Front
Lines Tour ends with a protest demo in Ottawa
About 200 Canadian union
activists and supporters demonstrated side-by-side with Colombian
workers in front of the Colombian embassy in downtown Ottawa
to protest the privatization of public services and as an act
of solidarity with members of the Colombian Oil Workers Union.
The oil workers had been on strike since mid-April and
were fighting against the privatisation of the industry.
The protest
was held during the last leg of the Front Lines Tour,
a grueling, but productive, two-week, pan-Canadian tour
for the six Colombian unionists and activists, five
of whom were in the spotlight at the Ottawa rally. The
Colombian delegates had been divided into two groups,
with one touring Western Canada and the other, Atlantic
Canada. To the Canadian workers they met during the
tour and to the protesters at the rally, their message
was the same.
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“Colombians now live in a wave of terror through
the use of violence against workers,” said Colombian labour
activist and Front Lines Tour delegate Maria Eva Villate at
the Ottawa rally. “The government is trying to implement a plan
of privatization of public services and we're asking for support
for those on the front lines fighting against privatization.”
The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) means more hunger,
poverty and unemployment, added Colombian labour leader Jorge
Alvin Anaya, who belongs to Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia,
a labour centre similar to the Canadian Labour Congress.
“I'd like to tell you, Mr. Ambassador, that [with the FTAA] the
government has signed the misery of workers in Colombia,” he said
amid shouts of “shame” from the crowd. “But I would also
like to tell the embassy that workers in Canada are part of our
struggle, too.”
Canadian labour leaders
expressed their solidarity, including Ottawa and District Labour
Council President Sean McKenny and Canadian Labour Congress Secretary-Treasurer
Hassan Yussuff.
“There is an effort to
turn countries into U.S. corporations,” said Yussuff. “The
only way (the U.S.) can get their way is to destroy the trade
union movement, and we can't let that happen.”
The Front Lines Tour was
funded in part by the PSAC Social Justice Fund. The tour
provided opportunities for Colombian trade unionists and activists
to engage in discussions with PSAC and the other co-sponsors of
the tour, the CUPW and CUPE, about the anti-privatization struggles
and the impacts of privatization on workers, services and communities
in Colombia. The Canadian labour co-sponsors and Colombian delegates
met on the last day of the tour to discuss future joint actions.
A
bill on same-sex marriage
The concept of marriage
has changed and evolved over time from an institution rooted in
obligation, property and male control to a chosen institution
based on companionship, love and equal partnership. Heterosexual
couples marry for many reasons, which can also be applied to same
sex couples, but the word “marriage” marks a relationship that
is honoured and valued while terms like "civil union"
and "common law partnership" are merely legal terms.
In 2002, the former Minister
of Justice introduced a bill that would allow the definition of
marriage to include gay and lesbian unions while also protecting
religious freedom. This bill is consistent with court decisions
in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec which have determined that same-sex
couples have the right to choose to marry and that prohibiting
them of this right is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms.
We need to work hard to
make sure this bill passes in its current form. Today, the main
threat comes from Prime Minister Paul Martin and Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler. Martin has never stated an unambiguous
position on same-sex marriage, and there are less supporters in
his Cabinet than the previous one. Cotler has recently appealed
a related court ruling on same-sex benefits. The effect of this
appeal is to victimize some of the most vulnerable people in Canada
– poor and widowed senior citizens who have been denied CPP benefits
(though they have paid for it all their lives) because they are
in same-sex relationships.
No one can know whether
this bill will pass, but what is certain is that we cannot take
progress in human rights for granted. We must not give up until
we have built the society of dignity and inclusion that we all
envision.
What can you
do?
• Visit, phone,
write and email your MP, Paul Martin and Irwin Cotler, urging
them to support the Charter of Rights and show leadership by immediately
legislating same-sex marriage across the country.
• Support organizations
advocating for same-sex marriage rights.
• Organize an
event in support of equal marriage rights (e.g. conferences, panel
discussions, rallies, etc.).
• Vote for politicians
who support human rights.
• Talk to friends
and family about equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Federal
elections
The PSAC put together a Web site about the current federal elections.
It was done to help PSAC members to reflect about this election's
major issues and to provide information about the political platforms
of the political parties. To access the site, click on
this symbol on the PSAC home page.
Classification
issues causing unrest at the border
The frustration of Customs
Officers with the federal government's refusal to deal with outstanding
classification issues is spilling over into the workplace.
In 2000, the jobs of Customs
Officers changed significantly as a result of a law giving designated
Officers the powers and obligations of peace officers under the
Criminal Code. However, these additional powers and responsibilities
are not reflected in the classification or pay of Customs Officers.
At the time of the change
in duties, Customs Officers were employed by the former Canada
Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), which was at the end point
of a classification review. Then on December 12, 2003,
the Customs Officers and other Customs workers were transferred
to the new Canada Border Services Agency. The Customs Excise Union
Douanes Accise expected to be negotiating new pay scales with
the employer in January 2004, but the transfer to the CBSA put
an end to that process. This has prompted Customs Officers
to vote for strike action.
While a new review of these
jobs is being initiated by the Public Service Human Resources
Management Agency of Canada, the process won't be completed until
the fall of 2004 at the earliest. It also appears that the government
has already decided what the new classifications will be even
though they have yet to properly evaluate the jobs.
PSAC National President
Nycole Turmel has written to the Minister of Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness McLellan, Treasury Board President Alcock
and President of the Privy Council Coderre asking them to expedite
the process before an election is called.
Bargaining
Update
Parks workers poised to
strike
Members of the Public Service
Alliance of Canada who work for Parks Canada Agency voted overwhelmingly
in favour of strike action and are prepared to walk the picket
line if they don't get a fair collective agreement soon. Eighty
nine per cent (89 %) said yes to strike action at Parks Canada
after the PSAC negotiating team reported delays and stall tactics
by management at the negotiating table. The negotiating parties
are in the process of establishing a Conciliation Board. Due to
the June 28 federal election which could affect when the union
can strike, Parks members may not be in a legal strike position
until some time in July at the earliest.
Designation process complete
in CRA negotiations
Union and employer representatives
signed a Memorandum of Understanding on all outstanding designations
at the Canada Revenue Agency on May 10, 2004, and the union re-filed
its application for a Conciliation Board the very next day. The
union's representative on the Conciliation Board, James Wolfgang,
has already been named. Once the employer representative is named,
the two sides will try to reach agreement on a chairperson. If
they cannot, a chairperson will be named by the Staff Relations
Board.
What will you be doing
during Solidarity Week 3?
Be sure to check in with
your Local, Branch or PSAC regional office to find out what's
going on during PSAC's Solidarity Week 3, the week of June 14.
Regional strike coordinating committees are already making plans
for activities across the country. This is an important opportunity
for members to let their employers and the upcoming Conciliation
Boards know that our members are serious about their demand and
won't settle for rollbacks.
PSAC
builds the union to address Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis
issues: National Aboriginal Day (June 21) statement
PSAC
has a long-standing involvement on Aboriginal issues and have
made some important gains for our Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis
members over the years through organizing new members, negotiating
at the bargaining table, education, human rights struggles and
many other ways. Our union is also changing to be more
inclusive and accessible to all our members.
There is still much to
do when it comes to advancing the social, economic and workplace
rights of our Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit Brothers and
Sisters. The National Aboriginal Inuit and Métis
(NAIM) Network is an important step in assisting the Union to
do just that.
At the 2003 PSAC Convention,
a resolution was adopted that mandated our union to create a NAIM
Network. The mandate of the Network is to provide a unified voice
for the diverse community of PSAC's Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis
members, so that together, they can increase their involvement
at all levels in our union, empower each other, and advance their
rights within and beyond our union.
If you are Aboriginal, Inuit or Métis,
a member of the PSAC and interested in participating in the NAIM
Network, visit the PSAC Web site at www.psac.com/NAIM
or contact your Regional Office for the application form. Also,
posters for National Aboriginal Day, which promotes the NAIM Network,
will soon be available at your Regional Office.
Don't keep this information to yourself.
Share it with any interested Aboriginal, Inuit or
Métis members! This Call Out is also available in
Inuktituk, in French and in alternate format, upon request.
E-mail us at programs@psac.com
to get a copy in the language/format of your choice.
