News and Political Action

Together For Healthy Workplaces - March 19th.

• We just updated our resources page with two new handouts: The Real Rules About Union Activity in the Workplace and Your Political Rights - Use Them! (both links go directly to the pdf)

Transit and Transportation Referendum - Vote! In a referendum coming up in March, Metro Vancouver residents will be asked to vote on a 0.5 per cent hike in B.C.'s Provincial Sales Tax to improve public transit service. The PSAC BC Region and the Vancouver and West Fraser Valley Area Councils, representing members throughout the Lower Mainland, encourages you to find out more about the referendum and to cast your ballot. Read more here.

BC's Fight For $15. ‘What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all.' The labour movement has a long history of advancing the interests of all workers - particularly the most vulnerable - regardless of whether or not they belong to a union. PSAC BC Regional Council member Crystal Warner wrote about the the Fight for $15 BC campaign at rankandfile.ca. Check it out!

Bargaining

• Treasury Board - All teams are back with the employer at the end of March. Watch for updates.
  • Unit-specific updates for: PA group | TC group | SV group | EB group | FB group
• Canada Revenue Agency - Our bargaining team met with CRA at the beginning of February. It became clear that CRA had no new mandate from Treasury Board. Mediation dates are confirmed for March 30th and April 1st.
• Parks - the Team met with the Parks Canada Agency on February 24, 25 and 26. They said NO to all concessions.
• SSO - Federal Court ruled against us and upheld the employer's position concerning the seniority-based proposals that were in dispute. We will be discussing next steps with our legal counsel and are preparing for the next round of bargaining.
• CFIA - PSAC members at CFIA gathered in Ottawa from January 26-28, 2015 for our National Bargaining Conference and are ready to stand strong in negotiations. We are waiting to hear from CFIA about initial dates.

Union Education


Weekend Course Schedule

Meetings and Events

March 8th is International Womens Day - On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate women’s strength and courage. Let’s get organized to fight back against the conservative attacks and defend women’s rights. We need a government that works for women! Read more here.

The Victoria Womens Committee is is hosting a drop-in conversation on childcare in Canada, March 18th between 11:30AM and 3:30PM. More info at the calendar and visit rethinkchildcare.ca to find out more about the campaign for affordable, accessible childcare.

Summer Events. It's getting to be that time of year again. PSAC BC will be hosting info booths at community events across the province over the summer, talking to the public and our members about our work and our campaigns. If you have a few hours to spare and want to help, let us know!

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

BC Mainland Young Workers Committee - March 5th, Vancouver
Treasury Board Bargaining Update & Q&A with Gail Lem - March 11th, Vancouver
Together For Healthy Workplaces - March 19th, province-wide
BC Mainland Human Rights Committee - April 15th, Vancouver
Okanagan Human Rights Committee - April 18th, Penticton

More information on all of these events at the calendar.

It's a beautiful day here in Vancouver, *|FNAME|*! Spring has sprung!

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

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