Now It's Time To Say Goodbye. . ,

# 199. The Last Post.

Ratification of the Library Workers contract by CUPE 391 Friday, October 19 and the VPL Board Saturday, October 20 marks the end of the second longest civic strike in Vancouver history.

I am no fan of the CITY or CUPE.

What should have been a 3 week strike degenerated into a 13 week grudge match.

The City with its:

• initial & repeated "firm, final offers" (a tactic illegal under US Labour Law);
  
• a 39 month contract offer (who negotiates during or just after an Olympics?);
  
• reduced benefits;
  
• the Mayor's misguided musings;
  
• unwillingness to consider other Metro Vancouver library contracts;
  

generated an unheard of 90 - 96% Strike Mandate.

CUPE's hands are dirty too.

• No Layoffs Due to Contracting Out;
  
• Seniority before Merit for all Auxiliary Workers;
  
• Treating the Olympics as just another work day;
  
• Designating all Olympic sites as CUPE facilities;

These were non-negotiable and demonstrate a 1980's British coal miner mindset (remember the Arbutus Club.)

CUPE was right to push for dispute resolution systems that protect employees from self anointed messianic managers found in any organization. Certain disputes have been allowed to fester for 10 years. Now it's 7 months and binding arbitration is involved if necessary.

A mediator was required to break the deadlock.

Thankfully, 8 weeks into the strike, the City misplayed the labour code's Section 56 request for a Special Mediator. A civic strike is not special. Face saving motivated the City to enter "enhanced mediation." CUPE had been requesting such for the length of the strike.

The strike is over except for Mayor Sam Sullivan. He wants to bill the November 2008 civic election as CUPE vs SAM, The Final Knockout. It's sad really. After 3 years the Mayor has no policy achievements only a continual flow of wish list press releases.

CUPE did itself no favours at its second rally outside City Hall. Declaring that CUPE will work to defeat the Mayor, CUPE gift wrapped an election platform Mayor Sullivan is happily exploiting. 12 months, however, is an eternity in politics.

All the while Cambie Street businesses received no property tax relief and now 35% are closed. Businesses at Library Square received no rent relief. The City is the landlord.

As for this blog..,

I didn't realize anyone was reading until Saturday August 18 when I posted the videos from the Arbutus Club. Suddenly, I had 10 comments.

Total Comments: 575.

August 22 I learned about Google Analytics and Sitemeter. Now I could measure how many people were reading and how many pages were read.

August 22 - October 20, 2007

• 5,471 Absolutely Unique Visitors
• 10,453 Visits
  
• 28,749 Page Views
• 2.4 Avg. Pages / View
  
• 4:14 Avg. Time on Site
  

Shaw and Telus were the most common domains.

Number 3 - The City of Vancouver.

• 1051 Visits
• 4:39 Avg. Time on Site
• 2.91 Avg. Page / View
• October 5th & 9th - Most Vists
  

Thanks to Walter Schultz, The Gazetteer, David Eaves, Beyond Robson, Urban Vancouver and Howe Street for the positive reviews and referrals to this blog.

Reading comments, for me, was the most enjoyable part of the blog. It definitely was not a one sided debate. Provocative, emotional and for the most part reasoned and well written.

Only 5 comments were rejected due to their flaming content.

Thank you for the comments, the support and most importantly for reading.

If there is a strike in 2012 I won't be with the City. 11 weeks provided the opportunity to develop a realistic business plan. It's been set in motion and one goal, unexpectedly, has already been reached.

It will be a great adventure.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu,
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye!

Library Workers Ratify Contract

Saturday, October 20, 2007

It’s Official. The Library Board Ratifies Agreement

Bargaining Committee wrote this in the early morning:

Early this morning the Vancouver Public Library Board met and ratified the Memorandum of Agreement between CUPE Local 391, the Vancouver Public Library Workers and the Vancouver Public Library Board, the Employer. The five year contract covers the period January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011.

CUPE 391’s members will be returning to work shortly to ensure that the public will be able to have access to their library system as soon as possible. Vancouver Public Library workers are eager to return to their jobs in public service that they love so much.

---------------

After 292 days without a contract and 89 days of strike action CUPE 391 - Library Workers voted:

YES: 71%

NO: 29%

Contract ratification means library staff return to work Monday Oct. 22nd and libraries will open Wednesday Oct. 24th.

Pay Equity Committee is included.

14. Joint Committee - Classification Issues
The Employer and the Union agree to establish a Joint Committee consisting of not more than three (3) representatives from each party to discuss classification issues. The primary purpose of the Committee shall be for each party to gain a better appreciation of the other party’s perspective on classification issues. The Committee shall meet periodically during 2007, 2008 and 2009 and shall cease to exist on 2009 December 31 unless both parties agree to extend it. The Committee shall automatically be removed from the Collective Agreement unless both parties specifically agree to renew it.

Memorandum of Understanding - CUPE 391 & Vancouver Public Library

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Library strike ends: CUPE 391 makes important steps towards pay equity

[October 19, 2007 07:05 PM] CUPE

VANCOUVER—After 88 days on strike, CUPE 391 members have voted 71 per cent in favour of the tentative agreement reached yesterday between bargaining representatives of the library workers' union and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL). The VPL Board will be holding their ratification vote tomorrow morning.

The agreement was based on recommendations issued by mediator Brian Foley on October 5, 2007 but included adjustments that were vital for the union before the members could accept the deal. A primary adjustment was the addition of a joint-committee on classification issues whereby the union can express their pay equity concerns.

"We've been saying all along that we went out on strike on a principle," says CUPE 391 President Alex Youngberg, "now we're going back on a principle. We are going back knowing we have made important advances towards the long-term goal achieving pay equity and paved the way to make further advances in the future."

In addition to Foley's recommendations, the tentative agreement also includes the:

• Inclusion of three more librarian positions into pay grade increases/wage adjustments.
• Expansion of benefit coverage to include orthodics.
• Improvements to the return to work agreement, including: maternity, paternity, adoption leave coverage; improvements on how to handle vacation upon return to work and extension of timeline on grievances.

"We are looking forward to working with our employer to fully restore public library services," says Youngberg. The library workers are expected to return to work as early as Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

"The public is encouraged to approach us in the library and ask us about pay equity. We'd be happy to tell you everything we know and point you to a book or two on the subject."

CUPE 391 represents 770 library workers employed by the Vancouver Public Library. This was their first strike in their 77-year history. It began on July 26, 2007.

Contact:

Alexandra Youngberg, CUPE 391 President, 604-908-6095
Ed Dickson, CUPE 391 bargaining chair, 778-840-0207
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

Memorandum of Agreement between CUPE 391 and Vancouver Public Library

Canwest Preaches Competition

Today's Vancouver Sun editorial describes the new era of labour relations between Frank Stronach and the CAW and extols the virtues of competition. No argument from me there.

The irony is the Vancouver Sun, as well as, The Province, Courier, Metro, National Post and GlobalTV are owned by CANWEST GLOBAL Communications.

Hmmmm. The federal government should "Take Heed" and bring the current era of media monopolies to an end.

After all, where is the incentive to compete?

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EXCERPT: Vancouver Sun - October 19, 2007

Take heed, Vancouver: A new era in labour relations is possible

After all, Vancouver has just endured one of the longest strikes by city workers in history and relations between the employer and the Canadian Union of Public Employees appear worse than when it began. Mayor Sam Sullivan predicts the next election will be a power struggle between his governing Non-Partisan Association Party and CUPE, rather than one of the opposition groups on council. The union, he says, hopes to install "a CUPE mayor."

The reason the common sense revolution that changed the dynamic between the CAW and Magna can't be repeated at the municipal level is that neither the city nor the union has to face competition.

There is nothing to temper union demands and only fear of a taxpayer revolt restrains the employer's willingness to accede to them.

There is no partnership between CUPE and the city. It is an antagonistic relationship in which the union is out to get as much as it can and local government's only concern is upsetting the citizenry to the point at which the governing authority is voted out of office. There is no discipline of profit, no goal of improving productivity, no expectation -- indeed, no intention -- of raising the quantity or quality of service.

Roughly 65 per cent of the city's budget is labour. As CUPE workers' pay goes up by nearly 19 per cent over the next five years (which is what the 17.5 per cent raise amounts to after compounding), citizens will provide the revenue to fund the increase through higher taxes. Taxpayers should not have to tolerate the withdrawal of services they have contracted and paid for.

It is time to reconsider the rules of public sector labour relations and ensure they also serve those who pay the bills.

Library Workers Vote Friday

MEDIA ADVISORY:

CUPE 391 vote results to be announced at 7pm Friday

[October 18, 2007 09:24 PM] CUPE

VANCOUVER - Vancouver striking library workers represented by CUPE 391 will vote on Friday, October 19, 2007 to accept or reject a tentative agreement reached today. The union bargaining committee is recommending acceptance of the agreement.

If the deal is ratified, library workers could return to work restoring public library services in the city as early as Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

The details of the tentative agreement will not be released until the vote results are known. They are based on mediator Foley's recommendations, and include adjustments negotiated between the two parties over the past week.

CUPE 391 members will be voting from noon until 6pm on Friday at the Maritime Labour Centre at Victoria Drive & Triumph Street in Vancouver.

What: Announcement of CUPE 391 vote results on tentative agreement

Where: Outside CUPE 391 office, 545 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver

Time: 7pm

CUPE 391's 770 members have been on strike since July 26, 2007. This is the first strike in their 77 year history.

Contact: Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

MEETING AND VOTE TOMORROW

Bargaining Committee wrote this around lunchtime:

There will be a meeting and vote on the proposed Memorandum of Agreement tomorrow at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street (the same place we had our benefit concert). Please note that parking is limited and people are encouraged to take transit. The meeting will be from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Voting will take place thereafter until 6pm.

The information package will only be available at the meeting.

Travel, meeting and voting time will count towards approx. 2 hours picket duty. However, to complete a 4 hour shift, two hours will have to be covered at one of the picket sites. Please note that attendance only at this meeting will NOT count as an automatic four hour shift like the last meeting. If you start or end your shift there you can sign in/out at the Centre. Otherwise, sign in and out at your picket location. Picketing will be at Central from 7-5 and Britannia from 8-4. Coffee and pizza will be provided at both sites around 1:00.

Your pay cheques will be available for pick up at the Centre from 10:00 - 4:00.

Library and union confirm tentative deal; libraries open Wednesday at earliest

Thursday, October 18 - 12:47:47 PM News1130 Staff

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Public Library and CUPE Local 391 have confirmed a tentative agreement to end the strike by Vancouver library workers. The union says the deal includes modifications to mediator Brian Foley's recommendations presented on October 5th.

The media blackout in place since Tuesday will continue until the library's 770 members vote Friday on the agreement. The Library Board will vote if the membership of CUPE 391 ratifies the agreement. If both parties ratify, library staff will return to work on Monday and library branches will be open to the public on Wednesday at the earliest.

Local 391 is the last of three CUPE locals to settle with the city. Inside and outside workers are already back on the job.

Library Vote this Weekend?

Vancouver's striking librarians reach tentative deal

Frances Bula, Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007

VANCOUVER - Vancouver's striking library workers and management have reached a tentative agreement, after a strike that began July 26 focused on better pay for the mainly female employees.

The agreement is consistent with recommendations made by mediator Brian Foley, but have been slightly modified, according to a private memo.

The two sides have not formally signed the agreement. Once they do, a ratification vote will be set, likely Friday or Saturday.

Today marks the 84th day of the library workers' strike. There is a blackout on all details about the agreement.

Library workers voted 78.1 per cent last week against Foley's recommendations for settlement, saying they didn't address the issue of pay equity that was a main concern for them.

The union, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 391, originally asked for a bump up the pay grade for the city's most senior librarians and a committee that would compare library work, a female-dominated profession, with city workers in male-dominated jobs doing work of equivalent complexity to see if there were pay inequities that should be leveled out.

Instead, Foley proposed giving several of the top classifications of library workers, about 300 of the 775, a bump up the pay grade. That amounted to $600,000 a year in increases. He said it was better to give them money now than spend months with a committee.

Foley also included in his proposals a new lower-paid category than what now exists for shelvers. But library workers said they wanted to take the money Foley was prepared to give, and which both city council and the library board agreed to, and spread it around among all 775 workers. They were also opposed to the new classification at the lower pay rate.

Library managers countered that spreading the money around would mean top librarians would end up earning less than other top librarians in the district, which was not really pay equity.

The library workers' strike is their first in 77 years. They were the last of three city unions to go on strike, after the inside workers went out July 20 and the outside workers July 23.

Foley was finally brought in in September, after weeks of failed and no negotiations, to come up with non-binding resolutions for all three unions.

The inside workers voted in favour of Foley's recommendations by 73 per cent, and returned to work Oct. 11, after an 81-day strike.

The outside workers voted 58 per cent in favour at the same time, but it wasn't enough because their local rules require a two-thirds majority. Three days later, after the resolutions were "tweaked" with some improved benefits and language on certain issues, the outside workers came to a tentative agreement and then voted to accept with an 88-per-cent majority Sunday, ending an 86-day strike.

All three unions get a 17.5-per-cent increase over five years, with a $1,000 signing bonus for full-time employees.

fbula@png.canwest.com
-------------------------------
CKNW is reporting a possible settlement between CUPE 391 and the City.

It looks like Vancouver libraries could be open by next week.

Oct, 17 2007 - 4:30 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Librarians and the city have reached a tentative contract agreement.

The city of Vancouver and striking Cupe local 391 members - librarians - have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

The tentative deal is pretty well consistent with mediator Brian Foley’s recommendations a few weeks back with some minor modifications.

A ratification vote will take place either Friday or Saturday.

It looks like the bargaining committee will recommend acceptance.

City libraries could be open by Monday.

CUPE 391 (LIBRARY WORKERS) is sticking to the media blackout, regardless of the media leak, but are reporting on the their blog that the bargaining committee is going to the Central library for a crew talk tomorrow morning.

Media Leak

Bargaining Committee wrote this mid-afternoon:

As you may know, there have been a number of stories in the media late this afternoon regarding the state of bargaining.

The Bargaining Committee will be coming down to the Central Library tomorrow morning for a crew talk. We are very sorry that we are unable to discuss anything further as we are technically still under a media blackout at this time. We apologize for all the confusion that this has caused.

Library Talks - Media Blackout

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Media Blackout in Effect

Bargaining Committee wrote this in the early afternoon:

Please note, a media blackout is now in place until further notice.

Thank you.

Media blackout in effect as library workers meet with employer

As of 2pm today, CUPE 391 and the Vancouver Public Library, City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau have agreed to a media blackout as the parties would like to remain focused on talks, which are underway. [October 16, 2007 02:00 PM]

---------------

Union's use of pay equity a misnomer, says library chief

Paul Whitney, Special to the Sun

Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2007

After 11 weeks of strike and recommendations for the most lucrative settlement of the three striking Vancouver civic workers' unions, the board and management of the Vancouver Public Library are deeply disappointed that library workers are not heading back to work and library services have not been restored for the residents of Vancouver.

Since rejecting the recommendations of Brian Foley, one of the most experienced and respected mediators in British Columbia, CUPE Local 391 has claimed that his proposal does little to address the union's key issue, pay equity.

Foley recommended one-pay-grade wage adjustments for 337 employees as a way to address some job market equity issues. He declined the union's request for a committee to study pay equity, which could meet for years before employees receive any wage increases and could also result in pay decreases. The Regina Public Library negotiated pay equity with its union and for four years both sides have been discussing the issue. Workers have yet to see any wage adjustments.

CUPE 391, which represents 770 library employees, says instead it would like to take the funding for these wage adjustments to provide increases for all staff. This is not pay equity. This is turning a 17.5-per-cent wage increase into a 19.5-per-cent wage increase over five years. In addition to the 17.5-per-cent salary increase over five years, the wage adjustments recommended by Foley add more than two per cent to the library payroll.

Since bargaining began last December, the union has raised pay equity as its members' major issue. The problem is that it has continually redefined the term, often erroneously, by mixing issues of internal, market and employment equity under the umbrella of pay equity. Claiming there is pay inequity at the Vancouver Public Library is easier and simpler than explaining to taxpayers you want a greater wage increase than has been negotiated not just with the other two Vancouver unions, but throughout Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Public Library and the City of Vancouver, the library's major funder, not only endorse the principles of pay equity, we also practise them. The current job evaluation system consistently results in upgrading for the majority of positions reviewed.

In order to respond to issues raised by CUPE 391, the city and library thoroughly reviewed and compared city and library job classifications and reconfirmed there is no gender inequity in workplaces funded by the city.

Making arguments under the guise of pay equity, the union has compared library jobs to inside and outside city positions and to jobs in other jurisdictions, as close as Burnaby and as far away as Toronto. It is important to examine what some of these comparisons actually mean:

- The union has claimed that an entry-level city labourer earns more than an entry-level library worker without acknowledging that some of the pay difference is because labourers work five hours more a week, labourers have only one hourly rate and do not advance in their positions as frequently or quickly as library workers, and their work conditions differ substantially.

- The union believes that librarians should earn the same as other professionals employed by the city who have masters degrees. A person's level of education is only one of the factors in determining appropriate compensation. Levels of responsibility, supervising staff and consequences of decisions must also be considered.

- On numerous occasions, the union has explained that librarians in Toronto are paid 23 per cent more per hour more than librarians in Vancouver because Ontario has pay-equity legislation and B.C. does not. The factor here is market equity, not pay equity. The union has not publicized that city planners in Toronto make 18 per cent more than those in Vancouver. And pay equity is not an issue as book shelvers in Toronto earn 42-per -cent less than VPL staff currently shelving books and 33 per cent less than the wage set by Foley for the new book shelver classification.

It is the responsibility of the library board and management to ensure that a negotiated settlement is fair to our employees, our major funder (the city) and to taxpayers.

Paul Whitney is the city librarian.

Pre-Election Posturing 02

Mayor expects to face 'CUPE candidate'

Chantal Eustace, Vancouver Sun

Published: Monday, October 15, 2007

Mayor Sam Sullivan said Monday he expects to run next year's mayoral election against the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Sullivan told The Vancouver Sun's editorial board he thinks this summer's civic strikes were about who runs the city and that the fight will extend to next year's elections.

"They wanted to see a CUPE mayor running city council," Sullivan said of the three CUPE locals that went on strike.

He added that he expects to run against "a CUPE candidate" next fal

"This strike will not be truly resolved until Nov. 15, 2008," Sullivan said. "I think the battle lines are drawn and it will be an interesting year. . ,"

Jurassic Park Board Dinosaur Meeting Oct 23rd

Letter from Park Commissioner Spencer Herbert.

Hi there,

I am writing to you today as I've just been alerted that the proposal to put 25 to 30 large robotic dinosaurs into Stanley Park will be debated by the Park Board earlier than expected. The "Dinosaur Experience" will be discussed at the Planning Committee on Tuesday October 23rd. The Planning Committee will be recommending whether or not this proposal should continue to the full board for approval.
Articles with more detail can be found here:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ae4cc88e-25ff-4c2c-b960-201abe3ad374&k=77294

I think it is vital that the public let the Planning Committee, and Park Board know what they feel about a Jurassic Stanley Park.

The meeting is at 7PM on Tuesday October 23rd and will be held at 2099 Beach Avenue in the west end of Vancouver. To address the committee you need to sign up by Monday the 22nd at 12 noon which you can do by phoning 604-257-8451, or emailing pbcomment@vancouver.ca. If you are unable to come to speak it is vital that you email the board your thoughts. An email can be directed to igrobertson@telus.net, korina.houghton@vancouver.ca, adegenova@sutton.com, spencer.herbert@vancouver.ca, heather@heatherholden.ca, lorettaisalways@shaw.ca, martyz@zlc.net.

If you are as concerned about this proposal as I am, and don't believe robotic dinosaurs are the right fit for Stanley Park please forward this message to your contacts, and urge them to let the Park Board know what they think.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Spencer
Spencer Herbert
Park Commissioner
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
spencer.herbert@vancouver.ca
778-859-4905
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Jurassic Park Board - 01

• Request for Proposals / Dinosaur Alternatives
• Park Board Management's Jurassic Treatment of Community Centres

Jurassic Park Board - 02

• The Rationale
• Pete McMartin's story tracing genesis of Jurassic exhibit proposal.

Jurassic Park Board - 03

• Dinosaurs Unearthed - website
• Toronto Zoo Exhibit Video

Library Worker Update

CUPE 391 and employer meet to make adjustments to Foley's recommendations

[October 15, 2007 05:04 PM] CUPE

Representatives of CUPE 391 met with representatives of the Vancouver Public Library and Metro Vancouver Labour Relations Bureau today to discuss adjustments to mediator Brian Foley's recommendations, which were rejected by 78.1 per cent of the membership last Tuesday.

While a tentative agreement has not yet been reached, further discussions are expected to take place between the parties.

Vancouver's 800 library workers have been on strike since July 26, 2007.

Mediator Foley's recommendations and previously agreed to items.

Contact:

Alexandra Youngberg, CUPE 391 President, 604-908-6095
Ed Dickson, CUPE 391 bargaining chair, 604-322-4879
Diane Kalen, CUPE Communications, 778-229-0258

Man walk postponed, some of the support we’ve been getting, and more

Janis wrote this in the late afternoon:

Man walk postponed
The man walk has been postponed until further notice. A lot of us have been excited about this one–please watch the blog for a new date and time, and keep practicing those Windsor knot-tying skills! (Note that the Kitsilano lunch is still moved to Wednesday this week–it was originally rescheduled to accommodate this special event.)

Pickets at Dunbar tomorrow
We’ll be picketing from 8-4 tomorrow (Tuesday). And see below:

Pickets taken down at JF and Kerrisdale
We are very pleased for our brothers and sisters in CUPE 15 and 1004 who have returned to work. Because Kerrisdale and Joe Fortes are shared facilities, we have taken these pickets down. Our members in both locations have done an amazing job of creating public awareness and building relationships with our colleagues in the community centres, as well as setting up high-functioning picket sites and all-round good places for our members to be during these difficult times. The Job Action coordinators want to thank all these members for their hard work during the strike.

CUPE 391 President and others at CUPE National
Every two years CUPE National holds its convention, and that’s where Alex (our president), Inder (chair of the hardship committee), Randy (one of our job action coordinators), and Aili (member at large) are right now, talking with CUPE members from across Canada. Many other locals have already sent donations and other kinds of support, and we are very happy–and proud–to be members of this powerful organisation.

More Support
We don’t always hear about the donations and messages of support we continue to receive from the public and fellow workers. It is very exciting–and inspiring–to hear that our sisters and brothers in the BC Teachers’ Federation have donated more than $80,000 to help members in 15, 391 and 1004. Thank you, teachers! We’ll report more details as soon as we can.

A reminder that when passers-by ask how they can support us, we can direct them to our website and the online petition. If every one of our supporters forwards the petition to friends and colleagues, we can really get the word out!

D’Arcy has also heard from Ann Seidl, the director of Hollywood Librarian, who called to tell us about her support for our cause. She is going to allow us to screen the film so that we can raise funds, and will even fly up from Wisconsin for interviews. We have booked The Rio (on Broadway) for Saturday November 3rd. Watch this space for more details, and see the Hollywood Librarian website for more information about “the first full-length documentary film to focus on the work and lives of librarians.” (Check out the gorgeous stills from Desk Set!)

And just as D’Arcy was updating Britannia staff today, a man came by and gave us a little speech. He said that he has always loved libraries, but that he “didn’t realise librarians had so much guts” for sticking it out. He urged us to go on fighting for our cause. It’s good to hear!

Pre-Election Posturing

The gloves are off and the Vancouver civic election campaign is underway. Only 13 months to go.

The defining issue - which side of the strike you are on.

NPA will claim that Vision and COPE would have settled the strike earlier because they would have given everything away.

COPE and Vision will argue bad faith bargaining on the part of the NPA council. They will point to Mayor Sullivan and Elizabeth Ball as the key culprits.

Finally, after listening to Mayor Sullivan on the Bill Good show it would appear the only person impacted by the strike was him. His agenda was set back etc.

If anyone was hoping for peace, reconciliation or the end to civic silly season it appears that acrimony, blame and mud slinging still rule the day.

Vancouver Garbage Pick Up Schedule

Collection Schedule for Garbage, Recycling and Yard Trimmings

Collection Schedule for 2007, January and February 2008

The schedules shown below are for garbage, recycling (blue box) and yard trimmings collected by City crews at single family, duplex and small apartments and townhouses. Garbage and recycling are collected every week. Yard trimmings are collected every second week, on the same day as your garbage and recycling.

How to Use the Schedule

In order to accommodate bi-weekly yard trimmings collection there are 2 collection schedules: the “North Schedule” and the “South Schedule”. The schedule you will use will depend on where you live.

We have provided 2 different formats for the garbage/recycling/yard trimmings collection schedule: an html format (shows the pickup days for your coloured zone only) and a pdf file which shows the schedule and map for all zones.

Instructions to view/download schedules:

1. Click on either the North map or the South map to find out what schedule to use.
   

   North	South

2. Once you are at the correct map follow the prompts and download the collection schedule in the preferred format.

Confused? Call the City's Garbage and Recycling Hotline at 604-326-4600 for assistance or e-mail us at recycle@vancouver.ca

1004 Back to Work

CUPE workers look forward to returning to the job

Oct, 14 2007 - 11:20 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - CUPE 10-04 members outside the voting station at the Maritime Labour Centre say they're happy to be going back to work.

Tony Rego is a sewer worker. He says the strike should never have lasted this long, "It should have been just a work-to-rule process. Basically, this should never have transpired. We should never have come to this point."

"So, how do you prevent something like this in the future?"

"Maybe, perhaps, a stronger Executive Board, a stronger presence of a strong mandate from our membership. We need more representation."

Rego says many 10-04 members feel the same way.

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Get ready for revitalized parks

Oct, 14 2007 - 11:10 PM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Parks staff will be returning to their jobs. The Park Board's Joyce Courtney says some preparation is needed in getting the City's parks up and running, "We're going to basically take a day to assess staff availability and prepare some of our sites and services for reopening in the next day or two."

Some of that preparation involves the City's golf courses, "Langara, McLeary and Fraserview and all the pitch and putts. We're going to be taking a look at Bloedell Conservatory, van Dusen Gardens and the sports fields."