Labour Day - August 31, 2019

TIMES COLONIST, VICTORIA, B.C.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019

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HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES UNION 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

Standing up for those who care

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he Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) is B.C.’s oldest, largest health care union. Our more than 50,000 members work in all areas of the health care system, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and medical labs, community social services and First Nations health agencies.

Every year, we welcome new members into the union who want to create better working environments for themselves and improve standards of care.

From our earliest beginnings in 1944 — to this, our 75th anniversary year — we have fought hard to protect and strengthen the public health system we all rely on.

As a union of people who care, we also take on issues of equality and social justice when they emerge because we believe that together we can create a better world.

“Unions have such an important role in today’s world,” says HEU secretary-business manager, Jennifer Whiteside.

“Any notion that somehow, unions aren’t really needed anymore,

couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Unfortunately, she says, the majority of working people here in B.C. and across Canada don’t have the backing of a union to protect their job rights or advocate for important social issues that impact their lives in society at large.

“There’s no question — HEU and the rest of the labour movement have a deep responsibility to bring the benefits of union membership to others, and continue to advocate for decent jobs and safer workplaces for all workers,” she says.

“As a strong, democratic, socially-

conscious union, we are proud to work in solidarity with all of our labour and community allies, both here and around the world, to strengthen labour rights and advance human rights.”

HEU is also the health services division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees in B.C., the largest union in Canada.

On behalf of HEU’s entire membership, we wish everyone a happy Labour Day! — Patty Gibson, HEU Director of Communications heu.org

UNIONS WORK.

0011729844 HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES UNION 2019 Labour Day 5 x 140 CMYK, , FOR EVERYONE. Unions work for their members.

rise above

0011731188 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATI Labour Day 5 x 140 CMYK, ,

Happy Labour Day!

Saluting workers in every walk of life for the jobs you do, and the contributions you make, for us all.

They also work for British Columbians, helping build the province.

And through the Community Benefits Agreement they work to deliver jobs on public construction projects to local residents with a focus on apprentices, women & indigenous people.

Enjoy Labour Day. And if you’d like to find out how our union could work for you, contact us.

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115.

1-888-486-3115 | IUOE115.ca

/hospitalemployeesunion Ř @heu_in_bc @HospEmpUnion ¯ heu.org

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Quality and Inclusion for all Canada’s unions celebrate Labour Day 2019 by calling for a Fair Canada for everyone

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abour Day 2019 provides an opportunity to mark the change in seasons, get young family members ready for the the return to school and gives all of us an opportunity to plan for the future.

Working families in Canada are facing mounting uncertainty and finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. Canada’s unions recognize that families are being forced to further tighten their belts and have tough conversations about how to balance the household budgets.

In next month’s federal election, let’s tell our leaders exactly what we expect from our government.

Things like Medicare, minimum wage and parental leave were won thanks to working people across Canada. This is why, every year on Labour Day, Canada’s unions celebrate working people as we continue our work to improve the lives of all Canadians.

But there is a threat that is creeping across Canada. The rising voice of hatred and the normalization of racism are tearing apart the fabric of this country. There are those — including some politicians — who would seek to undermine the tolerance and inclusivity that we hold dear.

We must not be fooled by politics of fear and division. Those who exploit people’s fear and insecurity to fuel racism and intolerance do not have our best interests at heart. We need a government that will stand up to the rise of racism and intolerance

in this country, and that will uphold values like equality and inclusion.

We need to elect a government that prioritizes a fair Canada for everyone.

We are closer than ever to winning the universal public pharmacare system. So close, in fact, that we’ve succeeded in making pharmacare a ballot box issue for this fall.

With over 3.5 million Canadians struggling to pay for the medications they need, Canada’s unions campaigned tirelessly for over two years to make universal pharmacare a top priority for the federal government.

Most of us know someone who struggles to pay for their prescription medications. Even charges as low as

Victoria Labour Council

Annual Labour Day Picnic Once again this year, the Victoria Labour Council and our affiliated Unions will be celebrating Labour Day on the front lawns of the BC Legislature. Please join us:

BC LEGISLATURE, MONDAY, SEPT 2, 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. Music this year will be provided by Dockside Drive — a great local band.

There will be snacks and activities for the children. The formal part of the event to mark Labour Day will occur at 12:30 p.m. Bring a friend and join in the fun. Everyone is welcome!

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$2 have been found to be a barrier to taking medications as prescribed.

We need a federal government that prioritizes retirement security by improving public pensions, and protects private pension plans when employers go bankrupt.

Too often, workers lose their pension when their employers go bankrupt. These workers paid into a pension plan in good faith over the course of their careers, but are in line after wealthy shareholders and creditors for any remaining funds.

There usually isn’t much left for them, if anything at all. We need to fix this and prioritize retirees when their employers go bankrupt.

We need a government that puts people first by ending precarity in the job market. Precarious work is on the rise, and many workers don’t have access to the training required to do their jobs effectively and safely. Our government must commit to creating good jobs that ensure decent work for everyone.

We are also in the midst of a climate emergency. Our next government must be willing to take bold action on climate change by investing in green manufacturing and infrastructure, better transit and green home and building retrofits.

Ambitious climate action will help to create good jobs to support families and communities while ensuring that Canada does its’ part to protect the planet.

— Michael Eso, President, Victoria Labour Council victorialabour.ca

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“I wish I knew then what I know now.”

Since 1917, WorkSafeBC has helped to improve the health and safety of British Columbians in the workplace.

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lmost 20 per cent of workplace accidents involving new workers occur during their first month of the job. On average, 14 young works suffer a serious injury every week.

Two near misses at a B.C. sawmill when he was young opened the eyes of Clint Mahlman. Making sure young workers understand their rights and responsibilities as well as the danger of inadequate job training is something he now takes to heart as executive vice president and chief operating officer for London Drugs Limited.

Today, Mahlman considers training young workers a top priority at London Drugs. Since 21 per cent of injuries in retail involved young workers in 2018, it’s a significant concern.

“It’s really important for young workers to talk about safety,” he says.

“Speaking up to your employer is a very good thing, and quite honestly, if an employer doesn’t value that, you’re working for the wrong place.”

Over at BC Ferries, Melanie Lucia, executive director of catering and terminal operations, has three key recommendations for integrating health and safety into your

everyday operations: • Include health and safety in your company’s strategic plan.

• Reinforce your company’s health and safety values in all workplace communications.

• Make worker health and safety a core value — not a priority, but a value, because priorities can change.

Like Clint, Melanie’s early work experience makes her a strong advocate for formal health and safety programs in the workplace.

“A serious workplace injury or death changes lives forever — for

families, friends, communities and co-workers, too. Every person who leaves for work in the morning should expect to return home at night in good health — that is the most important reason to create a healthy and safe work environment.”

All employers are responsible for ensuring their workers are prepared for the job before they start working.

Providing effective orientation and training is the best way to prevent accidents.

For information and resources on training and orientation visit: worksafebc.com/youngworkers.

#UNIGNORABLE

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0011731688 PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CAN 2019 Labour Day 5 x 70 CMYK, ,

e all love where we live. But in our busy world, local issues can often go unnoticed. Here in Greater Victoria, #UNIGNORABLE social issues are impacting our community and our most vulnerable citizens. Mental health, overdoses, homelessness and poverty are at the top the list.

United Way Greater Victoria and the Victoria Labour Council formed a partnership more than 30 years ago around a common vision of a prosperous inclusive, diverse and respectful community. Part of that vision is ensuring that workers and their families have access to social services in their community. Both organizations are aligned in their goal of creating an even playing field, with the opportunity for all to reach their full potential.

Last year, United Way invested $3.68 million throughout Greater Victoria supporting over 109 programs delivered by 86 social service agencies.

Many funded community partners are also unionized, for example Beacon

Community Services and the InterCultural Association of Greater Victoria.

“The labour movement has always been about helping workers making stronger communities and lifting everyone up,” said Kirk Mercer, President CUPE Local 951 and labour representative on United Way’s Board of Directors.

“Our common vision means a better life for everyone in our communities,” said Holly Page, labour coordinator, United Way Greater Victoria. “We are working together to address the underlying causes of social problems, and build capacity for everyone to have a better life.”

So this Labour Day, let’s celebrate how working together can make positive change. Labour Day celebrations take place at the B.C. legislature from 11 am to 2 pm on Monday, Sept. 2. Festivities include live music, food, and kids events for everyone to enjoy. Stop by United Way’s booth to learn more about our #UNIGNORABLE campaign and ways to get involved. uwgv.ca

“CREATE A CULTURE WHERE

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QUE QUESTIONS.” #WhatIKnowNow worksafebc.com/WhatIKnowNow wo

0011731031 UNITED WAY OF GREATER UNITED AROUND UNIGNORABLE ISSUES VICTORIA United Way Greater Victoria and the Victoria Day Labour Council Labour formed a partnership more than 30 years ago. We are united in tackling 5 xissues 140 #UNIGNORABLE social that are holding some community members back from reaching their full CMYK, , potential.

Photo: Kirk Mercer, President CUPE Local 951, Regional Vice-President, Vancouver Island, CUPE BC, and labour representative on United Way’s Board of Directors and Holly Page, Labour Coordinator, United Way Greater Victoria

A significant amount of funds raised for United Way come from unionized workplaces.

Thank you!

You can join the cause. Give at uwgv.ca/donate.

MELANIE LUCIA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CATERING AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS BC FERRIES

uwgv.ca

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019

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Labour Day is more than a holiday.

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abour Day is a day that we reflect on the sacrifices that the men and women of this beautiful country have made.

These men and women helped

identify the working class through their solidarity for the labour movement.

The Construction & Specialized Workers’ Union, Local 1611, wishes

you a safe and happy Labour Day. From Nav Malhotra, Business Manager and Secretary-treasurer, and the entire executive board. cswu1611.org

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WHAT WE DESIRE FOR OURSELVES,

...WE WISH 0011730021 FOR ALL. VICTORIA-VANCOUVER ISLAND Labour Day 2019 10 x 152 CMYK, ,

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(J.S. WOODSWORTH)

Labour Day is Celebrated as a National Holiday on Monday September 2.

At this time we pay tribute, as organized labour has for more than 100 years, to the efforts and sacrifices of those who came before us to make this a better world.

VICTORIA VANCOUVER ISLAND NEWSPAPER GUILD Representing members at the Victoria Times Colonist

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019

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The Professional Workplace has Changed

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rofessional employees have faced unique problems during the restructuring of work over the last decade.

Many professional positions have disappeared either through lay-off or attrition as management ranks have been flattened. Those professionals who remain in the workplace have seen their workloads skyrocket.

They’re not only doing the work of departed colleagues in addition to their own work, but the demand for professional services is also increasing as the economy becomes more information-based and large corporations and institutions encourage their departments to become more “entrepreneurial.”

Meanwhile, new professionals entering the workforce can’t find secure employment. Term contracts are the order of the day with employers unwilling to make

long-term commitments to employees, even though it’s not uncommon for contracts to be renewed for ten or more consecutive years. Professional employees not only find themselves in more demanding positions, but also face increasing pressure to keep themselves current and valued.

Despite the trends, many professional employees still believe that individual or collegial relations with the employer are most appropriate to professional values.

Those values include personal responsibility for work and assignments, independence of action and judgment, and an abiding commitment to a professional code and duties.

Unionism is dismissed as a mode of relations that emphasizes collective action rather than individual responsibility, replaces independent judgment with executive or mass

decision making, and sacrifices professional responsibility to the picket line.

With the Professional Employees Association (PEA) representing groups of accredited professionals, this is simply not true anymore.

Unions Complement Professional Values A union can address problems and enhance professional values in the workplace. The core principles of unionism are consistent with professionalism. Both movements can trace part of their histories to the guild movements, where workers with particular sets of skills in common, joined together both to protect their control over those skills and to protect their economic position.

Many professional codes, for instance, indicate that members have a duty to see that they are adequately compensated for their work.

Professional values reflect an

industrial era when the norm was for professionals to be self-employed or associated with firms who contracted with larger companies or institutions.

As professions have become more established and corporations and institutions have become increasingly dependent on the intellectual capabilities of professionals, professionals have increasingly moved from contractual to employment relationships.

While many employers did respect professional skills and values, competitive pressures to reduce cost, increase flexibility, and maximize profits have left little room for that respect to be demonstrated in employment relations.

As a result, professional positions in many workplaces do not allow for the same self-direction, control and independence of judgment that were once the hallmarks of professionalism. pea.org

JOIN A UNION THAT UNDERSTANDS THE NEEDS OF PROFESSIONALS

0011729059 PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIA LABOUR DAY FEATURE 5 x 70 CMYK, , 0011728197 CONSTRUCTION & SPECIALIZED WOR 2019 LABOUR DAY 5 x 140

CMYK, ,

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Dignity and Justice A Voice in the Work Place These are the principles on which organized labour was founded.

No single union has ever achieved these goals with more success and consistency than the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

0011731326 TEAMSTERS LOCAL UNION 31 Best wishes this Labour Day from the membership and officers of Labour Day TEAMSTERS LOCAL 31 5 xaffi70 liated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamsters Canada, CMYK, , and the Canadian Labour Congress #1 Grosvenor Square, Delta, Be V3M 5S1 Stan Hennessy, President Richard Van Grot, Secretary-Treasurer

For Organizing Assistance Tel: 604-527-2722 Fax: 604-540-6073 Email: bhennessy@teamsters31.ca

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BC REGIONAL CARPENTERS UNION

Skilled and Productive Workers

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he BC Regional Council of Carpenters (BCRCC) is comprised of highly skilled men and women employed in the building trades industry in British Columbia, including carpenters, scaffolders and floorlayers. They strive to obtain the best wages and benefits for those they represent. To do this, the need to be the best skilled and most productive workers in the industry, and accomplish this through their carpentry apprenticeship and journeyperson training programs held at the International Training Center in Las Vegas.

The Carpenters’ Union is committed to providing the skills and qualifications required by the building trades industry. They don’t just talk about it. They are getting the

job done at their 40,000-square-foot training centre on Annacis Island in the Lower Mainland.

As the industry changes, the BCRCC changes with it, keeping abreast of the latest technological advancements and providing the carpentry, scaffold and floorcovering with training required to ensure the signatory contractors have access to the most productive workers in the industry.

Get an Apprenticeship The United Brotherhood is always looking for new members who are motivated and willing to make a solid commitment in their chosen craft.

Learning a trade through an apprenticeship – through knowledge passed down from journeypeople and through annual technical

As we celebrate Labour Day on September 2nd, please take time to reflect upon those who came before us. Their sacrifices and efforts shall never be forgotten.

HAPPY LABOUR DAY TO ALL

0011728918 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD 2019 LABOUR DAY 5 x 70 CMYK, , FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD TRADES & LABOUR COUNCIL (WEST) Proudly maintaining the Pacific Naval Fleet since 1967

training – is how a new worker learns the skills of a craft. Apprenticeship is a proven method of obtaining a high level of skill.

Attaining the highest level of skills allows members of the Carpenters’ Union to be the most productive and best paid workers in our industries.

New members who did not enjoy the opportunity to obtain their skills through formal apprenticeship can take advantage of upgrading courses offered by the Union. Courses may range from specialty subjects to courses that prepare members to challenge the Inter-provincial Certification

To Build a Better Future Organizing is an essential function of the union. It is through organizing a majority of the carpenters in a

Proudly Celebrating

Labour Day!

0011726608 ADVERTISING DEAD HEAD 2019 MLA LABOUR DAY Hon. John Horgan Hon. Carole James 5 x 140 PREMIER DEPUTY PREMIER MLA,,VICTORIA MLA, LANGFORD CMYK, BEACON HILL JUAN DE FUCA 250-391-2801

0011729920 BRITISH COLUMBIA REGIONAL COUN Labour Day 5 x 70 CMYK, ,

town, city, or region that the union can achieve its mission to raise the standard of wages and working conditions.

To accomplish these goals, it is necessary for every member to work for the standards negotiated and to convince non-members to join the Union.

There is a direct correlation between wages and union market share. In recent years, the United Brotherhood has renewed its’ commitment to organize. The Brotherhood now employs more organizers than all the other building trades unions combined. However, the greatest success will be realized when every member is actively involved in organizing to make every employer a union contractor. bcrcc.ca

Mitzi Dean

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Hon. Lana Popham Hon. Rob Fleming

MLA, ESQUIMALT METCHOSIN

MLA, SAANICH SOUTH

MLA, VICTORIA SWAN LAKE

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019

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Join the Victoria Labour Council for the 2019

Monday SEPT. 2ND 11am - 2pm

•Kid’s Games • Clowns • FUN for the whole family!

Come out and join us in solidarity to celebrate

Everyone Welcome!

Labour Day!

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Bring along a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music on the lawn of the BC Legislature