Over the past four years the Campbell

Liberals have ripped up our

contracts, imposed wage

rollbacks, fired

8000 health care workers,

closed hospitals, cut long-term care beds,

and put health

care at risk.

S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 • V O L U M E 2 3 N U M B E R 1 • T H E V O I C E O F T H E H O S P I T A L E M P L O Y E E S ’ U N I O N

An exclusive interview with NDP leader Carole James PAGE 8

G U A R D I A NG U A R D I A N

Assessing the damage The Liberal record PAGE 11

WHY THE LABOUR VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE PAGE 1WHAT HEU MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ELECTION PAGE 7

On May 17th Make your vote count!

AGREEMENT NUMBER 4007486 RETURN TOThe Guardian5000 North Fraser WayBurnaby, B.C.V5J 5M3

F I R ST PAG E R E P O RT

S P R I N G 2005

G U A R D I A NG U A R D I A N

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 1

Labour’s voice & vote mattersy the time this Guardianissue reaches readers,electioneering will be ata fevered pitch.And if past practice is anyindication, the Camp-bell Liberals will continueto use the “big labour”label to discount the

views of half a million BC union members.But that line is not resonating with the

public, according to a Stratcom poll con-ducted for HEU and other public sectorunions earlier this year.

It showed that 64 per cent of BritishColumbians believe that unions shouldspeak out during elections about the issuesfacing voters.

And more than 77 per cent of BritishColumbians believe that because of itsexpertise, HEU should be speaking out inthis election about how health care is fund-ed and delivered.

The January poll of 501 adult BritishColumbians is accurate to within 4.3 percent, 19 times out of 20.

BC Federation of Labour president Jim

Sinclair isn’t surprised.“It was the work of union members, over

many decades, that created the eight-hourday, public pension plans, safer work-places and even ensured our right to vote,”he says.

“Union members have actively engaged inpolitics for as long as there has been alabour movement in BC. We understandthat a better province isn’t just about work-places and pay cheques. It’s also about ser-vices and standards thatimprove the lives of our fami-lies and communities.

“This government has shownit isn’t interested in our con-cerns so more than ever before,we need to turn up the vol-ume.”

HEU members have taken that messageto heart and local activists around theprovince have been participating in the BCFederation of Labour’s “Count Me In” cam-paign and other activities designed to raisehealth care issues in the community andmobilizing the labour vote for May 17 (seepage 7).

And there’s no question that the labourvote makes a big difference.

In the two closest election races in the2001 election – both of them in Victoria –there were about 20 times more HEU mem-bers in these ridings than the number ofvotes by which the Liberals were elected.

And in the next six tightest Liberal wins,the number of HEU members living the rid-ing represented between 34 and 72 percent of the margin of victory.

If the polls are any indication, there willbe many close races on May 17. And astrong turnout of HEU members and otherunion households could make the differ-ence between a balanced approach to gov-ernment – or another four years of cuts, clo-sures and privatization.

HEU welcomesJudy Darcy

On March 21, Judy Darcy walked through thedoors of the Provincial Office and into her new roleas HEU’s secretary-business manager.

Darcy says that she’s looking forward to workingwith a “courageous membership and a talentedstaff” at this critical juncture in the union’s history.

“In the face of relentless attacks on their rightsand on the services they provide, HEU membershave led the fight to defend public health care andadvocate for their patients, residents and clients,”says Darcy.

“I’m thrilled to be part of such a proud traditionof social unionism and to have the opportunity towork with committed women and men who’ve con-sistently stood up for health care and decent jobs intheir communities.”

Darcy – who led the Canadian Union of PublicEmployees as both its national president andnational secretary-treasurer for 14 years – is a recog-nized and respected champion of workers’ rightsand public services

In February, when the Provincial Executiveannounced the appointment, HEU president FredMuzin noted that Darcy is “a progressive anddynamic leader whose commitment to social justiceand experience at the helm of Canada’s largest unionis a perfect fit for HEU.”

At that time, financial secretary Mary LaPlantesaid, “We’re very excited that she’s agreed to put herformidable skills to work for our members.”

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS for HEU’s new secretary-business manager, Judy Darcy, was to meetwith members of the provincial Task Force to begin reviewing the union’s structure. The Task Force wasmandated by last October’s biennial convention and will bring recommendations forward to the nextconvention in 2006. See page 4.

BMore than 77% of BritishColumbians believe that HEU should bespeaking out in this election about how healthcare is funded and delivered.

C O M M E N T

voice.mailIntroducing BCANDSMy traditional name isLugaganowals. I belong to theGitxsan Nation along theSkeena River in Northern BCunder the House of Gwiniwtxwand I am a member of the WolfClan.

I am presently the chairper-son of HEU’s First NationsStanding Committee. I am alicensed practical nurse butam currently on long-term dis-ability.

Last October I was electedas a director and secretary tothe Board of the BC AboriginalNetworking Disability Society(BCANDS), which promotesthe betterment of Aboriginalpersons with disabilitiesthrough playing a responsiverole and advocating for thecreation of an environment inBC where Aboriginal peoplewith disabilities are treatedwith respect, dignity and asequals.

We have a responsibility to

be involved in educating com-munities about people withdisabilities, to maintain aresource centre, to developprevention programs and tosupport people to get themost out of life while livingwith a disability.

BCANDS has increased itsmembership this year by 1,700members, bringing the totalmembership to 4,500. StatsCanada reports that 30 percent of Aboriginal people haveone form of disability oranother, which is twice as highas the national rate and thatthe 15 to 34 age group rate isthree times the national aver-age.

We are working to establishrelationships with as manyFirst Nations and non-FirstNations organizations as pos-sible and to ensure there isaccountability back to peoplewith disabilities when fundsare being spent on theirissues. We are creating aprocess in which Aboriginalpeople with disabilities makedecisions about their ownissues and we advocate for an

environment in which ourpeople with disabilities

are employed on anequal basis. Presently,the BC First NationsSummit has enteredinto a protocol agree-ment with BCANDS.

General members are a)Aboriginal persons with adisability over the

age of 16, or b) guardians orparents of Aboriginal personswith a disability, or c) peoplewho work with disabled abo-riginal people. Associate mem-bers are any persons or orga-nizations subscribing to thepurpose of BCANDS whoapply for membership.Membership benefits includethe newsletter Voices andVisions. Currently there are nomembership or newsletterfees, but donations are grate-fully accepted.

For more information youcan go to our website atwww.bcands.bc.ca, write me atlugaganowals25@hotmail.comor contact our CEO, RobertHarry at Robert@bcands.bc.ca

TRUDY SPILLER

Time to promoterenewable energy I was very pleased that theGuardian covered Uruguay’slandmark declaration of wateras a human right and that HEUhas urged members to sup-port such a declaration forCanada. This is trade unionismat its best.

I am disappointed, though,that members are not alsobeing asked to support thetransition to renewable energysources, such as wind energy.I can find nothing on the web-site about sustainable energyand, correct me if I am wrong,but there hasn’t been anyrecent coverage of this subjectin the Guardian either.

The BC Liberals are ignoringthe health risks associatedwith coal and gas-fired plants.As we are a union of healthcare workers, I believe it isincumbent upon HEU to takethis next step in our ongoingcommitment to help protectthe health of all BritishColumbians.

In addition, I hope that HEUwill consider becoming amember of KyotoSmart – seewww.kyotosmart.net/main.htm– which has the support ofthe Canadian LabourCongress. I would also like tosee HEU follow the example ofthe CEP (Communication,Energy and PaperworkersUnion) and endorse the objec-tives outlined in that union’srecent letter to the PrimeMinister. (See campaigns,Kyoto, on their website atwww.cep.ca).

Thank you.FREYA KEDDIE

Medical TranscriptionistRoyal Jubilee Hospital

Union must workwith its membersWe’re wondering at thismoment, what the union isdoing for us, the workingmembers of HEU. Often wefeel alone and without protec-tion and we don’t want ourunion to abandon us in orderto satisfy bureaucraticappetite.

Confronted with the arro-gant attitude and intimidating

tactics of our bosses, we askourselves what the union cando in light of these abuses ofpower by our supervisors whoeveryday demand more fromus. For our bosses, we areonly working for mass produc-tion and we must struggle dayby day with the threat thatthey could fire us at anymoment.

We think that the union isthe key to the struggle of theworkers in attaining fair wagesand better working conditions.We also agree that the uniongather the most noble aspira-tions and dreams of thosewho long to build a morehumane society, with betterworking environments, free ofabusive exploitation.

We think the union shouldwork more closely with itsworkers which is absolutelynecessary to unite us in ourcommon goals and aspira-tions. The union officialsshould spend more time edu-cating members about theirrights, and be present whereproblems arrive at the laboursite. Is it not the primary pur-pose of the union to teach theworkers to unite and struggletowards a common goal, andin so doing raise the con-sciousness of the workers toachieve a better future?

LUCIANO SANCHEZCovell Garden

Forging leadershipacross the union

I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here at the HEU.And how proud I am to represent a membership that contin-

ues to do so much for so many – patients, residents, clientsand workers throughout the province.

members’ rights. And it’s shown by new members who foughtto join HEU and who are now bargaining first contracts withSodexho and Aramark.

Leadership comes in many forms. Our task now is to buildon the leadership that’s there – at every level – to ensure gen-uine renewal and victories yet to come.

My most immediate task will be visiting members in theregions to talk union and talk election. They are closely tiedtogether. Through our political action work in the election peri-od, we are creating networks of members, activists and alliesin communities across BC – networks that will continue tostand long after the ballots are cast.

Whatever the outcome on May 17, our political action worknow will help rebuild the strength of members on the groundand equip our membership to take on whatever future chal-lenges come our way.

Our upcoming occupation-based conferences, summer school,wage policy conference and structural review will provide impor-tant internal places for members to come forward with theirideas, prepare for bargaining, and reshape their union.

Through open discussion and a willingness to move forwardtogether, HEU will be well prepared for future negotiations andto do what this union does best – defend the rights of its mem-bers and quality, accessible health care for all BritishColumbians.

In the face of a government that’s wreaked havoc on all British Columbians, it is the membersof this union who have drawn a line and continue to expose Gordon Campbell’s reckless agendafor all to see.

As I take on the position of your secretary-busi-ness manager, I’m inspired by your courage andyour determination to do the best job possible,often under impossible circumstances.I am honoured to wear the mantle of leadershipthat comes with the job. But I also know I am aleader among many, many leaders. HEU mem-bers show their leadership every day. Whether

it’s through the respectful way they deliver care, or how they confront the problems that surfacein our hospitals, care facilities and social service agencies.

It’s expressed by member actions on the job and in the community. It’s there in every meetingof your provincial executive. It’s demonstrated whenever a grievance goes forward to protect

I am inspired by your courage

and your determination to do the

best job possible, often under

impossible circumstances.

JUDY DARCY

newsUnion courses help laid off members find work • 5

HEU members hold Liberal government to account • 7

Ontario health care workers fight privatization moves • 10

Joy MacPhail survives four years in the “lions’ den” • 12

Unique job supports LPNs moving to ‘full scope practice’ • 13

New study condemnsseniors’ care crisis

C’s Liberal government not only failed in its promiseto create 5,000 long-term care beds, but a new reportshows its funding cuts have resulted in fewer servicesfor higher costs.

And it accuses the government ofcausing “undue suffering for some ofthe most frail and vulnerable mem-bers of our society, their families andcommunities.”

Continuing Care Renewal or Re-treat?, a study by the Canadian Centrefor Policy Alternatives,says British Colum-bians now have lessaccess to acute care,long-term care andhome health services –all of which are costingtaxpayers and seniorsmore money.

And with the ex-ception of New Bruns-wick, it says BritishColumbia now has the lowest numberof long-term care beds in Canada forseniors 75 years and over.

The Campbell Liberals claim theyhave created 171 new long-term carebeds, but the study shows BC has losta total of 2,529 beds in the last fouryears.

“The provincial government is

throwing around a bunch of numbersabout beds, but has yet to provide anydetailed accounting of what facilitieshave actually closed or opened,” saysone of the report’s authors MarcyCohen.

“As far as we can tell, they arecounting replacementand refurbished beds asnew beds, as well asseniors’ housing wherecare is not provided,”she says. “It’s astoundingthat the government iscutting funding andreducing beds while thepopulation is gettingolder and relying onthese services.”

While the BC Liberals boast aboutimproved home health services forseniors and decreased wait times forcare beds, the report uses governmentstatistics to show that the Liberalshave offloaded financial responsibilityto individuals and their families.

Since 2001, government has shutdown long-term care facilities across

the province, leaving seniors vulnera-ble – particularly those living in ruralareas, with less access and feweroptions to health care services.

Many are concerned, and somehealth authorities have admitted, thatthe supply and demand crisis in long-term care has burdened overflowingemergency units, doctors’ offices andthe more expensive acute care units.

A recent Capital Regional Districtstaff report confirms that “the short-age of residential care is one of thereasons preventing effective use ofhospitals by acute patients” and thatthe shortage also “contributed to con-gestion in emergency departmentswith patients waiting to be admitted.”

In the Capital Regional District

alone the cuts to long-term care haveled to increased costs of $2-$4 millionper year to house seniors in acute care.

But pressure on emergency wardsand acute care hospital beds is onlypart of the problem. The CCPA reportpoints out that a surge of privatelyowned residential care and assistedliving facilities, to fill the void left bythe public health system, is forcingclients and their families to pay anestimated $49,000 to $67,000 a yearfor services.

“These rates are staggering, even formiddle-income earners,” says Cohenwho is also an HEU research and poli-cy planner. “Many seniors are withoutcare until they end up in an emergencyroom, in a crisis.”

Cohen says this didn’t need to hap-pen. “With proper planning andinvolvement of seniors, health ser-vices could have been significantlyimproved without a huge cost to thesystem. Now it’s going to cost a lot torebuild.”

The CCPA report is calling for anexternal review to develop the plan-ning required to rebuild a non-profitcare infrastructure that can take thepressure off the acute care system andmeet the population’s real needs.

“There’s been a serious downwardspiral under this government,” saysCohen. “The end result is that it’s cost-ing everybody more money for lessservice, and it has undermined confi-dence in the public health system.”

B R E N DA W H ITE HALL

Not for profit facilities provide best careWhen it comes to direct resident care, not-for-profitlong-term care facilities outperform their for-profitcounterparts, according to a recent study. Theresults are published in an article entitled, Staffinglevels in not-for-profit long-term care facilities:Does type of ownership matter?, in the March edi-tion of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

“We found that the number of hours per resident-day provided by direct-care staff and support staffwas significantly higher in the not-for-profit facilitiesthan the for-profit facilities,” states the article.

The study examined 167 long-term care facilities in2001. Of these, 109, or 65 per cent, were non-profit.The rest were owned either singly or as part of a

chain. All receive global funding from the province. “There was no regulation by government or the

regional health authorities as to how individual facili-ties allocated funding between staffing, administra-tion or property costs,” states the article.

Facilities were divided into intermediate care,intermediate and extended care, and multilevelcare. In almost every category, not-for-profit facili-ties out-performed their for-profit counterparts inhours devoted to residents’ care.

The research was led by Dr. Margaret McGregorof the Department of Family Practice at theUniversity of BC and included HEU’s Marcy Cohen,along with seven others.

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 3

With the exception

of New Brunswick,

BC now has the

lowest availability

of long-term care

beds in Canada.

B0%

-2%-4%-6%-8%

-10%-12%-14%-16%-18%-20%

Home Support Hours

Acute Care Beds

Home Nursing Visits

RC &AL Beds

-13%

-8%

-14%

-19%

REDUCTIONS IN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES SINCE 2001

From CCPA’s “Continuing Care Renewal or Retreat?”

▼

<<newsbites>>

4 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

Changing timesIn honour of InternationalWomen’s Day and to markhow much times havechanged, Coffee Breakreprints some excerpts from a 1955 issue ofHousekeeping Monthly:

The following are tips from TheGood Wife’s Guide, intended tohelp women prepare for their husbands arrival home at the endof the day.

“Have dinner ready … prepareyourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when hearrives. Touch up your makeup, puta ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking.”

•

“Clear away the clutter. Make onelast trip through the main part of the house just before yourhusband arrives.”

•

“Prepare the children. Take a fewminutes to wash the children’shands and faces, comb their hairand, if necessary, change theirclothes.”

•

“Be a little gay and a little moreinteresting for him. His boring daymay need a lift.”

•

“Don’t complain if he’s late homefor dinner or even if he stays out allnight. Count this as minor com-pared to what he might have gonethrough that day.”

•

“Arrange his pillow and offer totake off his shoes. Speak in a low,soothing and pleasant voice.”

•

“Let him talk first – remember, histopics of conversation are moreimportant than yours.”

•

“Make the evening his … try tounderstand his world of strain andpressure and his very real need tobe at home and relax.”

AIDS group seeks regularmonitoring at St. Paul’sThe BC Persons With AIDS Societywants the head of Providence HealthCare to clarify the state of cleanlinessand hygiene at Vancouver’s St. Paul’sHospital. The Society says it is con-cerned that several of its members andother HIV-positive patients mighthave “suffered” because of poorhygiene services, which have been pri-vatized.

In a February 9 letter to Providencepresident CEO Carl Roy, Society chairPaul Lewand cites “published andother personal reports” that cleaningis substandard because of the con-

tracting out of the service to a privatebusiness “which pays its staff at ornear the minimum wage.”

Lewand asks for a report on the hospital’s cleanliness, regularmonitoring of the effectiveness ofthe cleaning staff, and whether there will be “a financial accounting of the true impact of the contractingout.”

Keep Five AliveThe Gulf Island’s Keep Five AliveCoalition yesterday sent a group of itsmembers to the BC Legislature(February 17) to deliver a 1,000 namepetition to the provincial government.

The group wants the province to dosomething to stop the erosion of pub-lic schools on the islands andthroughout the province.

Since September 2004 the GulfIslands have been subjected to a four-day school week because of a lack offunds due to provincial governmentunderfunding.

COFFEE BREAK

It’s a two-year, top-to-bottom reviewof how the union operates. And mem-bers of the Task Force to ReviewHEU’s Structure are determined tohear from as many members as possi-ble before finalizing its recommenda-tions for the 2006 convention.

The Task Force – composed of bothProvincial Executive members andactivists selected from the generalmembership – spent its first meetingsetting goals and hammering out anaction plan for the next 18 months.

As a first step, Task Force memberswill produce a discussion guide thatwill be widely circulated to the mem-bership and form the basis for a broadconsultation including polls, focusgroups, member meetings and ques-tionnaires.

That exercise will result in an“options” document – that will be the

core of a second round of consulta-tion with union members. The TaskForce and the provincial executive willthen make recommendations to the25th Biennial Convention in 2006.

“Engaging HEU members in a dia-logue about the future of their unionis the only way to strengthen theunion,” says HEU secretary-businessmanager Judy Darcy.

“Members have been very clear – wemust change the way our union oper-ates. Our challenge over the next 18months is to determine what works,what doesn’t and what changes willresult in a more democratic unionthat supports our members’ needs.

“We have to give members confi-dence that this exercise will result inreal change. The Task Force is workinghard to ensure the process is respect-ful and transparent,” adds Darcy.

STV or not STV? That’s the questiont least that will be thequestion when voters goto the polls May 17 toelect a new provincialgovernment. Hanging

in the balance is a radically differentway to elect MLAs in British Co-lumbia.

Voters will face this question:“Should British Columbia change tothe BC-STV electoral system as rec-ommended by the Citizens’ Assemblyon Electoral Reform?” If adopted, thesystem will apply to future elections.

Recommended by the 160-memberCitizens Assembly, which was man-dated by the Campbell Liberal gov-ernment, the STV (Single Trans-ferable Vote) has been heralded aseither more democratic than our cur-rent system, or less democratic,depending on individual points ofview.

Its promoters say there will be fewer“wasted” votes than under the current“first past the post” system. And BC-

STV will allow candidates from small-er parties to be elected, breaking upthe domination of large political par-ties.

Critics of BC-STV counter that thesystem fails to deliver on its promiseof more representative democracy.And, they charge, theformula used to deter-mine winners is socomplicated the aver-age voter can’t follow orunderstand it – andthat’s undemocratic.

So how does it work?BC-STV will createlarger ridings that arerepresented by betweentwo and seven members. Under thatsystem, voters rank their choices byplacing a “1” beside a person’s firstchoice, a “2” for their second choice, a“3” for their third choice, and so on.

The ballot count involves a mathe-matical process that must be calculat-ed by a computer. That process firstdetermines the minimum number of

votes a candidate needs to be elected.The candidate who receives morethan the required number of votes iselected on the first ballot count.

Then the winner’s “surplus” ballots– those that exceed the required num-ber – are “transferred” to the remain-

ing candidates throughanother mathematicalprocess that determinessomething called “trans-fer value.”

As election day app-roaches, the pros andcons of BC-STV aregetting more airtime.And several websitesdevoted to either pro-

moting the new system, or challeng-ing it, are springing up.

The Hospital Employees’ Union hasnot taken an official position on theSTV, but is encouraging members totake a close look at the information,consider the various pros and consthat are emerging, and on May 17 castan informed vote.

As election day

approaches the

pros and cons of

BCSTV are getting

more airtime.

Task Force hits the ground runningThe Task Force has confirmed that

its work must recognize the occupa-tional and sectoral diversity in themembership while increasing the col-lective strength of an industrial unionbuilt on social justice principles.

The Task Force members are: firstvice-president Sheila Rowswell, fourthvice-president Doris Gripich, trusteeHarold Burns, Carolyn Unsworth(Queen’s Park), Janice Varga (Juan deFuca), Cathy Hamilton (Kamloops-Thompson),Vicki Poburn (Cranbrook)and Joanne Foote (Fraser Crossing).

Darcy, president Fred Muzin andfinancial secretary Mary LaPlante areex-officio members of the Task Force.

You can reach the Task Force c/o theProvincial Office or by e-mail at task-force@heu.org. Check your local bul-letin board and the union website forupdates.

A

The “in residence” school pro-

gram, held at the University of

British Columbia, offers two parallel

tracks.

The first is an introduction to lead-

ership, union activism and shop stew-

ard training. Offered to members who

are committed to becoming shop

stewards at their workplace for a mini-

mum of 18 months, this track focuses

on union rights, HEU’s culture of

activism, skill development and foster-

ing confidence.

Track 2 is geared toward experi-

enced shop stewards and activists.

This track will focus on building the

democratic leadership and commit-

ment to social justice unionism

needed to sustain an activist culture

in the workplace.

Applications must be received by

Friday, May 6, 2005 at 5 pm at the

HEU Provincial Office. Members can

also apply online at www.heu.org by

the same deadline. Childcare is pro-

vided. For more information, contact

Catherine Jeffrey at 604-438-5000 or

1(800) 663-5813.

Fraser Health Authority fires CEO Bob SmithThe Hospital Employees’ Unioncharges that pre-election panic by theCampbell Liberals led to Fraser HealthAuthority CEO Bob Smith’s firing inFebruary.

“They need to take responsibility forthe cuts, closures and privatizationthat have compromised care at hospi-tals like Surrey Memorial,” says HEU’sthen acting secretary-business manag-er Zorica Bosancic.

Bosancic noted that Mr. Smith –who was hired by the FHA in June2002 – implemented the CampbellLiberals’ policies, closing hospitals,

cutting long-term care beds and firingmore than 1,000 workers, causing anoticeable decline in health care.

Smith stands to receive a hefty severance package of up to $323,000,compared to the approximately $8,400in severance to fired hospital cleanerswith 25 years of service.

Human rights decisionboosts whistle blower protectionWorkers who try to blow the whistleon bad working conditions have beengiven a boost by a recent interpreta-tion of the BC Human Rights Code.

The February 9 decision concerns

complaints stemming from the case ofBurnaby Firefighter Boni Prokopetz,who filed a Human Rights complaintlast year about alleged harassment andintimidation on the job.

A Human Rights Tribunal hasallowed fellow firefighters PerryTalkkari and Garry Wilson to proceedwith their harassment complaintsagainst the municipality, other fire-fighters, the Burnaby Firefighters’Association, and two superiors. Theyhad supported Prokopetz’s complaintand because of this were themselvesvictims of harassment, they claimed.

Section 43 of the Code was writtento protect workers against harassment

arising from a previous Human Rightscomplaint. In its broad interpretationof the section, the tribunal allowedTalkkari’s and Wilson’s complaintseven though their alleged harassmentdid not arise from complaints theyhad filed, but from their support ofProkopetz’s complaint. “The purposeof s. 43 is to ensure that persons whoraise human rights complaints, andthose who assist them, are not retaliat-ed against as a result,” wrote tribunalmember, Lindsay M. Lyster.

“This is huge,” stated Prokopetz in aVancouver Sun article. “It really wasn’tclear before for individuals who didcome forward to help a colleague or to

After a four-year fight back against

the Campbell Liberals’ attack on

health care and health care work-

ers, about 200 HEU members will

gather to reclaim some of their

power at the union’s upcoming

Summer School, July 3-8, 2005.

The week-long school Grassroots

Leadership Development – Expand-

ing our Power Base is aimed at both

experienced and new activists who

are committed to strengthening our

union and continuing HEU’s fight for

justice and fairness.

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 5

ust over a year ago, HEUmember Sarah Ismailsigned up to become oneof about 250 care aidesand LPNs who have now

received training from a union spon-sored upgrading program.

Aimed at helping laid off and othermembers increase their skills andimprove their job prospects, the year-long program offered a series of shortcourses in such areas as mental healthsupport, dementia care, psychosocialrehabilitation, palliative care, assistedliving and career development.

For program coordinator PritiShah, the most important questionwhen the courses were completed was“Did they help? Were people success-ful in getting employment?”

And the answer, she says, was a def-inite “yes.”

By doing a follow-up survey, Shahdiscovered that more than two-thirdsof all those who completed the courseshad been hired into positions thatranged from casual through to perma-nent full-time jobs.

Ismail was one of them.After being laid off from her care

aide position of 14 years at Will-ingdon Park Private Hospital, Ismailwas initially confident that she wouldfind another job. But it didn’t happen.

“After a year I still wasn’t getting anycalls,” she said. Then she heard from afriend, who’d heard from anotherfriend, about HEU’s upgrading pro-gram. “I called Priti Shah right awayand it was on the last day they wereaccepting applications.”

Ismail immediately enrolled in aMental Health Worker course, whichshe says was “very interesting, veryhelpful, but it took a lot of work. Thecourse was very heavy.”

She also says, “It changed my life. Iwould never have taken this course ifthe union hadn’t offered it.” And if she

hadn’t taken the course, she feels shewould not have found the employ-ment she’s in now.

Like several of her fellow class-mates, Ismail was hired following atwo-week practicum at DouglasCollege.

Currently, she’s working for VictoryHouse, which is operated by St. JamesCommunity Services Society inVancouver and Magnolia House inNorth Vancouver. Both are unionizedpositions with HEU.

Shah says the program, which

Occupationalconferences in the worksAs the union begins laying thegroundwork for the next round ofbargaining in 2006, HEU’s Pro-vincial Executive is busy planning aseries of occupation- and sector-based conferences.

The conferences will providemembers from particular occupa-tional groupings – such as nursing,trades and maintenance, andpatient care technical – with a placeto discuss issues related to their jobareas, and an opportunity to devel-op proposals for this October’swage policy conference.

“We need to prepare for bargain-ing in a way that’s more responsiveto our members’ changing needs incomplex health care workplaces,”says HEU secretary-business man-ager Judy Darcy. “Plus we need toaddress the looming retention andrecruitment crisis for many occu-pations that will be the result ofthis government’s mean-spiritedand arbitrary wage cuts.”

Details will be discussed at thePE’s April meeting. Informationwill be circulated to locals andposted on the website.

Union training courses help laid off members find jobs

HEU members sign up for Summer School 2005

Jreceived funding from VancouverCoastal Health Authority as part of acontinuing care initiative, covered thestudents’ tuition costs and books.

It was the final series of courses in aprogram that had begun in 1999 andhad been set up in partnership withVancouver Coastal Health to assistcare aides and LPNs with educationalupgrades. Since then, the program hasprovided training upgrades to about700 HEU members.

“In this final phase of the programwe targeted laid off care aides,” saysShah. “So many of the people whohad lost their jobs to contracting outand staffing cuts had many years ofexperience, but they needed toincrease their knowledge base, andthey needed an up-to-date certificate.”

Shah says the recent survey ofcourse participants showed thatmembers are eager to take advantageof training opportunities and thatthose opportunities play a key role inhelping them increase their jobprospects.

PAT T Y G I B S O N • H E UCOM M U N ICATION S OFF ICE R

Priti Shah (left) shares a lightermoment with a course graduate.

2 G U A R D I A N • W I N T E R 2 0 0 1

This provincial election gives HEU members a glorious opportunity to holdthe Campbell Liberals to account for their deceit, mean spiritedness and fouryears of oppression. Since 2001, we have seen our skills and abilities devaluedand the quality of our lives dramatically impacted by both government andmanagers who are drunk with the abuse of power.

Our challenge now is to counter the business community’s endless stream ofelection propaganda, crowing about our wonderful economy. Much of this cur-rent ‘boom’ ignores the cyclical ‘bust’, which is traditional in BC. It also ignoresthe injection of billions of dollars in federal transfer payments and the transito-ry escalation in resource prices.

There will be no useful additional information during the election campaignupon which to base our vote. We already have the facts.

This government has adopted policies that maximize the profits of its specialinterest friends while ignoring the other side of the ledger. Those costs – thereal damage – are reflected in child labour, a $6/hour training wage, exorbitanttuition increases, reduced pharmaceutical coverage, gutted WCB regulations

and employment standards enforcement, closedcourt houses, vandalized contracts under Bills 29and 37, the sell-off of public assets like BC Hydroand BC Rail – and much, much more.Collective amnesia is our biggest enemy. Our fami-lies and communities must not be allowed to for-get the agenda these architects of privatization

intend to complete if re-elected – the total sell out and sell off of BC. We have already seen this agenda implemented in South America. And we’ve

seen the results.The same right wing policies embraced by Gordon Campbell – tax breaks for

corporations and the rich, the privatization of income-earning ‘state’ companiesand increased user fees – led directly to economic disaster, increased povertyand deeper inequality.

But the tide is turning. Exhilarating examples of reform are sweeping SouthAmerica. In a continent that’s been under the thumb of brutal dictatorships,people have risen up and demanded democracy for all. Today, more than threequarters of the population are governed by progressive, responsive leaders –Chavez in Venezuela, Lula in Brazil, Vazquez in Uruguay and Kirchner inArgentina.

If we work hard and do not lose faith, we too can change our government andcreate an environment for justice.

As health care workers our vision of society includes compassion, caring andinclusiveness. Another world is possible – where quality public services areavailable for all, people control their economy and where we can all live withdignity.

On May 17 vote for positive change! And fight like hell.

We already have

the facts upon

which to base our

vote.

P R E S I D E N T ’ S D E S K

FRED MUZIN

help protect somebody or to give evi-dence in a human rights case. It nowgives them more protection with theemployer and amongst their col-leagues.”

On March 23, Boni Prokopetzannounced she had reached an agree-ment with the parties named in hercomplaint, which cancelled a sched-uled hearing before a Human RightsTribunal.

The agreement also covers thecomplaints of Perry Talkkari andGarry Wilson. Prokopetz said she was“very happy” with the agreement andwill continue in her job in fire pre-vention.

Court petition to stop MSP privatization turned downIn a recent ruling, BC Supreme CourtJustice Melvyn turned down a peti-tion by the BC Government andService Employees’ Union to halt theprivatization of BC’s MedicalServices Plan (MSP).

The union had argued that theproposed privatization of MSP vio-lated the Canada Health Act and BCMedicare Protection Act, and need-lessly put privacy rights at risk.

Although government has arguedthat sufficient guarantees are inplace, many British Columbians areconcerned that contracting out to

Maximus, an American-linked com-pany, will endanger their privacysince American companies are sub-ject to the USA Patriot Act and couldbe required to hand over client databases to the FBI.

At presstime, BCGEU was review-ing the decision to decide whether ornot the union would launch anappeal.

Corporate taxes continue to steadily declineWhen it comes to sharing the taxburden, you pay a lot more than bigbusiness. A recent story from theCanadian Press reports that the cor-

porate share of federal income taxhas been declining steadily sinceWorld War II.

Today, about 75 per cent of federaltax revenues come from individualsand only about 25 per cent from thebusiness sector.

The recent federal budget grantedsmall personal income tax reductionsand much deeper ones for the corpo-rate sector. The federal governmentprojects that personal income taxrevenues will rise by 30 per cent to$120 billion by fiscal 2009-10; whilecorporate taxes are expected to dropfrom $27.4 billion in 2003-04 to lessthan $27 billion by 2009-10.

6 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

Collectiveamnesia is ourbiggest enemy

Wal-Mart tactics fail to deter organizing drives

he organizing drive at Wal-Mart stores in BC and sev-eral other Canadian juris-dictions continues despiteintimidation and delaying

tactics by the Arkansas-based, anti-union retailer giant.

Workers at the Lube and TireExpress departments at seven BC Wal-Mart stores are frustrated at delays incounting ballots concerning joiningLocal 1518 of the United Food andCommercial Workers (UFCW). TheBC Labour Relations Board hasdelayed the count to hear unfairlabour practice charges relating to theorganizing drive.

The union had expected a count inlate January; it’s now slated for March29-30. Meanwhile, the unionizingdrive continues. “We’re still organiz-ing at several stores,” says Local 1518spokesperson Tom Cameron-Fawkes

In Saskatchewan, UFCW Local1400 is fighting the corporate giant inthe courts as Wal-Mart Canadaattempts to stall automatic certifica-tions at stores in North Battleford andWeyburn. The local is also attemptingto make public potentially damaging

internal Wal-Mart documents relatingto the certifications.

The Ontario Labour RelationsBoard will hear unfair labour practicecharges launched by the UFCW andWal-Mart following an unsuccessfulcertification vote in Windsor. Theunion is asking the Board to allow asecond certification vote. UFCWCanada national director Michael J.Fraser charges Wal-Mart with intimi-dating its workers into voting no. Hepoints to evidence that indicates Wal-Mart secretly funded and equipped ananti-union drive by some employees atthe Windsor store back in 1994.

“Wal-Mart Canada has been foundguilty four times of intimidatingemployees during a union campaign,twice just in the last four months inQuebec,” said Fraser. “Ten years laterthey are at it again.”

In March the UFCW filed applica-tions to represent both Tire and Lube,and store workers at a Wal-Mart out-let in Gatineau, Quebec. Other appli-cations have been filed for stores inSaint-Hyacinthe and Brossard.

The company was recently fined$500,000 for health and safety viola-tions in Ontario.

T

New rate protects pensionsBoth health employers and HEUmembers will be investing more intheir pensions now to protect hard-won retirement income and benefitsin the future.

On July 1, contribution rates for theMunicipal Pension Plan will rise bynearly one per cent for both employ-ers and for HEU members whobelong to the plan.

The increase is necessary to addressan unfunded liability which if leftunchecked would leave the plan shortof the cash needed for the pensions offuture retirees.

The shortfall results from lower

than expected returns on pensionfund investments and predictions ofmodest returns in the future.

As a result of the July 1 changes,contribution rates will rise to 6.99per cent on salary below the Year’sMaximum Pensionable Earnings –currently set at $41,000 – and to 8.49per cent for earnings above thisamount.

The increase also affects the cost ofpurchasing past service after June 30– so apply as soon as possible if youwant to do so at the old rate. Contactyour payroll department or visitwww.pensionsbc.ca for more details.

<<newsbites>>

Count me in!May 17, 2005 is almost here. But for HEU members it can’t come fast enough.

Here’s what some HEU members told the Guardianabout why they are voting on May 17:

SUSAN MACNEILLCariboo Memorial HospitalI’m voting because silence would affirm this govern-ment. If we all remain silent, it’s a clear indicationthat this government is A-OK, and it’s not.

JOHN HODGSONLions Gate HospitalBefore the 2001 election, my father had cataract eyesurgery and it was free. After the election, he hadhis other eye done and it cost him $500. I don’t likethe way this government is treating people. We haveto vote in order to make a difference.

RAVINDER BIRINGGerman Canadian Care HomeI’m voting because I think my vote will make a difference. People sometimes think that their votedoesn’t matter, but it does.

CATHY HAMILTONRoyal Inland HospitalI’m voting because I want to get rid of the BCLiberals. Look what they’ve done to the most vulner-able – women, children, seniors – and what they’vetaken from health care workers through Bills 29 and37. We need to get that back.

JOE KYNOCHBurnaby HospitalWe’ve not been heard democratically becausethere’s too much of a majority on one side. I’d like tosee more of a balanced situation in Victoria. The cur-rent government swings too far to the right and is infavour of privatization, and against the public sectorand labour unions.

We’ve been fighting all the battles – wage roll-backs, privatization – and it’s hurt. Now is the war.We have to fight back. We’ve got to get some powerback.

RITA BERGMANNFt. St. John Hospital and Health CentreI’ve always voted. It’s my right. I want to do every-thing I can to get Gordon Campbell out. If we sitback and don’t vote, we can’t make a change.

MARY JETKOMount St. Mary’sWhen the Liberals got in, we didn’t know they wouldbackstab us the way they did. Now that we’ve had ataste of what the Liberals have done, people need toconsider their options very carefully. Our local has acampaign to raise awareness, especially targetingthe youth, to go out and register to vote. It’s theonly way to make a difference.

nder the Campbell Liberals, health careworkers in every corner of theprovince have seen patient and resi-dent care in hospitals and long-termcare facilities deteriorate as this gov-

ernment pushes a privatization agenda of cuts, clo-sures and contracting out upon unsuspectingBritish Columbians.

They witnessed the displace-ment of 8,000 dedicated andexperienced co-workers – thelargest mass firing of women inCanadian history – and watchedlucrative health support servicescontracts go to huge corpora-tions that pay their employeeslow wages with few benefits, littletraining and heavy workloads.

And tens of thousands of otherhealth care workers includingcardio, renal, pharmacy and x-ray technicians, trades and main-tenance staff, licensed practicalnurses, biomedical engineers,medical transcriptionists, unitcoordinators and many more,had a legislated, 15-per-centwage rollback forced upon them.

Now HEU workers are poised to hold GordonCampbell and his MLAs to account for what they’vedone to health care and to health care workers – andthey’re taking to the phones, the airwaves, and thehighways to do it.

Armed by a resolution calling for political actionand resoundingly passed at the union’s biennial con-vention last October, HEU locals can access fundingfor a wide range of political action initiatives thatwill enable members to tell voters why things needto change in Victoria.

The goal? To elect politicians who will strengthenpublic health care, halt privatization, expand long-term care and home support services for seniors andpeople with disabilities, and value the contribution

and commitment of health care workers.And here’s how they’re doing it:• extensive member-to-member phone canvasses

across the province• cross-union and community events like March

17’s Pink Slip day• “Make your vote count” barbeques, breakfasts

and a Murder Mystery evening for members•local contests to identify electionissues from the membership, in-spire campaign slogans and designposters• all-candidates’ forums for mem-bers and the community at-large• meet and greet opportunitieswith NDP candidates• print ads in local newspapers andradio spots on local stations• billboards on BC highways andbyways from Vancouver Island to100 Mile House• leafleting the public with factsheets• HEU ‘Count Me In Days’ to signup volunteers for a variety ofpolitical action initiatives.And that’s just the beginning.HEU members are known fortheir generous gifts of volunteer

time and energy to candidates’ campaigns.With a fixed election date, people have had an

opportunity to plan their volunteer time well inadvance – and many have done just that. Lots ofHEU members, being seasoned campaigners,understand that early volunteers are the fuel thatpropels many successful politicians into office.

HEU financial secretary Mary LaPlante says thatit’s not too late for HEU locals to access funding toput local plans into action.

“There is no effort too large or too small when itcomes to making a difference in the provincial elec-tion,” says LaPlante. “The point is to get involvedand make every vote count.”

MAR G I B L AM EY • H E U COM M U N ICATION S OFF ICE R

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 7

A SIGN OF THE TIMES. Members across the province are getting the word out about government’s record inhealth care. Billboards are springing up on highways and byways from Vancouver Island to 100 Mile House.

U

PINK SLIPPED. Members inDuncan gather outside LiberalMLA Graham Bruce’s office March17 to give him his 60-day notice.

NO FOOLING AROUND. At an April Fool’s Day all-candidates meeting members from VancouverGeneral asked the tough questions.

I’m voting because …

Fool meonce.

Taking abalancedapproach

8 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

What are British Columbians telling youabout the direction of the CampbellLiberals and how would your approachdiffer?There are some pretty clear differences betweenthe Gordon Campbell Liberals’ agenda and ouragenda. The first difference is that we will actuallylisten and work with the communities. Peoplehave been ignored by their MLAs. They’ve beenignored by their health authorities. So the firststep is actually to have a government and MLAswho respect communities and work with commu-nities.

The second is health care. And again there aresome pretty clear differences between theCampbell government and ourselves – like priva-tization. We have said very clearly that privatiza-tion in health care will end. We know what direc-tion the Liberals are going.

HEU members and others have foundthat their relationship with this govern-ment has been confrontational and thatthe government won’t listen to them. In aconcrete sense, what would you do to tryand restore some of these relationships?I think HEU bore the brunt more than anyonewhen it came to this government’s approach todealing with things, which I’ve called abuse ofpower in the legislature. They basically decidedwhat they wanted the end result to be and abusedtheir power in the legislature to make it happen.

Some concrete ways that I put out there, first, isthat whether it’s on health care, education, financeor the economy, both labour and business willhave a seat at the table. We aren’t going to cut peo-ple out as you’ve seen this government do. I’vesuggested that we actually have a real progressboard that is made up of business, labour andcommunities to actually look at providing realinformation to British Columbians.

Another piece that we have talked about ishealth authorities – actually having some electedmembers from communities on health authorityboards so that they are accountable to the com-munities – not just to the government in Victoria.

What could you do concretely to startrebuilding people’s faith in collective bar-gaining as a way that employers andunions can solve problems?Well, I think the first thing is to actually have freecollective bargaining once again in BC – to actual-ly let that occur. It’s not happened under this gov-ernment.

The second step – we’ve been clear that we willwithdraw any legislation that moves to privatiza-tion, whether it’s in the health sector or other sec-tors, and allow the opportunity, again, for collec-tive bargaining to occur and to end privatizationin health care and otherwise.

And then I think the third piece is what I talkedabout earlier – labour actually having a seat at thetable when decision-making is occurring, alongwith business – so they are not shut out.

Many of our members have a high expec-tation of an NDP government — they wanttheir 15 per cent wage cut restored. Whatdo you say to those workers?Well, I think the first thing is to acknowledge howpoorly they have been treated … But I think thesecond thing – and I’ve been very upfront withHEU and other people out there – it’s very toughto turn back the clock, and sadly under this gov-ernment there is a long list of things that havebeen taken apart that took, in some cases, decadesto build. And we’re not going to be able to fix it allovernight.

But the commitment is to go back and sit down

Taking abalancedapproachNDP leader Carole James

talks about restoringpublic health care,

listening to communities,and respecting workers.

BY Mike Old HEU COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

at the table as contracts come up – that people willhave the opportunity to bargain once again. That weare not going to tear up contracts. That we will hon-our the contracts that are signed and people have anopportunity to sit down at the table and bargain.

The second piece, and again I think for HEUmembers, is to end the privatization. So we will notbe looking at contracting services out to privatecompanies. The example we have under the Liberals– a four-year record now of what that looks like –and what that looks like is poor quality service. Youknow, we’ve had concerns around cleanliness in hos-pitals, around food services, around support for ourseniors. We’ve seen what’s happened under thesecontracts – so it’s also a commitment around no fur-ther contracting out.

And then third, to put all of those contracts thatare there – the privatization contracts – under amicroscope. Put them out in the public so the pub-lic knows what was agreed to. Look at how we canhold them to account for the standards that arethere. If it’s not possible to get out of the contracts,then we better hold those companies to account forthe kinds of things that they are ignoring in thosecontracts.

I recognize that it’s not easy and that it’s challeng-ing for people who have gone through not only los-ing their jobs – many of them – but losing the sup-ports for their families. And our commitment is tostart building back those services as we are able to.

Does that mean that legislation like Bill 29that ripped up contracts and Bill 94, whichfurther enabled privatization, would berepealed?Yes, we’ve been very clear that we will repeal all ofthe legislation that permitted privatization – thatopened the door basically to those things happen-ing. The flip side of that, of course, is that it doesn’tmean putting back all of the salary of the contracts,

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 9

A DIFFERENT APPROACH

We have said very clearly that privatization inhealth care will end.

ENDING CONFRONTATION

We aren’t going to cut people out as you’ve seenthis government do.

HEALTH AUTHORITY GOVERNANCE

Having some elected members from communitieson health authority boards so they are account-able to the communities – not just to the govern-ment in Victoria.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

The first thing is to actually have free collectivebargaining once again in BC – to actually let thatoccur.

PRIVATIZATION LEGISLATION

We will withdraw any legislation that moves toprivatization, whether it’s in the health sector orother sectors.

THE 15 PER CENT WAGE ROLLBACK

Under this government there are a long list ofthings that have been taken apart that took, insome cases, decades to build. And we’re notgoing to be able to fix it all overnight.

RESPECTING CONTRACTS

We are not going to tear up contracts.

CONTRACTED-OUT SERVICES

If it’s not possible to get out of the contracts, thenwe better hold them to account for the kinds ofthings that they are ignoring in those con-tracts…our commitment is to start building backthose services as we are able to.

PUBLICLY DELIVERED DAY SURGERIES

It’s more cost effective, it’s cheaper … We wouldsay to the health authorities very clearly thatmoney is to be used in the public system, not theprivate system.

P3 PROJECTS IN HEALTH CARE

These are public facilities, I think they should bepublicly financed and publicly supported.

THE NDP PLAN FOR LONG-TERM

CARE BEDS

We have been clear that it will be done with thenot-for-profit sector.

HOW THE NDP DIFFERS FROM THE

CAMPBELL LIBERALS

New Democrats care about working people andordinary families. Gordon Campbell doesn’t….it’sabout bringing back a government that actuallycares about all British Columbians.

unfortunately, that were removed by this govern-ment. But it prevents further privatization.

You’ve said you’d end health care privatiza-tion. What can be done to start to reversethis trend?Well, I think there are a few things that can still bedone, like moving BC Ferries back as a crown cor-poration, preventing any further privatization of BCHydro.

And again I think we can take a look at all of theprivate contracts that are there, open them up to thelight of day, which they haven’t seen. The publicdoesn’t know what’s in those contracts. We don’tknow if they signed five-year, 10-year, 20-year agree-ments or what kind of clauses are in there to endthose contracts. So I think it’s important for thepublic to have some accountability and know whatthis government agreed to.

And then as I said, moving to get out of those con-tracts where you can, where the opportunities arethere. But sadly, you know, there will be some thingslike BC Rail that, I can guarantee, CN is not going tooffer it back to the taxpayers of this province for asmuch as they sold it.

What would you do to stem the prolifera-tion of contracting out day surgeries thathas happened under this government?We have said that we would utilize the dollars foraddressing waitlists in public surgeries. Take theexample of a private clinic, a clinic for cataractsurgery or orthopedic surgery. We would use unusedOR space, use hospital space that’s there within thepublic system, and designate it as a specific surgicalunit to be used for cataract or orthopedic surgery,and provide it in the public system.

It’s more cost effective. It’s cheaper. And theresearch points very clearly to the fact that it’s moreexpensive to do surgeries in a private clinic becauseyou’re paying for profit. We would say to the healthauthorities very clearly: that money is to be used inthe public system, not the private system.

Do you think P3s constitute a good deal fortaxpayers and would a Carole James gov-ernment end the practice?I think the first thing is that taxpayers don’t knowwhat these deals are. I think that’s the first fear Ihave, is that these kinds of private deals are oftendone behind closed doors and aren’t publiclyaccountable for what’s being agreed to.

These are public facilities. I think they should bepublicly financed and publicly supported.

You’ve made a commitment to provide1,000 more long-term care beds in the firstyear of an NDP government. How are yougoing to achieve that?We have been clear that it will be done with the not-for-profit sector. You could do it in a couple of ways.You could do it obviously through the not-for-prof-it sector in partnership with them. You could alsolook at some of the beds that have been closed downby the Liberals.

I think that’s one of the things that should be nosurprise to anybody in communities, that if a gov-

ernment starts closing down long-term care beds,and doesn’t build the new beds as they promised,you are going to have a crisis in long-term care.

What would a Carole James government doto bring back some stability to communitysocial services delivery?I have worked in that field for most of my life, so it’san area where I’ve seen what’s happened. I’ve seenthe chaos that’s been created by going forward withregionalization with no plan in place – no directionother than, let’s say, money. And I am a supporter ofregionalization. I don’t think that’s the wrong direc-tion to go. But in order to do that you have to have aplan in place. You have to consult with the people inthe field before you move in that direction – and youdon’t do it as a cost-saving measure.

Most HEU members are women, and alongwith the rest of BC women they have seena lot of their rights backslide under thisgovernment. What can you do to startrestoring some of those rights?Well, again, I think the best thing we can do is get ridof this government. We were a leader in BritishColumbia – first women’s equality ministry acrossthis country – and we need to put that back in placeagain.

We need to support women’s centres once again.Full funding for women’s centres – we’ve alreadymade that commitment.

We need to ensure that there is support once againfor childcare in British Columbia.

It’s an embarrassment that we are one of the onlyprovinces that doesn’t have a Human RightsCommission. That needs to be back in place again.

And who would have imagined we would be debat-ing child labour laws in a campaign in 2005? It’sappalling. Putting strict requirements in placearound child labour has got to be back in place inBritish Columbia. The six-dollar training wage isanother policy that tends to affect our youth, but italso tends to affect women who are first-time work-ers. It’s an insult to first-time workers, and to ouryouth, and it has to go.

In a nutshell, what would you tell HEUmembers about how an NDP governmentcould make a difference in their lives and inthe communities in which they live?I think the first one is New Democrats are puttingforward a very clear agenda that will work withcommunities and with the people in the communi-ties. New Democrats care about working people andordinary families. Gordon Campbell doesn’t. That’svery clear in every direction that he’s taken.

We are committed to investing in those things thatmatter to average families, like health care and edu-cation. We have already made a commitmentaround a tuition freeze – again, for post-secondary –so that it shouldn’t matter whether you have a highincome to be able to access post-secondary educa-tion or apprenticeship trades programs.

So it’s about bringing back good, balanced, com-passionate government to our province again. It’sbringing back a government that actually caresabout all British Columbians – that makes sure thatwhen the economy is doing well, everybody benefits,not just a few as we see right now under GordonCampbell. That’s the opportunity that is there forthe people of this province again with NewDemocrats.

Carole James on …We’ve been clear thatwe will withdraw anylegislation that movesto privatization.

Bush plan to privatizesocial security opposedPresident George Bush might be dead set on privatizing SocialSecurity in the US, but polls showmost American citizens are hav-ing none of it.

A USA Today/CNN/Gallup pollin late February found 56 percent of the respondents againstBush’s privatization scheme. Andthe opposition just keeps grow-ing, up by 8 points from 48 percent in early February. AnAssociated Press poll found only39 per cent support for the plan.

Some groups charge, and theWhite House acknowledges, thatprivatization may make the pro-gram lose funds. The AFL-CIOhas launched a petition campaignand demonstrators are appear-ing outside Bush’s hand-picked“town-hall” meetings.

Does NAFTA violate constitution?The Council of Canadians andthe Canadian Union of PostalWorkers have asked the OntarioSuperior Court of Justice to ruleNAFTA (North American FreeTrade Agreement) investmentrules unconstitutional.

This is the first time a court willconsider the constitutionality oftrade rules that allow foreign cor-porations to sue governments.

The court challenge began in2001 in response to a UnitedParcel Service’s NAFTA complaintthreatening postal and otherpublic services. “UPS claims thatsimply by having a public postalsystem, Canada is allowingunfair competition,” said Councilchair Maude Barlow. “We don’tintend to let foreign corporationsdestroy our public services with-out a fight.” CALM

>>notebook>>

10 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

Campbell Liberals are repeat offenders

Once again, this provincial

government hasrun afoul of

internationallabour laws.

labour NOTEWORTHY NEWS ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING

WORKING PEOPLE HERE AND ABROAD

In 2003, the UN agency found the Campbell government inviolation of the same convention on freedom of associationafter it passed Bills 27, 28 and 29 which gutted collective agree-ments in health care, education and post-secondary education.

Campbell’s response at the time betrayed a shocking con-tempt for international labour standards when he stated that hehad no intention of making the changes needed to comply withthe ILO ruling.

And it’s not the only international body with which this gov-ernment has run afoul. In 2003, the UN committee monitoringthe Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination AgainstWomen (CEDAW) singled out British Columbia for its numer-ous policies that negatively impacted women and girls.

The Campbell Liberals continue to invest heavily in BC’sinternational image in the run up to the 2010 Olympics and inan effort to boost trade with Pacific Rim economies.

Ironically, those efforts are being seriously undermined as adirect result of government policies that unfairly target womenand workers.

PAT T Y G I B S O N • H E U COM M U N ICATION S OFF ICE R

WWith an election just around the corner, the GordonCampbell government’s outlaw status in the international com-munity has been confirmed by a key United Nations’ agency.

In a March 23 response to a complaint lodged by severallabour organizations – including the BC Government andService Employees’ Union, the Health Sciences Association andthe Canadian Labour Congress – the International LabourOrganization concluded that legislation passed in 2003 violat-ed international conventions that protect workers’ rights tofreely associate and organize.

One of these laws, Bill 94, attempts to deny contract workersin health care the basic successorship rights enjoyed by workersin other sectors. Bill 94 was designed to sharpen the attack onhealth care workers first introduced via the contract-breakingprovisions contained in Bill 29.

The ILO wants the BC government to repeal or rewrite Bill94 to bring it into line with international labour standards.

The latest finding makes the Campbell Liberals repeat offenders.

Ontario health workers under attackntario’s health careworkers are on themarch to oppose theirprovincial government’splan to privatize health

care services and to prevent the attackson labour rights and wages that havetaken place in British Columbia.

Health unions and activists accusePremier Dalton McGuinty’s Liberalgovernment of betraying a pre-elec-tion pledge never to privatize healthcare. “Masked by the language of re-inventing government, coupled withmeaningless consultations, the Mc-Guinty government is actively creat-ing the privatization and bargainingenvironment faced by CUPE workersin British Columbia, Quebec andNewfoundland,” states a recent ActionPlan document from CUPE Ontario.

The McGuinty government waselected on a wave of popular opposi-tion against the devastating cutbacksand privatization efforts of the previ-ous Tory governments. But since then,it has taken several measures to retainand expand privatization measures.

One is the creation of the HospitalBusiness Services Corporation, de-signed to merge and eventually con-tract out services such as humanresources, information technology,purchasing, housekeeping, dietary andlaundry at 16 Toronto area hospitals.The move will result in major layoffs.

Last year Ontario health unionsfought hard against Bill 8, theCommitment to the Future of MedicareAct. That legislation, which threatensthe future public delivery of healthservices, was eventually passed.

Critics such as the Ontario HealthCoalition point out that, among otherthings, Bill 8 seizes local control overhealth spending decisions and trans-fers it to the provincial government.

The province is also setting upregionalized health care deliverythrough Local Health IntegrationNetworks (LHINs). The LHINs willensure health care facilities meet gov-ernment-imposed targets to reducethe costs of health care delivery, asdirected by the legislation.

“The creation of this kind of umbrel-la body will make it easier for servicessuch as administrative, dietary, house-keeping, pharmaceutical and diagnos-tic, to be consolidated, rationed andeventually privatized,” says CUPE.

The union’s position is backed bysome mainstream media reports. Arecent Toronto Star article, for exam-ple, reported that the government’s

determination to achieve $195 millionin cost savings through integrated ser-vices means privatization and legisla-tion attacking collective agreements.

Last November workers and sup-porters rallied outside the OntarioLegislature. “I promise you, we willnever let what happened in BritishColumbia happen here,” said CUPEOntario president Sid Ryan. “We maynot have the right to strike. But if youtake one step in that direction, youwill see political work stoppages rightacross the province.”

Health unions and the OntarioHealth Coalition have already seen theheavy hand of privatization throughthe rise of hospitals run as “P3s” – so-called public-private partnerships.Despite an election promise to endthis Conservative-initiated develop-ment, the Liberals have continued itby stealth.

DAN K E ETO N

Ontario workers rally against plans to privatize health care support services.

PAT DALEY, CUPE ONTARIO PHOTO

O

G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 11

Keeping women in their placeBC has the highest rate of violence againstwomen in Canada. The Campbell Lib-erals’ response? Last year they eliminatedoperational funding for the province’s 37women’s centres, which had its own logicsince they’d already axed the Ministry ofWomen’s Equality. Add to that severe cutsto education, employment standards, wel-fare, childcare, and many other supportservices, and you’ve got the Liberal philos-ophy for women’s equality.

Don’t bother me kidAfter pledging to protect children, theLiberals deep-sixed the Ministry of Chil-dren and Family Development and set outon a restructuring scheme. Of course,they’d promised to stop “endless bureau-cratic restructuring” before the election.But that promise was out the window assoon as they landed in office. And just tomake matters worse, they cut millionsupon millions of dollars from children andfamily services. Community social servicesworkers saw their successorship rightseliminated, along with government’s com-mitment to fund and implement pay equi-ty adjustments. Oh yes, their pensions werealso axed.

Off the railsIn 1996 the Gordon Campbell Liberalsadmitted they would privatize BC Rail,along with other public assets. They lostthat year’s election. So in 2001, theypledged not to sell the crown corporation.Well, that was a whopper. BC Rail went onthe auction block and last year was sold toCNR, amidst controversy and public scan-dal. The deal allows the private companyto run trains on BC Rail lines for the next999 years. And leaked CNR documentsreveal that hundreds more workers thaninitially stated by Campbell will be laidoff.

What standards?It seems that no standard is too low for theCampbell Liberals. New EmploymentStandards’ “flexibility” rules mean bossescan sidestep the 40-hour work week andthe eight-hour day. Want to complain?Investigation staff has been cut by morethan 30 per cent. But hey, you can fill outa form from an Employment StandardsSelf-Help kit and gather your own evi-dence before an investigation will be con-sidered. The kit is in English only. Liberal

amendments also allow union agreementsto deliver less than the benefits guaranteedunder Employment Standards.

All work and no play?It’s one thing for a child to have a job andanother to create a cheap labour pool byexploiting children. The Campbell Lib-erals made critical changes to theEmployment Standards Act which allowchildren as young as 12 to work a 20-hourweek, with only a note from one parent.Not only that, the rules about where achild can work have changed. Now, under-age employees can work on constructionsites or near moving equipment – despitestatistics showing most serious industrialaccidents involve inexperienced workers.

Ripe for the pluckingWithin six months of being elected,Campbell’s Liberals eliminated the envi-ronment ministry and replaced it with theministries of Sustainable Resource Man-agement, and Water, Land and Air Pro-tection which facilitate mining and log-ging in ecologically sensitive areas. Theychopped millions from environmentalprotection programs, repealed safe drink-ing water regulations, eliminated the spe-cial tax on most SUVs and large vehicles,lifted the moratorium on grizzly bearhunting, gave tax breaks to logging andmining corporations, eliminated fisheriesand forests renewal programs, and more.

School’s outThe Campbell Liberals chopped millionsfrom K-12 public education. That’s meant2,500 fewer teachers. And over the pastfour years 113 schools have been closed.

Beyond reachThe BC Liberals are standing on guard forhigher education – for the wealthy, that is.They removed the previous government’slid on tuition and watched college anduniversity fees skyrocket. They droppedthe student grant, putting post-secondaryeducation beyond the reach of many.

Piracy on the high seasWhy the secrecy surrounding BC’s coastalferry fleet? In 2003, the Liberals quietlyturned the former BC Ferry Corp into anentity called BC Ferry Services Inc., andtransferred maintenance and repairs toanother company. Many of the details areexcluded from public scrutiny. British

Columbians are rightfully nervous that BCferries are being quietly privatized. Last fallFerry Services CEO David Hahn offered BCferry routes to private operators at an inter-national conference. And contracts for theconstruction of new ferries have gone toGermany, robbing BC of half a billion dol-lars in construction costs and 2,000 jobs.

Six bucks still sucksThe Campbell Liberals floored everyone byinstituting a $6-per-hour “training” wage,requiring first-time employees to work 500hours before qualifying for the $8 mini-mum wage. The rationale? Lower mini-mum wages increase job opportunities.Not so. Youth unemployment has gone up.

Hydro unpluggedThe Liberals’ pre-election New Era docu-ment promised to protect BC Hydro, awell-run, publicly-owned company. Onceelected, they set about dismantling BCHydro by separating its various compo-nents, such as power generators and trans-mission lines. The Campbell crew also pri-vatized Hydro’s billing and accountingoperations, handing them over to US-based Accenture. Meanwhile, BC owns thetransmission lines, but future power gen-eration will be contracted to private com-panies.

Just plain meanIn a rash attempt to push people off dis-ability benefits, the Campbell Liberals sub-jected 14,000 British Columbians (who hadalready been granted disability benefits) toa reassessment process that not only costmillions, but put individuals under un-speakable stress. The result? A paltry 40were found ineligible under the Liberals’new definition of disability. And they sub-jected another 12,000 people with “persis-tent and multiple barriers to employment”to a reassessment process as well.

Make them payOnce in office Campbell’s Liberals in-creased Medical Services Plan (MSP) pre-miums by 50 per cent. They also de-listedmore drugs from Pharmacare coverage,and eliminated, or cut back on, medicalservices such as eye testing and chiroprac-tor visits. They also contracted out theprocessing of MSP records to a US corpo-ration, putting British Columbians’ confi-dential information at risk under the USPatriot Act.

THE LIBERAL RECORDWhen you’re in the Campbell Liberals’ crosshairs – as HEU members have been for thepast four years – it’s easy to forget how much other damage this government haswreaked on the province. Just for the record, here are some examples of what’s beenlost under Gordon Campbell’s cost-cutting and privatization agenda.

Deceit. Damage. Disarray.

or 14 years Joy MacPhail has been at thecentre of BC politics. Since 1991 she’sbeen a sitting MLA for VancouverHastings. She served in two successive

NDP governments as a cabinet minister severaltimes over, a government house

leader, and as deputy premier. Andfor most of the last four years, she’sbeen one of only two NDP MLAs ina government dominated by 75Liberals.

Or, as MacPhail calls it, “that denof lions we call the legislature.”

As controversial as she is coura-geous, MacPhail has her admirersand her detractors. But regardless ofwhere people fall out on her previ-ous government record, she’s wontremendous respect across theboard for her brilliance and tenaci-ty in holding Gordon Campbell’sfeet to the fire, session after legisla-tive session.

So however did she manage it?How did she face down 75 Liberals,day after day, for the better part offour years?

After acknowledging the supportshe has received from family andfriends, and especially from JennyKwan, NDP MLA for VancouverMount Pleasant, she says, “Basically,I had to draw on every ounce of my

12 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

what we’re up to

Outgoing NDP Leader of the Opposition JOY MACPHAILreflects on her last four years in public office, holdingGordon Campbell’s feet to the fire.

UNDER SIEGE IN THE LIONS’ DEN

BALANCING IT ALL PATTY GIBSON

own self confidence, built over the past 53 years, justto stay alive.

“There were just so many moments when Jennyand I were completely under siege. And thosemoments were brutal.”

As a single parent mom toher now 16-year-old son Jack,she’s also had to balance ahost of personal responsibili-ties. And on reflection, sheadmits “there were some pret-ty close calls where it all couldhave collapsed.”

Those close calls camewhen she had to be away fromJack for lengthy periods, butshe credits support from herformer spouse and “excellentco-parent” Gerry Scott forhelping her through thosetimes.

“Whenever I was in dangerof a meltdown from beingaway from Jack for too long,he always pitched in withoutquestion and without fail.”

She also credits her circleof several close, long-timefriends as key to helping herkeep it all together.

Asked about some of thehighlights and lowlights whilein Opposition, MacPhail says,

“Bill 37 stands out as a major lowlight. But ironical-ly it was one of my most cherished times as well.”

Recalling that long night last spring when she andKwan stood on their feet for hours, stalling theinevitable and berating the government for itsattack on health care workers, she says, “It was justso clear who were the good guys and who were thebad guys.

“As we walked home at seven that morning, Istopped at a picket line at a long-term care home,where several HEU members were holding the linewith some of their residents and I just burst intotears.

“It was such an irony. Here was a government thatwas attacking the very people who provide care forour most vulnerable. And these workers, who hadjust taken a 15 per cent wage cut, they were thankingme. It was an extremely humbling moment, one I’llnever forget.”

Unfortunately, MacPhail has had many opportu-nities to witness the impact of this government’smean-spirited policies on people. And in order todenounce those policies effectively, she’s had to beup to speed on a wide range of issues.

But quick-witted debate inside the lions’ den isonly one part of her job. Her duties outside the leg-islature are numerous.

She travels several times a month to support thework of her party. Serving the constituents in herriding requires numerous engagements and meet-ings. And she estimates that she does about three orfour speechs a week outside of the legislature.

As MacPhail prepares to leave public office (she isnot a candidate in the upcoming election) her pro-fessional and personal life is about to take a bigchange. She’s getting married in July to noted filmproducer James Shavick and says she’s looking for-ward to some long overdue “rest and contempla-tion.”

What’s next? MacPhail says she is taking time tomake that decision “so my next career is not basedsoley on what I’ve done in the past.”

Good luck Joy. There’s no question, you will bemissed.

>

Change course, HEUurges health ministerThe devastating effects of Bill37 and other CampbellLiberals’ health care policieswere top on the agenda whenHEU’s administrative commit-tee recently met with BC’snewly-appointed Minister ofHealth Services, ShirleyBond.

“This was an importantopportunity for the new min-ister to hear directly fromHEU’s leadership aboutwhere and why health care isoff track,” says then actingsecretary-business managerZorica Bosancic. “And wewere able to discuss in veryreal terms how wage roll-backs and contracting out arehurting patients, workers andcommunities.”

Privatization, concernsabout the Liberals’ failure todeliver on their promise tocreate 5,000 new long-termcare beds, and emergingproblems with recruitmentand retention were also dis-cussed.

Although the union urgedBond to take action, shewould not commit to address-ing these issues before thenext round of bargaining.

LRB pressed to transfer paramedicalprofessionalsIn separate applications, HEU has asked the LabourRelations Board to transferbiomedical engineering tech-nologists, alcohol and drugcounselors, youth and familycounselors at Children’s and

Women’s Hospital, and cardiotechnologists into the para-medical professional bargain-ing unit.

“Health care delivery isevolving rapidly as is thenature of our members’work,” says HEU’s then actingsecretary-business managerZorica Bosancic, adding thatchanging their bargaining unitis more appropriate than abenchmark reclassification.

Although HEU already rep-resents biomedical engineersin the paramedical profes-sional bargaining unit, theHealth Sciences Associationand the Health Employers’Association of BC oppose theapplication.

“There’s absolutely no com-pelling legal or labour rela-tions rationale for stripping

workers of their union mem-bership just because theirjobs have evolved,” saysBosancic.

HEU is pushing the LRB toconsider the applications ofall four groups of workerstogether.

Hundreds more newworkers join HEUIn recent months, hundredsmore health care workershave opted to join HEU. Mostworkers had voted for HEUmonths before but LabourRelations Board challengesby the foreign-owned corpo-rations now running the con-tracted-out services kept theballot boxes sealed.

Close to 700 employees ofAramark, a US-based corpora-tion providing hospital clean-

ing services in the VancouverCoastal Health Authority,joined HEU after the voteswere counted in late January– nine months after objec-tions were filed by Aramarkand the Industrial, Wood andAllied Workers (IWA) Local 1-3567.

Also waiting severalmonths to have their votescounted were housekeepingand dietary workers atNormanna Rest Home inBurnaby, whose votes tallied14 to three in favour of joiningHEU. Employees of the UK-based Compass Group, theyjoined Compass workers atEvergreen Care Home inWhite Rock who also votedoverwhelmingly to join theunion.

And there are 81 new mem-

< PAGE 12 to PAGE 14>

“It was such an irony. Here

was a government that was

attacking the very people

who provide care for our

most vulnerable.”

F

>>factfileWhether she’s on the phone, on her computer, or on theroad, KATHY CHOUINOR is helping LPNs and othersunderstand the role these nurses can play in health care.

SUPPORTING FULL SCOPE PRACTICE

ON THE JOB PATTY GIBSON

Chouiner. “They weren’treally allowed to think, tomake decisions, to usetheir clinical judgment.”

Now, increasing num-bers of LPNs are beingtrained and valued for therange of abilities theybring to the health careteam. “My job,” saysChouiner, “is to supportthem in that role, assisttheir skill developmentand help them understand

the expectations that come with full scope practice.”It’s also Chouinor’s job to educate others about

the expanded role LPNs are playing in health care –whether its’ physicians, RNs, care aides, administra-tors or family members.

So what is “full scope practice” and what exactlydoes it involve?

“The term ‘full scope practice’ is actually old lan-guage,” explains Chouinor. “Now people refer to ‘afull range of competencies’ which includes thingslike administering medications, coordinating carewithin a health care team, and directing or guidingother staff.”

Chouiner says her own role as a consultant andmentor is constantly evolving and adjusting to newor emerging needs.

“It never stops,” she says. “I’m the only person ofthis nature in the province. I get a lot of calls. And ofcourse, we share anything we build with anybodyand everybody.”

HEU has represented LPNs since 1948

•

LPNs have a long history of unionactivism, participating in local executives,

provincial executives, and bargaining committees

•

In the 1974-1975 Collective AgreementHEU secured ‘equal pay for equal work’by negotiating the elimination of wage

discrimination between practical nursesand orderlies

•

In 1999, HEU negotiated a $5-million initiative that reintroduced LPNs into

continuing care

•

In 2001, HEU negotiated $5 million forLPN acute care positions

•

In 2002, BC employed 4,262 LPNs, 300more than the previous year

•

In 2002-2003, HEU successfully advocated for Vancouver CommunityCollege to double its full-time LPN

education seats and add an additional 40 part-time seats

•

Over the past few years, LPNs have beenassisted to access refresher courses and

upgrades to support their work towardfull scope of practice

bers ranging from food ser-vice staff to nurses at RockyMountain Village, a multi-level care facility run as apublic-private partnership,which replaced a non-profitfacility in Fernie.

Fortunately, the 25 house-keeping, dietary and laundryworkers employed bySodexho at Foyer Maillard, aCoquitlam long-term carefacility, didn’t have to wait.Their 100-per-cent in favourvotes were counted immedi-ately, on March 4.

New benchmarkneeded for unit coordinatorsBC’s unit coordinators are inthe process of establishing aunified benchmark to betterreflect their increasingly vital

role on hospital nursing units.Health employers met with

the union’s unit coordinators’committee on March 1 toreview benchmark criteria.The parties agreed on about80 per cent of a new bench-mark recognizing the rapidlyevolving duties of thesehealth care professionals,who are responsible for pro-cessing doctors’ orders andprioritizing daily activities ontheir units affecting bothpatients and nursing staff.

“It’s important that wekeep up the pressure as wework to conclude the bench-mark and move on to discus-sions about an appropriatelevel of pay that recognizesthese duties and responsibili-ties,” says HEU’s then actingsecretary-business manager

Zorica Bosancic. A finalbenchmark agreement will beannounced shortly.

Union laundry projecta resounding successA successful union-led laun-dry project in Nelson may begiving the Interior HealthAuthority reason to reconsid-er its plans for an authority-wide laundry plant in SalmonArm.

The IHA says that construc-tion costs for the plant haveincreased by $2.5 million to$14 million and that projectedtransportation costs are alsohigher than expected.

At the same time, a pilotproject led by HEU laundryworkers at Kootenay LakeHospital is on track to exceedcost-savings targets set by

the IHA in August, 2004. HEU members proposed

the project as alternative toshutting down laundry com-pletely in the east and westKootenays.

The project has been sosuccessful that Jamie Friess,the HEU laundry workerspearheading the Nelson project, has been drafted towork with Okanagan laundryworkers and IHA officials tofind similar efficiencies in theOkanagan.

“Public delivery of laundryservices in the IHA makesgood economic sense – we’vesuccessfully made that case in Nelson,” saysFriess. “And I’m glad thatlaundry workers will have achance to do the same in theOkanagan.”

HEU members run forpolitical officeFour HEU members and onestaff person are running foroffice on May 17.

Pat Shaw, unit coordinatorat Dawson Creek & DistrictHospital, is the Peace RiverSouth NDP candidate. LPNDon Roberts is running forthe Green Party in PrinceGeorge-Mount Robson.

Cathy Pinsent is the NDPcandidate in North Vancouver-Seymour and an activity aideat Lion’s Gate Hospital.

NDP candidate Erda Walshis hoping to regain the EastKootenay seat. She’s a casualclerical worker at CranbrookRegional Hospital. And HEUbargaining director RajChouhan is the NDP’s choicein Burnaby-Edmonds.

S P R I N G • G U A R D I A N 2 0 0 5 13

hen LPN Kathy Chouinormoved to BC in 1996 she was

surprised to find that unlikeOntario, where she had worked

for more than a decade, mosthealth facilities in BC did not rec-

ognize “full scope practice” for LPNs.Landing a job where she could use her full range

of nursing skills proved a much bigger challengethan she had originally anticipated. But land one shedid – in a residential home for young paraplegics.

Not long after that she received a call fromPonderosa Lodge in Kamloops asking her to fill theirfirst-ever full scope LPN position. And a few monthslater, she took a job at Overlander in Salmon Armwhere they were introducing full scope positionsinto their health care team.

“When I first moved here I didn’t realize the limi-tations on the scope of practice for BC LPNs,” saysChouiner, a consultant and mentor for LPNs in theThompson, Cariboo, Shuswap Health ServicesDivision of Interior Health.

It’s the only position of its kind in the provinceand it’s a job Chouinor loves.

On any given day Chouinor is busy providingLPNs with hands-on support, facilitating work-shops, contributing to policy development or field-ing calls from people across the province.

And she’s passionate about her work. She sees thedifference LPNs make on the floor and she knowshow important it is for these nurses to be able to usetheir full range of competencies.

“Prior to full scope practice LPNs were essentiallyworking with one hand tied behind their back,” says

CHOUINOR

WKEITH ANDERSON PHOTO

what we’re up to

14 G U A R D I A N • S P R I N G 2 0 0 5

APRIL 4 - 6HEU Provincial ExecutiveMeeting

APRIL 13 - 16CUPE BC Convention,Victoria

APRIL 22Earth Day

APRIL 24Passover

APRIL 28Day of Mourning for WorkersKilled or Injured on the Job

MAY 1May Day – InternationalWorkers’ Day

MAY 17BC’s Provincial Election

MAY 23Victoria Day – HEU officesclosed

JUNE 2Aboriginal People’s Day

JUNE 5World Environment Day

JUNE 11Trade unions become legal inCanada – 1872

JUNE 13 - 17CLC Convention – Montreal

JULY 1

A P R I L

M AY

J U N E

Nisga’a memberstrain for stewardsSix HEU members from theNisga’a local in northern BCtraveled to New Aiyansh inearly March to take theunion’s one-day shop stew-ard training course.

The women work at fourhealth centers that provideservices to First Nationspeople living in the Nass

Valley. The local negotiatedits first independent collec-tive agreement in 2000 andis now preparing to bargainits third contract.

Negotiations will begin inApril.

MMuuzziinn mmeeeettss wwiitthh ffeeddeerraall hheeaalltthh mmiinniisstteerrHEU president Fred Muzin

met with federal health min-ister Ujjal Dosanjh in earlyMarch to discuss theenforcement of the CanadaHealth Act, the ongoing pri-vatization of health servicesand the need for nationalstandards for communityand continuing care.

Muzin emphasized thenegative impact contractingout has on patient care andthe vulnerability of our pub-lic health care system tofree trade agreement provi-sions if privatization isunchecked.

In relation to seniors’care, he lobbied for nationalstandards in community andcontinuing care.

Minister Dosanjh acknowl-edged the importance of theissues Muzin raised and

how federal and provincialgovernments must worktogether to address them.

HHEEUU pprreeppaarreess ffoorr CCLLCCccoonnvveennttiioonnA national childcare pro-gram, credentialing of for-eign-trained health careworkers, and public-privatepartnerships are just threeof the issues that HEU dele-gates want to talk about atthis June’s convention of theCanadian Labour Congressin Montreal.

HEU’s provincial executivehas submitted 16 resolu-tions for debate at the CLCconvention.

More than 40 delegateswill represent HEU at thenational convention, whichis held every two years.

New roads to travelCarol Bjarnason has beencalled HEU’s secret weapon.Her communications col-leagues think of her as theunion’s hidden treasure.Members know her best forher graphic design and lay-out work on countless stick-ers and leaflets, and on ouraward-winning Guardiannewspaper.

Carol’s worked “behindthe scenes” for HEU mem-bers since December 1989.Now she’s leaving theunion’s employ to fulfill newgoals and aspirations andturn her considerable tal-ents to other pursuits.

Saying that Carol will bemissed is an understate-ment. But missed she willbe. Thank you Carol.

irector Ali Kazimi’s important new film,Continuous Journey, opens the DOXADocumentary & Video Festival May 24 at theVogue Theatre in Vancouver. It tells of the376 men, women and children from BritishIndia who sailed to Vancouver aboard theKomogata Maru in 1914.

Audiences in Toronto and New York havepraised this prize-winning film as a complex tale of hope,despair, treachery and tragedy. The culmination of eight yearsof intensive research, the film is described by critics as “aprovocative, moving and multilayered film essay” woventogether by photographs, newsreels, home movies and officialdocuments.

This compelling story is a landslide across Canada’s bumpyroad to multi-culturalism. It’s one of countless examples ofactions taken against non-European immigrants. Othersinclude discriminatory head taxes, the internment of theJapanese and the 1907 mob attack onVancouver’s Chinatown and Japanese busi-nesses by 30,000 supporters of the AsiaticExclusion League waving placards “For aWhite Canada”.

Sadly, the mainstream labour movement ofthe period supported these sentiments,believing that immigrants from India, Chinaand other Asian countries would take theirmembers’ jobs, undercut wages or be used asscabs to break strikes.

By 1914 the BC government had passed laws designed to stopthe so-called “brown invasion”. To enter Canada, Indian nation-als had to arrive by a direct route – a continuous journey – fromIndia and have $200 on their person.

As citizens of the British Commonwealth, this group of 12Hindus, 24 Muslims and 340 Sikhs from the Punjab regionbelieved they were entitled to immigrate to Canada. To test theblatantly racist laws, they began their voyage in Hong Kong,with a stopover in Japan. Few passengers had the required $200.

By the time the ship neared Vancouver, after nearly twomonths at sea, its arrival was greatly anticipated. The VancouverProvince published inflammatory articles with headlines such as“Boat Loads of Hindus on Way to Vancouver.” As governmentauthorities prepared to turn the ship away, the Indian immi-grant communities held meetings in Gurdwaras (temples)

across Canada to decidestrategy, collect moneyto pay lawyers and buyfood, and organize sup-port.

The Komogata Maruentered Vancouver’s har-bour on May 23, 1914.Those aboard wereimmediately denied per-mission to land becausethey had violated theexclusionist laws. For thenext two months, the

passengers lived like prisoners on the ship while the authoritiesheld siege and drove them to the brink of thirst and starvation.

After two months of legal wrangling, only 24 of the 376 pas-sengers were successful in their effort to stay in Canada. The

others were finally given food for the return trip andwere turned around on July 23 to sail back to India.

But the story doesn’t end there.As the Komogata Maru approached Calcutta

on September 26, it was stopped by a Europeangunboat and put under guard. The boat was thenforced to land at Budge Budge harbour and thepassengers were told they would be transportedto Punjab on a special train. However, mostwanted to go to Calcutta where they had planned

to place a holy Guru Granth Sahib in a Gurdwara. The decisionwas made to walk the 17 miles to Calcutta.

The police blocked the march and forced everyone back toBudge Budge, where they were ordered back on the ship.Having spent five and one-half months aboard, the passengersdecided to take a stand and refused. British officials opened fireon the group, killing 20 and injuring another nine.

History. But, as the title implies, the journey continues.The few reminders of the Komogata Maru in Vancouver

include a plaque near the Gateway to the Pacific and another inthe Ross Street Gurdwara.

Now we have this film. It offers a detailed and insightful por-trait of Vancouver at the turn of the century and helps us tounderstand the immigration history that continues to influenceattitudes, laws and current events.

As director Kazimi says, “It’s a story that affects all of us.”PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 4007486

Kazimi’s story of the Komogata Maru

D O C U M E N TARY

Continuous JourneyProduced and directedby Ali Kazimi, 2004 87 minutes, Canada

previewed by Joey Hartman

continued from page 13

D

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EDITOR

Mike OldMANAGING EDITOR

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The Guardian is published on behalf of the Provincial Executive of the HospitalEmployees’ Union, under thedirection of the following editorial committee:

Fred Muzin, Judy Darcy,Mary LaPlante, SheilaRowswell, Barb Burke, KenRobinson,Kelly KnoxPROVINCIAL EXECUTIVEFred MuzinPresident

Mary LaPlanteFinancial Secretary

Judy DarcySecretary-Business Manager

Sheila Rowswell1st Vice-President

Barb Burke2nd Vice-President

Ken Robinson3rd Vice-President

Doris Gripich4th Vice-President

John Evans5th Vice-President

Kelly KnoxSenior Trustee

Donisa BernardoSenior Trustee Elect

Harold BurnsTrustee

Doreen PlouffeMember-at-Large 1

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Laree RussellRegional Vice-PresidentFraser Valley

Warren EacrettRegional Vice-PresidentKootenays

Cathy PinsentRegional Vice-PresidentLower Mainland – Coastal

Tilly HiscockRegional Vice-PresidentLower Mainland – Centennial

Boni BarciaRegional Vice-PresidentLower Mainland – Central

Becky JacobsonRegional Vice-PresidentNorth

Georgia MillerRegional Vice-PresidentOkanagan

Jesse WinfreyRegional Vice-PresidentVancouver Island

Laura NeilFirst AlternateProvincial Executive

UNION OFFICES

Provincial Office5000 North Fraser WayBurnaby V5J 5M3(604) 438-5000E-MAIL heu@heu.orgINTERNET www.heu.org

Regional OfficesVANCOUVER ISLAND

Victoria Site201-415 Gorge Road EastVictoria V8T 2W1(250) 480-0533

Comox Site205-156 Manor DriveComox V9M 1C7(250) 339-3698

OKANAGAN100-160 Dougall Rd. S.Kelowna V1X 3J4(250) 765-8838

KOOTENAY

745 Baker St.Nelson V1L 4J5(250) 354-4466

NORTHERN

1197 Third Ave.Prince GeorgeV2L 3E4(250) 564-2102

EthnicDiversityOne union, many colours!Working across our differences! To participate,please call and leave us your name!

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FirstNations

First Nations members would like to hearfrom you! Please call if youwould like to help educateour union brothers andsisters on issues that affectFirst Nations people.

Lesbians and GaysFor support: afraid of beingidentified, feeling isolated,want to know your rights?Call for information on samesex benefits, fighting homo-phobia and discrimination.www.pridepages.org

Peoplewith disAbilitiesIf you are on WCB, LTD,or if invisibly or visibly dis-abled in the workplace, let usknow how the union canbetter meet your needs.www.alberni.net/PeopleWithdisAbilities

EQUITY PHONE LINE1.800.663.5813, ext. 7192

Lower Mainland 604.456.7192

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HEU PEOPLE

In MemoriamPHIL SEVIN, one of HEU’spioneers, passed away inJanuary at 88 years of age.

During his lifetime Philsaw many changes in thelabour movement. An activeunion member at VancouverGeneral Hospital, Phil start-ed working as an oxygentherapy attendant in 1953.

He also served as a trusteefor 12 years on HEU’sProvincial Executive from1962-1974. During that time,he saw HEU move fromregional bargaining toprovincial bargaining whenthe union successfully nego-tiated its first province-widemaster agreement in 1968.

Phil is survived by his wife,six children, and manygrandchildren, great-grand-children and great-great-grandchildren.

MYRA BATES passed awaypeacefully with her husbandand family by her side inJanuary, after a brief battlewith pancreatic cancer.

Born in England, Myraand her husband immigratedto Alberta with their threesons in 1974. Upon movingto Princeton, BC Myraworked as a care aide at RidgeWood Lodge for 15 years.

Her co-workers rememberher as someone who “was

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Dave began his career in 1971as an electrician at Shaugh-nessy Hospital, working hisway up the ranks to becomecharge electrician, and laterelectrical supervisor.

When Shaughnessy closedin 1993, Dave worked in themaintenance/electricaldepartment at C&W wherehe oversaw many key electri-cal projects. He’s also credit-ed with promoting trades inthe health care system bypioneering an in-house construction crew atShaughnessy, creating about50 jobs for trades workers.

Tofino farewellsOver the last year the Tofinolocal has said goodbye to afew members. Sherin Jensenfollowed her heart andmoved to Kamloops whereshe is pursuing her career.

After 26 years as a medicalrecords clerk, Jenny Scott,who held many positions inthe local, went to Nanaimoto take on the position ofadmitting supervisor forCentral and North Island.

And after a 35-year longcareer, starting as a candystriper and ending as a ster-ile supply aide, Lynda Shawis off to continue enjoyinglife in retirement. Lynda heldevery position but secretaryfor the Tofino local.

able to make a difference inthe residents’ lives, strivingto make things better for all.”

LILA LAROCHELLE passedaway suddenly from a brainaneurysm at Lillooet DistrictHospital in late January. Since1989, Lila worked as a nurse’saide at Mountain ViewLodge, and in the communityas a home support worker.

“We will remember Lila forher strength and determina-tion, her sense of humourand her laughter,” says col-league Marie Haughton.

Lila is survived by herfiancé and two children.

RetirementsPAT WALL has retired afternearly 33 years of service. Patworked in housekeeping andthe stores departments at St.Vincent’s Hospital until itclosed in 2004. In themonths leading up to hisretirement, Pat worked atMount St. Joseph’s.

A long-time union activist,Pat served the St. Vincent’slocal as secretary-treasurerand for a decade as chairper-son. His retirement plansinclude travelling and enjoy-ing time with his family.

DAVE SMITH of Children’sand Women’s Hospitalretired at the end of March.

PHIL SEVIN MYRA BATES LILA LAROCHELLE DAVE SMITH

Over the past four years the Campbell

Liberals have ripped up our

contracts, imposed wage

rollbacks, fired

8000 health care workers,

closed hospitals, cut long-term care beds,

and put health

care at risk.

S P R I N G 2 0 0 5 • V O L U M E 2 3 N U M B E R 1 • T H E V O I C E O F T H E H O S P I T A L E M P L O Y E E S ’ U N I O N

An exclusive interview with NDP leader Carole James PAGE 8

G U A R D I A NG U A R D I A N

Assessing the damage The Liberal record PAGE 11

WHY THE LABOUR VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE PAGE 1WHAT HEU MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ELECTION PAGE 7

On May 17th Make your vote count!

AGREEMENT NUMBER 4007486 RETURN TOThe Guardian5000 North Fraser WayBurnaby, B.C.V5J 5M3