November 2009 | National Union of Public and General Employees

Wal-Mart wins Supreme Court case on technicality

'The workers at the Jonquière store know in their hearts why Wal-Mart shut their store. So do most Canadians. So does Wal-Mart.' - UFCW Canada.

Larry Brown discusses the TFSA and tax cut mania

NUPGE's national secretary-treasurer looks at the long-term impact on government revenues and public services of the Harper government's new Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs). 'How are you going to buy your own health care with $400?' he asks.

NAPE wins Central Regional Health Authority vote

Now represents all health professionals in three of four regional health boards.

BCGEU sets course for 2010 post-secondary talks

New contracts for nearly 4,000 employees in the sector will be negotiated in 2010.

Retired NUPGE human rights activist receives Access Award for Disability Issues

“John Rae has spent a lifetime effecting change by taking up issues that have been relevant to persons who are disabled and specifically who are blind, deaf-blind or partially sighted.”

Nortel management get massive bonuses while workers fight for their pensions

Another example of corporate greed – 72 Nortel executives will receive a total of $7.5 million US on top of their current salaries in 2009

Sask. health care unions present common proposal

'After 19 months at the bargaining table, it would be wonderful to have this agreement settled before Christmas.' - Bonnie Erickson, SGEU.

Attack on public health services continues in Alberta

'Albertans are witnessing a calculated, step-by-step plan by the Stelmach government to privatize public health care in Alberta.' - Elisabeth Ballermann.

OFL condemns Ont. colleges for bad faith bargaining

'Imposing a collective agreement is wrong, and it should stop now. If they want a strike, they will get a strike the likes of which they have never seen before.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Alberta told to put 'Rand formula' in labour code

Landmark 2007 Supreme Court ruling on collective bargaining means unions must have compulsory check-off of union dues to represent workers, says ALRB.

New Brunswickers strongly oppose NB Power sale

Leger Marketing poll finds only one person in five supports the controversial sale to Hydro-Quebec.

NDP kicks out rotten operator in Richmond County

Richmond County Home Support Services Society (RCHSSS) ousted after critical audit concluded it lacked leadership skills and abilities.

Old Age Security system needs strengthening: report

Ottawa (25 November 2009)—Canada’s Old Age Security system needs improvement in order to help ensure the economic security and dignity of Canadians in retirement, says a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

Cities and communities act while others continue to talk

On November 10, 2009 the Municipal Council of London Ontario signed an emergency resolution urging the federal government of Canada to take action on climate change. Citizens in municipalities across Canada have been mobilizing for urgent action on the climate change crisis.

Guest commentary: How to end child poverty: Tax the rich, says former NDP Leader Ed Broadbent

'More rapidly than almost every other country among the wealthiest members of the OECD, we are becoming deeply unequal. Who knows? We may even catch up to the United States.'

NUPGE endorses Amnesty International's 'A Wake Up Call to Canada'

NUPGE is encouraging all Canadians to sign online message to Prime Minister Harper asking him to establish a national plan of action to stop violence against Indigenous women.

HSAA wins improvements to insulin pump coverage

The changes are a direct result of HSAA's ongoing lobby efforts with Alberta Health Services.

BCGEU computer support group ratifies contract

Agreement provides wage increases and prevents pension and seniority rollbacks.

Conservatives isolated on their wait-and-see approach for the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen

Members of Parliament vote in favor of more ambitious action at the United Nations Climate Summit

Community support workers deserve a better deal

Three Saskatchewan unions combine efforts to improve wages and working conditions for those who help the most vulnerable people in society.

HSABC says B.C. broke pledge to protect services

'More than 10,000 MRI scans in the Vancouver area alone.' - HSABC president Reid Johnson.

SFU child care society makes gains in new contract

Wage increases plus steps to address bullying in the workplace.

Fraser Health Authority flouts Supreme Court ruling

Ignores restrictions imposed by Canada's top court when sections of Bill 29 were struck down as unconstitutional.

Time running out to fix problems at youth 'superjail'

'It is only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs in this jail …a tragedy that is completely avoidable.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Canada Can Lead the World with Smart Pension Reform

“A supplementary pension plan is needed to give middle-income Canadians without workplace pensions a better crack at securing a comfortable retirement”: Keith Ambachtsheer

Toronto (20 November 2009) – The time has come to turn Canada’s supplemental pensions jumble into a coherent system with a clear goal and a clear plan to achieve it, according to Keith Ambachtsheer, a leading pension expert and director of the Rotman International Centre for Pension Management at the University of Toronto

NBUPPE condemns controversial sale of NB Power

'Let's not stand on the sidelines while the few who will benefit greatly from this deal give away our crown jewel.' - Susie Proulx Daigle.

B.C. jails are badly overcrowded, minister admits

Routinely operating at 180% to 200% over capacity, Kash Heed tells BCGEU.

Walkout by prison guards spreading across Britain

Officers strike in protest as tensions ignite over bullying and harassment by supervisors.

Manitoba liquor workers reach four-year agreement

Proposal includes wage increases for each of the four years and an increase in benefits available through Flex-Benefit Health Spending Accounts.

Manitoba addictions services to close over holidays

'I’m appalled.... Addictions don’t take holidays.' - MGEU president Peter Olfert.

Tireless activist Gil Levine dies following brief illness

'His work, his passion for social justice, his humour and his caring will never be forgotten.' Updated

SGEU welcomes improvements, but crisis still exists in child welfare system

“Any change that means a child will be safer is a change for the better, so the news that there has been a decrease in the number of children living in overcrowded foster homes is welcome,” said SGEU president Bob Bymoen, in response to the release of the Children’s Advocate Progress Report on foster home overcrowding.

Dec. 6 campaign focuses on violence against women

CLC marking 20th anniversary of Montreal Massacre with 20-day mailing campaign to highlight the ongoing need for change.

PM must be leader during 'National Medicare Week'

Canadian Health Coalition celebrating 30th anniversary defending Medicare and campaigning for a national pharmacare program.

OPSEU puts McGuinty on notice for the next election

'More than one million public sector workers have paycheques that are tied to the province. That’s a lot of voters.'

Budget job cut placements moving slowly in B.C.

'The process has been slow in large measure due to the very small number of vacancies available - about 100 across the entire public service.'

New 'Buy American' trade deal still favours U.S.

CCPA says ongoing negotiations are heading for a deal in which Canada would surrender provincial and municipal sovereignty.

CPP Fund up $7.2 billion to $123.8 billion

$5.4 billion of the increase comes from investment income, reflecting a 4.6 per cent rate of return over the past six months

Nfld. public sector unions sign H1N1 agreement

Covers rescheduling of staff to respond to absenteeism resulting from the flu pandemic.

Ontario colleges provoking province-wide strike

'No alternative but to go to our membership and seek a strike mandate.' - OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

NUPGE backs 'dignity for all' anti-poverty campaign

'Canadians should respect and defend the right of every person to dignity and security.'

PEIUPSE convention rescheduled for Feb. 26-27

Postponed from this weekend to help the province cope with the H1N1 crisis.

B.C. Liberals plan to close Quesnel group home

'Another blow to the provision of mental health and addictions services.' - Darryl Walker.

$1.8 trillion in pension assets in Canada at the end of 2008

Of total pension assets at the end of 2008, social security comprised 7.6 percent, workplace plans 58 percent and individual registered savings plans 34.4 percent.

Labour and human rights policies are becoming the norm for large companies

First-of-a-kind benchmark study finds 43 percent of European companies have supply-chain labour and human rights policies, with North America and Asia lagging behind

Canadians speak on 'The Next Economy' for Canada

NUPGE publishes the first of three reports on ideas that emerged from a series of 26 town hall meetings across the country to assess the way forward from the global economic collapse.

NSGEU endorses call for national pension reform

'It’s time to consider expansion of our public universal workplace pension plan, the CPP.' - Joan Jessome.

Global poll finds disenchantment with capitalism

20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall people around the world want governments to be more active in regulating business.

HSAA launches 2009 Alberta ad campaign

'Funding cuts to health care services ... affect all of us and our families.'

Sask. joins Manitoba in marking CSS workers' day

'These workers deserve our utmost respect and recognition.' - Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer.

OPSEU Charter challenge over classification disputes

'The very foundation of law provides that, at the end of the day, if two parties can’t agree there is an independent person to make a final decision.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas.

Another Tory government targets rural post offices

Postal union circulating petition to draw attention to unpublicized campaign by Harper Conservatives.

CCPA report finds Ontario schools strapped for cash

'New York City invests twice as much per student in public education as Toronto.'

Privatization again threatens Canada's rural post offices

Canada Post review awakens old fears in hundreds of small rural communities.

Campbell government introduces legislation to end ambulance strike

“A shocking new low by this government.” –First time a government has legislated a contract on workers while they were in the middle of voting on an offer.

Manitoba observes CSS workers appreciation day

First province in Canada to join with dozens of municipalities in celebrating the contribution CSS workers make to communities across the country.

2010 'The Year of The Métis' in Saskatchewan

The occasion will mark 'a historic new chapter' in the lives of Métis citizens as well as Saskatchewan and Canadian citizens generally. - MN-S president Robert Doucette.

Highway line painters agree to new contract in B.C.

'Our members have made some solid gains on wages and successfully fought employer efforts to rollback some provisions.' - Darryl Walker.

PEIUPSE postpones convention due to H1N1 crisis

President Shelley Ward says it is 'simply the safest thing to do' in the circumstances. A decision will be made later on when to reschedule.

Fossil Awards 'bring it' to Canada

Environment Minister Jim Prentice issues the challenge

Canada in Barcelona - No Boy Scout

The elements of a strong deal are still on the table. But, Canada must change its tune if a fair, ambitious, and legally binding agreement can be reached at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in December.

Canadians value community social service workers

This fall municipal governments from across the country, representing more than 7.5 million Canadians, have passed official resolutions acknowledging Nov. 6 as Canadian Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day.

OHA antagonistic despite H1N1 crisis, says OPSEU

Threatening more cuts and layoffs and creating a chill in labour relations.

B.C. Liberals grabbing legal aid money for other uses

7% tax brings in over $100 million a year. 'Where did all the money go?' asks BCGEU's Darryl Walker.

Final day of climate negotiations before historic Copenhagen climate summit

What do the November UN climate meetings bode for the Copenhagen summit?

Pension gap between females and males in Canada narrows

"Presently, the gap in CPP pensions between males and females is narrowing even if it is not expected to disappear completely."

Ottawa (5 November 2009) – The status of women within the Canadian pension system is not the same today as it was 30 or 40 years ago, according to the chief actuary of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada.

Private sector pensions in Nova Scotia given more time to recover losses

Permission must be first given by plan members to extend the recovery time

NSGEU puts bargaining on hold during H1N1 crisis

Union accepts request from Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations (NSAHO) to devote full public resources to the situation.

B.C. legal aid services hit by new round of cuts

Regional offices will be closed in Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Victoria and Surrey next year. The Justice Access Centre in Nanaimo will also be shut down.

Coalition warns against private clinics in Sask.

Private delivery of services should not even be considered, says Canadian Health Coalition.

Auditor blasts Tories for poor emergency planning

'Canada needs to have a planned and coordinated approach in place so that federal, provincial and municipal agencies know what part they will play in managing a crisis.' - Sheila Fraser.

BP hit with largest-ever OSHA fine of $87 million

'This administration will not tolerate disregard of our laws. Employers have a legal and moral responsibility to protect their workers.' - Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Ontario will issue green plates for green vehicles

Plug-ins and battery-powered vehicles will get special carpool, parking and recharging perks.

Should public employees have to pay a special price just for working in the public sector?

NUPGE's Larry Brown says tax cuts benefitting mainly the wealthy are the cause of current government deficits and it will be unfair and damaging to the economy if public sector workers become scapegoats and are forced to pay the price in lost jobs and pay cuts.