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REPORT OF THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT
PRAIRIES
TO THE PRAIRIE REGION COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 16 - 18, 2002
REGIONAL COUNCIL
Since my last report we were very busy preparing for our Convention which was
held in Saskatoon, SK from November 30 - December 2/01. There were
146 delegates, 11 observers and 16 guests. We were very pleased to
have not only Sister Nycole Turmel but Sister Barb Byers, President of the
Saskatchewan Federation of Labour address the convention. Both speeches
were well received and the members took full advantage of Sister Turmel's
gracious offer of a question period.
The Convention was structured so that the delegates and observers had an opportunity to experience both Convention committees and plenary debate. We had three resolution committees and three “discussion paper” committees. We had originally planned to have Local Development Workshops on Saturday afternoon however, hearty debate on resolutions such as our structure, Area Council voice and vote and funding to our Convention lasted the whole day. We were honoured to be the first body to review and debate the discussion papers on Globalization, Security in Government and Collective Bargaining. The committees were made up of delegates who came from a wide range of PSAC Components throughout our Region. They brought to the table a wealth of experience and knowledge.
It is evident from the reports and the subsequent discussion at plenary that we, as a Union need to continue to emphasize the involvement of our grass roots members. Our grass roots members are the ones who work within their communities, work places, District Labour Councils and Federations of Labour to ensure that the economic, social and political interests of Canadians are protected. These members see on a day-to-day basis, the work place conditions with respect to security and health and safety not only for themselves, but for the public at large. The delegates expressed that we must be diligent in building our Locals between Bargaining Rounds and that we must always have a mobilized membership.
The discussion papers have proven to be an effective tool in developing a committed membership and this was evidenced by the delegates emphatically stating that we cannot wait until the PSAC Convention to have the issues addressed. I know that we in the Prairies will be seeing issues of Security at Local labour/ management consultations, education on the effects of Globalization at Local meetings and ongoing membership mobilization with respective to collective bargaining, irrespective of which bargaining unit the members represent.
The newly elected Prairie Region Council (PRC) will provide direction to the regional membership in addressing these and many more issues in the Labour movement as a whole. I know the Council is committed to working with the membership to heighten the profile of their Union within their workplaces and their communities. I take great pride in announcing our new council:
Prairie Region Council 2001 - 2004:
Northern Alberta Southern
Alberta
Sr. Niru Channan (NH&WU) Br.
Greg Krokosh (UTE)
Sr. Jo Chelick (UTE) (2nd term) Br.
Steve Pellerin-Fowlie (CEUDA) (2nd term)
Northern Saskatchewan Southern
Saskatchewan
Sr. Marianne Hladun (AGR) (2nd term) Br.
Satinder Bains (USGE)
Sr. Della Winkler (CEIU) Sr.
Janet Letwinka (CEIU) (2nd term)
Manitoba Manitoba
Sr. Dale Buck (UNDE) (2nd term) Sr.
Mary Jane Ellis (USGE)
Sr. Barb Hall (CEIU) Sr.
Pat Mason (UVAE) (2nd term)
Directly Charted Locals Equity
Groups
Sr. Debbie Metz (DCL) (2nd term) Br.
Don Rogers (CEIU)
Regional Women's Committee
Sr. Balwinder Dhaliwal (GSU)
AREA COUNCILS
Our Area Councils have just started to meet after taking
the summer off. I will be forwarding the discussion papers
and the reports from convention to them as I believe that the
Area councils have a role to play to ensure that the work of
our Prairie Region Convention continues. Our Area Councils
as well as our Prairie Region Council will be discussing our
involvement surrounding the G8 Summit scheduled for Kananaskis
in the spring of 2002. Brother Steve Pellerin-Fowlie represented
the PSAC at a meeting hosted by the Alberta Federation of Labour
and the Communication Energy & Paperworkers Union. This
meeting had two components: a planning session for labour and
a discussion with labour's social partners and allies. As
the Summit is in the Prairie Region it is my hope that the members
of PSAC are visible with our coalition partners in whatever events
that are planned.
REGIONAL WOMEN'S COMMITTEES
In my last report to the Board I reported that we would
be holding the first ever Prairie Region Women's Conference. This
Conference will bring together Sisters from all three provinces. Our
organizing committee has met several times via conference call
and the plans are underway. The conference will be held
in Regina May 3-5/02.
EDUCATION
Although a number of our courses were canceled this fall
due to the strike activity of our Treasury Board units we in
the Prairies are looking forward to increased education in the
coming year. We are currently in the process of consultation
with the Regional Offices, Alliance Facilitators, Locals, and
Prairie Region Council members. Once our Regional Education
Officer compiles the input received we will review our budgets
and circulate the schedule. The Local Development workshop
created for our Convention (which we were unable to deliver)
will also be included in our upcoming schedule.
FEDERATIONS OF LABOUR
The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Convention was
held November 7-9/01. Our members continue to be actively
involved and as such the Convention unanimously adopted a resolution
condemning Bombardier Inc. for its anti-union behaviour. We
will be promoting our Union to thousands of people from February
6-20, 2002 “vis-à-vis” our joint sponsorship of “Grace” the
play by Michael Lewis at the Globe Theatre.
The Manitoba Federation of Labour has undertaken a Workplace Safety and Health Campaign. Along with Brother Rob Hilliard making a presentation to the Public Hearings on October 24, 2001 we adopted a resolution to proceed with a billboard campaign in support of our efforts to improve the Workplace Health & Safety Act. The PSAC will be sponsoring one or more billboards for a four to eight week period in early 2002. We will continue our lobby efforts with the MLA's to ensure improvements are made in our workplaces.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ACTION
I was very pleased to be a delegate to the New Democrats
Convention in Winnipeg from November 23-25. This was the
first Convention that I attended and it certainly was a learning
experience. The debate on the renewal of the New Democratic
Party was intense to say the least. There were hundreds
of resolutions submitted and I'm sure it was a daunting task
for the committees to establish their priorities. We dealt
with resolutions ranging from Party Affairs to Aboriginal Peoples & the
North to Health to Social Policy and the list goes on. The
members of the Prairie Region who were able to attend valued
this experience. I, along with several other Union representatives,
was asked to attend a luncheon with the Hon. Lorne Calvert, Premier
of Saskatchewan. At this luncheon we, as Union leaders,
reinforced our commitment to Labour friendly governments. I
took this opportunity to speak with Mr. Calvert about our concerns
with Bombardier Inc. and their anti union tactics. Mr.
Calvert indicated that he would be receptive to a meeting with
the Local President and myself in the new year to further discuss
this issue. A meeting is scheduled to take place on April
10, 2002.
MOBILIZATION
Along with the bargaining team members, I attended many
Treasury Board information/ratification meetings in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta. These meetings were well attended
and I believe that the Treasury Board members who voted did so
in an informed manner. I personally want to express my
sincere appreciation and gratitude to all of the members of the
Prairie Region, Picket Captains, Strike Captains, Area Coordinators,
Regional Office Staff and Prairie Region Council members for
their solidarity and commitment. Our challenges will continue
in the new year with UPCE in Strike mode and CCRA and Parks at
the negotiating table.
In Solidarity
Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President, Prairies