June 2nd

Download the Memorandum of Agreement between the Vancouver International Airport Authority and The Public Service Alliance of Canada - UCTE Local 20221 below. The ratification kit will also be made available at the vote meetings.

Here are some of the highlights of the agreement.

Ratification_Kit__Circular_Letter.pdf

DARMOUTH - Delegates to the PSAC Atlantic regional convention have re-elected Jeannie Baldwin as their Regional Executive Vice-President for a three-year term. 

“I am looking forward to working with the members of the new PSAC regional council,” said Baldwin. “By recruiting new activists the PSAC will be able maintain its tradition of social involvement and its strong presence in the labour movement in the Atlantic,” she added.

Read more at the national website.

The Ratification vote for the tentative agreement signed on the morning of June 1st, 2005 will be held on June 13th, 2005. There will be three meetings to accomodate both shift and non shift members.

Location: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 7980 River Road Richmond. (same location as strike vote)

Times: 1400, 1600 and 1930 hours.

posted June 7th

PSAC/UCTE Negotiating Team is very pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative agreement with NAV Canada on June 2, 2005.

Click for the memorandum of agreement . Details of the ratification vote in BC will be available soon.

June 7th : via email

I am pleased to announce that we have found a replacement for my Executive Assistant Christine Beynon who, as you probably know by now, will be retiring at the end of June.

The successful candidate in the competition is Marie Decaire.  Marie has many years experience in working for employers such as the NDP caucus at the Legislative Assembly in Victoria, the Hotel, Restaurant, Culinary Employees and Bartenders Union Local 40 and most recently as the Director of the BC Federation of Labour's Community & Social Action and Women's Programs.

I have had occasion to work with Marie in my capacity as the Chair of the BC Fed's Women's Rights Committee and have always found her to be efficient, effective, highly motivated and dedicated. Moreover, she has a well-developed sense of humour, which will stand her in good stead in her new job.

I am confident that Marie will do a great job for the BC members of PSAC.  Her first day will be June 16. I know that you will welcome her and assist her in learning all there is about our organization.

In solidarity, Patty Ducharme

Following the signing of the Table 2 collective agreement in March, the PSAC became aware of a number of issues which required interpretation, and some errors that needed correction. We raised these issues with the Employer and agreed to negotiate a number of amendments to the collective agreement to clarify the intent. While our talks proceeded slowly, we are pleased to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on June 7, 2005, that will amend the collective agreement.

Read more at the national website.

October 14, 15 and 16, 2005, Steelworkers Union Hall, 25 Cecil Street, Toronto, Ontario

Organized by Worker to Worker, Canada-Cuba Labour Solidarity Network. For more information please contact: Heide Trampus at 416-431-5498 or email: w2wcclsn@hotmail.com

Download the tentative agenda below.

CAN-cubaconfOct05.pdf

June 13th : via email

Those who are thinking of going to Caracas, Venezuela for the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students, where over 20,000 young people from 100 countries will gather for political, cultural and sports activities, should start to make the necessary arrangements. Read more on the youth issues page.

Is there an anti-poverty action, campaign or initiative that you would like the PSAC Social Justice Fund to support in your community? This year there is a global campaign to “Make Poverty History”. Funding anti-poverty initiatives is one of five priority areas for the PSAC’s Social Justice Fund.

As part of the Make Poverty History Campaign, the PSAC Social Justice Fund will be funding up to 15 anti-poverty projects in Canada. If you know of anti-poverty initiatives in your community that you would like to support, read more here.

Saturday June 18th: An evening of visual provocation and sensual awakening, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled courses through the veins of the Filipino people's struggle for national freedom and genuine independence. A fusion of theatre and avant-garde fashion, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled is a fashion show for the masses as it chronicles the stories of the ordinary Filipino people. From the Philippines' epic triumph over the Spanish Empire during the 1896 Revolution to the present era of globalization, Philippine Independence Re-Veiled pays homage to the unwept heroes of the Philippine revolution and to the labouring, displaced Filipino migrant workers around the world. Visit the upcoming events page for more details.

The PSAC Bargaining Section in Ottawa has prepared several fact sheets on the workforce adjustments appendices to the Treasury Board, CRA, Parks and CFIA collective agreements. Learn about your rights under the various collective agreements at the national website

The negotiating committee is please to advise you that the tentative agreement that was signed in the early morning hours of June 1st has been overwhelmingly ratified by the membership on June 13th 2005.

The negotiating committee would like to thank the membership again for their support during this round of bargaining.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) and the Québec Native Women Inc. (QNW) are planning to hold a rally at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa on June 28, 2005, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m..

This action is meant to mark the 20 years since amendments were made to the Indian Act (Bill C-31 – 1985) which has had serious implications for Aboriginal women and children.  In particular, the loss of status at an alarming rate because one parent is non-status. According to NWAC and QNW, many women (and their children) are being denied access to their communities as a result of who they married before 1985.

As you know, included in the mandate of the PSAC National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Network (read more about NAIM here) is the need to advance Aboriginal rights within and beyond the union. 

Read more here.

petition_and_guide_eng.pdf

posted June 28th

If you worked in Mexico, what could you afford to buy? And how does that compare, if you had the same job in the U.S.?

Today, Mexican workers do the same kinds of jobs that U.S. workers do. Many even work for the same employers, making the same or similar products just as efficiently. The world is shrinking -- for corporations. But there's a world of difference in living standards for workers.

See for yourself. Visit UE International  to pick a job and they'll show you some typical things that you might buy in the U.S. and Mexico. See for yourself how many hours you'd work in each country to buy the things you want and need.

This is a proud - and exciting - day to be a Canadian.

Just days before the Canada Day holiday, the House of Commons has voted for a fifth and final time to affirm equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Canada, confirming once again our world-wide reputation as a country that is open, inclusive and welcoming.

Read more at equal-marriage.ca

Thanks to Steve Houston, GLBT Representative on the BC Regional Council, for links to lists of pride events taking place this summer.

Surrey Pride takes place July 8-10. Visit gaysurrey.com for a list of events in Surrey.

Pride week in Vancouver kicks off July 23rd. The theme of this years parade, July 31st, is PRIDE 2005 – No Turning Back. Visit vanpride.bc.ca for a calendar of events taking place all summer long.

Visit xtra.ca for a calendar of Pride events taking place in other provinces and in the US.

BC NDP Leader, Carole James, paid a visit to Vancouver Public Service Alliance of Canada offices yesterday. Patty Ducharme, Regional Executive Vice President, met at length with Ms. James in what she characterized as a visit to convey NDP thanks to PSAC members for their support in the recent provincial election.

Sister Ducharme said, "Carole expressed her sincere gratitude for the tireless volunteer efforts of PSAC members during the provincial election campaign and assured me the NDP intends to continue to seek our input throughout the next four years. Ms. James was especially concerned that we build on the energy and involvement evidenced in the election to develop policies that would serve the interests of BC's working people."

BC PSAC members took political action in record numbers during the 2005 Provincial Election. Many were involved in the BC Federation of Labour's 'Count Me In' campaign as well as volunteering directly in the campaign. The NDP now holds 33 seats in the provincial Legislature, up from the 3 they held at dissolution. The Provincial Legislature is expected to convene in mid-September, 2005.