PSAC National Access Conference : Our Rights -Moving On Up!

February 2, 2005

Access 2005: Disability rights are moving forward

The fifth PSAC Access Conference was held in Montreal from January 20 to 23. It was attended by 98 participants and about twenty guests and observers. In keeping with the theme, “Our Rights, Moving On Up!”, delegates dealt with the impact of globalization on workers with disabilities, their mobilization in the PSAC, the development of union-based strategies to ensure their integration and the importance of having the rights of members with disabilities resonate in the union and in the workplace.

Deborah Stienstra, a university researcher, captivated the audience when she spoke about the impact of free trade agreements and globalization in general on the rights of Canadian workers with disabilities. After stating that the globalization movement tends to categorize persons into groups who are “able” and those who are “not able,” Ms. Stienstra pointed out that “we must bring out and denounce these ideas and what they mean for persons with disabilities. We must bring society around to thinking that their work represents value added, not the minimum that is required. We must arrive at a situation where the quality of work of all employees, both those with and without disabilities, is honoured rather than exploited.”

The Conference wrapped up on Sunday, January 23, with a firm commitment on the part of participants to continue the fight to achieve better integration of workers with disabilities into the workplace and into their union.

At the end of the conference, delegates selected their representatives and alternates to sit on the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee. They are Catherine Scott as the woman’s representative and Robin East as the male representative. Maureen Doherty, Pat McGrath and Claudine Philippe are the alternates to Catherine Scott, and Jean-Louis Deveau, Keith Gillard and François Brochu are the alternates to Robin East.

For other pictures, click here

January 19, 2005

Workers with disabilities refuse to bear brunt of privatization

Workers with disabilities who are working in the federal public service are concerned that they will be the ones to end up paying for the increased privatization of government services. Read the News Release.

Conference objectives

The objectives of the PSAC National Access Conference are:

• Ensuring the rights of members with disabilities resonate in the Union and in the Workplace;
  
• Linking decreased rights for People with Disabilities to globalization;
  
• Developing and implementing Union based strategies to ensure integration of the rights of members with disabilities in the Local, the Workplace and the Government; and
  
• Mobilizing Members with Disabilities to activism within the Union, their Workplace and their Communities.

Conference details

Registration forms and this covering memorandum are available on request in braille and on diskette (MS Word) through the PSAC Programs Section. (Conference contacts)

PLEASE NOTE that all PSAC events are non-smoking and scent-free.   We would request that participants refrain from wearing perfumes and scented products because some participants may experience severe reactions to these products.

Who can attend?  

All PSAC members with disabilities in good standing are eligible to apply to attend this conference.

1.   Delegates  

There will be a minimum of 87 delegates selected to attend the Conference.   Delegates will be selected by their respective Regions and Components.   The delegates will be entitled to full voice and vote during the conference, including the resolutions and elections processes. As well, the delegates will fully participate in one workshop.  

Funding for Delegates:  

Delegate costs to the PSAC National Access Conference will be fully covered as per the 2003 PSAC Triennial Convention decision and PSAC Travel Directive.    Costs covered are as follows:

•  travel costs, including ground transportation;

•  hotel accommodation costs at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel;

•  loss of salary;

•  per diem for meals;

•  incidental costs.

Accommodation Needs of Delegates:

PSAC policy ensures that the needs of participants with disabilities will be accommodated. When applying, applicants are required to specify their accommodation needs in order to fully participate in this conference. Follow-up contact will be made if there is a necessity to clarify specific needs.  

Family Care for Delegates:  

The PSAC Family Care Allowance Policy provides for the reimbursement of family care expenses. A copy of the policy is available through the PSAC Regional Offices.

If required by delegates, on-site child care will be provided at the conference during the plenary and workshop sessions. Requests for on-site child care must be made prior to July 30, 2004 in order for us to make the arrangements for quality on-site child care.

Hotel Accommodation and Travel Accommodations for Delegates:  

The PSAC has reserved a block of rooms at Queen Elizabeth Hotel. This hotel is unionized and accessible.

Once your delegate status has been confirmed, you will be contacted to confirm your attendance. You will be asked to contact WE Travel, our travel agent, in order to finalize your travel arrangements. Further details will follow.  

2. Observers

Due to space limitations, no observers will be allowed to attend the 2004 PSAC National Access Conference.

3. Guests

PSAC National Board of Directors members are eligible to attend the PSAC National Access Conference as Guests.

For further information or assistance :

Please call (613) 560-5457.   Leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

You may also contact Seema Lamba, the Human Rights Program Officer by email at lambas@psac.com or Sue Courchaine, PSAC Conference Administrative Assistant by email at courchs@psac.com .

The fax number is (613) 236-9402 and the TDD number is
(613) 594-9394.

We look forward to our fifth PSAC National Access Conference and see it as an opportunity for our members to continue the important work of pushing the human rights agenda forward.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

In Solidarity,

Robyn Benson , REVP Prairies  
Jerome Turcq , REVP Quebec

2005 PSAC National Access Conference Co-Chairs