Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Tuesday Oct 21, 5:30PM, dinner at 5:30 pm, meeting at 6:00 pm
200-5238 Joyce St., (1 1/2 block south of the SkyTrain)

Agenda:

• Call to Order, Welcome and introductions
• Proposed Agenda
• President’s Report for 2007-2008
• Treasurer’s Report: financial statement & budget for 2008-2009
• VAC By-Law Amendments
• Elections for VAC Executive Council
• Resolutions for PSAC Triennial Convention
  • Resolutions for VAC by-law amendments, and/or for PSAC Triennial Convention from affiliated bodies of the VAC are due by October 7th.
• Elections for Area Council delegate to PSAC Triennial Convention
  • Current VAC by-laws state that in order for a delegate to be eligible to vote for
    convention delegates their affiliated body must have sent delegates to at least fifty
    percent (50%) of the Area Council meetings one year prior to the AGM.

please RSVP to Monica Urrutia at 604.430.5631 or urrutim@psac.com by Oct17

One of the hallmarks of a healthy democracy is the ability of citizens to participate freely and actively in determining who they elect to govern and make decisions on their behalf.

PSAC members are encouraged to take an active role in exercising their democratic political rights by:

• Signing a candidate’s nomination papers.
• Wearing a party or candidate button in public.
• Placing an election sign on your property.
• Giving political opinions in public or elsewhere
• Working as a canvasser for a political party or candidate.
• Working in a campaign office
• Participating in the formation of party or candidate policies
• Taking part in election-day activities on behalf of a party or candidate
• Attending peaceful demonstrations on political topics.
• Soliciting funds from the public for political campaigns and parties
• Attending a political convention as a delegate.
• Writing letters to the editor endorsing a candidate or party.

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We’re back at the table but where are our agreements?

Negotiations have resumed with Treasury Board for our PA, SV, FB and EB units. Our TC team will be in mediation from October 8 to 10. Our Parks Canada team started mediation on September 29 and our CFIA team is back at the bargaining table this week. We’re back at the table but we’re still not close to settlements.

What’s the election got to do with it?

This federal election is critical for PSAC members and for the future of federal public services. What will happen to individual Canadians and to our communities if governments continue to cut budgets and programs, contract out, privatize or eliminate the services we deliver?

It’s also critical because PSAC members in the federal public sector are not just electing a government, we’re electing our employer.

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via Make Poverty History

All the federal party leaders except Stephen Harper have gone “on the record” answering questions on video about what they would do to tackle global, domestic and Aboriginal poverty.

Check out what the leaders of the Bloc, Greens, Liberals and NDP would do about poverty if elected. And make sure to ask Stephen Harper what he would do, because he won’t tell us.

In these short video clips, Stéphane Dion, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Elizabeth May talk about their support for Make Poverty History goals and answer specific questions about reaching the target of giving point seven percent of our income for foreign aid, a national plan to end poverty in Canada and what they would do to narrow the living standards gap between Aboriginal people and the rest of Canada.

Once you have seen the videos, send a message to Stephen Harper asking him to say what he will do to make poverty history. We believe that before Canadians go to the polls they should know what all the party leaders would do to end poverty so that they can make an informed decision about which party is best able to help make poverty history.

Maybe you can get Mr. Harper to go ‘on the record’ with his plans to fight poverty.

Strike Vote Meeting of the PSAC Lower Mainland Commissionaires DCL 20501

• October 2, 2008 - 7:00 PM – 9:00PM
• Canadian Airways Lodge 764, 7980 River Road, Richmond BC
• Agenda: Strike Vote, Current update

For more info please call Garry Fraser at (604) 430 5631

Our union is ready to get back to the bargaining table to fight for a fair contract that includes wage parity and an end to contracting out.

The bargaining-session dates for each TB unit are as follows:

• FB – four days September 30 to October 3
• SV – four days September 30 to October 3
• EB – four days October 6 to 9
• PA – four days October 6 to 9
• TC – three days of mediation from October 8 to 10.

Future dates are to be determined by each team.

The bargaining team members for all units appreciate the support expressed by our members during the summer months with various information pickets and mobilizations in different regions across the country. We ask for your continued support. Visit this web site regularly for future updates on negotiations.

OTTAWA-Today the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released The Harper Record, the most comprehensive analysis of the Conservative minority government’s record to date.

“Scheduled for broad release in early October, we are releasing the electronic version of this book today, to help Canadians make informed choices about the future of their country,” says CCPA Executive Director Bruce Campbell.

• Download the entire book at the CCPA website.

Edited by Canadian Labour Congress Researcher Teresa Healy, Ph.D., with contributions from 47 policy analysts and economists, The Harper Record documents in exhaustive detail the Conservative government’s performance over the last two-and-a-half years.

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General Meeting of the PSAC Lower Mainland Commissionaires DCL 20501

• September 25, 2008 | 7:00 PM – 9:00PM
• Canadian Airways Lodge 764, 7980 River Road, Richmond BC
• Agenda: Status of negotiations, Current update

For more info please call Garry Fraser at (604) 430 5631

The bargaining team would like to welcome two new additions to the team and send our thanks to two members who are departing the team.

Brea Lewis, elected bargaining representative for Alberta has left the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for a new position with the Canadian Border Services Agency. It was a tough decision for Brea, but the new position allows her to relocate her family to her home community as well as advance her career.

Mike Vanson, as alternate bargaining delegate, will replace Brea on the bargaining team. Mike was recently re-elected as the Regional Vice President for Northern Alberta and the North West Territories. Mike resides in Lacombe, Alberta and works as an Animal Health Inspector with the Red Deer District office of CFIA.

Debbie Forsythe, elected bargaining representative for the Atlantic was recently elected as the First National Vice President for the Agriculture Union. This is a full time position of the Component, therefore Debbie has resigned her bargaining position to devote her time and efforts to her new position, that will require relocation to Ottawa.

Gary Paynter as alternate bargaining delegate, will replace Debbie on the bargaining team. Gary is the current President of Local 90004, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and also the Alternate RVP for Western Atlantic and non-Treasury Board Director, Maritimes, PSAC. Gary works as a Plant Programs Inspector in Charlottetown.

A heartfelt thank you to both Brea and Debbie for their hard work with the team to date, and a warm welcome to Mike and Gary, as new additions to the team.

Negotiations will continue with a Bargaining team caucus on September 29 and negotiations with the employer to resume September 30 to October 2 inclusive. The Bargaining team looks forward to your signs and messages of support for the next session. These messages we affix to the wall behind us so that our employer can see them, read the comments, and know that we are there for our members who want a fair and just contract for all.

In solidarity, CFIA Bargaining team

After of full day of negotiations, with the aid of a Federal Conciliator, the Corp. refused to recognize the need for a wage package that reflects the type of work performed by our members. The bargaining team worked very hard to present a package of proposals to the Corp that addressed the wishes of the members and addressed many of the Corps concerns.

At the end of the day the Corp chose to walk away from the table. It is clear to the team that the Corp does not recognize the nature of the work performed by the members and is unwilling to take steps to provide adequate remuneration.

We will be holding an information meeting in the immediate future with the time and location to be announced. Watch the website for that update.

Bargaining Fair Wages

Currently members receive an automatic economic increase on October 31 and an incremental raise on June 3 until the top of the scale is reached.

The employer is proposing:

• A very small economic increase (between 1% and 2%, depending on classification). This means that the employer views the work of an A1 as less valuable than that of an A5 or A T2
• Your June increment will no longer be automatic - rather, it will be based on your performance appraisal

In 2009, the expected wage increase for the average Canadian worker is 3.5% except in Alberta where the expected increase is 4.8%

Canada Post wants to replace a portion of the anticipated increase with an increase to the Individual Performance Incentive (IPI). However, the IPI is not cumulative and — since your base wage rate would increase more slowly — the amount of the IPI would therefore accumulate much more slowly. In other words, this means a lot less money for you in the future.

This also has serious implications for your pension! The IPI is not pensionable. This would mean that the value of your pension would not increase very much. Over time, your base wage rate and your pension would rise very slowly. This proposal puts your retirement earnings in serious jeopardy.

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Another federal election is underway and Canadians are still putting child care on the front burner. Here’s why:

• Despite repeated election promises, Canada still does not have a child care system.
• Despite Stephen Harper’s claim that he spent more than ever before, Canada still spends less on early childhood education and care services than 13 other developed countries, including the USA.
• Despite Harper’s so-called Universal Child Care Benefit, Canadian families still can’t find or afford quality child care.
• Despite Harper’s promise of more spaces, Canadian children still have less access to early childhood education and care services than those in 19 other countries.

It’s clear. Harper’s policies have failed Canada’s children, families and communities. He has failed those who provide child care and he has failed workers and employers who rely on child care to make our economy work.

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BRUSH MEETING MINUTES, JUNE 25, 2008

Chair: Sam Wiese

In Attendance: James Little, Kirk Oppermann, Jack Seto and Rob Hellenius

By Teleconference: Mandi Schubert, Melvin Dureen, Monique Bakker, Bob Jackson, Grace MacIver, Wayne Little, Carolyn McGillivary

Regrets: Angela Marafon, Diane Beaulieu, Wanda Pocok, Deborah Wong, Diane McArthur, Bill Plemming, Sarah Burns, Thomas Gallagher, Rob Terris, Rob Hynes and Kelly Megyesi

Continue reading below, or download the June 25th BRUSH Committe meeting minutes (pdf)

Reviewed: Agenda

No additions or revisions

Reviewed Minutes From Last Meeting:

January 23, 2008

Explanation was provided on the National Joint Council (NJC) Cyclical Review being conducted and the work that was recently done at the PSAC National H&S Reps meeting.

We have received one regional submission from CFIA regarding Fumigation Hoods.

UTE has started a campaign on Call Centres – Sam wants members to have a look at the UTE website and access the bulletin on Call Centres (Feb 6, 2008). Sam will also contact reps from UTE to discuss how we might assist or hook into their campaign. Also, a forum has been started on our regional H&S webpage.

Issue was also raised about the participation of PIPSC members at our BRUSH meetings. The REVP has been informed of the request and feels the committee should decide. Agreed we should be cautious, and maybe the committee should have a vote or we should discuss at our upcoming Regional H&S Conference. We should contact the PIPSC H&S Rep to discuss.

New terms of reference will be developed for the BRUSH and maybe they should include this in their discussions.

Tabled for now.

Agenda Items:

1. Terms of Reference for the BRUSH

We reviewed the terms of reference from the Atlantic, Ontario and our own. We are no longer tasked with the Environment responsibilities only H&S. We agreed to create a sub committee to review the terms of reference and they will report at the next committee meeting.

Committee Members: Mandi Schubert, Grace MacIver, Wayne Little, Bob Jackson

2. Health and Safety Training

The introduction of H&S Training as a JLP course is still being examined in the respective Head Offices and the prospects look good. Currently we have no H&S training planned for this year with the exception of three one-day courses at this years union school. The courses are Regulations, WCB and DI.

3. WCB Proposal

The idea is to encourage more membership involvement in WCB Advocacy in the BC Region. To do this there will be a requirement for members to play a more active role in WCB Case Management. Similar to the Grievance Process and representation. Their will be an educational component to the proposal and we would be looking at training ~ 50 members over 5 days. Stay tuned.

4. Report from the June 2008 National PSAC H&S Reps Meeting

James attended the regional reps meeting in Ottawa. The national H&S team would like to encourage members to participate in the following campaigns.

• Pregnant and Nursing Women and their rights petition
• Bill 484 Violence Against Fetus – War Against Abortion Rights
• Bill C51 Amendment to Food and Drug Act – however we (PSAC) might come out against this.

5. Right to Refuse Cards

The PSAC has developed wallet sized “Right to Refuse” cards. Let James know if your office or members need some. Some will be available to those in attendance at the next meeting.

6. BC Regional H&S Conference

We need to hold our triennial regional H&S conference before the National PSAC Convention in April 2009. We have been looking at some dates and it looks like February, March or April. We need to establish an organizing committee and finalize the dates. We will have more information for the September meeting.

7. H&S Logo Contest

Our original goal was to create a brand for the BRUSH so we decided to hold a contest to create a new BRUSH Logo. We will promote the contest through the website and hopefully announce the winner at the regional conference.

We should establish an incentive – need to discuss cost.

8. Meeting Start Times

We would like to start the meetings at 5:30. This time seems to work for the majority – some members have difficulty-making meeting this early. It is important that the minutes get out to participants prior to the meeting. James apologized for not attaching the minutes to the e-mail announcing the meeting. We are trying to achieve a regular meeting schedule in conjunction with the BC Fed OH&S meetings (3rd Wednesday of every second month).

9. Silent/Visual Fire Alarms – Item Added by CEIU 20975 Victoria

This is becoming a big issue in the CEIU office in downtown Victoria as well as the DFO office in Nanaimo. Offices with deaf members should have silent/visual alarms installed. They should not rely on evacuation buddy’s or pagers. We would like to put employers on notice that we will be adding this issue to the workplace H&S committee agendas and some suggested solutions are:

• contacting the fire departments
• contacting other social activist groups to put pressure on government
• give ultimatums
• PWGSC’s policy is to provide members with pagers and they are paged immediately once the fire alarm is activated. The experience in Victoria is there is a considerable delay (sometimes 10 minutes) and what if someone is in the bathroom.
• In all new facilities silent/visual alarms are being installed and it is now part of the Canada Building Code.
• The other related issue is the lack of clear guidelines for Floor Wardens
• According to accessibility standards the issue should be raised at the workplace H&S committee meeting and management has 3 months to deal with the issue
• Contact PWGSC for more information

Next meeting Sept 24, 2008 – 5:30 p.m.

Winnipeg – If elected, a federal Conservative government plans to stop delivering provincial meat inspection programs in Manitoba leaving local consumers exposed to the risk of unsafe meat.

The plan is revealed in a secret Treasury Board of Canada decision record, dated May 6, 2008, documenting the acceptance of a proposal concerning “Provincial Meat Slaughter Establishments (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia)” which calls for the “elimination of federal delivery of provincial meat inspection programs.”

“Meat produced in provincially registered facilities in Manitoba would not be inspected by anyone under this plan,” says Bob Kingston, President of the Agriculture Union – Public Service Alliance of Canada, which has launched www.foodsafetyfirst.ca, a tool for voters to email their local candidates during the federal election to urge them to make a commitment to food safety. The campaign is being organized jointly with the the Professional Institute of the Public Service Canada.

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The Philippine Women Centre Of BC (PWC-BC) invites you to join in their 3rd Political Fashion Show themed, “SCRAP: A Political Fashion Show to Stop Violence Against Filipino Women”

This political fashion show, presented by the Philippine Women Centre of BC (PWC-BC), works to showcase original fashions designed by local Filipino artists under the theme of “SCRAP: A Political Fashion Show to Stop Violence Against Filipino Women.” This year, working under the violence against women theme, these works will explore the different types of violence and abuse experienced by Filipino women on the systemic and personal level through clothing design. The works will depict the different forms of economic, social, verbal and physical violence that is the daily reality of many Filipino women.

The event will be a Wine and Cheese Gala with Semi-Formal Attire. Proceeds will go towards the empowerment services provided to women victims of violence within our community.Tickets are now available at $25 for Regular Seating or $50 for VIP. If you would like to purchase tickets, sponsor or donate to “SCRAP” please contact Niki at 604-215-1103.

Sunday, October 26, 2008, 7 pm - 9 pm at the Centre for Contemporary Asian Art- Centre A, 2 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

On Friday Sept 12 the bargaining team met with employer with the aid of a Federal Government appointed conciliator. The team spent the day working with the aid of the conciliator, the result of which was a global offer from the employer.

We will be reviewing the offer this week and responding to the employer with a counter offer at the next round of conciliation scheduled for Friday, September 19th.

Our generation has the power to change the country. By choosing to not endorse dirty energy sources like the tar sands and instead working towards a just transition to a clean energy future, we will create millions of jobs, improve our health and reclaim Canada’s position as a global leader. We need political leaders who will join with the international community in setting and reaching national emissions reductions targets based on science. This means a 20-40% emission reduction below 1990 levels by 2020 in order to give our planet a chance.

I pledge to vote and make climate change a top priority in this election. Sign the pledge here.

Power Vote Canada is a non-partisan voter’s pledge, aimed at encouraging 10,000 young people to make the climate a top priority in their vote. We are not seeking and will not give the endorsement of any party or candidate– so please don’t go get candidates signatures. This pledge is about the power of us as young people to take express ourselves to our leaders and be part of determining our country’s future!

How can you be involved?

First: Sign the pledge! Add your voice to the community of climate voters.

Then: Share it with your friends online. In addition to this email, you can also find us on Facebook. (You can also cheer for us getting to our goal of 10000 signatures online. Yay!)

Taking it offline

It’s going to take more than email forwards to reach our goal of 10,000 signatures! Kick it up a notch by bringing pledge sheets to your next event, or incorporate them into your info table. Poster, pledge sheets and (coming soon!) toolkit are available from ourclimate.ca. (Don’t forget to let us know how many signatures you got at powervote@ourclimate.ca!)

Be a community point person: help us reach the maximum number of people possible by organizing pledge drives in your community. To get started, contact powervote@ourclimate.ca

PLUS: Mark the date for our Green Jobs Day of Action on Sept 27. Wear green and come out to events in your community to show your support for the new, sustainable economy.

PowerVote is a project of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.

The British Columbia Regional Safety and Health Committee (BRUSH) would like to announce an upcoming meeting.

Did you know that any PSAC-BC member can take part in the PSAC-BC BRUSH Committee? Meetings will normally be scheduled two weeks in advance and we will attempt to deal with issues in the workplace, provide education, raise H&S awareness, and much more. Please encourage your local members to participate!

• The next meeting is scheduled for: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 5:30 pm.
• The meeting will be held at The Vancouver Regional Office of the PSAC, 5238 Joyce St, Vancouver BC.

Members are encouraged to attend in person however members who are unable to attend in person can join the meeting via teleconference. We ask that you please provide us with any agenda items and we will send out the Teleconference co-ordinates along with the agenda and previous minutes next week.

Please RSVP

In Solidarity, James Little - Regional Representative Health and Safety

Agenda Items:

1. Terms of Reference for BC Regional H&S Committee
2. Right to Refuse Cards
3. BC Regional H&S Conference
   • Organizing Committee
   • Content
   • Dates
4. H&S Logo Contest
5. National PSAC Convention – H&S Resolutions
6. H&S Resolutions from Component Conventions
7. Round Table

Toronto – Federal candidates across the country are being asked to make a Commitment to Food Safety as part of a national campaign launched in Toronto this morning.

“The outbreaks of listeriosis due to tainted food products have shaken the country’s confidence in our food protection system. The system is broken and needs fixing,” says Patty Ducharme, Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

The campaign features a website – www.foodsafetyfirst.ca – which allows visitors to send a message to ask local candidates to take make a Commitment to Food Safety, a four-point action plan to fix the system. Radio, print and online ads will be used during the federal election to spread the word about the campaign, as will events across the country.

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Treasury Board: Employer wants 35,000 positions to be deemed essential

Treasury Board departments have submitted proposals for about 35,000 positions that they believe should be deemed essential in the event of a strike. Your union is in the process of reviewing all of these proposals to ensure that your RIGHT to strike, as well as the safety and security of the public, is protected.

The approximate numbers of ESA proposals from the employer per bargaining unit are as follows:

• PA: 22,000
• SV: 3,900
• FB: 8,869

While recognizing the need to ensure the safety and security of Canadians, your union is committed to defending your right to strike and will fight to maintain the strength of one of your most important bargaining leverages. The Essential Services Agreements (ESA) in this round of negotiations are of particular importance. Under the new rules of the Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA), we have one chance to negotiate ESAs that will stay in place for future rounds of negotiations, so we need to get it right in this round.

During the election period, the union will continue its negotiation of ESAs, including bringing disputes to the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) if needed. There is no legal restriction on either the employer, the union or the PSLRB that prevents this important work from continuing during a federal election.

Parks Canada: Hearings before the Board

The Parks ESA hearings took place in mid-August at the PSLRB in front of a three-person panel.

Your union argued before the Board that this is not merely a factual case about specific essential service positions but required a legal interpretation of the new legislation and relevant case law to determine whether the recreational services offered by Parks fit the definition of an essential service under the PSLRA. The Board recognized that this was an important precedent-setting legal case.

Your union takes the position that recreational services, such as maintaining and operating camp grounds or interpreting natural and historic sites to visitors, are not essential services and may be suspended during a strike without jeopardizing the safety and security of the public.

We are awaiting the Board’s ruling on this issue before we can finalize the Essential Services Agreement.