National Union of Public and General Employees

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good.

BC: funding cuts hurt special needs kids

Jan 172013

Canadian politics

Younger children benefit most from therapy, yet many must wait years.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

VANCOUVER, January 17, 2013 — British Columbians were dismayed to learn from a CBC Go Public report that families with autistic children have to wait as long as two and a half years for crucial speech language therapy.

Hudak’s Ontario liquor privatization plan threatens 10,000 jobs

Dec 112012

Public Values

The Ontario government is considering repatriating privately owned and operated LCBO stores once their contracts expire.

Women would be hardest hit.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

Across Ontario, up to 10,000 jobs could be at the risk with Tim Hudak's plan to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, preident of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

Women, a majority of the LCBO employees, could be hit hardest by the job losses, in dozens of communities across Ontario.

"How many times are we going to go down this same, old path of selling off the incredibly profitable LCBO?" asked Thomas.

The 7,000 regular jobs at the LCBO swell to 10,000 with seasonal hiring at Christmas and during the summer months.

"Mike Harris tried it and he backed off. Dalton McGuinty tried it and he backed off. Why did both of them back away from privatizing the LCBO? Because the people of Ontario have told the government over and over again they want the LCBO to stay in public hands." said Thomas.

In the last fiscal year, the LCBO had revenues of close to $5 billion and returned a dividend of more than $1.6 billion to the provincial treasury — more than $2 billion including taxes — to pay for health care, education and infrastructure.

Hudak ignored the LCBO's strict policy of enforcing rules prohibiting minors, those who are intoxicated and third-party purchasers from buying liquor, said Thomas. Last year, LCBO sales staff challenged more than a million customers under the LCBO's social responsibility polices.

"Tim Hudak is crossing his fingers, closing his eyes and hoping that private retailers will exercise the same degree of social responsibility as the LCBO does," said Thomas. "But the evidence from other jurisdictions, like Alberta, points in the opposite direction. When the profit motive is at stake, private retailers would prefer to make a sale than to protect the health and safety of their communities."

Thomas said the liquor board employees successfully fought back against Harris' plans to privatize the LCBO 15 years ago and would do so again if Hudak were to form a future government.

"We look forward to working with groups like MADD, police associations and health care workers in fighting against any plan to privatize the LCBO or put beer and wine in corner stores. We will put the full resources of our union behind this campaign."

Source

For 99 percent of us, there’s a monster in the closet

Dec 112012

Public Values

Income inequality "tear at the very fabric of society."

Canada has become a radically less equal country.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

"This has implications for our democracy."

Robin Hood tax wins

Dec 112012

World beat

Euro Parliament okays 11 nations' plans to tax financial transactions.

the National Union of Public and General Employees

Brussels (13 Dec. 2012) – The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT and commonly referred to as a Robin Hood Tax).

Shopper’s Drug Mart replaces hospital pharmacies

Nov 192012

Workplaces

New boss seeks to slash wages of new hires in high-speed, high-pressure jobs.

from Health Sciences Association of Alberta

CALGARY — Employees at outpatient pharmacies at three Calgary hospitals are warning the public today about a threat to the level of care being provided to patients.

“These pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are committed to providing the best level of care for patients, but their ability to provide that care is being undermined,” says Laine Burlingham, Labour Relations Officer at the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), which represents the nearly 50 employees.

Major step forward for Robin Hood tax

Oct 292012

Features

Eleven EU finance ministers approve tax in principle in package to curb risky trading practices.

from NUPGE

LUXEMBOURG — At a meeting of European Union finance ministers 11 countries agreed to proceed with a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT, and commonly referred to as the Robin Hood Tax) in the near future. While the details of the tax still need to be worked out, the finance ministers agreed to impose the tax as part of measures needed to curb risky speculative trading practices.

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