BC FORUM News - from The Advocate, June, 2014

BC FORUM and you: a strong team

by Diane Wood, President, BC FORUM

I want to thank you. Your membership and participation in the work of BC FORUM is so important to me, our board of directors, and to our organization as a whole.

As older or retired workers, you and I have seen a lot. We know that some battles can take a long time to win, and that we are strongest when we stand together in solidarity.

Today, I want to ask for your help in making BC FORUM an even stronger voice for senior workers and retired union members.

You may not be aware that the members of our board of directors are all unpaid volunteers. They work very hard, and put in many hours to push for change on the issues that affect seniors and our families.

They are a very determined group, steeped in the traditions and values of our movement, and strongly committed to working on our behalf.

There’s so much to be done. The labour movement, older workers, retired workers and our families are under constant attack. Our directors are doing all they can – but we must all work together to fight back and I hope you will take an active role in that.

The challenges are coming at us from every direction.

At the federal level, the Harper government has launched a stealth attack on Medicare, refusing to renegotiate the national Health Accord that expired March 31, 2014. It is pressing ahead with plans to raise the age of eligibility for Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, threatening the retirement security of our children and grandchildren. It is cutting postal service and raising rates, steps that disproportionately affect seniors on fixed incomes. And it is negotiating with Europe a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement that threatens to significantly raise the price of prescription drugs (again).

Provincially, the Christy Clark government continues to deepen inequality. By steadily increasing regressive taxes such as Medical Service Premiums, her government has created a tax structure that benefits only the rich – they pay a lower proportion of income in taxes than everyone else. Minimum employment standards remain woefully inadequate. And for people in ferry dependent communities, her government is raising rates, slashing the seniors’ discount and cutting service.

I ask every BC FORUM member to join us in taking on these foul government actions.

I ask you to help us grow stronger by signing up a friend, relative or coworker. They can join at our website, www.bcforum.ca. Or they can use the application form that’s printed in every edition of The Advocate.

Remember that membership is open to all members of B.C. Federation of Labour affiliated unions who are 50 or older, not just retirees.

Our friends in the labour movement face challenges in organizing. Unfriendly governments make it more difficult with anti-union laws and trade deals designed to drive down wages and benefits. These difficulties are compounded by the trend to smaller workplaces, with frequent staff turnover.

It is even more difficult to organize retired workers.

There are no workplaces. There are no lists of employees to contact. There are no paid organizers. Finances are limited. There is no dues checkoff. Dues must be collected and processed from members who must be renewed on a regular basis.

The support of the BC Federation of Labour and a number of affiliates is helping us to balance the budget, continue our activities, and pay the salary of our one person part-time administrative staff.

Their support is given in recognition of the fact that retired workers can be a powerful force for political change. We vote. We believe in a civil society. And there are more of us every day.

BC FORUM is the vehicle which can bring together retired workers. And like the labour movement, our strength depends on our numbers. We must continue to sign up more older workers and retired workers every day. I ask for your help to make it happen.

Thank you again for your contribution to building our collective strength, and our ability to press for real change.