Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC-BC Human Rights Committee - Minutes of March 15, 2007 meeting

In attendance

• Vancouver RO: Carol Pegura (chair), Kim Forster, Alexander Bishop, Sanda Turner, Monica Urrutia (PSAC staff - minutes)
• via teleconference: Floyd Knelsen
• Regrets: Sargy Chima, Carolyn McGillivray, Todd Harding, Craig Langston

Continue reading below, or download the PSAC BC Human Rights Committee meeting minutes - March 15 2007 (pdf)

1. Introductions

• quick round of introductions in the room and on the phone
• meeting officially began at 6pm

2. Previous minutes

a) Namibia Orphanage Project

• members discussed whether or not the committee agreed at the January meeting to support the Namibia Orphanage project as a committee or as a personal project of a couple of the members in the committee. None of the members present could recall specifically, but did not see why the committee couldn’t support it. There are no monies attached to this support, until a more formal proposal is brought forward to the committee.
• there was a recollection that the committee agreed to forward the Namibia Orphanage project as a request to the donations committee

Motion # 1

That the committee support the Namibia Orphanage project in principle;

And that the committee forward the Namibia Orphanage project donation request to the BC Regional Council Donations Committee.

Moved by Alexander, Seconded by Kim, Carried.

b) Committee’s resolution # 4 submitted to the PRIDE conference regarding inclusion of the GLBT group into the Employment Equity Act (EEA)

• Alexander provided some comments to help deepen the discussion on this resolution. He reflected on his one experience as an Aboriginal person, and what he feels the EEA accomplishes, and it is more than about providing jobs. (e.g. Aboriginal people make up 2% of the population, yet make up 17% of those in federal institutions.) The EEA is a recognition that there is a need for mentorship, creating role models to demonstrate that these groups have not fallen victim to the barriers and issues they face everyday. He discussed that CEUDA has submitted a resolution to study the issue first (to get more statistics and information) before making such a recommendation. He hopes that delegates at the conference will also speak to the resolution.

3. NAIM

• Monica mentioned that the next NAIM Circle meeting is scheduled for April 27-28. Should any Aboriginal members wish to raise any issues please contact the BC representatives on the NAIM. They are: Alberta Moreau ajmoreau@shaw.ca and Michael Ballard ballards@citytel.net
• There will be a course for Aboriginal members at this year’s Union School. Please look for it in the upcoming course schedule.

4. Annual Human Rights Dinner in December

• Jenny has emailed the committee explaining that she will not be able to help organize the event this year. She is committed to helping support it financially but wants to know if someone in the committee is willing to take it on.
• action: Bring forward to next meeting (in April) if no one steps forward by then tell Jennie she can ask the VDLC to take the lead and the committee will support.

5. Expenditures for 2006

• Monica presented the figures for 2006. She worked with Dellie Lidyard to compile this for the committee (see attachment).
• note: the committee went slightly over budget

6. Poster Contest

• Carol presented her proposal for discussion by the committee, she will also find out costs for printing the poster by the next meeting
• the committee suggested that the contest could be from September 1, and ends December 1st
• action: please give Carol feedback on this idea by the next meeting

the draft is as follows:

**The BC PSAC Human Rights Committee is made up of PSAC members from the

Aboriginal, Racially Visible, Persons with Disabilities or GLBT groups. We meet with other members from these groups about once a month to discuss items of interest, for group discussions and to build our confidence by practicing public speaking.

The goal of our committee is to:

• To actively promote and encourage members from Human Rights/diversity groups to participate in the union and in society as a whole
• To educate union members at large on sensitivity and inclusiveness in the union

Our responsibilities include:

• To attend Committee meetings or send alternate to ensure that each group has a voice
• To serve as positive spokespersons for respective constituencies
• To organize activities and events for special “diversity days”
• To forge links with other human rights groups/coalition partners in the community
• To raise the profile of the equity/diversity union members in a positive manner within the union and the workplace

DRAFT**POSTER CONTEST - BC PSAC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE**DRAFT

As such, we are offering all of our members the opportunity to present, in art form, a poster submission on what they feel the BC Human Rights Committee represents, to, for and about it’s members.

Contest instructions

The contest is open to all BC PSAC members. The winning entry will be judged on a variety of factors including artistic merit, creativity, originality, and expression of the theme. Each member may only submit one entry. The winning entry will be used as the BC PSAC Human Rights Committee as part of it’s ongoing goals to promote and encourage members from Human Rights/diversity groups to participate in the union and in society as a whole and to educate union members at large on sensitivity and inclusiveness in the union.

Guidelines

Posters should be creative and use a dynamic message about human rights and inclusion. Each entry must include the artist’s name, address, phone number and a valid email address, and may be sent either electronically or by mail. Only originals will be considered. Each poster should be no larger than 9″ x 12″ and must include the words Get involved with the PSAC-BC Human Rights Committee.

Awards

One grand prize of an invitation to the winner to attend our annual Human Rights Event dinner where their poster will be showcased. Also, a donation to their favorite charity made, in their name, in the amount of $50.00.

7. Action on the Day Against Homophobia

• Carol has contacted Steve Houston and if he is in town he is more than willing to speak on this topic
• Carol will find out the exact date of the “Day Against Homophobia” (Note: Since the meeting, Monica found out that June 1 is the National Day Against Homophobia in Canada, May 17^th in the International Day)
• committee suggests having two speakers at the June meeting (one on homophobia, one on Aboriginal issues given that June 21^st in International Day for Aboriginal Peoples)
• Alexander has agreed to speak on Aboriginal issues

8. Request for support

• Kim has been accepted as an observer to the PRIDE conference (to be held in Vancouver from March 30 - April 1, 2007. Carol and Alexander are also going as observers and have funding from their Local and/or Component. As Kim has no funding she is requesting support from the committee.

Motion #2

That the Committee pay for the $150 registration fee for Kim’s observer status at the PRIDE conference.

Moved by Alexander, Seconded by Floyd, Carried.

Kim commits to giving a report back at the next meeting.

• a discussion ensure regarding whether observers have voice during resolution or election.
• action: Monica to clarify

9. Next co-sponsored event with the Education Committee

• Amal submitted an email request to possibly co-sponsor another film night with the committee. She offered the movies, “El Contrato” or “Turbulent Waters”
• the committee agreed to having an event in May and didn’t have a preference in terms of which movie
• the committee requests that the Education Committee set the May date

10. Other

a) Monica discussed an Aboriginal event happening on March 17^th, as it was time sensitive she also sent it out via email

b) ACCESS conference - Carol has been asked to sit on the steering committee for this conference. She and Floyd will draft a joint email asking PWD members in the region for input for the conference.

c) roundtable

• Sanda has found her replacement for the committee. Sanda and Monica will talk with the new member and give her an orientation and welcome her warmly. Sanda will try to continue to attend but wants the new member to take the initiative.
• Alexander will be able to be more active on the committee now that his branch has reduced the amount of meetings it holds. He is also the CBSA-Employer Rep on GLBT issues.
• Carol is doing well
• Kim doing well also
• Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm.

11. Next meetings

a) April 12^th - business meeting

b) May - date to be set by Education Committee

c) June 14^th - Speakers, then short business meeting