Union of Environment Workers Local 20147

A reminder to all UEW 20147 members that scholarship season is here!

As a PSAC member, you or your child could be eligible for a postsecondary scholarship – more information and application process here.

Missed the deadline for the PSAC scholarship? UEW 20147 provides for two $750 scholarships aimed at the children of local members attending postsecondary education. Find information and a downloadable application form here.

And good luck!

An open letter to members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Social Justice Fund, from Michael Ballard, UEW 20147 member.

April 10th, 2010, a small delegation of PSAC members travelled to Bolivia to meet with social justice project partner CEPROMIN. Thanks to the PSAC Social Justice Fund the small delegation was able to bear witness to the tremendous impact our union is having on small groups of miners in Bolivia. The trip started out with five delegates who are from the furthest reaches of Canada. From the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, North to Ekati diamond mine, two hundred miles below the Arctic Circle, all the way to the center of Canada in Ottawa. I was thrilled to be amongst the delegation who attended on behalf of PSAC and the Social Justice Fund. I am by no means a world traveler so I really have no reference, but I can tell you this, I see through new eyes now, I am changed and I can’t go back. Continue reading ‘An open letter from Mike Ballard re: Bolivia’

It’s been awhile since we’ve posted anything here, but your union local is putting a renewed emphasis on communication with the membership and will aim to post here following each of our four general meetings over the next year. Additionally, we have started a Facebook group which we are asking all members to “Like” in order to receive updates on meetings, scholarships, and other union-related events.

Our last meeting took place on June 10, 2010 in Courtenay BC and was well-attended by the staff that were in Courtenay for OHEB meetings. Several things were accomplished at the meeting including:

• a member-initiated vote to increase the local-sponsored postsecondary scholarships to $750 each from $500 each
• a vote on a package of collective bargaining demands to be submitted to the PSAC for consideration in the next round of bargaining, and
• the election of a new Recording Secretary of the local – Jacquelyn Paterson, based out of Capilano Hatchery

We thank everyone who came out to the meeting in June. Our next meeting will take place in September in the Lower Mainland – details to be announced.

The Annual General Meeting of UEW 20147 will be held Thursday, February 19th, 2009 in Courtenay BC at the Coast Hotel. More information will be provided once an agenda and times are set.

UEW 20147 is proud to announce its latest scholarship recipient: Scott Snelgrove. Scott received $500 from the local to assist with his university studies in 2008/09.There is still another $500 to be awarded to a student in a technical or trades program this year – so if you are a member of UEW 20147 and have a child in technical or trades education this year, please encourage them to apply.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will be holding its Triennial Convention in Vancouver in April, 2009 which provides an opportunity for more local members of the PSAC to participate as observers to the convention. If you are interested in attending, please see the convention registration website to do so – however, note that observers from Local 20147 will be responsible for their own convention observer fee of $225 plus any loss of salary incurred through attendance, as we do not have the funds to sponsor people for this event.

JLP BC/Yukon Region will be co sponsoring a Facilitator Orientation in collaboration with the Prairies Region during the week of January 26-30 in Vancouver.  If you know of anyone who may wish to become a JLP Facilitator please direct them to the JLP web site www.JLP-PAM.ca to obtain information and to fill out an application. It is important that they have a discussion with their manager or supervisor regarding the JLP Orientation and the support and commitment required.  JLP Program Officers are happy to answer any questions of potential facilitators and/or their managers and in Pacific Region can be reached at the below contacts:

Angela Foraaunet
Regional Field Coordinator – BC/Yukon Region
Joint Learning Program (JLP)
Office: (604) 666-8217
Fax: (604) 666-6124
Email: foraaua@psac-afpc.com

Susan Jardine
Joint Learning Program
BC -Yukon Regional Field Coordinator
Ste 210 757 West Hastings
Vancouver BC    V6C3M2
Bus: 604-666-7799
Cell: 604-202-5469
jardins@psac-afpc.com

PA, SV and EB Group members of Treasury Board (formerly Tables 1, 2, & 5) are expected to vote on the tentative collective agreement before January 22, 2009. Voting times and locations posted below the cut. Members in remote communities should receive a ballot in the mail. For more information on the agreement and ratification kit, please go to the PSAC TB Negotiations website.

Continue reading ‘Remaining Treasury Board Ratification Vote Meetings’

Although it is not listed in your collective agreement, it is the practice of the employer to grant leave for up to half a day for medical and dental appointments without charge to the employee’s leave credits. This applies only in the case of routine, periodic check-ups or an appointment related to a particular complaint. Information related to this may be found on the Treasury Board website.

Unless you sign a Union Card (provided by your representative), you are not considered a full member of the union, and are not eligible to participate in union decision-making processes such as local elections, strike votes and collective agreement votes? Although you may have dues being deducted from your paycheque, you are considered “Rand”, and thus not a full union participant until you sign that card!

If you have moved since joining the workplace, and haven’t updated your mailing address with the union, you are missing valuable information and news in your mailbox. The PSAC regularly does mail-outs that contain vital information for members. You can change your address online at http://www.psac.com/address-e.shtml.

Members on Leave Without Pay for reasons including disability, maternity leave, paternity, adoption or care of family members” and “dues paying and non-dues paying seasonal indeterminate or equivalent members” are defined as members in good standing only if they write a letter to the National President’s Office with a copy to the Component Office requesting that their status remain current.

Grievances are filed by employees as a mechanism to dispute resolution in the workplace. They may be filed in response to a breach of any aspect of the collective agreement, or any other laws, procedures, policies as set out by the employer. If you are unsure about filing a grievance, or need to find a representative for a grievance, please contact one of the local executive members for assistance in finding a representative in your area.

The following forms are provided for your convenience, they are all .pdf documents. There is also more information on grievances on the PSAC regional website.

Grievance Presentation Form

Grievance Transmittal Form

Grievance Factsheet for Stewards