VICTORIA – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), bargaining agent for The Commissionaires Union of British Columbia (Local 05/20500), has filed for the assistance of a mediator/conciliation officer on February 10, 2005 as a result of the impasse in negotiations with The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.

“The employer was not interested in discussing any bargaining proposals that had financial implications,” said Patty Ducharme, Regional Executive Vice-President/BC.  “It is extremely hard to reach a negotiated settlement without that type of discussion.”

According to Ducharme, the union is attempting to negotiate into the collective agreement issues such as a footwear allowance, health and safety protection when working at a hazardous work site, shift work allowance and improvements to the staffing procedure.

More than 300 PSAC members in Local 05/20500 are located in Victoria, the Islands and in the Yukon.  Some of their worksites include the Royal B.C. Museum, CFB Esquimalt, Royal Roads University, Comox Valley RCMP Detachment, BC Ferries Incorporated at Departure Bay Terminal, the Yukon Detachment and various Federal and Provincial Government workplaces. 

OTTAWA - The new Federal Budget is no guarantee of better quality of public services to Canadians, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“We expected from this budget not only an improvement in services and programs, but also a clear vision and a strong commitment from the government for essential public services,” says PSAC President Nycole Turmel. “Instead, this budget commits no new money to existing programs, but a continuation of the expenditure review that will cut $11 billion from existing programs for re-allocation to what the government calls higher-priority spending.”

Turmel also points out that some departments and agencies currently suffer from lack of funding, affecting core programs and services such as health protection, borders and food inspection.

“Yet another re-organization of the public service will have a negative impact on the quality of services to the public,” says Turmel. “Since 1993, public service workers have been put through re-organization after re-organization, but have they really worked?  We don’t think so.  This new re-organization plan will cause further turmoil among public service workers, and they have not even recovered from the disastrous program review of the mid-90s.”

The creation of “one-stop shop” for many federal services, called Services Canada, may seem on the surface to promise better access.  But what will the impact be on the elderly or those in poverty whose situations are more complex?  “Public service workers in these centres will have to know numerous laws and regulations,” says Turmel. “In our experience with our members at call-centres, we’ve observed that workers aren’t given adequate time to even learn changes to one piece of legislation.  We’re afraid that the quality of services will be compromised by the initiative to place various services under one roof.”

Furthermore, the budget projects significant job cuts in the public service.

“Is the government aware of retention problems which will peak in 2008 and that this is cutting service delivery at a time of rapid population growth?” asked Turmel. “What is the long-term vision of this government that is poised to cut some jobs now which it will have to re-hire in three years?”

“This budget shows that the Martin government has not learned from the past,” concludes Turmel. “Their goal of saving through greater efficiency and new ways of doing things is mere wishful thinking.  To ensure quality public service, they need to make a sufficient investment to programs and to provide the necessary tools to public service workers.  Sadly, this budget fails because the government looked first at cost savings rather than improving quality of services to Canadians.”

This message is being sent to all Locals, National Officers, Regional Council members and both ROs. The information refers for the most part to TB locals, but is valuable to have as information in any case.

Greetings Sisters & Brothers:
 
I understand that many of you have been getting questions from the membership regarding the signing of the Collective Agreements with Treasury Board.  I can appreciate the frustration of the members and will attempt to explain how the process unfolds.

First of all, because many of the articles in the agreements are similar, none of the proofreading could begin until we knew the results of the ratification and final offer votes.  Once those results were known the PSAC requested draft Collective Agreements (CA's) from Treasury Board for all of the Tables.  Upon receipt, the Negotiators, Research Officers and Administrative staff needed to proofread each agreement to ensure the language was exactly the same as agreed to at the negotiating table.  The CA's were then sent back to Treasury Board for any necessary revisions.

A second draft of the CA's were then sent back to the Union.  This draft is currently being reviewed by each member of the Negotiating Teams.  Again, the Bargaining Team Members need to ensure that the language is reflective of the discussions that took place during the entire period of the negotiations process.

Once we are convinced that the CA's are correct and that the required revisions have been made we will be in a position to sign the Collective Agreements.  We anticipate that all of the work will be completed by early to mid March.  I know that the membership would like to see this process unfold quicker, however, I hope that with this explanation they will appreciate how vital it is that we ensure the accuracy of the CA's.

Please ensure widest distribution amongst your membership.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding and co-operation in this matter, I remain,

In Solidarity, Patty Ducharme

The Canadian Refugee Camp - Shattering the myth of Canadian multiculturalism and Humanitarianism ...

Saturday February 5, 2005, Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia and Howe), Camp from noon, Rally at 1 pm

The Canadian Refugee Camp involves the collective organization and participation of immigrant and refugee community organizations and individuals who have been engaged in historic and present struggle against racist and colonial border policies.

Read more here.

The next PSAC-BC Human Rights Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9th from 5:45 pm - 7:30 pm. Click for more details.
 
This is the annual planning meeting so come out and help chart the course of the committee for the year. Bring yourself and a friend to help generate new and creative ideas and activities for the committee. Please RSVP by February 7th as a light dinner will be served.

Report on PSAC’s 5th National ACCESS Conference, 2005 – My First! - By Jennie Chu

Brrrr….it’s 25 below in Montreal but there are 128 excluding staff and facilitators at this conference. Access brings together members from the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) group across Canada to network, learn, advocate, bond and elect two new PSAC reps for the Equal Opportunities Committee.

Read more below (.pdf)

Report_on_PSAC_Access_2005Revised.pdf

Please note that in order for members who contributed to the hardship fund to receive their 2004 receipts, any outstanding cheques dated 2004 still in the Local's possession will need to be received at PSAC / Membership Administration before Friday, February 18, 2005.

All cheques received after this date will be processed for the 2005 Hardship fund and receipts for those will be sent in February 2006 only. For more information, contact the REVP's office.

February 11th

OTTAWA - The 2,500 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) working at Canada Post have accepted by a slim 55% majority the final offer tabled by their employer on December 17, 2004.

 “Such lukewarm support is an accurate reflection of the simmering discontent of a large number of Canada Post employees,” said Luc Guevremont, President of the PSAC’s Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE). “That was the majority decision. We respect it despite the fact that we had recommended rejection of the offer which contains several rollbacks.”

Read more here.

February 11th

OTTAWA - The federal government is planning major changes in the way it serves Canadians, a move that could shift thousands of bureaucrats from big cities to smaller centres at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

CBC News has learned that Ottawa is considering consolidating its services under the banner of Services Canada, the tentative name for a super-agency that has been two years in the making.

Read more at cbc.ca (link opens in new window).

Before you buy your sweetie those roses for Valentine's Day, pause for a moment to consider where they come from, and at what cost -- and what can be done to give a bit more joy not just to the flowers' recipients, but their producers.

Read more on the International Solidarity page.

QUEBEC CITY - Unions for thousands workers in northern Quebec have urged a boycott of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. over its plans to close a store that last year became North America's first unionized Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Canada, the Canadian unit of the Bentonville, Arkansas company that is world's biggest retailer, plans to close its store in Jonquiere, Quebec, on May 6, laying off 190 workers.

Workers at the store, about 215 kilometers (130 miles) northeast of Quebec City, obtained union certification six months ago and were in talks with Wal-Mart on their first contract. Negotiations bogged down earlier this month, and the union turned to the Quebec government for arbitration.

Wal-Mart Canada said the application for arbitration indicated the two sides were not likely to deal a deal.

Officials for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, a branch of the Quebec Federation of Labour said they may file a complaint with the government's labor relations board and union leaders at local metals and forest products companies said they deplored Wal-Mart's decision.

Read more at commondreams.org (link opens in new window).

VICTORIA – The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), bargaining agent for The Commissionaires Union of British Columbia (Local 05/20500), has filed for the assistance of a mediator/conciliation officer on February 10, 2005 as a result of the impasse in negotiations with The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires.

Read more here.

VANCOUVER - The National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is calling on women in the union to adopt a political agenda in order to achieve change.

Speaking at the PSAC’s national women’s conference, Nycole Turmel says that women’s leadership is important in changing the face of power within their union, their workplaces, in their communities in Canada and beyond.

Read more on the Women's issues page.

February 18th

To coincide with the International Kyoto Implementation Day the NDP has launched "The Paul Martin Pollution Counter" that shows Canadians how many tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions Canada has emitted since Paul Martin first made his broken promise to reduce pollution (Red Book 1993). You can view the pollution counter here (link to ndp.ca opens in new window). You will require Flash to view the counter.

Fewer emissions means protecting our climate and having cleaner air and healthier communities for all Canadians. Read more at www.climatechange.gc.ca (link opens in new window)

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our regional office for sending me to my first national Women's conference. It's a bit more than the one-pager report but I wanted to also respond to
Resolution #4 and #8 after digesting the material after hearing from both camps.

Read Jennie's report (.pdf) below.

The_8th_PSAC_National__Women_Revised.pdf

February 22nd

Please note that receipts for the hardship fund 2004 are being mailed today, February 22, 2005.

All cheques dated in 2004 and received at PSAC headquarters after February 18, 2005 will  be processed for the 2005 Hardship fund and receipts for those will be sent in February 2006 only.

Richard Harris, MP Cariboo-Prince George made the following comment in the House this week regarding Wal-Mart:

"Mr. Speaker, it is time to set the record straight on Wal-Mart stores.  They employ over 70,000 Canadians and do business with over 6,000 Canadian suppliers.  They employ thousands of seniors and students in part time work in addition to their full time staff.  Wal-Mart contributes over 135,000 every week to Canadian charities and last year raised and donated ever $7 million to Canadian charities.  They are continually ranked as the best retailer in Canada to work for and last year ranked eighth as the best overall company in Canada to work for.  Wal-Mart stores are favourites with Canadians because they benefit communities economic development, charitable giving, good jobs in a great workplace, opportunities for the disabled and let us not forget, great products at a low price.  Well done WalMart.  As a corporate citizen Wal-Mart sets a fine example.  Way to go, Wal-Mart."

Patty Ducharme begs to differ. Read more here.

As of March 17, 2005 only 60 days will remain before the BC provincial election. Section 54 of the Labour Relations Code requires that an employer give 60 days' notice if they intend to introduce "a measure, policy, practice or change that affects the terms, conditions or security of employment of a significant number of employees..." With the BC election coming up, it's only fair to give BC Liberal MLAs their 60 days notice.

Read more on the Count Me In page.

OTTAWA - The new Federal Budget is no guarantee of better quality of public services to Canadians, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“We expected from this budget not only an improvement in services and programs, but also a clear vision and a strong commitment from the government for essential public services,” says PSAC President Nycole Turmel. “Instead, this budget commits no new money to existing programs, but a continuation of the expenditure review that will cut $11 billion from existing programs for re-allocation to what the government calls higher-priority spending.”

Turmel also points out that some departments and agencies currently suffer from lack of funding, affecting core programs and services such as health protection, borders and food inspection.

Read more here.

Greetings Sisters & Brothers:
 
I understand that many of you have been getting questions from the membership regarding the signing of the Collective Agreements with Treasury Board.  I can appreciate the frustration of the members and will attempt to explain how the process unfolds.

Read the rest of Patty Ducharmes email here.