Regionalization
At the 1997 PSAC National convention the delegates passed a resolution supporting the Regionalization of the union. This established the following regions: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, National Headquarters, Prairies, British Columbia and the North.
Each region is represented on the Alliance Executive Committee by a Regional Executive Vice-President. The 7 REVPs along with the National President and the National Vice-President form the governing body of the Alliance.
The Regional Executive Vice-President for B.C. is Kay Sinclair. She was elected to the position of Alternate REVP in January 2006, and became REVP when Patty Ducharme was elected National Executive Vice-President at the 2006 PSAC Convention. The Alternate REVP position is currently (May 2006) vacant and an election will be held shortly.
The B.C. Regional Council is composed of geographic representatives, equity representatives, a representative each for the National Officers, Directly Chartered locals and Health & Safety. For names of the Regional council members, information on the Regional By-laws and committees, and the REVP’s schedule, check the menu to the right.
The BC Regional Council
The BC Region held its founding convention in March 1999. It is composed of six districts; Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Southern Interior, North, South Vancouver Island, and North Vancouver Island.
Each district is represented on the BC Regional Council. Locals and members in each district can participate in the BC Region by joining their Area Council. To date, Area Councils exist in Metro Vancouver, Prince George, Okanagan, Prince Rupert, and Victoria, Nanaimo, Fraser Valley East and Surrey/Delta Langley.Our goal is to establish at least one Area Council in every district.
The BC Region is committed to ensuring that all marginalized and emerging voices be heard. To that end, there are seats on the council for Non-Treasury Board bargaining units, women, aboriginal members, members with disabilities, racially visible members, and gay and lesbian members. In recognition of the huge organizational change represented by the creation of a regional council, Component officers also have one seat on the council. One seat is also dedicated to Health and Safety. The BC Regional Council is chaired by the Regional Executive Vice President. The alternate REVP also sits on the council.
The primary focus of the BC Regional Council for the next while will be to bring the union closer to the members in British Colombia. We will be organizing a network of human rights committees and area council throughout the province where our constituents can come together to listen and be heard, learn about their rights, take collective actions, and shape the future of their union and their workplaces. The BC Regional Council will also be concentrating on raising the PSAC’s profile in the media, in our communities, in the labour movement, and at the workplace.
All positions on the BC Regional Council are elected from among the membership. The Regional Executive Vice President is a full-time paid position. All other members of the council work in jobs represented by the union and serve the union as volunteers. In addition to chairing the BC Regional Council, the REVP represents BC on the Alliance Executive Committee, the body that runs the union nationally. She also represents the PSAC on the Executive Council of the BC Federation of Labour.
The Regional Councils meets 4 times a year to strategize on issues that affect PSAC members in B.C. The minutes of meetings will be posted on this website as well as any upcoming meetings.
If you have any items you wish the council to discuss or if you have any questions or concerns you can contact the REVP by email: revp-bc@psac.com.