Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Friday, May 25th 2007 – East Vancouver’s Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School will set the scene for Roots, Rhymes and Resistance X: Our Beautiful Struggle (RRR X). This tenth installment of this annual cultural event is poised to deliver Vancouver’s finest in Pinoy hip-hop and progressive politics.

• Roots, Rhymes and Resistance X: Our Beautiful Struggle
• Friday, May 25th, 2007
• Doors Open: 6pm at Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School, 419 East 24th Avenue

Organized by Vancouver’s Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance/Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilpino sa Canada (FCYA/UKPC), RRR promises to be another jam-packed affair as part of this year’s rendition of Asian Heritage Month. Always a stand out, RRR once again remains the only event in this years line up organized by Filipino youth for the community and it’s supporters. Likewise it maintains the unique mesh of integrating current political issues affecting the Philippines and the Lower Mainland’s Filipino Community.

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In celebration of ExplorASIAN 2007, the CBC Radio Studio One Book Club is pleased to present Jen Sookfong Lee on Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 to 8 pm, at the CBC Broadcast Centre.

Her debut novel The End of East has been garnering great reviews from across the country. It’s an evocative portrait of three generations living in Vancouver’s Chinatown, spanning most of the last century.

Here’s your opportunity to discuss the art of writing, and the struggles of young writers, with one of Canada’s newest literary stars!

The only way to get in, is to win! For all the details and to enter online, go to www.cbc.ca.

Come out and help with this $10 minimum wage campaign event and see a Giants hockey game.

• Where and when: Pacific Coliseum, Friday, April 27th at 6 p.m.

The B.C. Fed Young Workers Committee are going to distribute the $10 NOW Campaign material and gather signatures on a peition at the Pacific Coliseum. Unions are being asked to help out with this important campaign.  People will be meeting at the main entrance to the Pacific Coliseum starting at 6 p.m. before the Giants game at 7:30.

Anyone who helps with the petition blitz will be given a ticket to the Giants playoff game against the Prince George Cougars (popcorn not included.)

Sisters and Brothers:

In 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress, and its affiliated Unions, including the PSAC, established April 28th as the National Day of Mourning to honour workers killed or injured on the job.

At that time, according to the official figures listed by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), 744 workers were listed as having died from workplace injuries. In 2005, the last year that the AWCBC has released statistics for, 1,097 workers were killed on the job due to workplace injuries.

However, we know that these statistics are grossly underestimated and that the real number of deaths resulting from occupational illness and disease, and other workerplace factors are never included in these official statistics, as it is extremely difficult to prove that deaths that are caused by occupational disease, such as cancer, are caused by exposure to hazards in the workplace.

Since 1984, it is estimated that more than 19,000 workers have been killed on the job and more than 20,000,000 workers have been injured while at work.

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April 12, 2007 BC Human Rights Committee Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Tracy (Chair), Craig, Carol (food), Kim, Deanna, Rhonda, Monica (minutes).

1. HRC minutes (name) - members will be asked at every meeting in terms of names listed in attendance

2. Previous minutes - m/s/c Craig, Carol

Continue reading below or download the BC Human Rights Committee minutes, April 12 2007 (pdf)

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PSAC Okanagan Regional Women’s Committee Minutes of Meeting April 13, 2007

The Library, Mickie’s Pub, Kelowna

In Attendance:

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. with Jennifer Leenhouts in the chair.

Minutes: Minutes from January 27, 2007 were accepted. m/s/c

Continue reading below, or download the Okanagan RWC minutes April 13 2007 (pdf)

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PSAC Okanagan Area Council Minutes of Meeting April 13, 2007

The Library, Mickie’s Pub, Kelowna
In Attendance:

The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. with Susan Yaciw in the chair.

Continue reading below or download the Okanagan Area Council minutes April 13 2007 (pdf)

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Negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and MDS Nordion Inc. are scheduled to commence on April 25, 2007. The parties have agreed to meet April 25 to 27 and May 8 to 11, 2007.

Approximately 40 PSAC members work at MDS Nordion Inc. in Vancouver. Nordion produces medical isotopes for worldwide distribution. The collective agreement expired March 31, 2007.

True or False?

• You are paying too much tax.
• To be fair to all, everyone should pay the same tax rate.
• A reduction in taxes would help working families.
• Individuals can’t influence governments when it comes to tax cuts.

Try the new tax quiz at the national website.

Kent Spencer, The Province, Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Canadians should brace themselves for long passport waits “for months” to come, says a spokeswoman for the workers who process passport applications.

“There is no end in sight,” Kay Sinclair, Vancouver-based vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said yesterday.

“I’m told the situation could last for months. Employees could be asked to work all summer to keep up with demand.”

A backlog of applications has developed since the U.S. required all passengers arriving in the U.S. by air to carry passports starting Jan. 23.

About 2,000 PSAC members have been working overtime on weeknights and weekends to process applications, said Sinclair. Printers are running 24 hours a day.

“The job is really stressful,” she said. “Sometimes the public have taken out their frustrations. There’s pressure in terms of [not] taking breaks and holidays.”

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• Tuesday May 8, 5:30PM
• dinner at 5:30 pm, meeting at 6:00 pm*
• 200-5238 Joyce St.
• (1 1/2 block south of the SkyTrain)

This month’s theme is International Solidarity

Megan Adam will talk about the situation in Colombia and Ted Alcuitas about the Philippines, two of the most dangerous countries in the world for trade unionists

*please RSVP to the Vancouver RO at 604.430.5631 or via email: urrutim@psac.com

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - Educational Forum - “Young Workers Organize to Fight Back: Privatization, Low wages, Cut backs & Wars of Aggression”

• Organizing Centre for Economic & Social Justice, 672 E. Broadway Vancouver at Fraser and Broadway, 6:30 PM
• Speakers

• Carlo Sayo, National Chairperson, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance – report-back from the World Peoples Youth Conference (2-4 March 2007, the Netherlands)
• Jen Efting, Bus Riders Union and Hospital Employees Union staff
• Young workers testimonials and organizing young workers from Carl Cortes and Tania Ortiz
• More speakers to be confirmed

Saturday, April 28, 2007 - “Building International Workers’ Solidarity” - Cultural Solidarity Night and Fundraiser

• Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell Street, Vancouver, 6:00 PM
• By Donation at the Door (includes dinner and snacks)

Events are leading up to this year’s May Day March & Rally - “March for Workers’ Rights! Solidarity with Immigrant, Migrant and Undocumented Workers!”

• May 1, Tuesday, 6:00 pm
• Gather at Clark Park (Commercial Dr. and E14th Avenue)
• Organized by the May Day 2007 Organizing Committee and Status Coalition (Vancouver)

April 18th, VICTORIA – Opposition Leader Carole James today introduced the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, 2007 to lift B.C.’s minimum wage to $10 per hour. The Bill also proposes to index future increases to protect workers and give certainty to employers. Also included in the legislative package is a full percentage point reduction in the small business tax rate to help that sector manage rising costs.

After a six year freeze, it’s time the government of British Columbia gave our province’s lowest paid workers a raise.

• More information and a petition at www.bcfed.com.

The Minimum Wage Fairness Act will raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour and implements a system to index increases in future years so B.C.’s lowest paid workers never have to face a six year freeze again.

By providing this lift and indexing future increases, B.C.’s lowest paid workers get much needed support and employers get the certainty they need to plan for the future.

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Sisters and Brothers:

This year, on April 22, over 500 million people in more than 100 countries will be celebrating International Earth Day. Some 6 million Canadians will participate in Earth Day events in schools, community groups, youth groups, unions, and environmental organizations. Nearly all school children in Canada will participate in an Earth Day event.

Across Canada, there is widespread support for protecting the environment. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, nine out of ten Canadians rate the environment as one of their top concerns, and eight out of ten Canadians believe that environmental protection should be given priority over economic growth.

Despite this widespread popular support, successive federal governments have systematically dismantled environment programs and replaced them with rhetoric and little substance. Canada is sadly one of the world’s most wasteful nations in terms of excessive energy consumption, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Our performance on the majority of environmental indicators is worsening. Clearly, there is a gap between our environmental values and our poor environmental record.

Read John Gordon’s Earth Day message at the national website.

Here are some photos taken at recent PSAC events in Vancouver and Victoria … click the thumbnails for larger versions.

On April 4^th PSAC, affiliated Union, and Victoria Labour Council members attended an event coordinated by the BC Fed to bring attention to Dr. Keith Martin’s (MP for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca) voting record on Bill C-257. Dr. Martin had originally voted in favor of the Bill only to amend his position at final reading. Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Federation of Labour, Jennifer Burgis, NDP Candidate for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca and Kay Sinclair all spoke of the need for Anti-Scab Legislation and how disappointing it was that Dr. Martin amended his position at the last minute.

Dr. Martin also addressed the crowd of angry constituents with a excuse that Essential Services designation somehow played an important role in his change of position. This was really frustrating for the unionized workers present as it has been made abundantly clear that essential services designations would not be affected by this anti-scab legislation.

Over 140 delegates, guests and observers attended the PSAC’s 2nd Pride Conference which was held in Vancouver on March 30-April 1, 2007, and chaired by Kay Sinclair and Ed Cashman, REVP for Ontario. Participants attended workshops and regional caucuses, debated resoultions, and elected two LGTB members to the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee. At left, members of the BC caucus. Visit the national website for a report and some more photos.

Members from the Nanaimo area took a Grievance Handling and Understanding / Interpreting the Collective Agreement course, March 31 - April 1. The GH/UICA course, which was facilitated by PSAC Regional Rep. Dave Jackson, gives members the skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems in the workplace and explores key provisions in our various Collective Agreements.

• Thursday, April 12 – 6:30pm
• Heritage Hall 3102 Main St.
• Vancouver, B.C.
• Info: 604-291-9611

Vancouver Child Care Resource is losing half of its provincial funding at the end of April. Ten neighbourhood-based CCRR services that help families with referrals and subsidies, and give family child care providers training and business support, will be gone.

The Campbell government is also cutting 100% of the Westcoast Provincial Services budget. That means no more access to the unique Westcoast Resource Library that promotes diversity and multiculturalism outside of Vancouver. And, significantly reduced access to the Safe Spaces bullying prevention training for caregivers of 3-5 year olds.
Waitlists are growing and parent fees are rising. Families, child care providers and community leaders are not sitting still for these cuts to urgently-needed child care services.

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BOOKKEEPER / ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Vancouver office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives — Canada’s leading progressive research institute — seeks a part-time Bookkeeper/Administrative Assistant.

Closing date for applications: FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 4:00 pm.
Starting date: Mid-June, 2007
Duration: This is a half-time position for a one year term, with a strong likelihood that the position will become permanent. Salary: Starting salary is $34,902 FTE (the CCPA is a unionized workplace with a five-step grid and a generous benefits package)

POSITION SUMMARY
The position’s principal responsibilities are clerical, including: coding all income, invoices and receipts; preparing monthly financial packages; reviewing and reconciling monthly financial statements; tracking variances with budget; payroll instructions and reconciliation; administration of project budgets; issuing invoices; coding VISA receipts and statements; and administering staff benefits. (Note: the CCPA’s financial statements are prepared by a bookkeeper at our Ottawa office; this posted position will liaise with the national bookkeeper.) Generally, this person will be
responsible for the smooth financial management of the BC office.

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via email

Dear Make Poverty History supporters:

Your support has helped us move forward on our Better Aid and Ending Child Poverty goals. But we were disappointed that the Conservative Government did not keep their promises to increase aid in the Federal Budget.

• Visit the Victoria Street Newz (one of the projects the PSAC Social Justice Fund is supporting) to see how they are helping Make Poverty History in BC.

Better Aid Bill Passes Final Vote in the House of Commons

The Better Aid Bill (Bill C-293) moved an important step closer to becoming law on March 28, when it was passed by the House of Commons 166 to 121. The Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québecois voted in favour of the legislation. Only one Conservative Member of Parliament, Brian Pallister, voted in favour of the motion.

The Better Aid Bill, a private member’s bill sponsored by Liberal MP John McKay, will ensure that official development assistance funds are directed to poverty reduction while respecting human rights obligations.

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PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB) - It’s time to begin bargaining!

PSAC has already started to put the Treasury Board on notice that we’re getting ready to bargain. The union had committed that, in this round of bargaining, notice to bargain would be served at the earliest possible legal date – four months before the expiry dates of each of the agreements – and that bargaining would begin before these agreements expire.

Notice to bargain for the Program and Administrative Services (PA) and Frontière/Border Services (FB) units was served on February 21, 2007 and the notice for Technical Services (TC) sent on February 22.

Notice to bargain for the Education and Library Science (EB) unit was served on March 1, 2007 while the notice for the Operational Services (SV) unit will be served on April 5, 2007.

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To: PSAC members in BC

As you may know, Bill 257 (Anti-scab legislation) was defeated on March 21 during the 3rd reading in the House of Commons 177 votes to 122 votes. Despite this, we have a lot to be proud of. The CLC coordinated a well organized campaign of which the PSAC played a key role both in BC and in Ottawa. And we couldn’t have done so without your participation.

Many of you took the time to write, phone, fax and email your MP to build support for the bill. In particular, our Area Councils sent letters to each MP in their region identifying the number of PSAC members in their riding affected by the bill.

I want to thank all of you: your hard work and positive response to our repeated requests for support are much appreciated. While I’m disappointed that more MPs did not support working people on this issue (and we will remember them at election time, scroll down to see how they all voted) I truly believe that our union is stronger from this experience.

Thanks again. In Solidarity, Kay Sinclair, REVP BC

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