Month: October 2018

Voters in BC have another very important decision to make on whether to reform our electoral system or whether to keep the old, broken system that we have. Ballots for the referendum have been mailed to homes across BC and are due to be returned, in the postage-paid envelope provided, by November 24.

“It’s not often that we can help bring about real, positive change in our daily lives,” said President Ivan Limpright. “Voting for proportional representation in this referendum is a concrete move towards a more fair and democratic BC. It will bring greater representation for rural communities, women and people of colour and our democracy needs that.”

There are two questions on the ballot. The first one is easy: Do you want to change the way we elect political representatives to proportional representation, a more fair and democratic system, or do you want to keep the same system, where parties can win 100% of the power with less than 40% of the vote?

The second question asks you to rank your preferred proportional representation system. You do not have to answer this question to vote YES for ProRep! There are some excellent resources to inform yourself about the referendum and the different electoral systems being voted on.

• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – A one stop shop for all things ProRep
• Fair Vote Canada – Tonnes of info + a great FAQ/Mythbuster section
• Elections BC (a non-partisan office of the BC legislature) – Great explainer videos on electoral reform
• BC Referendum Wizard – A quiz that tells you the best voting system for your democratic values and goals
• The Tyee ProRep series – To help you cast an educated vote

There are many reasons why an electoral system based on proportional representation is more fair and democratic. Under proportional representation:

• 30% of the vote = 30% of the seats – Every vote counts!
• Power is shared – No more 40% majorities!
• We can vote for what we believe in – No more strategic voting!
• Parties must be cooperative, accountable and transparent – That’s democratic!

There has been a lot of fearmongering from the No side – mostly paid lobbyists spending a lot of money trying to convince voters to keep the system the same for those who benefit – a small but powerful group. But here are the facts about proportional representation:

• ProRep is successful – 9/10 of the world’s top economies use proportional representation to elect their governments
• ProRep is simple – Voters can mark their first choice; no need to vote strategically
• ProRep is stable – Policies with real majority support are built to last

“We can make meaningful, lasting change just by voting YES to ProRep,” President Limpright said. “We can do this. Working people can make a better BC together. So mail in your ballot today!”

Waiting is the name of the game in the ongoing Section 106 proceedings with Sobeys, owner of 60 Safeway stores across British Columbia. The union submitted its latest set of proposals to Special Officer Vince Ready two weeks ago, after which the employer had an opportunity to respond.

Mr. Ready must then review all of the submissions and sometime following that he will render his decision. “I know how hard this waiting has been on our members and I thank each and every one of them for their patience in this time of uncertainty,” said President Ivan Limpright.

This latest round in the Section 106 proceedings followed a 99% NO vote by Safeway members on the Special Officer’s first set of recommendations, which the union called “alarming.”

President Limpright said he is buoyed by the fortitude and solidarity of Safeway members. “They’re tough and they’re playing the long game, as are we. I want our members to be assured that the union is fighting this battle on all fronts.” He also thanked the bargaining committee, calling their efforts to get a fair deal “tireless.”

 

Kourtney Trill didn’t know much about unions until she started her first union job at a Chilliwack Save-On-Foods three years ago. She was just 15. “I think it’s cool that even at this age I can have a union. All of my friends have part-time non-union jobs,” comments Trill. Now a student at the University of Fraser Valley, Trill has begun discovering more about opportunities for UFCW 1518 members. After seeing a poster in her union bulletin board, Trill decided to apply for a variety of union scholarships to support her studies. To her delight, she won the $1000 UFCW Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu Scholarship Award. “I think it’s great that I get to have a union to back me up and support me,” says Trill. “Winning a scholarship is not something I thought I would have had the chance to do through my union!”

The UFCW Beggs-Dowling-Mathieu Scholarship commemorates the contributions of three of UFCW’s builders – William Beggs, Fred Dowling, and Roméo Mathieu. It was established by the UFCW Canada National Council and it is one of many opportunities available to UFCW 1518 members and their families.

After graduating from the architectural drafting program next year, Kourtney has big plans to pursue a specialization or move up north to find a job in her field. A union job and now a union award will continue to enable Kourtney to pursue her passion for drawing and building. At UFCW 1518 we believe in our members and see value in investing in their life long learning. Find out more about union scholarships and professional development opportunities by visiting our Member Resource Centre.

The legalization of cannabis in Canada this month will necessarily have an impact on the workplace. Although it is new territory with many unknowns, there are important things UFCW 1518 members should know. Marijuana legalization does not mean members can consume marijuana  while working. Employers have policies relating to impairment while working, as they do now for alcohol and other legal substances, and these remain in effect.

Even without policies in place, arbitrators will likely find that employees who become impaired while at work can be disciplined and, depending on the circumstances, terminated. Workplace safety is an ongoing concern, and marijuana-related impairment is a potential safety issue, as it is with alcohol. This is relevant whether the use is recreational or medicinal. It is especially relevant if employees use equipment or motor vehicles.

Drug testing

The employer is prohibited from performing random drug tests. Drug and alcohol testing is generally restricted to safety-sensitive job sites or situations where the employer has a valid reason to be concerned about an employee’s performance.

There remain issues with the accuracy of testing marijuana levels. To date it has been difficult to establish impairment levels as the effects of marijuana on different people will vary. To address this, some employers may decide to test capacity or function rather than testing levels of the drug in the system.

UFCW 1518 will monitor the situation as legalization unfolds, including things such as changes or advancements in tests available, or whether employers will be given more leeway to test more frequently.

Human Rights

Employers will have a duty to accommodate individuals using medically authorized marijuana and those addicted to marijuana, as for any other drug. Additionally, employers may not discriminate against employees who use marijuana as medical treatment, such as CBD oil to treat chronic pain. CBD or cannabidiol is a hemp-derived oil that is low in THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Employees will need to show that there is a medical requirement for marijuana use if they want an accommodation. If a medical condition results in you needing to use marijuana, or another drug that may lead to impairment, you may want to talk to your shop steward about your need for accommodation before talking to your employer.

Workplace policies

We are continuing to review new and existing employer policies to ensure that they do not infringe on your rights, including your privacy rights and human rights. If your employer has introduced a new policy about drugs in the workplace, or updated an existing policy, and you have questions about the policy you may want to talk to your shop steward so that we answer your questions.

Working people employed in low-paid, precarious jobs will benefit from changes proposed by the BC Labour Relations Code review panel. The labour code is the main legislation governing employment standards  in the province’s unionized workplaces.

Labour Minister Harry Bains convened the independent panel of experts to recommend improvements to BC’s labour code, which had not been reviewed  since 2003. According to the government, the objective was to ensure BC’s unionized workplaces “support fair laws for workers and businesses that are consistent with the labour rights and protections enjoyed by other Canadians.” [source] The panel, which consisted of a labour representative, an employer representative and a chair person, held  public consultations across BC last spring.

“Contact flipping harms thousands of service workers who already struggle to make ends meet. It causes insecurity and condemns these workers to precarious, low-wage employment,” said Secretary-Treasurer Kim Novak.

Contract flipping allows employers to use the tendering process to arbitrarily terminate collective agreements and maintain poverty level wages primarily in construction, food and building services, security and health care.

The BC Federation of Labour, which represents 500,000 unionized workers across BC, called on the government to stand up for low-paid workers by including the recommended protections against contract flipping in legislation brought forward next year.

According to BC Fed president Irene Lanzinger, when workers are flipped, they lose their jobs, wages and benefits, their collective agreements and their union. “One of the most important things the government can do to build an economy that works for everyone is to improve the well-being of workers in contracted services by ensuring they have some form of job security — called successorship — to address issues around poverty and inequality.”

Lanzinger said the labour movement doesn’t agree with all of the panel’s findings but called the recommendations “measured.” “They’ll help foster a more constructive labour relations environment to restore fairness and balance to the labour code.”

The public is invited to review the recommendations here and submit written feedback by November 30.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began a series rotating 24-hour strikes this week in locations across Canada, including Victoria BC.

CUPW represents 50,000 postal workers who are striking for improved health and safety, gender equality and good, full-time jobs. The union is asking fellow workers to support their fight for fairness by posting encouraging messages on social media and writing supportive letters to the editor.

CUPW is also asking people to contact Prime Minister, Minister  of Public Services and Procurement Carla Qualtrough and Canada Post interim President Jessica McDonald and urge them to do what’s right for workers.

“Our members are dedicated to serving the people of this country,” wrote the union in a statement. “We do not want to take strike action but we have been pushed into a corner. Almost a year of negotiations and Canada Post refuses to address our major issues. We are sending a message that we will not back down, that we will fight for what is right.”

Contact those with the power to make good things happen for CUPW workers:

Jessica L. McDonald

Interim President & CEO of Canada Post

email: [email protected]

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

email: [email protected] OR [email protected]

tweet: @JustinTrudeau

call: 1.613.992.4211

Carla Qualtrough

Minister of Public Services & Procurement &  MP for Delta, BC

email: [email protected]

tweet: @CQualtro

call: 613-992-2957

 

 

Mark McDonagh is a longtime union member, having worked for 33 years at the Save-On-Foods in Brooks Landing. He’s also the proud father of Erin McDonagh, recent winner of two UFCW education scholarships: the prestigious UFCW Charity Foundation Scholarship and the UFCW 1518/Save-On-Foods Joint Diversity Scholarship.

Mark learned about the scholarships the old fashioned way – through posters on the union board at work – and encouraged Erin to apply. “I was thrilled to learn my daughter was one of the recipients,” he says. “It’s fantastic to see that the company and union I work for are making these opportunities available for people, that we can get education so that we can fight back.”

The UFCW Charity Foundation Scholarship is open to all UFCW members and their dependents and is awarded on the basis of scholastic achievement, community involvement and an essay. The UFCW 1518/Save-On-Foods Joint Diversity Scholarship recognizes applicants who promote diversity awareness and acceptance in their community.

Erin is currently completing an honours program in neurobiology at the University of Victoria, with plans to attend medical school next year. She’s grateful for the recognition and for a lifetime with the union behind her. “These awards have meant everything for me. They have changed my life” she explains. “Not only for financial reasons, but receiving this recognition from my dad’s union speaks to how important the union has been in my life. Because my dad had a union job I never had to move around. We always had the security that he could provide for us. Receiving these awards is the next level of security this union has provided to me. I feel confident for my future and what’s to come.”

Adds Mark: “A recognition like this has given my daughter the confidence and validation that what she is doing is right. It’s great for your kids to know their hard work pays off.”

Click here to learn more about scholarship opportunities for UFCW 1518 members and their dependents.