From another list. It seems that even God isn't
safe from the neo-cons.
Ed
>
> http://www.kootenaycuts.com/archive/?5380
>
> Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 15:31:18 -0700
> From: moe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [KCUTS] Sunset of the Sally Ann
>
> http://www.rabble.ca
>
> Sunset of the Sally Ann
>
> Donations to the Sally Ann have dwindled, and the Army is closing many
> doors on the destitute all over. Sally Ann blames the economy.
>
> by Susanne Shaw
>
> August 18, 2003
>
> Since 1865, the Salvation Army has championed the downtrodden and saved
> countless lives. The beloved "Sally Ann" evokes universal respect for its
> good works, from funding hospitals, to providing the down-and-out with
> cheap clothing, a hot meal, a clean bed and a message of Hope for a Better
> Next Life.
>
> Sally Ann is the largest social service network in Canada, after the
> Canadian government. No wonder it has been the charity of choice for so
> many!
>
> Until now.
>
> Donations to the Sally Ann have dwindled, and the Army is closing many
> doors on the destitute all over.
>
> Sally Ann blames "the economy" but Sally's birthplace, Victorian
> Whitechapel, wasn't rolling in dough, either. So what's the problem?
>
> The research is dismaying. The Salvation Army is a multinational
> organization. Its Canada-Bermuda division alone owns $1.13 billion in
> assets, $400 million in investments and $237 million in revenues exceeding
> its spending by $18 million.
>
> Sally Ann even opened on the Nasdaq last summer - pictures and all -
> hardly the activity expected of a charity crying for cash.
>
> Sally Ann doesn't seem to be hurting, so why is its Sunset Lodge in
> Esquimalt, B.C. being privatized? The lodge is operated by the Salvation
> Army and funded by the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
>
> The residents of Sunset Lodge suffer from dementia and other disabilities.
> Incontinence is common; violence, occasional. Caretaking is challenging,
> for the residents have limited mobility. The work is heavy, sometimes
> nauseating and dangerous. Workers must follow stringent sterilisation
> procedures, often using carcinogenic cleaning aids.
>
> Nevertheless, the unionized workers (HEU, BCNU and HSA) loved their jobs
> and their residents. Many of them were single moms, needing those union
> wages - especially in pricey Victoria.
>
> When the employees learned that the Lodge was $200,000 in debt, they
> immediately brainstormed and found $202,000 in savings. But Executive
> Director Blake Mooney claimed the debt was actually higher. Employees
> found more savings, $221,000, only to find the debt had magically climbed
> again.
>
> Alas, Mooney was after the Unholy Grail: privatization. Employees? jobs
> were to be sacrificed on the altar of profit-making, never mind
> debt-reduction.
>
> He told some of the employees they would be allowed to apply for their
> former jobs - at about half their present wages and no pensions - with
> Compass, a U.K.-based, for-profit multinational corporation that was to
> manage such support services as food service and housekeeping in the
> future.
>
> Sunset Lodge dietary workers, for example, previously paid more than
> $17.00 an hour were told they'll be earning $9.25 as Compass employees.
>
> Hirees were also required to join IWA-1 3567, a union that enjoys no
> respect from the legitimate trade union movement, as it has been seen to
> negiotiate a race-to-the bottom deal for its members. Sunset Lodge workers
> were distraught, believing they had served the Army well. Sally Ann had
> received many donations from families, grateful for the tender care their
> loved ones received over the years.
>
> Besides, paying workers poorly could not possibly improve care, and
> paupers could not afford courses or books to keep themselves current.
> Workers also wondered why Mooney's job or salary was not cut.
>
> Sunset employees approached the top Salvation Army brass with their
> concerns, begging them to retain management of the facility and revert to
> having its Majors onsite to do so.
>
> The brass deferred to Mooney, who had once said to MLAs, "We need to focus
> more on letting the market drive the value of our health employees, rather
> than letting the collective agreements drive them..."
>
> In effect, Sally Ann's workers were "commodities", subject to ruthless
> marketplace-driven economic idiocy. Although the workers had contracts
> guaranteeing decent wages, Premier Gordon Campbell's Bill 29 vapourized
> them and the unions at the lodge were busted.
>
> No effective appeal was possible. Campbell appointed a CLAC member to the
> B.C. Labour Relations Board. CLAC (Christian Labour Association of Canada)
> is criticized by most trade unions for its reluctance to keep up standards
> for wages and benefits, and for its refusal to use labour's traditional
> strengths to protect workers' rights. Eventually, Sally Ann's soul, its
> Lodge and its residents were transferred to Compass.
>
> Army Divisional Commander Lt.-Col. Copple promised, "Any departing
> employee will be treated fairly and with respect."
>
> In reality, the employees were marched into the Chapel on June 10 and
> handed their termination papers.
>
> Considering that the Salvation Army was the first organization of its day
> to practice gender equality, it's hard to fathom why today's "soldiers"
> allowed these job eliminations and wage cuts to proceed.
>
> Compass has powerful pull though, enough to convince B.C. Supreme Court
> Judge Linda Loo to issue an ex parte injunction stifling any criticism of
> Compass or its union of choice. Bans cannot quash speculation, however.
> And speculation is that the Salvation Army has become like every other
> bottom-line-feeding-frenzied corporation. Its critics believe that just
> because a quasi-charitable organization does good works, it is not
> entitled to treat employees unfairly.
>
> They also are not surprised that Sally Ann's donations are down.
>
> In fact, many believe that donations would do more good if they were sent
> to labour halls to help the growing unemployed, hungry and homeless among
> the rank and file.
>
> Susanne Shaw is a pulp mill worker, union member and writer in Port Alice
> B.C.
>
> --
> http://www.kootenaycuts.com/
> "S/he who fears not the death of a thousand cuts will dare to unhorse the
> emperor."
> - Ancient Chinese proverb
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