Womens' Program

What's New?

April 23, 2010

Maritime Women's Conference - Application Form

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 is the deadline for submitting applications to the Maritimes Regional Women's Conference. Please get your applications in to the Halifax Regional Office before that date.  

» Files attached » posted by Halifax Regional Office 1

March 1, 2010

Call to action: Project for Slain Women

Minister of State for the Status of Women Helena Guergis has made several announcements over the last ten days with respect to small funding grants to various groups across Canada, particularly those encouraging and coordinating educational projects for women entrepreneurs fitting with SWC's theme Strong Women, Strong Canada. There has been no announcement about funding for the Sisters in Spirit initiative of the Native Women's Association of Canada. From the Winnipeg Free Press :

"We haven't heard anything," said Sisters in Spirit director Kate Rexe. "The government is silent on the issue."

» Read more » posted by Regional Political Communications Officer

January 18, 2010

PSAC Atlantic Women’s Lobby

This month, PSAC activists are lobbying their MPs on the issues of pay equity, child care and the long gun registry.  Get on board!  Download your lobby kits here. And get in touch with your regional representative in charge of the women’s program to coordinate your meetings with your MP. 

» Files attached » posted by Regional Political Communications Officer

December 3, 2009

PSAC Atlantic women send a message to striking workers from the Museum of Civilization and War Museum

Forty PSAC Atlantic women gathered in Halifax this weekend extended their solidarity to the 420 striking museum workers in Ottawa. This photo sends their message and a $400 collection has been sent their way. 

These activists were gathered for a Regional Women’s Forum and Action Planning Seminar. The issues tackled were the Harper Conservatives’ assault on pay equity, childcare and the national long gun registry.The sisters developed plans to take on these challenges in their locals, their committees and their communities.
» posted by Regional Political Communications Officer

November 23, 2009

Regional Women's Committee Holiday Gathering

 

» Read more » Files attached » posted by Charlottetown RO

About

Women's Program

The Role of Regional Women's Committees

PSAC Regional Women's Committees provide an opportunity for Alliance women to organize in their regions and work together collectively. They give recognition and credibility to women's rights as an important concern of the union. Committees aim to

  • inform and educate women on the political, social, economic, and workplace issues that affect them,
  • speak for women with a strong, common voice and advocate policies that promote women's rights,
  • mobilize women to participate in the union and take action on the issues,
  • empower women with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to exercise effective leadership,
  • support women through a network that links them to each other, to the union, and to the community, and
  • reach out to women on the margins and work with them to advance equality and make the Alliance an inclusive union.

The Committee

For information about the Women's Committee, visit the committees page.

Forming a Regional Women's Committee

Steps to follow

  1. Interested women submit motions to their. Locals, e.g., "Be it resolved that our Local initiate steps to form a Regional Women's Committee in (name of region)"
  2. Where the Local belongs to a Component, the Local President writes to the Component President to request the Component seek approval from the Regional Executive Vice-President to form a Regional Women's Committee.

    In the case of "Directly Chartered Locals" the Local President writes to the Regional Executive Vice-President.

  3. When at least three Components or Directly Chartered Locals have submitted a request from a given geographic area, the Regional Executive Vice-President approves these requests.
  4. Once approval is granted, all Locals in the jurisdiction of the proposed Regional Women's Committee are notified. Also at this time, the Committee may request a start-up grant to cover the expenses of initial organizing activities. A grant of $500 is available for this purpose.
  5. A founding meeting of the approved Regional Women's Committee is held. At this meeting, the Committee receives its charter and officially becomes an established Regional Women's Committee. The women members in attendance decide who will be the official representatives from Components and Directly Chartered Locals. They also choose a Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Operating a Regional Women's Committee

Annual Budget

Central to a Committee's effective operation is the annual budget. This determines the amount of funds the Committee will require to carry out its activities. The budget should be prepared for a fiscal period January 1 to December 31, and should include meeting expenses, operating expenses including lost wage requirements and project costs. Project costs should be itemized separately and priorities identified if more than one project is planned.

The proposed budget is submitted to the Regional Executive Vice-President for approval. A first budget should be submitted as soon as possible after the Committee is established. For subsequent years, it is recommended that the annual budget be submitted, along with the year-end financial report and bank book balance, by mid-December in order to allow sufficient time for the approval process.

Accounting and Reporting

Each Committee is responsible for submitting quarterly financial statements to the Regional Executive Vice-President.