Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC - Okanagan Regional Women’s Committee, Minutes of Meeting – March 18, 2006. The Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna

In Attendance:

• Susan Yaciw UTE 20003
• Joy Harrison UTE 20003
• Jennifer Leenhouts CEIU 20972
• Kareen Stanich AGR 20043
• Linda Woods NAT 20140
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915
• Maria-Luiza Romano AGR 20027
• Ruth Eisworth UTE 20026
• Regina Brennan PSAC Regional Representative
• Patty Ducharme REVP

The meeting was called to order at 11:35 a.m. with Joy Harrison in the chair.

Download the Okanagan RWC minutes March 18 2006 (pdf) or continue reading below.

Minutes: Minutes from January 27, 2006 were amended to indicate that Susan Yaciw represents UTE Local 20003 not 20026 as reported. Minutes were accepted as amended. m/s/c

Treasurer’s Report: No report was presented. The balance reported January 27th included a deposit of $250 received as an advance from the REVP’s office. An additional cheque for $500 was received during the meeting from REVP’s office.

2006 Budget: Budget was submitted.

Update from Denis Ringuette, Regional Council Okanagan / Kootenay: The next Regional Council Meeting is March 31st to April 3rd and training will be provided to PSAC Triennial Convention delegates at this time (March 31st – training for women delegates; April 1st and 2nd – training for all delegates, regional council members, and national officers; April 3rd and 4th –leadership training for council).

Area Council / Women’s Committee in South Okanagan: K. Stanich reported that several Locals are still expressing interest and hope to have an initial meeting in April.

Education: The following education schedule was agreed upon:

• June 10, 2006, Kelowna Local Officers Training
• June 11, 2006, Kelowna Facing Management
• September 30, 2006, location TBA Women at Work Part 2

Local Officers training is most effective when attended by as many of a Local’s executive as possible.

The Women at Work Part 2 stems from Women at Work Part I which was attended by S. Yaciw and H. Buchanan (Kootenay) and should address topics identified by women in the region. Topics discussed for the program include: assertiveness training, public speaking, historic roots of oppression, how to get more out of a meeting, lobbying skills, campaigns of interest such as anti-polygamy. J. Leenhouts offered to co- facilitate and present a history of the polygamy issue in BC. Holding the course in Naramata was discussed. The course can be open to non-PSAC members such as the Labour Council.

The need for a TUB course was discussed and could be accommodated in 2007 or it may be part of Union School in the fall. R. Brennan also indicated she is willing to meeting with groups of members over lunch or dinner to discuss union basics.

R. Brennan distributed a poster on “Summer School for Union Women” to be held the week of June 28th in Olympia WA.

• Action: K. Stanich to send email reminder of courses.
• Action: S. Yaciw to finalize program ideas and gather information on possible locations for Women at Work course and send to R. Brennan by August 1, 2006.

Participation of Retired Members: There was a discussion in regards to retired members participating in Area Council and Women’s Committee. Some Components have a process to apply for honorary or lifetime membership so a member can participate but not hold office or vote.

• Action: J. Harrison to investigate UTE bylaws regarding retired members.
• Action: P. Ducharme to seek clarification at the PSAC level on the issue.

Member Appreciation Event: A bowling event will be held in Kelowna in September / October.

• Action: J. Leenhouts to investigate locations and cost.

PSAC Triennial Convention: J. Harrison gave a book of unfinished business from last convention to S. Yaciw and J. Leenhouts.

P. Ducharme discussed a number of issues to be dealt with at convention.

There will be leadership change at convention. To date 4 candidates have declared for President and 2 for Executive Vice president.

The Finance Committee will present a dues increase budget ($5 per member per month). The money will go to: replenish the strike fund; education (leadership training for all national committee members); creating regional positions responsible for political action / communications; political action; and a $350K subsidy for regional conventions (in BC 40% of council budget is spent on regional convention). Once the strike fund is replenished the dues would drop. The budget will be presented with explanatory notes this time which should be clearer for delegates.

Other resolutions include:

• rescind requirement for designates to contribute to hardship fund
• eliminate zones for Table 2 members
• create a separate bargaining unit for ship’s crew
• review of PSAC structure
• separate conferences for aboriginal and racially visible
• commitment to organizing
• changing name of PSAC.

MP Lobbying: The need to meet with local MP’s in order to make them aware of the concerns of PSAC members in their ridings was discussed. L. Woods reported on specific problems with field interviewers in the National Component.

• Action: All members to go back to their Locals and identify key issues to be addressed with MP’s.
• Action: L. Woods and J. Leenhouts to meet with MP to discuss critical issue of impending layoff of National Component staff in the region.
• Action: R. Brennan to provide briefing notes to D-L. McKenzie on the issue of whistle-blowing.

Handbook: R. Brennan distributed copies of “Women of the Union: The PSAC Regional Women’s Committee Handbook”. Additional copies will be sent to K. Stanich and available at the next meeting.

Election of Chairperson: J. Harrison submitted her resignation from the position of chairperson. Elections were conducted and J. Leenhouts was elected Chair. m/s/c

• Action: Signing authority to be amended at Vernon Credit Union to remove J. Harrison and add J. Leenhouts.

Training for Chairperson and Treasurer of Women’s Committee’s: Training will be held either April 12-13 or April 23-24 for the Chair and Treasurer in Vancouver and will include short term and long term goals, strategies, and financial training. If it is possible for a 3rd person to attend Roberta Gourlie will be invited. m/s/c

• Action: J. Leenhouts to contact K. Megyesi and inform R. Brennan of preferred dates.

Funding Request: A request for funding to attend the PSAC Triennial Convention was received from a sister in the Vancouver Area Council and Regional Women’s Committee. The issue was discussed and decision made that priority be given to funding observers attending from our region. J. Leenhouts will be attending as an observer and to date has $1050 in funding (CEIU $350, Area Council $300 and Regional Women’s Committee $400). She will be using air miles to travel, staying with others, and is taking annual leave. An additional $200 honoraria will be committed. m/s/c

• Action: S. Yaciw will respond to email request.

Loan Items: A number of games, books and videos are available from the Chair. The following items are now out on loan: Obachan’s Garden - L. Woods; Missing Sarah – S. Yaciw.

Adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

Next Meeting: June 16th, 2006, Location TBA (J. Harrison to arrange), Kelowna