PSAC IN THE NEWS
Frustration mounts among public servants over unpaid benefit claims that have resulted from the employer's decision to transfer to Canada Life, CTV news reports on the latest
Has the rise in remote work boosted union activity? HRD Canada looks at recent high-profile Canadian strikes, including the TB and CRA strikes this past summer, to see if there's a correlation between increased activism and the shift to remote work
TB has been directed to find more than $15B in savings across all departments, but TB President says cutback won't mean job losses beyond "normal attrition or redeployment", CTV News and Global News report on the upcoming cuts.
PSAC AND UNW CONTRIBUTE OVER $150,000 TO NWT WILDFIRE EMERGENCY RELIEF EFFORTS
In response to devastating wildfires that continue to ravage the Northwest Territories, PSAC donated $75,000 to bolster the $75,000 donation from the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), a component of PSAC, to the United Way Northwest Territories Emergency Response. Following the national announcement, the PSAC BC Regional Council voted to contribute an additional $2,000 to support the wildfire relief efforts.
To read more about wildfire relief efforts and the union's involvement, visit the PSAC national website. Where possible, members are also encouraged to donate to the United Way wildfire relief efforts for the Northwest Territories or BC.
PUBLIC SERVICE HEALTH CARE PLAN (PSHCP): CANADA LIFE TRANSITION UPDATE
On July 1 the employer transferred the PSHCP provider contract from Sun Life to Canada Life as part of a separate procurement process they initiated. This transfer, which resulted in changes for nearly 1.5M individuals, has caused frustrating challenges for plan members and their dependents. Since that time there have been some improvements, but many members are still experiencing issues with their health and drug coverage. More details about the current status of the transfer and what the PSAC is doing are posted here.
PSAC BC INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SUMMIT
Recently announced, the PSAC BC Indigenous Peoples Summit will be held November 24-26, 2023 at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown in Burnaby. Under the theme "Building Our Community as Indigenous Members Throughout BC," participants will gather to learn, share and discuss Indigenous issues in the community and within the Union. PSAC BC Members who self-identify as Indigenous are invited to apply on or before the October 5 application deadline. Additional details can be found on the PSAC BC website.
UNION LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The PSAC just announced the Union Leadership Development Program, which will begin in January 2024. The program is a year-long leadership course for members ready who are ready to expand their leadership roles within the union. ULDP provides training for both formal union leaders in elected positions as well as informal union leaders who are respected in the workplace. Interested members are encouraged to apply early and before the October 6. Additional details and the application form are available online.
THANKS FROM THE VANCOUVER RWC - COLLECTION FOR WOMEN'S CENTRES
The Vancouver Regional Women's Committee would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to their recent collection drive. Because of your generous donations, the Committee was able to prevent clothes from needlessly going into the landfill. More importantly, your abundant kindness helped make it possible for them to make substantial donations to two organizations, the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and the Surrey Women's Centre.
If members would still like to help, please consider donating directly to these two centres or to a similar organization in your respective community. A list of needed items can usually be found on their websites. Thanks again everyone!
DRAW FOR MEMBERS - BC LIONS TICKETS
PSAC BC, along with the BC Federation of Labour and many of its affiliates, is helping sponsor the BC Lions Be More Than A Bystander campaign for the eighth year in a row. As part of our sponsorship package, we have a number of tickets to various games throughout the summer and fall which we are giving away to members in a random draw. More info and enter the draw here.
BARGAINING UPDATES
Parks Canada: Parks Canada members voted in favour of ratifying a collective agreement that advances key issues for members after a particularly challenging round of negotiations. While we had hope to have a signed agreement soon after it was ratified, unforeseen circumstances have prevented this. More on this here. Details for the new agreement are available online.
CFIA: CFIA members successfully ratified a new agreement earlier this month after conducting a nation-wide vote from August 23-September 8. The new agreement provides fair wages increases, new telework provisions and better working conditions. Highlights of the new agreement are available here.
CBSA: The FB Bargaining Team met with the employer in mid-June to continue talks towards a new collective agreement. After conducting a comprehensive analysis of compensation and working conditions within the law enforcement community, the team presented their wage demands.
Commissionaires: A new collective agreement has been ratified by the members of DCL 20500 who work for the Corps of Commissionaires, Victoria the Islands and Yukon. The new contract contains significant wage increases over the three-year term. The union and the employer also agreed to reopen the contract early next year to address wage increases effective April 2024.
Purolator: The Bargaining team met with the employer July 17 and 18 and dealt with proposals on language changes. Monetary items will be dealt with at future bargaining dates, which are set for mid-October and early December.
First Nations Health Authority: The team met with FNHA in June. Although progress was made on certain issues, the team believes that the employer’s offer needs improvement. The next dates with the employer are later this month. Watch for a further update soon.
IMP Comox: Unfortunately, the employer cancelled another set of bargaining dates, originally scheduled for September. The PSAC is now pursuing a request for conciliation assistance.
North Peace Airport: The bargaining team was supposed to meet with the employer in August, but those dates were postponed. Watch for an update soon.
UNION EDUCATION
PSAC BC's fall course schedule has been posted! Sign up for one of our fall course offerings:
Talking Union Basics | Abbotsford | September 15-16
Talking Union Basics | Nanaimo | September 16-17
Grievance Handling | Vancouver | October 12-13
Grievance Handling | Abbotsford | October 14-15
Talking Union Basics | Kamloops | October 28-29
Intro to Duty to Accommodate | Prince George | October 28
Steward Series: Stewards as Allies for Racial Justice | Prince George | October 29
Talking Union Basics | Victoria | November 4-5
Grievance Handling | Kelowna | November 18-19
Local Officers Seminar | Vancouver | November 18
Intro to Duty to Accommodate | Vancouver | November 19
Grievance Handling | Victoria | December 2-3
Virtual Talking Union Basics | Virtual | December 5-7
More information and registration forms available at the website.
You can also check out PSAC's online education program - a series of self-paced courses available 24/7.
UPCOMING EVENTS & REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS
In advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the PSAC is hosting a virtual session on Sept. 20 and again on Sept. 28 where members will learn more about the important of reconciliation and Le Estcwicwéy̓. Additional details and registration available here.
Here are our upcoming regularly scheduled meetings, more information at the calendar.
Okanagan Area Council | September 14
East Fraser Valley Area Council | September 14
West Fraser Valley Area Council | September 18
Vancouver & Dist. Area Council | September 20
CIRCLE (Northern & Southern Interior) Human Rights Committee | September 21
Mainland Human Rights Committee | September 21
Northeast BC Area Council | September 26
Victoria Area Council | September 26
Northern Regional Women's Committee | September 27
Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee | September 27
Mainland Haida Gwaii Young Workers Committee | September 28
Southern Interior Regional Women's Committee | October 4
Vancouver Regional Women's Committee | October 11
BRUSH Committee | October 12
Okanagan Area Council | October 15
West Fraser Valley Area Council | October 16
Warmth and solidarity!
Kristin Schnider
PSAC Vancouver Regional Office