Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

<small>via BC Federation of Labour</small>

John Graham faces extradition to the United States without any evidence having been presented to a Canadian judge - find out why at a public forum:

• Thursday August 23rd, 7:00 pm
• YWCA Hotel, 733 Beatty St. (two blocks south of Stadium Sky Train)

For more information visit GrahamDefense.org

Ottawa – The federal government has sold nine government buildings for more than $600 million less than their actual value to Larco Investments Ltd., according to an analysis conducted by the economic research firm Informetrica Ltd.

Prior to the government announcing the sale, PSAC members leafleted Sinclair Centre while REVP Kay Sinclair held a joint press conference with President of the BC Federation of Labour, Jim Sinclair and Janet Sinclair, daughter of the buildings namesake - read more at globeandmail.com and canada.com.

Informetrica values the prime federal properties at almost $2.3 billion, yet Public Works and Government Services Canada announced today the sale of the buildings for only $1.64 billion.

“This is a give-away of colossal proportion. In addition to ceding ownership of nine premium properties, the federal government has, in effect, written a $630 million cheque signed by Canadian taxpayers,” said Patty Ducharme, National Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada which commissioned the Informetrica report.

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Daughter of former federal cabinet minister James Sinclair joins public service union, BC Fed to urge federal government to drop sale of historic Sinclair Centre named after her father

Vancouver – Janet Sinclair, the daughter of former federal Liberal government cabinet minister James Sinclair, has joined the union for public service workers and the BC Federation of Labour in urging the Conservative government to drop plans to sell the historic Sinclair Centre that is named after her father.

• Send an email to your MP: Stop The Sale!

The federal government has requested bids for nine buildings across Canada, including the Sinclair Centre, located at 757 West Hastings Street, and is expected to announce its decision today to sell them and lease them back, says Kay Sinclair, Public Service Alliance of Canada BC Vice President.

“We are urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to not sell the Sinclair Centre or the other buildings and keep these public assets that benefits all taxpayers, Sinclair said. “Why would the government want to be a renter when it’s already an owner?”

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SPP Montebello Summit August 20-21, 2007

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet with US President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at Montebello on August 20-21 2007, to discuss the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). What will be on the agenda? We can only guess at this point, because all of the meetings to review the progress of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) have taken place in secret so far.

• Join protests across Canada against the SPP …
• Rally in Vancouver - Monday Aug 20th, 5:30 PM, Vancouver Art Gallery (south side).

The SPP – which is being implemented without any public discussion or parliamentary debate – is about eliminating Canada’s ability to set its own independent regulatory standards, environmental protection measures, energy security, foreign, military, immigration and a frighteningly wide range of other policies.

• What is the SPP? Security and Prosperity for whom? A series of fact sheets at the national website.
• Read John Gordon’s letter to Stephen Harper regarding the SPP (pdf).

The summit brings together a US president whose policies are backed by hardly a quarter of his own people, a Mexican president whose election is highly disputed, and a Canadian Prime Minister heading a minority government. The decisions they make will have no legitimacy and will affect the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the human rights and civil liberties we enjoy.

Cheers to Alistair Crawford, NAT 20088, for these photos of the Multi-Union Pride float taken at the parade last weekend. REVPs Kay Sinclair (BC) and Jeannie Baldwin (Atlantic) marched alongside dozens of other union members. Click the thumbnails for larger versions - there are more photos at the BC Federation of Labour website.

Workers in Toronto to join global protests against the abduction and imprisonment of Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi

OTTAWA - Canadian workers will mark an International Day of Action this Thursday, August 9 to protest the Iranian government’s arrest and imprisonment of two of that country’s prominent labour leaders.

Trade unionists and activists around the world are worried about the safety and
well-being of Mansour Osanloo, President of the ITF affiliated bus workers’ union Sandikaye Kargarane Sherkate Vahed (Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company). Mansour was reported as kidnapped on July 10th as he was getting off of a bus.

• Rally in Vancouver - join BC Federation of Labour, BC Teachers Federation, VDLC, CAW Local 111 & 333, Hospital Employees Union and other unions
• Time: 17:00 to 19:00 , Thursday, August 9, 2007, Vancouver Art Gallery, Howe & Robson

On July 12th it was confirmed that Osanloo has been imprisoned. Just days before his abduction, Canadian Labour Congress president Ken Georgetti had the pleasure of meeting Mansour as he addressed the ITUC General Council in Brussels. This was the first time that the ITUC - or for that matter its predecessor, the ICFTU welcomed an independent Iranian trade union leader from inside the country to its meetings.

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Vancouver Prison Justice Day, Friday, August 10th

Speakers and Performers

Join us at 7 p.m. at Trout Lake Park (E. 15th and Victoria) at the Claire Culhane Memorial Bench (in the southeast corner) to hear ex-prisoners and prisoners’ rights activists speak on justice issues such as the danger of passing the Conservative government’s U.S. style crime bills into law.

This is a memorial rally in honour of Harriet Nahanee, Dec. 7, 1935 - Feb 24, 2007

Vancouver Workers are Rising - UNITE HERE Local 40

• Rally & March - Friday, August 10, 4:15 pm
• Vancouver Art Gallery, Downtown Vancouver

Rally at the Art Gallery and march to the Downtown Hotels to hear workers speak on and about the working conditions in the service industry. Join them in their struggle for respect and justice on the job.

4th Annual Vancouver Dyke March, Saturday, August 4th

Join us at 12 p.m. at McSpadden Park at 5th and Victoria Drive to begin the march down Commercial Drive to Grandview Park where there will be a great line-up of performers. The organizers of the Dyke March hope that people of all ages “will enjoy an afternoon of visibility, pride, music, community art and merry-making the day before the annual Pride Parade.”

Vancouver Pride Parade, Sunday August 5th

All LGBT labour activists and allies are invited to join REVP Kay Sinclair, members of the PSAC BC Human Rights and the Multi Union Pride Committees on Sunday, August 5^th at this year’s Pride Parade in Vancouver.

• More about Pride Week in Vancouver: www.vancouverpride.ca
• Email for more info about Multi Union Pride: multiunionpride@gmail.com

The marshalling begins at 11:00 am in front of Capers on Robson Street. (If marchers cannot find the Multi Union Pride group, there is a point person at the West End Community Centre to direct the way.)

The Parade begins at noon and is always a fun event where everyone is welcome. Come join in the celebration!

17 July 2007 Vancouver Area Council meeting – Theme: Environment

In attendance were: Rand, Sharon, Anne-Marie, Deanna, Karim, Marie, Colleen, Rhonda, Wanda, Kay, Terri, Jack, Sam (chair), Megan, Jas, Craig, Monica (minutes)

Continue reading below, or download the Minutes: Vancouver Area Council meeting, July 17 2007 (pdf)

1. Meeting

Called to order at 6:20pm. Sam briefly reviewed the agenda. There were introductions by all. Sam acknowledged that Carly Crawford, VAC secretary, was planning to attend, but because of the change in dates from July 10 to 17, Carly was not able to get the time off of work. Carly sends her regrets.

2. Speakers – Environment

Sam – read out parts of the PSAC Environment policy, mentioned the upcoming BC Regional Women’s Conference which has an environment theme.

Anne Marie – spoke on the 401 Burrard Green Team, made up of Environment Canada/Public Works/Management/Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Gave brief history of the environmental movement, currently more about climate change; previously more on land use and timber extraction. The environmental movement is very diverse, has worked with labour on and off over the years. The Labour Environment Alliance Society (LEAS) run by Mae Burrows was promoted . Now – people “get it” -environmental issues are not “special interest group” issues, rather must be of concern to all.

401 Burrard Building – in 2003 the residents of the building formed a “Green Team” which supports the Government Environment Policy. The Green Team is comprised up of 20 volunteers, and links in with a national GT network. Environmental “auditing” was powerful – audited paper and energy use with friendly reminders and kudos issued to individuals.

Organizing the team is like unionism, start one person at a time. The Team has commuter challenges – organize departments to tally up who used what to get to work, has lunch & learns - screened an “Inconvenient Truth”, holds waste reduction (compost awareness) workshops. Emphasizes need for behavioural change, don’t force individuals to change as there may be resistence.

Public Concerns: air quality and water 7 out 10 people, need to find ways to weave social messages around the work site, e.g. 401 Burrard has, bike racks, bike user support group, internal website is linked to great sites and has tips. Workplaces can initiate their own green teams. Contact ; Rheannon.Wylie@ec.gc.ca.

There are a variety of resources available: PSAC, CUPW, BC Fed Climate – change working group, CUPE.

3. Public Services Are Cool! P.S.A.C.

• (a) as part of Defending Quality Public Services, Sam talked about summer leafletting, PSAC website and contest.
• (b) No to sale of public buildings – Jack shared that if sale goes through the building is no longer maintained by SNC; if not then PWGSC no longer has responsibility in auditing the building for safety and members’ safety is at stake.
• (c) House of Commons workers – James Moore letter, on website, Sam will phone to see Mr. Moore. Moore.J@parl.gc.ca

4. Offer of labour history tour

Regina has led a labour history walking tour throughout the downtown, including where PSAC had a sit-in. If members of the VAC are interested in organizing one let Monica know (urrutim@psac-afpc.com).

5. Round

• UEW 20729 – updating local worksite, getting JLP in workplace
• UPCE 20029 – desperate for people but company is unnecessarily letting people go; doing pre-bargaining via surveys
• UPCE 20101 – wants to do survey as well, gearing up for bargaining
• GSU 20008 – mentioned Duty To Accommodate – national ACCESS conference in September, National access audit from coast, is currently being done by 2009 – all crown buildings.
• AGR 20044 – tentative agreement, CFIA to get behind TB, ratification this month, sending out postcards for AGM, went to COPE Bbq, had local picnic, 60 people showed.
• CEUDA 20040 – had last summer meeting in June; memberships’ minds are on bargaining
• UVAE 20045 – wants to do a Component Anniversary thing this year; reminding all in general about the CUPE strike – 0%; issue is access to handydart, write to Translink (cc. Craig as he sits on advisory committee for PWD on Disability)
• UTE 20027 – bargaining, going to access, appreciated PSAC did support national day of action.

Adjourned 8:20 p.m.

Feds receive bids for purchase of Sinclair Centre, other sites; Ottawa yet to decide if it will proceed with sale and leaseback of buildings

Potential buyers have submitted bids on Vancouver’s historic Sinclair Centre and eight other federal buildings across Canada, though Minister of Public Works Michael Fortier says no decision has been made to sell.

Speculation is that properties together would be worth more than $1 billion, but government officials have not revealed what prices bidders are willing to pay.

• Read John Gordon’s letter to Stephen Harper re the sale of government buildings
• Video: Stop the sale of government buildings - rally in Ottawa

Public Works and Government Services Canada did hire the real estate divisions of BMO Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets to advise it on the potential sale and leaseback of 40 government-owned buildings, from which nine were singled out as good candidates.

And those advisers have put that list of nine properties, which includes the Sinclair Centre and the government office tower at 401 Burrard Street, out for offers and were actively marketing them between May 1 and June 12.

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Wage workers in Haiti earn as little as $2 (US) per day. The unemployment rate is 60% to 70%. Women struggle on the edge of survival to find work, feed families, and send children to school or scramble for health care when emergencies arise.

The 2004 foreign invasion and coup against the elected government of President Aristide was a huge setback to workers rights and womens rights. Minimum wage rates were slashed, schools and health care facilities were closed, and legal and extra-legal violence has risen sharply, including that which targets women.

Join us in hearing from trade union and women’s rights organizers.

• Wednesday May 30th
• Public Meeting, 7 PM - SFU Harbour Center, 515 W. Hastings St.
• Luncheon for Trade Union Members, 12 noon to 2 pm, Maritime Labour Centre, 1881 Triumph St.

Hosted by the International Affairs Committee of the Vancouver and District Labour Council. Please RSVP.

More details in the Haiti tour poster (pdf) and at canadahaitiaction.ca

AREA COUNCIL MEETING 05/08/2007 - Theme: International Solidarity

Members in attendance:

• Sam Wiese-CEIU 20949
• Rhonda Johns-UPCE 20095
• Carly Crawford-UPCE 20095
• Tracy Shudo-CEIU 20949
• Megan Adams-UEW 20147
• Jamey Mills-UTE 20027
• Craig Langston-UTE 20027
• Deanna Wilson- NAT 20088
• Rand Ameye- GSU 20008
• Tom Gallagher-GSU 20008
• Ted Alcuitas- BC Committee of Human Rights in the Philippines
• Monica Urrutia - PSAC
• Kay Sinclair-REVP BC

Called to order at 6:00pm

• Brief Discussion by Sam Wiese on May Day activities
• Megan Adams’ presentation “Defending Public Services: From Canada to Colombia” see: www.colombiajournal.org
• Ted Alcuitas’ presentation on International Solidarity in the Philippines see: www.laborstart.org and www.psacbc.com/philippines
• Question and Answer period with Megan and Ted
• Round Table with all members

Meeting called to a close at 7:45pm

• Meeting: Asian Canadian Labour Alliance
• Thursday, May 24, 5:30pm, BCGEU HQ Auditorium

Join other Asian Canadian union members at a meeting of the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance, before the film viewing.

The Asian Canadian Labour Alliance provides a forum for Asian Canadian union members to connect, encourages the increased participation of Asian Canadian union members in the labour movement, and works to strengthen the relationship between labour and our Asian Canadian communities. A light meal will be provided for those attending this meeting. Please RSVP to Sarah Maglio at 604-291-9611 or sarah.maglio@bcgeu.ca

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The next Vancouver RWC meeting is coming up on Tuesday May 22nd at 5:30PM at the Vancouver Regional Office, 200-5238 Joyce St. (1 1/2 block south of the SkyTrain). This month’s topic/agenda item will be Planning for the upcoming Regional Women’s conference.

please RSVP to the Vancouver RO at 604.430.5631

Surrey Delta Langley Area Council March 13, 2007 Meeting Minutes, Held at the Newton Seniors Center

Present: Terry Ruyter (UTE Local 20007), Carol Pegura (UTE Local 20029), Kim Forster (UTE Local 20029), Regina
Brennan (PSAC Area Rep), Dale Odberg (UVAE Local 20029), Johann Ackermann (UTE Local 20029), Jeremy Amour (UTE Local 20029) Earla MacLean (UTE Local 20029), Sharon Palis (UTE Local 20029)
Guest: Kay Sinclair, REVP - BC Region.

Continue reading below or download the SDL AC minutes (pdf)

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Head Tax Families Society of Canada will mark the 60th anniversary of full rights and the vote for the Chinese in Canada. The Canadian Citizenship Act, which went into effect in the spring of 1947, defined the franchise as part of citizenship status.

• Time: 9AM, Saturday May 12, 2007
• Place: Memorial to Railway Workers and War Veterans Keefer and Columbia (NE corner), Vancouver

The Head Tax Families Society of Canada is today’s Canadians on a twenty-three year struggle for an inclusive redress with justice and honour for affected head tax families. Go to www.headtaxfamilies.org for more information.

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• Tuesday May 8, 5:30PM
• dinner at 5:30 pm, meeting at 6:00 pm*
• 200-5238 Joyce St.
• (1 1/2 block south of the SkyTrain)

This month’s theme is International Solidarity

Megan Adam will talk about the situation in Colombia and Ted Alcuitas about the Philippines, two of the most dangerous countries in the world for trade unionists

*please RSVP to the Vancouver RO at 604.430.5631 or via email: urrutim@psac.com

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - Educational Forum - “Young Workers Organize to Fight Back: Privatization, Low wages, Cut backs & Wars of Aggression”

• Organizing Centre for Economic & Social Justice, 672 E. Broadway Vancouver at Fraser and Broadway, 6:30 PM
• Speakers

• Carlo Sayo, National Chairperson, Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance – report-back from the World Peoples Youth Conference (2-4 March 2007, the Netherlands)
• Jen Efting, Bus Riders Union and Hospital Employees Union staff
• Young workers testimonials and organizing young workers from Carl Cortes and Tania Ortiz
• More speakers to be confirmed

Saturday, April 28, 2007 - “Building International Workers’ Solidarity” - Cultural Solidarity Night and Fundraiser

• Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell Street, Vancouver, 6:00 PM
• By Donation at the Door (includes dinner and snacks)

Events are leading up to this year’s May Day March & Rally - “March for Workers’ Rights! Solidarity with Immigrant, Migrant and Undocumented Workers!”

• May 1, Tuesday, 6:00 pm
• Gather at Clark Park (Commercial Dr. and E14th Avenue)
• Organized by the May Day 2007 Organizing Committee and Status Coalition (Vancouver)

• Thursday, April 12 – 6:30pm
• Heritage Hall 3102 Main St.
• Vancouver, B.C.
• Info: 604-291-9611

Vancouver Child Care Resource is losing half of its provincial funding at the end of April. Ten neighbourhood-based CCRR services that help families with referrals and subsidies, and give family child care providers training and business support, will be gone.

The Campbell government is also cutting 100% of the Westcoast Provincial Services budget. That means no more access to the unique Westcoast Resource Library that promotes diversity and multiculturalism outside of Vancouver. And, significantly reduced access to the Safe Spaces bullying prevention training for caregivers of 3-5 year olds.
Waitlists are growing and parent fees are rising. Families, child care providers and community leaders are not sitting still for these cuts to urgently-needed child care services.

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Via BC Federation of Labour

• Saturday, March 31, 11am – 12:30pm
• Burrard Bridge, Vancouver
• Gather at 11am at Seaforth Peace Flame Park (south end of bridge by Cornwall Ave.)
• Calling parents, grandparents, early childhood educators and child care supporters to span the bridge sidewalks with signs and songs!

March 30-31 marks the elimination of federal-provincial childcare funding agreements by the Harper Conservatives. It also marks the closure of several childcare resource and referral centres in BC and the elimination of critical services to working families as a result of funding cuts by the Campbell Liberals.

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