Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

VAC AGM 16 October 2007

Present: Tom Gallagher, Megan Adam, Sam Wiese, Sharon Tieman, Deanna Wilson, Colbey Peters, David Saba, Kay Sinclair, Rhonda Johns, Terri Lee, Monica Urrutia (staff)

Continue reading below, or download the  Vancouver Area Council AGM minutes - October 16 2007 (pdf)

1. Meeting called to order at 6:07 pm

2. Intros

• 3 guests, Dave & Colbey and Deanna
• rest in attendance are delegates or officers

3. REVP‘s message (Kay)

• BC Regional Council coming up April 18-20. Each Area Council (AC) is entitled to 1 delegate and can submit resolutions.
• Suggest election should be at next AC meeting and identify draft resolutions
• Might have workshops at Convention – e.g. get AC’s involved in municipal elections; via District Labour Council affiliation
• Kay distributed some recent resolutions passed at NBoD – land claims, PSAC funding national women’s groups (both pdf); on support and solidarity with Colombia and the Philippines (see attached)
• there was some discussion on the resolutions
• Terri gave a back ground of the Equal Opportunities committee which raised the resolutions on Colombia and the Philippines – largest standing committee, 1 from each component (17), 2 from each group (8), 2 co-chair, Ed & Robyn. Meets twice a year to discuss equity issues. Terri reviewed/explained the report. Download the EOC report to the NBoD (pdf)
  
• NBoD still needs to implement the 2nd & 3rd Be it resolved on the Philippines issues – it has been passed by the board
• Discussed Discipline Review Committee at the Board – how PSAC deals with disciplining people who cross picket lines – looking at making recommendations

4. President’s Report (Sam)

• Sam provided a verbal report which highlighted the following:
• Nov ’06 – attended BC Fed Convention
• Dec – participated in action against religious & political persecution of the Falun Gong; also participated in the PSAC Human Rights dinner
• Feb – attended IAMAW rally, supported BC Fed Youth Group on the $10 minimum wage campaign
• March: at the BC Fed Community and Social Action meeting – recommended the Temporary Foreign Workers Working Group come under this committee
• April – presentation about April 28 Day of Mourning to Burnaby City Council who unanimously voted to officially recognize April 28 as an official day in Burnaby. ; attended Empty Bowls Gala – Burnaby – fundraiser for schools which no longer have hot lunch programs
• May – attended the May Day Rally – well attended, made a presentation to Burnaby City Council to recognize May Day as an important day in the history of labour and human rights
• June – elected on to exec of Burnaby Citizens Association, this is the association that supports union endorsed Burnaby civic candidates
• July – participated in Defending Quality Public Services (DQPS) Campaign kick-off various sites in Burnaby, New Westminster and Port Moody
• Aug – attend BC Day NDP picnic, distributed DQPS stuff; Merritt Mountain Music Festival – outside the gates distributed DQPS info
• September – Labour Day Picnic – happy with turn-out from AC; Thanks to all who supported; Highest # of PSAC members probably in last 10 years.
• Talked about needing to get involved Political Action Committee

5. Treasurer’s Report (Sharon)

• Sharon presented her Treasurers report (pdf).
• Community Savings, the new bank of the VAC is a unionized credit union that is endorsed by the BC Fed
• Report was m/s/CARRIED (Sharon, Rhonda)

6. TB – Bargaining (Megan)

• PA (Table I) – have been meeting with the employer since the spring. One meeting so far this Fall.
• Basic, sign-offs (changes under new legislation; housekeeping and untouched clauses)
• changes to grievance procedure, union leave, official language training
• $ is at the end so majority of demands are $
• delays because of pay studies, Dec round called off because of (Essential Service Agreements) ESAs & Pay studies are incomplete
• Nov = finish all non-monetary = Dec no bargaining to keep coordinating with all tables
• Discussion – suggest pressuring local management at UMCCs or components regarding ESAs – put something on web

5. Youth Report

• Sam gave on behalf of Jamey
• A –$10 Now campaign is still underway. Some municipalities have supported voted to support, while prior to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) meeting some had not supported notably Vancouver, Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam. While Pitt Meadows and Vancouver were not too much of a shock, we were very saddened by the result of the initial vote by Port Coquitlam City Council as there is a high number of Union endorsed members on that city council. The resolution to Port Coquitlam failed by one vote, interestingly, a union endorsed city councilor was not in attendance at the meeting the night NWDLC gave the $10 Now presentation. Thankfully, the majority of delegates at the UBCM passed the $10 Now resolution at the conference last month.
• B –“ Grant’s” Law – working alone law, was passed by WCB after much work and support from the De Patie family and the labour community
• C – Youth Committee within PSAC faces some challenges; encourages locals to get youth in touch with Jamey

6. Motion

• For the VAC to pay $180 towards dues for the New West District Labour Council for CEIU 20949 – which pays the other 50%. Rationale: This is done annually as the VAC receives a subsidy from the PSAC to help it affiliate to District Labour Councils within its jurisdiction. If anyone is interested, Sam sits as a delegate but we are entitled to two. Rhonda may be interested. m/s/CARRIED (Sam, Megan)
• The VAC is also affiliated to the Vancouver District Labour Council via AGR 20044 but we believe that VAC does not contribute towards the dues because AGR 20044 gets its dues reimbursed to them already. CEUDA 20040 is also affiliated and UEW 20147 may soon be affiliated and will be requesting funds from the VAC to assist.

7. Elections

• Kay Sinclair conducted the elections with the following results:
• President – Sam Wiese (Rhonda nominated, Megan seconded)
• 1st VP – Megan Adam (Sam/Sharon)
• 2nd VP – Rhonda Johns (Sam/Sharon)
• Sec - VACANT
• Treasurer – Sharon Tieman (Megan/Sam)
• Members at large
• (1) Tom Gallagher (Sam/Megan)
• (2) Terri Lee (Rhonda, Sharon)
• (3) VACANT
• Kay conducted the oath.

8. Other

• Oct 27 – Bring Our Troops Home Rally
• Nov 2-3 BC Law Teach-in on Afghanistan
• Nov 3 – Chili Cook Off
• Pivot Calendars are available to fundraise for Pivot Legal Society, they will also be having a Christmas Auction Dec 8th
• Sam made a special mention about the passing of trade unionist Tom Kozar. There will be a United Way Labour Appreciation Dinner on December 3rd where Tom will be posthumously given an award.

9. Stand Up/Speak Out

• The following people took part in the Stand Up/Speak out pledge against world poverty. (Monica, Megan, Deanna, Terri, Tom, Rhonda, Sharon, Dave, Colbey, Sam)

10. Meeting adjourned 7:55 pm.

11. Addendum: Addendum to Financial Statement for Vancouver Area Council (pdf).