VTU members and guests attended the September general meeting on Migrant Justice hosted by the Joyce-Collingwood and Marpole chapters, convened on September 7 at 1PM. Here is a summarized version of the minutes.

Item 1 - Land Acknowledgement, Community Agreements, and Presentation from Migrante BC, Anakbayan Joyce, and International Migrants Alliance

• Presentation aimed to help attendees understand the impacts of imperialism, unite migrants in analysis of Canadian policy decisions, understand what solidarity means with migrant tenants, and discuss the state of migrant tenants in Vancouver and strategies to mobilize/agitate them to exert their agency. Instagram summary here 

Item 2 - Breakout group discussion & report back

• If you have one, what is your migration story?
  • Many in the room were either migrants themselves, or children of migrants, who came to Canada or USA for economic reasons and/or as students
  • General recognition of the brain drain of educated professionals not being able to work in their countries of origin, or being de-skilled in Canada and not able to work in the industry of their training
  • Many facing housing and/or job insecurity in Canada, and therefore afraid to risk losing either and getting stuck in poor or unsafe conditions
  • There is often a gap between first-gen and second-gen immigrants
  • Some may feel a false sense of security in not getting involved in organizing
• How do we organize in solidarity with migrant justice issues as tenants, whether or not we are migrants ourselves?
  • Having an awareness of cultural differences that comes into play when organizing, eg. trying to organize on Sundays where many members of the Filipino community go to church
  • It is important to build trust between VTU and other groups organizing in community; showing up for each other, supporting each others activities, and standing in solidarity with worker
  • Recognizing the importance of having language support/translation services, educational workshops
  • Many migrants tied to employer here meaning it is stressful for them to start organizing
  • Understanding the vulnerability of people who may be tied to an employer or vulnerable to deportation/job loss/housing loss

Item 3 - Resolution to endorse Draw the Line

• The Draw the Line coalition is a coalition across Canada. Its goal is mass mobilization across the country to fight back against Mark Carney’s recent anti-migrant and anti- Indigenous sovereignty policies.
• A small local committee has been organizing in Vancouver, including Migrant Students United (MSU) as well as several environmental orgs
  • Main action planned at the moment is a march on September 20th
• Some questions/concerns:
  • What actions will be taken beyond the Sept 20 march?
  • Clarification of Draw the Line demands and funding
  • Can support be withdrawn if needed at a later date?
• Responses:
  • No one in the room is on the organizing committee, so can’t speak to the planning, but the goal is to build long-term coalitions and move beyond policy language
  • The coalition is asking the Canadian government to tax the ultra wealthy, and fund families and communities. Demands in the resolution are summarized online
  • Any motions can be amended or withdrawn at future VTU GMs
• Full motion, moved by Asura, seconded by Lilian: motion passes unanimously

Item 4 - Resolution to Extend Notice for Special Resolutions

• Proposed change is a notice of special resolutions from 7 days to 14 days. Notice of a General Meeting is 14 days for all GMs. If the GM itself is announced 14 days prior, then the special resolutions must be submitted 48 hours after that announcement (therefore 12 days before the GM)
• Some questions/concerns:
  • Seeking clarity around language and understanding the proposal
  • Desire for more time for general members to submit special resolutions after GM announcements
  • There are currently both AGM and GM sections in the VTU bylaw. Prefer to leave AGM section alone, and edit the GM section instead
• Responses:
  • Explanations were given to clarify, and general agreement was that the slides presented at the GM were much clearer than the language of the resolution, which follows Roberts Rules and can be convoluted and confusing
  • Note that the timeline is the minimum; GM notifications are usually sent out earlier, and there are no timeline restrictions on regular resolutions that are not special resolutions
  • There is currently no language in the GM section of VTU bylaws governing resolution notice timelines. The proposed edits require further deliberation, and should be referred to the Bylaw working group.
• Motion to table, seconded by Tyler: motion carries

Item 5 - Resolution for Joyce-Collingwood Chapter to join ILPS

• That the Joyce-Collingwood VTU chapter join the International League of People’s Struggle in Canada (ILPS), an anti-imperialist and democratic organization with over 300 members that promotes support and develops the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the people of the world
• Some questions/concerns:
  • Motion is missing points 18-20 of the ILPS Charter, which organizations need to agree to to join
    • (18) Rights of homeless, urban poor and Internally Displaced People against gentrification, forced evictions, containment, criminalization and exploitation;
    • (19) Defense of the environment against imperialist plunder and overproduction as the main causes of ecological degradation, resource declination and climate crisis, and
    • (20) The struggle of faith-based associations against fascism and imperialism and for the attainment of just peace.
  • How will the costs of membership and attending meetings be covered?
  • What are ILPS causes that show similarity within the basis of unity of the VTU?
• Responses:
  • Friendly amendment to add points 18-20 of the ILPS Charter to the motion
  • Joyce chapter will take on responsibility of fundraising for dues (not taking funds from VTU) and attending meetings
  • Alignment on struggle for workers, tenants and migrant rights; anti-imperialist movement
• Full motion seconded by Ben: motion passes, 2 abstain, 0 against

Item 6 - Community announcements. End & Cleanup

Adjournment

Live minutes are recorded at each GM and condensed for the website. For more detailed minutes any member may contact us: [email protected]