Today marked the first day of the 10th PSAC B.C. Regional Triennial Convention. One hundred and eighty-three delegates from across the Region, accompanied by 12 guests and 17 observers gathered at the Victoria Conference Center on Vancouver Island.
Under the Convention’s theme, “Putting the ‘U’ In Union, delegates began the work of setting the path forward for the next three years and determining the Region’s priorities for collective action.
To begin this important work in a good way, we were fortunate to have Elder Shirley Alphonse of the Cowichan First Nation and Elder Clarence “Butch” Dick of the Songhees First Nation open the day with encouragement and reflection.
After completing the procedural work of ratifying committees and referring convention business to the committees, Regional Executive Vice-President Jamey Mills deliver his report to convention, highlighting the hard-fought progress of the last three years and the challenges still ahead. The REVP report was followed by an energetic lunchtime rally that focused on protecting public services.
In the afternoon Delegates, Observers and Guests had the opportunity to hear from BC Federation of Labour President Sussanne Skidmore, who brought both greetings and a clear message of solidarity: the fights PSAC faces at the bargaining table and in the workplace have the full support of BC’s labour movement because “when workers fight together, we win together.”
The balance of the day centered on a review of the 2023-2025 Financial Statements, the tabling of the Region’s Priority Proposal for the next three years, and the debates surrounding both. The By-Laws Resolutions Committee was also called up to speak to the first half of their priority resolutions, after which the following resolutions were adopted:
- BLW-26 Travel Status for PSAC B.C. Sanctioned Activities
- BLW-07 Maximum Number of Hours Combined for a Travel/Work/Union Business Day
- BLW-06 REVP Residency Requirement Modernization
- BLW-20 REVP Residency Requirement Modernization