Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC - Okanagan Area Council, Minutes of Meeting – September 30, 2006, Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna

In Attendance:

• Susan Yaciw UTE 20003
• Maria-Luiza Romano AGR 20027
• Jennifer Leenhouts CEIU 20972
• Regina Brennan PSAC
• Darrell-Lee McKenzie AGR 20043
• Kelly Megyesi CEIU 20915
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915

The meeting was called to order at 12:10 p.m. with Susan Yaciw in the chair.

Download the Okanagan AC minutes September 30 2006 (pdf) or continue reading below.

Minutes: Minutes from June 29, 2006 were accepted. m/s/c

Treasurer’s Report: The report was presented (see attached). m/s/c

Dues for 2006 ($1 per Local member located in the Okanagan) are now due and can be sent to Darell-Lee MacKenzie.

Action: D-L. McKenzie to check the bylaws regarding the need for audited reports.

Update from Regional Council Okanagan / Kootenay: The next council meeting is on October 26, 2006. Any items to be raised should be sent to S. Yaciw prior to October 24th.

Joanna Schultz has resigned from her position at the PSAC Regional office. See message below:

Hi everyone,

After much consideration, I’ve decided that it is time to move on, and I have accepted a position as the Labour Relations Manager with the BC Maritime Employers Association, www.bcmea.com . This is an exciting and challenging opportunity working to navigate conflict and resolve problems on the waterfront between the 60 member companies of the Association and the ILWU.

This was not an easy decision to make after 15 years with the PSAC as an activist and staff member. Although I will miss working with the members and staff at the PSAC, I am ready step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to try new things.

I will be working closely with the staff at the Vancouver RO to ensure any commitments that I’ve made to Locals will be covered in the interim while the staffing process to replace me is underway.

I will miss working with you all!!

Joanna Schultz, Regional Representative

Kay Sinclair announced changes to the Regional Council resulting from the election of Sam Wiese as Alternate REVP and the resignation of Parveen Deepak as Women’s Coordinator. See message below.

As Sam is now on the Regional Council as the alternate REVP, Terry Lee will replace Sam as a Metro Vancouver Coordinator. Welcome Terry. Parveen Deepak resigned as the Women’s Coordinator due to family considerations. I will miss Parveen and wish her well. Patt Holmes is now the Women’s Coordinator. Welcome Patt. I look forward to working with Terry and Patt.

Kay

Area Council / Women’s Committee in South Okanagan: K. Stanich explored the issue with several other locals in the South but nobody was willing to take the lead.

Education: The Collective Bargaining course scheduled for October 1st was cancelled due to low participation. Regina Brennan is looking for another option for Okanagan members, however it is also available at Union School November 17-19, 2006

Member Appreciation Event: Event had to be cancelled due to low participation. The event will be revisited next year and will consider other options such as a Saturday evening. Those who signed up were mainly from one Local so they intend to put on an event through their Social Committee.

MP Lobbying: Key issues previously identified are:
1. Anti-scab legislation and Child Care MP lobby info kits were provided by Regina Brennan.
2. AGR: Some benefits are not fully transferable between Treasury Board employers and Agencies. A CFIA employee recently received a letter demanding re-payment of maternity benefits collected when employed at Justice.
3. UTE: Campaign to save client services at the Canada Revenue Agency.
4. NAT: Layoff of PSAC members in the region.

Action: Members present agreed to arrange meetings with MP’s in south, central, and north Okanagan to discuss these issues.

Bargaining: The Western Regional Bargaining Conference for Treasury Board Tables is scheduled for December 2-3, 2006.

Political Action: Fact sheets from the Canadian Labour Congress on Anti-Scab Legislation, Child Care and Early Learning, Renewing Status of Women Canada’s Women’s Programs, Public Health Care were distributed. More information is available and you can send a message to your MP to “Support Anti-Scab Legislation”, and “Make Poverty History” at: http://action.clc-ctc.ca/en/node

Adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

Next Meeting TBA