Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC members marched with Pride in Vancouver on Sunday August 1st.  This year, the Multi-Union Pride entry, which won the prize for “Captivating Community Cluster”, took inspiration from Vancouver Pride’s “educate, liberate and celebrate” theme. MUP educated last year, liberated this year, and next year they’ll celebrate!

PSAC BC also hosted a Think Public booth at the Pride Festival at Sunset Beach. PSAC members and the public stopped by to play “Spot The Public Service” and learn about the work PSAC members do. We also gathered over 300 signatures on our long form census petition.

Read more for some photos …

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Photo day at psacbc.com! Thanks to Amal Rana and Aly Kanani (President, CEIU 20901) for this report and photos from the Union Pride Celebration at Library Square in downtown Vancouver.

On Thursday, July 29th, CEIU Local 20901 held their 1st annual Union Pride Celebration at Library Square. Everyone was invited to celebrate the LGBT community. The event was also a celebration of culture and diversity. A number of people came out to mingle, enjoy wonderful food and conversation, fabulous decorations and great music. Congratulations to the local executive for such a successful event! We look forward to next year!

Cheers to Garry Fraser and Jennifer Ho (NAT 20088) for these photos and report from the PSAC Think Public booth at Surrey Fusion Festival, July 17 and 18!

PSAC BC set up a Think Public Booth at the Surrey Fusion Festival on July 17th and 18th. Many members volunteered to help promote Public Services and encourage the public to sign a petit…ion to the House of Commons urging them to reverse the decision to eliminate the mandatory long form Canada Census questionnaire.

The event was a celebration of community diversity in the second largest city in BC, Surrey. We had many good discussions with the public on why Public Services are critical for Canada. Many people played our game of spot the Public Service and were given a Think Public prize.

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June was a busy month around the province! Here are some photos and a video of some of the activities PSAC members participated in.

Under the theme “Step In to Something That Moves You” PSAC women activists, old and new, joined together at the 2010 BC Regional Women’s Conference in Vancouver. They heard from guest speakers and held discussions and workshops on a variety of topics including childcare, women and pensions, pay equity, work-life balance, violence against women, lobbying and political action/campaign work, and debated resolutions to be sent to the PSAC National Women’s Conference. Huge thanks to Virginia Vaillancourt for putting together a most excellent video!

In Victoria, PSAC staff and members from the South Island marched in the 2010 Pride Parade under the theme “Gay Rights are Human Rights” and hosted a booth at the festival held at MacDonald Park.

• Read the PSAC Pride Statement at the national website.

In Cumberland, a delegation of PSAC members from the Campbell River and District Area Council attended the Miners Memorial Day Weekend, where they laid a wreath to commemorate the miners who worked and lost their lives in the mines of Cumberland and other workplaces throughout BC.

Meanwhile, back on the mainland, PSAC BC hosted a Think Public! booth at the Surrey Canada Day festivities. Staff and members met with the fair goers and spoke with them about the value of strong, quality, public services and public pensions.

“Read more” for the photos and video …

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The UN General Assembly has designated June 23rd – World Public Services Day – to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community and to encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector.

National President John Gordon, NVP Patty Ducharme, REVP BC Kay Sinclair, REVP North Jean-François Des Lauriers, REVP Atlantic Jeannie Baldwin, CEIU National President Jeanette Meunier-McKay, and UTE National President Betty Bannon are in Vancouver attending the International Trade Union Confederation World Congress. They joined many other PSAC members and elected officers at a rally commemorating World Public Services Day where they heard messages of Solidarity from labour leaders from around the world and rallied for strong public services. Formed in 2006, ITUC represents 175 million workers through its 311 affiliated organizations within 155 countries and territories. Here are a few photos …


The voices of Public Services International members are being raised from the streets of Europe to international trade union and government meetings in Canada this month.

The message is loud and clear: workers and their trade unions reject public spending cuts that reduce the wages, pensions and social programmes that families and communities rely on. Working people must not be made to pay any further to bail out banks and speculators.

Public Service International general secretary Peter Waldorff says, “Budget deficits and debts must not be used as an excuse to cut public services. This simply opens the way to privatizing desperately-needed public programmes, and will only further benefit financial profiteers at the expense of working people.”

Read more at world-psi.org



Here are a few photos from recent PSAC BC events …

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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.