper government for acting unilaterally rather than working in partnership with the provinces to improve health care.

"Canadians want the federal government to work in partnership with the provinces. not dictate terms and conditions," says Clancy. "Where was the consultation or negotiations? How are the provinces health care needs and priorities reflected in this announcement?"

Now, in the lead up to a premiers meeting on health care in Halifax on July 25 - July 27, Clancy is urging the provinces to work with Canadians to pressure the government to go back to the table and negotiate fairly.

"There is still much more to be accomplished at the negotiating table," Clancy noted. "The provinces will find common ground with Canadians on this issue. In addition to more investment, Canadians want the federal government to work with the provinces to fill in the gaps in the continuum of care. They want to see new programs and services in the areas of home care, long term care, prescription drug coverage (pharmacare) and mental health."

Some provinces have already come forward in opposition to the federal government’s actions. If the provinces work together to get the federal government back to the negotiating table, they can get down to the work of creating a new accord and building a caring future for health care in Canada.

More information:

NUPGE's Negotiating Federal Transfers to the Provinces report: Here they go again: Less sharing, more inequality

July 18 event information: British Columbia, Toronto, Halifax.

NUPGE

Federal changes will worsen existing provincial jail problems

dduffy — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:06:46 -0400

In federal prisons, “double-bunking” squeezes more prisoners into jails designed to accommodate one inmate per cell. In Ontario jails, most single cells have been modified to house two inmates, and often sleep three or even four.

Toronto (16 July 2012) - Staff in Ontario’s provincial correctional facilities are bracing for even more jail overcrowding under new federal crime legislation.

The Conservative government has included major changes to the way criminals are punished in the so-called omnibus budget legislation passed in the House of Commons this spring. Bill C-10, otherwise known as the Safe Streets and Communities Act, includes provisions for mandatory minimum sentences, fewer conditional sentences and harsher sentences for young offenders. The bill will also eliminate double credit for time already served. These changes will stuff more prisoners into already overcrowded jails. Criminologists predict higher costs for taxpayers with no reduction in crime. Corrections officers fear more tension and violence.

“Corrections officers accept a certain level of stress as part of the job,” said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE). “You stir in overcrowding into the living units and the stress level multiplies tenfold.”

In federal prison,s “double-bunking” squeezes more prisoners into jails designed to accommodate one inmate per cell. In Ontario jails, most single cells have been modified to house two inmates, and often sleep three or even four.

“With the overcrowding we are seeing a level of violence in our jails that is unprecedented,” said Dan Sidsworth, provincial chair of the union's Corrections Division. “Last year our union recorded 485 assaults made by prisoners against Ontario correctional officers, something that is compounded by overcrowding. We fear this trend is continuing and it is only getting worse when added to other issues like the province’s two-year hiring freeze on correctional officers and increased gang activity inside the jails.“

With the changes scheduled under Bill C-10, prisons will only get more crowded through 2020. “The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has no plan in place to deal with this issue,” Sidsworth said. “Two new prisons planned to open in the next two years will only marginally increase prisoner capacity, and will fall far short of the projected total inmate population by that time.”

NUPGE

Harper government budget cuts to Via Rail force reduction in service, job losses

dduffy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:16:13 -0400

Via Rail cuts services, puts 200 people out of work.

Ottawa (13 July 2012) - The Harper government's budget cuts will make it more costly and inconvenient for Canadians to travel by rail in the future, and some say opens the door for wider privatization.

On June 27, Via Rail announced it will be reducing the frequency of its service to the east and west coasts as well as to cities throughout southern Ontario, Ottawa and Quebec.

Dan Mathieson, Mayor of Stratford, Ontario, about 150 kms from Toronto, voiced the concerns of many when he expressed his disappointment and told the Stratford Examiner, "in a time of environmental stewardship and other challenges, public rail service should be improved, not reduced."

“It limits the opportunity for people to live in smaller urban centres like Stratford and still commute into Toronto for business purposes,” Mathieson said, estimating between 10 and 20 people commute on the early train on a regular basis.

Stratford is losing two trains per day.

As a crown corporation, Via Rail operates the country's national public train service but has a long history of cuts by both Liberal and Conservative governments. The Harper government's recent budget reduced subsidies to the passenger rail service by $6.5 million this year, $15.1 million in 2013-14 and $19.6 million in 2014-15.

As a result of the corporate cuts, 200 workers, members of the Canadian Auto Workers union, are also losing their jobs. CAW representatives were shocked at the announcement. As frontline workers, they can attest to the fact that the demand for travel has been on the rise, up by 7.8 per cent since last year and by nearly 25 per cent in the peak season.

In April 2012, rumours swirled about the Harper government privatizing the longest and most scenic parts of the lines, in particular the Toronto-Vancouver route.

A recent article published in the Globe and Mail openly speculated that the current cuts are leading the way for privatization of the rail service. Ken Rubin, who obtained documents through an access to information request, revealed cost-cutting options Transport Canada officials are considering, including the potiential to get out of the tourism industry entirely.

A briefing note prepared for Transport Minister Denis Lebel indicated that the department was considering several options, including “significant reductions in service and schedule frequencies,” as well as “privatization and public sector partnerships in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.”

It seems that more may be behind the federal government's desire to cut back on its national train service though. A story by the Globe and Mail reveals that Via Rail was looking at expanding services in specific areas such as the Jasper-Vancouver run with luxury trains which would compete directly with the current private service provider Rocky Mountaineer (RMR). It also appears that the owners of RMR have been lobbying the Conservative government over the last several years regarding expanding its services and actually have ties to the Conservative Party. RMR board members include former Alberta treasurer Jim Dinning and previously included former Conservative MP Jim Gouk, who served as the opposition critic for VIA Rail from 2001 to 2006.

RMR has also been in the news recently after locking out its onboard attendents, members of the Teamsters union, on June 22. 2011. The workers have been locked out for over a year.

NUPGE

NAPE concerned with cuts at College of the North Atlantic

dduffy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:47:05 -0400

“The College of the North Atlantic plays a crucial role in ensuring that we are adequately prepared to deal with this labour force crunch. It is counterintuitive to cut instructional and support staff at the College at this crucial point.” - Carol Furlong, NAPE President.

St. John's (13 July 2012) - A recent round of cuts at the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) will have a negative impact on educational programs as well as the ability of the college to prepare our province for the upcoming labour shortage says Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE).

In recent weeks, layoff notices have been handed out at multiple campuses of the College across the province. To date, the union is aware of 15 support staff positions that have been cut. In addition, 23 instructional positions are not being renewed. The affected positions include instructors, clerks, LAN administrators, researchers, custodians, computer support specialists and trades workers.

“The government assured the people of this province that there would be no negative impact on certain public services. Education was specifically included in that group,” says Furlong. “So far, this important area of the public sector appears to be among the first areas impacted by government’s desire to cut three percent across the board.”

Nine of the 23 instructional positions being cut at the College are in the Comprehensive Arts and Sciences (CAS) Transition program. The CAS program is designed for high school and Adult Basic Education graduates who are trying to improve their employability or who are trying to upgrade their marks in order to move on to post-secondary studies. The remaining 14 positions are in a variety of programs at CNA.

“The provincial government has been talking about the need to prepare for the looming labour shortage in the province for several years,” stated Furlong. “The College of the North Atlantic plays a crucial role in ensuring that we are adequately prepared to deal with this labour force crunch. It is counterintuitive to cut instructional and support staff at the College at this crucial point.”

NAPE represents over 25,000 public and private sector workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, including approximately 1,400 instructors and support staff at the College of the North Atlantic.

NUPGE

New study offers candid glimpse at how Canadian teachers feel about teaching in today’s classrooms

dduffy — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:47:48 -0400

"Teachers thrive amid the myriad of external conditions imposed upon them,” says CTF president Paul Taillefer, “they just want to be given the respect and flexibility they need to make the best decisions possible for their students’ academic success.”

Halifax (13 July 2012) - Teaching the Way We Aspire to Teach: Now and in the Future – a joint research report from the Canadian Education Association (CEA) and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) – paints a national picture of who teachers are and articulates the support they need to teach at their best. The research involved extensive input from over 200 teachers who participated in CEA focus groups across the country and over 4,700 teachers who responded to a CTF online survey.

“Feedback from these focus groups was loud and clear. Teachers above all have a passion for teaching and a commitment to their students.” says Ron Canuel, CEA's chief executive officer. “After 35 years in education, I can honestly say that the teacher voices I heard across the country have changed the way I think about teaching and how caring for students predominate their beliefs and actions. As a society, we tend to either forget or ignore this."

Focus group feedback exposed a difference between how teachers wanted to teach and how they felt that they were required to teach. Nearly half of teacher survey respondents (49 per cent) indicated that they occasionally have opportunities to teach as they aspire to teach (and nine per cent indicated that they rarely or never have the opportunity to do so) and 48 per cent of respondents indicated that they are only occasionally able to be creative in their teaching practice (with six per cent indicating rarely or never).

“What stands out for us in this report is the extent to which teachers thrive amid the myriad of external conditions imposed upon them,” says CTF President Paul Taillefer, “and the fact that they just want to be given the respect and flexibility they need to make the best decisions possible for their students’ academic success.”

This report also defines how provincial and territorial governments, administrators, and parents can best support teachers – from developing trusting relationships, policies and programs that increase flexibility in the classroom; and assessment policies that provide information useful to adapting learning.

More information:

Teaching the Way We Aspire to Teach: Now and in the Future report

NUPGE

Bigfoot joins BCGEU’s Save B.C. Parks campaign

dduffy — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:42:55 -0400

The B.C. government's Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks study reveals a huge economic return from government investment in B.C.’s parks system.

Vancouver (10 July 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has enlisted the help of Bigfoot to kick off their summer campaign to increase funding to B.C.’s parks system.

Bigfoot and Ranger Dave star as characters in an online video – part of an internet and print-based campaign that highlights the impact of B.C. parks cuts and urges people to ask the B.C. government to restore parks funding.

The campaign focuses on B.C. park rangers as an endangered species, with only 10 full-time rangers left to patrol 1000 parks and protected areas, covering more than 32 million acres province-wide. “B.C.’s park ranger corps has been cut by more than 60 per cent since 2001,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “We have the third largest park system in North America and we can’t afford to send the few rangers we have left out to patrol our parks.”

Walker pointed to freedom of information documents which confirm that more than 40 park vehicles were sidelined and gasoline and travel budgets severely cut back, making it difficult for park rangers to patrol B.C. parks. The documents also revealed that greyhound buses, scooters and taxis were being considered as alternative transportation for rangers and supervisors.

The union also claims that the government’s austerity measures hurt rural communities which depend on tourism revenue from B.C. parks, citing the Economic Benefits of British Columbia’s Provincial Parks study as evidence. This study, produced by the B.C. government itself reveals a huge economic return from government investment in B.C.’s parks system.

“The government’s own study shows that visitors spend $10 in local economies for every dollar spent by the government on B.C.’s park system,” says Byron Goerz, chair of the component representing park rangers. “We have to stop looking at parks as a cost and recognize they are huge revenue generators for local communities.”

The campaign web site (www.saveBCparks.ca) contains a variety of information resources, and includes an online form to e-mail the Premier, Environment Minister and opposition critic to ask the government to restore B.C. parks funding to 2000 levels.

More information:

BCGEU's Save B.C. Parks campaign

NUPGE

MGEU launches Health Care Heroes - The Power of Caring campaign

dduffy — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:24:21 -0400

Health Care Heroes: They don't have super-powers, but they share the power of caring.

Winnipeg (09 July 2012) - The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU/NUPGE) has launched a new ad campaign profiling the work of its over 4,800 dedicated health care support professionals working in hospitals and personal care homes. The Health Care Heroes - The Power of Caring campaign highlights the commitment to caring these workers have to ensure the safety, dignity, health and well-being of thousands of family and community members during times of sickness, injury or vulnerability.

The two different radio ads demonstrate to the Manitoban public that health care workers are not just doctors and nurses. The public will hear how these health care professionals - from dietary and housekeeping aides to sterile technicians to electricians - contribute greatly to making the system work. Those who know our health care system and understand what it takes to keep a health care facility running, will tell you that health care support workers are the backbone of the system and work hard to enhance the services individuals and families receive.

Health care support workers in Manitoba’s hospitals act as health care aides, supply housekeeping and laundry services, sterilize surgical and other medical equipment, ensure administrative and financial records are accurate and up-to-date, organize recreation activities and rehabilitation, provide food service and proper dietary requirements, work in maintenance, plumbing, electrical, or trades positions and much more.

MGEU/NUPGE wants to shine the spotlight on these important members of the comprehensive health care team who are at the heart of Manitoba hospitals and personal care homes. As the union says, they are our Health Care Heroes: they don’t have superpowers - but they share the power of caring.

More information:

Health Care Heroes Radio Ad (mp3)

NUPGE

Provincial treasury losing millions to LCBO agency store program, OPSEU tells committee

dduffy — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:46:07 -0400

“The numbers are staggering,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “From 2003 to 2007 alone, the LCBO permitted close to $1 billion in retail alcohol sales to be sold through private agency stores."

Trenton (29 June 2012) – An all-party legislative committee has been told that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) could dramatically increase its dividend to the provincial treasury by repatriating privately-owned and operated agency stores.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) made a presentation to the committee explaining to them how Ontario could stand to gain more than $350 million over the next 10 years if the LCBO repatriated the most profitable agency stores when their contracts with the Crown agency expire.

“This is nothing more than privatization through the back door. And successive Conservative and Liberal governments have gone along by giving this public money to private businesses."

Under terms of their contract with the LCBO, private owners of agency stores are paid a commission of 10 per cent on gross sales.

The LCBO agency stores were designated for rural and remote communities in northern Ontario where opening an LCBO retail outlet was not feasible. While the number of these agency stores has remained constant at about 80 locations, there are now more than 140 outlets in southern Ontario, some near existing retail stores in larger communities.

In a detailed financial analysis, figures show the top 100 private outlets in southern Ontario each earn revenues of more than $700,000 annually, an amount that would easily qualify for opening a ‘real’ LCBO store.

In 2009 these 100 privately owned-and-operated stores had combined sales of $161 million. If the LCBO brought these retail sales back to their own stand-alone outlets Ontario could benefit from an additional LCBO cash dividend of $340 to $370 million in the next decade, Thomas told the committee.

OPSEU/NUPGE, which represents more than 6,000 liquor board employees, has shared its financial findings on agency stores with the LCBO. It has gone unchallenged. The fiscal data used in the financial analysis comes from the LCBO’s own numbers.

“We hear a lot these days about austerity and about how our provincial government insists revenue streams have dried up,” said Thomas. “If this is true how is it that the Ontario government finds itself giving away millions of dollars in potential revenues instead of keeping it to pay for health care, education and other public services?”

NUPGE

Campaign launched to prevent Saskatchewan government from erasing labour laws

dduffy — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:31:45 -0400

Every Saskatchewan worker stands to lose in government overhaul of labour legislation. Have your voice heard. Write to the Minister today!

Regina (03 July 2012) - A new campaign has been launched to educate and mobilize workers and the public about the changes to labour laws the Saskatchewan government is trying to introduce.

The Saskatchewan Way, launched as part of a member-to-member education campaign by the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) shines a light on the negative impact the labour law changes will have on families and communities across the province.

The union is taking on this campaign because the government's consultation plan is so broad and dense it has made it difficult for people to understand the full effect of the changes. To ensure the changes are as transparent as possible, the SGEU/NUPGE has officially requested the Premier release the exact draft legislation so workers and the public can review it.

The Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Don Morgan has already said the language is prepared but they have yet to reveal it.

What has been determined already is that the legislation will heavily favour employers and will hurt all working people, not just unionized workers. Many of the rights and protections which have been hard won over decades may be erased overnight.

"Fundamental, longstanding rights that all workers enjoy are at risk," says SGEU President Bob Bymoen. "Annual vacation, the 40-hour work week, rest breaks, public statutory holidays, job protection for new parents and workers with disabilities -- all of these are up for grabs. Every employee in this province is affected by the planned overhaul of our labour legislation."

This legislation also goes after democratically elected work organizations by making it more difficult for trade unions to do the job of standing up for working people. The Saskachewan Party knows that losing any organized labour strength in the workplace will allow employers to run roughshod over all worker rights.

It is essential that concerned workers and members of the public make their voices heard over this legislation.

Write to the Minister of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety before July 31, 2012 to stop any changes that undermine or erode existing rights and protections for working people.

More information:

The Saskatchewan Way website: http://www.thesaskatchewanway.ca/

No meaningful consultation planned as Saskatchewan government moves to re-write labour laws

NUPGE

Young workers organize for economic justice

dduffy — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:07:56 -0400

National Union young workers from across Canada are meeting in Ottawa to strategize how to build a future with economic justice for all.

Ottawa (14 June 2012) - This week young activists from Components of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) are meeting in Ottawa to discuss issues of income inequality, tax fairness and the attack on public sector workers.

Working with young workers is particularly important given that as a whole they have not benefitted at all from the countries tepid economic recovery.

"In particular, the unemployment rate for young workers has changed little from the worst point in the economic crisis," explained NUPGE's National President James Clancy.

"Today's young workers are being made to pay for decades of bad economic policy, such as tax cuts and cuts to public programs, which they had no voice in seeing implemented. Our union has fought these policies all along but as the Occupy and Quebec student movement demonstrated these issues are being picked up by new voices and activists."

NUPGE

Defend democracy: Stand against the Conservative budget bill

dduffy — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:07:51 -0400

Stand up for democracy by joining the June 13 protest agains tthe Conservative's budget bill.

Ottawa (12 June 2012) - On Wednesday, June 13 while Members of Parliament (MPs) begin voting on the Conservative government's 400-plus page omnibus budget bill, Canadians from coast to coast will be demonstrating against it.

Conservative MPs' offices across the country, as well as on Parliament Hill, will be the scene of protests starting at 5:30 p.m. to show the massive opposition to this undemocratic trojan horse budget bill. The bill is so far-reaching it includes changes to over 70 pieces of legislation, most of which are completely unrelated to the federal budget.

Leadnow, the group helping to organize the demonstrations says that this budget bill is bad for democracy, threatens our economic and social security, takes a reckless approach to the environment and attacks science and public information. It is also criticizing the government for using the omnibus tactic to ram the bill through. Omnibus bills lump many unrelated items into one bill, looking for a yes or no response.

More and more Conservative backbenchers are hearing from their constitutents and know this budget bill is a slap in the face to a democracy. Several former Conservative colleagues have spoken out publicly against the bill. Lead Now is calling for 13 "heroes", Conservative MPs who have the courage to stand up against the budget bill and the devastating effects it will have.

Opposition parties have submitted 871 amendments to the bill but the Speaker of the House of Commons, Andrew Scheer has organized them into 67 sections in order to restrict the amount of time it will take for each vote. Despite this, it is likely that MPs will be voting on the bill for at least 24 hours.

To find out if there is an action in your community, you can go to LeadNow's interactive website.

More information:

Lead Now

NUPGE

NSGEU launches campaign to fight privatization at Capital Health

dduffy — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:28:03 -0400

Capital Health contracts out AV and print services in September 2012.

Halifax (08 June 2012) - Capital Health managers in Nova Scotia dropped a bombshell recently when they abruptly announced plans to contract out its audio visual (AV) and print services department in September. Twenty-one jobs will be losts if they are privatized, reports the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE).

Hospital management have not disclosed any more information about the idea, nor have they answered many of the questions and concerns that are already emerging:

Who will arrange, staff, and troubleshoot the hundreds of tele-health events Capital Health hosts every year?
Who will ensure the accuracy and relevance of the 4,000+ of medical forms, prescriptions and patient guides that are the fundamental to health care across the province?
Who will print the 15 million copies of forms, prescriptions and patient guides and ensure they are delivered properly and on time?
How this disruptive and potentially dangerous move would save money?

The NSGEU/NUPGE is calling on the province's medical workers, patients, and taxpayers to demand answers to these questions. It is clear that fundamental misunderstandings exist within Capital Health's leadership about the work being targeted for privatization.

The union is hoping to stop the scheme to privatize health services by mounting a public campaign against the changes. Workers are being encourage to download this poster, print it , and post it on a union bulleting board in the workplace.

The general public can support the campaign by writing to Health Minister David Wilson (health.minister@gov.ns.ca), Capital Health CEO Chris Power (chris.power@cdha.nshealth.ca, and Capital Health VP Amanda Whitewood (amanda.whitewood@cdha.nshealth.ca) to voice opposition to the proposed privatization.

More informaton:

Contracting Out Alert poster

NSGEU website

NUPGE

Survey shows Conservative government on a mission to cut public services, attack workers

dduffy — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:40:18 -0400

The Conservative government, with its Parliamentary majority, is pursuing an agenda of fiscal austerity, cuts to public services and jobs and a renewed determination to attack trade union righs, all while giving further tax breaks to corporations.

Ottawa (07June 2012) - A report released this week in Switzerland by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) accuses the Canadian government of leading an attack on worker rights and for signaling to the country’s provinces and territories that it’s “open season” on freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The ITUC, a confederation of national trade union centres of which the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is a member, released its annual survey of trade union rights at the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and reported on trade union right violations throughout the world.

The report provides a damning analysis of the situation in Canada and is critical of the Canadian government’s disregard for the freedom of association, despite Supreme Court rulings that make it a cornerstones of industrial relations in the country.

From back to work legislation, to denial of bargaining rights to certain classes of workers, to the implementation of essential services legislation and the use of strikebreakers to undermine job actions, ITUC reports that "Not surprising is the rise of many laws under Federal, Provincial or Territorial jurisdictions that provide little statutory protection to organize, bargain collectively or strike for a growing number of workers."

A 2011 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on income inequality among 34 industrialized nations reported a rise in income inequality in Canada due to widening disparities in labour earnings since the 1980s, including a particularly steep increase in the income share of the top one percent.

Calls for redress by union workers through collective bargaining have been met with attacks on trade union rights, with Canada now setting the current record for freedom of association complaints to the International Labour Organization (ILO), unsurpassed by any other industrialized member State.

More information:

Annual survey of violation of trade union rights

NUPGE

PEIUPSE launches public action campaign

dduffy — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:25:37 -0400

PEIUPSE/NUPGE campaign highlights the move away from "compassion and cooperation in favour of a society leaning toward privatization and the elimination of people and services that all Islanders depend on.”

Charlottetown (06 June 2012) -The PEI Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) is launching a public action campaign to defend the public service from ongoing attacks leveled by the current provincial government. The campaign is called Wave Goodbye to PEI.

PEIUPSE President Shelley Ward says “the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness about the provincial government’s systematic dismantling of the public service and, indeed, way of life of all Islanders.”

She explained that “the theme of the campaign – wave goodbye to PEI – will be present in all campaign materials and represents the idea that we are waving goodbye to the Island way of life we know and love; waving goodbye to compassion and cooperation in favour of a society leaning toward privatization and the elimination of people and services that all Islanders depend on.”

“The goals of the campaign are to build support for the public service and to create a deterrent against further cuts,” says Ward. “The campaign will be rolled out to the PEIUPSE/NUPGE membership through a mail-out, and to all Islanders in the form of TV, radio and print advertisements."

The campaign will also feature a dedicated website (www.wavegoodbyetopei.ca) containing a host of information about the campaign and how to get involved.

The President of PEIUPSE continued, “the ads are short, to the point, and emotive. They focus on key issues where the government has made poor policy decisions such as reducing vital services for Islanders and implementing cuts to public service employees. Other issues central to the campaign include closing liquor stores in favour of introducing private agency stores, rural decline, and removing essential services for at-risk youth on PEI.”

More information:

Wave Goodbye to PEI

NUPGE

Corporate greed more important to employers, as group at ILO refuse to discuss worker's rights violations

dduffy — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:22:20 -0400

Employers have hijacked the process based on a misplaced ideological conviction that the right to strike, guaranteed under numerous laws, domestic constitutions and international instruments, poses a threat to corporate greed.

Geneva (06 June 2012) - At the annual International Labour Organizations (ILO) conference in Geneva yesterday, the employers’ group blocked discussion of some of the worst cases of worker rights violations.

Since 1926, the conference has discussed the most serious cases included in the annual report of the ILO’s Committee of Experts, a 17-member committee of eminent and independent international jurists. This, year the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) has refused to discuss any cases.

“Employers at the ILO are trying to keep the worst abuses under wraps and avoid the international scrutiny which could help save lives and tackle some of the most appalling attacks on the rights of working people," said Sharan Burrow, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary. "Last year, 29 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia, but employers don’t think the ILO should even discuss that, nor the terrible campaign of violence against trade unionists in Guatemala or Swaziland. Egyptians are in the midst of a battle for their most basic rights to decent work, but employers seem to be siding with the military and fundamentalist forces both of which want to deprive workers of a voice."

She continued, "The IOE has also refused to allow discussion of the withdrawal of collective bargaining rights in Greece and Spain, where plummeting incomes are worsening the country’s economic plight and other serious cases where decent labour laws are under attack."

Employer organisations are playing a dangerous political game at the ILO, even as some individual companies are themselves increasingly prepared to discuss workers’ rights openly and frankly.

“The ILO was established on the basis of social justice and a commitment to respect for the rule of law as it applies to working people. The world’s most eminent labour law jurists have presented their findings to the ILO Conference, but the IOE is refusing to allow their findings to be examined,” said Sharan Burrow.

“Employer groups are trying to undermine one of the most effective human rights mechanisms in the international system. This might help some of their least responsible member companies make some more profit and sustain governments which allow or even encourage violence against working people, but this will be at the cost of lives and livelihoods of some of the world’s most vulnerable workers,” said Burrow.

NUPGE

Manitoba government introduces legislation requiring P3 public accountability

dduffy — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:17:04 -0400

New legislation in Manitoba prescribes more accountability and transparency before starting P3 projects.

Winnipeg (01 June 2012) - While many governments across the country seem determined to introduce public private partnerships (P3s), the Manitoba government is the only one addressing major acountability and transparency concerns through actual legislation, says the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

The NDP government has presented new rules to improving transparency and accountability in the public-private partnerships (P3s) taking into account many of the well researched concerns about P3s. Research, in Canada and internationally, has found that when contracting out the responsibility for any project, the government and its citizens end up paying more while receiving less services, have less overall accountability for how the project is run and encounter major difficulty resolving any problems encountered.

A public-private partnership is a long-term agreement where responsibility for financing, operations or maintenance of a major public sector capital project is transferred to a private sector partner. P3s are generally used for larger-scale assets that are designed and built by a private sector company for government.

The proposed legislation would require public sector entities, including the government of Manitoba and municipalities that wish to enter into private-public partnerships (P3) for projects, to:

conduct a detailed risk and value-for-money analysis to determine if a P3 arrangement provides the best value for the money;
consult with the public before proceeding with the bidding process;
appoint an independent fairness monitor to oversee and review the bidding process;
publicly report the terms of the P3 contract; and
provide regular status reports during the term of the partnership.

Public consultation is particularly important, the minister noted in his announcement, as is the independent monitoring of the bidding process. The legislation would require public consultation prior to deciding to proceed with a public-private partnership agreement.

"The proposed public-private partnerships transparency and accountability act will help ensure Manitoba taxpayers get the best value for their infrastructure dollars and ensure public sector entities including the government of Manitoba and municipalities are accountable for their decisions," said Stan Struthers, Minister of Finance. "It will align Manitoba's project-planning process with identified best practices and help Manitobans make informed decisions on the major projects that will serve this province now and for future generations."

As a long time opponent of P3s, NUPGE has raised ongoing concerns about the process, operation and maintenance of such projects that undermine the quality of public services and public service workers. "It is worthwhile to note that the Manitoba government has addressed many of the recommendations just presented in Something to Value, the Ontario Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness Interim Report," says James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "We are interested to see how this legislation unfolds to tackle our long-standing concerns."

NUPGE

On June 4, speak out for nature and democracy

dduffy — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:43:03 -0400

On June 4, NUPGE is joining with faith groups, trade unions, associations, businesses, First Nations, environment groups, human rights groups, pro democracy groups and seniors, across the country, to say: Silence is Not an Option.

Ottawa (01 June 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) will be joining thousands of Canadians to oppose the Conservative budget in a mass online protest on Monday, June 4.

As Members of Parliament (MPs) consider a budget bill that will vastly transform our environmental protections in the absence of transparent public discussion, NUPGE is joining with faith groups, trade unions, associations, businesses, First Nations, environment groups, human rights groups, pro democracy groups and seniors, across the country, to say: Silence is Not an Option.

On Monday, June 4, the NUPGE website will go black, sending a single, unified message to decision-makers: Protect our Canadian values. Our land, water, and climate. Our communities. Our human rights and democracy.

Visit BlackOutSpeakOut to join the campaign and to access tools to make your voice heard.

Speak Out on twitter, facebook, and through your networks.

Email or call your MP.

You can follow #blackoutspeakout during the day for updates and to join the conversation.

In this historic Canadian moment, your voice has never been more important.

More information:

BlackOutSpeakout

NUPGE joins thousands in BLACKOUTSPEAKOUT protest on June 4

dduffy — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:54:44 -0400

Thousands join together to protest the federal budget by darkening their websites on June 4.

Ottawa (31 May 2012) - Eleven Canadian environmental organizations have launched a major online protest against the Conservative government's plans to reform environmental laws as part of the federal omnibus budget implementation bill.

On June 4, environmental organizations, representing millions of Canadians, will "black out" their websites as a protest to the silencing of voices and heavy-handed and wrongheaded changes contained in the federal budget. But the movement has gained traction with more than just environmentalists.

Community associations, development groups, trade unions, anti-poverty groups and ecumenical organizations are just a few who are deeply concerned about the far-reaching and devastating effects of this budget bill will have. All have committed to darken their websites to show their opposition to these changes.

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has also signed onto the protest over its outrage at the Conservative government's budget.

Concerns about the budget range from the weakening of actual environmental protections and the removal of oversight in a number of areas but also the changes which allow cabinet and the prime minister's office to have much more control over the decision-making process.

Not only have these environmental changes been buried in the 400-page budget bill but the Harper government has limited second reading debate to only seven days.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is urging the government to carve out the environmental changes from the massive bill in order to ensure enough time and consideration is given to the content before a vote in the House of Commons.

"It is inappropriate to put so many sweeping changes to so many different areas in the budget bill. The Conservatives are trying to hide from the oversight and accountability that Canadians deserve," NDP House leader Nathan Cullen said. "A bad budget lasts a year. These implementations will last, perhaps, a generation," Cullen said. "What the government is obviously afraid of is having any kind of scrutiny."

The government has steadfastly refused to extend time limits or separate portions of the bill for further examination.

More information:

BlackOutSpeakOut

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Quebec student strike: It's about values, democracy and fundamental freedoms

dduffy — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:49:44 -0400

In fighting the dramatic tuition fee hikes, the student movement is defending the values of equality and solidarity which underpin this social contract.

By James Clancy
National President
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

Ottawa (30 May 2012) - There has been a lot said and written about the student strike in Quebec since it began over 100 days ago.

Sadly, most of the mainstream media coverage has focused on the unruly tactics of a small minority of fringe troublemakers.

Very little has been said, particularly outside Quebec, regarding what this dispute is really all about.

The protests are focused on the Charest government's policy to increase tuition fees by more than 80 per cent.

The students argue that the fee hikes threaten the accessibility of education and will harm Quebec's long-term economic prosperity.

But the strike is also about something much broader than the policy debate over tuition fees.

It's about values, democracy and fundamental freedoms.

The Charest government unilaterally decided to change what is in effect a social contract.

Education has mostly been funded from the public purse on the grounds that accessible education enriches the whole economy and society of Quebec and everyone benefits as a result.

Under this social contract, there is also an implicit belief that all citizens should have an opportunity to reach their full potential no matter what their income is.

This social contract has manifested itself in other ways such as universal health care, generous family allowances and low cost but high quality child care.

In fighting the dramatic tuition fee hikes, the student movement is defending the values of equality and solidarity which underpin this social contract.

Mr. Charest mistakenly believes he can diminish this social contract without any democratic deliberation.

From the beginning, he has refused to consult with students or use the traditional means of mediation in a representative democracy.

When Mr. Charest couldn't get his way by simply disregarding and dismissing the will of students, he rammed Bill 78 through the National Assembly.

This repressive law sets strict regulations governing public protests and student groups that organize them, including heavy financial penalties (up to $125,000) for violations.

It's a direct attack on freedom of speech, association and assembly.

The message to students, and all Quebecers, is clear: “Agree with us or we will legislate, arrest, jail and bankrupt you into submission.”

Mr. Charest's strategy to subvert democracy, create a climate of fear and silence dissenting voices has not worked.

Instead, it has created more polarization and prolonged the strike.

That's because people in Quebec know what is at stake.

They will not stand idly by while the Charest government threatens their value system and runs roughshod over their democracy and fundamental freedoms.

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) supports the student and civil society movement in Quebec.

We call on the Charest government to rescind Bill 78 and agree to help from an independent mediator to resolve the dispute.

We call on the federal government to pass legislation (a Canada Post-Secondary Education Act) to establish criteria which would ensure the affordability, accessibility, quality, accountability and public administration of post-secondary education across the country.

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

UNICEF Canada report shows income inequality contributes to child poverty

dduffy — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:57:26 -0400

With a 13 per cent child poverty rate, Canada ranks higher than the average and places 24th of 35 industrialized countries.

Ottawa (30 May 2012) - UNICEF Canada released a new report measuring child poverty around the world and found some disturbing conditions right in our own backyard. According to Measuring Child Poverty, Canada's child poverty rate is higher than its overall national poverty rate, meaning children are suffering the most.

Canada ranked 18th out of 35 for countries with a higher child poverty rate than its overall rate and 24th in terms of the number of children actually growing up poor. UNICEF reported that Iceland has the lowest rate of child poverty just below five per cent while Romania has the highest.

The study clearly indicates that government policies play a role in contributing to the poverty levels. "Countries with similar levels of economic development and per capita income have different child poverty rates. Canada's taxes and transfers are more successful at lowering child poverty rate compared to the United States but they are not as successful as the Nordic countries, Ireland or Australia."

The report suggests Canada can improve its standing by:

developing a national strategy to eliminate poverty, with a focus on children;
creating a National Commissioner for Children and Young Persons to protect the rights of vulnerable children;
improving child benefits; and
creating measures to enable low-income families to keep more income.

Canada does not even have an official definition of poverty making it difficult to monitor the situation and evaluate when strategies are effective.

"The Prime Minister should be ashamed. Government policies are having a disasterous affect on children," said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "It's his government's policies - from cuts to EI to massive government layoffs to refusing to develop a modern industrial job strategy - when you hurt the livelihoods of working people and those trying to make ends meet, you hurt children."

To pressure the government to take action on child poverty, UNICEF Canada is urging the public to write to their Member of Parliament and use social media to spread the word.

More information:

UNICEF Canada: Measuring Child Poverty, Report Card 10

NUPGE

Government changes to EI demonstrates lack of industrial strategy

dduffy — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:35:42 -0400

"If Canada had a modern industrial strategy, we wouldn't be having this conversation. We'd be talking about how to put people to work in sustainable, decent jobs, not being forced to take whatever is left at the end of the day." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

Ottawa (29 May 2012) - On the heels of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's comments about upcoming changes to Employment Insurance (EI) saying, "there's no such thing as a bad job," Diane Finlay, Minister for Human Resources, announced new EI regulations that will negatively impact workers across the country.

Workers will now be divided into three different categories: long-tenured workers, frequent claimants and occasional claimants. Depending on the category, unemployed workers may have to broaden their geographic search area, accept lower wages and accept different work outside their area of expertise.

The government is also working on revising its definition of what "suitable work" means.

The changes are scheduled to be in place by early 2013.

At the same time as these changes were announced, the Canadian Press learned the government has stopped providing Statistics Canada "key and current information about how much federal money is flowing to each of the provinces for EI claimants."

"The lack of transparency and accountability is outrageous when it comes to this Conservative government," says James Clancy, National President of the 340-000 member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "On one hand, Harper says the EI changes aren't about cutting costs but on the other hand, they're refusing to provide any way to monitor how much money is being spent on the program."

The changes will have a dramatic affect on those regularly laid off from seasonal jobs or who are facing downsizing due to austerity measures. With the economic growth in the private sector not rebounding as quickly as the government had hoped and the massive layoffs ahead across the public sector, these changes to EI do nothing to improve the lives of those unemployed or working seasonal industries.

More information:

Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy working to end hands-off approach to job creation

Canadians for a modern industrial strategy

NUPGE

NUPGE urges support for striking Teamsters: Send an email to Labour Minister - back-to-work legislation doesn't work!

dduffy — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:02:48 -0400

Visit the www.labourrights.ca website to send Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt an email to tell her to stop interfering with collective bargaining!

Ottawa (24 May 2012) - After securing a 95 per cent mandate, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents some 4,800 workers at Canadian Pacific, are off the job after management at Canadian Pacific refused to remove several concessions from the bargaining table.

"Fatigue management, work rules and pension plans are at the core of the negotiations," says the Teamster. "Canadian Pacific is drastically and unfairly trying to cut its workers’ pensions while generously improving the retirement benefits of its managers. Further, as reported by the Globe and Mail, CP is also "seeking to reduce the payouts for future retirees, as well as scale back health, dental and prescription drug benefits for its new pensioners."

The union has been open about its commitment to negotiate a fair deal in order to end the strike but with federal back-to-work legislation already in the wings, it is unclear if this will happen.

On Tuesday, May 22, the night before the strike began, Minister Lisa Raitt indicated that she was optimistic a deal could be reached. When asked whether or not she was working on back-to-work legislation, she suggested she was letting negotiations take their natural course. Within 24 hours, she warnedboth sides to adopt one of three options - reach a deal, go volunarily to binding arbitration, or accept 120 days of further mediation - or face back-to-work legislation.

"This knee jerk reaction to labour disputes is typical of the Conservative government and this minister," says James Clancy, National President of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "Its repeated attempts to undermine the bargaining position of workers - from airlines, to postal service to rail service - through back-to-work legislation is a violation of workers' fundamental right to free collective bargaining."

"The Conservatives have no idea how to resolve conflict only know how to rachet it up," Clancy continued. "In threatening this back-to-work legislation, they have just given CP no real reason to sit at the table and negotiate fairly. It's a clear and growing sign that workers cannot trust this government to operate in good faith."

"The National Union stands in solidarity with the 4,800 striking Teamsters in their fight for a fair settlement, which includes a strong and decent pension plan. You are fighting not only for yourselves but for the retirement security of all workers."

More information:

Send an email to Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour

President’s Commentary: Harper government denying fundamental human rights

Legislating workers back to work creates bad labour relations: CFLR

NUPGE: Pensions and retirement security

All Together Now! campaign: Champions 4 Pensions

NUPGE

Downtown Ottawa turns into Sherwood Forest

dduffy — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:47:14 -0400

Robin Hood and his merry activists take to streets across from Parliament Building in support of the Robin Hood Tax. UPDATED

Ottawa (25 May 2012) - On Friday, May 25, at 11 a.m., the streets of downtown Ottawa will become more like Sherwood Forest's days of old as Robin Hood and his merry band of social justice activists take their message - We want a Robin Hood Tax! - to the people! These actions are intended to encourage the Harper government to stop opposing the tax and join with the growing number of leaders from European and developing nations who endorse the introduction of a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT), commonly referred to as the Robin Hood Tax. (Pictures from days event at bottom)

The proposal is for the world's nations to place a 0.05 per cent (1/20th of one per cent) tax on financial transactions that would generate up to $400 billion (Cdn) a year.

Funds from the tax would be used to pay for the social costs of the economic crisis, to fight global poverty, to meet global public needs such as health care and to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change. The tax would also play a role in stabilizing the global economy by discouraging the reckless financial speculation that caused the financial crash.

James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), thinks that "it is time that those most responsible for this crisis, and those that benefited from government bailouts, take greater responsibility for putting things right - both in Canada and around the world."

"In this context, we strongly think that a financial transaction tax is an economic policy initiative that merits Canada’s support."

The Ottawa events follows similar rallies and events around the globe that have taken place to coincide with recent G8 leaders meetings and a meeting of European leaders (May 23).

These activists represent a movement of millions spread across five continents. A Robin Hood Tax would ensure the financial sector, which according to the IMF is “under taxed”, pays its fair share to support the most vulnerable who continue to lose out because of a financial crisis they did nothing to cause.

NUPGE

Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy working to end hands-off approach to job creation

dduffy — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:57:10 -0400

While income inequality has begun to receive the attention it deserves, CMIS is determined to start a serious debate on the economic development strategy for this country.

Ottawa (16 May 2012) - Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy (CMIS) announced it will be bringing together people from labour, business, government and the community who believe Canada's economic success and social well-being depend on a proactive industrial strategy.

As the loss of manufacturing jobs and growing trade deficit have demonstrated, the hands-off approach of the federal government and too many provincial governments has failed. It is time to learn from places that have succeeded in creating good, well-paying jobs, instead of just handing out tax cuts to corporations and hoping for the best.

James Clancy, National President, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) on McJobs and an modern industrial strategy

A modern industrial strategy must be based on the principles that:

governments play an essential co-ordinating and enabling role to play in the economy;
there is a true partnership involving government, labour, business, community, academic institutions and other stakeholders;
inequality is reduced by creating good jobs and putting people and nature at the heart of the economy;
the focus is on the tools different sectors need to be a vibrant part of a modern economy, instead of getting bogged down in a sterile debate between “high tech” and “smokestack” industries; and
long-term needs are put ahead of short-term considerations.

As well as advocacy, CMIS will address the need for more information on the issues by providing research and analysis of public policy issues and create a forum for broader discussion.

In its first publication, Canada Needs a Modern Industrial Strategy, CMIS exposes how government choices have created the increasing economic inequality Canada is now facing. One of these choices has been to abandon the tradition of a proactive industrial strategy. While income inequality has begun to receive the attention it deserves, CMIS is determined to start a serious debate on the economic development strategy for this country.

More information:

Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy - http://www.industrialstrategy.ca/

NUPGE

Social impact bonds: the latest scheme to privatize public services

dduffy — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:47:47 -0400

Higher costs, reduced accountability and privatization are all risks in the social impact bond funding scheme for public services.

Ottawa (10 May 2012) - Even though they have yet to produce results, many governments are enthusiastic about the way social impact bonds allow them to “buy now, pay later", says the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

In the new publication, Social Impact Bonds: A new way to privatize public services, NUPGE uncovers several major concerns with the new funding scheme being embraced by Canadian governments.

In the recent federal Conservative budget, Finance Minister Flaherty announced that the bonds hold "promise" and signalled his government was considering them. In Ontario, Don Drummond recommended in his report recommending public service cuts to the Liberal government the start of pilot projects in several different areas. During the recent Alberta election, Progressive Conversative leader Alison Redford ran on a platform of introducing social impact bonds.

As NUPGE points out, there are several dangers with this new funding scheme. Specifically, for community and social services, social impact bonds will mean privatization, higher administrative costs and reduced accountability.

Currently, in Britain, these bonds are being used to divert attention away from funding cuts.

The way social impact bonds work is that private investors fund new services and are repaid their capital and an agreed-on profit, if agreed-on social outcomes are met. These profits would certainly increase the overall cost of any project or program.

If the service does not meet the agreed-on social outcomes, investors get nothing back.

The bonds are being considered as a way to provide services in areas such as developmental services, homelessness, supports for people with developmental disabilities, mental health, justice and corrections and public health.

Intermediary groups whose first responsibility is to investors, not the public, would manage the services. Because investors lose their money if a project doesn't succeed, there will be little interest in helping those facing problems so severe that success is uncertain. Additionally, how a service is delivered, including spending on things like staffing, will be up to the intermediary group.

The only social impact bond service currently operating is relatively simple, but it still took 18 months to reach an agreement on how to measure success. With lawyers and other expensive professionals involved, the negotiating process pushes up administrative costs and that will be much worse for more complex projects.

"We will oppose these deals at every step," says James Clancy, NUPGE National President. "Social impact bonds are just the latest quick fix funding scheme to catch the attention of governments. We urge governments to find the financial resources through a fairer tax system to invest in social programs and public services, instead of wasting time on more expensive and riskier ideas."

Download the report: Social Impact Bonds: A new way to privatize public services

NUPGE

Activists profiled in April/May edition of ATN Campaigner

dduffy — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:49:47 -0400

“Income inequality is the greatest social and economic challenge facing Canada today,” said James Clancy, NUPGE President.

Ottawa (08 May 2012) - The latest issue of the All Together Now! campaign's newsletter is making the rounds to mailboxes and inboxes across the country. Inside you'll find tonnes of great information about quality public services and jobs and how to fight more successfully for increased tax fairness.

This issue shines a light on the amazing activism which is taking place in workplaces and communities in every province. In profile this month, Dallas Takeuchi, who works in the Labratory Inspection Unit inspecting drinking water and is a member of the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), has been a Champion 4 Change since the campaign started. Dallas has been spreading the message of tax fairness and promoting quality public services to members of his union but also local health coalitions and the broader community. His personal message makes it easy for everyone to understand why they need to become an ATN supporter!

April was a busy month for ATN as over a dozen women gathered in Ottawa to participate in the first training session for Women 4 Change. Women from across Canada talked about how the changes to the economy has specifically impacted women and came up with a plan of action to share that information back home. The National Union also held a Champions 4 Pensions meeting to tie in the need for a strong, public retirement security plan into the ATN campaign. Members came away energized and excited about returning home to share the information learned and continue to build a real majority which protects public services and fights for income equality.

You will also findout why the recent 2012 federal budget isn't doing anything to help improve income inequality in Canada as well as more information about three newly released publications - Something to Value, the Ontario Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness: Interim Report; Common Good, Common Wealth, Common Values; and Canada Needs an Industrial Strategy.

To sign up to receive your copy of the ATN Campaigner, go to http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca.

More information:

ATN Campaigner

NUPGE

Let’s defend real pensions

dduffy — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:36:59 -0400

Of course, the country can afford pensions for some people. Pretty good pensions, in fact. CEO’s and the Executive ranks are doing quite OK in their retirement.

By Larry Brown
National Secretary Treasurer
National Union of Public and General Employees

Ottawa (04 May 2012) - There is a perception in Canada these days that workplace pension plans are relics of an older era, luxuries that are simply not affordable in these leaner times.

And defined benefit pensions? The real kind of pension, where people get a set amount per month based on their years of service? Those were the days, alright. But like hula hoops and cars with tailfins, they are from the past, dying out fast.

What nonsense.

Why would workplace pensions or defined benefit pensions no longer be affordable? Canada is not a poorer country than it used to be, quite the opposite. Canada’s GDP has increased considerably over the last few decades, even after factoring out the effects of inflation.

The CIA World Handbook, for example, says our per capita real value GDP has increased from $23,300 per person in 1999 to $39,400 per person in 2010. That was in 2010 when we were still seriously affected by the 2008 economic collapse. So there is, by any measure, more wealth in this country but somehow we’re told we can’t afford pensions any longer.

Of course, the country can afford pensions for some people. Pretty good pensions, in fact. CEO’s and the Executive ranks are doing quite OK in their retirement.

Shaw Communications has a pension put aside for its former CEO, valued at $71,039,000. The CEO of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan has a pension worth $20,789,853. The Toronto Dominion Bank CEO has a pension worth $33,940,000. The list of this incredible largess for CEO’s is a long one. Some folks are doing quite well in retirement.

As a society we can afford pensions; we can afford to have decent defined benefit pensions. But we have let the situation deteriorate to the point that such pensions are almost an endangered species. If we, as a society, value pensions for workers we should – and we can – put policies into place that will encourage the development and maintenance of such plans.

Here are three ideas:

1) If an employer doesn’t have a workplace pension, it should pay higher Canada Pension Plan (CPP) premiums.

Why should an employer that offers employees the protection of a workplace pension, pay exactly the same CPP premium as an employer that doesn’t offer one? The employer with a pension plan is providing a workplace benefit that incorporates a major social benefit. The employer without a pension plan is creating long term social costs as those employees retire.

If employers without a workplace pension paid more CPP premiums their employees could at least retire with a higher CPP payout for those years of service.

2) We should provide a financial incentive for employers to set up pension plans.

We allow our governments to provide incentives and tax breaks for pretty much every reason imaginable with no measurement of the effect of all this incentive money. Why wouldn’t we provide incentives for something that will have an immediate and measurable social benefit – not to mention an immediate economic benefit of a healthier economy? Having seniors with enough money to live a decent life on retirement is surely worth a small portion of our public spending.

If an employer provides a pension in their workplace they should get a financial incentive – and if they provide a superior defined benefit pension plan they should get a superior incentive.

3) The federal and provincial governments should set up a pension guarantee fund to bail out those funds that, for legitimate reasons, run into financial difficulties. This fund should not just be paid for by employers with a pension plan but should be heavily supported by government monies.

Expensive? Compared to the 2008 bank bail out of approximately $114 billion Canadians are only learning about, a few billion dollars to ensure that seniors don't fall into poverty because their pension plan collapsed is small change.

Governments of all stripes pay lip service to the importance of pensions for retirees. It’s time that lip service was matched by action. It could be done. It’s not complicated but it is necessary.

NUPGE

Canada’s secret bank bailout revealed

dduffy — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:17:55 -0400

“At some point during the crisis, three of Canada’s banks—CIBC, BMO, and Scotiabank—were completely under water, with government support exceeding the market value of the company,” says Macdonald. “Without government supports to fall back on, Canadian banks would have been in serious trouble.”

Ottawa (02 May 2012) — A study released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) estimates the previously secret extent of extraordinary support required by Canada’s banks during the financial crisis.

According to the study, by CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald, support for Canadian banks reached $114 billion at its peak—that’s $3,400 for every man, woman and child in Canada.

Between October 2008 and July 2010, Canada’s largest banks relied heavily on financial aid programs provided by the Bank of Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the U.S. Federal Reserve—all at the same time.

Over the entire aid period, Canada’s banks reported $27 billion in total profits between them and the CEOs of each of the big banks were among the highest paid Canadian CEOs. Between 2008 and 2009, each bank CEO received an average raise in total compensation of 19 per cent.

“The federal government claims it was offering the banks ‘liquidity support’ but it looks an awful lot like a bailout to me,” says Macdonald. “Whatever you call it, Canadian government aid for the country’s biggest banks was far more indispensable than the official line would suggest.”

The study estimates the value of government support by combing through data provided by CMHC, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions and the Bank of Canada, as well as quarterly reports of the banks themselves.

Due to government secrecy, the study raises more questions than it answers. Macdonald calls on the Bank of Canada and CMHC to release the full details of how much support each Canadian bank received, when they received it, and what they put up as collateral.

“A healthy and resilient banking sector cannot operate under the shroud of secrecy. Details of the massive taxpayer support Canadian banks received should be released in the name of transparency and accountability,” says Macdonald. “Financial sector regulation should be strengthened to prevent the need for similar measures in the future.”

NUPGE

Global job recovery threatened by fiscal austerity

dduffy — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:52 -0400

The world needs to create 50 million jobs to return to pre-crisis employment levels, according to the ILO, but fiscal austerity and tough labour market reforms threaten a true jobs recovery.

Geneva (02 May 2012) – Governments should adopt more worker-friendly approaches in dealing with fiscal austerity, according to the recently released International Labour Organization (ILO) World of Work Report 2012. Such a change in policy could result in adding around two million jobs in advanced economies over the next year, as opposed to only about 800,000 if current approaches persist.

The report charged that the combination of fiscal austerity and tougher labour market reforms – or deregulation – adopted by many advanced economies have proved devastating to job creation, in particular and largely ineffective in reducing fiscal deficits.

"Countries that have chosen job-centered macroeconomic policies have achieved better economic and social outcomes," according to Raymond Torres, the director of the ILO's International Institute for Labor Studies and the report's lead author. "Many of them have also become more competitive and weathered the crisis better than those that followed the austerity path."

Combined with increases in growing income and wealth inequality in many countries, the unemployment situation is also increasing the risk of social unrest in the most-affected economies, according to the 128-page report.

The report estimates that some 50 million jobs are missing compared to the situation before the 2008 financial crisis.

Other main findings of the report include:

Youth unemployment rates have increased in about 80 per cent of advanced countries and in two-thirds of developing countries;
Poverty rates have increased in half of developed economies and in one-third of developing economies, while inequality rose in half of developed countries and one-fourth of developing economies;
On average, more than 40 per cent of job seekers in advanced economies have been without work for more than a year.
Involuntary part-time employment has increased in two-thirds of advanced economies. Temporary employment has also risen in more than half of these economies.
In 26 out of the 40 countries for which information is available, the proportion of workers covered by a collective agreement declined between 2000 and 2009.
28 per cent of the selected group of emerging and developing countries implemented policies to reduce social benefits during the crisis compared to 65 per cent in advanced economies.

More information:

ILO World of Work Report 2012

NUPGE

Women 4 Change training session huge success in Ottawa

dduffy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:34:49 -0400

Watch new video interviews from the Women 4 Change training session.

Ottawa (27 April 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) launched Women 4 Change (W4C) a new feature of the All Together Now! campaign this week in Ottawa. As part of the National Union's Advisory Committee on Women's Issues (ACWI) meeting, women representatives from across the country became the first graduates of the W4C training session.

Each committee member will be taking the training module back to their home province to use with their members as well as out in the community to spread the need for income equality and tax fairness. The new module has a more dominant gender analysis written into it, highlighting the ways in which women are impacted more dramatically by cuts to public services, rising costs and lower wages.

"Women still only represent 20 per cent of elected positions, CEO positions. Decision-making positions are predominantly held by men, so until women are involved, better choices won't happen," said Dawn Ferris, Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) member on ACWI.

Anne Davis, a member of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE) offered this perspective, "I look at what is going on politically in this country, and in the province, with corporations getting huge tax breaks. That money is not flowing back into the economy. It is simply making wealthy people wealthier. It's really important for us, as women, to arm ourselves with the facts and get out there and talk about them."

The All Together Now! campaign promoting tax fairness and public services has been running for almost two years now. New ways of organizing are regularly added to the campaign such as the Champions 4 Pensions and now the Women 4 Change, giving more and more people the tools and training to reach a broader audience.

"I'm very excited about this. This gives people an opportunity to voice their opinion, say what they feel is affecting them in their workplace, in their community," said Arlene Sedlickas from the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE). "Our union, it is made up of 75% women and they want to be heard. By giving them some tools and a bit of information, they will be able to pass it along to others. This is a great opportunity."

More information:

All Together Now! campaign: Women 4 Change

NUPGE

NUPGE is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

Murray Dobbin: Expect more from your government

dduffy — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:11:21 -0400

by Murray Dobbin

Murray Dobbin has been a journalist, broadcaster, author and social activist for over 35years. He has written extensively on various trade agreements and their impact on democracy and on neo-liberalism's attack on social programs and is also a leading activist and analyst in the movement against corporate globalization.

Ottawa (27 April 2012) - Something is happening in Canada that seems, in the context of a majority Harper government, counter-intuitive. Harper continues implementing his right-wing revolution by fiat, and Preston Manning’s “democracy” institute says Canadians actually want “less” government and more individual responsibility. Yet a flurry of polls in the past few weeks and months suggest two dramatic counterpoints to this self-serving narrative.

First, in a development that is virtually unprecedented, inequality has become, by far, Canadians’ top concern displacing the perennial front-runner, Medicare. And closely related are a number of polls showing that Canadians in large majorities think wealthy people and corporations should pay more taxes. They are even willing to pay more themselves.

How these attitudes will play out over the longer term is hard to predict. Other trends are not so encouraging.

The trouble with normal, Bruce Cockburn told us, is it always gets worse. And that's the danger in times like this when we watch the ratcheting back of democratic government and the things that it has provided. The longer term threat to democracy is that we become inured to the systematic assaults on it. It is easy to get demoralized with what one US writer called “surplus powerlessness.” Without an obvious short-term solution to the quasi-dictatorship of the Harper government the easiest response is to deny it is happening – and then get used to it.

No opposition party has so far said that they are committed to reversing all the reactionary and destructive actions of this government. Yet this is what we should be demanding of them.

The myriad assaults on the nation being implemented by Harper are really just the latest chapter in what has been a revolution of lowered expectations: a deliberate and systematic culture war on ordinary Canadians' deeply held values about the role of government. Starting in the late 1980s with the FTA campaign corporations and their propaganda agencies like the Fraser Institute, set out to reverse the so-called welfare state, and the belief system it rested on. The slogan for the free-traders was simple and repeated endlessly: there is no alternative. Of course there were alternatives, just none that the corporate state was going to allow.

Neo-liberals and the Christian right have been engaged in a 30 year process of trying to change the political culture into something more akin to the individualism of the US. To do that they had to demonize government – the institution of collective action which distinguished us from our southern neighbours.

The free trade battle was followed by the deficit hysteria campaign promoting the spectre of hitting the (non-existent) debt wall, softening Canadians up for huge cuts to social spending (courtesy Paul Martin). Demonizing government and government workers (lazy, privileged, self-interested, overpaid) also prepared the ground for the laying off of 50,000 federal employees. And, of course, as programs were diminished, so too was the average citizen’s trust in government.

Lastly was the whole question of taxes and tax cuts – the litmus test of a new political culture of smaller government and individual responsibility. Framing taxes as a burden, and telling people they knew how to spend their money better than government, the Liberal and Conservative regimes handed out billions upon billions of tax cuts in their efforts to downsize democracy.

Yet the whole project is turning out to be a failure. Canadians’ values have changed very little since the 1960s and 70s. What has changed are people’s expectations of what is possible from government. We cling stubbornly to our values but no longer expect to see them reflected in government policies. Until now. Thanks in large part to the wonderful activists in the occupy movement, suddenly Canadians are emerging from this war on democracy with the beginnings of what it will take to turn things around.

There is growing evidence that, for a majority of Canadians, personal experience is beginning to trump propaganda. As they see services decline, inequality rise, infrastructure crumble and democracy erode, what they have always known comes to the fore – that a civilized society is fair and that you have to pay for it.

For 31% of Canadians to say (as they did in this Ekos poll) that inequality is their number one concern, placing fiscal issues at 9% means this sentiment has been growing for some time. It just took the catalyst of the occupy rebellion to bring it forward.

And the many polls revealing we are prepared to pay more taxes is an obvious extension of that moral imperative. The Ekos poll showed 59% chose investing in social programs as the highest government priority, compared to 16% who wanted to keep taxes as low as possible.

The Broadbent Institute’s recent polling was even more encouraging. Seventy-seven percent identified inequality as a major problem undermining Canadian values, were willing to do their part to address it and believed it should be a government priority to deal with it. While a large percentage supported fairer taxes (with the wealthy and corporations paying more) a significant majority, 64%, were willing to pay more themselves to save social programs – 72% of Liberal and NDP supporters and even 58% of Conservative supporters agreed. The majority support held across regions, gender, age, education level and family income.

When the provincial NDP in Ontario recently called for a modest 2% tax hike for those earning half a million dollars or more the public response was overwhelmingly in favour – by a margin of 78% in favour to 17% opposed. The Liberal government read the polls – and agreed to the tax increase to get the NDP’s support for its budget.

Even in Calgary – in the heart of anti-tax country – 55% supported increasing municipal taxes while only 10% called for a decrease.

The media seems completely caught off guard by these and other polls. The Globe and Mail did an interactive poll the day before the federal budget and declared: “What stood out was the across the board call for higher taxes.” People were willing to see the GST restored to 7%. A columnist for the National Post worried that the arguments against taxing the wealthy were not very convincing – especially when the mainstream is supportive.

When it comes to tax cuts the message is clear: enough is enough. At the same time as the polling is showing these remarkable results, there are now several organizations calling for fairer taxes: Doctors for Fair Taxation, Lawyers for Fair Taxation and Faith Leaders for Fair Taxation. There is also a national group, Canadians for Tax Fairness (of which I am associated) and groups beginning to form at the provincial level – such as Nova Scotians for Tax Fairness. There is the Canadian section of the international Uncut anti-austerity movement, with 14 local chapters across the country. The National Union of Public Employees (NUPGE), the federation of provincial government employee unions has been running an amazing tax campaign called All Together Now! for a couple of years.

The movement for equality and tax fairness is barely off the ground and it already has majority support across the country. Now the opposition parties have to show that they have the courage and the principles to respond to this progressive sentiment. If the Liberals and the NDP ever manage to form a coalition government, the first item on which they should agree is the need for tax fairness and sufficient revenue to restore the Canada we once had and go beyond it. The Ekos poll revealed that 60% of Canadians say they would be more likely to vote for a party that pledged to raise taxes on the rich.

For Canadians and opposition parties the time for lowered expectations is over. Expect more.

NUPGE

President's Commentary: Harper is making Canada an evidence-free zone

dduffy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:49:58 -0400

Nobody really knows the cost of cutting oversight agencies but without the proper information we run the risk of making serious problems even worse and, in the long term, that will cost all of us.

By James Clancy
National President
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

Ottawa (24 April 2012) - The recent Federal Budget has a number of unsettling and disturbing trends that will cost Canadians and Canada a lot more than we think. First of all the Conservatives have continued their war on information. This attack is not just short-sighted. It's just plain stupid. Wouldn't you want to have all the necessary background information before you made a decision? I guess not, if you are the Conservatives and have already decided that punishment is better than rehabilitation. And if you don't want to know the facts then just stop gathering the information.

This war started last year when they unveiled their position on the long-form census. They were determined to get rid of it regardless of what scientists, researchers, consumers or business groups said. They even ignored the advice of the head of Statistics Canada, who, to his credit, resigned rather than carry out their wrong-headed strategy. In this budget they continue the war by gutting many other agencies including Environment Canada and its information gathering arms because the Harper government has already decided they care more about oil and gas extraction than environmental concerns.

Other examples of information shutdowns include the National Council of Welfare which collects data on poverty, the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, the Auditor General (AG) and Elections Canada. Less oversight by the AG, less money for Elections Canada in the middle of the robocalls scandal and dramatic cuts to anybody else who might blow the whistle on wrong-doing. Nobody really knows the cost of cutting oversight agencies but without the proper information we run the risk of making serious problems even worse and, in the long term, that will cost all of us.

Something that will cost us immediately is the budget decision to stop funding research, policy development and information gathering on Aboriginal health. This includes the shutdown of NAHO, the Aboriginal research and information gathering agency. The Harper government has also removed all health related funding for the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Inuit women's organization, Pauktuutit, and 40% of the health care funding for the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK).

This decrease in funding is wrong on so many levels. First of all the vivid pictures from Attawapiskat were shocking but not much different from hundreds of other Aboriginal communities. These communities are already worse off than the rest of the Canadian population on suicide rates, alcohol-related deaths, drug use and abuse, domestic violence and sexual assaults. First Nations and Inuit are also the most likely in Canada to be undiagnosed or under-diagnosed for mental illness.

For Aboriginal women, the cuts run deeper and will result in the loss of programs and research addressing early childhood development, diabetes, HIV, FASD and suicide prevention. Statistics Canada reports that 36 per cent of Aboriginal women live in poverty, which is more than double the rate of poverty for their non-Aboriginal counterparts. They experience unacceptably high levels of violence and abuse. Aboriginal women are newly diagnosed with HIV at three times the rate and live on average almost six years less than non Aboriginal women.

This status quo, the one that we saw in Attawapiskat, will not only continue but get much worse. The Aboriginal organizations mentioned earlier have been working on health promotion, suicide prevention and helping their people heal from a history of residential schools, abuse from church and government officials, forced relocations and the denial of their language and culture.

They are trying to help Aboriginal individuals and communities recover from intergenerational trauma and they are making progress. Aboriginal people are regaining resiliency and healthy coping skills as well as reclaiming and strengthening their language and culture. They are doing this by combining traditional knowledge with modern methods, by getting people out onto the land to reconnect with nature, by working with their youth and Elders to become the new leaders of their communities. They are trying – but now the support they had been receiving has suddenly been cut.

If these cuts stand then we will not only stop the progress, we will send people and communities backwards. That is not how we want to treat Canada's largest growing demographic group. These cuts will result in more Inuit suicides. There were 11 suicides in Iqaluit last year. That rate would mean 1,500 suicides in Ottawa.

These cuts will result in more Aboriginal people ending up in jail. They currently have four per cent of the population but make up 20 per cent of the inmate population. More Aboriginal youth will end up in gangs. More will be born with FASD. More Aboriginal women will be beaten to death. More will end up addicted and on the street. And more will go missing, and be presumed dead.

Unless changes are made to the federal budget, the situation will and can only get worse. The facts, if the Harper government cared about gathering information, speak for themselves.

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

James Clancy is the National President of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). NUPGE is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

PEI tables budget, introduces HST and cuts public service jobs

dduffy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:08:09 -0400

"The public sector offers good paying jobs, effective social programs, and public policy that not only generates wealth in the province but ensures that wealth is fairly distributed.” - PEIUPSE President Shelley Ward.

Charlottetown (23 April 2012) - The PEI government issued its 2012 budget setting the course for the province late last week. The Ghiz government's austerity budget focused heavily on finding ways to bring down its $1.97 billion debt.

The introduction of the harmonized sales tax will hit every resident hard as it will cover more everyday items than the previous combination of the goods and services tax and the provincial sales tax. But the it is the cuts to the public service that concern many workers the most.

PEI Union of Public Sector Employees (PEIUPSE/NUPGE) President Shelley Ward said, “The Minister would like Islanders to believe that the private sector is the sole economic engine of the economy in Prince Edward Island. Never has this been further from the truth. The public sector offers good paying jobs, effective social programs, and public policy that not only generates wealth in the province but ensures that wealth is fairly distributed.”

“The Liberal budget ignores this reality by attacking and diminishing the public service and by arbitrarily appointing the private sector as the only viable solution for our economic future.”

Job cuts will hurt workers directly affected but there are questions as to what the public can expect in terms of services when the dust settles.

PEIUPSE/NUPGE is already seeing the implications of budget cuts. A reduction in the number of property guards, the elimination of 273 casual employees at Transportation Infrastructure and Renewal, and cuts to the Family Ties program have created a climate of stress and concern for workers and the public they serve.

PEIUPSE/NUPGE representatives have been meeting with members to discuss the changes within departments and will continue to keep members abreast of any new developments.

NUPGE

Public Services Foundation of Canada says income inequality is main obstacle to building better public services

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:03:48 -0400

“Austerity,” she said, “is not the remedy. Austerity will only increase inequality and push up demand for public services. It will reduce government revenues and drive up the deficit over time.”

Toronto (12 April 2012) – Reducing income inequality is the key step to maintaining quality public services in Ontario, according to an interim report released today by the Public Services Foundation of Canada (PSFC).

“Overwhelmingly, we heard that income inequality is a major cause of the current recession and why the recovery (in Ontario) is so weak,” Judy Wasylycia-Leis, chair of the Foundation, told news conferences in Toronto and Sudbury. Wasylycia-Leis, a former federal Member of Parliament, conducted public hearings across the province in January and February, where she heard evidence on the health of public services in Ontario and on how they can be sustained through progressive tax reform.

“Experts told us how increased inequality is linked to social problems that increase the cost of public services,” Wasylycia-Leis said. “We heard that you don’t deal with the deficit in a way that fails to consider, or is indifferent to, the issue of income inequality and its associated costs.”

The 96-page interim report released today by the PSFC contains 16 recommendations on ways that Ontario can maintain quality public services – despite per capita spending in the province that ranks third last among Canadian jurisdictions – by implementing measures to increase funding through moderate tax reform that would increase revenues to the provincial government.

For example, the Commission recommends the immediate restoration of the corporate tax rate to 14 per cent, a move that would generate $2.5 billion in revenue. Additionally, the treasury could add $1.8 billion by reversing the elimination corporate capital tax. By implementing a two per cent increase on personal income tax for those earning more than $500,000 a further $500 million could be generated annually.

“We believe these are very reasonable revenue-generating measures that, unfortunately, neither Don Drummond nor the provincial government have given much thought to,” said Wasylycia-Leis.

At the news conferences in both cities, Wasylycia-Leis said economists who testified at the hearings said that a $15 billion drop in revenues due to the recession and a $16 billion drop in revenues caused by tax cuts largely explain the deficit.

At the request of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) – and in response to the McGuinty government’s creation of the Drummond Commission on reform of public services in Ontario – the PSFC established the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness in the autumn of 2011. Wasylycia-Leis was named chair of the Commission and conducted an intensive six-week tour of a dozen cities in Ontario where she received more than 1,000 oral and written presentations from providers and users of public services; experts in progressive tax reform, public policy planners, and from ordinary citizens who described the value of public services in their communities and in their personal lives.

Public hearings and town hall forums were held in Kingston, London, Ottawa, Peterborough, Oshawa, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Owen Sound, Sudbury and Sault St. Marie.

She contrasted the approach taken by her Commission with that adopted by the Drummond Commission.

“Unfortunately, the mandate of the Drummond Commission ignored the revenue side and avoided public consultations,” she said. “We took the opposite approach.”

Among the 16 recommendations contained in Wasylycia-Leis’ interim report are calls for reviewing privatization initiatives by the provincial government; a ‘Fairness Test’ that assesses the key tax and spending impacts on income inequality; a proclamation by Ontario that commits the provincial government to core values that underlie public services; and, a comprehensive plan that articulates and communicates to Ontarians the social and economic values of quality public services.

The full Interim Report can be read at: www.publicservicesfoundation.ca

More information:

Public Services Foundation of Canada

NUPGE

Federal budget will increase income inequality; hurt families and the economy

lbush — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:17:24 -0400

The federal budget will increase income inequality, decrease the quality of life for Canadians and slow economic recovery.

Ottawa (29 March 2012) - The Harper government's budget fails the Fairness Test because it will increase income inequality and make life harder for vulnerable Canadians, said James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

"Income inequality is the greatest social and economic challenge facing Canada today," said Clancy. "The test of any federal budget should be whether it will reduce income inequality and make life better for vulnerable Canadians. This budget fails that test miserably."

Clancy said the budget is an attack on public services and the deep spending cuts in the budget will slow the economic recovery.

"The global economic recovery is in a fragile state," explains Clancy. "Our economy is not as strong as the Harper government wants us to believe. Cuts to jobs and program spending are going to further weaken our economic outlook at a time when Canadians need increased public investment."

Clancy said the government had an alternative to deep spending cuts: it could have examined and implemented options on the revenue side of the ledger.

"The Harper government has spent billions on corporate tax cuts while crying about the size of the deficit," said Clancy. "They don't understand the old adage that when you're in a hole the first thing you should do is stop digging."

The National Union President argued that the Harper government should have taken steps to improve the revenue side and ensure greater tax fairness in Canada. This could have included:

maximizing revenue from existing government enterprises;
reversing recent corporate tax cuts;
ensuring the wealthiest pay their fair share;
ending the preferential treatment for capital gains and stock options;
implementing a financial transactions tax (a Robin Hood Tax);
closing loopholes; and
getting tough on offshore tax havens.

Clancy said vulnerable families will be hurt the most by this budget as badly needed public services are cut and local economies suffer as job losses grow and public spending drops.

One item in the budget that received particular criticism from the NUPGE National President was the changing of the age requirements for Old Age Security (OAS).

"This is definitely bad public policy," said Clancy. "Over 60 per cent of Canadians don't have access to a pension plan. It’s reasonable to expect our federal government to step up and help these Canadians - just as the government has done for banks and financial institutions. Instead, they are making life even more difficult for retired Canadians."

"These measures, like the changes the Harper government introduced to the CPP in 2009, are simply designed to keep older workers shackled to their jobs until the age of 70. Rather than increasing the retirement eligibility age for public pension benefits, the federal government should be looking at expanding the system, including the CPP and Guaranteed Income Supplement, to ensure that everyone has greater retirement security."

Clancy said the budget is also an attack on unionized workers in the federal government.

"NUPGE pledges our full support to our sisters and brothers in the federal public service. We will stand with them to defend their rights against this government's anti-union actions."

The National Union's members across the country are campaigning to defend quality public services and tax fairness as part of the All Together Now! campaign and Clancy urges people to get involved in the campaign.

More information:

Alternative Federal Budget Fact Sheet

NUPGE

Alternative Federal Budget: A budget for the rest of us

dduffy — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:24:43 -0400

"We’re calling on this government to deliver a transparent budget that protects the services Canadians rely on and scrap costly programs like new prisons and fighter jets that don’t reflect the priorities of mainstream Canada.”

Ottawa (16 March 2012) - The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) urges the federal government to table a detailed budget that restores Canadians’ trust in the economy, public institutions, and democracy.

With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA addresses the concerns of mainstream Canada by putting forward a public investment plan that promotes a better quality of life for all Canadians, not just an elite few.

“Recent public opinion polls indicate Canadians are losing faith in the direction this country is headed, but there’s little indication that their federal government is listening,” says CCPA Senior Economist David Macdonald.

“The Harper government has been dodging the issues facing Canadians, and has signaled it will table a budget short on details about its planned $4-8 billion in spending cuts. We’re calling on this government to deliver a transparent budget that protects the services Canadians rely on and scrap costly programs like new prisons and fighter jets that don’t reflect the priorities of mainstream Canada.”

The AFB shows we can invest in public programs, job creation, and infrastructure to the benefit of all Canadians and still balance the books.

“The middle class is in a slump, young people are struggling to start their lives, infrastructure is crumbling, and concerns about environmental sustainability are brushed off in the rush to sell our natural resources. Canadians need an action plan that wrestles with these big issues and that’s exactly what the Alternative Federal Budget offers,” says CCPA Senior Economist Armine Yalnizyan.

The AFB plan:

Tackles poverty and income inequality through public programs including education, affordable housing, public pensions, universal pharmacare, and national child care.
Creates 329,000 jobs at its peak, lowering the unemployment rate to below 6%.
Calls on the affluent to contribute their fair share, by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and ending the federal government’s failed corporate tax cut experiment.
Turns Canada into an environmental leader with a forward-looking green strategy.
Repairs our cities and builds sustainable communities with a long-term physical infrastructure program.

More information:

Alternative Federal Budget - PDF

NUPGE

When March Break Trumps Democracy; The Harper Government and the Right to Collective Bargaining

lbush — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:09:15 -0400

Government’s move to prevent Air Canada employees from going on a legal strike, in part because it might interfere with March Break, most recent example of disregard for democracy, even our Constitution.

By Larry Brown
National Secretary-Treasurer
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

Ottawa (13 March 2012) - Evidence is mounting every day that the Harper government is contemptuous of democracy; they are not just undemocratic, they are actively anti-democratic.

Democracy is not just the right to vote in an election every four years. Real democracy includes the right to dissent, the right to have and express different opinions, the right to protection against unjust laws, and respect for the checks and balances of our parliamentary system.

And real democracy includes the right of unionized workers to defend and protect their rights in the workplace without government interference. Employer oriented back to work legislation at the drop of a hat is fundamentally undemocratic.

The government’s move to prevent Air Canada employees from going on a legal strike, in part because it might interfere with March Break, is the most recent example of this disregard for democracy, even our Constitution.

It’s not the only example, of course. For one thing, democracy requires at least some assurance that our government is not flat out lying to us. How do you tell when a Conservative Minister is lying? When their lips are moving.

This government’s contempt for Parliament should make every Canadian who believes in democracy very worried.

Democracy requires that governments themselves respect the law, and respect our Constitution. The Harper government does not respect either.

Respect for the courts? When a court said their Wheat Board legislation was invalid, they shrugged the decision off and proceeded. Their contempt for the legal system in that case was chilling.

But the Harper reign involves more than just a lack of respect for the courts. This government has no respect for Canada’s very Constitution.

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the right to unionization and the right to collective bargaining is part of Canada’s Constitution. Another court has ruled that the right to strike is an essential element of the right to collective bargaining, and can’t be lightly taken away. In other words, courts in Canada have ruled that the Constitution itself guarantees Canadians the right to unionize, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to strike, which cannot be taken away without giving unions some other fair way to resolve the dispute.

Both the Supreme Court and the United Nations have ruled that the right to real collective bargaining is an important human right.

For the Harper government, March Break is more important than a mere Supreme Court decision, more important than the Constitution, more important than an internationally recognized human right.

In its newest ‘back to work’ Bill, introduced while no one was actually on strike, the Harper Government was true to form. Minister Raitt simply lied about why the Bill was introduced. She claimed the Bill was necessary to protect the economy and prevent passengers from being stranded.

Meanwhile her own Department was saying that these concerns were not based on reality. There are other airlines in Canada, after all, and other means of transportation. The Department said, “An Air Canada work stoppage would induce some passengers and firms to cancel their travel arrangements altogether, while others would opt for alternative airline companies or choose to travel by train.”

Of course the biggest threat to our economy is the growing inequality of incomes and the fact that working people cannot afford to spend enough to keep the economy healthy. Attacking the right to collective bargaining is a funny way to resolve that problem.

The real kicker in all this, though, is that the Minister felt comfortable saying that she was introducing this Bill in part so that families traveling on March Break would not be inconvenienced. In a choice between Canada’s Constitution and the March Break, the Harper government had no hesitation about which to choose.

The legislation itself is another contemptuous pro-employer piece of garbage. Under Stephen Harper, employers can do no wrong.

But at what point do even conservative Canadians realize that undercutting the very foundations of democracy is a very high price to pay for a pleasant March Break?

Larry Brown is the National Secretary-Treasurer of the 340,000 member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

NUPGE

NAPE reacts to Premier’s comments regarding lay-offs

dduffy — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:22:38 -0400

“Government talks about attracting workers to the province while at the same time it is forcing highly skilled young workers to look elsewhere for their economic future,” said Furlong.

St. John's (12 March 2012) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Premier’s recent comments regarding government’s intentions to reduce public services by laying off public employees are creating high levels of anxiety in the province’s public service says Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE).

Over the weekend, the Premier stated that government is cutting public service jobs by way of layoffs and attrition. According to Furlong, Newfoundland and Labrador is enjoying one of the best economies in the country and this is not the time to be cutting pubic services to the people of the province.

“The public service has grown over the last few years as a result of need identified by the Williams’ government. After decades of reductions in the public service it was essential that our new found wealth address this social deficit,” stated Furlong. “We are particularly upset by the Premier’s reference to government as an employment agency. Public service employees are the engine that ensures the people of this province have the best possible public services. These services are province building services, not make-work projects.”

Furlong continued, “NAPE recognizes and supports government’s departmental reviews to ensure prudent fiscal administration. However, when our economy is healthy and we are a "have" province it is illogical to be reducing services to the public by laying off the service providers.”

According to Furlong, the majority of employees to be laid off will be younger employees whose hopes of employment in Newfoundland and Labrador will be crushed. “Government talks about attracting workers to the province while at the same time it is forcing highly skilled young workers to look elsewhere for their economic future,” said Furlong.

Furlong noted, “The irony of government announcing layoffs of service providers while announcing the hiring of a defeated Tory candidate as a contractual employee will not be lost on public employees and the citizens of the province. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better.”

NUPGE

Women for Change: Government must address crucial issues to women's economic equality

dduffy — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 09:36:11 -0500

“When, because of traditions, social taboos or simple prejudice, half of the world’s population is prevented from making its contribution to the life of a nation, the economy will suffer.”

Ottawa (08 March 2012) – On March 8, International Women’s Day, people around the world will once again take time to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and their continued contributions to a better society and a better world.

International Women’s Day has been celebrated for over a hundred years. It has been a day of celebration as well as a day to raise awareness of oppression and inequality towards women. As early as 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights, women have gathered to raise their voices for change.

Unfortunately, while there have been numerous gains, a recent World Bank study, "Women, Business and the Law", highlights the fact that in the past hundred years women are still being left behind. The study reports that women perform 66 per cent of the world’s work, produce 50 per cent of the world’s food but earn only 10 per cent of the income and own a mere one per cent of property.

The report was based on data collected between July 2010 and July 2011 and looked at six areas that are barriers to women’s advancement: equal access to public institutions, ability to own property, restrictions on the ability to get a job, incentives to work, ability to build credit and access to courts.

Noting that 49.6 per cent of the world’s population is female but comprise only 40.8 per cent of the world’s workforce, the report states, “When, because of traditions, social taboos or simple prejudice, half of the world’s population is prevented from making its contribution to the life of a nation, the economy will suffer.”

One of the major factors restricting women’s ability to move forward economically is the unfair distribution of labour. Women continue to carry the major responsibility for unpaid work which includes child care, elder care and household duties.

In Canada, governments are now introducing austerity measures to reduce deficits which include public spending cuts in health care, education, child care and social services. These cuts will have a far greater impact on women as they are services dominated by female workers. As these services are cut, women will have to take on more responsibilities for caring for family members who cannot access these public services.

The National Union on Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) Advisory Committee on Women’s Issues has been working on the issue of the quality of women’s lives and the struggle to balance home responsibilities with work responsibilities for several years. As well, they have been highlighting how the economic crisis has a greater impact on women.

In order to continue to highlight these critical issues, the National Union has formed Women for Change as part of its All Together Now! campaign for public services and tax fairness. The National Union wants to empower women to stand up and talk about these issues. Over the next several months, Women for Change will be working to move the message forward that public policies must change and issues such as health care, child care, education and social services must become a priority for all levels of government.

“As we take time to celebrate the many and vast accomplishments of women, I am also encouraging women to stand with us to make changes that will improve the lives of all Canadian women,” states James Clancy, NUPGE National President.

More information:

World Bank report "Women, Business and the Law"

Stand Up for Public Services and Tax Fairness

NUPGE

NUPGE

OPSEU and USW issue open letter to Ontario Premier for consultations before cuts

dduffy — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:52:08 -0500

"What this province needs is a new kind of accord to chart the best way forward. Respectful discussion and serious thought can build a prosperous – and compassionate – future." - Open letter to Premier McGuinty.

Toronto (05 March 2012) - This morning, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) and the United Steelworkers (USW) called on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to convene a meeting of business, labour, and government leaders with the goal of preserving public services and strengthening Ontario’s economy. The two unions issued this challenge in an open letter published today in major newspapers.

Read the full letter below or find it online at www.opseu.org/openletter.

Working Together for a Prosperous, Compassionate Ontario

An open letter to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

Premier McGuinty:

Ontario faces a monumental challenge. How can we preserve quality public services, which are the foundation of healthy families, thriving communities and a just society, under current fiscal pressures? And in keeping with the recent Liberal campaign slogan, how can we do this together?

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the United Steelworkers (USW) District 6 are ready to help. Our suggestion is simple and based on what we’ve heard in our travels across Ontario.

From main streets to boardrooms, women and men across this province are asking the same questions. Where is the leadership to lead us out of the current downturn? Why can’t we build a province that is both prosperous and compassionate? Why should we let a misguided drive for austerity turn us into a society of winners and losers, with very few winners?

Premier, periods of peril can be periods of opportunity if we enter into respectful discussion with those who make our economy work.

Our suggestion is simple: before committing Ontario to years of pain, take a short pause for consultation.

We believe the time has come for a round table discussion that includes business, government and labour. Convening this meeting would show leadership. What this province needs is a new kind of accord to chart the best way forward. Respectful discussion and serious thought can build a prosperous – and compassionate – future. We hope you agree that this is the path that can move our economy to greater heights.

To get there, Ontario needs a progressive economy with an industrial strategy that produces winners. Ontarians also need quality public services. And we need greater income equality, not a society of haves and have-nots. Premier, we ask you to convene a meeting soon. Become a visionary leader. If you take this step, we can move forward together. We await your response.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President, OPSEU

Wayne Fraser, Director, USW District 6

More information:

OPSEU website

NUPGE

Send Harper a message, win $100!

dduffy — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:01:02 -0500

Want to give Harper a piece of your mind, and possibly win $100?!

Ottawa (02 March 2012) - The National Union of Public Employees (NUPGE) is providing another opportunity for Canadians to win $100 by telling Stephen Harper what they think!

In the second round of the All Together Now! campaign "Send Harper a Message", the public is encouraged to write Harper a letter telling him why they believe it is important that he meet with the premiers and negotiate a new deal for the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and the Canada Social Transfer (CST).

The CHT and CST will expire in 2014. We need the public to pressure the government to stop making unilateral declarations and instead work cooperatively with the premiers to negotiate a new deal for these transfers. These transfers are important to ensure all Canadians have equal access to quality health care, education and social services. These public services are also the foundation of a modern, competitive economy because they help ensure a healthy, educated and productive workforce.

We know Canada can afford to significantly increase funding for these transfers. Canada doesn’t have a deficit problem; it is in the best fiscal shape of the entire G8. We don’t have a spending problem; total government spending as a share of GDP has declined every year since 1992. If this government fixed the tax fairness problem, finding the money to invest in these essential public services would be clear. If the government put Canadians' priorities first - health care, education and social services - rather than fighter jets, mega prisons and political slush funds for Conservative ridings (G20), Canada would be able to maintain and increase these transfers.

People can find information to help construct their letter on the All Together Now! website

All letters will be sent to Prime Minister Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty as well as the appropriate provincial premier and finance minister.

Then, once the letter is on its way, names will be entered into a random monthly draw for $100.

During the first round of the "Send Harper a Message: Win $100" contest, hundreds of letters were sent to Harper about the importance of protecting and enhancing public services and the need for a fair tax system.

NUPGE

February/March edition of the All Together Now! Campaigner is out!

khawley — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:21:37 -0500

A simple remedy: Let’s just all pay our fair share.

Ottawa (22 Feb. 2012) - The latest edition of the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) newsletter, the ATN Campaigner, is reaching thousands of Canadians across the country this week.

This month's Campaigner profiles a solid ATN Champion, Jeanette Kimball (MGEU/NUPGE). As an outdoor enthusiast, Jeanette knows Canada is a land of great natural beauty. She also knows it is a land of great acquired wealth. “So why must we live with endless cuts in services to Canadians?” she asks.

“How can we do so much for millionaires; and so little for the working poor and all those forced to live in Third World conditions right here in Canada?

“Our government needs to account for increased tax cuts to rich corporations while continuing to slash services to the most needy and vulnerable,” Kimball says. “I am all for paying my share of taxes. In this way, we take care of each other, whether we need the services ourselves or not. If corporations paid their fair share, we would have the services so desperately needed by Canadians and make sure no one feels the pain of poverty and hunger.”

Kimball is one of the more than 32,000 members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU/NUPGE), Manitoba’s largest union. Jeanette is president of Social Sciences, Local 48, Area 8, and works as a family conciliation counsellor in Thompson, Manitoba for the Government of Manitoba’s Department of Family Services and Labour. She often meets parents at a stressful time as they reorganize their lives.

“Family court can be an intimidating and adversarial place and I stress the importance of working out a parenting plan and making peace for the sake of their child(ren),” she says. “At heart, I’m a peacemaker and I value being able to assist families in resolving things.”

“Getting the message out that we need to protect our public services and keep ‘tax fairness’ on the table for discussion has been natural for me to do”, Kimball says, “whether I’m presenting to a group or talking one-on-one with people I meet. I am excited about being part of the All Together Now! Campaign to sound the alarm for Canadians who may not realize how vulnerable we are to losing what we have unless we take action.”

The ATN Campaigner also exposes Harper's misguided corporate tax cuts and the shameful exodus of the Caterpillar plant in London, Ontario.

The ATN Campaigner is a monthly newsletter highlighting the issues and events of the All Together Now! campaign promoting quality public services and tax fairness. You can subscribe to the newsletter via the ATN website, http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca.

NUPGE

President's Commentary: It’s time to stop the corporate gravy train

dduffy — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:06:40 -0500

Rather than spending wildly on no-strings attached corporate tax cuts, Harper could have provided tax refunds to corporations after they actually created jobs; instead, job-killers like Caterpillar take our tax money and run.

By James Clancy
National President
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)

Ottawa (08 Feb. 2012) - We’re living in tough times and our political leaders are calling for “shared sacrifice.”

But corporations are being spared.

It’s actually difficult to imagine a more coddled group than big profitable corporations.

The Harper government in particular has taken corporate coddling to a whole new level.

The recent decision by U.S corporate giant Caterpillar Inc. to close its London, Ontario locomotive plant (Electro-Motive Diesel Inc.) is the perfect example.

Caterpillar’s annual profits rose 83% to a record $4.9 billion last year.

Their CEO was paid more than $10 million – he made as much in two days as one of his workers made in a year.

In 2008, Electro-Motive received a $5 million tax break announced on the factory floor by Harper himself.

Plus the company has benefited generously from Harper’s deep cuts in general corporate tax rates.

How did Caterpillar respond to this generous support from taxpayers?

They made the outrageous demand that their workers in London take a 50% cut in wages.

When the workers fought back, Caterpillar closed the plant down and tossed 450 highly-skilled Ontarians on the scrap heap.

What has Harper done to stand up for these workers, their families and the community of London?

Absolutely nothing.

In three recent labour disputes involving Air Canada and Canada Post, the Harper government gratuitously involved itself (on the employer’s side) in order to “protect the economic recovery.”

In the Caterpillar dispute, Harper said and did nothing. Did I miss something? Or does Harper live in some Bizarro World where the loss of 450 highly skilled jobs is somehow good for the economy?

Harper could have demanded job guarantees when his government approved the sale of Electro-Motive to Caterpillar in 2010.

Rather than spending wildly on no-strings attached corporate tax cuts, he could have provided tax refunds to corporations after they actually created jobs; instead, job-killers like Caterpillar get to take our tax money and run.

Harper could have demanded Caterpillar pay back the corporate tax breaks. If they refused, he could have passed a tariff on all Caterpillar imports. Or he could have passed a regulation prohibiting any federal infrastructure dollars from being spent on Caterpillar equipment.

Harper has been the prime minister since 2006 and he could have developed a modern industrial strategy that includes good manufacturing jobs.

But he has and continues to do nothing.

Except, of course, he has demanded that families tighten their belts and prepare for deep cuts in the public services and public pensions they need.

While poor and middle income families struggle to make ends meet, big profitable corporations like Caterpillar continue to be coddled.

Let’s work together to pressure Harper to stop the corporate gravy train.

You can send Harper a message by clicking on this link:
http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca/send-letter-harper-and-mcguinty

James Clancy
National President

NUPGE

Comprehensive speakers line up to present at the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness in Toronto

dduffy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:17:06 -0500

Presentations to the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness range from child care and health care, children and women's rights, workers and the justice system for two days of hearings in Toronto.

Toronto (30 Jan. 2012) - The next two days promise to be busy for the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness as it begins the second half of its tour of 12 communities across Ontario. The Commission is listening to expert testimony on fair tax reform and stories and commentary from front-line providers and clients of the province’s public services and programs.

Joining Commission Chair Judy Wasylycia-Leis as a panelist for the daytime public hearings will be Linda McQuaig, an award-winning journalist and author who has written extensively on corporate power in Canada and income inequality.

On Monday, Jan 30. the public hearing will start at 11 a.m. at the Lillian H. Smith (Toronto Public Library), 239 College Street. The evening town hall forum will take place at Ryerson University, Jorgenson Hall, 380 Victoria St., starting at 7 p.m.

On Jan. 31, the hearing begins at 10 a.m. at the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) regional office (membership centre) located at 31 Wellesley Street East.

Here is a partial list of confirmed speakers for the Toronto sessions:

Hugh Mackenzie, Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Andrea Calver, Co-ordinator, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
Sheila Bock, Wellesley Institute
Wanda Gorician, Community Counselor, Elizabeth Fry Society
Christiana Constantin, Intake Law Clerk, Children’s Lawyer Office
Naomi Ives Peak ODSP Action Coalition
Mary Cornish, Chair, Equal Pay Coalition
Rob McMillan, Special Needs Corrections Officer
John Rae, Human Rights Activist
Deena Ladd Workers' Action Centre
Kevin O’Dwyer, President, Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association
Denis Vaillancourt président l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario
Bryan Evans, Associate Professor, Department of Politics & Public Administration, Ryerson University
Stuart Deans, United Steelworkers Union
Amy Clements, Domestic Violence Counselor, North York Women’s Shelter
Jeremiah Bach, CAMH Peer Recovery Facilitator, OPSEU Local 500
Ayesha Adhami Immigrant Women’s Health Centre
David Stone Earthroots
Rod Sheppard, President, the Society of Energy Professionals
Mary Cornish, Chair, Equal Pay Coalition
Adam Vaughan, Councillor, City of Toronto
Michael Kerr, Coordinator, Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change

More information:

Another All Together Now! Writer 4 Change letter published

dduffy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:06:01 -0500

Toronto (26 Jan. 2012) - Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) Region 4 Executive Board Member Chris Cormier, takes on the corporate gravy train in the following letter printed in the Jan. 13 edition of the Toronto Sun. Cormier is one of the National Union of Public and General Employees’ All Together Now! campaign's Writers 4 Change.

Corporate tax cuts

There appears to be little chance the McGuinty government won’t make deep cuts in the next budget. It would also be very surprising if the Drummond commission doesn’t make similar recommendations. And of course a Tory MPP is already saying the government needs to cut deeper and faster. The problem is nobody knows what those cuts will be and how badly they’ll affect ordinary families. But if Drummond and the Liberals and Tories are going to cause all of us so much pain in the name of deficit reduction, then how can they leave the $3 billion in corporate tax cuts on the table? If they’re serious about deficit reduction they should stop the corporate gravy train and put the money towards our deficit and better services.

Chris Cormier

OPSEU/NUPGE

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/01/13/letters-to-the-editor-jan-16

More information:

NUPGE

LCBO agency stores starve treasury of millions in revenues, Commission hears

dduffy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:29:22 -0500

“What we have in Ontario is privatization of alcohol sales by stealth,” Christianson concluded. “We’re losing out on millions of dollars that could be spent on public services.”

Toronto (120 Jan. 2012) - Ontario is losing out on tens of millions of dollars in revenues each year because of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario's (LCBO) program of privately-owned and operated agency stores, a management consultant told the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness in Peterborough.

Consultant Russ Christianson has worked with numbers provided to him by the LCBO and has concluded in several reports supplied to the executives at the crown-owned agency, that the province is losing out on tens of millions of dollars in revenue each year because it refuses to repatriate agency stores by converting them to “real” LCBO outlets.

“If the LCBO brought these retail sales (currently going to privately-owned) back to their own stand-alone retail outlets the people of Ontario could benefit from an additional cash dividend in the range of about $350 million over the next 10 years,” Christianson told Commission chair Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

“The LCBO doesn’t even dispute the numbers,” Christianson went on. “They only shrug their shoulders as if to say, ‘what can we do?’ The fact is, the power to shut down agency stores and replace them with real LCBO outlets is a political decision by cabinet and this government refuses to move on the issue even though millions of dollars in revenue are at stake.”

Agency stores in Ontario were established almost 50 years ago to service remote and isolated communities north of the French River, where opening a real LCBO store did not make business sense. Since 1995, Christianson said, almost 150 agency stores have opened in southern Ontario – many bordering on the GTA.

Under their deal with the LCBO, private agency store operators pay 90 per cent of the regular retail cost on a product and pocket the remaining 10 per cent as their commission. Several of the larger agency stores – some located in stores like Sobey’s – do sales of more than $4 million annually resulting in a handsome profit for the private owner.

“What we have in Ontario is privatization of alcohol sales by stealth,” Christianson concluded. “We’re losing out on millions of dollars that could be spent on public services.”

Earlier in the day, United Steelworkers economist Erin Weir provided the Commission with data showing that a decade of reductions in the corporate tax cuts have failed to produce the jobs that defenders of the policy insist are needed to spur the economy.

“Corporate taxes are an essential component in our ability to fund good public services,” Weir told Ms. Wasylycia-Leis. “What the evidence shows, however, is that they do not spur investment, they are not required to stay competitive – we already have one of the most competitive tax rates among industrialized countries – and they’re definitely not creating jobs.”

The McGuinty government’s pledge to reduce Ontario’s corporate tax rate to 10 per cent will cost the provincial treasury more than $2 billion annually when fully in place.

The Commission also heard from the Ontario Health Coalition in a presentation by the Onario Health Coalition's (OHC) executive director, Natalie Maher who told Wasylycia-Leis that “reform” of the health care system has been going for more than 20 years and is “simply window dressing for more cuts to our public system.”

She said the people of Ontario should be very concerned with whatever Don Drummond recommends on changes to the health care system. She cited his 2010 TD Economics Report to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care wherein he recommended a number of privatization initiatives, reduced coverage and, in some instances, would contravene the Canada Health Act.

“Ontario’s budget deficit is a result of tax cuts, not overspending on health care and other public services. As it stands, we already have one of the lowest per capita spending on health care in the country,” Maher told the Commission. “Compared to other provinces we spend $440 per person less than other provinces.”

She also noted that hospital spending has been shrinking in Ontario over the past 30 years, from 57 per cent of the provincial budget in 1981 to 37 per cent in 2011.

For Judith Richardson of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, the time had arrived for government to put patient interests at the centre of the health care system.

“The government must aim to meet patients’ needs rather than providers’ needs,” Richardson told the Commission. “Organizations that fail to place the patient at their integration efforts are unlikely to succeed. The government wants to run public services more on a business model but we all know, as in any business, if the customer doesn’t come first, then the business will fail.”

She also pointed out that bad decision-making is costing Ontario’s health care system untold millions. Whereas management ranks have swollen and excessive CEO compensation is headline-grabbing, less funding is going to the frontlines where it is badly needed.

NUPGE

New edition of the All Together Now! Campaigner is out!

dduffy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:12:27 -0500

Keep up-to-date with campaign activities and issues with your copy of the ATN Campaigner.

Ottawa (10 Jan. 2012) - The latest edition of the National Union of Public and General Employees' (NUPGE) newsletter, the ATN Campaigner, is reaching thousands of Canadians across the country this week.

This month's Campaigner profiles a true ATN Champion, Rachel Tutte, a member of the Health Sciences Association of B.C. (HSABC/NUPGE). Rachel is not only a passionate supporter of public services, but of equality, peace and social justice. In her work as a union activist, she believes we must build communities by working together across sectors, across unions and across borders.

As a physiotherapist, Rachel works in a rehabilitation hospital for older adults in British Columbia. “I help people get back on two feet after a lower limb amputation so they can return to their lives, their families and their communities,” explains Rachel.

Rachel has given the All Together Now! (ATN) campaign presentation to many small groups of union members. She’s taken part in the Writers 4 Change initiative and has written letters-to-the editor and learned about social media to help her reach more friends and colleagues. Rachel was a key organizer of a full day conference called “Taxes: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Building a Fair Tax System”. As part of this conference, Rachel and two other ATN Champions gave the presentation on inequality and fair taxation.

As well as being a champion for the All Together Now! (ATN) campaign, she is the labour co-chair of the BC Health Coalition and a board member of the World Peace Forum.

The ATN Campaigner also shines the spotlight on the victories of the Occupy movement and highlights Paul Dewar, NDP leadership candidate and Ottawa Centre Member of Parliament, who signed the ATN proclamation in December 2011.

The ATN Campaigner is a monthly newsletter highlighting the issues and events of the All Together Now! campaign promoting quality public services and tax fairness. You can subscribe to the newsletter via the ATN website, www.alltogethernow.nupge.ca.

NUPGE

NUPGE

Cuts not only answer: group

dduffy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:36:28 -0500

"It's dangerous to go down a path of looking at reducing government expenditures and dealing with the deficit, in terms of public sector's programs and services, without talking to people." - Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Public Services Foundation of Canada chairperson.

By Peter Hendra, The Whig-Standard

Simply trimming public services isn't the only way the Ontario government can reduce its deficit, the head of a rival commission says.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, a former MP who heads the Public Services Foundation of Canada's Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness, said Thursday the Ontario government-appointed commission headed by economist Don Drummond is simply looking at ways of saving money through cuts rather than also looking at how more money can be generated.

"He has not been given a mandate to looking at revenue options at all," Wasylycia-Leis said in an interview. "He's really operating without half the equation."

The Drummond Commission's report is expected by the end of the month. It's expected that the report will recommend some budgets be slashed by as much as 30%. Nothing will be spared, Drummond has told the media.

Wasylycia-Leis and the Public Services Foundation feel differently, however. It's important, she said, "to pursue revenue options so the Ontario government isn't locked into simply cutting back, downsizing, outsourcing and offloading as a means to deal with their fiscal requirements."

A number of guest speakers addressed the 50 or so people in attendance Thursday afternoon at a public meeting held upstairs at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library's central branch. Kingston was the first stop on the commission's 12-city Ontario tour to solicit public opinion of how to get the provincial deficit under control.

Another major flaw of the Drummond Commission, Wasylycia-Leis said, is that it hasn't bothered to hear what the public has to say.

"It's dangerous to go down a path of looking at reducing government expenditures and dealing with the deficit, in terms of public sector's programs and services, without talking to people," she said.

The presenters at the public meeting focused on flaws in the current tax system.

"Today, we heard primarily from folks who believe that there should be a levelling out of tax responsibility in terms of the corporate sector versus the individual sector," Wasylycia-Leis said, "and in terms of closing the wage gap between the wealthy and the poor.

"Those are very important suggestions that will be taken into account, but bear in mind it's the first day."

Wasylycia-Leis, who unsuccessfully ran to be mayor of Winnipeg in 2010, said that she isn't on the foundation's payroll, and that she is simply there to gather information with which to produce a report. That report is to be submitted before the Ontario government presents its budget.

"Of course, I come in, and this foundation comes in, with a perspective around the defence and the preservation of valuable public services, but that doesn't mean we're not open to receiving presentations and ideas for reform of those public services, for how the services are delivered, and if there are better ways we can meet the needs who, without them, would be forced into poverty and dire consequences," she said.

Wasylycia-Leis was encouraged by the turnout during the afternoon meeting and hoped it was indicative of what was to come in the coming weeks.

"We believe that the power of people speaking in such numbers as we saw today and with such passion as we saw today will have an impact on the government's final decisions and, if there is any kind of direction to try to focus only on reducing public services to deal with the deficit, that this will temper this," she said.

NUPGE

Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness launches public hearings in response to Drummond study

dduffy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:35:26 -0500

"The time has arrived to study other ways of sustaining good public services in this province through a tax system that can fund programs and services."

Toronto (6 Jan. 2012) - In the absence of any alternative inquiry into the "reform" of Ontario's public services as proposed by the McGuinty government through its Drummond Commission, the Public Services Foundation of Canada (PSFC) began its own study of public services on Jan. 5 in Kingston, Ont.

"The Drummond Commission's mandate to reform public services in Ontario is a badly flawed process," said PSFC Chair Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who will serve as Commissioner to the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness. "To date, Mr. Drummond is conducting a closed-door investigation into the downsizing and elimination of public services in Ontario. He's been given a free ride with virtually no public scrutiny into his work. The time has arrived to study other ways of sustaining good public services in this province through a tax system that can fund programs and services.

"The Drummond Commission is operating in secrecy; it's not addressing issues of unmet needs and it has been told not to investigate how the tax system can be reformed to provide the funding required to meet public service needs in the future. Our Commission will make every effort to redress Drummond's fundamental shortcomings."

Under Ms Wasylycia-Leis, the Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness will conduct public hearings and town hall forums in more than one dozen cities and towns across Ontario in January and February 2012 beginning in Kingston on Jan. 5. Expert testimony will be invited from community leaders, frontline providers and clients of public services, experts in progressive tax reform, business leaders and others with a stake in the delivery of good public services through sustainable funding policies.

The Commission will submit a final report and recommendations to Premier Dalton McGuinty and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan in time for the provincial budget in the spring of 2012.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis is a former Member of Parliament (1997-2010) from Winnipeg and previously served in the Cabinet of Manitoba Premier Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988. She was appointed Chair of the Public Services Foundation of Canada in June, 2011.

The Commission on Quality Public Services and Tax Fairness will conduct Public Hearings and Town Hall Forums in the following communities:

Kingston Jan. 5

London Jan. 10-11

Ottawa Jan. 16

Peterborough Jan. 17-18

Oshawa Jan. 18-19

Thunder Bay Jan. 23

Toronto Jan. 30

Hamilton Feb. 1

Windsor Feb. 2-3

Owen Sound Feb. 7

Sudbury Feb. 9

Sault Ste. Marie Feb. 14

NUPGE

MP Paul Dewar signs All Together Now! proclamation supporting public services and tax fairness

dduffy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:29:04 -0500

"Paul knows that public services are important to building a good quality of life for Canadian families and he understands the need to ensure greater tax fairness in this country. His support for our campaign strengthens our resolve to continue the fight." - James Clancy, NUPGE President.

NUPGE National President James Clancy with Paul Dewar, NDP Leadership candidate signing the ATN campaign proclamation

Ottawa (16 Dec. 2011) - Paul Dewar, candidate for the leadership of the New Democratic Party and Ottawa Centre Member of Parliament, signed the proclamation for quality public services and tax fairness, as part of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) All Together Now! campaign.

"I can't imagine a better campaign, coming at a better time than to focus on fighting for tax justice and preserving quality public services. Canadians are struggling yet some corporations and banks are hiding profits in tax havens offshore instead of paying their fair share here where the revenue is needed," said Dewar. "We need the federal government to take a lead on providing real tax justice for Canadians, not shying away. I am happy to lend my support to the good work NUPGE is doing on these issues."

In the campaign to replace the late Jack Layton as leader of the NDP, Dewar has pledged an NDP government would "crack down on off-shore tax evasion by restoring and increasing resources the government cut from the Canada Revenue Agency’s Compliance Division. Canada can also play a leadership role in international forums to create greater cooperation on tackling tax evasion. Canadian families work hard to pay their taxes and so should individuals and corporations that hide funds in tax havens."

In another part of Dewar's leadership platform, he also endorsed an international financial transaction tax (FTT), better known as the Robin Hood Tax. "The FTT will be small change for banks, but a major boost to the fight against inequality, poverty and climate change,” said Dewar. “It will also cut the excesses of financial speculation which was a central cause of the current economic and financial crisis.”

NUPGE National President James Clancy thanked Dewar for his support of the All Together Now! campaign.

NUPGE

Study debunks myths about public sector wages - all workers falling behind

lbush — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:53:53 -0500

Provides fact based response to reports to the anecdotal attacks on the public sector from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) and other conservative think tanks.

Ottawa (15 Dec. 2011) – A new study released by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has found no evidence the average pay of public sector workers in Canada is consistently higher than comparable occupations in the private sector.

The Battle of the Wages: Who gets paid more, public or private sector workers (click here) is a well researched and comprehensive analysis comparing average pay in comparable occupations. The study’s method provides the most accurate snap-shot of how public sector workers pay compares to the private sector.

The results provide a fact based response to reports to the primarily anecdotal attacks on the public sector that originate from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) and other conservative think tanks.

James Clancy, National President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), welcomed the specific conclusions of the study and noted that it is important to view them in the larger context of growing income inequality in Canada.

"This study clearly proves what we've been saying for a long time," said Clancy. "Public sector wages are basically on par with their private sector counterparts.”

"However, what's more important for people to realize is that 99% of all workers, public and private, have been falling behind over the last 30 years, while the top 1% have been getting all the gains of economic growth" added Clancy.

"Income inequality has been growing rapidly in Canada with the main causes being a sustained attack on labour rights, cuts to public services and spending on tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations,” said Clancy.

"The growing gap between rich and poor is the biggest economic and social challenge facing Canada today and this is what groups like the CFIB should be focused on," said Clancy.

More information:

Battle of the Wages

NUPGE

National Executive Board Statement

dduffy — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:39:39 -0500

Statement from the National Executive Board of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Ottawa (13 Dec. 2011) - The National Executive Board of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) met on December 5 & 6, 2011 in Ottawa. During this meeting, members of the board unanimously adopted the following statement: Download as a PDF

The mission of the National Union of Public and General

Employees (NUPGE) is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good.

In recent decades the total economic pie in Canada has grown tremendously.

However, each slice of the pie has not grown equally.

Due to deliberate government policy choices, the slice of the pie given to the wealthiest has been getting a lot bigger, while everyone else has been getting a much smaller slice.

Today, in Canada, the income gap between the top 1% of Canadians and everyone else is greater than it has been since the 1920s.

Families and communities in Canada are paying a serious price for this growing gap:

• poorer outcomes on key health and social indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rates, mental illness and homelessness;
• greater social division and unrest; and
• a boom and bust economy which produces a few winners and a lot of losers.

It is wrong for governments in Canada to blame the current economic downturn and their deficits on the financial meltdown of 2008.

Of course, the financial crisis of 2008 made things much worse, much faster.

But the underlying problem is growing income inequality.

This trend began decades ago and continues today thanks to the following deliberate policy choices made by governments:

• an all-out assault on labour rights;
• the lack of an industrial strategy;
• the erosion of tax fairness; and
• an attack on public services.

It is time for a different approach. Canada can do a lot better. Our governments must make smarter choices.

The evidence is overwhelming: rising union density, good jobs, quality public services and tax fairness create a more equitable and sustainable economy.

NUPGE and its Components across the country are committed to continuing discussions with governments and proposing alternative policies through our All Together Now! campaign.

However, if governments will not engage in a serious and honest discussion about the problem of growing income inequality and the need to address it, then we are prepared to take targeted resistance on a sustained basis up to and including industrial action.

Dialogue. Organizing. Industrial action.

Whatever it takes to get the job done.

In solidarity,

James Clancy
National President

Larry Brown
National Secretary-Treasurer

On behalf of the NUPGE National Executive Board:

Darryl Walker, BCGEU
Judi Filion, BCGEU
Reid Johnson, HSABC
Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA
Melissa Field, HSAA
Bob Bymoen, SGEU
Helen Hrynchak, SGEU
Lois Wales, MGEU
Stephen Roznowsky, MGEU
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU
Patty Rout, OPSEU
Doug Evetts, OPSEU
Glen Hamilton, CUBGW
Susie Proulx-Daigle, NBUPPE
Joan Jessome, NSGEU
Jason MacLean, NSGEU
Shelley Ward, PEIUPSE
Carol Furlong, NAPE
Bert Blundon, NAPE

Download as a PDF

NUPGE

CBC national call-in show focuses on what it is like being poor in Canada?

dduffy — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:24:39 -0500

The CBC asks the question "What is it like being poor in Canada?" on a live phone-in show. Call in to have your voice heard.

Toronto (7 Dec. 2011) - Starting at 8:37 am tomorrow, Dec. 8 in all time zones (except Newfoundland and Labrador, at 9:07am), the CBC radio program, The Current, will broadcast a second segment in a week on the issue of poverty in Canada.

Rob Rainer, chairperson of Canada Without Poverty will be guest anchor, along with noted Canadian writer Lorna Crozier. Crozier was guest anchor during the first program which aired Dec. 2.

The theme for this show will be "being poor in Canada" and the hosts will be taking calls from the national listening audience. The dial-in number will be posted on the CBC web site on Thursday morning.

Most recently the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a report voicing concern over the income inequality problem in Canada. Previous to that the Conference Board of Canada issued similar findings, recognizing that income inequality is bad for business. Yet, despite more and more reports being issued with the same message, the government is making little movement to improve the living and working conditions for many Canadians who are struggling.

Canada Without Poverty is encouraging the public to call in to add their voices to this important conversation and put a face to the necessity of finding a more effective and lasting response to poverty in this country.

More information:

Canada Without Poverty

NUPGE

SGEU meets with Premier

dduffy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:49:33 -0500

“We look forward to meeting with Premier Wall to discuss issues that affect our members, many of whom are employed by the government of Saskatchewan,” said Bymoen.

Regina (7 Dec. 2011) - The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU/NUPGE) is looking forward to meeting with the Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall.

“We requested a meeting with Premier Brad Wall during his first term in office to discuss the future of public services and labour relations in our province,” said SGEU President Bob Bymoen. “We are encouraged by the government’s throne speech which referred to listening to unions and employees.”

Following the November 7 election, SGEU/NUPGE once again invited Premier Wall to meet with representatives of the union.

“We look forward to meeting with Premier Wall to discuss issues that affect our members, many of whom are employed by the government of Saskatchewan,” said Bymoen.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

Guest Commentary: Tom Kent refused to believe Canadians had turned to the right

dduffy — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:14:49 -0500

What Kent did stand for, and speak out for, throughout his life, is the public interest. And the debate for the future is about creating a public space where the public interest can be debated, defined, and advanced.

by Duncan Cameron

Duncan Cameron is a board member of the Public Services Foundation of Canada, the president of rabble.ca and writes a weekly column on politics and current affairs.

Ottawa (5 Dec. 2011) - Tom Kent thought a lot about how Canadians should live. As policy adviser to Liberal Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson he contributed his ideas to the construction of the Canadian welfare state. After leaving government, he worked on policy issues for the rest of his life, chairing a Royal Commission on Newspapers, editing Policy Options, and writing about social policy for the Caledon Institute.

Many of his ideas were controversial. An immigrant to Canada himself in 1954, he wanted landed residency limited to three years. After that someone became a citizen or left. Once a Canadian citizen, one should always be a Canadian taxpayer, even when living abroad.

Kent, who passed away Nov. 15, left Canadians a testament: equality of opportunity, and fairness of outcomes was what he wanted to see for Canada. In a Toronto Star article drawn from a longer paper - the first to be published by the Broadbent Institute - Kent called for Canada to pursue social democracy: "a society where the enterprise of productive employment in a market economy is joined with active government to secure the public interest."

In some ways, Kent was a perfect voice for active government. As a journalist with the Manchester Guardian in postwar Britain, he watched the Labour Party introduce its own style of economic and social planning. The ideas that animated Scandinavian social democracy were readily available to a journalist like Kent, who later worked for the Economist, before coming to Canada, and becoming editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.

In Canada, Kent joined Walter Gordon in reviving the Liberal party, after the Diefenbaker sweep had killed off the CCF, and reduced the mighty Liberals to a parliamentary rump.

For Kent, as for orthodox social democrats, competitive market capitalism created wealth, but governments could re-distribute it from market winners to market losers.

All social democrats like re-distribution, but in Canada what has been missing from the NDP (as from Kent) is a strong critique, spoken out loud, of an economic system which creates growing inequalities, undermines the eco-system, and uses governments to advance its ends through international agencies such as the WTO or trade deals like NAFTA.

When capitalism collapsed in the 1930s, the CCF proposed economic planning, and public ownership as replacements for market competition. By the mid-1950s, in the Winnipeg Manfesto, the party had accepted the idea of a mixed economy, while maintaining a social planning framework. Today, its successor, the NDP, has produced no comparable analysis of what to do to create meaningful economic change. Yet the capitalist system is losing credibility with the public, and being de-legitimized as a source of wealth by its own actions, which clearly create more future environmental and social costs than could ever be justified by current paper profits.

The "Occupy" movement was seen as a threat to the existing order because it dared take up public space with no intention of leaving. And once in place participants debated the public interest, inventing citizen assembly democracy to do it. Most people think direct democracy is impossible, that representative democracy is about as much as we can get, and that even that works badly.

Kent understood Canadians "have lost faith in the capacity of our political system to deliver the kind of government most Canadians want." But, he refused to believe the activist right had won much more than a 30-year skirmish.

With his clear head, and fine hand, he put words on paper believing until his time ran out that Canadians deserved a better future, and that he could help make it happen. It was not enough that working for Pearson in the 1960s, he had already helped to bring in the Canada/Quebec pension plan, medicare, cost sharing for post-secondary education, the Canada Assistance Plan for welfare, and championed regional economic development. Tom Kent wanted to see Canada progress again.

NUPGE

Women 4 Change organize around public services important to life/work balance

dduffy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:43:01 -0500

All Together Now! women activists to focus on public services key to achieving life/work balance.

Ottawa (2 Dec. 2011) - At the most recent National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) Advisory Committee on Women's Issues (ACWI), committee members from across the country launched Women 4 Change as part of the ongoing All Together Now! campaign to promote quality public services and tax fairness.

Members of the NUPGE Advisory Committee on Women's Issues and National President James Clancy (centre)

Continuing on the life/work balance project started in 2010 by the ACWI, Women 4 Change will rally around issues of urgent concern for women working in the public service and for women who rely on quality public services. As we know, when it comes to many services, from long-term care, early childhood education and care or health care, women tend to be the majority of workers and users of these services.

Ensuring that the elements of affordability, accessibility and quality remain strong is a major priority for the ATN Women 4 Change. Without many of these services, women would struggle even further to achieve any sort of life/work balance, or even have access to the workplace at all.

W4C members will be reaching out into their communities to build a stronger network of committed activists who share their concerns and solutions. Reminding government decision-makers that Canada has a revenue problem, not a spending problem, will be a key part of their actions. Working at the local, provincial and federal level, these Women 4 Change will be a force to contend with.

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