News and Political Action

• Pay problems for federal public servants caused by the problematic Phoenix system are still ongoing, with little reduction in the backlog of error-ridden paycheques in recent months. Robyn Benson is quoted at the Hill Times.
   
• Canada’s public service is the most effective in the world, according to the results of a new British study that compares the performance of government workforces in 31 countries. Chris Aylward is quoted in the Vancouver Province.

• Canada Infrastructure Bank: What is it? The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) would be located in Toronto and create a one-stop shop for new infrastructure funding, pooling investments from large investors with a small amount of seed funding granted from the Government of Canada. This approach deliberately creates huge returns for private investors, while driving up the cost of public projects and giving up important public control. Read more and watch and share the video at the national website.

• Jamey Mills, incoming Regional Executive Vice-President for BC, wrote a letter to each of the 42 Members of Parliament in BC, calling on them to stand up for their constituents who are federal government workers. Jamey has already met with Jenny Kwan, John Aldag and Terry Beech to talk about Phoenix and other issues that are important to PSAC members and more meetings are scheduled this month. We have also received letters back from Dianne Watts and Cathy McLeod.

• PSAC BC, along with the BC Federation of Labour and many of its affiliates, help sponsor the BC Lions Be More Than A Bystander campaign. As a thank you for our sponsorship agreement, the BC Lions have provided us with a number of tickets to upcoming games which we are making available to members in a draw. More info and the entry form.

• PSAC BC has partnered with the PNE to offer members the opportunity to purchase tickets to Playland and the 2017 Fair at reduced rates. More information in the poster here - download and post one in your work site!
   
• The BC Federation of Labour is organizing the 4th annual Union Night with the Whitecaps, September 9. This has always proven to be a very popular event - last year over 1,200 union members and their families attend! More information here.

• PA, TC, SV and EB: The new collective agreements have been posted at the national website.
• FB (CBSA): While Parliament is in recess over the summer, members of CIU’s National Board of Directors across the country are taking lobbying training and bringing our message to Members of Parliament.
• CFIA: We have tentative bargaining dates scheduled in the early fall, we'll keep you up to date.
• Parks: Our bargaining team met with the employer July 11-13 in Ottawa, read the update at the national website. Mobilization activities are being planned in advance of the next meeting, scheduled for the end of September. Contact your Local Executive or Regional Office to find out how to get involved.
• Canada Post: The team met with the employer July 25-27 where the focus was on our demands, read the update at the national website.
• SSO: It has recently come to PSAC's attention that Statistical Survey Operation’s pay equity settlement calculations fail to include paid leaves, overtime rates, full compensation for designated paid holidays and other forms of compensation. Rest assured, PSAC will be challenging SSO’s application of the Memorandum of Agreement. Read this important update at the national website.
• CRA: The arbitration process is ongoing, we'll keep you up to date.
• Granville Island: The bargaining team has dates scheduled with the employer September 11-13, contact your Local Executive for more information.
• IMP Comox: The arbitration process is moving forward, however the employer has still not agreed to hearing dates. Contact your Local Executive for more information and to find out how you can support your bargaining team.
• First Nations Health Authority - We have tentative bargaining dates scheduled in September and October, we'll keep you up to date.
• Commissionaires -  The Union team met with the employer the week of July 25. While the teams made significant progress over the week, we still have not reached a tentative agreement. Of note, we made progress on language improvements in bereavement leave, staffing and seniority articles. Visit the Commissionaires website for the full update.
• ARINC - Bargaining is scheduled to resume in the fall. Contact your Local Executive for updates.
• North Peace Airport - We have served the employer with notice to bargain, but do not have dates yet.

Union Education

The PSAC is proud to offer its members a union education program that ranks among the best and most comprehensive within the Canadian labour movement. Here's our weekend course schedule for the fall of 2017.

March with PSAC BC in the Vancouver Pride Parade, Aug 6 - Celebrate your union pride with the PSAC BC and the BC Federation of Labour at the Vancouver pride parade, beginning at noon. All members welcome! More info at the calendar.

Vancouver Area Council Softball Tournament and BBQ, Aug 25 - Join the Vancouver Area Council for our annual softball tournament, free BBQ, and membership appreciation event! First pitch is at 9AM. More info at the calendar.

PSAC BC at the Saanich Fair, Sept 2,3 - As in past years, members of the PSAC Victoria Area Council will host a booth at the Fair, talking to the public about our union and the work members do in the community, the Phoenix pay system, and other issues. Drop by if you're in the neighbourhood! If you'd like to help staff the booth, contact the Victoria Regional Office.

Labour Day, Sept 4 - Celebrate Labour Day at events being held throughout the province! Many of our Area Councils will be there - keep an eye on the calendar at the website for information as it becomes available.

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

East Fraser Valley Area Council meetings - August 8 and 30
Mainland Human Rights Committee meeting - August 14
Mainland and Haida Gwaii Young Workers Committee meeting - September 13

More information about these meetings at the calendar.

Thanks for reading, <<First Name>>, and have a good long weekend! And if you're working over the weekend, thanks for doing what you do to keep things going!

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

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