Up front: Shining the lights on Cowichan sex trafficking Valley: Students take to the sky for some higher education
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Friday, May 30, 2014
Sun setting on Sunridge staff Replacement unclear: New group takes over care home operations next week
Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
S Pessimism on the picket lines
On the picket line outside Cowichan Secondary School Tuesday morning, from left, are: Loree Fulton, Greg Farley and Bill Gilbert.
Contract dispute: Cowichan teachers aren’t seeing any quick fix Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
C
owichan School District teachers on the picket line Thursday joining the provincial strike rotation weren’t optimistic of a negotiated settlement with the provincial government anytime soon. Most agreed the two sides appear far apart, especially after the government followed the teachers’ rotating strike action with a decision to lock teachers out during 45-minute periods before and after school, plus recess and lunchtime, and to dock their pay by 10% as a result of the rotating strikes. The sides were arguing the legality of the 10%
deduction Thursday morning before the Labour Relations Board. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation has already announced the second stage of job action would continue next week with more rotating strikes. Tuesday (June 3) is pegged as the next day when Cowichan teachers conduct picketing, and students will again be staying home from class. “Hopefully, rationality will prevail,’’ said striking teacher Bill Gilbert. “At this point, it doesn’t feel like a very rational fight.’’ “Completely irrational,’’ said picketer Loree Fulton. “They’re behaving like our most difficult students,’’ said Gilbert. As he spoke, one student burned rubber in front of Cowichan Secondary School in his car. No one is too sure if that was a show of support or consternation for the teachers. Gilbert doesn’t feel the government, either through the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association or comments made by Education Minister
Andrew Leong
Peter Fassbender, show any immediate sign of reaching an agreement. “I’m not feeling particularly optimistic at this point,’’ he said. “We’re resolved.’’ “There’s an issue with us being heard in the media in general,’’ said Gilbert. “There’s not a lot of clarity about what the teachers are actually asking for and what our position is. I’d really like to see that improve.’’ “I love my job,’’ said Eleanor Stringer, an employment skills special ed. teacher at Cowichan Secondary. “I love my students and my colleagues. This is just the best job I’ve ever had. It breaks my heart it has to be this way. I’m not happy with the politics.’’ Cowichan District Teachers’ Association president Naomi Nilsson dropped by the picket line at Cowichan Secondary before heading to Richmond for meetings Thursday morning. “That lockout really strengthened the resolve of our teachers,’’ she said. more on page 5
unridge Place undergoes an ownership change next week, but questions remain unanswered about staffing issues. Sunridge made headlines in February when the Duncan seniors’ care home’s ownership group announced it was laying off all 264 employees effective June 2 in preparation for a sale. June 2 arrives Monday, and it remains unclear who has been rehired, who has been let go and how big the new staff will be. What is clear is the management shuffle has been more complicated than a straight handoff, and Sunridge employees will not be members of a union. “As far as we’re aware, the last shift our workers will work is June 2,’’ said Mike Old, communications director for the Hospital Employees’ Union. Old said a similar ownership change at New Horizons in Campbell River in December, with CareCorp as the new service provider, resulted in workers being brought in from the Lower Mainland and the Interior to fill the void. “I’m not sure if that’s the same fate that awaits Sunridge Place or not,’’ said Old. “The signs aren’t looking good. “There’s no question the changeover is going to be disruptive as far as continuity of care issues. Our experience at New Horizons, that has basically gone through the same thing, is a few of our members were hired back, but some of them weren’t. The wages offered were lowered.’’ Sunridge executive director Laura Griffin did not respond to a News Leader Pictorial enquiry by press time. Ian West is senior vice-president (operations) for Park Place Seniors Living, which has a stake in the new ownership group. He confirmed CareCorp has been selected to be the Sunridge service provider and therefore the employer. It assumes its contract with the current ownership June 2. more on page 5
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