(The
following article is from
the December 1-31,
2007
issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles
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The BC Federation of
Labour reports
that almost 600 workers from various sectors have broken ties with the
Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), criticizing CLAC for
negotiating sub-par contracts with lower wages, poorer benefits, and
inadequate representation.
"These
workers have demanded a
democratic choice in union representation," said B.C. Federation of
Labour President, Jim Sinclair. "They want to be treated with fairness,
dignity and respect on the job, and despite pressure from their
employer, they won that."
In a Labour
Relations
Board-supervised vote counted in two health facilities on Nov. 21,
workers rejected the CLAC and voted to join an HEU/BCGEU "poly-party"
bargaining unit.
Two hundred
and fifty health
care workers at two privately-operated care facilities in the Kootenays
have voted to join the Hospital Employees' Union. In Nelson, more than
90 care staff - employed by Advocare at Mountain Lake Seniors'
Community - joined HEU as part of a joint campaign with the B.C.
Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) that also included some
of the company's operations in Kelowna and Penticton. And in Cranbrook,
more than 160 staff at Golden Life's Joseph Creek Village voted to join
the HEU. The workers provide both support services and direct care to
seniors in that community. In August 2006, the LRB found that Golden
Life had intimidated and coerced workers to ratify a CLAC collective
agreement.
In
Abbotsford, more than 150
workers at Dynamic Windows and Doors voted to leave CLAC and become
members of the United Steelworkers. Local union organizers said workers
want their grievances addressed in a timely manner and to be properly
represented in dealings with the company.
Found at:
http://www.peoplesvoice.ca/articleprint08/07__600_WORKERS_REJECT_CLAC.html