Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC-BC Human Rights Committee Meeting, Thursday, January 12, 2006

In Attendance: Monica (staff), Kim, Carol (minutes), Tracy (chair), Craig, Sanda, Parveen, Deanna (food), Velna. By telephone: Floyd, Mandi (VIHRC), Kate Kassam (VIHRC), Louise Richard (VIHRC), Beverly Johnson (VIHRC)

Regrets: Lana M., Teresa W., Kay S., Francine B., Lucero B., Christine D.

Tracy opened the meeting, and we had a round of introductions.

1. Tracy read out the Terms of Reference for the committee and asked if there were any questions. There were none.

At this point Mandi requested some information with regards to the Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee. She wondered about funding for that committee. Monica replied that when the PSAC recognizes the committee as separate from the BC group then they will be eligible for separate national funding. Monica also mentioned that the NHWU resolution did not go towards the BC group’s recognition because the group received the letters (finally) from National Component, Union of Taxation Employee’s, and Canada Employment and Immigration Union, so she could put her’s towards VIHRC.

2. Monica discussed the Goals and Accomplishments of the group for 2005. One addition needed was to include the Resolution Writing workshop the committee initiated in April 2005.

3. Tracy went on to discuss the monies spent for 2005. Monica emphasized that this was a guestimation at best because the final numbers were not in and a few meeting expenses were definitely not included. There was a discussion about the fees for conference calls. The possibility of reducing those expenses this year by informing members of the costs of booking conference calls and the needless expense incurred when members do not participate after indicating they would. There was input on this topic from Mandy, Kim, Tracy, Sanda, Monica, Beverly, Katy and Craig.

4. Brainstorming 2006:

Ideas include:

• poster> generally for the committee or by issue
• strategies to work on for convention, (i.e. committee to support having a stand alone aboriginal/racially visible conferences at the upcoming PSAC convention.)
• holding more educational meetings, (i.e. practical guide on human rights complaints, joint events with the Women’s Committee, with the Area Council, the importance of understanding how the PSMA will effect equity issues)
• black history month timeline
• national aboriginal week
• getting more people engaged/involved in the committee, continue self-identification campaign
• CLC winter school, particularly their Human Rights Course
• lobby regional council members on the education committee for EE/HR courses (PSAC and other unions)
• have the visibility of the committee increase i.e. regular announcement at union school or weekend courses
• more information on the Anti-Oppression course that is being co-developed by PSAC and other unions

5. Monica brought forward numbers of equity members as captured by the self-identification survey as of January 12/06:

• aboriginal 56
• racially visible 83
• GLBT 43
• disability 65

For most groups there was a substantial increase in numbers since last year. This should be seen as a reflection of some of the committee’s self-identification campaign work, (way to go!), while acknowledging more has to be done.

6. Diversity Days

We discussed how communities are challenging issues and some significant days which occur monthly throughout the year to help with committee planning.

January 29 Chinese New Year
February Black History Month (recognized in Canada since 1995)
March 8 International Women’s Day
March 21 Day of elimination of Racial Discrimination
May Asian Heritage Month (recognized in Canada since 2001)
June 20 World Refugee Day
June 21 Aboriginal Day (recognized in Canada since 1996)
June 27 Multiculturalism Day (recognized in Canada since 2002)
August 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 23 International Day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
September 24 Ramadan Begins
October Women’s History Month (Canada)
October 11 Coming out Day - GLBT
November 20 Transgendered Day of Remembrance
November 25 International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
December 1 World Aids Day
December 3 International Day for Disabled Persons
December 6 National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
December 10 Human Rights Day

7. Discussion on Convention 2006

Monica will be away from February 24 – April 22. However, it is important as a committee to work on convention issues and continue meeting during this time.

Convention - observer’s registration deadline is March 10, 2006. No one from the group who is present is currently going as a delegate. There was a discussion to possibly send someone from the committee as an observer. Please note Sargy Chima sent an email to the committee requesting support for nomination. As a process we suggest that interested persons come up with a brief bio about themselves, and why they would be an ideal representative of the committee as an observer to convention. If sent in advance these will be posted, as sent, on the Human Rights page of our regional website.

Those seeking support should begin to look for other sources of funding now, as the committee cannot subsidize all costs. They can seek assistance from their locals, area councils, Regional Council Equity Representatives or find creative ways of cutting costs.

Monica assisted the committee by providing estimated costs for an observer to attend:
Registration fee - $150
Hotel - $179/night X 5 nights = $895
LWOP – average salary of $175/day X 5 days = $875
Transportation – approx. $600?
Food, etc. - ???

Parveen made a motion, seconded by Kim Forster, to send an observer from our committee and for the committee to fund $600.00 towards the cost of participation. This was carried by the Committee.

We will elect the observer at the February meeting. Until then, as mentioned above, interested persons are to seek out sources of additional funding.

In the midst of this discussion it became clear that we needed to plan the budget to see what funding would be available.

Budget for 2006 is $2000 for the year:

Meetings (average 9 per year, with 5-15 in attendance):
food - $450.00
conference calls - $250.00
Donations honorariums/issues - $500.00
Education course subsidies - $200.00
Political Action observers to convention/conferences - $600.00
TOTAL - $2000.00

We discussed the possibility of transferring between line items, Monica will check with Patty’s office.

Monica will contact all self-identified members to see if any are to delegates to convention and ask them to attend the April meeting to discuss the upcoming 2006 PSAC Convention resolutions.

8. Six Month Meeting Plan

• February 8 EE Black History - timelines, quotes, stories, possible quiz (Victoria to action)
• March 8? More educationals - Parveen to contact Vancouver Regional Women’s Committee to include Women’s group. For March we may want to meet with the Women’s committee for co-education and in that regard Regina Brennan can assist as a staff person.
• April 4 Business meeting - major convention discussion/resolutions
• May 10 Convention report back
• June ** National Aboriginal Week

9. Craig volunteered to be the national contact person on the Human Rights Committee as the chair is always rotated.

10. Monica announced the end of the “Coats for the Homeless” drive of the committee. Several donations were received and she will bring them early next week to the Downtown East Side.