Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Members in Victoria recently had the opportunity to attend a Workplace Health & Public Safety Programme (WHPSP) Seminar put on by Health Canada. The seminar was designed to instruct members on the following issues:

* WHPSP’s “Occupational Health Assessment Guide” (OHAG)
* Treasury Board’s “Occupational Health Evaluation Standard”
* Health Canada’s WHPSP Health Assessment Services
* The other services WHPSP offers

For those of you that were unable to attend Health Canada has provided us with a copy of the following OHAG Workshop Powerpoint Presentation.

Bosses and Workers’ Differing Perspectives on Economic Issues

• 4 Week course
• February 20 & 27, March 5 & 12
• Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
• CAW Hall, 312 12th Street
• New Westminster

Course Outline:

• Day 1 – Labour Markets – Why do most people need jobs, but some don’t?
• Day 2 – Stock Market and Shop Floors – Where does all the wealth come from?
• Day 3 – Budgets, Deficits, and Taxes – Who’s paying all the bills?
• Day 4 – Privatization – Who owns the world?

Courses will include lecture, discussion, with integrated use of media such as music and video to illustrated the prevalence of hidden economic persuasion in everyday life. A strict distinction between the mainstream view of businesses and alternative views will be made in each class in order to understand how economic issues are
shaped by the social position of the people involved.

Underlying Philosophy:

Workers often share a common sense understanding with other ordinary people; they understand the economy as a mysterious world of financial markets, which is inhabited by investment bankers, stockbrokers, and media pundits. If the workers are unionized, labour law, collective bargaining and organizing professionals complement this world of
finance. The contrast between such perceptions and everyday experience of the individual pursuit of jobs and work place conflicts produces widespread feelings of isolation, alienation, and powerlessness that hamper workers’ individual capacities and collective activism.

One factor to overcome such impediments to strong labour movements is to focus labour education on economic issues. This, however, should not counter neo-liberal mainstream views with an alternative variety of expert knowledge. The starting point should be the experiences of individual workers as job seekers instead. Proceeding from there, it should be explained why working people have to sell their labour power to the bosses’, and also why the latter are on top of the hierarchical power relations at the workplace. Only on this basis can management strategies, economic policies and international economic relations be understood as processes that ultimately depend on workers as the producers of wealth. The ultimate goal of this type of worker education is to build capacities in such a way that enables them to get involved in economical and
political self-representation.

Course Instructor: Ingo Schmidt

Ingo Schmidt teaches Labour Relations at Athabasca University and is developing a course on Economics for Workers. He has written books and articles on economic policies. Collaborating with the Working Group for Alternative Economic Policies and major unions, Ingo worked as a labour educator in Germany before he came to Canada.

Course Fees: $25 (subsidies available)

Please register through the Vancouver & District Labour Council, 604-254-0703, or office@vdlc.ca

Presented by the Vancouver & District Labour Council Education Committee

Fraser Valley Area Council Annual General Meeting 2007-12-05

In Attendance:

• Kay Sinclair PSAC-REVP BC
• Keith Glover RVP USGE
• James Little PSAC
• Jayne Johns CEIU Local 20903
• Anne Marie McCully CEIU Local 20903
• Edi Martin USGE Local 20141
• Chuck Leech USGE Local 20054
• Mel Dureen USGE Local 20054
• Bea Burke Local 20147
• Griselda Schmidtke Local 20140
• Diane McArthur Local 20140
• Heather Warner USGE Local 20040
• Patti Victor Local 20903

Meeting called to order at 1830 hours.

Continue reading below, or download the Fraser Valley AC minutes – December 5 2007 (pdf)

Introductions were made.

A quorum has been reached.

It was announced that E. Martin would be the Education Co-ordinator for the Fraser Valley.

1. Previous Minutes

• A motion to adopt the previous minutes was made by A. M. McCully and seconded by P. Victor. Motion carried

2. By-Law Amendments

• Changes were made to the By-Laws adopted in June 2001.

• Proposed change: J. Johns read the proposed changes to our bylaws in Section I, Subsection I – Change to geographical areas. The proposed change in geographical areas to amalgamate the Fraser Valley in one are and the Metro Vancouver and surrounding area to their own Area Council was moved by M. Dureen and seconded by E. Martin. After much discussion the decision was carried. It is to be noted that P. Victor and K. Glover chose to abstain.

3. Financial Report – A. McCully

• Our current balance is $1691.54 and dues are payable in January. There are currently six locals in good standing and permitted to vote.
• Motion to accept the financial report – C. Leech, Seconded – P. Victor. Carried – unanimously.

4. Election of Executive

• The call for nominations went out.

• President – Jayne Johns – nominated by C. Leech, seconded by D. McArthur. – Acclamation
• First Vice President – Mel Dureen – nominated by H. Warner, seconded by C. Leech – Acclamation
• Second Vice President – Chuck Leech – nominated by E. Martin, seconded by D. McArthur – Acclamation
• Treasurer – Anne Marie McCully – nominated by P. Victor, seconded by H. Warner – Acclamation
• Secretary
  • Heather Warner – nominated by C. Leech, seconded by K. Glover (incumbent refused)
  • Edi Martin – nominated by M Dureen, seconded by H. Warner – Acclamation

• The executive was sworn in by K. Sinclair, PSAC.

5. Election of Delegates to PSAC Convention 2008

• Jayne Johns is a delegate as the Geographic Coordinator for the BC PSAC Regional Council. Keith Glover will attend as a National Officer delegate. Heather Warner will attend for USGE
• A delegate was voted in for the Fraser Valley Area Council

1. Anne Marie McCully – nominated by M. Dureen and seconded by P. Victor – Acclimation
2. 1st Alternate – M. Dureen – nominated by J. Johns and seconded by K. Glover – Acclimation
3. 2nd Alternate – Edi Martin – nominated by J. Johns and seconded by M. Dureen – Acclimation

6. Resolutions

• There were no resolutions presented at this meeting.

7. District Labour Council Report – J. Johns

• J. Johns provided information on the activities of the Fraser Valley District Labour Council. It began last year in the Fraser Valley with 16000 members and 30-80 people attending the meetings on the third Wednesday of each month. Their work groups include a Political Action group, an Organizing group and an Education group. The Education group currently has courses on WCB, How to Organize an Effective Campaign and Retirement. They are planning more courses after April 2008. We were providing $300 per year for three delegates and 3 alternates. We have increased to $600 for six delegates and three alternates.
• It was moved by J. Johns and seconded by E. Martin that Matsqui USGE Local 20054 is supported to affiliate with the Fraser Valley District Labour Council under the Fraser Valley Area Council. That would then provide us with six delegates and 6 alternates. The motion was carried, with K. Glover abstaining.

8. Fraser Valley Coordinators Report

• Attached.

9. Bargaining Information – M. Dureen

• Two pay studies have been completed and the essential services agreement is being considered during December. No job action is allowed at this time.

10. Education – J. Little

• The staffing course has been postponed until the new year. Edi Martin will be working with Amal Rana at PSAC to identify the training needs for the Fraser Valley and to recruit people to attend, set up dates, etc. A meeting will be held in January to review our requirements.
• A new course on staffing is developed to educate members on the new rules in staffing. CSC is constantly changing how staffing is completed. Everyone needs to learn how things should be done and review redress.
• A USGE Strike Mobilization course will be held in Vancouver and Kelowna. Additional strike training for all PSAC members will also be provided later in the Valley. Monika Urita is developing this area.

11. Political Action – A M McCully

• There have been numerous meetings and e-mails regarding the minimum wage campaign.
• Bill C-14 has had it’s third reading. This affects Canada Post’s exclusivity.
• There has been a problem with contracting out of laboratories. We have a lab here in the Cultus Lake area that is being affected.

12. PSAC-REVP Report – Kay Sinclair

• Regulation 15 has established our rules for bargaining.
• Pension surplus decision – we have lost the court case and currently have our lawyers reviewing everything to see if we can appeal this. PSAC is also reviewing the decision. We also do not want to jointly issue the pension plan.
• Bill C-14 would affect our members (UPCE are non male members). We would likely see very uneven services. People in the rural areas would not receive very good service at all.
• The CRA agreement has been ratified.

The meeting concluded at 2000 Hr.

FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL COORDINATOR REPORT, For October 2007

Jayne Johns-Fraser Valley West Coordinator Activities since the last Regional Council Meeting

• May 16, 2007 Fraser Valley Labour Council Executive Meeting and General Meeting in Abbotsford
• June 1-3, 2007 CEIU Presidents Conference in Richmond
• June 11-13, 2007 Facilitated JLP Collective Agreement Interpretation Workshop in Victoria and visited the Victoria PSAC office
• Jun 18, 2007 JLP Open House in Abbotsford BC
• June 20, 2007 Fraser Valley Labour Council Executive Meeting and General Meeting in Abbotsford
• June 25, 2007 BC PSAC Political Action conference call
• July 1, 2007 Participated in the Abbotsford Canada Parade with other Labour Council affiliates (see picture)
• July 18, 2007 BC PSAC Political Action conference call
• Sept 4, 2007 CEIU/Service Canada Passport Offerings conference call with Kay Sinclair
• Sept 12, 2007 Participated in JLP Anti-Harassment Workshop
• Sept 12, 2007 PSAC Education Open House in Abbotsford
• Sept 12, 2007 Fraser Valley Area Council meeting
• Sept 18 & 19, 2007 Participated in JLP UMCC Workshop
• Sept 26, 2007 BC PSAC Political Action Conference call
• October 18-20, 2007 BC PSAC Regional Exective Council meeting in Vancouver. I was selected as Chair of the REC By-law Committee
• October 21-23, 2007 PSAC Leadership Training phase II. This training was provided for Regional and National leaders and is a follow up to part 1 provided prior to the 2006 National Convention.

Funding for the B.C. Regional Triennial Convention will be as follows:

For those delegates living more than 20 kilometres from the Hyatt Regency:

• PSAC will cover the costs of hotel, travel, per diem, parking, and loss of salary for Thursday, if a travel day.
• If on shift on Saturday and/or Sunday, loss of salary will be provided.
• Loss of salary for Friday will not be covered.

For those delegates living 20 kilometres or less from the Hyatt Regency:

• PSAC will cover the cost of travel, meals, and parking.
• Hotel will not be provided.
• If on shift on Saturday and/or Sunday, loss of salary will be provided.
• Loss of salary for Friday will not be covered.

A registration fee of $50.00 will be requested from all delegates, and observers.

If you have any questions about funding please contact Regina Brennan or call 604-430-5631/1-800-669-1655.

FVAC Minutes Dec 2007

Sharon McIvor is a member of the Lower Nicola Band, a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia, and a Professor of Aboriginal Law at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, where she is on the executive of her trade union, the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. For many years, Sharon McIvor has been a national leader in the Native Women’s Association of Canada and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action.

Recently, in an unprecedented constitutional case, Sharon McIvor successfully challenged the continuing preferential treatment given to males and those whose Indian status is traced from male ancestors, as a violation of section 15, the equality guarantee of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

On June 7, 2007, in McIvor v. Canada, Judge Carol Ross of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that the federal government must remove sex discrimination from the determination of Indian status and restore equal Indian status to First Nations women and their descendants.

This is a ground-breaking decision that may affect the Indian status of more than 200,000 Aboriginal women and their descendants.

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Picket and Rally

Wednesday, January 30, 4 pm
Picket outside the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver (1075 W. Pender)

War and Occupation are a Health Crisis.

The Israeli occupation is a health crisis for Palestinians. In particular, the total siege by the Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza effectively detains Palestinian men, women and children in what amounts to a giant open air prison, creating a mounting health emergency by denying even the basic necessities of life. In addition to the Israeli-created public health crisis, Palestinians face arbitrary and criminal military violence from the Israeli occupiers.

The conditions in Gaza demonstrate clearly the criminal nature of the Israeli occupation:

Ongoing killings, assassinations and air attacks by Israeli occupation forces; already in January, 2008, Israeli occupying forces in Gaza have killed 26 Palestinians, including children and women, and wounded 44 others. This death toll does not include the countless others whose physical and mental health hangs in the balance of the siege.

Tens of thousands are denied access to safe water and sanitation as raw sewage runs through the streets. General scarcity of food, clean water, and fuel, resulting in malnutrition, disease are a public health clamity. Gaza is on the verge of a humanitarian, health and environmental crisis, threatening the lives of 1.5 million civilians.

Surgical operations and medical aid are suspended at hospitals due to lack of power and supplies, leaving patients languishing in need of medical attention. Furthermore, medical personal are unable to reach people due to the siege conditions.

Blockade of supplies for UN Relief and Works Agency which supplies over 900,000 Palestinians in refugee camp; humanitarian aid is suspended in a region where 85% of the Palestinian population depends upon humanitarian aid their basic needs for survival.

The U.S. and Canadian governments share culpability for this disaster as they continue to support the Israeli occupation. The U.S.A. provides billions of dollars in aid to Israel annually, much of it military aid. Meanwhile the Canadian government has over the last several years shifted to a position of essentially unconditional support for Israel at the U.N. and was the first government to cut humanitarian aid to Palestinians following their democratic election in 2006, punishment for not voting for the ‘correct’ representatives.

Peace, justice and health for Palestinians are impossible under conditions of occupation and siege. We must speak out! We must ACT NOW to break the siege and end the occupation.

Break the Siege on Gaza!

Canada & U.S. – stop supporting Israeli war crimes!

End the Israeli Occupation! Free Palestine!

Organized by the Health Now! Campaign, Alliance for Peoples Health, Al Awda – Palestinian Right of Return Coalition, International League of Peoples Struggles participating organizations in Vancouver (BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Grassroots Women, Ugnayan Ng Kabataang Pilipino Sa Canada/Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance, SIKLAB, Bus Riders Union, Filipino Nurses Support Group), Free Ahmed Sa’adat Campaign.

Email contact.

Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision that finally gave Canadian women true reproductive choice!

Monday, January 28, 2008, 6-10pm, SFU Harbour Centre, 515 W. Hastings St., Vancouver.

Featuring: Reception, cash bar, speaker’s panel, and new documentary film “Henry”.

Here is a poster with details.

For more info, contact jharthur@shaw.ca

Monday, February 11th at 5:00 at the PSAC office, #210 – 1497 Admirals Road.

The agenda for this meeting will include

• Election of Chairperson/Secretary/Treasurer
• Election of Delegate to the BC PSAC Regional Convention
• Budget for the 2008 fiscal year
• Event for International Women’s Day
• Information on Oxfam Canada

Q: What is the definition of “to work alone or in isolation?”

A: “To work alone or in isolation” is defined as working in circumstances where assistance would not be readily available to the worker (a) in case of an emergency, or (b) in case the worker is injured or in ill health.

The following document, a series of frequently asked questions prepared by the BC Fed may be useful if anyone has any questions concerning the new BC Occupational Safety and Health Regulation – New Requirement Part 4 – Working Alone Regulation. Download the working alone or in isolation FAQs here (pdf).

The Department of Natural Resources Canada conducted an audit of Health and Safety Programs in Laboratories in accordance with the Canada Labour Code (CLC), Part II, which obligates the Department to protect the health and safety of its approximately 5,000 employees. NRCan is one of the first government departments to perform such a comprehensive Health and Safety Program Audit which identifies improvements to the Program that should be sought through monitoring.

• Download the Audit of Health and Safety Program in Laboratories Report (pdf)
• Discuss the report

The “scope” of the audit was to review Departmental policies, procedures and activities “related to managing the Health ands Safety Program applied to laboratories” which “represent the highest area of risk in the Health and Safety Program. The audit was conducted between September 2006 and March 2007.

The attached Report/Audit provides information relating to the audit and identifies a number of recommendations and responses from management relating to those recommendations. Please review the attached Report and provide any comments you might have with respect to its content.

This portion of the PSAC BC website was the brainchild of the PSAC members who participated in the June 2007 Advanced Steward Training course held in Victoria BC. Visit the Stewards Network section of psacbc.com here.

The goals of this website are:

• Create a stewards support network;
• Educate stewards through active & timely communication; and
• Maintain a current list of stewards and their contact information

You can expect to see weekly postings of timely information that will assist stewards in their workplace.

We also have a ‘forum’ section on our website. The forum will be used by stewards and others who play a workplace problem solving role to educate and communicate with each other and share problem solving techniques and/or best practises. It is expected that Stewards will actively participate in respectful discussions which allow them to meet the goals listed above.

In addition to the forum section we also have an email subscription service where one can sign up to automatically receive any new postings that will be of interest to PSAC stewards, and others who share an interest in workplace problem solving, and assist them in their work.

Welcome to the British Columbia Regional Union Safety and Health (BRUSH) “mini-site”!

• visit the Health & Safety section of the website.

The BRUSH is a committee made up of union activists in the British Columbia region. Its mission is to:

• Create a safer and healthier workplace through the collective action of union health and safety activists.
• Develop and deliver BC Regional Health and Safety Conferences
• Ensure follow-up on National Health and Safety Priorities as identified at the PSAC National and BC Regional Health and Safety Conferences

This section of the regional website will provide Health and Safety information on a regular basis and will encourage members to actively participate in a respectful discussion around workplace Health and Safety issues.

Check back soon, we will be updating frequently.

Depending on where they work, BC PSAC members may be covered under one of a number of different labour laws. Members who work in federal government departments with Treasury board as the employer are covered by the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA). PSAC members who work at Airports, Canada Post, Nordion International, IMP Comox and Granville Island fall under the Canada Labour Code (CLC). Still other PSAC members work in employment situations that come under the jurisdiction of provincial labour legislation, for example Commissionaires.

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Role of union stewards supported by PSLRB

Stewards must be able to operate in the workplace without interference or intimidation for the union to be effective. A recent decision by the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) reinforces the rights needed by stewards to work on behalf of their members.

Stewards–and all union representatives–are protected against employer intimidation and interference under the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA). Without these protections, the union could not speak up for the interests of its members in the workplace. Enforcing these rights is critical, and the recent decision in the Perka case provides a strong example for all unions covered by the PSLRA.

Protection provided by legislation

The PSLRA provides detailed protections for union representatives and members that prevent the employer from:

• Interfering with how a union runs its own affairs;
• Interfering with the representation that the union provides to its members;
• Imposing discipline or discriminating against anyone because of his or her lawful activities in the union.

The Unfair Labour Practices section of the PSLRA should be consulted for a full view of the protections provided, but the essential point is that the employer cannot prevent union representatives from carrying out their legitimate duties. In the Perka case, the union was able to prove the employer had violated the protections it was required to respect.

Go to the following link to read the complete decision.

The Vancouver District Labour Council Young Workers Committee (VDLC) is having a rally in front of Gordon Campbell’s office on Saturday February 16th at 1:00pm to promote the increase of minimum wage. Currently the minimum wage is $8.00 an hour (below the poverty level.) and there is a bogus training wage for new workers where employers are paying as little as $6.00 an hour for the 1 st 500 hours to young and immigrant workers.

Many of the other provinces have already legislated an increase to Minimum wage, BC is falling behind and we have some of the highest costs of living in all of Canada. The labour movement is calling for the abolishment of the $6 training wage and an increase to the minimum wage to $10.00 an hour.

Come out and support some of our provinces most vulnerable workers and the VDLC Young workers. Let’s make this rally a success!

• February 16th /08
• 3615 W. 4th Ave. (In Front Of Gordon Campbell’s Office.)
• 1:00pm
• 8 Bucks Sucks!

You can also show your support by signing the petition on the BC Federation of Labour website.

The deadline for nominations for the racially visible delegate to the B.C. Regional Convention has been extended to Friday, January 25th at 4 p.m. The Convention will be held in Vancouver from April 18-20, 2008.

Nominations for the racially visible delegate are open to racially visible members in good standing who have self-identified. Please ensure you have completed the self-identification form.

Please see the attached nomination form (pdf) which may be faxed to the REVP office at (604) 430-0194.

Negotiations between the Prince Rupert Airport Authority and the Public Service Alliance of Canada are scheduled to resume on January 22 and 23, 2008, with the assistance of a Conciliation Officer. The parties had met on three (3) separate occasions in 2007 but were unable to reach a tentative agreement. The major outstanding issues include wages, benefits, and duration. The collective agreement expired November 30, 2006.

The next Human Rights Committee meeting will be February 12th

• Human Rights Committee meeting
• Tuesday, February 12th, 5:45PM
• PSAC Vancouver RO, 5238 Joyce Street
• participation via conference call is available, if requested in advance

Agenda

• Election of delegate to BC Regional Convention
• More TBA

Please RSVP to Regina Brennan – brennar@psac.com

The next North Central Area Council meeting will be held …

• Saturday February 16, 2008, 10AM
• HEU Hall (corner of 3rd and Dominion), Prince George

Agenda:

1. Elections for the positions of President, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice-Presidents,Secretary,and Treasurer.
2. Election of a delegate to the BC Region convention in Vancouver–April 18-20, 2008
3. Bargaining Update

For more information, please email Colette Savarie.