Welcome to the New Year and the first installment of the PSAC BC monthly newsletter for 2024!

Before jumping right into the latest news and updates, let's take a moment to acknowledge the historic year that just concluded and the work ahead of us for 2024.

As noted by PSAC National President Chris Aylward in his New Year message,

"Hundreds of thousands of workers in every province and territory in Canada – and in every sector of the economy – stood up for their rights, challenging employers and governments to shake up the status quo. We can take pride in the fact that our union played a leading role in this resurgence of workers' rights, exemplified by the largest general strike in 20 years against the federal government."

Yet as we enter 2024, we must be mindful that many of the challenges we faced in 2023 are not behind us. They will follow us into this new year: People are still struggling to make ends meet with the rising cost of living. Many PSAC members are still seeking better wages and fair deals at the bargaining table. Within our communities, we continue to see increasing, emboldened efforts by the right to incite hate and bigotry.

But we can take on these challenges before us, just as we have done before. PSAC has always been at the forefront of the fight for workers' rights, for equality and for social justice. Just as Chris Aylward stated in his New Year message,

"In 2024, we will continue to capitalize on our momentum by building solidarity and ensuring our union is a powerful force for positive change. Together, we can - and we will - make a difference, because when union members work together, we win together."

And now, here is the news, information, and updates from your union in BC:

PSAC in the News

• Kincardine News: What's in store for the federal public service in 2024?

• Vancouver Sun: B.C. lightkeepers wanted: A rugged, romantic job - just don't be running from something

• CTV News: Hundreds of Canadian military base workers cold strike on Monday

• ITPro: Phoenix Pay: When a federal payment system breaks

Employment Equity Act review: Recommendations highlight long-overdue changes 

PSAC welcomes the final report of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) Review Task Force that puts forward many of the recommendations we have long been calling for to create a more diverse and inclusive federal public service.  

Introduced almost 40 years ago, the Act was intended to remove barriers and address the chronic under-representation of historically disadvantaged equity-seeking workers. 

Yet despite the creation of the EEA, equity groups in the federal public service continue to be denied opportunities at all levels of the staffing process. Workers have been overlooked and held back from career advancement for years as a result of systemic barriers, policies and practices that perpetuate racism, homophobia, ableism, sexism and other forms of discrimination in our workplaces.

The recent EEA report puts forward many recommendations the PSAC supports, including the inclusion of Black and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities as employment equity groups and establishing Joint Employment Equity Committees with detailed roles and responsibilities. There are several other much-needed improvements for the EEA recommended in the report. ▶ Read more here

PSAC BC Equity Summits for Access (Persons With Disabilities) and 2SLGBTQIA+ Members

Following the successful PSAC BC Regional Indigenous Peoples Summit this past fall, PSAC BC will be hosting two more Equity Summits this spring. Like the Indigenous Peoples Summit, these next two Equity Summits are being sponsored by the BC Regional Council.

The first of the two PSAC BC Equity Summits this spring is the Regional Access (Persons With Disabilities) Summit, taking place April 5-7 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby. PSAC BC members of the regional Access community will gather to learn, share, and strengthen the PSAC Access program under the theme “Inclusive Advocacy for All.”

Participants will take part in training and advocacy development and hear from Access/Disability rights advocates. The Organizing Committee is also planning several other activities and sessions for the duration of the Summit. The deadline to apply for the Access Summit is Monday, January 22, 2024. ▶ Read more here

The second PSAC BC Equity Summit this spring is the Regional 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit, which will be held May 3-5 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown. 

PSAC BC 2SLGBTQIA+ members will gather to meet, build, encourage, and show solidarity across the PSAC 2SLGBTQIA+ community in BC under the theme “Queer Solidarity in the Face of Adversity”. Participants will hear from engaging speakers and take part in action-oriented workshops. The deadline to apply for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit is March 15, 2024. ▶ Read more here

We encourage everyone to let PSAC BC Access and 2SLGBTQIA+ members in their areas know about these upcoming Equity Summits and the application deadlines.

REVP & Vancouver Regional Office Open House

New Year, New Beginning! Come join PSAC BC members and staff at the Vancouver Regional Office on Thursday, February 8 from 3 PM to 6 PM to celebrate the start of a New Year and the historical gains for PSAC and the labour movement in 2023.

PSAC members are invited to stop by for some snacks, refreshments and conversations. Meet and network with fellow union members and celebrate the year gone by and the year ahead!

To help us plan for food, please RSVP in advance. Full event details and the RSVP link are posted on the PSAC BC regional website. ▶ Read more here

Bargaining Updates

Treasury Board - Telework: A joint committee consisting of representatives from PSAC and Treasury Board met for the first time in mid-December to discuss modernizing the Directive on Telework. This meeting laid the groundwork for what the future meetings will look like during this year-long consultation process.

While discussions about modernizing the Directive on Telework have now begun, PSAC has expressed concerns on Treasury Board's current interpretation of the letter of agreement (LoA) negotiated alongside the collective agreements for more than 120,000 federal public services workers. PSAC believes that Treasury Board's unjustifiably narrow approach to the LoA significantly undermines the parties' shared commitments in the negotiated agreement. ▶ Read more here

Treasury Board - FB Group: The FB group will be heading to Public Interest commission (PIC) hearings with the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board April 10 and 22, 2024. After impasse is declared a PIC hearing is a legislatively imposed component of the negotiations process. However, the PIC report that is generated from the hearings contains non-binding recommendations for reaching a settlement. While we are waiting for the PIC hearings to proceed, the bargaining team will be meeting to discuss mobilization and lobbying efforts in support of pension reform and a fair contract. ▶ Read more here

Parks Canada: PSAC members working at Parks Canada have now been issued retroactive pay. However, the employer has provided no timeline on the disbursement of the $2,500 pensionable one-time lump sum payment. Parks Canada has also taken no steps to honour the collective agreement bargained in good faith and ensure that all term workers receive the payment. There are still close to 300 Parks members who may be denied a payment due to employer delays in signing the collective agreement. This includes firefighters who were on the frontlines of wildfires, and members in seasonal and term positions at Canada's historic sites. ▶ Read more here

Statistical Survey Operations (SSO): In late 2023, 1300 members in the SSO Group transitioned to the Treasury Board PA bargaining group. All issues, included outstanding issues prior to the transition, will now be dealt with under the PA collective agreement going forward. This includes a review of the current structure of SSO locals and how best to integrate them into existing PA locals. ▶ Read more here

NAV Canada: The NAV CANADA collective agreement will expire at the end of this year. In preparation for the next round of bargaining, PSAC and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees will be hosting a bargaining conference, which will take place on January 30 and 31, 2024 in Ottawa. ▶ Read more here

IMP Comox: This unit is in an exceptionally difficult round. The employer cancelled bargaining dates in August and September. When the parties met in November with conciliation assistance no movement was made. Given the essential nature of these members, they have no ability to strike. So, we are ramping up a joint public awareness campaign in both Comox and Gander (where there is another PSAC unit under this employer) as well as mobilization efforts at each base. Stay tuned for a roll out of the campaign in the coming weeks. 

CMHC Granville Island: A call for input for the next round of bargaining has been sent out. The Local met last month to review input received and elect their bargaining team.

Purolator: The bargaining team met with the employer in early December to discuss all outstanding items. The team was hopeful they would be able to reach an agreement before the end of the year. However, due to the number of outstanding items, they were unable to do so. Despite this the they were able to agree to a number of language changes. Future dates are expected early in the new year. ▶ Read more here

North Peace Airport (Fort St. John): Members of this unit voted on their new agreement last month and successfully ratified it. The new deal includes vacation leave improvements, bereavement leave improvements and other statutory improvements. The new collective agreement expires February 28, 2026. 

Kamloops Airport: Members of this also ratified a new agreement last month. The new three-year deal includes vacation leave improvements, a new health spending account supplement as well as some language changes. Their new collective agreement expires August 26, 2026.

Union Education

The Winter/Spring 2024 PSAC BC Union Education schedule is now posted. Sign up for one of our winter/spring course offerings. A trained membership is an active membership and active members build a strong union! More course information is available on the regional website ▶ Read more here

• Health and Safety Activism, Metro | January 20-21

• Talking Union Basics, Abbotsford | January 26-27

• Introduction to the Duty to Accommodate, Nanaimo | January 27

• Steward Series 2: Working Strategically Through Conflict & Stewards as Allies for Racial Justice, Victoria | February 10

• Virtual Grievance Handling | February 23-25

• Steward Series 2: Employment Equity in the Workplace & Stewards as Allies for Racial Justice, Metro | February 24

• Introduction for Local Officers Training, Osoyoos | March 2-3

• Introduction to the Duty to Accommodate, Victoria | March 2

• Grievance Handling, Metro | March 9-10

• Steward Series 1: Some Things Stewards Should Know About Duty to Accommodate & Mental Health Matters, Abbotsford | March 23

• Politics For Everyone, Cranbrook | April 13-14

• Health and Safety Activism, Victoria | April 20-21

• Health and Safety Activism, Prince Rupert | May 11-12

Upcoming Events & Regularly Scheduled Meetings

Here are our upcoming events and regularly scheduled meetings. More information is available at the calendar on the regional website. ▶ Read more here

• Okanagan Area Council AGM | January 14

• Victoria Area Council meeting | January 16

• Northwest Area Council AGM | January 17

• CIRCLE (Human Rights) Committee AGM | January 21

• Vancouver Island HR Committee AGM | January 29

• Southern Interior RWC AGM | February 4

• North Vancouver Island Area Council AGM | February 5

• Northeast Area Council AGM | February 7

• Vancouver Area Council AGM | February 7

• Mainland HR Committee AGM | February 8

• Vancouver Island YW Committee meeting | February 9

• Vancouver Island RWC AGM | February 13

• East Fraser Valley Area Council AGM | February 15

• Mainland Haida Gwaii YW Committee | Febraury 15

• Vancouver Island YW Committee AGM | February 16

• Victoria Area Council AGM | February 20

• West Fraser Valley Area Council AGM | February 26

• Northern RWC AGM | February 28

• BRUSH Committee AGM | February 29

Not sure what all these meetings are about? Learn more about PSAC BC Area Council and Regional Committees on our website. ▶ Read more here

Public Service Alliance of Canada - BC Region

5238 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC V5R 6C9

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