Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

On July 16 approximately 325 PSAC-UTE members from across the country gathered in Vancouver at the Union of Taxation Employees National Convention. UTE members debated the budget and resoutions, heard presentations from speakers - including John Gordon who spoke about the “Make Poverty History” campaign and the campaign to introduce a national drug card - and conducted elections. Betty Bannon was re-elected as UTE National President, Pamela Abbot was re-elected Regional Vice President - Pacific, and Robert Hume as Alternate RVP - Pacific.

• Visit ute-sei.org for more on the UTE National Convention.

On July 23rd, the 2008 Komagata Maru Reconciliation Dinner was held at the Bombay Palace in Surrey. PSAC BC, lead by Regional Council Racially Visible Coordinator, Sargy Chima, and other members of the racially  visible and human rights caucuses participated in this event, which marked the 100th anniversary of the Continuous Journey Act - a shameful part of Canada’s history which lead to the infamous Komagata Maru incident in Vancouver.

In May 1914, the Komagata Maru sailed into English Bay from Hong Kong with 376 passengers aboard - 340 Sikhs, 12 Hindus, and 24 Muslims. In 1908, the Canadian Government had passed the Continuous Journey Act, which stipulated that immigrants could only enter Canada directly from their country of birth and with $200 on their person. This was impossible for immigrants from India, as the Government had forced Canadian Pacific to stop its steamship service between Vancouver and Calcutta. After sitting in port for two months, the ship was forced to leave Vancouver Harbour as the Canadian Government adamantly refused passengers the right to land in Canada.

• Visit wikipedia.org for more about the Komagata Maru.
• Visit anniversaries07.ca for more about the anniversaries of change project.

Continue reading for some photos of both events …

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As labour activists we are often asked by our members to describe for them our bargaining demands at contract time. When we answer with the usual list of demands, such as “a raise” or “improved leave provisions,” our members are comforted that they will experience some improvements to their working conditions. However, when we mention the “Social Justice Fund” as a bargaining demand, the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) members question why the union needs to negotiate the creation of such a fund.

No doubt we’ve all heard talk of the “Social Justice Fund” from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). However, few members have a complete understanding of what this bargaining demand really means. In fact, many members quietly wish it would be dropped in favour of more “meat and potato” demands directly related to our workplace. But what is the “Social Justice Fund” and what role does the UTE play with respect to “Global Social Justice?”

Read more at the PSAC Social Justice Fund website.