Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC Okanagan Area Council Minutes of Meeting September 21, 2007, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Summerland

In Attendance:

• Susan Yaciw UTE 20003
• Linda Woods NAT 20140
• Kelly Megyesi CEIU 20915
• Jennifer Leenhouts CEIU 20972
• Darrell-Lee McKenzie AGR 20043
• Rowena Santo UTE 20026
• Kareen Stanich AGR 20043
• Brenda Williams UTE 20026
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. with Susan Yaciw in the chair.

Continue reading below or download the Okanagan Area Council meeting minutes - Sept 21 (pdf)

Minutes: Minutes from June 22, 2007 were accepted. m/s/c

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

Old Business:

Audited Financial Report – Books to be audited.

Action: D-L. McKenzie to have books audited at end of December for AGM in January and send copy to REVP.

Affiliating to District Labour Council - One local will affiliate with the South Okanagan Boundry Labour Council at a cost of $0.25 per member per month. The cost to affiliate AGRU 20043 is approximately $240, however there will be a rebate from the REVP. Any PSAC member in the area can attend the meetings which are the 1st Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. (unless the 1st day of the month is a Tuesday, then the meeting is the 2nd Tuesday). Meetings are held at the Penticton Teachers Union office on Ellis Street.

Action: D-L. McKenzie to affiliate AGR 20043 with SOBLC.

Action: Anyone interested in attending meetings should provide contact information (snail and email) to D-L. McKenzie for the mailing list.

PSAC Forum – Was well attended in Penticton and there were new faces in Kelowna and Vernon. It would be nice to see this type of forum on an annual basis.

Action: S. Yaciw to ask Amal Rana for a summary and distribute to Area Council members.

New Business:

BC Regional Council: The next meeting is October 21-22. There will also be leadership training October 17-20, and a meeting with regional office staff on the 23rd. S. yaciw expressed concern about the regions outside the lower mainland and island not having an opportunity for input.

Action: Any items should be forwarded to S. Yaciw.

Political Action: S. Yaciw reported that the committee met by conference call on September 5th (minutes attached). She has written to MP’s and candidates regarding defending public services.

D-L. McKenzie reported that the Labour Picnic in Penticton was excellent. S. Yaciw and K. Megyesi reported that Public Services Are Cool flyers were distributed in Westbank, Kelowna and Vernon.

The transfer of federal non-regulatory laboratories to universities or private sector was discussed as this could potentially affect many members and would also impact the public as federal labs do research that is for public good. Locals and Components are actively working on this issue.

J. Leenhouts reported that at HRSDC jobs are being devolved to the provinces. BC is one of the last provinces to see this happen. Approximately 500 members were affected in Ontario and we would expect 200-250 members in BC affected by this.

BC Regional Convention April 18-20, 2008: Discussed concern about the delegate selection process for Locals with <100 members. How will the process work for affiliating these small Locals and selecting delegates? Also discussed potential resolutions such as one that would allow the REVP to reside outside the lower mainland.

Action: S. Yaciw to inquire how delegate selection will occur.
Action: S. Yaciw to find out deadline for resolution submission.
Action : S. Yaciw to raise at next Regional Council meeting the importance of delegates being made aware of the requirements to be elected / hold office.

PSAC BC Union School: Scheduled November 2-4, 2007 with the theme Public and Proud. Deadline for applications is September 28, 2007. For more information see:
http://www.psacbc.com/education/2007-union-school/

Next Meeting: Saturday December 1, 2007, Kelowna

Action: K. Megyesi to investigate suitable location in Kelowna.

Adjourned at 7:25 p.m. m/s/c