Public Employee - Spring 2013 - CUPE BC

CUPE actionRAINIER WOMEN KEEP UPTHE FIGHT FOR FUNDINGThe film A Long Journey Home documentsthe fight to save the sole women’s-onlyaddiction treatment centre in Vancouver’sDowntown Eastside.“It is both the story of the 40 womenresidents’ struggle, and a call to action,”says film director Colin Askey.Since funding ended on December 3,the women – with support from CUPE1004 – have been campaigning to urgethe B.C. government to restore the program.The film includes footage of afuneral procession walk in which morethan 300 supporters carry black coffinsfor the 10-kilometre route to the constituencyoffice of Christy Clark.Watch the film at www.rainierhotel.ca.WORTHY FIGHT CUPE's supportfor the Rainier Hotel treatment centrehelped raise public awareness aboutmuch-needed addiction treatmentservices.SEEKING FAIR PLAY CUPE National president Paul Moist and CUPE BC secretarytreasurerMark Hancock join members of CUPE 4964, and other Local members in support,during the lockout at Quilchena Golf Course.Golf course workers locked outEmployer ends bargainingon consultant’s adviceRICHMOND | Thanks to the advice ofan outside consultant hired to conductnegotiations on management’s behalf,19 CUPE members at Quilchena golfcourse received notice from theiremployer on February 4 that they werebeing locked out.The lock-out occurred after only ninedays of combined mediation and bargaining.Management refused to continuenegotiations.“In the past we have conducted negotiationsdirectly with the employer andbeen able to achieve an agreement thatis acceptable to both parties,” said CUPENational representative Sung Wong,questioning the wisdom of using aconsultant for such a small group witha decent labour-management relationship,thus adding unnecessary cost tonegotiations.“The local has received tremendoussupport from CUPE National, CUPEBC and many CUPE locals,” he added.“We appreciate their donations andsupport on the picket line. We remainhopeful that management will end thislockout so we can resume negotiationsand so members can get back to work.”Thumbs down on Skytrain service cutsBURNABY | CUPE 7000 (BC RapidTransit, Skytrain workers) launched anawareness campaign earlier this yearabout the impact of recent significant layoffsin the IT department. Members worebuttons that said “Less staff, less service”to emphasize critical shortages inscheduling, maintenance and other areas.CUPE 7000 president Bill Magri saidthe planned reduction of important ITwork within BC Rapid Transit was in facta reduction to the total service providedto the public.“We are amazed that the employerwould be willing to lay off our unionizedIT department to an extent that causessuch a decline in access to critical informationabout important areas of the service,”said Magri. “So we want the publicto know how this staff reduction willaffect their service.”CUPE 4500 also adopted the campaign,in response to the Coast Mountain BusCompany’s decision to cut transit supervisorpositions.6 THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE

CUPE focus bargainingCrashing the partyMORE EMPLOYERS ARE HIRING PRICEY CONSULTANTSTO TELL THEM HOW TO GIVE LESS AT THE TABLE.Employers are finding out what moreand more CUPE locals already know:many bargaining consultants are nobargain at all.The ‘consultant,’ usually a lawyer,approaches an employer and convincesthem their ‘freedom to manage’ is hamstrungby the union. Not to worry: theconsultant can help gut the contract,chop wages and let managers rule unrestricted.It could take a while, but don’tworry.So the employer shells out tens ofthousands of dollars, money that couldhave been used for wages, programmingor services. Negotiations drag on (thelonger they go, the more the consultantgets) and still end up in mediation.Lockouts and service interruptions poisonthe workplace and the communitysuffers long after the consultant hasbailed.An expensive waste of timeA case in point is CUPE 2254 in GrandForks. Heading into bargaining, committeechair Leanne Strang was optimistic.“We had a dozen housekeepingitems,” she recalls, and there had neverbeen a dispute at the five-memberlibrary local. But when they arrivedfor talks, there was consultant DonPercifield.“On Day One, he comes in withwhat looks like a 300-page rewrite ofour 42-page collective agreement. Wemet a couple more times, but neverreally did any bargaining – it was prettymuch ‘Take it or leave it.’ Then theboard served lockout notice. PercifieldSHAFTED Members of CUPE 2254 werelocked out of the Grand Forks Library duringconsultant-directed bargaining.charged $1,200/day, but his fee cap of$7,500 came off the moment the libraryboard initiated the lockout.“We were locked out for three months.The contract we eventually signed hadvery few changes – it was such a wasteof time. The community was unhappyand the money spent on the consultantcould have paid for a year’s worth ofbooks or five years worth of library programming,”says Strang.When Percifieldwas hired by Oliverfor CUPE 608 negotiationsin 2011, servicingrep RachelChampagne noted:“They have chosen to put taxpayer’smoney in the pocket of a hired negotiatorwho doesn’t even live in Oliver, overthe hardworking city employees wholive here.” After three months of acrimonioustalks, Percifield left before acontract was settled.“One has to wonder howthis is a good use of taxdollars.” – JANET BIGELOWLegal fees up, wage increases goneAt Capilano University, a small unit ofCUPE 1004 represents students’ union(CSU) staff. They have been bargainingsince May 2012 and for the firsttime there’s a consultant involved: lawyerDavid Borins. The student paperreported Borins getting $2,000 permonth from the CSU as far back as2011. The legal bill for the CSU in 2010was $180 for the entire year.Prince George hired lawyer AdrianaWills for negotiations with CUPE 399and 1048, despite having the city managerand other HR staff at the table.CUPE 1048 president Janet Bigelowsums it up: “In a city that has always hadproductive negotiationsand just endureda $350,000 core servicesreview for ‘costsavingmeasures’, onehas to wonder how thisis a good use of tax dollars.”Consultants are also finding work inthe private sector. CUPE 4964 workersat the Quilchena Golf Course (see page6) have been locked out – and managementhired a lawyer for bargainingadvice.SPRING 2013 7

power in numbers mark hancock‘‘arlier this year, BC Minister of Finance Mike De“This election is too important to takeanything for granted.”An NDP victory iswithin our graspJong claimed to have balanced the budget throughreduced spending and increased revenue. But wherethat revenue comes from, and where further cuts fall, onlyexposes the BC Liberals’ real priorities.On the revenue side, the government increased MedicalService Plan premiums and again hiked tuition fees.Clearly, the real cost of the balancing the budget is beingpaid out of the pockets of working families, students, andthose least able to afford higher fees and service charges.Once again, the Liberals are saying “trust us” to the voterswhile they increase MSP premiums, make continuedcuts to post-secondary education, and reduce their commitmentto health care despite our aging population.Also, instead of working with local communities oneconomic development, we saw another fire-sale of publicassets to pay for BC Liberal mismanagement.We’ll never know how many local jobs or opportunitiesthose properties could have generated, now that the Libshave sold off the household furniture to pay for the mortgage.Meanwhile, the government continued to spend whatwill be in excess of $16 million in tax-payer funded partisanads to bolster BC Liberal support. That’s why CUPEBC is investing time and energy in communicating, toevery member directly, what is at stake in this election forworking British Columbians.We need your help. Even if you can only spare a fewhours, that could make a big difference in areas where therace is tight. This election is too important to take anythingfor granted. I urge you to get involved in your Local orSOLIDARITY, COAST TO COAST CUPE National secretarytreasurerCharles Fleury, Université de Montréal’s Rachida Azdouz,and Mark Hancock take time out from the national bargainingconference in February.community to help ensure that every voter has the informationthey need to make an informed choice on May 14th.This being my final column as your secretary-treasurer,I want to thank every member for the honour of serving youin this capacity for the past eight years. It has been a privilegeto be entrusted with keeping this great union’s financialhouse in order, and I hope to be able to spend manymore years in service to CUPE members. Of course, I wouldnot be in the position to say this without having enjoyed thetremendous leadership, guidance and personal friendship ofour outgoing president, Barry O’Neill.It’s safe to say that Barry will go down in B.C. labourhistory as one of the great union activists of all time. Wehave been fortunate for the 16 years he spent as our leader,and his vision and commitment to working people in thisprovince will truly be missed – though we know he won’t“be a stranger.”On behalf of the executive and our 85,000 members, Iwant to wish Barry and his family all the best in his retirementand in all of his future endeavours.Mark Hancock is secretary-treasurer of CUPE BC.MORE ONLINE www.cupe.bc.ca + News +Commentary + Leaders’ voicesCUPE BC PRESIDENT Barry O’Neill SECRETARY-TREASURER Mark HancockPUBLISHED BY The Canadian Union of Public Employees, British Columbia Division510 - 4940 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 4T3 POSTAL AGREEMENT # 42016512TEL 604.291.9119 FAX 604.291.9043 EMAIL editor@cupe.bc.caTHE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EDITOR Daniel Gawthrop CONTRIBUTORS Clay Suddaby, Kathryn Sutton, Murray Bush, Nathan Allen, Susan Blair14 THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COVER PHOTO Josh Berson OTHER PHOTOS Josh Berson, Nicole Pawlak, Wes Payne, Michael Lanier, Blaine Gurrie,14 THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE Cindy Major, Marcel Marsolais DESIGN AND LAYOUT Working DesignCOPE 491

Hundreds of thousands are injured. Countless thousands becomepermanently disabled or die from work-related diseases.April 28th is a day to pause, reflect and gather our resolve. Let’s use it tore-dedicate ourselves to the fight for improved health and safety.Bookmarks and posters availableNational Health and Safety Branch,(613) 237-1590 or health_safety @ cupe.caor vwolff @ cupe.caINFORMATIONNational Health andSafety Representative604-291-1940CHOOSE YOUR COURSES FOR 2013Powerfullearningat its best!NaramataSchoolLocated in the heart of theOkanagan, the Naramataschool has inspired morethan three decades ofCUPE members. ThisWEEK 1 / JUNE 2 - 7 (Revised)■ Basic Occupational Health & Safety■ Communicating CUPE / Social Media■ Financial Officers■ Grassroots Leadership (HEU Members Only)■ Steward Learning SeriesWEEK 2 / JUNE 9 - 14 (Revised)■ Basic Arbitration■ Building Pension Activism■ Creating Social Justice■ Facing Management■ Mental Health / Workplace Stressspring’s week-longsessions featureten courses thatwill expand yourhorizons andsharpen youractivist tools.MORE INFO CUPE Education representative Greg Burkittat 604-291-1940 or gburkitt@cupe.ca

After 12 yearswith the BC Liberals,it might be timeto move on andfind somebody else. *YouCanDoBetter.ca*10Check out the signsthat you deserve morefrom your elected officials.PUBLICATION MAILAGREEMENT 42016512RETURN REQUESTEDwww.cupe.bc.ca