Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Please note the Vancouver and Victoria Regional Offices will be closed from Monday December 25th until Tuesday January 2nd.

Should an emergency arise and you need to contact us, call the Vancouver RO at 604 430 5631 or 1 800 663 1655 and leave a message in the general delivery mailbox. We will be checking the voicemail regularly.

Seasons Greetings!

The PSAC BC staff.

The PSAC Social Justice Fund continues to be extremely involved in the global campaign for the eradication of poverty, Make Poverty History.

Here’s an exciting opportunity to get involved in the Canadian Make Poverty History campaign, and hear some great music at the same time!

Billy Talent, the Canadian alternative rock/punk band, is coming to the following cities, with supporting acts Rise Against, Anti-Flag and Moneen:
(These are the B.C. dates only.)

• January 18 - Victoria, BC
• January 19 - Vancouver, BC
• January 21 - Kelowna, BC

As supporters of the Make Poverty History campaign, Billy Talent wants to engage music fans in the fight for the eradication of poverty. We are seeking volunteers to attend the concerts, provide information on the campaign, and solicit signatures of support.

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The votes have been counted and the results are in; members of the Technical Services Group have chosen arbitration as their method of dispute mechanism for the upcoming round of collective bargaining with Treasury Board. What this means is that should a collective agreement not be achieved via negotiation, Technical Service members would use arbitration, and not the conciliation/strike route, as a way to resolve negotiations.

As the Public Service Labour Relations Act requires that the method of dispute resolution be chosen before the commencement of negotiations, this vote was conducted amongst the 10,000 Technical Service members across the country now, well in advance of serving notice to bargain with Treasury Board.

The work of preparing for negotiations continues, with the National Bargaining Conference taking place in February, 2007. Technical Service members are encouraged to get involved in the negotiation of their next collective agreement; as membership solidarity will be as important as ever in this upcoming round of collective bargaining.

Happy Holidays from the Todd Harding & the PSAC BC Human Rights Committee …

‘Twas the night before Christmas and the kennels were still,
With most dogs now asleep having eaten their fill.
The Labradors sprawled out, quite snug in their beds,
while visions of ANYTHING edible danced in their heads.

As the Goldens and Shepherds curled up on the floor,
some twitched in their sleep and some even did snore.
The dog food was stacked in the feed room with care,
in hopes that a trainer soon would be there.

On the window ledge, one of the kennel cats lay,
surveying the lawn at the end of this day.
Something was different, that little cat knew.
Tonight something would happen, it had to be true.

For that day as the workers had left to go home,
They’d wished Merry Christmas! before starting to roam.
The dogs had noticed it to during this past week’s walks,
the trainers seemed just that much happier and eager to talk.

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an update from CEM, via Multi-Union Pride

Prime Minister says the issue is settled

After more than a year of facing the threat that equal marriage would be taken away, we can breathe easy and rejoice: on December 7, 2006 Members of Parliament rejected Stephen Harper’s motion to re-open the divisive equal marriage debate.

The vote wasn’t even close, with the motion being defeated by a vote of 123 to 175. In every single party the percentage of MPs that voted for equality increased. That increase reflects the growing consensus among Canadians that equal marriage is settled. Even in the Conservative caucus, 13 members voted against their own government’s motion, including Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, Treasury Board President John Baird and four other cabinet ministers.

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It took three years for members of the United Nations (UN) to reach agreement on just thirty articles that define specific rights and freedoms for all human beings.

On December 10th, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted this comprehensive agreement and the United Nations Declaration gave human rights a new international legal status.

These thirty basic and universal rights were fought for by social justice movements around the world and advanced within the UN by progressive governments of the day.

Despite taking years to formulate and decades of existence, the struggle to ensure just entitlement of these thirty rights and freedoms requires our attention today and everyday.

• Read more about Human Rights Day 2006 at un.org.
• Read the PSAC Statement on International Human Rights Day at the national website.

Canadian governments must be held accountable by human rights activists and popular movements when any of the Universal Rights are violated.

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The next Surrey Delta Langley Area Council (SDLAC) meeting

• Tuesday, December 12th at 5:30 PM
• Boston Pizza Restuarant at 7488 King George Hwy, Surrey (across from Costco)

Please RSVP to Johann Ackermann

Surrey Delta Langley Area Council, November 7, 2006 Meeting Minutes - Held at the Newton Seniors Center

Present: Terry Ruyter (UTE Local 20007), Carol Pegura (UTE Local 20029), Kim Forster (UTE Local 20029), Regina Brennan (PSAC Area Rep), Dale Odberg (UVAE Local 20029), Donna Cowan (UVAE Local 20029), , Johann Ackermann (UTE Local 20029), Jeremy Amour (UTE Local 20029)

Guest: Kay Sinclair, REVP - BC Region.

Download the Surrey Delta Langley AC minutes, November 7 2006 (.pdf) or continue reading below

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via Multi-Union Pride

A motion to reopen the same-sex marriage debate was easily defeated in Parliament on Thursday, as expected. MPs voted 175-123 against the controversial motion tabled by the ruling Conservatives.

The motion had asked the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions and while respecting existing same-sex marriages.

The Liberal and Conservative parties allowed their members to vote freely, and there were some surprises.

Twelve Tories broke from party lines and voted against the motion. They included cabinet ministers Peter MacKay, David Emerson, John Baird, Jim Prentice, Lawrence Cannon and Josée Verner.

Most Liberals also gave the motion the thumbs down. Among them were Joe Comuzzi, who gave up his cabinet post in 2005 so he could vote against a same-sex marriage bill proposed by the Liberal government.

All Bloc Québécois and NDP members present voted against Thursday’s motion, as directed to by their party leaders.

The vote should put an end to parliamentary wrangling about same-sex marriage, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper had said a free vote - promised during January’s general election campaign - would settle the matter.

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As soon as the Western Regional Bargaining Conference came to an end in Vancouver on December 3, the PSAC began to focus its efforts on the National Conference to be held in Ottawa in February 2007.

Much like their sisters and brothers had done in Montreal in November, some 175 delegates gathered in Vancouver to discuss, on December 2 and 3, strategies that will guide the next round of bargaining affecting 90 000 members at Treasury Board and 5 000 members at Parks Canada. They were also given an overview of the impact of the PSLRA on the upcoming round.

Delegates from BC chosen at the Conference to represent members at the National Bargaining Conference:

• PA: Megan Adam, Virginia Vaillancourt, Sargy Chima, alternate
• SV: Randy Sanderson, Melvin Dureen, Gino Chicorelli, alternate
• EB: Gord Miller, Céline Bélanger
• TC: Darrell-Lee McKenzie, Peter Wills, Todd Genereux, alternate
• FB: Carolyn McGillivray, Alex Bishop, Sean McGovern, Karim Lawji, and Dan Sullivan alternate. (corrected)
• Parks Canada (Western Region): Kevin King, Omar Murray, Carrie Docken, Andre Paul, Patrick Harvey, Jeanne Freer, Lisbeth Edwards and Susan Kjartanson, alternates

More details and photos at the national website.

Press Conference in Honour of International Human Rights Day Friday, December 8, 2006

• 9:00 am
• SFU Harbour Centre
• 515 Hastings Street, Vancouver
• Room 1415

In honour of International Human Rights Day Women’s Groups will host a press conference for equality rights & access to governments and the courts. Join us to hear a panel of women renounce:

• cancellation of child care agreements,
• closures to SWC regional offices,
• elimination of the Court Challenges Program
• refusal to implement pro-active pay equity
• federal government’s disregard for its promised commitment to improve women’s human rights in Canada

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The PSAC Scholarship Awards Committee has chosen the recipients of this year scholarships.The PSAC offers 12 scholarships valued at $30,000 to the sons and daughters of PSAC members who attend a university, college or an institute of higher learning.

These scholarships are awarded on the basis of an 800-word essay, scholastic achievement and community and union involvement. This year, the topic of the essay was:

Tell us why you think Canada needs quality, publicly funded and publicly delivered social programs and services.

• $4,000 Groulx - PSAC National scholarship: Jeremy Brouillard (parent: Christiane Allaire / CEIU/Quebec)
• $4,000 Coughlin – PSAC National scholarship: Amanda Long (parent: Colleen Whiteley / CEIU/Ontario)
• $3,000 Groulx – PSAC National scholarship: Michael Drew (parent: Dorothy Drew / Agriculture/Ontario)
• $3,000 Coughlin – PSAC National scholarship: Anna Lambert (parent: George Lambert / UPCE/NCR)
• $3,000 Groulx – PSAC National scholarship: Jason Harvey (parent: Doug Harvey /National /NCR)
• $3,000 Coughlin – PSAC National scholarship: Judith Jayasuriya (parent: Hycinth Jayasuriya / GSU /Prairies)
• J.R. (Joe) Power $2,000 National Scholarship: Katherine Fane (parent: Ruth McDiarmid / Agriculture/BC)
• $1,000 PSAC National Scholarship: Meghan Donovan (parents: Joyce and Reg Donovan /CEIU/Atlantic)
• $1,000 scholarship Atlantic: Brittany Churchill (parent: Helen Churchill / UTE/Atlantic)
• $1,000 scholarship Quebec: Sebastien Rioux (member / UQAM/Quebec)
• $1,000 scholarship National Capital Region : Greer Brabazon (parent: Kirsten Kizolanka / National/NCR)
• $1,000 scholarship Ontario: Kelly Manweiler (member / National/Ontario)
• $1,000 scholarship Prairies: Nathan Huisman LaBerge (parent: Sharon Laberge / UNDE/Prairies)
• $1,000 scholarship British Columbia: Michael Munro (member/ UTE/BC)
• $1,000 scholarship North: Christine Miller (parent: William Miller / UEW/North)

Minutes - Annual General Meeting – Vancouver & District Area Council (PSAC)

November 22, 2006

• Introductions: Tom Gallagher (GSU), Sharon Tieman (UPCE), Megan Adam (UEW), Rand Ameye (GSU), Jennie Chu (AGR), Terri Lee (AGR), Sam Wiese (CEIU), Carly Crawford (UPCE), Rhonda Johns (UPCE), Jamey Mills (UTE), Staff Rep – Monica Urrutia

Continue reading below, or download the Vancouver Area Council AGM, Nov 22 2006 minutes (.pdf)

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The B.C. Federation of Labour invites you to: National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women

• Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 7:30 am
• Women’s Breakfast
• Days Inn Hotel, 9850 King George Hwy., Surrey, BC

There is no charge for this event but those wishing to attend must RSVP to the Switchboard at the B.C. Federation of Labour - 604-430-1421.

Rally Against Violence Against Women, hosted by Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter.

• December 6th, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Vancouver Public Library - north side, 350 West Georgia.
• Info (604) 872-8212

Dear friends,

As you know, another tragedy has befallen the Filipino people: mud flows from the slopes of the Mayon volcano, triggered by heavy rains from typhoon “Reming” (international codename: Durian) buried at least eight villages in Albay province in the Bicol region. As of December 1, the mud flows have killed at least 338 people, more bodies are still being recovered. Local officials have warned that the death toll could hit a thousand.

This is not the first time that tragedy has befallen the Filipino people. Here is an article from Bulatlat weekly magazine on environmental disasters in the Philippines.

• Bigger Disasters Coming, Environmental Groups Warn

In response, community organizations in Canada are seeking your expressions of support (both financial and material) for the people of Albay.

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Regional Executive VP Kay Sinclair drafted the resolution below for the BCFL Convention last week. It hit the floor on Friday and was passed.

Emergency resolution #12 - Status of Women Canada

Because the Conservative government is cutting the budget for Status of Women Canada by $5 million dollars and announced this week it is closing 12 regional offices including Vancouver and Toronto - the two largest; and

Because the cuts and closures will result in the loss of workers’ jobs and the important community and social development work in support of women’s equality;

The Federation Will, with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), condemn the actions of the Harper government in cutting funding for the Status of Women, call for the immediate cancellation of the cuts and closures and the reinstatement of the community liaison and equality work; and

The Federation Will call for the immediate resignation of Bev Oda, Minister responsible for Status of Women Canada, and call upon Harper to appoint a woman Minister who actually understands women’s issues and supports women’s equality (someone from outside of the Conservative government), who is supported by feminist and equality-seeking women’s groups.

PSAC

Public services better at ensuring accessibility

The Harper government has been delivering on its philosophy of smaller government and dominance of the “free” market in the past year. The Conservatives have made deeper cuts to government services and reduced federal revenues by introducing more tax cuts. Their policies have fast-tracked the conditions for rampant privatization and further cuts to social services and programs which in turn, will further marginalize equity groups, including people with disabilities.

The Tories announced program cuts in September that will reduce or eliminate funding to programs that benefited equity groups. There have been severe cuts to Status of Women, the Court Challenges Program and social development programs under the Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). These cuts will roll back the gains made by persons with disabilities and will further affect their accessibility and full participation to our society’s economic, political and social life.

The PSAC’s recently adopted “Defending Quality Public Services” policy will focus our union’s efforts to fight against privatization and globalization with a goal, not only to support a strong economy, but also to ensure fairness and equality.

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December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. They died because they were women.

As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

Violence against women remains a reality in our world. Federal funding for equality-seeking women’s groups is inadequate and threatened. Two dollars for every woman and girl in our society should be allocated for women’s equality. It is not too much to ask.

Send an email message to your MP to raise awareness.

OTTAWA – As we get closer to December 1, World AIDS Day, Canadian workers and their unions call on the federal government to end its long silence on HIV/AIDS and make some much-needed commitments to fight the disease at home and abroad.

We are at risk of losing some valuable ground in our fight against HIV/AIDS because the Canadian government has deserted the field in the middle of battle,” says Hassan Yussuff, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

The Canadian Labour Congress adds its voice to the ninety organizations that support the call of the Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) and share their prescriptions about what Canada should do to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“For years, Canadian workers and their unions have been on the frontlines of the fight to prevent the spread of the disease, to protect affected workers against discrimination and unemployment and to help develop strategies to make medical treatment accessible. At times, we have been able to count on the government to accompany our efforts. However, the government’s continuous withdrawal from these issues, over the last year, could end up defeating all we’ve accomplished.”

Continue reading the CLC statement on World AIDS Day at canadianlabour.ca