Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

It’s been a busy month! Here few photos taken at recent events …

On November 5th, BC members Robert Strang and Tom Hopkins happened to be in Ottawa where they joined a large rally in support of striking PSAC members at the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum. Visit the national website for more information about the museum strike. Also supporting striking workers, members & staff in Vancouver joined with many others to protest Bill 21. Bill 21 imposes a contract on CUPE Paramedics – this marks the first time a government has forced public employees to accept a collective agreement while the union is still at the bargaining table. For more information, visit saveourparamedics.com.

On November 13th and 14th Executive members from 9 Locals around the Province along with several component National Officers gathered in Vancouver for the Local Executive Development Conference. They shared best practices and experience, discussed issues at their worksites, and made plans towards strengthening their Locals. They also heard from panelists Jacquie de Aguayo, Coordinator of Representation, on resolving workplace issues at the local level, Agriculture Union National President Bob Kingston on tips and strategies for making the best of regional joint committees, and REVP Kay Sinclair on how social unionism benefits us all. By all accounts the Conference was a great success and we hope to hold another in the future.

Last but not least the first Balikbayan Solidarity box was shipped from the Vancouver RO to the Philippines. Another will follow shortly.

Cheers to Garry Fraser, PSAC Regional Representative, for this report and some photos from the Surrey Fusion Festival!

The West Fraser Area Council and the BC Mainland Human Rights Committee joined together to and set up a Think Public! booth at the Fusion Festival on July 18th and 19th. Members from Passport Canada, Western Economic Diversification, Service Canada, Veteran Affairs, Canada Revenue Agency all joined together to get the PSAC Think Public! message out to the public. We also shared our tables with the Service Canada Centre for Youth who were assisting youth in their employment endeavours.

Hundreds of people dropped by the booth where we handed out�Think Public leaflets and bandannas and had a petition available in support of the PSAC summer student campaign.�We heard from the public of their strong support for public services and had an opportunity to enjoy the festival and participate in the community’s celebration of its diversity. We also sampled many international foods and heard excellent and diverse music from all four corners of the globe.

The Fusion Festival was a great venue to meet the public, we had a great time, and we look forward to next year! Here are some photos … (more…)

Cheers to Mandi Schubert (CEIU 20975) for forwarding these photos! PSAC and other Union members marched with “Pride in Labour” at the Victoria Pride Celebrations, Sunday July 5th.

For more about Pride in Victoria, visit victoriapridesociety.org and check out the Vancouver Sun news report.

Click for the photos …

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On November 19th in Fort Langley, Parks Canada employees were joined by Parks Negotiating Team member Kevin King and some high ranking provincial dignitaries at the celebration of the 150th year anniversary of the founding of BC. The celebration began with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Community Hall, followed by a parade to the National Historical site of Ft. Langley.� Canada Parks members should be very proud of the hard work they did to ensure the celebration of this historical event was enjoyed by over one thousand members of the lower mainland community.

On December 4th in Vancouver, PSAC members, along with ~2000 members of the public attended the Let’s Make Parliament Work Rally at Canada Place.

On December 5th striking UPCE members at Canada Post marked their third full week of job action. CUPW members gathered with them en masse�outside the Canada Post Plant in Vancouver where they presented the strikers with a $1500 donation to the strike fund. Members were hugely appreciative of this gesture and the Solidarity shown by their sisters and brothers�working at Canada Post. Click for more information about the strike at Canada Post.

Members of our newest group, DCL Local 20501, also took to the streets on December 5th, picketing outside Library Square after having been locked out by the Corps of Commissionaires.� The lockout came after 40 Commissionaires� wore blue jeans to work as a one-day protest against failure of their employer to negotiate a first contract that addressed their health and safety concerns.

And last but not least, members in Victoria attended a 3 day Advanced Stewards Training course.

Read on for some photos, click on the thumbnails for larger versions …

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On Tuesday, the strike made front page news in the Vancouver 24 Hours daily and Sharon Tieman, Local President, was quoted. Canada Post changed its strategy and picketers adapted theirs accordingly while morale remained high. On Wednesday morning at 8AM, PSAC members were joined en masse by approximately 300 Sisters and Brothers from CUPW, who “took a walk around the block”. Our members were hugely appreciative of this gesture and applauded them all the way. UPCE National President Richard DesLauriers is in Vancouver and also joined the picket line along with CUPW Local 864 President Robert Mulvin.

In Victoria, on Tuesday, really strong lines again received excellent support from the CUPW Executive who joined the picket. A unionized trades worker refused to cross the line to fix some issues inside the facility and told us he would return when the strike was over. There was support from a UVAE member as well. On Wednesday the weather remained cooperative while music and food was provided by the CUPW Local and enjoyed by one and all. As in Vancouver, large numbers of CUPW members walked the line in their show of support.

Read more some photos taken November 19 & video taken November 18 in Vancouver, click the thumbnails for a larger version …

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Over 80 members PSAC members, accompanied by music, set up picket lines early Monday morning at the Canada Post main depot in Vancouver to protest against the corporation�s efforts to impose a new short term disability system that was clearly rejected by almost 9 out of 10 of those employees.

In Victoria, members picketed at the mail processing plant on Glanford Avenue. Both picket lines recieved strong support from fellow CUPW Union members, spirits were high, and the weather was very cooperative. Visit the national website for a strike bulletin from coast to coast to coast.

Here are some photos from Vancouver (click on the thumbnails for a larger version) and a video from Victoria …

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With the summer drawing to an end PSAC members in BC were busy keeping bargaining front and centre while enjoying the weather … here are some photos & brief reports.

Throughout the summer members of CEIU Local 20961 are holding payday actions. They plan to continue until a collective agreement is reached.

On August 21, just before the Canada Post bargaining team returned to the table, members of UPCE Local 20101 working at the Main Post Office in Vancouver held a Day of Action barbecue – the day started out with cloudy skies but the blue sky and sun arrived at nooon. Members passed out “Stamp Out Deregulaton” leaflets to the public while members from CUPW, APOC and CUPE all showed their support.

On August 22 a small but spirited group of PSAC Young workers and their supporters came out to Trout Lake Park for some fun and barbeque.

Scroll down or click ‘continue reading’ for more, click on the thumbnails for a larger version, and click the photos to advance the slideshow.

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We have lots of photos this month! Many from May Day in Vancouver where a good contingent of the PSAC BC members and staff joined migrants, immigrants, undocumented, indigenous and Canadian workers for the May Day Organizing Committee’s annual International Workers’ Day march & rally on May 1st. This years’ theme was “Reclaim May 1st, International Workers’ Day! March for Workers Rights!”. Megan Adam, Alternate-REVP and First Vice-President for the PSAC Vancouver & District Area Council (VAC), spoke as a member organization of the May Day Organizing Committee at Grandview Park in Vancouver.

As well as some from the 2008 BC Regional Triennial Convention (a full convention report and all the photos are coming soon) and from the May Day celebrations in Terrace where Be Gomes, RC Geographic Coordinator for Northwestern BC, distributed “Think Public!” materials with the Kitimat-Terrace and District Labour Council.

Cheers to Jack Seto and the GSU 20008 Executive for sending in some We Support Our Bargaining team photos (the posters have been signed and sent to the TB Bargaining Team) and to Rosemary MacKenzie, James Little and Cindy Little (RC Coordinator for the South Island) who attended the April 28th Day of Mourning event in Victoria.

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PSAC members were among 1300 people in Victoria who rallied March 29th to encourage the government to ban the sale raw logs and save old growth forests.

Members in Victoria at the Government Street Service Canada office also wore black on payday in support of their bargaining teams.

Continuing with the Island theme, the Southern Vancouver Island Area Council met to discuss the resolutions and reports going forward to the Regional Convention.

And in Abbotsrford, The Fraser Valley Area Council held a pre-convention meeting on April 10. The meeting was attended by both convention delegates and non-delegates. The participants conducted a comprehensive review of the convention resolutions and discussed basic convention practices, strategies and procedures. The Fraser Valley Area Council also recognized the many years of service provided by the soon to be retired Chuck Leech of USGE Local 20054 – Matsqui Institution. Cheers Chuck!

Members across the Province wore black last week in support of their bargaining teams. Cheers to Mandi Schubert, CEIU 20975 (Government Street Service Canada office, Victoria) for sending in these photos!

The next day of action to wear black is on the 19th! Contact your Treasury Board Area Strike coordinator for more information.

Click the thumbnails for a larger view!

Here are a few photos of PSAC events & activities over the last month …

Members at the Service Canada office in Nelson supported their TB bargaining teams last week, click the thumbnails for a larger view. Cheers to Sheila Pearce, Treasury Board Area Strike Coordinator for the South Kootenays, for the photos. Visit this webpage to find out how to keep up to date with TB bargaining, or send a message to your TB strike coordinator.

Members of CEIU Local 20975 – the Victoria Service Canada office – held their AGM, and re-elected Mandi Schubert as the President. Congratulations Mandi, and thanks for the photos!

The PSAC Regional Staff conference took place last week in Victoria. The Director of the Regional Offices Branch, Penny Bertrand (in black) presented Dave Jackson and Janet Routledge with their long service pins – 20 and 30 years respectively!

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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September and October were busy months around the region … click the thumbnails for larger versions of the photos.

At the end of September women from across the province met at the BC Regional Women’s Conference. The conference theme was “Women and the Environment: Our Health, Our Families, Our Communities, Our Jobs”. Delegates learned more about what is happening to the environment, heard from members who work in the front line federal departments about how government cutbacks are undermining our ability to protect the environment and networked with other sisters in the union.

There are many more photos of the Women’s Conference in the photo gallery.

Cheers to Steve Stewart from UEW 20147 for organizing an outreach table with information about the Union to raise awareness amongst the membership. If you are doing similar events at your workplace, take some pictures and send them in!

Treasury Board Area Strike Coordinators and members in BC distributed “I support my Bargaining Team” stickers and “No treats – just treat us with respect” flyers throughout the province. (left to right: Virginia Vaillancourt (Victoria), Patricia LaMont & Christine Walker (Nanaimo), and Sam Wiese (A/REVP, in Burnaby). Read more here.

This Labour Day PSAC members took part in the “Public Services Are Cool” blitzes at the labour picnics at Confederation Park in Burnaby and Esquimalt Gorge Park in Victoria.

• Visit the photo gallery for lots of pictures.

We’re proud to report PSAC had excellent representation! In Victoria, PSAC staff and members of the Southern Vancouver Island Area Council set up a tent and spoke with the picnic-goers about the value of a strong public service as well as the save our fisheries campaign. Members from many components stopped by throughout the day and an excellent time was had by all.

In Burnaby, staff and members active with the Vancouver Area Council came out and helped with the table. They distributed PSAC materials and asked the public to sign letters to their MPs regarding the second phase of the federal building sell-off. National Vice-President Patty Ducharme was in town and visited the table for a while and REVP Kay Sinclair also joined in in the afternoon. Several PSAC members who were attending the picnic and weren’t aware of the table were there and very pleased to see PSAC out with the whole labour family.

Here are a few photos of PSAC staff and members taken over the last couple of weeks … click the thumbnails for a larger view.

Cheers to PSAC/CEIU local 20901 for organizing their members and other co-workers at Library Square to take part in a lunch time solidarity action for their neighbours, the CUPE Local 391 Library Workers who have been on strike for five weeks. PSAC/CEIU local 20901 also made a donation to the CUPE local, and CUPE members on the line expressed their sincere appreciation for the effort and support.

Click for more …

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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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James Little, reporting from CFB Comox … updated Feb 9: Thanks to Mark Miller (UNDE 21016) for some more photos.

PSAC members employed at IMP Group Limited set up information lines at the gates of CFB Comox in the early mornings of Feb. 6th and 7th. These members were informing their co-workers of the lack of progress five months of negotiations have achieved. The PSAC has recently asked the federal government to appoint a conciliation officer in an effort to speed up the bargaining process.

Each morning we set up the information lines at 06:30 hrs and the member participation was outstanding. The Commissionaires, the Military Police and members of the military with their loaded guns, greeted us each morning. Turns out the military was also conducting an identification search at the same time as our plant gate. This actually turned out to be a benefit for our members as the military was slowing traffic making it easier for us to distribute the over 400 flyers each day.

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On July 21, 2006 the PSAC-BC Youth Caucus held a very successful BBQ at Trout Lake Park in Vancouver.

Organized by Jamey Mills, Regional Council Youth Representative, and Amy Painter, 1st alternate to Jamey, the event was hot, fun and relaxing. Many young workers and supporters came to the BBQ, got to meet one another, and took part in a “union benefits” scavenger hunt with prizes donated by the PSAC-BC Regional Organizer.

Check out the photos from the BBQ and contact Jamey if you want to get involved!

Here are some photographs of PSAC staff and members taken over the last month. Do you have photos of a Union event or activity? Let us know … send them to Patrick Bragg!

The Nelson Service Canada Office (CEIU 20918) enjoyed a great looking cake during National Public Service Week.

Cindy Little and Christine Walker lobby MPs in Ottawa to support childcare issues while at the CLC National Women’s Conference

(left to right, click for a larger view) Cindy Little-Southern Vancouver Island Area Council President, Jean Crowder-MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan, and Christine Walker-NVP West for CEIU.

PSAC members and staff leaflet Idar’s jewelry store in Victoria, in support of striking PSAC members at the Ekati mine. The ‘Dirty Diamonds’ campaign came to a successful conclusion: workers at the mine are currently voting on their first collective agreement.

(left to right, click for a larger view) Cindy Little, Sara Cousins-UTE, James Little-PSAC staff, and Al Hadvick-PSAC staff, retired

The PSAC table at National Public Service Week focuses on connecting with the members by ensuring good communication.

(click for a larger view) Sam Wiese, Regional Council Coordinator for Metro Vancouver staffs the PSAC booth.