PSAC’s 14th Triennial National Convention will be taking place in Toronto in 2006 with the theme “Making a world of difference”. 

Read the official convention call for more details.

OTTAWA - A Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) pay equity complaint has resulted in a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal awarding pay equity adjustments and interest worth at least $150-million to about 6,000 current and former clerical workers employed by Canada Post Corporation.

"It has taken the union and its members at Canada Post over 22 years to reach this day," says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. "While it has been a long haul, the union’s complaint that Canada Post was not paying equal pay for work of equal value has been upheld."

Read more on the UPCE page.

OTTAWA - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is calling Canada Post’s decision to appeal a decision by a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in a 22-year old pay equity complaint a disgrace. On October 7, the Tribunal awarded at least $150-million in pay and interest to about 6,000 current and former Canada Post clerical workers.

"Canada Post had filed its appeal with the Federal Court within minutes of the Tribunal officially releasing its decision," says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. "They obviously never had any intention of abiding by the decision and paying what they owe."

Read more on the UPCE page.

Four ways to support teachers right now - No matter how long the teachers' dispute lasts, your support on the picket line, in the media and in your community will be critical. We also know that many people want to help, and have come to us asking what they can do.

Province-wide rallies draw thousands:  Members of nearly all affiliated unions turned out by the thousands last night and today at rallies held around the province in support of teachers.

Read more at bcfed.com.

Dear Friends,

I would like to take this time to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support over the past few weeks with regards to the current BCTF strike. As many of you are aware, I've been walking the picket lines for 2-4 hours a day and have attended rallies and board meetings to express my beliefs about what children deserve while attending public education.  Those who know me, know that I do not participate in any illegal activity but I've decided to take a risk with this current situation because this is a cause that I believe in with all of my heart. 

Read more here.

As part of our strategy to increase our visibility and participation in the broader labour movement, the BC Regional Council provides a subsidy to assist, encourage and promote attendance at the annual convention of the BC Federation of Labour.

Applications for the subsidy should be made in writing to the office of the REVP – by email to: decairm@psac.com, fax: 604-430-0194, or mail #302 – 5238 Joyce St. Vancouver BC V5R 6C9 – deadline for applications is Tuesday, Oct 18, 2005.

Please note that any funding available from the Local, Component, Area Council, Women’s Committee, etc. must be reported and preference will be given to those with the greatest need.

To:  All Southern Vancouver Island PSAC Members

Re: BC FEDERATION OF LABOUR MARCH & RALLY TO PROTEST BILL 12 ( Teachers’ Collective Agreement Act)

Monday, October 17, 2005

Gather between 11:00 am & 12:15 pm at Centennial Square, Victoria BC.

March to the BC Legislature for Rally at 1:30 pm.

All PSAC Members who are not working at the time of this March and Rally are encouraged to attend. Members are also asked to bring family and friends. We need to express our opposition to legislation which takes away the right to free collective bargaining.

We must stand up for our freedoms and let the BC Government know that an injury to one is an injury to all!

Solidarity is the foundation of our strength.

Patty Ducharme, REVP BC

OTTAWA, Oct. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers protested outside Canada Post headquarters Sunday at noon as the corporation celebrated its 24th anniversary with job losses and closures.

Postal workers responded to Canada Post's "let them eat cake" attitude by cutting a cake with a special anniversary message: People Before Profits.

"We want Canada Post to say no to closures, yes to first-rate service, and yes to employees who need well-paying and stable jobs," said Deborah Bourque, President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in her speech.

Speakers from the Bloc Quebecois, the NDP, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association and the Union of Postal Communications Employees (Public Service Alliance of Canada) spoke out against post office and plant closures during the hour long event.

Read more at newswire.ca

The BC Teachers continue to challenge the legislation imposed on them by the BC Liberals. The BC Federation of Labour has been supporting this struggle by organizing coordinated actions around the Province.  Yesterday at the BC Federation of Labour Officers' Meeting, it was announced that the teachers and the overnment are now working with the assistance of facilitator Vince Ready and discussions are taking place. The BC Federation of Labour is optimistic about these developments.

There are rumours of a general strike taking place in B.C. on Friday of this week.  These rumours are false.  At this point, there is no general strike being called by the BC Federation of Labour.  CUPE workers, many of whom work in school districts with teachers, are participating in a variety of actions around the Province.

Tomorrow morning the BC Federation Officers will be meeting to assess the situation and develop further plans as necessary.

We will update the website as a priority as new information is available.

The Victoria RWC invites all PSAC women to join us on 25 October 2005 5:30 PM to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Come out and see the new PSAC Regional Office at 210 – 1497 Admiral’s Road (in Admiral’s Walk Plaza)

Guest Speaker: Denise Blackwell
Topic:  Women and Politics

Light refreshments, Sandwiches and Beverages will be served

Please advise Sister Sharon Brine at 363-5216 or email Brine.SL@forces.gc.ca if you will be attending

Download the poster below ...

Invites_all_PSAC_women_to_join_us_on.doc

Wednesday, October 26th, 5:30PM, 200-5238 Joyce St. (1 1/2 block south of the SkyTrain)

Our theme this month will be violence against women. We will be showing the NFB film The Burning Times - an in depth look at the witch craze that swept through Europe just a few hundred years ago.

False accusations and trials led to massive torture and burnings at the stake, and ultimately to the destruction of an organic way of life. The widespread violence against women and the environment today can be traced back to those times.

Download the poster below.

vancouver_rwc_meeting.pdf

OTTAWA, Oct. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - The National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada has raised concerns that the federal government, through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is colluding with the employer at Alberta's Lakeside Packers and putting its members in danger in a strike that has turned violent.

"In reality, the government of Canada, through the CFIA, is putting some 30 PSAC members directly in the middle of a labour dispute that has turned violent," says PSAC President Nycole Turmel in a letter addressed to Federal Labour Minister Joe Fontana and Treasury Board President Reg Alcock.

Read more from the PSAC at newswire.ca and more information on the Lakeside Packers strike at terribletyson.com.

Telus CEO, Darren Entwistle, after trying to dodge the free collective bargaining process for much of the past 5 years, tried to take our communities' Telecommunications Workers' right to free collective bargaining and a negotiated settlement away when he tried to impose a unilateral settlement and locked the workersout beginning last July. He and his board have been trying to break the union and offered a dismal settlement to TWU members but conveyed to TWU bargainers that even worse was in store should they not recommend acceptance.

Read more here.