Step into a role where every effort counts, and every contribution is celebrated. At the Union of National Employees (UNE), our diverse community is powered by committed and dedicated employees who provide exceptional service to our 27,000 members across 73 dynamic workplaces. Together, we champion workers’ rights, human rights, and social justice with unwavering passion.
Since 1967, UNE has stood as a beacon for empowering voices and embracing unique perspectives across public, private, and non-profit sectors. We believe that our strength lies in our diversity, and we foster an inclusive environment where every idea is valued and every individual can thrive.
By joining our team, you’ll enjoy:
Generous Time Off: Kickstart your journey with three weeks’ vacation, plus extra paid leave to support your wellness.
Flexible Work Arrangements: Experience a dynamic hybrid model with a minimum of two days per week at the office.
Outstanding Benefits: Benefit from competitive group plans—including Health, Dental, Life, and Disability Insurance—fully paid by UNE.
Financial Security: Secure your future with our Defined Benefit Pension Plan featuring balanced (50/50) contributions.
Continuous Growth: Receive robust support for professional development and a wellness allowance of $1,600 per year.
If you’re driven by a commitment to service and ready to contribute to a legacy of positive change, UNE is the perfect place for you. Join us and be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of 27,000 members and beyond.
Discover your next career chapter with UNE – where your passion meets purpose!
The National President and National Vice-President are pleased to invite you to a Hybrid Town Hall taking place on Thursday, May 29th , 2025 in the Grand Salon Boardroom at 340 McLaren in Ottawa. You will have the option to attend in person or virtually via Zoom.
👉 Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Bernadeth Betchi, Co-ordinator, National President’s Office, with any questions at: Bernadeth.betchi@une-sen.org
We look forward to connecting with you — whether in person or online!
The recent announcements of job cuts at Employment and Social Development of Canada (ESDC) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) threaten the public services that workers and families across the country rely on every day.
On Thursday, ESDC informed workers that 800 term jobs at Service Canada will be eliminated as of June 27. Earlier that same day, CRA announced it will cut nearly 300 jobs, with another 400 workers undergoing a retention process.
“Throughout the election, the Liberals promised ‘caps, not cuts,’ but each week, hundreds of federal workers are receiving notice that their jobs are being eliminated,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “Prime Minister Carney needs to make good on his word and stop slashing the services people depend on – especially without proper analysis or solid evidence to support these decisions.”
Passports cuts will mean longer wait times
PSAC and its component unions, the Union of National Employees (UNE), Canada Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), warn that these cuts will significantly impact Service Canada’s wait times and services.
“Cutting hundreds of jobs at Service Canada across the country means there won’t be enough staff to provide the passports people need, when they need them,” said Alisha Kang, UNE National President. “These cuts will only result in longer wait times and backlogs – not the ‘government efficiency’ that we were promised by Prime Minister Carney and his new cabinet.”
“Instead of building a stable and well-trained workforce, the government is fostering uncertainty and chaos,” said Rubina Boucher, CEIU National President. “Workers deserve respect and security, and the public deserves a service they can count on.”
CRA cuts undermines services to taxpayers and businesses
The latest announcement significantly weakens the CRA’s internal capabilities, particularly in analysis, compliance and operational support services and brings the total to more than 3,000 jobs cut at the CRA in the past six months.
“These successive cuts hit our members hard, but they also greatly impact the Canadian population and businesses. With every position eliminated, processing delays grow longer, calls go unanswered, files pile up, and citizens are left behind in uncertainty. Those who remain are being pushed beyond their limits — expected to do more with less, while working under mounting stress and growing job insecurity,” said Marc Brière, Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) National President.
It’s time to invest in public services
PSAC is calling on Prime Minister Carney to stop these job cuts, consult with unions, and develop a plan to strengthen the public service. Reckless cuts without proper consultation and planning will only hurt people in Canada who need to access vital services.
We will continue to hold the government accountable and fight to ensure the protection of Canada’s safety net.
Parks Canada delegates set priorities and elect new bargaining team
Nearly 30 Parks Canada members representing more than 4,000 workers across the country, gathered in Gatineau on May 7-9, to review bargaining input, set priorities, and elect a new bargaining team for the next round of negotiations.
At the conference, delegates discussed bargaining proposals submitted by Parks members and discussed priorities received through an online survey. Particular attention was devoted to critical issues such as job security, equitable wages and premiums, group specific working conditions and flexible telework arrangements.
Delegates also participated in a solidarity action at Parks Canada Headquarters in Gatineau. This show of unity underscored the collective determination of Parks Canada workers to secure a fair contract for members.
Delegates also elected their new bargaining team, ensuring broad representation from across Canada with a clear mandate for the upcoming negotiations.
Meet the Parks Canada bargaining team
Kevin Alldread
Shilla Johnson
Birch Howard
Christopher Waldinsperger
Daniel Toutant
Angela Decker
Josée Tremblay
Alternates
Mohamed Zaid
André Miller
Jonathan Jeet
Hunter Lemon
Adelaide (Ady) King
Ellen Cross
Michael Kvern
The bargaining team will be supported by PSAC Negotiator Laneydi Martinez Alfonso.
The team will now caucus to review key demands and prepare a comprehensive package to present to the employer.
Parks Canada members play a vital role in protecting Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. They work in a variety of fields, including architecture, commerce, engineering, finance, forestry, general labour and trades, historical research, program administration, as well as seasonal work. Parks Canada members also include park wardens, canal workers, and office staff.
Parks Canada workers at PSAC are members of the Union of National Employees (UNE) and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE).
Stay engaged and informed by keeping your contact details up to date and signing up for updates from PSAC.
Did you know? UNE members now have access to a Local Engagement Fund (LEF) to bolster member engagement!
At a recent special national executive meeting, a motion was passed to create the LEF, allowing Locals to access a monthly minimum of $600 to a maximum of the equivalent of $2.00 per member per month. These funds are available until July 30, 2026.
The LEF can be used for:
✅ Member engagement events & social gatherings ✅ Travel to UNE, PSAC, and CLC events, rallies & protests ✅ Equipment & supplies (e.g., laptops) ✅ Giveaways (max $100 per member, $300 per event) ✅ Reimbursement for travel & accommodations to national executive meetings ✅ UNE Promotional items
💡 Do you have another idea? Submit it for preapproval! Email us at LEF-FMSL@une-sen.org.
How It Works:
1️⃣ Local members approve an expenditure plan at a scheduled meeting. 2️⃣ Submit it to the UNE Standing Finance Committee. LEF-FMSL@une-sen.org 3️⃣ Upon approval, carry out the activity with an advance or reimbursement. 4️⃣ Submit receipts—claims are required to access future funds.
🚨 LEF cannot be used for honorariums or strike funds. ⏳ Unused funds return to UNE’s surplus after July 30, 2026.
Take advantage of this opportunity—get engaged, get funded!
PSAC’s Workforce Adjustment guide for workers at Parks Canada is an essential resource to help members understand their rights and protections when changes to the workforce, including layoffs, are being contemplated. It is designed to reduce uncertainty, provide clarity, and empower members to make informed decisions.
The WFA Guide explains the processes that govern workforce adjustment with Parks Canada. Whether you are directly affected or want to stay informed, the guide outlines:
Employer and employee responsibilities under the Workforce Adjustment Appendix.
Steps to navigate workforce adjustment scenarios, including layoffs, relocations, and alternative delivery initiatives.
Options available to workers, such as the guarantee of a reasonable job offer, voluntary departure programs, and the alternation process.
Facing workforce adjustment may be one of the most stressful experiences in your career. The WFA Guide equips you with the knowledge to navigate this process while highlighting the protections PSAC has negotiated on your behalf.
If you have questions or need assistance with workforce adjustment, contact your local representative, PSAC regional office, or your component, the Union of National Employees, for support.
PSAC has filed a sweeping human rights complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission on behalf of all Black PSAC members employed in the federal public service. The complaint challenges decades of systemic discrimination, racist comments, microaggressions, and policies and practices that have unjustly blocked Black workers from career advancement.
“For decades, Black federal public service workers have endured racism at work, been shut out of job opportunities, and denied the safe workplace they deserve,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President. “Instead of fixing the problem, the government fought Black workers in court hoping it would all just go away. We won’t back down until the government is held accountable and our members get the justice they deserve.”
The complaint details the federal government’s longstanding failure to address anti-Black racism in its workplaces, including:
Racist comments, microaggressions and discriminatory behaviour;
Heightened scrutiny and disproportionate discipline;
Dismissal or downplaying of discrimination and harassment complaints;
Barriers to hiring and promotion;
Unequal access to training, mentorship, and career development;
A failure to address anti-Black racism and bias in staffing processes.
This filing follows the recent dismissal of the Black Class Action lawsuit, which the federal government fought vehemently against to deny its certification despite its own admission that systemic anti-Black racism exists in its workplace and across Canada. PSAC backed the legal action by providing financial and legal support and publicly advocating for the government to settle the case.
The federal government has spent more than $10 million in legal costs to prevent the certification of the Black Class Action lawsuit.
Through PSAC’s litigation, the union will seek systemic remedies to eliminate anti-Black racism in federal workplaces as well as damages to make members whole for the harm they have experienced. PSAC is calling for meaningful changes to hiring and promotion policies and practices, stronger accountability measures, and an end to the discriminatory practices that have harmed generations of Black federal public service workers and their families.
“Black workers have suffered economic and psychological harm for decades — and they deserve real, lasting change,” added DeSousa. “It’s time for the government to own up to their mistakes and fix what’s clearly broken.”
As Canada’s largest federal public service union and the bargaining agent for over 245,000 workers across the country, including 185,000 federal public service workers, PSAC is uniquely positioned to identify and challenge discriminatory practices affecting Black federal workers. This complaint is a critical step in the fight for justice and part of the union’s broader commitment to confronting anti-Black racism in and out of the workplace.
The National Executive is meeting this week in Quebec City, QC from March 24-27. Monday was a packed day of training on Local AGM’s, Rules of Order, Week of action against racism and for equal opportunities, and a visit with our members at National Battlefield Commission organized by Local 10209’s Charles-Olivier Jean. Thanks so much to our guides, Louis-Joseph and James!
Playing Louis-Joseph De Montcalm: Katia Thibault-Rochefort, Local 10206 human rights and health & safety representative. Playing James Wolfe: Amélie Geoffroy
Work continued Tuesday with the presentation of reports and healthy discussions about member onboarding and local finances. In the afternoon, the group was updated on details surrounding UNE’s packed year of conferences and regional seminars where ideas on training and workshops were front and centre. Finally, a discussion on collective bargaining was capped off with the good news that members at Best Theratronics, who had been on strike since May 2024 finally reached an agreement with their employer.
On the 20th of March 2025, for International Francophonie Day, the UNE’s Francophone Committee invites UNE members to take a few moments to acknowledge their affiliation to the francophone community. The Committee wishes to remind you that French is a tool for inclusion, exchange and union cooperation. Working in French is a right, and it is a working condition.
Protecting French in the workplace stems from members who are well versed on their right to work in their language of choice and from a collective awareness of the benefits of communicating in French, especially as it pertains to access to rights and health & safety issues.
Francophonie Day is also a time to celebrate the solidarity that brings together French-speaking workers.
During this period of collective agreement bargaining, it is important that respect for both official languages be at the heart of negotiations to maintain our right to work in French.
The UNE’s Francophone Committee would therefore like to wish you a good Francophonie Day.
