Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

As the PSAC celebrates Black History Month, it recognizes and honours the contributions of its Black members and members of African heritage. The actions and dedication of these members have helped advance the PSAC and put us in the forefront in the struggle for human rights and equality. Their strength, courage and vibrancy are exemplified in the success of the union in negotiations, membership representation, political advocacy and the various committees, including the Equal Opportunities and Human Rights Committees.

This year, we commemorate the contributions of an astounding labour and human rights advocate who was one of the founding members of the PSAC: James Calbert Best. The son of a human rights activist and a railway porter, his career in the federal public sector began in the Department of Labour in 1949, where he co-founded the Civil Service Association of Canada, one of the organizations that merged in 1966 to form the PSAC.

• More at the Ottawa Citizen: Man of stature remembered as ‘ideal public servant’

Cal was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and as a young man founded, with his mother, the first African-Canadian owned newspaper in that town, The Clarion. The paper covered local news and sports, but more importantly, delved into the deeper racial issues facing black people in Nova Scotia and across North America. It featured the case of Viola Desmond, who has been referred to as a Canadian Rosa Parks. In 1946, she was arrested and fined for sitting in the “whites only” section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow and refused to move when authorities tried to force her to.

After achieving degrees in political science and public administration, he embarked on a 49-year career in the federal public sector, including a term as Canadian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago.

Even in retirement, his considerable contribution continued. In 1999, he served as a member of the Treasury Board President’s Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service.

Cal Best died in the summer of 2007 at the age of 81.

In honour of Cal Best, the PSAC reaffirms its commitment to combating racism in the workplace and extends this invitation to every PSAC member to contribute to the forging of solidarity between all sisters and brothers.

The PSAC is encouraging its members to commemorate Black History Month by organizing or participating in an event that raises awareness about this month, particularly the contributions of Black workers in the Canadian labour movement. Notify the PSAC’s Programs Section of any activities you hold by calling (613) 560-4387 or by e-mail at lambas@psac.com.

Every year Canadians are invited to take part in the festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present, during Black History Month.

This is a time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we know today. It is also an opportunity for the majority of Canadians to learn about the experiences of Black Canadians in our society, and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history.

• Read more at the Canadian Heritage website and the PSAC national website.

Celebrate Black History Month with the PSAC! Dinner & Film Screening of The Road Taken - A Portrait of Black Sleeping-Car Porters

• February 13, 2007
• dinner @ 5:30 PM | film @ 6 PM
• PSAC Vancouver RO, 200-5238 Joyce Street

Film: The Road Taken - A nostalgic ride through history, this film documents the experiences of black workers who worked as sleeping-car porters on Canada’s major railways from the early 1900s through the 1960s. The film will be introduced by Irma Mohammed, BC Fed Director of Education & Black Labour Activist

• Read more about the Brotherhood of Sleeping-car Porters at wikipedia.

I think the story of the porters is a story of the pain and the beauty of survival. – Clifton Ruggles (teacher and artist whose father was a sleeping-car porter)

All members are invited to this forum. Please RSVP by February 7th to Amal Rana, 604.430.5631 or ranaa@psac.com, as a catered dinner will be served.

Black porters and the labour movement

Black workers were a pool of cheap and docile labour… or so the Canadian railway companies thought.

At the end of the 19th century, the introduction of sleeping car services on transcontinental trains increased demand for railroad travel, which meant record profits for railway companies. Due to a labour shortage and the fact white workers were unionizing, the companies aggressively recruited African-Canadians, as well as Blacks from the U.S. and the Caribbean.

At a time when racial discrimination barred black workers from most jobs, the railway became one of few places where African-Canadians could find steady work, especially as sleeping car porters. But it meant for low pay and oppressive working conditions. Black porters were often forced to work 24 hours with no overtime pay, and the average monthly pay was $80 a month. There were no vacations, and management acted arbitrarily and fired porters indiscriminately.

Read more about how the porters improved their pay and working conditions at the national website.

BC Human Rights Committee member Katie Kassam has also sent us some links relating to Black History month, click for:

• Black History Month: a Historical Timeline
• In the 400 years that we have lived in Canada, Blacks have been part of many important milestones in Canada’s history and culture. Here is a list of some of these highlights
• Time Line of African American History, 1852-1880

Black History Month: Labour history must include contributions of Black labour activists

Black History Month is celebrated in Canada to recognize the contributions of Black peoples to the growth and development of this country and their importance to its history.

The contributions of African Canadians are still far from being integrated into the mainstream of Canadian history. However, many now know of Mathieu Da Costa, a man of African heritage who arrived into this land in 1604 with French explorer Samuel de Champlain and who served as an interpreter between the Europeans and the Mik’ maq people. Many also know about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railway, a network of safehouses and individuals that helped Black people escape slavery in the United States.

Read more of the PSAC’s statement on Black History month at the national website.