Spring 2007

P OWER Your PCTC CAW Newsletter

GROWING WORKER Sierpina a short time ago he
ALIENATION echoed these sentiments when
By Martin Fisher he ventured that it would
be very difficult for CMBC
For some time now we have to remain competitive with
been witnessing the steady all the workplace rules and
by business to the economic
and dramatic shift to the right restrictions placed upon them
crisis of the late 1970’s.
in the actions and attitudes of in our Collective Agreement.
With profit levels down and
senior management of Coast We often hear them talk
increasing competition from
Mountain Bus Company. about how they want to be the
overseas, business interests
This trend has followed the “transit provider of choice”
looked to get rid of the things
argument that changes in the Clearly they have bought
that limited their ability to
economy are occurring due into the corporate view of the
restructure. Of concern were
to globalization and there world.
issues such as government
is nothing that can be done
rules that limited the ability
about it. Additionally it comes So down this road they go,
to move investment abroad,
at a time when a new wave of saving money on the backs
efforts to keep employment
worker activism is present of their workers. Two tiered
levels high – giving workers
as a sort of backlash against wage categories, clawing back
too much confidence and
the gains we have made as hard won gains, the creation
security - social programs,
workers. of Community Shuttle,
and strong unions.
uniforms manufactured in
Globalization has been countries with deplorable
Globalization isn’t just
with us for a long time – the human rights abuses. All in
an economic fact of life;
global trade of goods and the name of competitiveness.
it’s a daily weapon to get
services has been a basic This new corporate strategy
us to accept whatever the
characteristic of capitalism has no human face. What is
economic and political elite
since its origins – but what is most egregious is when the
define as necessary. Global
referred to today has a much CEO Denis Clements states
realities they warn us, mean
bigger particular meaning. that he thinks of the union as
we have to be competitive.
Globalization was a response continued on pg 3
In a conversation with Stan
pg 1
 W ith all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than
any other organization of men that ever existed. They have done more
for decency, for honesty, for education, for the betterment of the race, for the
developing of character in men, than any other association of men.

Clarence Darrow

The 160 Company Debacle implemented this

Vickie Bowne
Sheet/Service Rep Poco
I recently read in the BTC Progress the confusion
that all operators in Burnaby and Poco are
experiencing with the 160 route. I share in your
frustrations.
I am the PTC Sheet/Service Rep and the history
of the 160 stopping procedures changed two
years ago. The company wanted to accommodate
Burnaby passengers with more frequent service
and ease the congestion on the 135. The company
did not look at reinstating the 123 to downtown
instead of terminating them at Kootney. The
company did not look at increasing the service
of the 135. No they took the 160 run that is 1.5
hours long from end to end and have it pick up
local service along Hastings Street.
Firstly the stopping procedure is WB pick up
and drop off at Sperling, Holdom, Willingdon,
Gilmore and Kootney then drop off only from
that point on. For EB we pick up only at all
regular stops. Then drop off and pick up at
Kootney, Gilmore, Willingdon, Holdem and
Sperling.
Lastly just remember the company created this
But to the great wisdom of this company they debacle not your fellow worker.
pg 2
stopping procedure
only during peak
time and only in the
direction of the rush
hour. So no pick up
WB in afternoon.
Needless to say
confusion among
our brothers and sisters and the public was high.
Not to mention the confrontational situations
we encounter on almost every run. We quickly
told the company either increase the 135 and we
no longer do pick up/drop off or have us do this
all the time.
So the big wigs decided to have us do pick up
and drop off along Hastings as note above in
both directions all day and night.
Now I know there has been conflict. I hear it
every week. Poco drivers are not picking up,
Burnaby drivers are holding back letting me do
all the work. What I tell them is we are all in this
together, we are all on the same side. If this is a
problem you are experiencing talk to your rep.
They can then arrange to talk to the member and
straighten things out.
 “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Greater Vancouver
Transportation Authority
Police Service – GVTAPS
By Martin Fisher
While the bus system
languishes from years
of financial neglect,
the Greater Vancouver
Transportation Authority
Police Service – GVTAPS
– spent close to a million
dollars in late 2006 on a
spending spree. These were
for items not in it’s budget
and included such luxuries
as double wide lockers
for their officers, a media
podium, and new office
furniture and enhanced
security systems. Despite
the controversy surrounding
the use of Tasers – several
people have died after
being hit with them – the
expenditures also included
the purchase of these “non
lethal” weapons.
Nearly a quarter of a million
dollars was spent on new
uniforms – the new SWAT
look is in vogue these days-
which is especially galling
given the present condition
of our sorry state of company
issue dress.
It is certainly not unusual
for any operation to be given
a budget, take stock and
realize that if they fall short,
that very same budget
continued on pg 9

GROWING WORKER and unwilling to re invest in employees.

ALIENATION its workers. They said our
continued from pg 1 proposals were too rich. The union must continue to
Their answer is a carrot and reject the employer’s agenda
a partner in this relationship. stick approach. The stick is and during the term of this
Competitiveness is a real life the threat of competition and next agreement seek to extend
constraint that we must be the carrot is the promise of the areas that we can bargain
aware of and deal with, but employee participation and over with management on
once we accept it as our goal empowerment. The bottom order to defend the interests
we are lost. It undermines line is they want individual of our members and further
everything we as a union stand workers to participate only our agenda. There are, of
for. to the extent that we use course no limits to militancy.
our muscle and creativity to The trick is in figuring out
This was the employer that service their cost reduction how far we can go – intelligent
our bargaining committee agenda. Make no mistake; militancy – and taking the
sat across the table from, this is what they mean when necessary chances to get
one that was intransigent they speak of their valued there. pg 3
Bus Driver Rants riding public wonders why road and tied up traffic for
By Mark Thomson the bus is Late? Seems kind of a half hour making me late,
obvious to me. layoff, I don’t want to hear it.
Driving a bus gives me the I already know I’m late and
chance to see how the various 2. When the bus is full, the don’t need to hear it from you
people in this great city. Un- driver makes an announce- and everyone else.
fortunately, it also allows me ment to move to the back of
to see the stupidity of some of the bus, the back of the bus 4. Please, Please, Please have
those same people. is past the rear doors. If you a shower on a regular basis.
won’t move all the way back, When you get on the bus
Some of my rants about the it just means that we will leave smelling like a garbage bin
bus riding public are as follows people behind. Now that may from the alley behind Pender
(in no particular order). be no big deal once you’re on, Street, you make us all sick
but remember, next time it and disgusted. Now don’t go
1. There is a very good reason, may be you that gets left be- and pile on the perfume or
the bus stop says “Have fare hind. And when the bus is full, cologne to make up for not
ready before boarding”. Can it just is, and the driver can’t bathing, it is just as bad as the
you imagine if everyone riding do anything about it. If you dumpster.
the bus waited until they made can’t get behind the red line,
it up to the farebox, before you can’t get on, period. No 5. Quit asking for free rides
getting out their fare, or pull- matter what you say, the bus is all the time. I know it’s not my
ing out the faresaver ticket only so big. This is really stu- dime, but it truly pisses all of
from the book? Just yesterday, pid, especially when I look in us off, Man, the fare is only
I pull around the corner and my rearview, and see a line of 2.25, and if you can’t afford
stop at the bus stop, there was busses coming up behind us. it, you have bigger problems
3 girls waiting, they get on, than just a bus ride, have a nice
and only then, does one of 3. Now I know, that when you walk. I’m sick of you asking for
them open her purse, pull out get up and get ready to go to a free ride when I watch you
a faresaver book and slowly school or work, you may be in put out a smoke, and balance
tear out a faresaver and fumble a rush, but don’t blame me if your Starbucks latte while
to put it in the farebox. She the bus is late because of traf- climbing up the stairs. The
took well over 30 seconds to fic, delays or whatever. Now people that really need a ride,
complete a transaction that if I stop at Denny’s or Tim will get one, but the habitual
should have taken about 3 Horton’s, and leave the bus for free loaders won’t. Not only
seconds. Now that may seem a half hour and the bus is late does it piss off the drivers, but
trivial, but you do the math, 30 because of that, flame me all it also gets the fare paying rid-
seconds times 60 passengers, you want, I deserve it. But, if ers too.
it would take about .5 hours to the reason I’m late is because
load 60 people. And the bus some train parked across the 6. Don’t run across 4 lanes of
pg 4
 “Let me tell you something. If you ever let yourself feel good when people tell
you that you are OK, you are preparing yourself to feel bad when they tell you
you’re not good.
As long as you live to fulfill other peoples expectations, you better watch what
you wear, how you comb your hair, whether your shoes are polished – in short,
whether you live up to others expectations. Do you call that sane?”

Anthony de Mello

busy traffic to catch my bus, you on. Deal with it, That is9. Bottle pickers, please
if I have a chance, I will close why we don’t stop to let you double bag and make sure it
the door and leave you there on when you show up late. It doesn’t leak all over the place,
as I don’t want to encourage isn’t that we don’t like you.and be quick on and off. The
STUPID behaviour. If it’s Remember, this is a running spot to place the bag is NOT
late, and I’m the last bus, I do service to pick up waiting pas-
on a seat, but the floor.
have a little more flexibility on sengers, not a waiting service
10. When you want off and
this, but anytime you risk your to pick up running passen- need to pull the buzzer, the
life to catch a bus, remember, gers. time to pull is when we have
there will always be another passed the stop before you
one along shortly. Your life 8. If you are having a conversa- want off. Not as we pass your
is not worth catching some tion on your cell, remember stop, and not before the one
stupid bus. that everyone on the bus can before your stop, a little
hear you. We don’t want the thought goes a long way here.
7. I know it may seem mean, juicy details of your latest I will not slam on the brakes
but when we have loaded up, sexual conquest, or how well for those who pull the buzzer
closed the doors, and signalled your doctor’s appointment too late, I just figure no one
that we are merging into traf- went. And while I don’t want would expect me to nail the
fic from the bus stop, we can’t to know your Visa Card num- brakes hard enough to throw
just stop and open the door to ber and Pin, don’t think for a people off their seats and on to
let you on when you show up second that someone else on the floor.
late. That car behind us, who that bus doesn’t.
has stopped to let us in, will 11. Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
get confused if we stop to let

Unions: the people who

brought you the weekend
pg 5
 We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result
of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to
another that creates something.
Sandra Day O’Connor
Just for Laughs WANTED
I have a thought stuck in our next newsletter!
my head, actually it’s on the Email your limerick to
tip of my tongue and I was pctcnewsletter@gmail.
hoping to find someone to com or drop it off at the
help me finish it. union office and we’ll print
them in the next issue!
There once was a man
from Nantucket, Q: What happens if a frog
He climbed on my bus parks in a bus stop? Are you a shutter bug? Do
A: He gets toad away! you own a digital camera
with a bucket...
that seems to be glued to

1
CAN’T MANAGE
BUS COMPANY your hand? How would
you like the honour of
being the official PCTC
POWER NEWSLETTER
Help me out by finishing P h o t o g r a p h e r ?
my thought and we’ll Send your shots to
put your thoughts in pctcnewsletter@gmail.com

pg 6
A Good Read
By Martin Fisher
Have you stopped and asked
yourself – why are some
deaths treated more seriously
than others?
How do employers avoid
punishment even when their
negligence has contributed to
the wrongful death or serious
injury of an employee?
Do workers with limited
skills have the option to quit a
dangerous job?
Why do immigrant workers
suffer more fatal injuries?
How does a safety committee
address poor air circulation or standard repealed in the U.S.
“bad air” when standards and after twenty years of struggle
to obtain it?
What is the relation between
gender and repetitive strain
injury (RSI) in Canada?
If you have ever been interest-
ed in Occupational Health and
Safety or are an active member
of the committee this book is a
must read:
“Worker Safety Under
Siege: labour, capital and
the politics of workplace
safety in a deregulated
regulations are inadequate or world” edited by Vernon
lacking? Mogensen; published by
How was an ergonomics M.E. Sharpe Inc. 2006
A must see movie
By Vickie Bowne
I just finished watching a movie that I feel ev-
eryone should rent. The movie is called Shoot-
ing Dogs about the Genocide in Rawanda.
The premise is similar to Hotel Rawanda but
this story takes place in a Catholic school were
2500 Rawanda people were murdered.
I wish I could understand how this could of
happened, how we as Canadian didn’t do
anything but I can’t. I feel compelled to get
this story out so we can educate each other and
hopefully we can prevent something like this
from ever happening again.
Please share this movie with your family.
pg 7
 Protect Our Pensions
THE CANADIAN PENSION CHARTER

C ANADIANS WORK HARD. FOR OUR ENTIRE WORKING LIVES, WE DEDICATE OUR BODIES AND OUR BRAINS TO
SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES AND BUILDING OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THE PROSPECT OF A GOOD RETIREMENT
HELPS CANADIANS GET THROUGH THE DAILY GRIND OF WORKING LIFE.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RETIRE WITH DIGNITY AND SECURITY, AND TO ENJOY THE LATER YEARS OF OUR LIVES FREE
FROM THE NEED TO WORK. CANADA IS A WEALTHY COUNTRY, AND WE CAN AFFORD ADEQUATE INCOME SECURITY
FOR ALL SENIORS.

• Every Canadian is entitled to retire by age 65 with an adequate and secure pension.
• Our pension system must be built on a strong foundation of universal public pensions, which
should be expanded over time. Public pensions are more efficient and secure than private
pensions, and must be maintained as public programs.
• The combination of public and workplace pension plans must replace enough pre-
retirement income to allow every worker to comfortably enjoy their retirement. Also,
no retired person should live in poverty, regardless of their pre-retirement income.
• Our pension system should provide opportunity for Canadians to retire early,
especially those in difficult jobs or experiencing economic restructuring.
• Income security during retirement must not depend on the performance of
financial markets, or whether or not a person was lucky with their investments.
• Employers have an obligation to provide adequate pensions to their employees,
over and above the requirements of the public system.
• Employer commitments to pay future pension benefits must be enforced and
guaranteed by law.
• Employer commitments to provide health benefits to retirees must be guaranteed through pre-funding and by law.
• Our pension system must make fair allowances for those whose paid work life was interrupted to perform
unpaid caring labour, such as raising children, illness or injury, or by unemployment and restructuring.

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pg 8
 Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and bruised itself. We have
been enjoined by the courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, traduced
by the press, frowned upon in public opinion, and deceived by politicians. ‘But
notwithstanding all this and all these, labor is today the most vital and potential
power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate
realization as is the setting of the sun.
Eugene V. Debs:

Greater Vancouver
Transportation Authority
Police Service – GVTAPS
continued from pg 3
will be slashed the following
year. What is objectionable
is the value we as transit
providers and transit users
receive. Perhaps it’s time
for some reasoning on this
issue. Do we get any value
from having an armed police
force that is separate from
other jurisdictional police?
Consider the following:
The vast majority of the time
officers spend in the field
is on the Skytrain system.
There, tickets are issued
for non fare compliance.
The average fine runs in the
neighbourhood of $175.00;
which makes one wonder
if a person is unable to
afford the fare in the first
place, what makes them
think they will be able to
afford such a hefty fine.
There have been numerous
complaints of excessive
force used in apprehending
these “criminals”. This is a
classic example of Translink
criminalizing the poor. Our
members face an increasing
violent environment, yet no
constables in sight. They are
far too busy writing tickets.
Recently at PCTC our
GVTAPS member was
so proud of the fact that
they were able to spot and
confiscate a counterfeit fare
media card. How exactly
does that provide protection
for our members? The
Occupational Health &
Safety Committee always
includes time for a GVTAPS
representative to attend. It
seemed to be a reasonable
inclusion so that any security
issues could be raised and
action be taken. To date the
PCTC officer has missed
6 of the last 7 meetings.
Occupying our workspace,
yet ignoring the committee
you elected to represent
your safety concerns is an
affront to us all.
I asked Mike McComber
to consider providing the
union with some more space,
specifically an office for the
OH&S representatives. He
was non receptive and cited
that space was a premium
in the depot. Considering
the amount of work your
union representatives does
that directly benefit the
membership it seemed a
reasonable request. The
union suggested that he
police constable volunteer
to vacate the office for the
benefit of the workers.
Considering that the
New Westminster Police
offices have had such an
upgrade, perhaps this is
not so unreasonable. After
all it’s right next door to a
Skytrain.
pg 9
 Strong Pensions – Secure Future
Fact Sheet #1: A Canadian Pension Primer
Three Tiers
� Canada’s pension system relies on 3 major
components:
1. Public pensions, which are available to
virtually all workers.
2. Employer pension plans (called “Registered
Pension Plans,” or RPPs), which are
provided to about 40% of workers.
3. Individual savings (including tax-assisted
savings through “Registered Retirement
Savings Plans,” or RRSPs), which depend
on workers having spare cash to invest.
� Public pensions are the most universal (covering
almost all workers), the most portable (you keep
your benefits even if you switch jobs), and the
most secure. They are also the most efficient,
since their administration costs are much lower
than private plans.
� Workers with bargaining power have been able
to force their employers to pay additional
pension benefits on top of the public system.
� A pension system that depends heavily on
individual savings will never offer adequate
protection to the vast majority of workers.
� As a union, we aim to strengthen and expand the
public pension system; protect employer
pension plans where they exist; challenge more
employers to provide pensions to their workers;
and reduce the importance of individual savings
in the overall pension system.
Public Pensions in Canada
� There are three major types of public pensions
currently offered in Canada:
pg 10
1. The Canada Pension Plan (and the separate
Quebec Pension Plan): Almost all workers pay
into the CPP/QPP. Premiums equal 9.9% of
earnings up to a maximum pensionable ceiling
(currently $45,000, roughly equal to the average
industrial wage), split 50-50 between workers
and employers. Pensions replace about 25% of
pensionable earnings, and are fully indexed to
inflation; the current maximum pension is $829
per month. Disability and survivor pensions are
also available; a “drop-out” clause compensates
for some years out of the labour force. Studies
project that at current premium rates (9.9%), the
CPP will be financially secure right through the
coming retirement of Canada’s baby-boomers.
Compared to private pension funds, the CPP is
completely secure.
Canadian Pension Timeline
1887: Pension Fund Societies Act: first
legislation governing employer pension plans.
1927: Old Age Pension Act: federal government
agrees to co-pay with provinces a means-tested old-
age pension to British subjects 70 yrs. or older.
1952: Old Age Security: first direct federal-
funded pension; means test eliminated.
1957: RRSPs introduced to subsidize personal
retirement saving.
1965: OAS retirement age reduced to 65.
1966: Canada/Quebec Pension Plan founded.
1967: GIS implemented.
1972: Indexation for OAS benefits introduced,
followed by 1974 for CPP and GIS.
1977: Tighter Canadian residency requirements
introduced for OAS and GIS.
1987: Early retirement option introduced in CPP.
1989: OAS clawback introduced.
1998: New CPP premium schedule introduced.
2000: Same-sex couples are entitled to full
CPP/OAS benefits.
1
2. Old Age Security (OAS): This is a universal
pension paid to most Canadians over 65
(reduced for those who lived less than 40 of
their adult years in Canada, and unavailable to
anyone who lived less than 10 adult years here).
The OAS pension is gradually “clawed back”
for those retirees who make over $60,000 per
year. The current maximum benefit is $472 per
month, fully indexed to inflation.
3. Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS): This
is a means-tested pension which supplements
the incomes of retirees who have little or no
income other than the OAS. For unattached
seniors, the maximum GIS is $561 (less for
married seniors). The GIS is reduced by $1 for
each $2 of income for unattached seniors ($1 for
$4 for married).
Employer Pension Plans
� There are two broad types of employer plan:
1. Defined benefit (DB) pensions, in which
employers guarantee a specified pension
benefit to workers after they retire.
2. Defined contribution (DC) plans, some-
times called “money purchase plans,” in
which the employer contributes a certain
amount annually to each worker’s personal
account; the pension benefits which are
ultimately paid out depend on many factors
(including stock market performance), and
are not guaranteed by the employer.
� Employers generally prefer DC-type pension
plans, for two main reasons:
1. All the financial risk is borne by the
individual workers; if stock markets perform
poorly, it doesn’t matter to the employer.
2. Administration costs are usually lower than
for DB plans.
� For similar reasons, unions are fighting hard to
preserve the DB system: workers shouldn’t have
to gamble in order to enjoy a secure retirement.
The “investment risk” (from stock market fluc-
tuations) and the “annuity risk” (from interest
rate fluctuations) should be borne by employers.
2 pg 11
The DB Funding Crisis
� Since 2000, many DB pension plans have
experienced funding deficits – meaning they do
not have enough assets right now to guarantee
future pensions. These deficits arose partly
because of the downturn in stock markets after
the “dot-com” craze of the 1990s, and partly
because of very low interest rates (which make
it more expensive to pay for future pensions).
� In most cases, there’s no need to panic over
these deficits. They will gradually be reduced
through a combination of increased employer
contributions to the plans, a rebound in stock
markets, and rising interest rates. But in cases
where a company may go out of business, then a
pension deficit can result immediately in
reduced or even eliminated pension benefits (for
both current employees and retirees).
� Government regulators are supposed to oversee
DB pension plans to ensure that sufficient funds
are available to cover promised pensions – but
the system doesn’t always work. That’s why
the CAW is calling for a public pension
guarantee fund as a backstop for pension plans
when companies are in trouble (similar to the
deposit insurance system that guarantees
Canada’s banking system).
Building on Success
� Canada’s public pensions are an incredible
success story. They have reduced the incidence
of poverty among elderly Canadians (they are
now less likely to be poor than working-age
Canadians or children). Preserving and
expanding this system to keep pace with
changes in the workplace is a key goal of our
pension campaign.
� Nevertheless, many Canadians still fall through
the cracks of our system. The public system
must be strengthened to eliminate senior
poverty. Funding for existing DB pensions
must be stabilized. And more employers must
be forced to contribute to the retirement income
of their employees.
 A show by, for and about working people, analyzing issues from
union activities through the economy to international affairs.
Wednesdays at 8pm on Vancouver Co-op Radio CFRO 102.7 FM

This newsletter has

been brought to you by
the following generous
volunteers:
Ruth McMillan
Editor
Martin Fisher
Property Rep
Vickie Bowne
Sheets & Service Rep
Mark Thompson
PCTC POWER
Contributor

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