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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                October 15, 2002

 MEDIA ADVISORY

OTTAWA - Racism, employment equity and globalization are among a number of issues that will be addressed during a conference of Aboriginal and racially visible members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

With the theme "Solidarity in Our Journey, Unity for the Future," about 125 conference delegates will gather in Winnipeg to discuss strategies on collectively addressing their issues through the union.

The issue of racism in the workplace and in society at large will be highlighted by speakers who participated the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban and will be discussed in the context of globalization and privatization of public services.

Also, with the release of recent studies by the federal government and joint efforts with PSAC, employment equity will be among the hot topics in the conference. The studies have found that Aboriginal and racially visible people are under-represented in the federally regulated and public sector workforce relative to their labour market availability and that they tend to be hired more as term employees rather than permanent employees in the federal public service.

WHEN:                                Friday, Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m. to Sunday, Oct. 20 at noon.

WHERE:                              Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel, 2 Lombard Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:     - Grand Chief Dennis White Bird, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs;

                                              - Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President;

                                              - Mary Woo Sims, represented the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies                                                 in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism (UNWCAR);

                                              - Leslie Spillett, UNWCAR Advisory Committee and Aboriginal Advisory Committee;

                                              - Hassan Yussuff, Canadian Labour Congress; and

                                              - Michele Audette, Quebec Native Women’s Association.

MEDIA can attend all the conference plenary sessions. Please contact the PSAC Communications Section to obtain a copy of the conference agenda and to arrange interviews.

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For information:     Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications Section, (613) 560-4235