Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC - Okanagan Area Council Minutes of Meeting – January 27, 2006, The Pantry Restaurant, Kelowna

In Attendance:

• Darrell-Lee McKenzie AGR 20043
• Susan Yaciw UTE 20026
• Kareen Stanich AGR 20043
• Denis Ringuette CEUDA 20045
• Allison Bunckle AGR 20041
• Linda Woods NAT 20140
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915
• Jennifer Leenhouts CEIU 20972
• Kelly Megyesi CEIU 20915
• Maria-Luiza Romano AGR 20027

Read more below or download the January 27 Okanagan Area Council meeting minutes

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PSAC - Okanagan Regional Women’s Committee Minutes of Meeting – January 27, 2006, The Pantry Restaurant, Kelowna

In Attendance:

• Darrell-Lee McKenzie AGR 20043
• Susan Yaciw UTE 20026
• Kareen Stanich AGR 20043
• Denis Ringuette CEUDA 20045
• Allison Bunckle AGR 20041
• Linda Woods NAT 20140
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915
• Jennifer Leenhouts CEIU 20972
• Kelly Megyesi CEIU 20915
• Maria-Luiza Romano AGR 20027

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. with Darrell-Lee McKenzie in the chair.

Read more below or download the January 27th, 2006, Okanagan RWC meeting minutes (pdf).

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VICTORIA - The B.C. Liberal government has been told its $1 billion bonus fund for early settlements with unionized government employees won’t make up for further contracting out of provincial civil service jobs.

The 25,000-member B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union has responded to the government’s new bargaining structure in a traditional way, announcing a strike vote that is to be held over the next three weeks.

BCGEU president George Heyman said while he is encouraged by the government’s offer of signing bonuses and an end to the two-year wage freeze, a plan to privatize 700 more union positions is not acceptable.

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Canadian border services agents returned to work early Saturday at three Vancouver-area crossings, a day after they walked off the job over an ongoing safety dispute.They left their posts on Friday after their U.S. counterparts warned them that an armed fugitive might be headed their way.

Their labour contract allows the unarmed officers to leave their posts if they believe they’re in danger.

Read the rest of this story at cbc.ca

PSAC members don’t have to leave their Union behind when they retire from their jobs.

Now there’s a group - the Association of Public Alliance Retirees (APSAR) - just for them. Members can apply for membership even before they’ve actually retired. For the small annual sum for membership, members will continue to have access to many of the benefits available to them as Alliance members. APSAR is the only Public Service Retiree Association that exists under Federal Statute.

Some locals now pay for a first year membership as a going away gift for a retiring member. If you are interested in joining this organization, or in purchasing a complimentary membership for someone retiring in your local, you can contact their National Vice President for B.C. at the following address:

Jeanne Abramowich
110 4885 53rd Street
Delta B.C. V4K2Z3

or phone: 604 940 0091
or email: abrajan@dccnet.com

Building on the success of the Chinese Canadian Culture Online Project the Chinese Canadian National Council is now launching the Asian Canadian Online Project - Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese.

What are the experiences of an Asian Canadian youth?

What does it mean to you? Write about it!

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To: Government Of Canada

We the undersigned believe that David Emerson elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver Kingsway should be immediately recalled and a by election held so that the people of Vancouver Kingsway and in general all Canadians can be represented by the party and candidate of their choice.

David Emerson should immediately resign his current position in the Conservative Party and his cabinet position of Minister of International Trade. The people of Canada and in Particular the people of Vancouver Kingsway deserve proper democratic rights.

Sign the petition at petitiononline.com!

Fraser Valley Area Council General Meeting, Saturday January 14, 2006, Abbotsford Recreation Centre 2pm to 4pm

In Attendance:

• Jayne Johns CEIU 20903
• Anne Marie McCully CEIU 20903
• Patti Victor CEIU 20903
• Chuck Leech USGE 20054
• Melvin Dureen USGE 20054
• Anthony Friesen AGR 20038
• Dean Babuin AGR 20038
• George ? USGE
• Guest: Jeffrey Hansen-CarlsonNDP Candidate Abbotsford Riding

Download Fraser Valley Area Council minutes, January 14th 2006, or click show more below:

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Vancouver & District Labour Council Women’s Committee presents …

3rd Annual Celebration of International Women’s Day: Fighting for Our Jobs, Our Public Services, and Our Future

What the Night will hold … Presentation of Outstanding Women in Our Community Award, Silent Auction, Dinner & Dancing

Where: Fraserveiw Hall, 8240 Fraser Street (at Marine Drive)

When: Wednesday, March 8 - Doors 5:30 pm, Program 6:00 pm

Guest Speakers: Judy Darcy, HEU and Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East

Entertainment: Solidarity Sisters and DJ Moraswi

Tickets: $10 to $40, Sliding Scale - $320 for table of 8. Contact Keziah at the VDLC for tickets 604-254-0703 or office@vdlc.ca

A Women’s Only Event, Partial proceeds to benefit the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. Download the VDLC IWD celebration poster

The 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006 are proud to announce that Ms. Martina Navratilova has joined their Circle of Champions. Ms. Navratilova will actively participate in the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights, which will be held for three days before the Opening Ceremony of the Outgames. The world-renowned tennis champion and sports legend will present the Declaration of Montréal with Olympic medalist and Outgames Co-President Mark Tewksbury at the Opening Ceremony on 29 July 2006.

Read the rest of the newsletter at montreal2006.org. Reminder: there is funding availble for one member from each PSAC region to attend the conference. Read the details here.

Hello to all fellow members,

My name is Tracy Shudo I would like to put my name in as an observer to the PSAC 2006 Triennial National Convention. I currently am a Treasurer in my local executive and an active member on the BC Human Rights Committee.

As a member that has recently become more involved I feel I am learning and helping effect change in my local union and as an active member on the BC HRC.

I am a person with quite a few challenges but there always seems to be more good days than bad. It is with this thought that I am asking for the help to go to this convention. I believe that with my strong values and passions about all issues that effect all equity groups that sit on the Human Rights Committee .I could explain with convention what some of our strongest concern’s are. Be it the division of the Aboriginal and Visible Minorities convention, or the Gay Lesbian Marriage and how this law must not be changed and last but not least the people with Disabilities group the work on duty to accommodate and the re employment of members that are on LWO due to illness. We as a union have a voice in all these issues pulse more.

My job as an observer would be to network with as many delegates as possible to try and make alliances with members that can help pass resolutions that are important to our equity groups. The most important issue would be to report back to all members the events that took place during convention.

I am honoured to even be concerned for this opportunity.

In Solidarity, Tracy Shudo

This morning it was announced that David Emerson, recently re-elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway, has crossed the floor to sit as a conservative cabinet minister.

Stephen Harper campaigned on parliamentary reform, including limitations on floor crossing.

Stephen Harper had not even been sworn in as the Prime Minister and he had already broken a campaign promise.

Let Stephen Harper know you are watching!

Fax, phone or e-mail Stephen Harper and David Emerson to demand that a by-election be called immediately for Vancouver Kingsway.

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

My name is Carol Pegura, and I sit as a member of the Pacific Region Human Rights Committee. I would like to put my name forward as a possible observer to the upcoming PSAC National Convention in 2006.

At the National Convention, the work of the union will be done. Delegates and observers with gather, some have a voice on the floor, some have a voice which must be used off the floor. A convention gives us face to face time with delegates who have both a voice and a vote on the floor. It gives those of us going as observers the oportunity to meet others and provide them with different viewpoints. It gives us the opportunity for opinion and discussion. Questions will be asked of us and this is the perfect time to bring forward the issues of importance from our Human Rights Committee. The opportunity to do this is rare, but it is of utmost importance and provides the opportunity for delegates to see that human rights activists are real people, not just statistics. That some of our wants and needs are important and necessary for our members. Some will tell us how happy they are to hear our concerns, some won’t listen at all, but we will have the opportunity to network and possibly make a difference, if we send an observer. We can politely listen to opinions and give others the chance to hear ours. We also get face to face time to network with some of our like minded sisters and brothers.

It is not always easy fighting for equality and respect in a world where many are frightened and ignorant of others who are not entirely “like” themselves. As activists in our union affirming one another reinforces that all are embraced, regardless of race, culture, colour, disability, sexual orientation, as equal and valued human beings. This is what Union is all about.

If chosen to be the observer who gets to attend from our committee, I will do my best to address the resolutions which came up at the Unity Conference with delegates who have the voice and vote and who’s vote will make a difference. I will bring forward other relevant issues as charged by the committee and work tirelessly on their behalf.

I hope you will consider sending me.

In solidarity,

Carol Pegura

Please join us for International Women’s Day 2006 - Building Anti-imperialist Solidarity: Towards a Just and Lasting Peace

Sunday March 5th, 10am-4pm, a Conference focusing on the current issues facing working class and marginalized women internationally:

• Women and war, occupation, and intervention
• Exploitation of women’s labour
• Forced migration, immigration and trafficking of women
• Privatization of women’s basic needs (health, childcare, education, transportation)

Venue to be announced.

Wednesday, March 8th, 5:30 pm, a Rally and March - Meet at the Vancouver Public Library

For more information or to volunteer, contact Grassroots Women

OTTAWA - For the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the largest union representing federal public sector workers, the Gomery report, if implemented, would represent a fundamental shift in the way government works. Increased power would go to the Secretary of the Treasury Board and the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, with diminished power and responsibility for the Privy Council Office.

“This is an important report for all workers in the federal public sector” said PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

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FROM: Nycole Turmel

RE: Cyclical Review Schedule – PSAC Dental Plan

Consultations regarding changes to the PSAC Dental Plan will begin shortly.

We already have a number of demands, including raised yearly maximums, use of current fee guide and decreased deductibles.

If you have any suggestions for changes to the Plan other than those above, please send them to my office as soon as possible. I will then forward them to the PSAC representative on the Dental Board.

Thank you for your cooperation.

In Solidarity, Nycole Turmel, National President

Black History Month: Labour history must include contributions of Black labour activists

Black History Month is celebrated in Canada to recognize the contributions of Black peoples to the growth and development of this country and their importance to its history.

The contributions of African Canadians are still far from being integrated into the mainstream of Canadian history. However, many now know of Mathieu Da Costa, a man of African heritage who arrived into this land in 1604 with French explorer Samuel de Champlain and who served as an interpreter between the Europeans and the Mik’ maq people. Many also know about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railway, a network of safehouses and individuals that helped Black people escape slavery in the United States.

Read more of the PSAC’s statement on Black History month at the national website.