Chair: Sam Wiese (Regional Councilor, H&S)

In Attendance: Alice Woods (UCTE), Leanne Hughes (NAT), , Louise Richard (NAT), Bob Jackson (AGR), Tracey Shudo (CEIU), Virginia Vaillancourt (UVAE), Monique Bakker (UEW), Bob Bridgeman (UNDE), Barry Cunningham (UCTE), Linda Harding (GSU), Angela Marafon (UTE), James Little (PSAC, H&S).

Regrets: Wayne Little (UTE), Melvin Dureen (USGE), Bill Pleming (GSU), Gail Jewsbury (UEW), Susan Yaciw (UTE), Laura Gracie (CEIU, Jim Sidel (DCL).

Continue reading below, or download the BRUSH Minutes March 31, 2010 (pdf)

Agenda

• Roll Call
• Accepting the Agenda
• Review Previous Minutes
• Business Arising
  1. Health Canada Reduction of Service
  2. Membership Survey
  3. Ergonomics
• New Business
  1. Light station de-staffing update
  2. BC Federation of Labour H&S Centre – Education
  3. PSAC Education
  4. First Aid
  5. Department of Fisheries and Oceans
  • • Emergency Preparedness
    • Ergonomics
• Workplace Watch
• Round Table
• Adjournment

Introduction/Roll Call- Sam conducted a roll call and expressed members regrets

Agenda Approved

• First Aid was removed from the agenda

Agenda amended to deal with light station de-staffing as the first issue.

• Alice Woods reported that there is no real new news on the Review Process that the Federal Government was to conduct.
• Many user groups have requested to be part of the review process and our position is that we do not need a review and that our position remains the same as when we first began this process back in the fall of 2009.
• Barry Cunningham reported that the Coast Guard is still spending money on lighthouses and that the capital spending is continuing.
• We added this to our list of Workplace Watch Items.

Review of Previous Minutes

• Members reviewed the previous minutes and issues arose in two areas: Armed Members and Ergonomics.
• Armed Members – Jim, Sam and Melvin were to look at current education programs with in departments and agencies for available non-armed members training opportunities. Corrections Services Canada and the RCMP do train members upon request but the first priority are members who’s jobs require the training. CBSA does provide CR’s with the 2-3 day PAL’s course because their job duties required to handle arms (storage and inventory purposes). We will report our finding to the member who requested the information and remove this item from the agenda.
• Ergonomics – Linda Harding offered some insight to some of the recent developments around ergonomics at Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). It appears that PWGSC is moving towards establishing contractual arrangements with outside service providers for the provision of both level I and II ergonomic services for Treasury Board Departmentns at a regional level. This has been put on hold because they are now looking at developing a National structure. This will involve a National public tender process being created and once bids are received some Terms of Agreements will be put in place. Because this is now a National process it is going to take considerably longer to finalize.
• TASK – Ensure this is a standing agenda item.

Membership Survey

• As part of the National H&S Conference, BC Caucus we discussed the issue of membership networking. It became very clear that although we have a very large BRUSH committee that we have not done a great job at identifying and connecting all of our regional H&S activists. We decided to conduct a regional H&S membership survey in an effort to identify local H&S activists. Before we proceed with a survey, we need to send a message of our intention to the National Officers and this should come from Kay.
• We are working on a process and the number and type of questions we want to ask in the survey. Kay will need to be involved as well as the National Officers. We will want to complete our consultations before any phoning is conducted. We may wish to send a letter to the locals first and then follow-up with phoning.

Ergonomics

• This issue was addressed in our review of the previous minutes.

New Business

1. BC Federation of Labour H&S Centre – Education

• BRUSH members have attended both of the H&S Centre pilot training sessions on “H&S Federally Regulated Worksites”. We have not completed our debriefing of the training sessions so it is to early to say whether the training will meet our needs. The early reviews are very encouraging and it appears that this course will be extremely beneficial for our members.

2. PSAC Education

• There is a considerable amount of PSAC H&S training being offered in 2010. The bulk of this training is being offered in our target areas and we will also be offering a two and one half day course at this years Union School.

3. Department of Fisheries and Oceans

• Monique introduced some of the new educational opportunities being offered at the DFO. The new training modules were the result of a lot of hard work by both PSAC and PIPS members on the Regional H&S Committee at DFO. The new courses are in Emergency Preparedness and Ergonomics.
• Monique will also provide us some new information on Rigid Hull Inflatables.

Workplace Watch

• We reminded everyone of the BC Regions “Workplace Watch” campaign. We explained the purpose and objectives of the campaign and asked that members both participate in the reporting of violations but to also spread the news about the campaign to members within their locals.
• We provided the website as a resource but informed members to contact their regional representatives for further information and access to resources.

Round Table

Meeting Adjourned, Next Meeting June 23, 2010

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives recently released two studies highlighting the need for improved health and safety enforcement and regulation.

According to Success is No Accident, by CCPA Research Associate David Macdonald, federal underfunding and understaffing of safety inspectors are putting federal jurisdiction employees in harm’s way. The study provides several recommendations for improving federal workplace safety. Click here to read the full report.

Canada’s Regulatory Obstacle Course, CCPA Senior Economist Marc Lee’s analysis of the federal government’s new Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation (CDSR), suggests that the government’s poor record on workplace safety is not an isolated case but may reflect an across-the-board weakening of the federal regulatory process.Click here for the full report.

OTTAWA–The Public Service Alliance of Canada is demanding that the Harper government take action to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, after a damning report revealed that it has been negligent in protecting workers under its jurisdiction.

According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the federal government is putting workers at risk by under funding and under staffing federal safety inspection. The federal government is responsible for protecting its own employees, those at Crown corporations such as Canada Post, as well as workers in the airline and trucking industries.

The rate of disabling injuries in federally regulated workplaces increased by 5 per cent between 2002 and 2007 while the provinces have managed to cut their disabling workplace injuries by an average of 25 per cent over the same time frame.

Read more at the national website.

This year, the Canadian Labour Congress asks, “Is today the day you die at work?” If current trends continue, this question could prove to be more than rhetorical.

Last year was the 25th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning, and labour activists revealed that 25,000 workers had died from injuries and work-related diseases in Canada since the day’s inception.

Read more at the national website. The BC Fed has a list of events taking place throughout BC.

Read the PSAC statement on Earth Day at the national website.

The B.C. Federation of Labour, the New Westminster and District Labour Council and the Vancouver District Labour Council invite you to pay tribute to workers who have been injured or killed on the job or died of an occupational disease.

• April 28, 2010, 7:30 am – 8:30 am, Vancouver Art Gallery

Bring your own union banners and invite co-workers, friends and family members to attend with you.

Visit bcfed.ca to download the B.C. Federation of Labour’s Day of Mourning poster and for more information.

Here is a list of other April 28th events taking place throughout BC:

• Abbotsford, City Works Yard – 11AM – Fraser Valley Labour Council
• Victoria, Belmont High School – time TBA – Victoria Labour Council
• Gibsons, McDougall Park – 11AM – Sunshine Coast & District Labour Council
• Delta/Ladner, Rotary Park – 10:45AM – CUPE Local 454
• Revelstoke, Worker’s Memorial Arch – 12 noon – Shuswap Columbia & District Labour Council
• Nanaimo, Harbour Front Square – 1PM – Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council
• Duncan, Brae Road – 9AM – Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council

• Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street
• June 1 & 2, 2010 – 8:30 am–4:30 pm
• Course Cost: $150.00 for 2 days

This two-day course aims to prepare workers in the Federal jurisdiction to play an active and confident role on their workplace Joint OH&S Committees.

Participants will discuss and develop strategies to improve working conditions through the Joint Committee structure. They will review relevant legislation, principles of control along with processes and strategies for inspections and investigations. The legal requirements for the development and implementation of hazard prevention programs in workplaces under Federal jurisdiction is also reviewed.

To register or for more information contact the BC Fed Health and Safety Centre toll free at 1-888-223-5669, 604-430-1421 in Vancouver, or visit bcfed.ca.

Chair: Sam Wiese (Regional Councilor, H&S)

In Attendance: Alice Woods (UCTE), Leanne Hughes (NAT), Wayne Little (UTE), Louise Richard (NAT), Bob Jackson (AGR), Tracey Shudo (CEIU), Melvin Dureen (USGE), Virginia Vaillancourt (UVAE), Monique Bakker (UEW), Gail Jewsbury ((UEW), Susan Yaciw (UTE), Kelly Megyesi (CEIU), Lorraine Plummer (NHU), Paul Croes (CEIU), Bob Bridgeman (UNDE), Al Johnston (NHU), Bill Pleming (GSU), Linda Harding (GSU),James Little (PSAC, H&S) and Kay Sinclair (REVP BC).

Regrets: Laura Gracie (CEIU), Angela Marafon (UTE), Anita Hoffman (CEIU), Grace McIvor (NHU), Jim Sidel (DCL), Barry Cunningham (UCTE), Sargy Chima (CEIU), Bonnie Heidt (UVAE).

Continue reading below, or download the BRUSH Committee minutes (pdf)

Agenda

1. Roll Call
2. Accepting the Agenda
3. Review Previous Minutes
4. Update on National H&S Conference
5. New Business
   • Member Survey
   • Health Canada – Reduction of Service
   • Light station de-staffing update
   • Local 60 “Greening the Environment”
   • Environmental Issues and H&S
   • Sick Leave
   • Education
   • First Aid
6. Round Table
7. Adjournment

1. Introduction/Roll Call – Sam conducted a roll call and expressed members regrets

2. Agenda Approved- First Aid was added to the agenda under New Business

3. Review of Previous Minutes

• Members reviewed the previous minutes and issues arose in two areas: Armed Members and Ergonomics.
• Armed Members – Jim, Sam and Melvin were to look at current education programs with in departments and agencies for available non-armed members training opportunities. This task has not yet been completed and the group will report at the next meeting.
• TASK – Jim, Sam and Melvin will review available education programs offered by departments and agencies.
• Ergonomics – Bill Pleming offered some insight to some of the recent developments around ergonomics at Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). It appears that PWGSC is moving towards establishing contractual arrangements with outside service providers for the provision of both level I and II ergonomic services for Treasury Board Departmentns at a regional level. The terms of agreements were to be put out for tender nearer the end of January 2010, however looks like probably this summer. The purpose of which will be to establish a standing offer rate with the providers such that departments and can draw down from an account. The next step is to draft Terms and Conditions to be followed by tendering and awarding of contracts.
• TASK – Ensure this is a standing agenda item.

4. Update on National Health and Safety Conference

• The national H&S Conference was held in November 2009 and was focused on H&S and the Environment.
• There was a diverse array of speakers on several differing topics including; bullying and harassment, global warming, the environment impact of the tar sands and stress. There were three workshops offered; Enforcement, Workplace Committees and the Environment as a H&S Issue.
• The conference concluded with a Regional Caucus in which H&S Activist from BC gathered to develop a three-year regional H&S plan. This plan was developed in consideration of our BC Regional planning session that took place at the BC Regional H&S Conference. The outline of the BC plan will be shared with the members of the region shortly and include; Membership Networks, Education and the Co-ordination of a H&S Campaign.

New Business

1. Member Survey

• As part of the National H&S Conference, BC Caucus we discussed the issue of membership networking. It became very clear that although we have a very large BRUSH committee that we haven’t done a great job at identifying and connecting all of our regional H&S activists. We decided to conduct a regional H&S membership survey in an effort to identify local H&S activists. Before we proceed with a survey, we need to send a message of our intention to the National Officers and this should come from Kay. Some of the questions we could ask in our survey might be: what is your number one H&S issue, how are members appointed to your workplace committees, who are the workplace representatives, how much education do they have and/or need. We may wish to send a letter to the locals first and then follow-up with phoning.

2. The Health Canada Reduction of Service

• Sam reported on the work that she and Wayne Little have accomplished.
• Wayne provided an update of developments at Canada Revenue Agency has amended its policy on workplace accommodation and have negotiated the provision of health services (ergonomic and fit to work assessments) with and outside service provider. Should be complete by March 2010.
• Corrections Services Canada in the lower mainland has contracted its air quality and ergonomic services with a company in Langley at a rate of $175.00/hour.
• Bill Pleming provided PWGSC’s perspective (above).

3. Light Station De-staffing

• We reminded participants that the de-staffing of light stations remains an issue for our members and we should remain vigilant. Alice Woods gave a short presentation at the National H&S Conference, which was well received, and we continue to encourage members to put pressure on their MP’s. Our goal is to defend quality public service and the safety of our members and the Canadian public.

4. Greening the Environment – Local 60 webmail.

• Agriculture Component – Local 60 has challenged other BC locals and the Regional Office to reduce their amount of paper use. The local has created its own webmail, which members can use to commumicate with the local, and it appears to be working very effectively. This generated a broader discussion around our reduction strategies and how we can improve our recycling, reduction and reusing strategies.

5. Environment and H&S

• The question has been raised as to whether the environment should be addressed as a H&S issue. This issue was addressed at the National H&S Conference and it appears that based on those discussions the two issues are so closely connected that we should develop a unified approach to health safety and the environment.

6. Sick Leave – Treasury Board Policy (April 2009)

• The interpretation, implementation and administration of the new Treasury Board Leave with Pay Policy (April 2009) as it relates to Dental/Medical Appointment
• TASK – Sam to produce the new Sick Leave Policy

7. Education

• We held a discussion around education and the member’s needs. In doing so, we attempted to prioritize our training objectives.
  • Workplace Committee Training
  • Canada Labour Code Review
  • Other H&S Issues; Ergonomics, Hazard Prevention, Air Quality etc.
• The BC Federation of Labour is developing a pilot project on training workers in Federally Regulated Worksites. The pilot training will take place on February 16 and 17 in Vancouver and we have four members of the committee auditing the training. We hope that this is the beginning of a new era in BC Fed training and that we will be able to rely on this training to reach our diverse membership.
• The BC Fed H&S Centre also offers training on a wide variety of H&S subjects and they make that training available to affiliated members throughout the province. We should be encouraging our members to participate when ever possible.

Meeting Adjourned, Next Meeting March 24, 2010