Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC

Delegates at the 30th Annual FPSE Convention voted to elect members of the new FPSE Executive.  The six-person Executive was confirmed following the Convention last month.

The following positions and candidates were acclaimed by the Convention:

1.    President, Cindy Oliver
2.    Secretary-Treasurer, George Davison
3.    First Vice-President, Nanci Lucas

Bargaining, organizing and holding governments accountable are major items at FPSE’s 30th Annual Convention

Working conditions have direct relation to classroom conditions.

A key to improving the learning environment for post-secondary students in BC will be improving working conditions for educators, say the people who work in BC's post-secondary institutions.

Community groups, arts and culture organizations, unions, seniors and students have banned together to press the provincial government to re-think its budget priorities. The group is called the Coalition to Build a Better BC. This Saturday, April 10th, they have organized a rally for 12:00 noon at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

VICTORIA: "Instead of building a legacy, this budget fails to address a growing problem in post-secondary education in BC," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. "Operating grants for BC's public post-secondary education institutions remain effectively unchanged as a result of this budget, despite the fact that BC urgently needs to increase access and opportunities for citizens wanting to start or complete a post-secondary education," Oliver added.

The Federal Minister of Labour announced three new appointments to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), the quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for the interpretation and administration of Part I and Part II of the Canada Labour Code. Cindy Oliver, President of FPSE was appointed as the part-time Member representing Employees.

In making the announcement, the Minister noted the importance of these new appointments in ensuring both timely decisions as well as strong regional input in the CIRB's policy and decision making process.

Coalition calls on province to "go for gold" with proposed cosmetic pesticide ban

January 14, 2010 (Vancouver) - An unprecedented coalition of 18 health and environment organizations is urging the BC government to "go for gold" and pass leading-edge legislation to ban the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides. The coalition also released a five-point statement calling for new legislation to prohibit the use and sale of these toxic lawn and garden chemicals.

“It’s not enough for the BC Liberals to impose “zero” mandates for the 2010 round of public sector bargaining.  They now want to use their legislative muscle to impose a collective agreement on striking paramedics,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators.  “The paramedics are members of CUPE Local 893, and they were in the process of voting on an offer from the employer.  That vote was scheduled to be completed by Friday.  However, the legislation preempts that vote by imposing a legislated settlement rather than giving paramedics the chance

The provincial government has tabled an update of its February 2009 budget. The revised budget highlights some remarkable changes in BC's fiscal conditions. Prior to the February budget, the BC Liberals were optimistic that the province's economy would side-step the effects of a global recession. Call it a convenient way to present a rosier picture to voters prior to the election or call it profound incompetence, the changes in BC's fiscal realities have left the provincial treasury deeply in the red.

“There’s nothing to cheer about in this update,” said George Davison, Secretary-Treasurer of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators.  “Funding at our public institutions is not keeping pace with either demands in the community or the core inflation needs of our institutions,” Davison added.