FEMINISM/ CANADIAN LABOUR:

EQUAL PAY LAWSUIT SETTLED IN FAVOUR OF WORKERS- 28 YEARS LATER:

Here's an interesting item from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) about a lawsuit initiated 28 years ago demanding equal pay for equal work at Canada Post. I heard about this decision while driving about the city for work today. The internet and print reports add little to the initial report. Basically a 28 year lawsuit was recently settled over different wages paid to women as opposed to men decades ago. Well thanks guys ! There is a lot to be said both pro and con about this decision, but let us assume a sympathy for workers' position. All that Molly can ask is whether this matter would have taken 28 years to resolve if the workers in question had applied direct action ways of pressuring the government ie direct action? It's a thought to think. Here's the bare bones from the Cape Breton Post.

OTTAWA (CP) —

The Supreme Court has handed the Public Service Alliance of Canada a victory in a marathon dispute over pay equity with Canada Post.
Topics :
Canada Post , Supreme Court , Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
In a rare ruling from the bench Thursday, the justices unanimously found for the union in a case that began a generation ago.

PSAC claimed in August 1983 that women were being discriminated against under the Canadian Human Rights Act because they made less than men in comparable Canada Post jobs.
After more than a decade of hearings, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in 2005 that the crown corporation had violated the act and awarded back pay and interest of about $150 million.

But the Federal Court of Appeal set aside the tribunal’s decision, saying the finding of discrimination was not supported.

The justices said reasons for their decision will be available later.

CANADIAN POLITICS:

LABOUR SAYS BILL C-49 ANTI-REFUGEE:

The following news story comes from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC-AFPC). It's about the new Conservative Bill C-49 which purports to be against "human trafficking". In actual fact as one BQ member of Parliament said, it should be called the Tamil Bill. You can read more of the Parliamentary debate on this Bill here at Open Parliament. Molly has repeatedly blogged on the situation of the Tamil "boat people", now into their third month of captivity in BC where they expected safety. In particular I have mentioned the solidarity efforts of No One Is Illegal Vancouver. Now others are coming onboard. Here's the story from the PSAC.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Human Smuggling Legislation Violates Refugee Rights
The government's bill to prevent human smuggling does not meet Canada's domestic and international human rights and refugee protection obligations said the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The government should tackle the problems of criminal smuggling in ways that do not punish refugees.

Bill C-49, the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act tabled on October 21st, violates the rights of refugees and migrants. By restricting the rights of refugees who arrive in Canada as part of a group that the government designates to be a “human smuggling event,” the Bill creates two classes of refugees.

The restrictions include harsh powers of mandatory detention of those designated persons, including children, for one year without independent review; denial of the right to appeal a negative decision to the Refugee Board's Refugee Appeal Division; prohibition to apply for permanent resident status for five years; and serious limitations on freedom of movement and family unity.

If Bill C-49 becomes law, Canada would be violating its legal obligations under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the 1951 Refugee Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“Measures to address criminal smuggling must ensure that refugees' and migrants' rights relying on smugglers are protected,” said John Gordon, National President of PSAC. “People at risk of torture and who fear for their lives may turn to smugglers out of desperation, regardless of penalization.”

Detention of refugee claimants should only be used as a last resort and must be for reasons that are established in international law, such as demonstrated concerns about security. Detention should never be used as a means of deterring other refugees who are seeking safety.

The legislation also gives the government the power to arrest and detain any non-citizen, including a permanent resident, based on a mere suspicion of criminality. It appears that this provision is not limited to designated persons or refugee claimants, and would apply to all non-citizens. Although the bill deals with refugees, it is also an attack on the rights of newcomers – and long-term residents.

The PSAC believes workers dealing with refugees should have clear guidelines and tools on how to do their job. In addition, it is important that Canada work with other countries to take action to combat human smuggling as it involves serious human rights violations against vulnerable migrants. However, policies to combat human smuggling must respect the rights of refugees seeking asylum in Canada.

This legislation is part of a continuing trend by the Harper government to disregard Canada's human rights obligations.

To take action against this bill, please visit Amnesty International and the Canadian Council of Refugees. ( Canadian Council "FOR" Refugees actually- Molly )

CANADIAN LABOUR REGINA:

WORKERS AND MANAGEMENT STILL FAR APART AT CASINO REGINA:

Molly blogged about the strike at Casino Regina last June 25, and to date their has been no agreement between management of the province's cash cow the striking workers represented by the PSAC and the RWDSU. Here's an item from the Regina Leader Post about the "state" of contract negotiations and news of a rally at the Legislature to be held today. Note that no matter how "generous" management claims they are being their demand to reduce full time workers to part time is a great step backwards for the people involved.

SLSLSLSLSL
No deal yet for gaming workers
By Pamela Roth,

The Leader-Post July 6, 2010

Frustration is mounting for gaming employees with Casino Regina after a meeting last week with their employer, the Crown-owned Saskatchewan Gaming Corp., failed to strike a new deal.

Communication between Sask. Gaming and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents about 425 gaming employees at the casino, has been minimal since the strike began more than a month ago.

Both parties had high hopes an agreement could be reached when the corporation arranged the meeting last week, but Robin Benson, regional executive vice president of PSAC, said they now seem even further apart.

She said the corporation is willing to increase wages, but not without scaling back some positions to part-time.

"We had really hoped they were serious about us coming back to the table. We are nowhere close to an agreement," said Bensen.

"You can't take from one hand and give to the other. A wage increase, but no full-time hours, is just not possible. If you are never going to be more than a part-time worker, how is that a career?"

On June 3, more than 400 gaming employees walked off the floor and went on strike after failed attempts to reach a new contract with their employer.

Food and beverage employees also are on the picket line in support of PSAC's decision to strike, leaving the casino operating with limited services and shorter hours.

The union members, which include dealers, cashiers, security guards and slot attendants, have been without a contract since May 2009. Wage increases, family leave and night-shift premiums are the outstanding issues.

Members of PSAC, along with the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, will be hosting a rally outside the Legislative Building on Thursday, and have also been in contact with local MLAs to step in.

Blaine Pilatzke, vice-president of human resources for Sask. Gaming, said he was hoping the meeting would spark further discussions, but was disappointed when nothing further materialized.

He said Sask. Gaming presented a fair offer that included 5.5 per cent in total increased compensation over a three-year period and a realignment of existing provisions within the collective agreement to address some of the union's priorities.

The offer also included improvements to health care benefits.

"We presented a couple of options to try to address some of their priorities, but those were rejected," said Pilatzke.

"It's been more than 30 days and the corporation recognizes it's difficult on the picketers, but it's also difficult on our out-of-scope staff who have been asked to perform additional functions as well. I would hope that at some point in the near future we can get back and have some further discussions."

Sask. Gaming owns and operates Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw, which are regulated by the provincial government.

The gaming corporation was the Regina-area winner of the 2010 Top Employers for Young People competition conducted by Mediacorp Canada (the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers).


Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/business/deal+gaming+workers/3240123/story.html#ixzz0t4EUtcu3

CANADIAN LABOUR - SASKATCHEWAN:
BETTING ON THE UNION:




Employees at Casino Regina in Regina Saskatchewan have been without a contract since May 2009, and early this month they decided that enough was enough. The first to walk out were members of the PSAC on June 3, and they were followed by others from the RWDSU on June 4. The casino, of course, is a great cash cow for the provincial government, but despite this they have been unwilling to part with a little of it for the employees.



There is a strike support Facebook Page and also a Strike Blog. Look there for more info. All that Molly can say of the government is that it is a more than one armed bandit. It takes the taxes with one hand, the gambling revenues with another, and puts its third hand behind its back when its employees ask for decent wages and working conditions. Sounds like a game you can't win.



Here's an item from the Regina Leader Post about how some of the regulars at the Casino sympathize with the strikers.
RCRCRCRCRCRCRC



Casino Regina regulars on side of striking workers
By PAMELA ROTH, Leader-Post

REGINA — It's getting harder each week for some regular patrons of Casino Regina to cross the picket line in front of the building.

Ever since more than 400 gaming employees went on strike almost three weeks ago after failed attempts to reach a new contract with their employer, the Crown-owned Saskatchewan Gaming Corp., Maryanne Burst would like nothing more than to see both sides get back to the bargaining table.

She doesn't mind having to serve herself a beverage while she's playing the slot machines, but said other casino patrons have been complaining about the lack of employees.

Aside from that, Burst said it's been business as usual for her at the casino slot machines, and she doesn't blame the gaming employees for demanding a raise.

"I think they have to fight for their rights like everybody else," said Burst. "This just allows the high-rollers to save their money."

The casino was active with patrons on Tuesday afternoon, even though all gaming tables are temporarily closed due to the strike, and food and beverage services are limited.

Food and beverage employees are also on the picket line after the decision to strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) — the union that represents Casino Regina gaming employees.

The union members, which include dealers, cashiers, security guards and slot attendants, have been without a contract since May 2009.

Wage increases, family leave and night-shift premiums are the outstanding issues.

Edie, who did not want to use her last name, visits the casino to gamble once a week and hasn't been disrupted by the strike.

So far, she's pleased with how the casino has handled the scale-back in a number of services, but admits it's getting harder to drive through the picket line.

"We go in there with an understanding we are not going to get the same services," said Edie. "I feel badly for them (the employees). We hear how much profit the casino makes. They can afford to pay a bit more,"

Since the strike began, PSAC and Sask. Gaming have had limited contact with one another.

Last week, a spokesperson for the Sask. Gaming Corp said the corporation is eager to get back to the bargaining table, but so far no meetings have been arranged.

Fran Mohr, spokesperson for PSAC, said spirits on the picket line are still high.

"We'd had a lot of donations of food and stuff like that," she said. "Even in the rain, everybody is still happy to be here."

Sask. Gaming owns and operates Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw, which are regulated by the provincial government.

proth@leaderpost.canwest.com


Read more: http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Casino+Regina+regulars+side+striking+workers/3187723/story.html#ixzz0ruxj8muh

CANADIAN LABOUR:

PROTEST CANADA POST CALL CENTRE PRIVATIZATION:

Plans on the part of Canada Post to privatize its customer service call centres have stirred up protests from the workers involved. Here is the basic story from the CBC.

○○○○○○○○○○
Planned Canada Post cuts draw union's ire

Plans by Canada Post to privatize its customer service call centres in cities across Canada are drawing fire from one of the country's largest unions.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), representing more than 165,000 public-sector workers, has pledged to combat the move, which is expected to result in the loss of 300 jobs across the country.

Call centres in Fredericton, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton are affected. The centres handle telephone inquiries from the public about postage rates and parcel tracking.

Canada Post's National Philatelic Centre in Antigonish, N.S., will also close, affecting about 70 jobs. The centre sells stamps from several other postal agencies around the world.

The Crown corporation said on Thursday that decreasing mail volumes prompted the cuts, which are slated to take place in 2011 after selected workers' contracts expire.

No full-time workers will be laid off, and the call centres will not be outsourced to overseas locations, a Canada Post spokesperson said.

In Manitoba, as many as 30 temporary employees at Canada Post's Winnipeg-based call depot will not have their contracts renewed. About 70 other permanent staff will move to other jobs with the Crown corporation.

Data for the other centres was not immediately available.

Privacy concerns raised
PSAC spokeswoman Janet May told CBC News that the changes are part of a broader effort by Canada Post management to move the company further toward complete privatization.

"Canada Post is in its 15th year of profit," May said. "So to an average Canadian, does it make sense that part of your postal system is getting privatized?"

The union said it also worries about the loss of people's privacy if they have to offer up personal information to a private company — especially if the call-centre work is outsourced to a U.S. company.

"I'm not sure that Canadians are ready to see their postal service become an information collection agency for the American government," said Robyn Benson, PSAC's executive vice-president for the Prairies.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/04/01/man-canada-post-cuts-call-centre.html#ixzz0kA223Zrt

○○○○○○○○○○

Here's how the situation is viewed by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) who represent many of the workers employed in the customer service call centres. Here's the press release from their website.

○○○○○○○○○○
Canada Post to privatize 300 contact centre jobs across Canada

Ottawa—The Public Service Alliance of Canada, the largest federal public service union in the country, will be taking swift action to prevent Canada Post from privatizing an important part of its operations. Yesterday, the crown corporation announced that it would outsource its contact centres and the National Philatelic Centre, resulting in the elimination of more than 300 jobs across the country.


Affected locations include:

Edmonton
Ottawa
Winnipeg
Antigonish
Fredericton
“This obsession with privatization will badly damage the quality of the Canadian postal service as well as the communities it serves,” said Robyn Benson, the PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the Prairies. “Many regions in the country will lose local contact with Canada Post as well as jobs that are important for the local economy,” she added.

For Benson, the privatization of Canada Post’s answering services also raises the question of protection of confidential information provided by Canadians.

“I’m not sure that Canadians are ready to see their postal service become an information collection agency for the American government,’ Benson said. “If an American company answers calls for Canada Post, then the U.S. Patriot Act gives the government access to all information the company collects. Is that what Canadians want?”

Richard Deslauriers, the National President of PSAC component, the Union of Postal and Communications Employees (UPCE) said this type of economic reasoning will bring Canada Post closer to a complete privatization.

“The privatization of Canada Post has always been an objective of the current management and the conservative federal government,” Deslauriers said. “The slippery slope of partial privatization of services will end up with Canada Post in the hands of private companies and Canadians will be deprived of a service they have relied on for decades”.

The PSAC represents more than 166,000 members across the country including 2,000 at Canada Post.

To arrange media interviews:

Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications, 613-293-9210

CANADIAN LABOUR-OTTAWA:

CANADIAN MUSEUM STRIKE CONTINUES:

For almost 3 months workers at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have been on strike. While the union has expressed its desire for arbitration management has balked at any good faith bargaining. Here's a potpourri of items from the PSAC about the issues at stake.

‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼

Women Stand in Solidarity with the Ottawa Museum Workers:
The vast majority of low-paid, part-time, contract and temporary workers in this country are women. As a result, women working full-time all year earn only 70% of what men earn working under the same conditions. Those who cannot find full year employment, are often ineligible for Employment Insurance since they cannot accumulate enough hours of work to qualify. And, when it comes time to retire, women's retirement income is only 60% of men's.

Workers at the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum in Ottawa have been on strike since September to challenge these conditions. The majority are women, who find themselves trapped in insecure employment. Many are long-term employees who live with the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not their yearly contracts will be renewed.

The underlying issues of this strike should be of concern to us all. Over the past decade, there has been a growing trend for employers, including the federal government and its agencies, to contract out work to individuals who have little security and few benefits.

Statistics Canada data indicate that all workers in non-standard employment have significantly lower earnings, fewer benefits, and are at higher risk of unemployment.

After 11 weeks on strike, the employer presented the workers with a final offer – which failed to address the central issue of contract jobs. The workers voted 96% to reject the offer.
Here's what they said:
"We love our jobs and the work that we do. We want to go back to work, but not at any price.

We are resolved, all of us, to see this process through to its conclusion. We seek to protect our jobs. Given that the Corporation's offer was final, given the response of our co-workers and given that we are in the eleventh week of our strike, we are fully prepared to turn our dispute over to an arbitrator for resolution.

We remain hopeful that the Corporation will do the right thing and agree to this, so that we might finally bring an end to the on-going labour strife between us and our employer.

Yet, the federal government has done nothing to help resolve this dispute. The federal Minister of Labour, Rona Ambrose, offered to appoint an arbitrator to settle the strike. The Union agreed to arbitration, the employer refused – and the Minister backed down at the employer's insistence. There is not even a pretense of impartiality here.

The striking PSAC workers have taken a courageous stand against the insidious practice of cheap temporary work. Women who care about women's equality stand in solidarity with them. We fully support their demand to the federal government to appoint an independent arbitrator to settle the issue and to get the Museum workers back to work.

‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼

Here also from the PSAC is an announcement of a solidarity rally and concert coming up this Sunday.

‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼

Rally and concert to support striking museum workers:
Musicians, federal politicians and labour leaders call for end to 84-day strike
Ottawa – Prominent politicians, musicians, artists and community leaders will gather on Sunday to show support and solidarity for the 420 workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and War Museum, who have been on strike for 84 days.

Workers from the two museums have been walking picket lines since September 21st. Several attempts at a mediated settlement resulted in weeks-long delays and a final offer from the museum, which the workers rejected by a margin of 96 per cent. Negotiations will resume this afternoon, after federal mediators called the two parties back to the bargaining table.
WHAT:

Our Country, Our Culture: A rally in support of Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation employees
WHEN:

Sunday, December 13, 2009, 1:00 pm
WHERE:

March from the War Museum to the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.). Rally and concert at the Bronson Centre starts at 2:00 pm.
FEATURING:
*Marcel Proulx, MP Hull-Aylmer, Liberal Party of Canada
*Paul Dewar, MP Ottawa-Centre, New Democratic Party of Canada
*Barry Blake, National Director ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists)
*Musicians: Ian Tamblyn, Ana Miura, The Mighty Popo, Marcel Aymar
*A few surprise guests to be confirmed.

For more information:

Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications, 613-293-9324 (cell)

‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼

One thing about the above announcement strikes Molly. While the Liberal Party and the NDP have been invited to speechify the assembled there is no representative from the Bloc Québecois. This is not because the Bloc has been remiss is support of the workers. Neither is it because this labour conflict has nothing to do with Québec. The Canadian Museum of Civilization, after all, is in Gatineau Québec , across the river from the City of Ottawa. I hope it is not true, but there is a certain odour of "political favouritism" here. Not that I personally have any sympathy for the nationalist delusions of the Bloc, but it seems that there is some unwarranted exclusion happening here.

In any case the PSAC has called for arbitration in this dispute. Unlike the situation with the CN strike where the Conservative government moved with all due speed to order the workers back to the job and institute compulsory arbitration the government has decided to drag its feet on this one and hide behind the refusal of management to agree to such a solution. Interesting and, I guess, not unexpected. Here's a final item from the PSAC about their request to have the dispute sent to arbitration, and the rather hypocritical response of the Senate government leader on this matter. The government, of course, has the power to order binding arbitration at any second, but they have so far stonewalled against demands to do so.

See also the following for a link whereby you can email Museum management to demand they relent and agree to arbitration.

‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼‼

Senate government leader hopes for arbitration in Museum strike:
Conservative senator and government leader Marjory Lebreton yesterday expressed hope that the twelve week strike by museum workers in Ottawa would be sent to arbitration.
**Email Museums CEO Victor Rabinovich
**Visit the museum workers on Facebook

Questioned by Liberal senator Sharon Carstairs, Lebreton told the senate "it is to be hoped that both parties will come to the table and resolve this matter because, as the honourable senator states, valuable work and access are being denied to Canadians who wish to use the facilities of the museums."

Carstairs said "The arbitrator has not been appointed because the employer is not willing to come to the table. The employer — us ( emphasis on this, the first person plural objective pronoun. The government, after all, has the power to end this strike available but chooses not to use it-Molly )— is unwilling to come to the table," adding that the Minister had been willing to lean on the union of CN engineers to get them to agree to arbitration.

CANADIAN LABOUR-OTTAWA:

SOLIDARITY WITH MUSEUM WORKERS IN OTTAWA:

Molly has mentioned the ongoing strike of workers at the Canadian museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum, both in Ottawa, previously. There is a very good appeal for solidarity with these workers over at another friendly Winnipeg ( the absolute centre of the universe, let alone the 'heart of the continent') site, the Winnipeg Wobbly Blog, and Molly urges her readers to drop on over, read it and respond to the appeal. The union for the workers involved is the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Here, however, is another story from the PSAC website, of how management of the museums are attempting to censor free speech ie unspecified "content" be removed from the PSAC strike support blog. It's an interesting campaign on the part of management as the use of lawyers as weapon should resemble more the intelligent use of a surgical scalpel rather than a shotgun aimed blindly. Whether you agree with the demands of the union or not you should be alert to such attempts to "Americanize" our legal system (as if it isn't weighted enough in favour of the ruling class already) and use it as a weapon of intimidation. Here's the story.

&&&&&&&&&&&

Union vows to fight online censorship:
Ottawa – The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation is attempting to censor photos and comments posted to a Facebook page set up to support the 420 workers who are currently on strike at the Museum of Civilization and War Museum.

In a letter on October 28, lawyers acting on behalf of the corporation demanded that content that they deemed to be defamatory be removed from the Facebook group, “Fairness and Justice for Museum Workers”. They did not specify what they considered to be offensive and the Public Service Alliance of Canada has determined that none of the content on the page is objectionable.

The union, which represents the striking workers, has vowed to fight any attempts to remove content from the Facebook group or to curtail the workers' freedom of expression.

The museum workers are now entering their seventh week on the picket line. Employees at the two museums have been on strike since September 21, 2009. The 420 workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18.

Negotiations resumed briefly on October 7, but broke off after the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation refused to agree to protections against the contracting out of the workers' jobs.

“CMCC's attempts at censorship are acts of desperation,” said Maria Fitzpatrick, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. “We are appalled that a Crown Corporation is spending taxpayers' money to attempt to intimidate workers into silence, rather than getting back to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair settlement.”

For more information or to book interviews:Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications, 613-292-8363 (cell)

%%%%%%%%%%

Before Molly signs out for the night here's another notice about this strike, also from the PSAC website. Tomorrow the workers involved will be taking their case to Parliament Hill in a demonstration for their rights. If you live in the Ottawa area consider showing up in solidarity.

%%%%%%%%%%

After six weeks on the picket line, museum workers take their message to the Hill:

– After more than six weeks on the picket line, 420 striking workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and War Museum will be taking their message to Parliament Hill tomorrow at noon.

They are asking the Canadian government to tell the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation to return to the bargaining table and grant them a fair contract. Their key demands are job security, protections against the subcontracting of their jobs and an end to perpetual contract status. The workers are seeking the same terms and conditions as other employees doing the same work at other federally-funded museums and cultural institutions.

Employees at the two museums have been on strike since September 21, 2009. The 420 workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18. Negotiations resumed briefly on October 7, but broke off after the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation refused to agree to protections against the contracting out of the workers' jobs.

The workers have been picketing daily in front of the office of James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. Now they will take their message to all Members of Parliament, hoping for a fair end to their labour dispute as soon as possible.

WHAT:

Demonstration by striking museum workers and supporters, with words of support from:
Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois
Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party
Richard Nadeau, Bloc MP for Gatineau
Paul Dewar, NDP MP for Ottawa Centre

( Well, I don't know about the presence of all the politicos selling their own trade marked brands of smelly running shoes, but until we anarchists eventually can offer a realistic alternative I can see the point of the union is giving place to the snake oil salesmen. Til that great millennium... )
WHERE:

Parliament Hill
WHEN:

Thursday, November 5, 2009, 12:00 p.m.
For more information or to book interviews:Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications 613-292-8363 (cell)

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS-HONDURAS:

END MILITARY REPRESSION IN HONDURAS:

The following appeal is from the website of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Stop the military crackdown in Honduras:
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who was forced into exile following a military coup in the country on June 28, defied the coup regime's efforts to keep him out of the country by staging a return to Honduras on September 21. Despite a hastily-imposed curfew, thousands of Hondurans defied the coup regime's orders and gathered in front of the Brazilian embassy in the capital, Tegucigalpa, where Zelaya is currently in refuge, to support the democratically-elected President.

The coup regime is responding with a brutal crackdown on the Honduran democracy movement. We are receiving reports by the hour of cases of brutal military repression and assaults which have resulted in a large number of injuries and an unconfirmed number of deaths, including that of an eight year old child. The military has surrounded the Brazilian embassy and is out in force in poor neighbourhoods. The national stadium is reported to have been converted into a large holding center for the detained.

The coup regime leader, Roberto Micheletti, has threatened to cancel the embassy's immunity if Zelaya is not handed over to the de facto regime.

In the face of this escalation of violence, Canada is one of the only countries that has failed to act effectively to isolate the coup regime. We need to speak out now and demand action from the Canadian government, before it's too late.

PHONE:

Call Canadian Minister of State for the Americas Peter Kent and deliver the following message:
“I want Canada to work for the unconditional immediate reinstatement of President Zelaya and to pressure the Honduran military to stop the violence against the people and their democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya. Canada should make clear that it will not recognize the November elections and announce further sanctions against the coup regime and its leaders.”
Call numbers: 1-800-267-8376 (toll-free in Canada) or 613-992-0253.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
EMAIL:
Send Peter Kent an email at: kentp@parl.gc.ca. You can write your own, or use the following letter.
Dear Minister Kent:
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, who was forced into exile following a military coup in the country on June 28, returned to Honduras on Monday afternoon, September 21.

The coup regime is responding with a brutal and violent crackdown on the Honduran democratic movement.





Despite this escalation of violence, Canada remains one of the only countries that has yet to act effectively to isolate the coup regime.





Canada must take a strong stand for democracy and against the military coup. I ask that our government:
**call on the coup leaders to order the immediate return of the Honduran military and police forces to their barracks;
**condemn the large scale repression of civilians and demand that the coup leader immediately release all protesters incarcerated since the June 28 coup;
**declare its unconditional and public support for the immediate return of the entire constitutional government of President Zelaya;
**announce publicly that Canada will not recognize the results of the November 2009 elections if the coup regime is still in place;
**announce publicly that the coup perpetrators will be held responsible for their actions under international law; and
**institute concrete and targeted economic economic, military and diplomatic sanctions against the coup perpetrators.
Sincerely,

CANADIAN LABOUR:

UNION CHARGES CANADA POST WITH UNFAIR LABOUR PRACTICES:

The following press release is from the website of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

.................................

Canada Post charged with unfair labour practices :
Charges include issueing misleading statements to its employees, disregarding provisions of the Canada Labour Code
OTTAWA, November 6, 2008 — Canada Post is resorting to unfair labour practices in its contract talks with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE), the union charges.

"Canada Post has issued misleading statements to its employees and is disregarding provisions of the Canada Labour Code," says John Gordon, President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. PSAC is the bargaining agent representing the members of the component UPCE.

The misleading statements identified by Gordon appear in internal communications issued by the employer about a new short-term disability system that the corporation is trying to impose on its employees in order to replace existing sick leave and family leave provisions in the collective agreement.

On its internal website, which is accessible to all Canada Post employees, the employer indicates that changes to the sick leave and family leave provisions in the collective agreement will come into effect on January 1, 2010. This statement ignores the fact that these changes have not yet been negotiated with the union.

Canada Post's proposed changes are highly controversial. Union members provided their bargaining team with an 88 percent strike mandate, largely based on their opposition to these leave proposals.

The union charges that this unilateral imposition of terms and conditions of employment while the parties are still bargaining is a violation of the statutory freeze provisions of the Canada Labour Code and is contrary to the employer's obligation to bargain in good faith and make every reasonable effort to enter into a collective agreement.

The union also charges that the employer is trying to discredit the union by directly contacting UPCE-PSAC members via e-mail and providing misleading and erroneous statements with regards to events at the bargaining table.

Lastly, the union also charges that Canada Post has been withholding financial information specific to their new sick leave proposals despite repeated requests for this information.

The PSAC asked Canada Post to remove from its website all references to the unilateral implementation of the employer's bargaining proposals. The union is also demanding that the employer retract all false information conveyed to the membership in e-mails and to issue a statement on its internal website that reaffirms the employer's commitment to respect all sections of the Canada Labour Code and, in particular, the obligation to bargain in good faith and make every reasonable effort to enter into a collective agreement.

Canada Post's rejection of these requests has prompted the PSAC to file an unfair labour practices complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

Negotiations between Canada Post and the UPCE-PSAC began June 4, 2008.