WHISTLER – B.C.’s 3,500 striking ambulance paramedics say elite Olympics trials are getting priority over emergency services for B.C. residents.

The Ambulance Paramedics of BC, CUPE 873, say many B.C.

WEST VANCOUVER—Sick children got a Halloween outing thanks to CUPE 873 paramedic Steve Williams and his Halloween pumpkin house. Williams carved 406 pumpkins and decorated his yard in West Vancouver for the 19th year running. The pumpkin house was open on October 30 and 31.

Steve started carving the pumpkins last Friday.

VICTORIA - The B.C. Liberals are legislating the province’s 3,500 striking ambulance paramedics “back to work” with the Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act. The move today in the Legislature is a first in Canadian labour history.

BURNABY—A group of 25 underprivileged children from southeast Burnaby had one of their most enjoyable school days ever yesterday, thanks to a CUPE 23-sponsored field trip designed to raise awareness about the lack of affordable transit for educational outings.

The children, accompanied by a small group of CUPE 23 volunteers, schoo

Subsidized field trip to raise awareness about high cost of transit for educational outings

BURNABY— A Grade Five class from Stride Elementary School will enjoy a rare field trip tomorrow (Thursday) when they meet Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, visit the Metrotown Public Library and catch the movie “Where the Wild Things Are” — all thanks to buses paid for by the civic workers' union, CUPE 23.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, not only for kids to learn about city hall, but also for the provincial government and Translink to step forward and cover the transit cost f

VANCOUVER – Conference participants were on their feet more than once during the opening night of CUPE BC’s Champions for Public Education conference on Monday. About 250 CUPE members and staff from the K-12, university and college sectors have come together for two days to share information and participate in workshops.

CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill opened the conference and talked about the important links between CUPE’s more than 40,000 education workers and all CUPE members.

VICTORIA – It’s past time for some public discussion about how sewage treatment will be financed and managed.

A report to the Capital Regional District’s Core Area Liquid Waste Management Committee on October 28 says that the cost for procurement consultants Ernst and Young Orenda will nearly double to $599,000 by February 2010, up from an original 2007 budget of $306,360.

The procurement consultants’ role is to review business models for sewage treatment, including how it will be financed, managed and operated, and whether it will be privatized.

“With costs for proc

WHISTLER – Unlike many B.C. residents, visiting Olympic athletes get more than a skeleton crew when it comes to ambulance services. B.C.’s Ambulance Paramedics report they are being forced to provide levels of service for Olympics tests that many citizens of B.C.

Pre-budget submission by CUPE BC calls on gov’t to restore funding for public services

BURNABY—The BC Liberal government’s decision to cut spending during the recession while cutting taxes at the same time was a political move that will not only hurt those who need public services most but also undermine the recovery of the economy, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

In a pre-budget submission to the British Columbia Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government

RICHMOND—CUPE 873, Ambulance Paramedics of BC, gave a strong endorsement to their Executive Committee by returning all incumbents.

“This is a vote of confidence in our fight to improve ambulance services,” says CUPE 873 president John Strohmaier. “We are united as we move this strike forward.”

CUPE 873 delegates unanimously supported the entire executive and returned all incumbents to office.