Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Spotlight on International Women’s Day – The struggle continues, women still fighting for equality and human rights

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first international women’s conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, which lead to the creation of International Women’s Day. The day had been celebrated in many countries since the mid-1800s. But in 1910, women made the day a part of a worldwide movement and haven’t looked back since.

March 8 also represents the 40 year anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women – the first Canada-wide investigation into women’s equality, which made recommendations that women are still fighting for today. Canadian women have seen many victories over the last four decades, including constitutional rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, paid maternity leave and laws that ensure equal pay for work of equal value.

In addition, Canadian women played a significant role in ensuring that women’s rights and gender equality are included in international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

But even though women have seen many improvements over the last 40 years, there is still much work to be done. Since the election of Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in 2006, women have seen their rights rolled back or denied.

Read more of the Union Update spotlight on IWD at the national website.

In the week before International Women’s Day, the Canadian Labour Congress is launching an email campaign to let the Members of Parliament who voted in favour of scrapping Canada’s long gun registry know that this is the wrong thing to do!

Why is scrapping the gun registry the wrong thing to do? Among other things, it’s about violence against women.

More women in Canada are killed by their intimate partners than are killed by strangers – 65% of women murder victims are murdered by their intimate partners. In contrast, men are more likely to be killed by strangers, with only 15% of male homicides committed by their intimate partners. Most women are killed in their own homes – an Ontario study of risk factors of domestic violence found that possession or access to a firearm was the fourth most serious risk factor after marriage breakup, depression and a history of domestic violence.

In 1991 Canada brought in stricter gun control regulations, and also introduced the gun registry legislation in 1995.

The new laws focused on strengthening controls on rifles and shotguns – not just registering long guns but also strict regulations on the storage of these weapons. Since 1991 the overall rate of homicides with firearms (including handguns) in Canada is down by 40%. But the rate of homicides with rifles and shotguns has plummeted – a decrease of 70% in the same period. The number of women murdered by guns has fallen from 85 in 1991 to 24 in 2004.

In BC, Dona Cadman is one of the urban Conservative MPs who voted in favour of abolishing the registry. Please take a moment to visit the CLC website and send her an email asking her to change her mind.

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace. Following the United Nations’ lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women’s Day. Each year at this time, Canadians celebrate progress toward equality for women and their full participation, reflect on the challenges and barriers that remain, and consider future steps to achieving equality for all women, in all aspects of their lives.

Read more for a list of events and check back as more will be added.

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Election of Officers/Annual General Meeting, Prince George PSAC Regional Women’s Committee

• Date: Sat., March 6th, 2010
• Place: Ramada Hotel, Alder Room
• Time: Immediately following the International Women’s Day Breakfast which will be approximately 10:30 or 11:00am

Agenda:

• Election of Officers
• IWD
• Regional Women’s Conference
• Round Table

Groups provide “reality check” on women’s equality – Labour, women’s groups will tell UN Canada is lagging

VANCOUVER, Feb. 22 /CNW/ – Labour and women’s groups have issued a report which they say is a “reality check” describing Canada’s lagging performance in achieving women’s equality. The report will be distributed at the Bejing plus 15 meeting being held at the United Nations in New York, March 1-12.

“Canadian women have lost a lot of ground in the past 15 years,” says Kay Sinclair, Public Service Alliance of Canada Regional Executive Vice President for BC. “Our government has sent a report to the United Nations that paints a rosy picture on women’s equality in Canada. We have written our own document and it is a reality check on what the government is saying.”

• Download the report: Reality Check:Women in Canada and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fifteen Years On, A Canadian Civil Society Response (pdf)

The UN meeting in March will evaluate progress, identify challenges, and recommend policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women. This year holds special significance because it marks the 15th anniversary of the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women.

Sinclair continues, “We see the ravages of poverty every day in school classrooms, and rates are increasing at an alarming rate while the support mechanisms are disappearing or non-existent. With more women and girls living in poverty and being denied fundamental human rights, how can we build for a strong and prosperous Canadian future?” She adds, “Although Canada has made commitments to implement equal pay for work of equal value, the federal government hasn’t lived up to its commitments. The government removed the right to pay equity for federal public sector workers in 2009, with the adoption of the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act. We raise this issue in this report and it will be front and center for us next week at the United Nations in New York.”

Five years ago, Canada was ranked amongst the top ten countries in the world for its achievements in women’s human rights, but in 2009 Canada had fallen to 73rd in the UN Gender Disparity Index. Changes to gender architecture, shifts in policy and programming within the government, and the government’s response to the economic crisis have been felt by the most vulnerable women and girls in Canada.

The joint report is called Reality Check: Women in Canada and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action Fifteen Years On, A Canadian Civil Society Response. It was coordinated and produced by the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action and the Canadian Labour Congress, and is endorsed by a variety of other organizations.

Vancouver Regional Women’s Committee meeting

• Tuesday, March 2, 2010
• 5:30 p.m. – Light Supper, 6:00 p.m. – Meeting
• PSAC Vancouver Regional Office, 200-5238 Joyce St. Vancouver, B.C.

Agenda:

• 2009 Financial Statement
• 2010 Budget
• Elections
• IWD Events

Please RSVP to Colette Savarie. Spread the word: download a poster.

Victoria Regional Women’s Committee invites you to attend a movie history night to celebrate International Women’s Day

• Monday March, 8, 2010
• 5:30 pm to 7:30/8:00 pm
• Victoria PSAC Office, 210-1497 admirals Road

Bring your Mothers/daughters/sisters with you! Please rsvp by March 4th, 2010 to Rosemary, and include any dietary needs, as food will be provided. Download a poster!

The 19th Annual Feb 14th Womens Memorial March takes place on Sunday, February 14 2010 and begins at 12pm at the Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main Street (corner Hastings, Vancouver)

In January 1991 a woman was murdered on Powell Street in Vancouver. Her name is not spoken today out of respect for the wishes of her family. This woman’s murder in particular was the catalyst that moved women into action. Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine’s Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Coast Salish Territories.

Nineteen years later, the march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women. Increasing deaths of many vulnerable women from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Over 3000 women are known to have gone missing or been murdered in Canada since the 1970s. Last year, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women issued this statement: “Hundreds of cases involving aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered in the past two decades have neither been fully investigated nor attracted priority attention.”

The February 14th Women’s Memorial March in Vancouver is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice.

Visit womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com for more information.

PSAC Regional Women’s Committee, Minutes of Meeting January 16, 2010, Summerland Research Station, Summerland

In Attendance:

• Susan Yaciw UTE 20003
• Joy Harrison APSAR
• Kelly Megyesi (phone) CEIU 20915
• Annette Hale USGE 20153
• Roberta Gourlie CEIU 20915
• Carolyn McGillivray CIU 20045
• Darrell-Lee McKenzie AGR 20043
• Martha Johnson UVA 20035
• Gaby Villecourt USGE 20153
• Grace MacIver NHU 20031
• Andrea Johnson USGE 20153

The meeting was called to order at 11:15a.m. with Kelly Megyesi in the chair via teleconference.

Continue reading below, or download the January 16 2010 Okanagan RWC meeting minutes (pdf)

Minutes: Minutes from September 14, 2009 were reviewed. m/s/c

Roberta distributed copies of Kelly’s report for year ending December 31, 2009, year-end financial statement, transaction breakdown, bank statement ending December 31, 2009, and a 2010 budget.

Treasurer’s Report:

• The year-end financial statement was reviewed. $2108.00 balance.
• Donations were lower last year than year previous due to anticipated funding for observer attendance at PSAC Convention. Observer became delegate so $600 funding returned.
• Motion: Kelly moved, Susan seconded THAT 2009 Treasurer’s Report be accepted as distributed. Carried
• Motion: Darrell-Lee moved, Susan seconded THAT 2010 Budget be accepted as distributed. Carried.

Old Business:

1) Andrée Coté Event: Andrée unable to attend meeting so event cancelled as previously notified via e-mails.

New Business:

1) International Women’s Day:

• Suggestions requested by Kelly regarding IWD activities and/or recognition. Unanimous agreement to use Gaby’s logo that was on the sticky notes last year, on a different product this year.
• Motion : Roberta Gourlie moved, Susan Yaciw seconded THAT up to $500 be budgeted for creation and purchase of promotional item endorsed with Gaby’s logo. Carried
• Action: Kelly will check into items such as safety carabineer or other item and send e-mail with options to vote on.

2) BC Regional Women’s Conference:

• Conference being held in June 2010.
• Kelly on organizing committee and Annette Hale volunteered to help when able, including participating in up-coming conference call.

3) Elections:

Elections were held for all positions with the following results:

• Chair – Kelly Megyesi acclaimed.
• Vice-Chair – Maria-Luiza Romano acclaimed.
• Secretary – Roberta Gourlie acclaimed (assistance later in year from others depending upon results of formation of South Okanagan Area Council
• Treasurer – Kelly Megyesi acclaimed.

Round Table:

• Kelly suggested the Okanagan establish a PSAC Human Rights Committee. Support from remaining members present to support and pursue this option.
• Action: Kelly will obtain further information on what’s involved in establishing a local committee and sent out via e-mail.

Next Meeting: TBA, Adjourned at 11:50 a.m. m/s/c

Prince George RWC Meeting

• Date:  Sat, Feb 13th, 2010
• Time: 10-11am
• Place:  Whitespot, 840 Victoria Street, Prince George

Agenda Highlights:

1. 2009 Financial Statement
2. Haiti Solidarity Campaign
3. 2010 June Regional Women’s Conference

DATE: February 9, 2010 (Tues)
TIME: 5:30 P.M.
LOCATION: PSAC Boardroom
210-1497 Admirals Rd
Victoria, BC

AGENDA: To be announced.

Please forward any agenda items to the Chair, Virginia Vaillancourt at: uvaevictoria@shaw.ca

Please R.S.V.P as various snack food will be provided – email Rosemary at mackenr@psac.com
Note: the building door is locked by 5:30, so please if you can, arrive a few minutes earlier. Thanks.

On December 6th BC Regional Council member Virginia Vaillancourt, along with the Victoria Regional Womens’ Committee and Canadian Autoworkers Union Local 114, coordinated a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women candlelight vigil at the Legislature in Victoria. Over 80 participants took time to reflect on the Montreal Massacre, heard from speakers, and collected a large amount of donations for local women’s shelters. Here are some photos, and a news report from the Victoria Times Columnist.

Twentieth anniversary of Montreal Massacre brings calls to save gun registry

Commemorations held in Greater Victoria and across the country

By Katie DeRosa , Times Colonist December 6, 2009

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

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This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, when a man named Marc Lépine killed 14 young women at the École Polytechnique. This extreme example of violence against women will forever be branded in our collective memory. It is marked yearly on December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

When this misogynist crime was committed, women and men across the country promised to turn their grief and their outrage into action. We lobbied and we marched, signed petitions and demanded that governments adopt effective measures to end all forms of violence against women. Yet, 20 years later, violence against women remains endemic: spousal assault, sexual assault, incest and sexual abuse, sexual harassment and racial harassment continue to plague women, especially the most vulnerable women in society.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It is with distinct pleasure that the Victoria Regional Women’s Committee of the Public Service Alliance of Canada BC in collaboration with members of Canadian Auto Workers cordially invite you to attend a memorial event on December 6th, 2009 to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the ongoing initiatives to end violence against women.

• Download a poster (pdf).

We will be holding a Candle Light vigil on the BC Legislature Grounds on December 6th, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 6 pm. We will be collecting on this occasion various personal items such as new socks, towels, toiletries, journals and small house hold appliances to donate to Women’s Organizations in Victoria. This is especially important to us at this time of Liberal budget constraints within the province. We request that everyone in attendance bring an item for donation to this very noble and necessary social initiative. We feel it our responsibility to support this.

We look forward to seeing you at this very important memorial. In Solidarity,

Virginia Vaillancourt – Chair, Victoria Regional Women’s Committee, PSAC
Sarah Dutsch – Canadian Auto Workers Rep, Local 114, Committee Chair

The next Vancouver RWC meeting will be at 5:30PM at the PSAC Vancouver RO – 200 – 5238 Joyce Street (1 1/2 blocks south of the skytrain).

Agenda Items:

• Update on Women’s Retreat – September
• Update on Women’s Forum – November
• Movie Marilyn Waring on Women and Economics (30 mins.)
• December 6th BC Fed Breakfast
• Financial update

Please RSVP to Colette Savarie at 604 430 5631.

Building a better future for Canada’s children: the need for public childcare

The verdict has long been in – a public system blending early childhood education and child care (ECEC) delivers high quality programs for children and families. What would that system look like? What can we do to push governments to act?

• A Great Place to Grow-Public Child Care
• Vancouver Public Library, Alice McKay Room
• November 24, 2009 – 7-9 pm

Come to a public event aimed at developing – and moving forward – a 21st-century vision for ECEC. Martha Friendly (Childcare Resource and Research Unit in Toronto) and Susan Prentice (University of Manitoba sociology professor), co-authors of the just-published About Canada: Childcare, will join local CUPE and community child care activists to share their views on building a better future for Canada’s children. A series of forums sponsored by CUPE.

On November 3rd and 4th the Federal Court –Appeals Division heard arguments regarding two appeals filed by the PSAC in response to the February 2008 Federal Court-Trial Division decision. This earlier court decision struck down the 2005 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision which found Canada Post had violated section 11 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The PSAC’ first appeal seeks to have the Tribunal’s findings restored on the basis the trial judge made several errors in concluding there was no violation of the Canadian Human Rights Act’s equal pay provisions and that there was no systemic discrimination within Canada Post. The CHRC also argued the Tribunal’s decision should be re-instated.

The PSAC’s second appeal challenged the amount of compensation ordered by the Tribunal in 2005. The Tribunal halved the amount of compensation it ordered based on its concerns over the reliability and accuracy of the job information involved in this case. The PSAC argued there was no evidence justifying this action as there was any evidence that any uncertainties in the job information over-estimated the wage gap.

The Federal Court-Appeal Division’s decisions are not expected until well into 2010.

South Vancouver Island RWC Annual General Meeting

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 5:30 pm

PSAC Victoria RO – Admirals Walk

In Attendance:

Kay Sinclair BC, REVP (chair), Alexandra Ripco UEW 20076, Virginia Vaillancourt UVAE 20030, Brenda Esplen UTE 20028, Cindy Little UTE 20028, Mandi Schubert (via phone) CEIU 20975, Dyan Day UNDE 21013, Leanne Hughes CIU 20042, Jeannette Lum UEW 20169, Colette Savarie – Regional Rep, Rosemary MacKenzie – Admin Assistant

Regrets: Maddalena Maher

Continue reading the minutes or download here the PDF of the South Vancouver Island Regional Women’s Committee AGM.

Call to Order: Kay called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.

Minutes of Previous meeting:

Minutes from the previous meeting (August 25, 2009) were accepted

Update from the BC Women’s Retreat:

There was an update from Virginia from the Women’s Retreat (see attached). Brenda, Cheryl and Colette provided some of the highlights for them from the Women’s Retreat.

As well there was comments regarding the Rally in Vancouver for the Coast Hotel employees. One member mentioned she enjoyed meeting women from all of the regions. Colette had only received positive comments. There is another Rally that is being held in Nanaimo at the Coast Bastion Inn on Friday October 16, 2009. All members welcome to come out and show their support.

Elections

Kay mentioned the various roles in a Regional Women’s Committee.   They consist of a chair, a co-chair, a treasurer and a secretary and then the members at large.

Virginia Vaillancourt volunteered to run as Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Mandi Schubert volunteered to run as Co-Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Brenda Esplen volunteered to run as Treasurer.    She was elected through acclamation.

Dyan Day volunteered to run as Secretary.    She was elected through acclamation.

Women’s Forum:

The PSAC National Women’s Program is holding consultations across the country on two important priorities of the PSAC – pay equity and child care. The Vancouver consultation will take place on Thursday, November 5th and Friday, November 6th at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Patty Ducharme, the National Executive Vice-President, and AndréeCôté, the Women’s Program Officer, will attend the forums designed for women activists in our Union.

An all day forum on pay equity will take place on November 5th followed by a reception with representatives from women’s groups and women activists from other unions. The pay equity forum will provide information sharing, capacity training, and a consultation on local and provincial strategies for our federal pay equity campaign. The half day session on child care on the morning of November 6th will include a discussion of child care issues from national and regional perspectives. The session will also include listening to members’ child care needs and experiences and their suggestions for a PSAC child care campaign.

The forum can accommodate about 25 participants which has been designed for the following women members/activists:

- the B.C. Regional Council Women’s Coordinator and Alternate;

- Regional Women’s Committee activists (one or two from each Committee); and

- other interested PSAC activists interested and involved in women’s issues.

PSAC members/activists who are young mothers are particularly encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in participating in the forum, please send your expression of interest to the PSAC B.C. REVP office by e-mail to Kay Sinclair at sinclak@psac.comor by fax at (604) 430-0194 by 5PM, Thursday, October 15, 2009, and please indicate the following:

- any involvement in a Regional Women’s Committee

- any involvement in women’s groups and/or issues in your community

- any involvement or support for women’s issues in your Local or Component etc.

- interest in further developing your feminist analysis

- commitment to working on a pay equity and/or child care campaign.

Again the deadline for expression of interest is noon, Thursday, October 15th.

December 6 Events:

The newly elected Chair, Virginia Vaillancourt, took over chairing the meeting at this point.   She asked for suggestions regarding the 20^th Anniversary of December 6^th.

- join Clipper Staff – hold a candlelight vigil on Parliament Legislature
- Dawn Black MLA in Vancouver – discussion on women’s issues
- talk to Victim Services about doing a presentation on their services and how they help women in the community
- Women’s Organizations; Transition houses – see what assistance they need ie., blankets, socks, collect toiletries for them; have them come and discuss how they help women who are in need
- Women’s Sexual Assault Centre
- Seniors/older women – issues in coping at home; in LTC facilities, etc
- CLC put together about 20 postcards re Dec 6th; these will be sent to the Women’s Committees and then Women sign them and send them to their MP’s, MLAs

Virginia has sent an email to Nick Humphreys who is a member of the Union of Environment Workers (UEW) Local 20169 and works for Natural Resources Canada at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria.  Nick is the UEW Regional Vice President for BC/Yukon and the chair of the BC Regional Political Action Committee.  Nick is also an executive member of the Victoria Labour Council. I have asked if he is able to check out for our committee what events the Victoria Labour Council are planning this year to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre.

Virginia has also sent an email to Sarah the contact at the Victoria Clipper to see if I can meet with her to discuss events and combining our efforts.

Next Meeting: Next meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at 5:30 pm

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Date: October 14, 2009

Time:    5:30 P.M.

Location: PSAC Boardroom, 210-1497 Admirals Rd., Victoria, BC

The agenda will include:

• Elections – Chair (s), Treasurer, Secretary
• Report from the Women’s Retreat

Please R.S.V.P as food will be provided. Email Rosemary at: mackenr@psac.com

Vancouver Regional Womens’ Committee Meeting

When: Thurs. September 3rd, 5:30PM
Where: PSAC Vancouver RO, 2nd floor – 5238 Joyce Street

AGENDA

1. Upcoming women’s’ retreat on September 11 & 12th
2. Budget 2010
3. Suggestions for guest speaker or topic for next meeting
4. Request for funding to PSAC National Health & Safety conference
5. Planning for December 6th events
6. Brief update on the Summer Institute for Union Women event
7. East meets West Fraser Valley Area Council event

Light snacks to be provided, please RSVP to Colette Savarie at (604) 430 5631 x 229 or savaric@psac.com