Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Delegates to the B.C. regional convention have re-elected Kay Sinclair as their Regional Executive Vice-President. Kay is particularly active in human, women’s and LGBT rights, as well as on issues involving health and safety and the environment. She has held the REVP position since May 2006 when she replaced now National Executive Vice-President Patty Ducharme, following elections at the PSAC triennial convention.

Megan Adam, a member of the current PSAC bargaining team for the Program and Administrative Services unit, was elected alternate REVP. Megan, a member of the Union of Environment Workers, is a Communications Advisor at Fisheries and Oceans Canada and community and anti-poverty activist.

Guest speakers PSAC National President John Gordon and Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour, were given standing ovations as delegates pledged to renew their commitment to political action federally and provincially in support of quality public services and in opposition to service cuts.

Delegates also acknowledged and thanked Regional Coordinator Janet Routledge for her hard work and commitment to the PSAC. She leaves to join the Federation of Labour later this summer.

The convention was held in Vancouver from April 18 to 20. We will have a full convention report, updated list of regional council members, and photos available on the regional website shortly.

It is a privilege to submit the report of the Regional Executive Vice-President to the delegates, observers, and guests of the 2008 BC Regional Triennial Convention and to the membership of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in BC.

While the REVP-BC is required by the BC Region By-Laws to submit this report to Convention, I do so on behalf of, and thanks to, all members and staff who contribute to PSAC BC. Whether it is as a member of the PSAC BC Regional Council, a Local or Branch Executive member, an activist on a regional committee, a Component national or regional officer, a strike captain, a steward, a rank-and-file member, or a PSAC regional staff member, you make a difference in our Region, and you make our Union strong.

This report highlights some of our main accomplishments over the past three years, and perhaps more specifically since I took office as REVP for B.C. in May 2006.

Download this document as a .pdf: Report of the REVP to the 2008 BC Regional Convention or continue reading below

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via BC Federation of Labour

Nov. 1, 2001. It was the last time B.C.’s minimum wage was increased.

With another year gone by without a raise for thousands of workers, it’s an anniversary that is symbolic of the growing economic divide in our province. It spotlights the policies of the Campbell government that prevent the benefits of a booming economy from being shared by all.

To make it worse, the Liberals gave themselves huge pay boosts, but say no to a higher minimum wage.

We can be proud that the labour movement is leading the way to win a $10 minimum wage that will benefit 250,000 low-paid workers and bring more economic fairness for British Columbians.

To mark the Nov. 1 anniversary, I’m urging union members like you to act immediately to help win more support for our $10 NOW campaign.

Please click on this link to sign our $10 NOW petition. Then forward it to family and friends who you know support our efforts. Ask them to sign up before Nov. 1.

If you’re one of the thousands of trade unionists who’ve already signed the petition, then send this link http://www.bcfed.ca/petition/minimum_wage to your family and friends and encourage them to sign.

On Oct. 31, we will be lobbying politicians in Victoria for a higher minimum wage. And we’ll be presenting to the Legislature copies of all the petitions that have been signed so far.

Thanks for your help. I’m confident that if we keep up the pressure, we’ll win on this important issue for working people.

Jim Sinclair
President

Ottawa – The federal government has sold nine government buildings for more than $600 million less than their actual value to Larco Investments Ltd., according to an analysis conducted by the economic research firm Informetrica Ltd.

Prior to the government announcing the sale, PSAC members leafleted Sinclair Centre while REVP Kay Sinclair held a joint press conference with President of the BC Federation of Labour, Jim Sinclair and Janet Sinclair, daughter of the buildings namesake - read more at globeandmail.com and canada.com.

Informetrica values the prime federal properties at almost $2.3 billion, yet Public Works and Government Services Canada announced today the sale of the buildings for only $1.64 billion.

“This is a give-away of colossal proportion. In addition to ceding ownership of nine premium properties, the federal government has, in effect, written a $630 million cheque signed by Canadian taxpayers,” said Patty Ducharme, National Executive Vice-President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada which commissioned the Informetrica report.

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Daughter of former federal cabinet minister James Sinclair joins public service union, BC Fed to urge federal government to drop sale of historic Sinclair Centre named after her father

Vancouver – Janet Sinclair, the daughter of former federal Liberal government cabinet minister James Sinclair, has joined the union for public service workers and the BC Federation of Labour in urging the Conservative government to drop plans to sell the historic Sinclair Centre that is named after her father.

• Send an email to your MP: Stop The Sale!

The federal government has requested bids for nine buildings across Canada, including the Sinclair Centre, located at 757 West Hastings Street, and is expected to announce its decision today to sell them and lease them back, says Kay Sinclair, Public Service Alliance of Canada BC Vice President.

“We are urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to not sell the Sinclair Centre or the other buildings and keep these public assets that benefits all taxpayers, Sinclair said. “Why would the government want to be a renter when it’s already an owner?”

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Cheers to Alistair Crawford, NAT 20088, for these photos of the Multi-Union Pride float taken at the parade last weekend. REVPs Kay Sinclair (BC) and Jeannie Baldwin (Atlantic) marched alongside dozens of other union members. Click the thumbnails for larger versions - there are more photos at the BC Federation of Labour website.

Sisters and Brothers:

In 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress, and its affiliated Unions, including the PSAC, established April 28th as the National Day of Mourning to honour workers killed or injured on the job.

At that time, according to the official figures listed by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), 744 workers were listed as having died from workplace injuries. In 2005, the last year that the AWCBC has released statistics for, 1,097 workers were killed on the job due to workplace injuries.

However, we know that these statistics are grossly underestimated and that the real number of deaths resulting from occupational illness and disease, and other workerplace factors are never included in these official statistics, as it is extremely difficult to prove that deaths that are caused by occupational disease, such as cancer, are caused by exposure to hazards in the workplace.

Since 1984, it is estimated that more than 19,000 workers have been killed on the job and more than 20,000,000 workers have been injured while at work.

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Kent Spencer, The Province, Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Canadians should brace themselves for long passport waits “for months” to come, says a spokeswoman for the workers who process passport applications.

“There is no end in sight,” Kay Sinclair, Vancouver-based vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, said yesterday.

“I’m told the situation could last for months. Employees could be asked to work all summer to keep up with demand.”

A backlog of applications has developed since the U.S. required all passengers arriving in the U.S. by air to carry passports starting Jan. 23.

About 2,000 PSAC members have been working overtime on weeknights and weekends to process applications, said Sinclair. Printers are running 24 hours a day.

“The job is really stressful,” she said. “Sometimes the public have taken out their frustrations. There’s pressure in terms of [not] taking breaks and holidays.”

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To: PSAC members in BC

As you may know, Bill 257 (Anti-scab legislation) was defeated on March 21 during the 3rd reading in the House of Commons 177 votes to 122 votes. Despite this, we have a lot to be proud of. The CLC coordinated a well organized campaign of which the PSAC played a key role both in BC and in Ottawa. And we couldn’t have done so without your participation.

Many of you took the time to write, phone, fax and email your MP to build support for the bill. In particular, our Area Councils sent letters to each MP in their region identifying the number of PSAC members in their riding affected by the bill.

I want to thank all of you: your hard work and positive response to our repeated requests for support are much appreciated. While I’m disappointed that more MPs did not support working people on this issue (and we will remember them at election time, scroll down to see how they all voted) I truly believe that our union is stronger from this experience.

Thanks again. In Solidarity, Kay Sinclair, REVP BC

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Burnaby, B.C. – Over fifty concerned Canadians vowed to take immediate action to condemn the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights and democracy in the Philippines last night at a local community forum, “Building People to People Solidarity.”

Here are some more photos.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the B.C. Region for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of the evening’s co-sponsors, cited the growing concern of trade unionists over the worsening political repression in the Philippines.

The Philippines is considered the second most dangerous country for trade unionists (second to Colombia). Since 2001, 83 workers, trade unionists, leaders and advocates have been killed. They are part of the documented 855 extra-judicial killings since 2001.

• Send an email to the Canadian & Philippine governments, demand justice and human rights now!

“We encourage our members to write letters to the Philippine President to protest the government’s recent arrest of Bayan Muna (People First) Congressman Satur Ocampo - a progressive opposition party parliamentarian.”

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Are you active in advancing public health care or medicare issues? The PSAC  B.C. Region would like to sponsor a member active in these areas to attend the following conference:

• S.O.S Medicare 2: Looking Forward
• May 3-4, 2007 in Regina at the Queensbury Convention Centre

This is a two day national conference sponsored in part by the Canadian Health Coalition and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The conference is open to the general public and will have representation from a wide spectrum of sectors including community, health care, labour, and anti-poverty.

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Yellowknife – Supporters of striking Ekati diamond mine workers will be leafleting customers at Brinkhaus Jewellers store in Vancouver and Idar Jewellers in Victoria this Saturday as part of their union’s Canada-wide “Dirty Diamonds” campaign to win a fair first contract.

Brinkhaus Jewellers and Idar Jewellers are two of several dozen BHP Billiton-authorized Canadian jewelers selling AuriasTM and CanadaMarkTM diamonds from Ekati. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says customers will be politely asked to not buy diamonds being produced by strikebreakers behind picket lines in its efforts to pressure mine owner BHP Billiton to reach a first collective agreement.

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TO: Voting Delegates from the BC Region to the 2005 BC Region Convention – Still in Good Standing.

FROM: Nycole Turmel

RE: Alternate REVP BC

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The ballots in the elections to the above-noted position have been counted and Kay Sinclair received a majority.

Therefore, I declare Sister Kay Sinclair the new Alternate Regional Executive Vice-President for the BC Region.

Congratulations Kay!

In Solidarity, Nycole Turmel, National President