News and Political Action

• Robyn Benson submitted a letter to the editor of the National Post in response to a recent piece criticizing union campaigns in this election. It hasn't been published yet, but you can read it at the PSAC BC website.
• PSAC BC and the Union of Veteran's Affairs Employees teamed up with veterans to hold a media event in Victoria, calling on the next government to reopen the nine Veterans Affairs offices that were closed in 2014 and restore funding to VAC.
  • Video from CTV Victoria
  • Report from the Times Colonist
• PSAC’s request to the courts to stop the government from implementing its go to work sick plan will go before the court in October. The court ruled that the Conservative government must give five days’ notice if it plans to impose a new sick leave deal - Robyn Benson is quoted at the Ottawa Citizen.

Pledge to vote in the federal election!

• The October election is our chance to vote for a better future for all Canadians. Those of us that are federal public service workers are also voting for our next employer - we can vote for a government that respects public services and the workers that provide them. Make sure your vote counts and take the pledge to vote. Find out more about the issues that affect us all here.

• Earlier this year, the Conservative government made changes to the requirements for voting. Even if you have voted in past elections, you may not be registered. Check out Elections Canada’s website to find out
   
  • whether you are on the voter’s list
  • where and when to vote
  • what kinds of ID are required to vote
  • key dates for voting and registration

• Important improvement for public service employees on disability leave - as a result of the settlement of a human rights complaint presented by a PSAC member and supported by PSAC, the Treasury Board has issued a bulletin “to ensure that there is no confusion regarding the approach and the standard for addressing leave without pay due to illness or injury”. The bulletin clarifies the policy on leave without pay - more at the national website.

• Bargaining with our government units is on hold until after the election - we'll keep you up to date in the fall.

Union Education

Fall Course Schedule

Province-Wide

Advanced Representation Training - October 23-26 - details & registration
Advanced Duty to Accommodate - December 4-6 - details & registration
Alliance Facilitator Training - January 15-17 - details & registration

Southern Interior

Public Speaking - Penticton - September 19
Duty to Accommodate - Penticton - September 20

Vancouver Island

Political Action Training - Victoria - September 18
Talking Union Basics - Victoria - September 26/27
Understanding and Interpreting the Collective Agreement - Victoria - November 7

Fraser Valley

Grievance Handling - Abbotsford - September 26/27
Creating Respectful Workplaces - Abbotsford - November 21/22

Northern BC

Grievance Handling - Prince George - October 3/4

Lower Mainland

Public Speaking - Vancouver - October 3
Representing Members with Mental Illness - Vancouver - October 4
Local Officers Course - Vancouver - November 21/22

More information about these courses at the website. Apply for online here.
 

Meetings and Events



Celebrate Labour Day in your community - PSAC Area Council members are hosting booths at Labour Day events in Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Victoria (we're also at the Saanich Fair all the long weekend). We'll be talking to the public and fellow union members about our work and federal public services. Drop by and say hello! Here's a list of all Labour Day events in BC.

Do you want to make a difference in the upcoming Federal Election? Join with PSAC members to work on our member-to-member canvass during the federal election period. We'll be speaking to fellow union members in person and over the phone, and talking to them about the importance of voting for candidates who support public services and workers' rights. Dates and locations here, or email me back for more info.

PSAC Family BBQ in Abbotsford, September 19 - All PSAC members and family in the area are invited! PSAC is hosting BBQ and family fun event in Riverside Park. Join us for something to eat, a volleyball and croquet tournament, and a bouncy castle for the kids! details

Save the Dates! We've scheduled a Telephone Town Hall for members in BC on September 29th to talk about the election. And the Regional Health and Safety Conference is scheduled for November

Regularly Scheduled Meetings

Thanks for reading all the way to the end *|FNAME|*! Now, have you pledged to vote in the federal election yet?

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

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