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PSAC Social Justice FundStructure and Priorities, November 2003-November 2004Discussions at the National Board of Directors' level in early October have led to some key decisions on the Social Justice Fund (SJF), and to the establishment of priorities for the SJF over the next twelve months. The purpose of this communication is to provide you with an update on the structure of the SJF, the priorities for the next twelve months, and an overview of the next steps. Mandate The PSAC's Social Justice Fund, approved by the NBoD in January 2003 and endorsed by Convention on May 1, 2003 , is the single largest initiative launched by the PSAC in many years. The mandate of the PSAC Social Justice Fund, adopted by the NBoD in January 2003, is to support initiatives in five areas:
Structure The Social Justice Fund is a separate legal entity from the PSAC. Steps have been taken with legal counsel to draft by-laws and establish a separate corporation. We will be seeking charitable status for this corporation (the Social Justice Fund) from the CCRA once the legal documents have been finalized and approved by the Social Justice Fund Board. SJF Board The PSAC Social Justice Fund will be governed by the PSAC Social Justice Fund Board (SJFB), which will consist of all the members of the PSAC National Board of Directors. The SJFB will meet once per year to establish and approve the parameters and guidelines for the partners and projects to be supported by the SJF over the coming year. SJF Steering Committee The SJF will be administered by the Social Justice Fund Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will have two major tasks: To serve as an advisory committee to the Social Justice Fund Board, and to develop the parameters and guidelines to be approved annually by the SJF. To administer the SJF, and to approve specific projects and programs within the parameters approved by the SJFB. The SJF Steering Committee is currently composed of: Nycole Turmel - National President John Gordon - National Executive Vice-President Jeannette Meunier-McKay - National President, CEIU Luc Guevremont - National President - UPCE Membership in the Labour International Development Committee (LIDC) PSAC has approached the CLC and discussed membership in the LIDC - a committee of Unions with social justice funds that works to coordinate solidarity initiatives among Unions. Through the Labour International Development Program, the Canadian International Development Agency provides matching funding to the participants in the LIDC. Members of the LIDC include the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund, the Steelworkers' Humanity Fund, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Union Aid, the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Humanity Fund, and the Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada International Solidarity Fund. What has been achieved since Convention? We have initiated the legal process needed to incorporate the PSAC Social Justice Fund. We have engaged the services of a law firm, and by-laws for the Social Justice Fund have been drafted. We have initiated discussions with the CLC in view of joining the Labour International Development Committee (LIDC), composed of CLC affiliates with social justice funds similar to the PSAC's. - i.e. the CAW Social Justice Fund, the CUPE Union Aid, the CEP Humanity Fund, the IWA International Solidarity Fund and the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. The Membership in the LIDC will provide the PSAC Social Justice Fund with access to matching funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). We have signed collective agreements that include an employer contribution to the PSAC Social Justice Fund - for example the Hay River Housing Association and the Canadian Labour and Business Centre. We have provided a significant number of negotiating team members with information on the PSAC Social Justice Fund. This information, in the form of presentations from representatives, from other unions and PSAC members at Regional and National Bargaining Conferences, a Power Point Presentation and some printed material, has increased the level of understanding of our members directly involved in the bargaining process. We have produced bargaining information for general membership dissemination that highlights the PSAC Social Justice Fund, and why it is important that it be negotiated. We are in the process of producing two short videoclips that will highlight presentations made by CLC Secretary-Treasurer, Hassan Yussuff, and PSAC member, Roberto Miranda, to the September 20th PSAC/Treasury Board Joint Team meeting. These two clips (approximately 6 minutes each) will be streamed onto the Internet, and will provide our members with a personal perspective on what Social Justice Funds can do, and why the CLC is enthusiastic about the PSAC's entry in the growing group of Social Justice Fund Unions. We are also in the process of producing a Flash presentation of the Power Point Presentation produced for PSAC Negotiating Teams for more general membership distribution. Priorities for the Social Justice Fund The Framework for November 2003- November 2004 Given the importance of funding concrete initiatives that will give life and meaning to the SJF for PSAC members, it is essential to target some key areas for funding SJF initiatives over the course of the next year. At its October 9th meeting, the Social Justice Fund Board approved the following priorities over the first funded year of the SJF's existence. Support and/or initiate worker-to-worker exchanges, in collaboration with unions affiliated with the Public Services International and Union Network International, and particularly those that are located in the Americas. Support and/or initiate projects designed to enhance the rights of workers and their Unions in the developing world, particularly in collaboration with unions affiliated with the Public Services International and Union Network International, and particularly those that are located in the Americas. Develop and fund a national anti-poverty activity in Canada that includes membership involvement at the Local or community level. Examples could include, but not be limited to, a Food Bank drive, a Snowsuit Fund initiative or an affordable housing project. Deliver a PSAC education module on social justice, globalization and the links to the lives of workers. Fund PSAC member attendance at educational activities led by the CLC and Federations of Labour. Fund requests for support for emergency relief initiatives in Canada and around the world. Recent examples of PSAC and PSAC Component support for such initiatives include the Badger, Newfoundland flood in 2002 and the B.C. forest fires in the summer of 2003. Next Steps Since Convention, the PSAC has undertaken a number of communications and administrative initiatives that have increased membership awareness of the SJF and what it can achieve. The next steps are to complete the formal process of establishing the Fund, expand membership and public information and education on the purpose of the Fund, and approve specific projects and partners that the Fund will work on and with, over the November 2003 - November 2004 period. Initiating Social Justice Fund Projects We have made initial contact with our PSI counterparts in the Americas to identify some ongoing or upcoming PSI projects we might be able to participate in that would fit the objectives and priorities of the SJF. Further meetings will be held with PSI officials, and possibly UNI officials, in mid-November in Miami during the week of activities protesting the FTAA ministerial meetings. The members of the SJF Steering Committee, together with other PSAC leaders, will be participating in the anti-FTAA activities during the week of November 18-22, and will take the opportunity to meet with labour leaders and trade unionists from the Carribean and Latin America in order to discuss possible SJF initiatives we could cooperate on. |