Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Community response to the most recent child care cuts is building around the province of BC. There are many ways you can help get the message to political leaders that child care funding must be restored immediately and that BC can afford to build a quality, affordable, accessible, public child care system now. Visit bcgeu.ca for more information.

Rallies and protests are scheduled across the province this month, click for a calendar of events (pdf).

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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

via Jayne Johns, Fraser Valley Area Council

Great news!

The PSAC is represented at the new Fraser Valley Labour Council. At the inaugural meeting this past Wednesday the Fraser Valley Labour Council obligated their delegates (PSAC has three delegates and three alternates) and elected their President (Brian Harder, Steelworkers 3567), Treasurer (Mike Waldun BCGEU), Secretary and 12 Executive Board Members. I was nominated and acclaimed as one of the Executive Board members.

This is a very exciting opportunity for our union to be involved from the very beginning of this new Labour Council.

• Who is the Labour Council? What does it do?

The meetings are every third Wednesday of the month except December. The next meeting is Wednesday Feb 21 at 7PM. The new Executive will be gathering for the first time at 5:30PM, just prior to the regular meeting.

TO: Executive Officers

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

RE: Count Me In Campaign

The Federation is now seeking candidates for the positions available in our Count Me In program during the upcoming federal election campaign. I would appreciate your assistance to circulate the attached job posting as widely as possible.

Each of these positions is a term position under the Federation’s collective agreement. The starting and end dates for some of these positions will be varied to reflect the actual timing of the election.

In solidarity, Jim Sinclair,President

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It’s time to raise the province’s $8 per hour minimum wage and eliminate the even lower $6 an hour training wage for new entrants to the labour force, says the B.C. Federation of Labour.

President Jim Sinclair wants the government to boost the base wage to $10 an hour.

“It’s time to share the gains of a strong economy,” he said.

Sinclair said a poll conducted last fall shows nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed support a $2 jump in the minimum wage, and 73.5 per cent agree it’s time to eliminate the training wage.

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It took three years for members of the United Nations (UN) to reach agreement on just thirty articles that define specific rights and freedoms for all human beings.

On December 10th, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted this comprehensive agreement and the United Nations Declaration gave human rights a new international legal status.

These thirty basic and universal rights were fought for by social justice movements around the world and advanced within the UN by progressive governments of the day.

Despite taking years to formulate and decades of existence, the struggle to ensure just entitlement of these thirty rights and freedoms requires our attention today and everyday.

• Read more about Human Rights Day 2006 at un.org.
• Read the PSAC Statement on International Human Rights Day at the national website.

Canadian governments must be held accountable by human rights activists and popular movements when any of the Universal Rights are violated.

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Regional Executive VP Kay Sinclair drafted the resolution below for the BCFL Convention last week. It hit the floor on Friday and was passed.

Emergency resolution #12 - Status of Women Canada

Because the Conservative government is cutting the budget for Status of Women Canada by $5 million dollars and announced this week it is closing 12 regional offices including Vancouver and Toronto - the two largest; and

Because the cuts and closures will result in the loss of workers’ jobs and the important community and social development work in support of women’s equality;

The Federation Will, with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), condemn the actions of the Harper government in cutting funding for the Status of Women, call for the immediate cancellation of the cuts and closures and the reinstatement of the community liaison and equality work; and

The Federation Will call for the immediate resignation of Bev Oda, Minister responsible for Status of Women Canada, and call upon Harper to appoint a woman Minister who actually understands women’s issues and supports women’s equality (someone from outside of the Conservative government), who is supported by feminist and equality-seeking women’s groups.

PSAC

OTTAWA – As we get closer to December 1, World AIDS Day, Canadian workers and their unions call on the federal government to end its long silence on HIV/AIDS and make some much-needed commitments to fight the disease at home and abroad.

We are at risk of losing some valuable ground in our fight against HIV/AIDS because the Canadian government has deserted the field in the middle of battle,” says Hassan Yussuff, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

The Canadian Labour Congress adds its voice to the ninety organizations that support the call of the Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) and share their prescriptions about what Canada should do to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS.

“For years, Canadian workers and their unions have been on the frontlines of the fight to prevent the spread of the disease, to protect affected workers against discrimination and unemployment and to help develop strategies to make medical treatment accessible. At times, we have been able to count on the government to accompany our efforts. However, the government’s continuous withdrawal from these issues, over the last year, could end up defeating all we’ve accomplished.”

Continue reading the CLC statement on World AIDS Day at canadianlabour.ca

Strike Up The Band! 50 Years of Making Trouble For All The Right Reasons

• Date: Thursday, November 30, 2006 Time: 8 pm
• Venue: The Orpheum Theatre Admission: $35 (plus gst & service charges)
• Tickets:604.231.7535 or www.ticketstonight.ca
• Information: www.thefestival.bc.ca

The BC Federation of Labour celebrates its 50th anniversary Thursday, November 30, 2006, with a star-studded gala at the Orpheum Theatre, produced for the Federation by the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.

The gala concert will be a highlight of the Federation’s 50th Annual Convention, taking place November 27 through December 1, 2006, at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. The theme of the anniversary convention is “A Proud History. A Strong Future.” |inline

How important is your CLC Winter School? Would you believe us if we say that it will help improve the lives of millions? The accomplishments of the labour movement in Canada over the last 50 years have raised the quality of life of the vast majority of Canadians to a point envied by many nations. In the beginning, each and every one of these accomplishments started out as a struggle for union activists and their allies.

But these were activists that were trained to win. You will acquire some of that knowledge and many of these skills during your week at winter school.

The Canadian Labour Congress Winter School will take place January 21^st to February 16^th in Harrison Hot Springs.

Visit the CLC Winter School website for more information, including online application and course descriptions. The registration deadline is December 15^th

To: BC Federation of Labour Officers

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

You are likely aware that Bill C-257 passed at a second reading vote in Parliament last week. The vote was 167-101, with the entire NDP and Bloc caucuses voting in favour. Most of the Liberal caucus and a few of the Conservatives also voted in favour. Attached (below) please find a list of how the BC MP’s voted, and provincial totals from across the country.

I would like to thank you, your organization and activists for the tremendous effort that helped to get this result. Some MP’s received huge numbers of calls and letters, and these undoubtedly influenced how they voted. BC Labour Councils did a great job of getting in to see all MP’s, many of them for second and third times.

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The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 402 has established, through the BC Federation of Labour, a memorial scholarship for a union woman to attend the “Women In Leadership” course at the Canadian Labour Congress Harrison Winter School, January 21 - 26 2007.

The scholarship will cover the costs of tuition, accommodations and meals for this event.

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Vancouver - It’s time to scrap the training wage and raise BC’s minimum wage to $10.00 per hour says B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.

“BC’s lowest paid workers deserve a raise,” Sinclair said. “Minimum wage earners working full-time should earn enough to stay above the poverty line. That can only be achieved by immediately raising the minimum wage to at least $10.00 per hour.”

“The provincial government likes to crow about a booming economy, but it’s only booming for a few. BC’s lowest paid workers have been left behind,” Sinclair said. Sinclair’s comments came on the fifth anniversary of BC’s last increase to the minimum wage.

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Public Service Alliance executive Patty Ducharme believes that unions are still relevant to workers, and plans to march at the annual Labour Day parade in Toronto

Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun, Saturday, September 02, 2006

Patty Ducharme is talking about her smile. The one that pushed her into the labour movement. The one that makes her convinced that unions are still relevant today.

Ducharme recognizes that Labour Day for most Canadians is just another holiday — not the celebration of workers and unionism that marked the day’s beginnings in the late 19th century.

But that doesn’t mean unions are outmoded, says the Vancouver woman who was recently elected national executive vice-president for the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Which brings us back to Ducharme’s story about her smile.

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A Labour Day Message from Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress

OTTAWA – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Labour Congress.

When a milestone like this is reached, it is only natural to look back and marvel at what we have accomplished. And what a difference unions have made in people’s lives!

Over the span of two generations, the unions of the Canadian Labour Congress have improved the way we work and how we live.

Many of the benefits that were first bargained in collective agreements one workplace at a time are now enjoyed by all Canadians and their families. In fact, they have become so much a part of everyday life that most of us simply take them for granted.

Thus, today Canadians enjoy the security of the Canada Pension Plan, overtime and holiday pay, or universal public medicare. But in 1956, these were only dreams for most workers unless they belonged to a strong union.

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“Premier Campbell, give low income British Columbians a raise.”

Here’s a Labour Day challenge to Premier Gordon Campbell: give low income British Columbians a raise.

BC’s unions are challenging the Premier to take three simple steps to tackle inequality, poverty and homelessness: first, eliminate the training wage; second, raise the minimum wage, and third, increase welfare payments.

Polls show that despite strong economic growth, a majority of British Columbians feel the benefits are passing them by. They’re right.

In May 2006, Statistics Canada figures showed that BC’s average wage for full-time workers is below the Canadian average. So are personal savings and per person disposable income. Premier Campbell may believe BC is the “best place on earth,” but that’s hard to square with the fact that BC has the highest poverty rate in Canada.

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Update: Aug 22^nd - A mediator has been appointed and the strike averted. Details at cbc.ca.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is poised for strike action in their struggle to achieve a first collective agreement for unionized workers conducting perimeter security at YVR, the employer is Securiguard Services Ltd. There may be labour disruptions as early as tomorrow.

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updated August 23: A tentative agreement has been reached, and all job action has ceased, pending ratification.
The BCNU Members of Joye Morris Health Services Inc. voted across the Province July 27, 2006, 94% in favour of strike. BCNU represents the members who work in the Health Centres at ten Provincial Jails operated by the private contractor, Joye Morris.

The two parties have been in negotiations to secure a renewal collective agreement since May 1, 2006. The current collective agreement expired on March 31, 2006.

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Public health care is Canadians’ proudest achievement. We embrace it as a social right in Canada, one that speaks to our best values of fairness, pragmatism, inclusion and hope.There is no other social program or national initiative that we identify with so passionately, but it is being weakened by private forces and complicit governments.

We are standing up to defend, expand and improve public health care and we invite all Canadians to join us.

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EI appeal for Lebanon

Education International, the global organization representing education workers, is deeply concerned about the current situation in Lebanon and the impact it is having on innocent civilians, including many children. EI has issued a statement on the situation which it has published on its website and brought to the attention of the international community.

Both of EI’s members in Lebanon have requested EI solidarity assistance and any humanitarian aid possible.

LabourStart.org is responding to these pleas for help by issuing an urgent action appeal to member organisations seeking financial support for the teachers and their families who have been adversely affected by the situation. EI itself has made available immediately an initial amount of 20.000 EUR from the EI Solidarity Fund, which is being forwarded to EI affiliates in Lebanon, to provide humanitarian support to teachers and their families. The funds will be provided on an equal basis to the Teachers Syndicate of Lebanon (TSL) and the Ligue des Professeurs de l’Enseignement Secondaire Public du Liban (LPESPL). EI is asking affiliates to ensure that the funds are allocated to those teachers and their families affected most adversely by the current military activities.

EI is also in contact with international humanitarian aid organisations seeking their immediate assistance for Lebanon and encouraging them to make contact with our affiliates.

Continue reading the appeal for aid and find out how to donate at labourstart.org or visit the Education International website.