Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

BC Human Rights Committee Meeting Minutes, September 20, 2006

In Attendance: Tracy, Sylvia, Sanda, Deanna, Carol, Kim & Craig

Regrets: Sargy, Rex, Carolyn, Lana, Todd, Floyd, Rodney & Katie

Download the BC Human Rights Committee minutes, Sept 20 2006 (pdf) or continue reading below.

Thanks to: Chairperson Tracy, food provider Deanna, staff representative Monica, minute taker Kim

Updates:

1. Todd Harding had done a presentation on accessibility at work previously and intended to provide an update - as he is unable to attend this item will be tabled until the next meeting.
2. At Service Canada there is a membership vote being undertaken by some members who were either CEIU or NHWU to determine which component will represent all of those affected members. The question was raised as to whether this could affect the recognition of the BC Human Rights. Regardless of how the vote goes it will not impact the committee as it is a fully, and duly, authorized committee now.

Fall Planning:

Dates : Topics
October 16th [Monday] : Lancaster House Conference Playback on Accommodation of Disabilities 12pm - 2 pm
Regional Office Boardroom [open meeting]

October 17th [Tuesday] : Woman’s History Month Proposed presentation on ‘Witches’ [Halloween theme as well] by Regina Brennan - Sanda will contact.

November 8th [Wednesday] : Panel Discussion on Disabilities Issues

• Mobility Awareness - speaker to be contacted by Craig
• Learning Disabilities - speaker [Rhonda Brain] to be contacted by Carol
• Visual Impairment - speaker Harry Monk to be contacted by Monica

December TBA : Human Rights Event [contact Jennie], suggested topics:

• Racially Visible Issues
• GLBT Issues - suggested speaker Mary-Woo Sims or Svend Robinson

January 9th [Tuesday] : Business Meeting, Monica will contact REVP Kay Sinclair to speak

Motion moved by Carol: The BCHRC shall offer the invited speakers to the November Panel Discussion, $100 per person to be donated to a Charity/Organization of their choice on their behalf.

Seconded by: Tracy Carried.

Future Educational Topics:

• The Aging Brain
• Sex Trade Workers
• ‘Aids in Africa’ presentation
• Provincial Health Care Critic [NDP] on state of healthcare and P3s

Other Issues & Roundtable:

• Katie’s email seeking topics for NCVM conference - ie. diversification, resources, issues - tabled until October meeting - Monica will send out email
• Deanna interested in attending the Vancouver Island NCVM conference seeksfunding from PSAC-BCHRC - tabled until October meeting
• BARGAINING:
• All PSAC- BCHRC members should approach their local and/or component and review and provide feedback on the demands being forwarded - ensure comply “through an Equity Lens” [demands will be available in the near future]
• PSAC-BCHRC TB/PARKS members should try to get delegate status to the Regional Bargaining Conference which will be held in Vancouver the beginning of December
• Craig - discussed a copy of the 2006 Federal Government Employment Equity Report recently discussed during conference call with NAIM Circle
• one can find on-line copy at www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/reports-rapports/dwnld/ee-05_e.pdf
• document can be used as a tool
• discussion about EE committees in the workplaces [joint committees]
• need for network building with EE committees
• Carol/Kim - BC Human Rights complaint against the Surrey School Board - settlement agreement reached that we can live with. We believe that the School District will endeavour to never again hold such a poisonous public meeting. A policy was amended to clearly state the Board’s expectations of speakers and any violations of section 7 of the BC Human Rights Code would lead to expulsion from the meeting of the offender. It is our belief that now both sides are committed to a public school system which not only ‘preaches’ inclusion and respect for GLBT and same-sex families but demonstrates that committment. The settlement did not contain a monetary component therefore Carol & Kim are extremely grateful for the funds given by the PSAC-BCHRC for loss of wages during the hearings but are unable to repay them as committed if they won. Again they expressed their deepest appreciation for the support both moral and financial.
• Kim - Lancaster House will be doing a tele-conference on ‘Accommodating Disabilities’ in October. The content will include illnesses included as disabilities, how far does the ‘duty to accommodate’ go, what are avenues of recourse etc. These have been recommended as valuable resources for accommodation activists.
• Motion moved: PSAC-BCHRC shall pay the registration fee for the playback session of the conference to be held on October 16th in the amount of $195 plus tax. Further we will host the special meeting in the boardroom of the Regional Office from 12 pm until 2 pm. A callout will go to all locals in the lower mainland, Area Councils and other identified parties to come and participate.
• Motion seconded: Tracy CARRIED
• Craig - Motion moved: The PSAC-BCHRC shall provide a snack for the tele-conference attendees based on rsvp response.
• Motion seconded: Tracy CARRIED

Announcements:

Monica - distributed buttons from the CLC which state “I Do I Support Equality”, as an action for federal politicians who will be taking a vote in the near future on whether or not to rescind the legislation indicating marriage can be between two people to include same-sex marriage.

Union school is approaching — encourage members to get applications in to attend.

Meeting adjourned — 8 pm