Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

• 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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PSAC Vancouver & District Area Council Meeting - March 6, 2007

In attendance: Sam Wiese (CEIU 20949), Deanna Wilson (NAT 20088), Sharon Tieman (UPCE 20101), Megan Adam (UEW 20147), Rand Ameye (GSU 20008), Karim Lawji (CEUDA 20040), Keith Macdonald (UCTE 20221), Velna Clarke (NAT 20088), Neil Gaba (DCL 20020), Rhonda Johns (UPCE 20095), Monica Urrutia (PSAC staff – minute taker)

Regrets: Carolyn McGillivray, Bob Jackson, Angela Marafon

1. Welcome & introductions

-Meeting was called to order at 5:58 pm.

Continue reading below or download the Vancouver Area Council meeting, March 6 2007 minutes (pdf).

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The B.C. Federation of Labour is stepping up efforts to gain a much-needed pay raise for BC’s lowest paid workers by winning an increase in the provincial minimum wage.

Please join us on:

• DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007
• TIME: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
• PLACE: BROADWAY AND COMMERCIAL SKYTRAIN STATION

Together with members of our Young Workers Committee and special guests like NDP MP Libby Davies, we’ll be distributing campaign materials and getting signatures on our $10 NOW petition.

Visit bcfed.com for more information about the $10 Now campaign.

via BC Federation of Labour

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers need your support!

Saturday, March 24^th, 11AM - 1PM, Vancouver International Airport Terminal

• Save the jobs of 700 Aviation Maintenance Professionals in Vancouver
• Help us put an end to the corporate race to contract Aviation Maintenance in Canada to lowest foreign bidder
• Ensure that the security and safety of the flying public is paramount

Speakers:

• Angela Schira, Secretary Treasurer, B.C. Federation of Labour
• Carlos Da Costa, Transportation Coordinator, IAMAW Member, Local Lodge 764, IAMAW
• Peter Julian, Federal NDP, Member of Parliament BC NDP MLA
• Jim Coller, PDGC, District Lodge 140, IAMAW

Gathering Point: 10:30 Sea Island Elementary School, corner of Miller Road and Templeton. Lots of Parking. Rain or Shine, Dress accordingly.

March and Demonstration: 11:00 am Vancouver International Airport Terminal in the grass area across from the Airport RCMP Station which is located at the West End of Miller Road, right hand side of the outgoing Domestic Departures Ramps.

Vancouver, B.C. - The recent arrest of Philippine Congressman Satur Ocampo and the intensifying human rights violations and political repression in the Philippines has sparked international concern, including that of Canadian labour unions.

• Click to send an email message to the Philippine Government calling for justice and human rights in the Philippines.

The B.C. region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of Canada’s largest unions, is co-sponsoring a forum “Building People to People Solidarity” to coincide with the Permanent People’s Tribunal: Second Session on the Philippines (which is occurring in the Netherlands). This forum will be held Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. at the Bonsor Recreation Complex, 6550 Bonsor Ave. in Burnaby.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the PSAC for B.C. shares, “We need to build awareness amongst our members and other trade unionists about the grave political situation, for trade unionists and other activists, in the Philippines.”

“It is part of our effort towards international solidarity,” adds Sinclair.

The forum expects to gather around 100 people including trade unionists, members of the local Filipino-Canadian and Indigenous Filipino community and other human rights activists and concerned Canadians.

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PSAC Vancouver Regional Women’s Committee Meeting September 13, 2006

In Attendance

• Alethea Boire
• Sargy Cheema
• Patricia Ganczar
• Stephanie Oostrander
• Cheryl Oenema
• Sanda Turner
• Monica Urrutia
• Deanna Wilson

Regrets

• Regina Brennan
• Kim Forster
• Angela Marafon
• Carol Pegura

Speakers

• Danielle Bisnar
• Marilou Carrillo

Continue reading below, or download the Vancouver RWC meeting minutes, September 13 2006 (pdf)The meeting opened with a welcome to members of the Women’s Committee and to the members of the Human Rights Committee. We had a roundtable where everyone introduced herself and then the floor was given to the speakers, two board members from The Philippine Women Center of BC.

The speakers talked about the “Stop the Killings” awareness campaign. 750 politicized killings have occurred in the Philippines since President Gloria Arroyo took power. These 750 people include trade unionists, church people, journalists, lawyers, human rights workers, ordinary workers and peasants. Many of these people were critical of the Arroyo government in its failure to address poverty and corruption.

Progress is slowly being made though. A Women’s Political Party has been formed in the Philippines. One woman won a seat in the election. Popular vote determines who gets seats. It is the people who are mobilizing people. Unfortunately, these are the ones that are being murdered.

They also spoke about the make-up of the Philippines. 80% of the population are urban poor and peasants. This inequality is pushing people to migrate. Statistics say that 3000 people leave the Philippines every day, and 60-70% of these people are women. They go to low paying jobs overseas, yet most are university educated.

The speakers noted that locally, weekly vigils are held in front of the Canadian consulate in the hopes that it will put pressure on the Canadian government to act and bring awareness to the problem.
Donations to the BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines can be made as well.

Alethea Boire asked if there was anything the PSAC Vancouver Women’s Committee could do and Danielle mentioned that the Committee could send their own statement to Peter McKay about the killings in the Philippines, to which all in attendance agreed to.

After the speakers were finished, the remainder of committee business was tended to.

Alethea noted that 3 boxes of mugs have been donated to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center. Sanda noted that she forgot to bring her mugs tonight, but will bring them at a later date.

Childcare campaigns were discussed and whether or not our committee wanted to ‘piggyback’ on a current campaign. Monica spoke about the “Childcare-Kids are Worth It” campaign, and handed out buttons for us to wear and to hand out. Sanda mentioned that the YWCA might be a good resource for childcare campaigns. Cheryl offered to look into any assistance the YWCA can provide.

Monica also mentioned that Grassroots Women is holding a one-day childcare forum on October 21st and invited the sisters to attend.

Alethea noted that it is usual for the Women’s Committee to give honorariums to speakers at our meetings. She made a motion “ to give a $100 honorarium to the Philippine Women’s Center of BC”
M/s/c Boire/Oenema

Adjournment: 7:10

PSAC Women’s Committee Meeting June 15, 2006

In Attendance

• Alethea Boire
• Regina Brennan
• Parveen Deepak
• Patricia Ganczar
• Angela Marafon
• Deanna Wilson

The meeting started at 17:55.

Continue reading below or download the Vancovuer RWC meeting minutes, June 15 2006 (pdf)

There was no update to the finances.

Deanna gave a verbal report on the CLC Women’s Conference. A written report will follow at a later date. Highlights of the conference included an organized lobby (about child care) to MPs at Parliament Hill, and a selection of interpretive dances performed by the Dandelion Dance Group. She also participated in workshops while at the conference.

The participants present at the meeting discussed the September meeting and what should be on the agenda. The Conservative childcare agenda was discussed and ideas such as an email or postcard campaign were mentioned.
Parveen to connect with BC Federation of Labour and email links to the Women’s Committee.

Angela to contact Christine (CEIU) to talk to Val Burgey about the “Hands Off” campaign (Ontario campaign to bring awareness to childcare issues).

The Filipino Women’s Center has offered to send a speaker to speak at one of the Women’s Committee meetings. All were in agreement that the September meeting would be a good time for this to happen. Angela to contact Monica Urritia re: Filipino Women’s Center speaker.

Because there will be a speaker at the next meeting, the poster for the September meeting will specify that the meeting is at 5:30 and the speaker starts at 6:00 sharp. Also at the end of this meeting, the co-chairs will ask people if they want to stay and discuss events around December 6th and the child care campaigns.

Angela discussed the possibility of adding a line item to next year’s budget for “transportation” and “child care”. All agreed that this should be revisited when we plan our budget for 2007.

Angela noted that she is in the process of following up on Marcia Bradley’s video for showing at a Women’s Committee meeting.

Regina noted that there is an on-going information picket in front of the Real Canadian Superstore on Grandview Hwy. Westfair Foods is a supplier to Superstore and they are on strike because their employer wants to reduce the wages of all new hires dramatically (almost half the wages of those employed currently).

The meeting was adjourned at 19:00.

Surrey Delta Langley Area Council December 14, 2006 Meeting Minutes, Held at Boston Pizza

Present: Terry Ruyter (UTE 20007), Wendy Webber (UTE 20007), Sharon Palis (UTE 20029), Dale Odberg (UVAE 20029), Donna Cowan (UVAE 20029), Sigrid Hagglund (UTE 20029), Johann Ackermann (UTE 20029), Jeremy Amour (UTE 20029), Hilde Sellmeyer (UTE 20007)

5:30 PM Called to order

Continue reading below or download the Surrey Delta Langley AC meeting minutes December 14 2006 (pdf)

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Please join Grassroots Women for an evening of film and discussion on the theme of Women Assert Our Basic Human Rights. A discussion will follow a screening of two films portraying women who show us that rights will not be “granted” but rather must be asserted and defended when under attack.

• Thursday March 1st, 2007
• 7:00 pm Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway

Films:

My Name is Kahentiiosta profiles a Kahnawake Mohawk woman who participated in the armed standoff at Kanehsatake, detailing her experience of and perspective on the 1990 Oka Crisis, including her subsequent arrest and detention (which was prolonged by four days because she would give only her Mohawk name). Directed by Alanis Obomsawin, 1995.

Women in Struggle is about Palestinian women who are ex-political detainees demonstrating their struggle during their years of imprisonment in Israeli jails, exploring the effects on their present life and their future outlook. The focus is on the lives of four women who came out of their regular roles as sisters, mothers, wives, and took on a different role being involved in the Palestinian national struggle for independence. Directed by Buthina Canaan Khoury, 2004.

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The Joint Learning Program is pleased to invite you to the JLP Open House, Thursday, February 15, 2007

• Daytime: 10:00 – 12:00
• YWCA, 4th Floor – 535 Hornby Street, Vancouver

• Evening: 5:00 – 7:00
• Public Service Alliance of Canada, 200 - 5238 Joyce Street, Vancouver

Come and learn about the benefits of the Joint Learning Program at this highly interactive, inclusive, barrier-free event. Contact Julie Balantes or Susan Jardine with any questions or inquiries. Refreshments will be served.

International Women’s Day 2007

Since its inception, International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8th, has been a day of revolutionary struggle for the rights and freedom of oppressed and exploited women in the context of world-wide struggle against imperialism and war. Every year since our founding in 1995, Grassroots Women has mobilized on March 8th. By doing so, we connect with the tradition of working class women who have mobilized on this day for nearly 100 years, from the garment workers of New York City at the turn of the century, to the wives, daughters, and mothers of soldiers and armament workers in Russia who helped spark the Russian Revolution, to the women of movements for national and social liberation in the Third World.

In 2007, Grassroots Women will mark IWD by holding events under the following theme:

• Strengthen Women’s Resistance
• Oppose Imperialism’s Intensifying Attacks!
• Assert Women’s Basic Human Rights!

Please join us for a march and rally on Thursday, March 8th 2007, beginning at 5:30 pm at Chinatown Memorial Square (NE corner of Keefer and Columbia) and ending with refreshments at the Grassroots Women office.

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Promise made.

“Yes, I’m ready to support women’s human rights and I agree that Canada has more to do to meet its international obligations to women’s equality. If elected, I will take concrete and immediate measures, as recommended by the United Nations, to ensure that Canada fully upholds its commitments to women in Canada.” - Stephen Harper - January 18, 2006

Promise broken.

Since coming into office, the Harper Conservatives have

• closed more than half of the Status of Women of Canada regional offices
• have changed the funding criteria for women’s groups and have removed the word “equality” from the SWC’s list of objectives
• eliminated support for equality rights test-cases (the Court Challenges Program)
• refused to adopt proactive pay equity legislation and have canceled funding to the Canada-wide child care program.

The Harper Conservative have consistently dismissed equality rights for women. They will continue unless we speak up!

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Greetings. There are going to be some big chances in the Vancouver Regional Office. Brother Jack Rudd will be retiring in May and Sister Regina Brennan will be going on self-funded leave for six months as of June 2007. Jack’s position has been posted and the deadline for applications is January 29. From that competition we will establish an eligibility list from which to backfill Regina in her absence.

If you are interested in applying in this competition and want to find out more about what qualifications we are looking for and how we assess them, then come to a meeting at the Vancouver Regional Office, 5238 Joyce St., on Wednesday January 24 at 5:45 pm.

Light refreshments will be served so please RSVP to Patrick or Patricia at 604-430-5631 no later than noon on January 23.

Janet Routledge, BC Regional Coordinator