March 14, 2007

A Stunning Contrast

The Descent of the US; the Rise of Latin America

By PHILIP AGEE

Havana.

Anyone following the news in recent times cannot be unaware of the wave of progressive change sweeping Latin America and the Caribbean. For many lonely years Cuba held high the torch through its exemplary programs to provide universal health care and education, both gratis, along with world class cultural, sports and scientific achievements. Although you won´t find a Cuban today who says things are perfect, far from it, probably all would agree that compared with pre-revolutionary Cuba there is a world of improvement. All this they did against every effort by the United States to isolate them as an unacceptable example of independence and self-determination, using every dirty method including infiltration, sabotage, terrorism, assassination, economic and biological warfare and incessant lies in the cooperating media of many countries. I know these methods too well, having been a CIA officer in Latin America in the 1960´s. Altogether nearly 3500 Cubans have died from terrorist acts, and more than 2000 are permanently disabled. No country has suffered terrorism as long and consistently as Cuba.

continued at http://counterpunch.org/agee03142007.html

NEWS FLASH
BC’s Community Social Services Workers

Volume 1 #1
March 13, 2007

Working group to raise sector profile

The association of unions representing BC’s community
social services workers has established a working group to raise the
profile of the sector and respond to new developments.

The campaigns working group will focus on issues such as
new service delivery models in community living services, the
recruitment and retention crisis in the workforce, chronic under-funding
and poor planning by government as well as preparing to make
community based social services a key issue in the municipal and provincial
elections.

Community social services continues to be the most poorly
funded part of the broader para-public sector with pay and benefits
lagging far behind our colleagues doing similar work in health care and the
public (direct government) service. Service providers, contracted by
government to provide a range of services in the community, are currently
facing serious challenges in recruiting and keeping employees. The
working group plans to engage with frontline workers in putting a
face to the crisis and the shaky state of the sector.

Community Living BC undermines care Community Living BC (CLBC), the arm of the provincial
government that funds services for individuals with developmental
disabilities, is in disarray and looking to cut costs by closing as many as 100
group homes. CLBC’s "residential options review" is actually limiting
choices for individuals and their families by making placement in an
established residence staffed by experienced staff an absolute last
resort. As many as 3,000 individuals and families are on a growing waitlist
for services in the meantime.

Families, community and self-advocates are stepping up the challenge to
CLBC’s disastrous plans, which include greatly expanding proprietary
care, a model of residential services that is not properly
monitored and is inappropriate for many individuals. CLBC and community
living services providers represented by the Community Social
Services Employers’ Association (CSSEA) are demanding "significant"
concessions from the unions representing workers currently providing
qualityservices.

Stay tuned for our new improved website!
The website of BC’s Community Social Services workers,
www.respectbc.ca is in the process of being revamped
and will soon be re-launched.

Watch for a new look and the latest news!

We Are…
The 13 partner unions of the Union Bargaining Association.
Collectively we represent more than 15,000 community-based social
services workers in BC.  Everyday we work to strengthen communities and build
social solidarity.

Contact us at: info@respectbc.ca