2 THE DAILY VOICE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012 EDITOR STACY THOMAS ews & features Labour Fed leadership challenged CUPE supports one of its own, Michelle Laurie, as “best choice” to usurp Jim Sinclair By JENNIFER THUNCHER Ihe union that represents Langa- ra support staff says it is time for a change at the top of the B.C Federation of Labour. The Canadian Union of Public Em- ployees (CUPE) is backing Michelle Laurie, of the electricians’ union, for president against Jim Sinclair at the Fed convention being held this week in Vancouver. “Under Michelle Laurie’s leadership, I’m confident that the BC Federation of Labour will become more relevant to rank-and-file union members all over the province, and position the Fed as a source of new ideas, not just protest,” said president of CUPE, Barry O’Neill. This is the first real threat to Sin- clair’s leadership after twelve years in power. This challenge comes at a critical time for Sinclair and the BC Fed. With the NDP quite high in the polls and the Liberals on the ropes over vari- ous scandals, the Fed is set to have the ear of Adrian Dix and the NDP who may next run this province. Langara Faculty Association presi- dent Lynn Carter says the convention always offers a great opportunity for labour activists to get together. She doesn’t think the challenge to Sinclair’s leadership is a negative thing. “It is great to have options for the election. It will be very interesting to see the outcome,” said Carter. In Sinclair’s keynote speech in front of hundreds of delegates on Monday, there was no sign of the intense con- test for the top seat. Instead Sinclair focused his attack on the provincial Liberal’s lack of ac- tion on temporary workers, referenc- ing HD Mining in northern B.C. The company “plan [s] to bring hun- dreds of temporary workers without rights to extract our coal . . . Christy Clark and the B.C. government saw nothing wrong with that,” said Sin- clair. For her part, Laurie says it is time for a change of leadership so that a woman leads the organization, but is somewhat vague about what she would do specifically if elected. In a written statement, she says she will improve the image of the union, be more accountable and focus on train- ing and education. According to delegate Doug Mackay of the electrician’s union, Laurie is the best choice now. “I have no problem with Jim [Sinclair], but we need a change. She would make a good lead- er,” said Mackay, who sported a bright green “Support Laurie” shirt. Hospital Employee Union spokes- woman Bonnie Pearson supports Sin- clair. “Jim doesn’t just support union card holders,” Pearson said “he was funda- mental in the fight for minimum wage . . and against the abuse of foreign temporary workers.” Pearson said HEU is asking its dele- gates to vote for Sinclair. The election is on Thursday. CUPE's Top pick Hi Master's Degree in Environment and Development ME Worked with BC Hydro, Engineers Canada, Environ- ment Canada MM President of Local 258 of the Interna- tional Brotherhood of Electrical Work- ers Beer war Steamworks challenges Granville Island Brewing over Cascadia name rights By SAM REYNOLDS ies may become locked in a legal battle over the use of the word “Cascadia” in their brews. According to the blog the Barley Mowat, Steamworks has recently start- ed sending cease and desist letters to breweries that use the word Cascadia in their titles. In a release, Steamworks stated that most breweries that received the cease and desist letters are going to comply with the letter, with the exception of Granville Island Brewing. Steamworks first registered the trademark “Cascadia” for its cream ale that it started brewing shortly after opening its doors in 1995. The brewpub applied for a trademark on the name in 1999, but its application was opposed by Granville Island which was at the time owned by a parent company called “Cascadia Brands.” It has since been purchased by Molson. At the time, Granville Island did not have a product on the market that used the word “Cascadia”. Granville Island withdrew its oppo- sition to Steamworks’ trademark filing in 2006, and shortly thereafter the trademark was registered with Steam- works. As of 2012, the Steamworks cream ale is no longer being brewed. In June 2012 Granville Island re- leased a dark ale it calls the “Cascadian Dark Ale”, which is described as a dark India Pale Ale—a stark contrast from Steamworks’ lighter cream ale. A public letter recently released by Steamworks explains why the brewery is going after Granville Island. “[Steamworks] has decided that pro- tecting our trademark vs. Molson owned Granville Island Brewing is the best course of action so as to preserve the integrity of the name ‘Cascadia,” the brewery said in its letter. “Our plan is to license the trademark to other true B.C. craft breweries for a very nominal fee ($1 perhaps) which is le- gally needed to protect the trademark for all.” Steamworks owner Eli Gershkovitch said that in his opinion this case was “black letter trademark law”. “Geographical locations can be trademarked: think Molson Canadian or Granville Island,” Gershkovitch said. Granville Island Brewing maintains that they are not violating any sort of trademark, and that they have not re- ceived a cease and desist letter from Steamworks or Gershkovitch. T: high-profile Vancouver brewer- oe =—_ A = ronmt f ommeene meee” aweeue , peeeed wer OMAR SHARIFF photo BC Ferries hopes to save $26 million with proposed “service changes” and is inviting the public to respond at various consultations. Islanders upset by proposed ferry cutbacks BC Ferries consulting pub- lic about its possible cuts By SIMONE PFEIFFER ers expressed the need for a larger vision for transportation at a BC Ferries public consultation meeting Monday. About two dozen people gathered at SFU Segal Graduate School of Busi- ness to take part in the small public meeting prior to the open house sched- uled for later in the evening. BC Ferries is holding meetings in communities throughout the province to receive feedback on its proposals to meet savings of $26 million through “service adjustments”. The deadline to provide feedback is Dec. 21, 2012. Rob MacNeil, general manager of HapiFoods Inc., went to the meeting be- cause he was concerned that proposed cuts to ferry service might impact his ability to ship his product, Holy Crap cereals. Ces: and community stakehold- Holy Crap, based in Sechelt on the lower Sunshine Coast of B.C., depends on the Horseshoe Bay ferry. When it comes to getting his wheat shipment and delivering his products, “There’s no other option but the ferry,” he said. Reducing service is unfair to people who rely on the ferry, he said. “How would people in Vancouver feel if we shut down bridges for 4 hours every day?” he said. “It’s a hot-button topic for anyone who lives in a ferry- dependent community.” MacNeil also suggested the consulta- tions are a waste of time. “They have all the data, it’s always the same. Cuts, cuts, cuts.” What’s lacking he said, is a more complete as- sessment. Keep the ferries the way they are. It’s time to look at the infra- structure of B.C. as a whole.” Concern about the lack of a coherent B.C. transportation vision was echoed by others at the meeting. Katja Mazura said she was con- cerned about the piecemeal approach. “Questions are very specific but we don’t know where we're going,” she said. BLAND r \ i i i oVictoria aN fi Horseshoe Bay Tsawwasse| eee ad BC FERRIES photo Proposed ferry cuts may affect Gulf Island routes.