News and Political Action

PSAC in the news

• PSAC and others continue to call on the government to initiate discussions between the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, the Crown corporation that owns Canada's second largest for-profit care home operator, and provincial health authorities to transition the company into a publicly owned and managed network of nursing homes. Chris Aylward, PSAC National President, is quoted at ctvnews.ca.
   

• We’re collecting images of PSAC members and your seasonal decorations or celebrations. Whether you’re working from or at your workplace, send us a photo or two and we’ll post them at our social media channels to liven the holiday season and give us all a smile at the end of a long year.
   
• Everyone who participates will be entered into a random draw on January 4 for some fabulous PSAC swag! Send your photos to BraggP@psac-afpc.com along with your name, local, and where you work. If you like, tell us a little bit about the work you do as well. Please try to send the largest file possible.

PSAC BC Regional Convention

• The call out letter and guide to the 8th PSAC B.C. Regional Triennial Convention - rescheduled to be held online May 7-9, 2021 - is now available. In conducting our Regional Conventions virtually in 2021, we shall be recreating to the extent possible the conventions that were to take place in 2020 - read more in this message from Chris Aylward, PSAC National President.
   

• The Regional Executive Vice President's report, meeting and teleconference call minutes, and meeting agenda presented at the October 2020 PSAC BC Regional Council meeting held virtually are now available at the regional website.

2021 PSAC BC Regional Young Workers Summit: Being Young and Leading Change

• PSAC BC is pleased to announce that the 2021 politiciansgional Young Workers’ Summit will be held January 29 – 30, 2021 virtually via Zoom under the theme Being Young and Leading Change. More information and online registration. All PSAC members 35 years of age and under are encouraged to participate.

• A growing global body of evidence demonstrates that privatization of public services is not the cost-saving remedy that it is made out to be. Instead, as explained by the United Nations in a 2018 report on privatization and poverty, “private finance is more expensive than public finance.” 
   
• A report recently issued by PSAC and the Union of National Defence Employees on privatization at the Department of National Defence gives many examples of local Management deciding to contract out work for reasons other than cost. Read the report and take action by sending an email to politicians at uncoverthecost.ca

• PSAC BC is hosting an educational webinar designed to give members a general overview of the upcoming changes to the Canada Labour Code Pt. II and the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations impacting federally regulated workers across Canada. The webinar will be held twice: Tuesday, December 15 from 12pm to 1pm and Wednesday, December 16 from 5pm to 6pm. More information and registration.

• PSAC BC has partnered with Baka Communications to provide a limited time special offer for PSAC members on talk, text and data plans from Bell. More information in the poster here or at baka.ca.
   
• Union Savings has launched a new program of discounts & services designed for affiliated Union Offices and Locals. For more information, see the booklet here. Locals that are interested in the Solidarity Savings program are encouraged to contact the REVP office - REVP Jamey Mills sits on the Union Savings Board and is happy to provide more information.

• Treasury Board and CRA - Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency have provided PSAC with a payment schedule for the implementation of monetary provisions now that the PA, EB, TC, SV and CRA collective agreements have been signed.
   
• CFIA and Parks: PSAC is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Parks Canada to finalize the text and pay grids of the new agreements – ratified in November – and expects to sign both new contracts shortly.
   
• Canada Border Services Agency (FB): The FB bargaining team has declared impasse in negotiations with Treasury Board and Canada Border Services Agency after the employer failed to make substantial progress towards addressing critical issues in negotiations.
  
  Another national town hall meeting for FB members has been scheduled for December 10 2:30 - 4:00 PM PT. CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin and PSAC Negotiator Morgan Gay who will provide important information and insight into the bargaining process and members will have an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns at the end of the meeting. Register for the town hall here. Regional town hall meetings are being planned for January.

• Statistical Survey Operations: The team is in place and waiting for the employer to assign a negotiator. Watch for more information as the process moves forward.
   
• CMHC Granville Island: The bargaining team is at the table this week and membership meetings are being scheduled, contact your Local Executive for more information.
   
• IMP Comox: The Arbitrator has rendered their decision, ruling in the Union's favour, with a fair wage increase, improvements and in key areas and no concessions. The new collective agreement expires June 30, 2023.
   
• First Nations Health Authority: Bargaining is set to begin on December 14. Contact your Local Executive for more information and watch for an update.
   
• BWXT Isotope Technologies: The parties met on November 24, where the employer put a significant number of concessions on the table - roll backs to the overtime compensatory leave bank; vacation leave; the pension plan; acting pay and some premiums. The team is at the table again in January and it is expected monetary proposals will be exchanged, contact your Local Executive for more information.
   
• Nav Canada: Members who work for NAV CANADA met September 29 and 30 to discuss the top priorities for their next collective agreement. It was PSAC’s first bargaining conference held entirely online.
   

Union Education

PSAC's education team is working towards re-booting the union education program to comply with public health guidelines and internal policy around the pandemic. Watch for more info to come.

In the interim, the PSAC BC Education Program is pleased to offer ten $500 education subsidies to PSAC BC members who are registering for the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School in 2021. More information and the application form - note the application deadline is December 17.

• This weekend: on Sunday December 6th - the 31st anniversary of the 1989 Montreal massacre and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - join in an End Violence Against Women Virtual Memorial.
   
• The PSAC Vancouver Island Regional Women's Committee is organizing this online event which is open to everyone. Please RSVP here and we will send you the Zoom coordinates.

Take care and stay safe out there,

Patrick Bragg
PSAC Vancouver Regional Office
604 430 5631 | 1 800 663 1655