Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

The Vancouver Collective Bargaining Branch (also known as the Satellite Office) has recently been relocated.

Effective immediately, the new address is 300-5238 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC, V5R6C9 (above the Vancouver Regional Office). The phone number remains the same (604) 430 5761 and fax (604) 431 6727.

Locals and other PSAC groups that had access to the former location should contact Lynn MacDonald regarding keys and access to the new boardroom. Lynn can be reached at (604) 831 5854.

Members wishing to book the new boardroom for meetings or other events are reminded to contact the Regional Office.

Our collective agreement with Canada Post guarantees extended benefits to our members, including coverage for prescription drugs, physiotherapy and dental care.

Canada Post would have PSAC members believe that our health and insurance benefits under Article 37 of the collective agreement make the employer uncompetitive compared to other companies that do the same work.

Is this true? Not really.

Canada Post’s current benefit costs are similar to the payroll costs of other large employers. The company will realize significant tax savings once changes to the Alberta provincial health plan come into effect in 2009. PSAC/UPCE’s membership represents approximately 4 per cent of Canada Post’s total payroll. This means that the total benefit plan costs of PSAC/UPCE members are not as critical in affecting the company’s bottom line.

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On July 16 approximately 325 PSAC-UTE members from across the country gathered in Vancouver at the Union of Taxation Employees National Convention. UTE members debated the budget and resoutions, heard presentations from speakers – including John Gordon who spoke about the “Make Poverty History” campaign and the campaign to introduce a national drug card – and conducted elections. Betty Bannon was re-elected as UTE National President, Pamela Abbot was re-elected Regional Vice President – Pacific, and Robert Hume as Alternate RVP – Pacific.

• Visit ute-sei.org for more on the UTE National Convention.

On July 23rd, the 2008 Komagata Maru Reconciliation Dinner was held at the Bombay Palace in Surrey. PSAC BC, lead by Regional Council Racially Visible Coordinator, Sargy Chima, and other members of the racially  visible and human rights caucuses participated in this event, which marked the 100th anniversary of the Continuous Journey Act – a shameful part of Canada’s history which lead to the infamous Komagata Maru incident in Vancouver.

In May 1914, the Komagata Maru sailed into English Bay from Hong Kong with 376 passengers aboard – 340 Sikhs, 12 Hindus, and 24 Muslims. In 1908, the Canadian Government had passed the Continuous Journey Act, which stipulated that immigrants could only enter Canada directly from their country of birth and with $200 on their person. This was impossible for immigrants from India, as the Government had forced Canadian Pacific to stop its steamship service between Vancouver and Calcutta. After sitting in port for two months, the ship was forced to leave Vancouver Harbour as the Canadian Government adamantly refused passengers the right to land in Canada.

• Visit wikipedia.org for more about the Komagata Maru.
• Visit anniversaries07.ca for more about the anniversaries of change project.

Continue reading for some photos of both events …

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Our national bargaining team met with Canada Post from July 22 to July 25.

Most of the unions’ proposals with the exception of monetary items have been discussed at least once during this week of bargaining. Some priority items such as leave entitlements, bargaining unit work, hours of work, contact centre proposals and staffing have been discussed several times to date.

Canada Post tabled an initial proposal on dental health and vision care. Because PSAC/UPCE and Canada Post will not be discussing monetary items until the next set of bargaining dates in August, these proposals are not complete and will remain confidential until all of the appropriate information has been received and bargained between the parties.

Canada Post also tabled proposals that would fundamentally alter the current bidding and scheduling practices for contact centre workers. These concessionary proposals were immediately rejected by your bargaining team.

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Following a May 9 announcement by Parks Canada Agency that it intends to arm 100 Parks employees, the Parks bargaining team walked away from the table on May 11 without discussing this very important issue with your bargaining team.

From the beginning, PSAC has been very clear that any and all issues regarding the arming initiative must first be discussed at the bargaining table.

PSAC confirmed this position in a July 15 letter sent to Parks Canada Agency and, on behalf of Parks Canada, Andrew Campbell responded on July 18 affirming that the arming initiative will be discussed at the bargaining table.

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The largest union representing federal public servants wants a voice in how its members’ pension fund is run after government-appointed pension fund managers gave up on more than $900 million in investments rocked by the U.S. credit crisis.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says it would like to see employee representation in the management of its pension fund, as is done in other public-sector plans.

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Help stop the cuts and closures! Speak out to keep jobs in B.C.

Members of CUPE Local 4094 are challenging Air Canada management to keep their work in B.C. The cuts and closures are not justified. Flight attendants are a valuable part of the company. Our community relies on the services they provide.

• Monday, July 28, 10 a.m.
• Meet at Sea Island Elementary School on Miller Road at 9:30 a.m.
• For more information call 604.551-5737 • 604.551.7397 604.765.9905 • email: officers@local 4094.ca

Are you a PSAC member who supports labour and public services and is interested in running for office in the upcoming civic elections in B.C. on November 15th?

If so and you are interested in PSAC B.C. endorsation, you should contact your local District Labour Council as soon as possible to enquire about applying for Labour Council endorsation. Visit pacific.canadianlabour.ca for a list of Labour Councils & contact information.

in Solidarity, Kay Sinclair, REVP BC.

via nupge.ca

Labour leaders undertaking week-long tour of South American country

Bogata (23 July 2008) – Four of Canada’s top public sector union leaders arrived at Bogota airport on July 18 to begin a week-long labour tour and learn directly about the potential impact of a Canada-Colombia free trade deal on Colombian workers and their families.

They were greeted by members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores Postales de Colombia (STPC – Union of Postal Workers) and the Association of Public Employees of the Human Rights Ombudsman (ASDEP), among other labour groups.

The Canadian delegation includes George Heyman, international vice-president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), John Gordon, national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Denis Lemelin, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

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via BC Fed

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Please find attached three Job Opportunities for the B.C. Federation of Labour Count Me In Campaign. All Resumes should be sent to the attention of Lynn Bueckert, Assistant to the President, either by e-mail at policy@bcfed.ca or by mail to the B.C. Federation of Labour office at 200 – 5118 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC V5R 4H1. Please note that any resumes sent by e-mail must be in PDF format.

• Job Postings: Details
• Count Me In Field Organizer
• Count Me In Communications Specialist

Please post and circulate these Job Opportunities to your members.

A public forum and discussion, Thursday, July 31st @ 6:30 pm.

McGill Branch – Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert St., Burnaby (1 block north of Hastings, near Willingdon), Program Room.   This is a free event.

Join us for a presentation and discussion about how existing and proposed Burnaby infrastructure is supporting current and future tar-sands production.  While many people in British Columbia are becoming aware of the tar-sands (or “Oil Sands”) development in Alberta, few people are aware of how projects in BC support this environmentally devastating industrial project. The city of Burnaby is home to several of these projects, an alarming fact for a city that has had a disastrous pipeline rupture and a residents’ campaign to prevent the expansion of the Chevron Refinery.

Come find out more about the Tar-sands, the BC infrastructure, policies and local companies are involved in the Tar-Sands development and what you can do to stop it.

For more information please contact the Tar Sands Free BC Campaign: email or call 778 552 2099.

Since PSAC signed the collective agreement with Canada Post four years ago, there have been a lot of changes in the way that work is organized and who does that work. The drive for “increased flexibility” has led to reorganization, increased use of term and casual employees and duties being moved outside the bargaining unit.

In 2006, Human Resource Management (HRM) and Production and Control Reporting (PCR) were reorganized and new reporting systems were introduced. Canada Post’s expectations increased, workloads increased and yet fewer people were left to do more complicated work. For example, in 2002, 50 jobs were created in Montreal to handle increased workloads and now only 17 people remain in those positions. The workload has not decreased.

Members are now finding that they have to monitor and correct work that is being done outside of the bargaining unit. This work used to be part of their job.

While PSAC recognizes that there may be some situations that call for term or casual staffing, the union is concerned about the increasing use of these strategies instead of simply staffing positions on a permanent basis.

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Victoria Pride!

Pride events are taking place across British Columbia all summer and PSAC members are joining in! In Victoria, PSAC staff & members marched as a group in the parade for the first time, distributed Think Public! brochures & flyers, and hosted a “Public & Proud To Be” booth at the post-parade festival in Fisherman’s Wharf Park where they let the public know that we are proud to be federal public services employees and that we deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully. Kudos to Paul Jones, GLBT Coordinator on the BC Regional Council, for an excellent job organizing! ‘Continue reading’ below for some photos & a video …

In Vancouver we’ll be marching on August 3rd alongside sisters & brothers with the Multi-Union Pride Committee and everyone is welcome to join in! For more information email Steve Houston. We’ll also be hosting a table at the post-parade festival at Sunset Beach – we are looking for volunteers to hand out information regarding PSAC initiatives to support our members and communities. If you are interested email Ria Nishikawara or call 604.430.5631.

Is there a Pride event coming up in your community? Let us know! Email Patrick.

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The deadline scholarship applications is July 16th.

The PSAC Scholarship Program offers the following 15 scholarships:

• one $4,000 PSAC – Groulx National Scholarship;
• one $4,000 PSAC – Coughlin National Scholarship;
• two $3,000 PSAC – GroulxNational Scholarships;
• two $3,000 PSAC – Coughlin National Scholarships;
• one $2,000 J.R. (Joe) Power National Scholarship;
• one $1,000 PSAC National Scholarship;
• seven $1,000 PSAC Regional Scholarships; – one for each of the seven regions (Atlantic, Quebec, National Capital Region, Ontario, Prairies, British Columbia, and the North).

Scholarships are available for the children and dependants of PSAC members. As well, three out of the seven $1,000 PSAC Regional Scholarships may be awarded to PSAC members (if applications are received) who are returning to university, college or a recognized institute of higher learning on a full-time basis. Read more at the national website.

Our national bargaining team met with Canada Post July 7 to July 10.

PSAC’s proposal for new grievance language in Article 19 was discussed and a  technical working group was formed to report back to the main bargaining table for the round of bargaining on August 20.

The employer presented a revised Appendix M for renewal. Appendix M deals with ongoing change at Canada Post. Your bargaining team will work to ensure that this program is updated appropriately and continues to be adequately funded. This appendix remains under discussion.

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Earlier this year, the Trial Division of the Federal Court of Canada decided to overturn the 2005 Human Rights Tribunal decision that had awarded pay equity to current and former PSAC members in the CR group at Canada Post. The Court also dismissed the PSAC’s appeal to have the Tribunal’s award doubled. The Tribunal had reduced by 50 per cent the amount of money it awarded.

Both the PSAC and the CHRC have filed appeals. These appeals will be heard at the next level, the Federal Court of Appeal. This Court recently issued an order that sets out the procedure and timetable for PSAC and Canada Post to provide their written arguments to the Court.

This all started back in1983 when the PSAC first filed the pay equity complaint against Canada Post with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Because of the complexity and the size of the written record in this now 25-year old case, it will be the spring of 2009 before the written submissions from PSAC and Canada Post are completed.

It is expected that the Federal Court of Appeal will hear oral arguments from the union and Canada Post in either the summer or fall of 2009.

The last negotiation session with the BC Corps of Commissionaires was held on July 7 and 8, 2008. Although progress is slow, the parties reached agreement and signed off on a couple articles:

• Job Descriptions – contained in the Post Orders and shall reflect the duties and responsibilities expected of the employees;
• Professional Membership, Registration and Licenses Fees – employer to pay for periodic refresher training to maintain First Aid and CPR certificates and will reimburse employees for any other certificate and/or license required for the employee’s position, as determined by the employer;

Discussions were also held regarding the following issues:

• Definitions and Interpretation
• Information
• Discrimination and Harassment
• Leave With or Without Pay for Union Business
• Other Leave With or Without Pay
• Layoff and Recall
• Seniority
• Pay Administration

With the employer representatives not being available until the end of August, the next negotiation meeting with the employer has been scheduled for August 20, 2008.

These negotiations, for a first collective agreement, include two (2) bargaining units: approximately 40 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency at Library Square and the Vancouver International Airport and 8 Commissionaires performing work on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Seal Cove Coast Guard Base in Prince Rupert.

Vander Zalm saw the light – Will Gordon Campbell?

If you boycotted EXPO 86 and rallied against Bill Vander Zalm (long before his “I love public power” road-to-Damascus conversion), then you may be old enough to remember the Socred government’s massive privatization program with public utilities and crown corporations at the top of the list.

But for the younger set among us, a bit of history.

In 1987, a how-to of sorts on privatizing BC Hydro was developed by the up-and-coming private sector champion, David Emerson. Emerson’s report identified likely “candidates” for privatization. Included in the list were the now-sold Rail and Gas Divisions (BC Rail and Terasen Gas), and Crown assets pegged as “extremely controversial”, such as the Hydro-electrical Group.

In the end, the Zalm’s zealot-like approach did little to win public support.

Flash to 2001 and as the Beatles’ famous song says: “I’ve seen that road before”.

At the dawn of the new millennium the BC Liberals came to power armed with a militant view of “private is good” and a more subtle, yet devious, privatization plan. The plan, as recent news indicates, was a big win for Liberal “bag-man” and Accenture-hired lobbyist, Pat Kinsella.

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Where are we at in negotiating an Essential Services Agreement with Parks Canada?

Under the new Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA) the union and the employer must determine which positions will be considered “essential services” in the event of a strike. Right now, your union and the employer are disputing the very definition of essential services. Basically, the two parties are in disagreement over this fundamental issue: whether recreational services, facilities and activities at Parks Canada Agency constitute essential services as defined by the PSLRA. They need a ruling on this issue from the Public Service Labour Relations Board (the Board) before they can finalize the Essential Services Agreement.

Hearings before the Board are scheduled for the week of August 11, 2008.

Why is this important?

Essential Service Agreements (ESAs) play a critical role in the bargaining process because they directly affect what we can do next. While the goal of our bargaining team is to negotiate a fair settlement at the table, there is no guarantee that they can do so.

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• July 9th, 5:30PM
• PSAC Vancouver RO, 200 – 5238 Joyce Street
• (1 1/2 blk south of the Skytrain)

Come and listen to bargaining updates from members of PSAC units that are currently in bargaining: Treasury Board, CFIA, Commissionaires and Parks. If time allows, there will be a question and answer session.

Please RSVP to Regina Brennan at (604) 430 5631 x 228 so we can plan for dinner.