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

PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES – January 29th, 2008, PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members 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
• Peter Neelands – NRU 20088
• Ches Bennett - DCL 20500
• Wayne Little – UTE 20028
• Eric Nygaard – USGE 20018

PSAC Victoria RO Staff Present:

• James Little – H & S Rep
• Rosemary MacKenzie – Admin Assistant

Regrets:

• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep
• Mandi Schubert – CEIU 20975
• Dave Ramalho – UNDE 21011

Download the Southern Vancouver Island Area Council minutes - January 29th 2008 (pdf) or continue reading below.

1. Call to order

• Chairperson Sister Little called the meeting to order at 5:35pm

2. Introductions

• Roundtable introductions of members present

3. Proposed Agenda

• Amendments to the Agenda
• Change in order of business
• Addition of:
  • Defending Quality Public Service – OurFish.ca campaign
  • H & S Forum on Website
  • Resignation from Executive
• m/s/c J Rumsby/W Little

4. Adoption of Minutes from Nov 20, 2007

• m/s/c W Little/ J Sidel

5. Resolutions for Convention:

• February 15, 2008 is the deadline for Resolution submissions to the BC Regional Convention. Resolution being submitted by N Humphreys who will send it out to affiliated locals to get a yes or no on the resolution.
• Resolution: Where PSAC encourages all locals to affiliate with the labour councils across the country. (There are 135 labour councils)
• That PSAC reimburse 50% to locals who affiliate to labour councils.

6. Update on the Victoria Labour Council

• There are pamphlets available which describe what Labour Councils do. The VLC went through a reconstruction last year. New By-laws were written and passed in November. 15 people were elected to the executive.
• There were 90 voting delegates at their last meeting. BCGEU has rejoined the VLC. There is $600.00 available to assist a local with affiliation to the VLC.
• The cost is $4.00/member/year to affiliate. The year begins the day you affiliate.
• Next meeting for VLC is February 20, 2008 at the Cedar Hill Golf Club at 7pm. Members who are not affiliated yet can attend as observers. Arrive at 6:30pm to sign in.
• VLC meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month.

7. Bargaining Update

• TB groups are back in bargaining at the end of January beginning of February.
• Ships crew are back in bargaining the week of Feb 18th.
• Table 3 is awaiting Pay Study.

8. Education 2008

• PSAC Education Schedule is out.
• Follow ups for previous members who have signed up for courses but were unable to attend is being done by Rosemary.
• C Little attended a Fraser Valley Area Council Executive meeting. If members have any thoughts/ ideas on other education courses ie., Political Activitsts; Please advise the Area Council

9. Logo Contest

• Reminder to members to make submissions to our “Create a Logo” Contest.
• Deadline for submissions is February 29, 2008. The winner will receive a bomber style jacket with either the new SVIDAC or the PSAC BC logos.
• You can enter electronically to jacksod@psac.com or by mail Att: SVIDAC Logo Contest, 210 – 1497 Admirals Road, Victoria, BC V9A 2P8.
• Please contact PSAC at 953-1050 if you would like a copy of the guidelines emailed to you.

10. Requests for affiliation to VLC

• SVIDAC has $600.00 to assist locals with affiliation to the VLC if locals are affiliated with the SVIDAC.
• SVIDAC wants a commitment by locals who chose to be affiliate to the VLC

11. Defending Quality Public Service – www.OurFish.ca

• New campaign has been started www.OurFish.ca or www.nospoissons.ca
• Sustainable funding=sustainable fisheries=sustainable communities
• Campaign is about resources not jobs.
• 90% of fish stocks around the work are under threat. There is an information folder available and when Nick receives these he will email AC to see who would like a folder.
• Request that members review the folder and postcards and discuss the campaign with your fellow members. Sign and send in the postcards to Ottawa, no postage required. Atlantic Canada has bought into the campaign.
• Nick will be talking to Jim Sinclair (CLC President), to sports fisherman and to the VLC. Folders have been sent to MP’s, MLA’s across Canada including senators across the country.
• Discuss the campaign at your AGM’s/GM, Nick can attend the meetings to talk about the campaign.
• Component Presidents will be receiving a presentation at next weeks Board meeting.
• Some Native Bands have bought into the campaign.
• PSAC assisted with the funding for the campaign but the majority of funding came from UEW Component.

12. OH & S Forum on Website

• BRUSH now has an interactive website to discuss H & S concerns. Visit www.psacbc.com . Click on Health & Safety link on the right hand side. Then click on the orange guy with megaphone. You will need to create a user id and password.
• In order to add comments you must be logged in but you can still view all of the info. Samples of current forums are: * MSRA * Ergonomics * Disability Insurance. You can add links, pictures etc in to the forum.
• There was a discussion regarding housing the locals H & S minutes on the website. Not all locals submit their minutes to PSAC.
• There was an email notification sent out to advise members of the website. James Little advised that he will be meeting with the National H & S Reps and will be seeking broad distribution of the website Nationally. You can also go to: www.psacbc.com/hs-forum/

13. Resignation from Executive Member

• The SVIDAC Executive received a resignation notice from the Vice- President Todd Genereux.

14. Election of delegate to BC PSAC Regional Convention

• There is no loss of salary covered by PSAC for Friday April 18th.
• Motion to have SVIDAC cover loss of salary for the delegate who attends the BC Regional Convention including the registration fee of $50.00.
• m/s/c N Humphreys/ J Sidel

• Elections conducted by Brother James Little and votes counted by Sister Rosemary MacKenzie and Brother James Little.

• Delegate

• John Rumsby Nominated by W Little, Seconded by S Parker
• Virginia Vaillancourt Nominated by J Sidel, Seconded by E. Nygaard
• Ken Waldron Nominated by N. Humphreys, Seconded by C Bennett

• There were 2 votes held.

• Ken Waldron will be the AC Delegate
• John Rumsby will be the Alternate Delegate

• Motion to destroy ballots.
• m/s/c J Sidel/K Waldron

15. Adjournment

• Motion to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:10pm
• m/s/c W Little/J Sidel

Sister Cindy Little, President and Virginia Vaillancourt, Recording Secretary

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.

Hi - thanks so much for supporting the street newz.  We’ve spent the $1500 you so generously provided, and we’re sending a report to let you know what we did with it. We appreciate your help very much …

The Victoria Street Newz is one of the projects the PSAC Social Justice Fund is supporting: here is a letter they recently sent to the SJF.

Thank you for your generous donation of $1,500 tax dollars to help cover production costs for the Victoria Street Newz.

With each issue, from February 2006 to June 2007, the PSAC logo and/or advertisement was displayed prominently in the newspaper and on the relativenewz.ca website.

The Victoria Street Newz is now entering its fourth year. We’re very grateful to all the organizations and individuals who have supported us thus far. Because of your generosity we are able to maintain our integrity. Rather than surrendering valuable print space to excessive advertising, or increasing the cost to vendors and readers, the Victoria Street Newz is able to ensure a comprehensive collection of community writings is available at a reasonable price. With help from the community we serve, we will continue to sustain our local environment by reflecting, showcasing, informing, and educating.

(more…)

PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL MINUTES – May 22, 2007

General Meeting

PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169 Wayne Little – UTE 20028

John Rumsby- UTE 20028 Todd Genereux – UNDE 21011

Cindy Little – UTE 20028 Sharon Hazelwood – NAT 20140

Marie Newton – USGE 70093 Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013

Louise Richard – NAT 20088 Jim Sidel – DCL 20500

Ches Bennett – DCL 20500 Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030

Anita Hoffman – NHWU 20017 Randy Sanderson – UCTE 20220
Dave Jackson/Rosemary MacKenzie PSAC Victoria RO

Continue reading below, or download the Southern Vancouver Island AC minutes, May 22 2007 (pdf)

|inline

Here are some photos taken at recent PSAC events in Vancouver and Victoria … click the thumbnails for larger versions.

On April 4^th PSAC, affiliated Union, and Victoria Labour Council members attended an event coordinated by the BC Fed to bring attention to Dr. Keith Martin’s (MP for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca) voting record on Bill C-257. Dr. Martin had originally voted in favor of the Bill only to amend his position at final reading. Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Federation of Labour, Jennifer Burgis, NDP Candidate for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca and Kay Sinclair all spoke of the need for Anti-Scab Legislation and how disappointing it was that Dr. Martin amended his position at the last minute.

Dr. Martin also addressed the crowd of angry constituents with a excuse that Essential Services designation somehow played an important role in his change of position. This was really frustrating for the unionized workers present as it has been made abundantly clear that essential services designations would not be affected by this anti-scab legislation.

Over 140 delegates, guests and observers attended the PSAC’s 2nd Pride Conference which was held in Vancouver on March 30-April 1, 2007, and chaired by Kay Sinclair and Ed Cashman, REVP for Ontario. Participants attended workshops and regional caucuses, debated resoultions, and elected two LGTB members to the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee. At left, members of the BC caucus. Visit the national website for a report and some more photos.

Members from the Nanaimo area took a Grievance Handling and Understanding / Interpreting the Collective Agreement course, March 31 - April 1. The GH/UICA course, which was facilitated by PSAC Regional Rep. Dave Jackson, gives members the skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems in the workplace and explores key provisions in our various Collective Agreements.

PSAC SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND DISTRICT AREA COUNCIL - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES September 19, 2006 -PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Peter Neelands – NRU 20088
• John Rumsby – UTE 20028
• Todd Genereux – UNDE 21011
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Graeme Goodmanson – UEW 20169
• Louise Richard – NAT 20088
• Renée Young – UCTE 20220
• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep

Download the Southern Vancouver Island & District Area Council AGM minutes, Sept 19 2006 (pdf) or continue reading below.

|inline

Via South Vancouver Island Area Council

Help ensure sustainable, local jobs and sustainability in BC’s forests!

• Saturday September 16, 2006, Victoria BC
• 11:30AM
• Meet at Centennial Square by City Hall (Pandora and Broad St.), then march down Government Street to Legislative Buildings
• 12 noon - 1:30PM
• Rally at Legislative Buildings with PPWC, Steelworkers, B.C. Federation of Labour, Save Our Valley Alliance, Youbou Timberless Society, WCWC, Sierra Club, NDP, Green Party

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

Please note, due to an out of region work assignment and annual leave the PSAC Victoria Regional Office will be closed from Tuesday August 8th to Friday August 11th inclusive.

If you have an emergency during that time period please contact the PSAC Vancouver Regional Office at 1-800-663-1655.

In Solidarity, Dave Jackson & Rosemary MacKenzie

PSAC Southern Vancouver Island District Council Minutes, June 20, 2006: Regular General Meeting

PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Peter Neelands – NRU
• Louise Richard – NAT 20088
• Graham Goodmanson – UEW 20169
• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Sara Cousins- UTE 20028
• Todd Genereux – UNDE 21011
• Pat Maxwell – UNDE 21008
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Rosemary MacKenzie RO/Admin.
• Janelle Ho-Shing, Organizer

Continue reading below, or download the Southern Vancouver and District Area Council minutes, June 20 2006 (pdf).

|inline

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.

|inline

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.

Here are some recent additions and changes to the PSAC education schedule:

Visit the education page to see all the courses scheduled to date. Register for these courses online.

(Vancouver) A major study released today finds that BC’s welfare system is systematically discouraging, delaying and denying assistance to many of the people most in need of help, with harmful consequences for some of the province’s most vulnerable residents.

Denied Assistance: Closing the Front Door on Welfare in BC examines why the number of people receiving welfare has plummeted in the wake of changes to eligibility rules and the application system, and looks at what is happening to people who seek and are denied welfare. It is the first in-depth assessment of the new application system, drawing on data obtained through Freedom of Information requests and extensive interviews with people who have applied for welfare, front-line community advocates and Ministry workers.

“The provincial government says its policies are a success. It claims that more people are leaving welfare for work, and that the new application system is ‘diverting’ people to employment,” says Bruce Wallace, Researcher with the Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group (VIPIRG), which undertook the study with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). “This is true for some people. But our research found that many others are being ‘diverted’ to homelessness, charities, survival sex and other forms of hardship.”

|inline

Please note some recent additions the PSAC BC education schedule …

Visit the education page to see all the courses scheduled to date. Register for these courses online.

Gary was an honourable and courageous member of the PSAC team, he fought the fight for his members and our Union, his legacy will live on for the Firefighters of DND, as all those allowances were achieved while he was the member of the Table 2 Bargaining team. For those of us that worked with Gary, he will be long remembered and he will remain an inspiration to all Trade Unionists that knew of him.

-Garry Fraser, UNDE 21013

Mass will held at 12 noon on Friday March 24th at St. Patrick’s RC Church, 2060 Haultain in Victoria.

|inline

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.

|inline

Youth Now Volunteer Leadership Awards: Every year the Victoria United Way holds a gala event to recognize the amazing contributions youth make to our community. Individuals and groups from ages 11 through 24 who have provided extraordinary community service are nominated, with 4 individual awards and a group award.

• Do you know a youth (or group of youth) ages 11-24 who goes above and beyond what’s expected of them?
• Do they inspire other youth?

Now is the time to recognize the outstanding efforts of your peers, students, neighbours, and community leaders.

Visit unitedwayvictoria.bc.ca for full details and a nomination form, the deadline is April 14, 2006, 4pm

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

|inline