Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Vancouver Area Council – March 19/2009

Mintes: Megan Adam, VAC Secretary

In attendance: Marie Lygo, Jamey Mills, Sam Wiese, Sharon Tieman, Monica Urrutia, Terri Lee, Jack Seto, Erica Young, Deana Wilson, Rhonda

Download the Vancouver Area Council March 19 2009 meeting minutes as .pdf

• Introductions

• Old Business: At the AGM it was discussed that the VAC provide funding for an observer to PSAC convention. This was raised again with a contribution of $300 provided to Terri Lee who was the first alternate elected as delegate to convention. Carried unanimously.

• PSAC Convention Info: Discussion about delegate strategies, MayDay Resolution, delegate entitlement formulas for regional conventions, temporary foreign worker resolution etc.

• Day of Mourning: April 28^th, 7:30 Vancouver Art Gallery: Visibility money for Area Council Banner – Sam to follow up with REVP’s office. Discussion about Day of Mourning activities coinciding with PSAC Convention.

• MayDay Organizing Ctte: Call-out for 1^st organizing meeting. March 24^th, 7 pm 672 East Broadway (Organizing Center). Megan & Sam to attend. Motion to donate $100 to organizing committee moved by Megan, seconded by Jamey. Speaker?

• VDLC Resolution: Murder of Filipino school teacher –motion passed to condemn the killing and demand that feds tie aid to human rights progress.

• Report from Treasurer

• RoundTable:

• • Sharon Tieman: UPCE thank-you for strike support – picket line strength made for a stronger workplace and a stronger union local.
  • Marie Lygo: UVAE – discussion about Canada’s atrocious record on poverty and getting active around that.
  • Rhonda Johns: UPCE/Puralator – negotiations beginning, going to BCFed Women’s Organizing Institute
  • Terri Lee: Agriculture – CFIA agreement ratified – employer asked for an extension on retro pay, union has refused.
  • Jack Seto: GSU – drew attention to world water day and CBC special on the topic.

Vancouver Regional Womens’ Committee Meeting

When: Thurs. September 3rd, 5:30PM
Where: PSAC Vancouver RO, 2nd floor – 5238 Joyce Street

AGENDA

1. Upcoming women’s’ retreat on September 11 & 12th
2. Budget 2010
3. Suggestions for guest speaker or topic for next meeting
4. Request for funding to PSAC National Health & Safety conference
5. Planning for December 6th events
6. Brief update on the Summer Institute for Union Women event
7. East meets West Fraser Valley Area Council event

Light snacks to be provided, please RSVP to Colette Savarie at (604) 430 5631 x 229 or savaric@psac.com

Your bargaining team is pleased to announce that, with the assistance of a Conciliation Officer, a tentative agreement was reached on Wednesday August 19th. Highlights of the four year agreement, set to expire December 31, 2012, include

• Economic increases of 3.0, 3.0, 3.25, and 3%
• Special equity adjustments for all classifications and levels of 2% in January 2011, and a further 2.5 % in January 2012
• Improvements to vacation leave for long-time employees
• Improvements to the pension plan and benefits plan
• Increased coverage for generic prescription drugs, basic dental care, and vision care.

More details will be available in the ratification package. The ratification vote is being scheduled, and further details will be available soon.

The bargaining team would like to thank all members of the Local for their support during negotiations.

The B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress are hosting a picnic to celebrate working people in British Columbia. Join us at this family event for free kids activities, family entertainment, 50-cent hotdogs, drinks and corn (no HST!).

Monday, September 7, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at
John Hendry Park (Trout Lake) by Nanaimo Skytrain Station

For more information, and to download a poster visit bcfed.com

The PSAC East & West Fraser Valley Area Councils invite you and your families to a historic event …

East Meets West
at Fort Langley National Historic Site
Glover Road, north of Highway One
Sunday September 13th, 1:00 – 4:00PM

All PSAC members living and working in the Fraser Valley are invited to gather at historic Fort Langley on Sunday September 13th. Join us and meet your union representatives, members of your Area Council, local Regional Council coordinators, and National Officers in a social atmosphere.

Admission to Fort Langley will be paid for members and their families, and light refreshments will be served. The Fort will be fully operational and you are welcome to participate in scheduled activities – this is an excellent opportunity to learn about the work PSAC members at Parks Canada do!

For more information contact the Vancouver Regional Office.

Your negotiating team, with the assistance of 2 conciliation officers, met with the employer from 9 a.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday morning. We were unable to reach a settlement. Following you will find how that meeting developed.

At the mid-point of Friday morning we provided the employer with a proposal that represented a major step in attempting to achieve an agreement. Our proposal reflected the wants and needs of our membership as well as what other airports of a comparable size have already settled for. Our proposal included wage increases of 3.5% a year in a two year agreement.

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Victoria Regional Women’s Committee

• August 25, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
• PSAC Victoria Regional Office boardroom
• 210-1497 Admirals Road

The agenda will include discussions to select 2 attendees to the RWC retreat, Sept 11/12. Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President B.C. Region will be in attendance and refreshments will be served. Hope to see you then!

Meeting: PSAC Prince George Regional Women’s Committee Meeting
Date: Wed, Aug 26th/09
Place: Mr. Jake’s Steakhouse, 1545-3rd Ave, Prince George
Time: 11:30am

Proprosed Agenda:

• Adopt meeting minutes
• Financial Update
• Sept 11 & 12/09 RWC Vancouver Retreat – Committee to select 2 attendees

PSAC members working at the airport vote in favour of strike action

VANCOUVER, Aug. 20 /CNW/ – A possible labour disruption could cause delays for travelers arriving or departing from Vancouver International Airport in the near future. Employees working for the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR), members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), have voted in favour of taking strike action, should it be necessary, in an effort to bring the Airport Authority back to the bargaining table with a meaningful mandate.

“We have one more meeting with a federal Conciliation Officer in an effort to avert a disruption in service, whether that be a strike or lockout.” says Kay Sinclair PSAC Regional Vice-President for BC. “Our first two days of meeting with the Conciliation Officer proved to be an exercise in futility and our members have no choice but to take this next step.”

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posted on behalf of Paul Jones, BC Regional Council

The season of PRIDE festivities for 2009 are over and as the PRIDE Coordinator for the PSACBC Regional Council I am sending a huge thank you to all my Brothers and Sisters who made this year’s events a success. In particular I would like to thank the Victoria crew of Mandi Schubert (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Michael Doerfler (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Virginia Vaillancourt (UVAE, S. Vancouver Island PSACBC Geographical Coordinator), all the PSAC members who came out to march and all the staff of the Victoria Regional office for their dedication and hard work to make this happen. Many thanks Mandi for the pictures! Although numbers are mute, there were approximately 25 -30K in attendance. The labour movement in general had a strong presence this year in Victoria’s Pride Parade.

• Report and photos from Victoria
• Report and photos from Vancouver

Vancouver Pride saw reported record numbers of attendees as well as floats. I would especially like to thank Angela Marafon (CRA Member, W. Fraser Valley PSACBC Regional Council Geographical Coordinator), Kay Sinclair (PSACBC REVP), Carol Pegura (EA to PSACBC REVP), the staff of the Vancouver Regional Office for the continuous support they have given to PRIDE and to all the Members who I saw while marching. Multi-Union Pride continues to bring our message to Vancouver and I would remiss not to thank the MUP Committee for all their hard work to make this happen yet again this year. Thanks too to all who attended the Pride Meet & Greet. It was a wonderful time!

Sincerely, Paul Jones, PRIDE Coordinator, PSACBC Regional Council

Join the PSAC Victoria Area Council, members and staff at the 21st annual Labour Day picnic in Victoria …

• Date: Monday, September 7, 2009
• Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Location: Irving Park corner of Menzies & Michigan, Victoria
• Kids games – Clowns – Refreshments – Kids Eat Free – Fun for the whole family
• Volunteers and Donations are Welcome! Please come out and join us in solidarity to Celebrate Labour Day!! For more information, email the Victoria Labour Council.

Download the poster (pdf).

• Have you been hired through a student hiring program within the federal public service?
• Do you want to know more about your working conditions?
• Do you want the right to join the union?

If you answered “Yes” to one or more of these questions, you are invited to join us for a pizza lunch, on us.

• When: Friday August 21st, 1 – 2 PM
• Where: 350 West Georgia Street, Library Square, Peter Kaye Room on the lower level

For more information or to RSVP contact Alison Timmons at (604) 430-5631 x 228 or timmona@psac.com.

At the bargaining table, we have put forward a number of proposals that would provide a better work/life balance for YVR employees. Many of these proposals have absolutely no monetary impact on the employer.  Yet, we have received virtually no response from the employer except for “No”.  Two of these issues will be addressed below.

1) Flexible Hours

We have tabled a proposal to allow employees to work on a flexible schedule.  With consideration for operational requirements, this would permit people who work Monday to Friday to complete their 10 day work schedule in a 9 day period.

The employer’s response at the bargaining table was that they were not prepared to “walk down that road”.  They went on to suggest that this type of work arrangement could not work at the Airport.  As some people are aware this type of arrangement was authorized in at least one section and it worked very well for both the employer and the employees of that section.

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Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future.

The United Nations General Assembly declared August 12 �International Youth Day� welcoming the mobilization of youth globally around a common issue and theme annually.

This International Youth Day 2009, as the world continues to feel the impact of the economic crisis, youth respond by looking for solutions under the theme �Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future�.

While everyone talks about the need for a more just and sustainable economy, youth in Canada are helping to define it. Through the Canadian Labour Congress� participation in the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition we are creating a united front for young people across Canada on the climate change issue.

Emphasis is focused on �Our Green Dream� a youth-defined sustainable green jobs strategy. The project aims to establish an active network of young people to influence the direction and debate on green jobs in Canada, the transition of our economy and to realize the potential of a more just, green national community.

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During bargaining, and in the information that they have been sending out to you, the employer has spent a lot of time talking about the state of the economy, and the poor state of the airline industry. We understand that times are tough � there is uncertainty for some airlines, and there has been a recession.

What we can�t understand, is that in the exact same environment, every other comparable airport in the country has managed to provide reasonable economic increases to their employees. All of these other employers operate in the same sector, under the same pressures, and in the same economic circumstances. YVR continues to be profitable, but they refuse to offer us comparable economic increases to all of the other large airports in the country.

Below is a table showing the percentage increases that have been negotiated at all of the other large Canadian airports in Canada

[1] This is higher than the others because of a classification conversion.� Base economic increases for the Halifax Airport were 3% per year.

[2] This is a minimum.� The Calgary airport negotiated minimum increases that will be higher if inflation exceeds certain thresholds.

Download the flyer (pdf).

All PSAC members working at Purolator Courier are invited to join in a Bargaining Update via Regional Teleconference Call

• Thursday Aug. 20, 2009 – 7:00PM
• Dial-in long distance: 877.385.4099
• Dial-in local: 604.899.2339
• Participants code: call the Vancouver RO at 604 430 5631 or 1 800 663 1655 for the code

Your Bargaining Team will provide an update on Negotiations to date and there will be a question and answer session.

cheers to Paul Jones (BC Regional Council), Sue Neumann (CIU 20040), and Garry Fraser, PSAC Regional Rep. for these photos and report from Pride Day in Vancouver

Garry: Alison and I had our Think Public and our Student Campaign Booth set up at Sunset Beach.� It was a beautiful day with a nice breeze off the ocean, and we set up early. Carol Pegura donated hundreds of buttons to our booth and they were they a big hit.�We had thousands of people come by and talk and laugh, take a bandana, a fan or a button, talk about our Think Public Campaign. Alison would also talk with them about the Student� Campaign and she got hundreds of signatures for the petition.�BC Regional Council members Paul Jones and Angela Marafon both came by the booth after the parade and dropped off two magnificent sets of rainbow balloons which we tied down to our canopy – it looked incredible! Jack Layton dropped by and said hello and had a photo op with Angela.

Big thanks to Sue, for these photos of BSO’s marching in uniform for the first time in the parade, and Paul for the photos of the Multi-Union Pride group.

Student unemployment hits almost 21 per cent, the highest on record

Twenty-year-old Siva Vimal, frustrated by the worst summer on record for student job seekers, is stressed about how he will pay his tuition this year � and reconsidering his dream of studying international law.

�Because we are in a recession right now, even if I do manage to find a job, I’m only getting three to four hours a week,� Mr. Vimal, a third-year political science student at Toronto’s York University, said in an interview Friday after Statistics Canada confirmed the grim reality affecting Mr. Vimal and other cash-strapped students across the country.

July’s student unemployment rate climbed to 20.9 per cent, a 7.1-percentage-point increase from July, 2008, Statscan said. �This was the highest July unemployment rate for these students since comparable data became available in 1977,� Statscan reported.

The July unemployment survey found the two sectors that traditionally hire students in the summer � hospitality and construction � were particularly hard hit.

Continue reading at globeandmail.com

UCTE Local 20221 (YVR) Strike Vote Meeting

• August 19, 2009, 14:30 & 19:00 hours
• IAM & AW Union Hall, 7980 River Road, Richmond

Bargaining Update

Your negotiating team met with your employer for two (2) days of meetings with the assistance of a federal conciliation officer. We presented the employer with a comprehensive response on all of the outstanding issues. Your negotiating team made substantial movement on a majority of our previous proposal package which we felt established the framework for a new collective agreement.

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The arbitration board for the TC collective agreement continues to deliberate. We are still waiting on the arbitration board’s decision. Under the law, the board is supposed to issue their decision as soon as possible. However, the law does not have any specified timelines for when that decision is to be issued.

As soon as any results are released, we will notify members immediately.

A more detailed update on the arbitration process was posted just after the hearings finished.� It better explains the process.