Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

October 3,4,5: Building Our Union, Building Our Movement! Ensuring Labour’s Relevance in a Changing World

The theme of this year’s union school is “Building Our Union, Building Our Movement! Ensuring Labour’s Relevance in a Changing World.” Our goal is to strengthen our union and ensure the relevancy of the labour movement in a changing world by building solidarity with other workers and communities, both locally and globally.

Can our union and the labour movement remain relevant in an increasingly changing world? How can we mobilize to protect the rights of our members and build solidarity with other workers struggling against exploitation? How can the labour movement organize a collective response to the increasing corporatization of our workplaces and our communities? How can we engage our political system, particularly at a municipal level, to make sure that as trade unionists, our voices are heard in the larger arena?

By working hand-in-hand with other members of our locals, our unions and communities around the world, we can create and build a labour movement that can respond to the many challenges that workers face today. By building solidarity with other workers - particularly those that are working in unorganized workplaces, in temporary jobs and often in precarious working conditions – and exploring creative strategies to protect our collective rights, we can forge a vibrant movement for social change that in will in turn, strengthen our own union.

This theme underscores how critical it is for our survival and growth as trade unionists to identify new strategies for resistance that are rooted in building alliances across unions, communities and borders, particularly with those workers and other members of our society who are the most marginalized.

Plenary sessions and guest speakers will demonstrate the links between strengthening our union, maintaining the relevance of labour movements at both a local and global level and protecting the rights of all workers.

Visit the Union School 2008 page for more information, course descriptions, and application forms.

Bosses and Workers’ Differing Perspectives on Economic Issues

• 4 Week course
• February 20 & 27, March 5 & 12
• Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
• CAW Hall, 312 12th Street
• New Westminster

Course Outline:

• Day 1 - Labour Markets - Why do most people need jobs, but some don’t?
• Day 2 - Stock Market and Shop Floors - Where does all the wealth come from?
• Day 3 - Budgets, Deficits, and Taxes - Who’s paying all the bills?
• Day 4 - Privatization - Who owns the world?

Courses will include lecture, discussion, with integrated use of media such as music and video to illustrated the prevalence of hidden economic persuasion in everyday life. A strict distinction between the mainstream view of businesses and alternative views will be made in each class in order to understand how economic issues are
shaped by the social position of the people involved.

Underlying Philosophy:

Workers often share a common sense understanding with other ordinary people; they understand the economy as a mysterious world of financial markets, which is inhabited by investment bankers, stockbrokers, and media pundits. If the workers are unionized, labour law, collective bargaining and organizing professionals complement this world of
finance. The contrast between such perceptions and everyday experience of the individual pursuit of jobs and work place conflicts produces widespread feelings of isolation, alienation, and powerlessness that hamper workers’ individual capacities and collective activism.

One factor to overcome such impediments to strong labour movements is to focus labour education on economic issues. This, however, should not counter neo-liberal mainstream views with an alternative variety of expert knowledge. The starting point should be the experiences of individual workers as job seekers instead. Proceeding from there, it should be explained why working people have to sell their labour power to the bosses’, and also why the latter are on top of the hierarchical power relations at the workplace. Only on this basis can management strategies, economic policies and international economic relations be understood as processes that ultimately depend on workers as the producers of wealth. The ultimate goal of this type of worker education is to build capacities in such a way that enables them to get involved in economical and
political self-representation.

Course Instructor: Ingo Schmidt

Ingo Schmidt teaches Labour Relations at Athabasca University and is developing a course on Economics for Workers. He has written books and articles on economic policies. Collaborating with the Working Group for Alternative Economic Policies and major unions, Ingo worked as a labour educator in Germany before he came to Canada.

Course Fees: $25 (subsidies available)

Please register through the Vancouver & District Labour Council, 604-254-0703, or office@vdlc.ca

Presented by the Vancouver & District Labour Council Education Committee

via Vancouver & District Labour Council

A Chance to Go to School in Cuba

Wouldn’t it be great to have a place to meet other activists, learn something useful and have some fun in the sun at the same time?

Well how about getting together in Havana, Cuba in May, 2008 for a week of global solidarity courses and a program of events designed especially for activists.

That is the idea behind a Global Solidarity School. Its being organized in Cuba by a group of Canadian labour activists and educators. The school will run from May 4 to May 10 and offer five week-long courses designed to interest activists and their spouses.

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PSAC BC Education Forum - Dinner and Workshop on Writing Effective Resolutions

• December 12th
• Dinner @ 5:30 pm, workshop @ 6pm
• Vancouver RO - 200-5238 Joyce, 1 1/2 blocks south of the Skytrain

Regional and component conventions are coming up quickly and the deadlines for submitting resolutions are fast approaching! Are you interested in finding out what makes a good resolution? Want to find out how to write resolutions more effectively and get support for them? If there is enough interest, we would like to hold an evening workshop on Wednesday, December 12th on how to write resolutions as part of our education forum series.

All members from Vancouver and the surrounding areas are invited -please RSVP by December 5th to Amal Rana, 604.430.5631 or ranaa@psac.com, a catered dinner will be served.

71 members from across the BC Region – two thirds of whom were attending their first school - recently came together for the 2007 PSAC BC Union School in Burnaby from November 2nd-4th.

Over 3 days, participants were inspired by guest speakers such as National President John Gordon and CCPA BC Director Seth Klein who spoke on the school theme of “Public and Proud! Building Union Resistance to Privatization” and called upon those present to defend quality public services and ensure that people come before profits.

click on the thumbnails for a larger photo
there are lots more in the Union School 2007 photo gallery.

Keynote speaker Malalai Joya – Afghan Member of Parliament and women’s rights activist – shared her thoughts on the current situation in Afghanistan.

The school was opened and closed by Aboriginal Elder Phillipa Ryan and made history by providing the first course specifically for Aboriginal members in the region called “Our Community, Our Union, Our Rights.”

Defending Our Communities – Resisting Globalization, Duty to Accommodate and Health and Safety Level II were the other courses offered at the school. Participants on these courses developed a plan to resist globalization, started a network of union activists working on Duty to Accommodate issues and identified ways in which to move forward Health and Safety issues in the workplace.

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To: All Lower Mainland Locals, Area Councils and Committees

Greetings Sisters and Brothers!

Our 2007 Union School is fast approaching and I am very excited and pleased to extend an invitation to all PSAC members in the Lower Mainland who are not attending the school to join us this year to hear two incredible speakers who will be speaking on November 2nd and November 3rd at the Metrotown Hilton in Burnaby (6083 McKay Avenue).

November 2nd, 2007 : We are greatly honoured to present Malalai Joya, member of the Afghan Parliament and world renowned activist as our keynote speaker at the school. She will open our school at on Friday, November 2nd at 12:30 pm.

Malalai’s upcoming visit to Vancouver and to our school represents a rare opportunity for us to hear directly about conditions in Afghanistan. Malalai is one of Afghanistan’s most courageous politicians and a dedicated defender of the rights of the Afghan people and women in particular. She has survived four assassination attempts and was recently suspended from the country’s parliament to which she was democratically elected in 2005. Despite this, she continues to speak out both in her own country and around the world.

• The week prior to the school, Malalai Joya will also be speaking at several engagements in Vancouver & Victoria - visit bclabouragainstwar.ca for details.
• Malalai Joya will be speaking at the stopwar.ca rally in Vancouver, Saturday October 27th - visit stopwar.ca for details.

November 3rd, 2007: Malalai’s key note speech at the school on Friday will be followed by a panel discussion on defending public services with PSAC National President John Gordon and Seth Klein - BC Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) - on Saturday, November 3rd at 9AM. We are very pleased that John will be joining us - please take advantage of this great opportunity to hear him speak about defending quality public services, collective bargaining, and other important issues in our union. John, along with Seth, will also be pleased to answer questions after the panel presentations.

John Gordon was elected as the PSAC’s National President in May 2006 at the PSAC’s Triennial Convention. John had been the Union’s National Vice-President since 2000. Prior to 2000, he was the National President of the former Union of Public Works Employees component (now Government Services Union). He has also been a union activist in the broader labour movement with extensive involvement in the Labour Council of Metro Toronto and the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Seth Klein is the BC Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), a public policy research institute committed to social, economic and environmental justice. He is a frequent media commentator and public speaker on public policy issues. He has authored numerous studies and newspaper articles.

We very much hope that you are able to join us to hear these amazing speakers. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. Hope to see you there!

In solidarity, Amal Rana, Regional Education Officer

Here are some upcoming Joint Learning Program events in Vancouver, for more information about the JLP visit www.jlp-pam.ca or

• November 6,7,8 - Facilitator Clinic.
  • Day one of the clinic will be devoted to learning activities, including a piece on questioning skills, public service renewal and building a tickle trunk.
  • Day two will be practice facilitation and day three in the afternoon will be devoted to a workshop presented by the Aboriginal Speaker’s Bureau, Catherine Blackstock, focusing on the history of of First Nations in the context of present day events.
• Facilitator Orientation Sessions -  November 19,20,21,22,23, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver.

This years Union School will be held November 2,3,4 in Burnaby. The Application deadline is September 28th.

What is the Union School? Union training at its best! It is an opportunity for active PSAC members to gain more specialized knowledge and skills. You will network with other members from BC and return to your workplaces and locals energized and educated to work on behalf of the membership.

• Apply on-line here.
• More information & course descriptions.

The theme of this year’s union school is “Public and Proud! Building Union Resistance to Privatization.” Our goal is to organize and mobilize members of our union and our communities and build an agenda of resistance to the privatization of public services.

The PSAC BC Regional Education Program is coming to your neighborhood!

• 4 – 7PM, Wednesday, September 12th
• The Ramada Plaza & Conference Centre, Mt. Baker Room
• 36035 North Parallel Road, Abbotsford

The regional education program is coming to your neighborhood and we want to hear from you!

• Share your thoughts and feedback on union education and courses for your area!
• Help shape the future of the regional education program!
• Join us for some great food, company and conversation!
• Meet other PSAC members and staff!

Refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Amal Rana (Regional Education Officer) at the Vancouver Regional Office @ 1.800.663.1655 or ranaa@psac.com

The PSAC BC Regional Education Program is coming to your neighborhood!

• Penticton: August 21st, 2007, 5pm to 8pm - Lakeside Resort, 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Merlot Room
• Kelowna: August 22nd, 2007, 5pm to 8pm - Coast Capri Hotel, 1171 Harvey Avenue, Shiraz Room
• Vernon: August 23rd, 2007, 5pm to 8pm - Best Western, 3914 32nd Street, Okanagan Room

We want to hear from you: share your thoughts and feedback on union education and courses for your area!

• Help shape the future of the regional education program!
• Join us for some great food, company and conversation!
• Meet other PSAC members and staff!
• Refreshments will be served.

For more information, please contact Amal Rana (Regional Education Officer) at the Vancouver Regional Office @ 1.800.663.1655 or ranaa@psac.com

Here are some photos taken at recent PSAC and related events … updated June 28^th

Advanced Stewards Training in Vancouver

Members from many different components & locals came together at the beginning of the month to take four-day Advanced Steward Training courses held in Vancouver & Victoria. The objectives of the course were:

• To identify the roles and responsibilities of PSAC Stewards.
• To develop participants’ confidence in their ability to be effective Stewards in the workplace.
• To increase participants’ understanding of how to empower and motivate members.
• To provide participants with the opportunity to develop and practice the skills necessary to be effective advocates in representing their members.
• To motivate participants to use their knowledge and skills as Stewards to establish an effective union presence at the workplace.

Stewards from across the province built on their knowledge, skills and confidence so that they could provide effective representation in the workplace and mobilize members. Here are some photos, click the thumbnails for a larger view.

Visit the PSAC photo gallery for all the pictures taken at the Advanced Steward Training course in Vancouver.

Here are the members in Victoria who took the AST, click for a larger view …

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The Joint Learning Program is pleased to invite you to the JLP Open House

• Monday, June 18, 2007
• Ramada Plaza Hotel, 36035 North Parellel Road, Abbotsford, BC
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Come and learn about the benefits of the Joint Learning Program at this highly interactive, inclusive, barrier-free event. Refreshments will be served.

Contact Susan Jardine or Julie Balantes with any questions or inquiries.

The theme of this year’s union school is “Public and Proud! Building Union Resistance to Privatization.” Our goal is to organize and mobilize members of our union and our communities and build an agenda of resistance to the privatization of public services.

• More information and course descriptions.
• Apply on line here.

Working hand in hand with other members of our locals, our unions and communities around the world, we will implement a People First Agenda that puts People before Profits. Our people first agenda identifies that quality public services are essential in building strong communities and inclusive societies.

This theme represents the critical struggle being waged in our union, in our communities and globally to defend quality public services and resist the enormously destructive impact of privatization on workers and people around the world.

Plenary sessions and guest speakers will demonstrate the links between defending quality public services and the rights of our members and other workers and people around the world.

This thread will be woven throughout all four of our courses.

The BC Summer Institute for Union Women offers an intensive week of learning within a supportive environment in which union women can develop their skills as workers, activists and leaders.

Sponsored by the British Columbia Federation of Labour, the Institute will be held at the University of Victoria (UVIC), Wednesday July 4, 2007 through Sunday July 8, 2007

Our theme, Strong Women Taking Action, reflects labour’s commitment to providing women with both the skills and strategies to take on the challenges we face in today’s world. We need the world to hear more women’s voices speaking out on issues that matter to women, issues like: pay equity, a higher minimum wage, universal childcare, health care, and violence against women.

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Burnaby, B.C. – Over fifty concerned Canadians vowed to take immediate action to condemn the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights and democracy in the Philippines last night at a local community forum, “Building People to People Solidarity.”

Here are some more photos.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the B.C. Region for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of the evening’s co-sponsors, cited the growing concern of trade unionists over the worsening political repression in the Philippines.

The Philippines is considered the second most dangerous country for trade unionists (second to Colombia). Since 2001, 83 workers, trade unionists, leaders and advocates have been killed. They are part of the documented 855 extra-judicial killings since 2001.

• Send an email to the Canadian & Philippine governments, demand justice and human rights now!

“We encourage our members to write letters to the Philippine President to protest the government’s recent arrest of Bayan Muna (People First) Congressman Satur Ocampo - a progressive opposition party parliamentarian.”

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Join the PSAC Regional Education Program for an Open House and Union Cafe on Friday, March 23rd

• Regional Education Program Open House and Union Cafe
• Friday, March 23rd 7pm-9pm
• Coast Prince Rupert Hotel, 118 6th Street, Banquet Room

The PSAC Regional Education Program is hitting the road to talk to members about your education needs! We’ve just started a new 3 year cycle for the program, and we need your help in identifying the short and long term goals and direction of our program. This is your union education program so come out and tell us what kinds of courses and training you’d like to see offered!

Light refreshments will be served.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada (PSHRMAC) invite you to apply to join our team of facilitators for the PSAC-PSHRMAC Joint Learning Program (JLP).

Selection criteria include:

• skills (or potential) to facilitate experiential learning activities;
• commitment to the JLP goal of effective union-management relations through joint learning;
• credibility with the PSAC and the employer;
• commitment and availability to prepare and deliver a minimum of five JLP workshops.

For more information, and an online application, visit the JLP website.

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.

The Global Solidarity School is an initiative of progressive Canadians involved in trade union and academic education, jointly sponsored by the Vancouver & District Labour Council and CoDevelopment Canada. The school, taking place in Cuba April 27^th through May 7^th, will combine educational programs with Cuban cultural explorations that extend well beyond a typical tourist experience. The program, designed for politically progressive activists from the labour and community movements, will focus on international issues from a progressive perspective - particularly corporate globalization and building a progressive response. It will also include leadership development, language skills, arts and culture.

 For more information visit solidarityschool.ca

Advanced Steward Training (AST)

This training will be of interest to members who have some experience representing members on workplace problems. The focus of this course will be on the attitudes, knowledge, and skills required by the effective Union Representative. Topics will include the Duty of Fair Representation; building a case file; communicating with complainants and grievors; case analysis and preparation; and making effective presentations to management.

Prerequisites: TUB and Grievance Handling

Course dates & locations

• Victoria, for members on Vancouver Island - June 1-4, 2007
• Vancouver, for members on the mainland - June 7-10, 2007

To apply: download and mail or fax back to either the Vancouver or Victoria RO.

• Vancouver Island application form (pdf)
  
• Mainland application form (pdf)