Downtown Eastside sex workers want to share their stories when the Supreme Court of Canada hears an Ontario challenge of the country's prostitution laws this summer. Canada's top court is set to hear the challenge on the laws that ban communication, keeping a bawdy house and living off the avails of prostitution in June. Pivot Legal Society is … [Read more...]
Settlement finally paid in Canada Line foreign workers case: union
April 2, 2013 by
A B.C. trades union is expected to announce tomorrow details of a settlement that has finally been paid in a human rights case involving temporary foreign workers who helped build the Canada Line. The b-c human rights tribunal ruled back in 2008 that SELI Canada and SNC Lavalin discriminated against Latin American workers toiling on the Skytrain … [Read more...]
Man pleads guilty in sex worker’s 2010 death
March 28, 2013 by
An Okanagan man has pleaded guilty in the 2010 death of a sex trade worker. The body of Teri-Lyn Williams, 41, was found in some bushes in Surrey on June 9, 2010. Dustin Lalonde, 23, was charged with second-degree murder months later. He has now pleaded guilty, before the start of his trial, in New Westminster Supreme Court. RCMP Cpl. Adam … [Read more...]
BC Place workers ratify new deal
March 12, 2013 by
PAVCO and the BCGEU have reached a three year agreement for workers at BC Place. There is no wage increase in the first year, then a two percent bump in each of the final two years. BC Pavillion Corporation employs 35 full time and 100 part time workers at BC Place Stadium. CKNW Vancouver News … [Read more...]
New job contract for thousands of BC health workers
February 18, 2013 by
More than 15-thousand health workers across BC have a new contract with the provincial government. The two year deal includes more money totalling three per cent for employees represented by the Community Bargaining Association. They include home-support workers, alcohol and drug counsellors, as well as staff at mental-health group homes. The … [Read more...]
Transit workers vote to accept pact with bus company
February 6, 2013 by
Two major transit unions have voted 88-percent to ratify a new three year deal with Coast Mountain Bus Company. Canadian Auto Workers Local 1-11 President Don MacLeod says the deal means a raise for some 47-hundred transit workers, "It is a raise. It is a three year agreement; it will expire March 31st, 2015. The first year is a zero; the … [Read more...]
Unions: resumes show HD Mining rejected qualified Canadian workers
February 3, 2013 by
BC Building Trades unions say resumes released through a federal court order show highly qualified and experienced Canadian miners were rejected by HD mining for work in BC coal mines. The unions say the resumes show there were workers who had as much as 30 years of mining experience, and who had managed major mines in Canada. HD Mining obtained a … [Read more...]
Community Living workers to stage one day strike
January 29, 2013 by
Nearly 3400 Community Living workers around the province are staging one day strikes this week. They are members of the BCGEU, and work with adults, children, and infants with disabilities and their families. Pickets will be up at community social service agencies in eight communities around BC tomorrow, seven more on Thursday, and one, Cranbrook, … [Read more...]
Chinese mine workers heading for home
January 29, 2013 by
The mining company that hired Chinese workers to toil in a BC mine say those workers are heading home. HD Mining says 16 workers hired for preparatory work at a mine in Tumbler Ridge are returning to China. They say they're "very concerned" about the "cost and disruption" from a legal challenge brought by two unions over the use of those … [Read more...]
Half of unionized workers heading into holiday under new contracts
December 21, 2012 by
The Province is calling it a milestone. Half of unionized public sector workers are heading into the holiday season with new contracts. They say another quarter have reached tentative agreements, or ratified settlements. Finance Minister Mike De Jong says while all of the agreements include modest wage increases, there is no new money for … [Read more...]
