From The Hotline, Winter, 2009 
Business Manager Doug McKay speaks to Shop Stewards at the Local 258 Activists Conference that took place in early November. Recent legislation put forward by Health Minister Kevin Falcon that forced striking ambulance paramedics back to work under an imposed collective agreement while these professionals were in the middle of a vote for a new contract makes one wonder, has the definition of free collective bargaining in BC changed? Since when does a third party get to interfere in negotiations between an employer and its workers? After all, the paramedics were on strike against their employer, the BC Ambulance Service, but they were doing their jobs, protecting and serving British Columbians while continuing to work their shifts as required as an essential service. They were about to count the vote results from the last offer their employer made when suddenly, the government steps in and arbitrarily forces a new contract. What kind of province do we live in when a government can do this? Oh, I forgot, we’re in BC, where Gordon Campbell’s Liberals do things like rip up collective agreements or force legislated conditions upon workers, while at the same time steadfastly refuse to increase the minimum wage (now the lowest in Canada) and give themselves huge wage increases. Quite the paradox. With the stroke of a pen they can change the rules. As public sector unions representing almost 200,000 workers in this province head into contract negotiations in 2010, including over 2,000 of our own members who work for BC Hydro and the BC Transmission Corporation (BCTC), the situation looks grim. We anticipated this when we heard this fall’s Throne Speech and it’s claim there’s not one cent in the budget for any wage or benefit increases this year or next year for BC’s public workers. Since then, we have discovered how serious this government is to ensuring public sector workers will get nothing in these upcoming negotiations (if you can call them that): they have mandated their Crown Corporations and their management groups to hold firm with zero percent. Given these circumstances, we have some tough decisions to make in the months ahead, and I will be looking forward to your opinions, feedback and solutions to help tackle this major roadblock being placed before us. Proposal forms have been distributed to all members of our Local who are heading into bargaining next year and we are about to give official notice to begin the bargaining process. I know this is going to be a difficult set of negotiations for our members working at BC Hydro and BCTC. One thing is certain though: it is clear we are going to do the best we can in these circumstances. Our members at BC Hydro are facing a number of additional challenges as this government continues to make secret deals with their private power friends, causing ratepayers to dig even deeper while they restrict Hydro’s ability to work in the best interests of the future for British Columbians. With the forced departure of Mr. Elton, the CEO (and he did not go willingly, I assure you), as well as the uncertainty of who his replacement will be, many questions are again being asked as to the future of this public jewel. In early November we brought together over a hundred Local 258 Shop Stewards for our third Activists Conference in Surrey. It was great to see so many of our members enthusiastically participate in the training seminars, interact with our guest speakers and have some time to network and socialize. International Vice-President Phil Flemming traveled west from Toronto to speak with the activists and take part in the introduction to the Code of Excellence seminar presented by International Rep Laird Cronk. You can read more about the Conference starting on page 6 of this issue of The Hotline. Many thanks to everyone involved for all their hard work in organizing this successful event. I had the opportunity to proudly represent our members recently when Sister Michelle Laurie and myself attended the Burn, Plastic and Trauma Unit at Vancouver General Hospital where we officially presented a cheque for $100,000 to the VGH & UBC Hospital Endowment Fund to support Research in Wound Healing. The work these professionals are doing in advancing treatments for wound healing as a result of burn injuries is groundbreaking and I am very grateful our members are supporting this initiative. It’s an unfortunate reality that some of our members suffer terrible burn injuries as a result of workplace accidents and it is encouraging to know local research is working hard to help those who have to go undergo treatment and recovery from burn injuries. In closing, it’s hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner. And with the holiday season usually comes our winter storms. Please be safe when working and all the best to you and your families as we head into the holidays and the New Year. | 
