Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

PSAC Southern Vancouver Island District Area Council meeting minutes – April 9th, 2008, PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Present:

• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030
• John Rumsby – UTE 20028
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Scott Parker – UTE 20028
• Jim Sidel – DCL 20500
• Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013
• Ian Wiggs – UNDE 21008
• Ches Bennett - DCL 20500
• Alexandra Ripco – UEW 20076
• Graeme Goodmanson – UEW 20169
• Brenda Esplen – UTE 20028
• Sylvaine Boudreault – AGR 20064
• Jack Gale – GSU 20001
• Mandi Schubert – CEIU 20975
• Deborah Gruben – National 20140
• Sharon Hazelwood – National 20140
• Fabian DeGuire– UNDE 21008
• Hettie Wheeler – USGE 20012
• Peter Neelands – NRU 20088
• David Ramalho – UNDE 21011
• James Little – H & S Rep
• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep
• Susan Jardine - JLP Field Coordinator
• Julie Balantes - JLP Field Coordinator

Continue reading below, or download the SVIDAC meeting minutes - April 9th (pdf)

Sister Cindy Little, President

Virginia Vaillancourt, Recording Secretary

Halifax- On Valentine’s Day, PSAC members working at IMP Group Limited poured their chocolate coated hearts out in an attempt to soften management’s stone cold heart.

In front of the company’s headquarters in Halifax, the workers distributed heart shaped chocolates to managers and other employees as they entered the building. The workers hoped their gesture will be seen as an expression of their heartfelt desire to reach a negotiated settlement with IMP Group Limited.

“We are hoping the company will realize the benefits of open and positive negotiations with the employees’ union,” said Greg Isberg, president of PSAC Union Local 21018 in Comox, British Columbia. Isberg is also a member of the PSAC negotiating team at IMP Group Limited. “We want to maintain peaceful and harmonious relationships with the company, but management seems intended in creating a confrontation,” he added.

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Negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Corps of Commissionaires (Corps) for a third collective agreement get underway Monday February 12^th in Victoria. The parties have agreed to meet February 12-15, 2007 and if required they have also set aside March 20-22, 2007.

Dave Jackson, PSAC Regional Representative, will be the spokesperson for the union with Dave Eden handling that role for the employer. There are approximately 275 Commissionaires in the PSAC bargaining unit who perform services on behalf of the Corps. They are employed at various worksites in Victoria and on Vancouver Island as well as in the Yukon.

The services of a third party were required in order to achieve a negotiated settlement during the last round of bargaining.

The preliminary education schedule for spring 2007 has been posted on the education page. We have scheduled courses for Vancouver & the Island. The schedules for the Fraser Valley, North and Okanagan will be posted soon.

Via Nick Humphreys, Political Action Committee

Amnesty International Announces 5th Annual Human Rights Film Festival: University of Victoria to host this very special 3 day event from November 17-19

Victoria, BC: In spite of the increasing influence of human rights organizations around the world, and the improved flow of information to and among concerned citizens, tragic abuses continue to occur with alarming frequency. Amnesty International is committed to shining a light on these events through these sometimes stark, but always honest, films capturing the reality we face.

• November 17,18,19
• Location: University of Victoria David Lam Auditorium (MacLaurin Building)
• Tickets: All screenings by donation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
• more information: www.amnestyfilmsvictoria.ca

Now in its fifth year in Victoria, the event has seen a remarkable increase in attendance and is now the second largest Amnesty Film Festival in the nation. It is a showcase for talented filmmakers who work against long odds, short finances and threatening politics to bring to the screen powerful stories of human struggle, sacrifice and triumph. This year, the festival is honoured to present eight exceptional and timely new films of global importance, with guest speakers introducing and discussing content and implications.

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PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL MINUTES Aug 15, 2006 - Special Bylaws Meeting, PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Present:

• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Wayne Little – UTE 20028
• Sara Cousins- UTE 20028
• Todd Genereux – UNDE 21011
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Rosemary MacKenzie RO/Admin.

Regrets:

• Renée Young – UCTE 20220
• Pat Maxwell – UNDE 21008
• Jack Gale – GSU 20001
• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep

Sister Cindy Little, President & Sister Renée Young, Secretary

This is to inform you that the members of COPE 15 working at Island Savings Credit Union in Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay and Duncan commenced strike action on Saturday July 15th. If you are in the area between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00 pm please drop by and give them your support.

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Thanks to Nick Humphreys, BC Regional Council member, for forwarding us an update on two of the projects in BC funded by the Social Justice Fund.

The Victoria Street Newz has just published their 13^th issue: July 2006 (available soon on their website), which contains an excellent article about the PSAC’s support of Native land claims. Their mission is to provide a voice and income opportunities for economically marginalized and/or socially disadvantaged people in the greater Victoria area while at the same time offering employable skills training, increased self-esteem, confidence, and pride in accomplishments. Click to visit their website.

Also in Victoria, Liveable Income For Everyone is continuing their Community Education to Make Poverty History project which aims to increase poverty education and to create social solidarity in order to “Make Poverty History” with a universal Guaranteed Livable Income. They also are planning to make a presentation to an upcoming Area Council meeting. Click for a project update.

Here is the upcoming education and meeting schedule for June …

For the full schedules, visit the education page or the calendar pages. Apply online for these courses.

March 22, 2006 - CVIAC meeting

Present

• Gail Jewsbury Vice President - UEW
• Gordon Miller – treasurer - UEW
• Darlene Stevens – secretary – CEIU
• Kathy Spencer – delegate - CEIU
• Dave Jackson – staff - PSAC RUO
• Mandi Schubert – guest - NHWU
• John Kraeker -UNDE
• Lise Edwards – delegate -NAT– via conference call

Download the minutes (pdf), or read more below

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Funding anti-poverty initiatives in Canada is one of five priority areas for the PSAC’s Social Justice Fund. As part of this the SJF funds initiatives that support a closer collaboration between union members and low income groups in the community, particularly activities that are part of anti-poverty coalitions at the community level.

One of the projects the SJF has funded in BC is the Bread & Roses Collective, a registered not-for-profit society created to support the Victoria Street Newz community newspaper and other projects. The Victoria Street Newz mission is to provide a voice and income opportunities for economically marginalized and/or socially disadvantaged people, while at the same time offering employable skills training, increased self-esteem, confidence, and pride in accomplishments.

Street Newz vendors live on a low income and sign a code of conduct agreeing to be friendly and sober while at work. They pay $.50 for each paper, and sell them by donation at various locations in Victoria’s Downtown, Esquimalt and Saanich. They’re essentially self employed, working as much or as little as they’d like, and free to spend the money they earn as they please. Click for profiles of some of the vendors. Here are the Street Newz issues to date.

Visit the Street Newz website for more information and to read the Street Newz back issues.

PSAC Southern Vancouver Island Area Council meeting minutes, March 21, 2006 - Regular General Meeting, PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Graeme Goodmanson UEW 20169
• Mandi Schubert NH&WU 20017
• Peter Neelands NRU 20088
• Jack Gale GSU 20001
• Cindy Little UTE 20028
• Gil Hodges UNDE 21013
• Wayne Little UTE 20028
• Louise Richard NAT 20088
• Beverley Johnson NH&WU 20017
• Heather Brooker National Component
• Todd Genereux UNDE 21011

• Rosemary Mackenzie RO/Admin.
• Dave Jackson Regional Rep

Download the March 21st SVI Area Council meeting minutes (pdf), or read below.

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PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL MINUTES

January 10, 2006,Regular General Meeting, PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Mandi Schubert NHWU 20017
• Renee Young UCTE 20220
• Cindy Little UTE 20028
• Pat Maxwell UNDE 21008
• Nick Humphreys UEW 20169
• Sara Cousins UTE 20028

Download the SVI Area Council minutes or read below

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The 2006 Education Schedule for the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island has been finalized. Courses for the North and Interior of BC will be posted soon.

Visit the Education page for details or head straight to the course sign up page