Posted on

October 4, 2018: Sisters in Spirit Vigils


This is an invitation to celebrate, honour and support Indigenous women, girls and their families on October 4 by attending or holding a Sisters In Spirit Vigil.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) began drawing attention to the issue of violence against Indigenous women in 2005. They assembled a database on 582 missing and murdered women and girls. This year will be the 13th annual Sisters In Spirit Vigils across the country.

‘’Each year, family members, Indigenous community members, and supports gather on October 4th at Parliament Hill and across the country. We gather to honour our sisters and their families who have been impacted by violence.’’

A vigil can take many forms, from a moment of silence, to a rally, to a community feast. All that is important is that you take some time on or around October 4 to mark the day.

In response to numerous calls for action from organizations such as NWAC and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA), the Government of Canada launched an entirely independent National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in September 2016.

PSAC also demands justice for Indigenous women and girls. “This government must ensure that the Inquiry leads to justice and healing for all affected by this ongoing tragedy,” said Magali Picard, PSAC National Executive Vice-President. “Indigenous women and girls, and their families, deserve answers. They deserve justice.’’

“Indigenous women are loved and valued. However, statistics on murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls show that they are in danger. How can we, as a society, keep them safe? Two questions from and Indigenous woman who spoke at a supportive gathering several years ago still resonate: “Will you hear me? Will you believe me?’’ declares UNE National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples Ruby Langan.

Posted on

Parks National Bargaining Conference

PSAC’s Parks Canada met last week in Ottawa for a three-day bargaining conference. Members from across the country gathered from September 25 to 27 in order to prepare for upcoming negotiations for a new collective agreement.

Throughout the conference, the delegates:
• learned about the collective bargaining process,
• reviewed bargaining proposals and discuss priorities,
• developed mobilization strategies, and
• elected their bargaining team members.

The new bargaining team. First row, from left to right: Omar Murray (Local 40340 – Parks Canada – Saskatchewan South, SK); Loretta Moar (Local 50110 – Riding Mountain National Park, MB); Kassandra McKinnon (Local 90023 – Parks Canada Employees); Angela Decker (Local 90265 – Gros Morne National Park, NL); Birch Howard (alternate) (Local Y0104 – Kluane National Park, YT). Second row, from left to right: UCTE member Daniel Britton; UCTE member Réginal Bernatchez (alternate); Daniel Toutant (Local 10269 – Mauricie National Park and Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site, QC); Marc Phillips (Local 70501 – Parks Canada Agency (Gatineau), NCR); André Miller (alternate) (Local 70501 – Parks Canada Agency (Gatineau), NCR); Mike LeBlanc (alternate) (Local 60284 – Kouchibouguac National Park, NB)

Parks Canada members signed their most recent agreement on May 31, 2018. The four-year collective agreement, which expired August 4, 2018, includes an updated definition of ‘family’, improved leave provisions, improved member protections, unchanged sick leave, and monetary compensation for members.

Stay up to date with bargaining news by visiting the PSAC Parks Canada bargaining webpage, or sign up to receive PSAC e-News.

Posted on

Park Wardens attending the 2018 Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial Service

First row from left to right: Kelly Forbes (Local 00041 – Bruce Peninsula); Anika Hodgson (Local 30116 – Elk Island); Sharon Woods (Local 20106 – Mount Revelstoke); Tanya Dowdall (Local 29266 – Pacific Rim); Courtney Bearinger (Local 30402 – Lake Louise)
Second row from left to right: Birch Howard (Local Y0104 – Kluane); Jonathan Jansen (Local 00238 – Georgian Bay); Erin Munk (Local 50110 – Riding Mountain); Jordan Morrison (Local 00041 – Bruce Peninsula)

Nine park wardens participated in the 2018 Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial Service on September 30. Sharon Woods, Tanya Dowdall, Courtney Bearinger, Kelly Forbes, Anika Hodgson, Birch Howard, Jonathan Jansen, Jordan Morrison and Erin Munk proudly marched and took part in the service on Parliament Hill to honour fallen police officers. UNE National President Kevin King also attended the service.

The last Sunday of September of every year was declared as the Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day in 1998 by the Canadian Government.
Park Warden Sharon Woods read the names of the six fallen police officers who died in the line of duty, to be added to the memorial wall.

The UNE is proud to represent law enforcement personnel working at Parks Canada and for the Parliamentary Protective Services (PPS).

Posted on

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day

The orange shirt, proudly worn by a six-year-old indigenous girl named Phyllis, was stripped from her on her first day of residential school. In 2013, her story led to the establishment of September 30 as the day to honour residential school survivors at Williams Lake, known as Orange Shirt Day. It is now commemorated across Canada.

Funded by the federal government and run by Christian churches, the residential schools’ purpose was to remove Indigenous children from their culture, strip away their language and ceremonies, and assimilate them into Canadian social systems. Attendance was mandatory from 1884-1948 and was enforced by the RCMP. Churches, governments, and police have apologized for their role in the residential school system. There is much more to be learned and accomplished, by all of us.

Wear an orange shirt on September 30 to honour residential school survivors. Familiarize yourself with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and guard against history repeating itself. Ask yourself what truth and reconciliation means and what your role is in affecting change.

Ruby Langan, UNE National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples

 

Posted on

NBC Members in negots hold a Rally!

Union solidarity was on the agenda this morning in the streets of Quebec City. Members of the National Battlefields Commission (NBC) held a rally to demand a fair and equitable collective agreement. The stakes are high because these members are currently in negotiation, while their collective agreement expired at the end of 2017.

The UNE represents this group of workers with various positions such as gardener, guide, landscaper, or communications employee, with the exception of the NBC police.

The majority of these members have precarious jobs and it is important that the employer make a gesture. “There are many people who are on call, seasonal, and for those who are on call, even if they have been working for the NBC for 10 or 15 years, they have no benefits or funds pension, “says Claudia Bellavance, a member of the Union bargaining committee. (translated quote from the article by Ici Radio-Canada, in French only).

These workers are facing many obstacles in their careers and demand better working conditions, especially women workers who are planning a pregnancy. Wage disparity is also at the heart of bargaining with the employer, as well as work-family balance.

The status quo is unacceptable, and members are determined to fight for the new collective agreement to recognize their rights.

Posted on

REMINDER – PSAC PINS AND CERTIFICATES FOR YEARS OF SERVICE

At the UNE  and at the PSAC, much of what we do would not be possible without the tireless work of our many volunteers. That is why I am proud to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thanks to those members who have made a significant contribution through union activism.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has a tradition of honouring long-term officers of the PSAC with service pins and certificates. These pins and certificates can be awarded to those with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service.

If your Local wishes to nominate a member, please complete the nomination form and enclose a complete service history of the individual. Please pay careful attention to the eligibility criteria when completing the period of service section of the form.

Nominations must arrive at the UNE office no later than September 29, 2018.

In solidarity,

Kevin A. King
National President
UNE, PSAC

 

 

Posted on

2019 High School Scholarship

At the UNE, we believe that no one should be stripped of the chance to reach their full potential because of the increasingly unaffordable cost of post-secondary education. That is why our members are proud to offer several scholarships to promising students.

The High School Scholarship program awards eleven scholarships in the amount of $1,000 – one from each region – to students in their last year of high school who are about to pursue post-secondary education.

These scholarships are designed to highlight union principles, as well as promote our union and the labour movement in a positive way. The scholarships aim to create awareness of our union within high schools and provide financial assistance to worthy students. This initiative will encourage youth to become more involved in union and social justice activities.

Please ensure that you follow the criteria and complete the application form carefully. The deadline for the High School Scholarships is March 31, 2019.

Posted on

Passport Program at EDSC/IRCC

Information distributed to all Passport Canada locals

There is a transformation of the Passport program within ESDC/IRCC; a passport client demand reduction anticipated to start in the fall of 2018 as a result of the introduction of the 10 Year passport (back in 2013). It is anticipated that there will be no job loss among indeterminate members and few, if any, term employees will be impacted.

The Citizen Services Branch of ESDC, in collaboration with the Regions, is reviewing the matter, site by site HR projections included in review. The employer will be attempting to identify employment opportunities for impacted indeterminate staff prior to volume shifts, to maximize talent retention, leveraging opportunities across business lines.

According to the employer, the expected work transformation differs by EDSC region (passport Program Operations) with the following employer observations:

  • Work Force Adjustment (WFA Risk) is considered minimal for all sites
  • Workforce Management Committee informed of Passport HR Strategy
  • Transformation Working Group risk managed potential passport volume reductions since 2016, according to the employer
  • Integration of employees is underway within the Service Canada Centers, Passport Delivery Operations Centre/and other connected business lines

According to ESDC/IRCC, next steps will be to:

  • Monitor Workforce Management plan
  • Continue staffing levels until volume dip confirmed by IRCC – expected September of 2018
  • Begin alignment of staff to volume correction – approximately 20%, while maintaining staff compliment for winter peak – expected Fall of 2018
  • Ensure sustained staffing levels for unpredictable volume spike during a new winter peak
  • Financial smoothing for the transition period up to 6 months post “dip”up to a 6 month period between October 2018 and end of fiscal year
  • Review and update HR risk scenarios region by region, and site by site on a monthly basis, post “dip”

UNE continues to represent employees of the Passport Program in its current state and intends to represent any impacted employees transferred to other aspects of ESDC/IRCC, as this matter is a constitutional right afforded with the PSAC Constitution.

While this change creates uncertainty, Passport Program members can be confident that UNE is working hard on their behalf to effectively represent them and their interests during this period of transformation.

Respectfully, and in Solidarity,

Kevin A. King

National President

Union of National Employees, PSAC

 

Posted on

Labour Day Activities 2018

Labour Day will be on September 3, a time to celebrate workers, unions and Labour organizations in Canada.

This year’s theme is Pharmacare: A Plan for Everyone, and it is the opportunity to discuss the importance and the urgency of implementing a national pharmacare program with union members and the public.

Labour Councils are organizing events across the country and UNE members are invited to attend them.

Happy Labour Day!

Posted on

The Capital Pride Parade: PSAC members marching!

The Ottawa Capital Pride Parade is August 26, and PSAC, in partnership with CAPE and PIPSC, will be participating in the parade. We need you to come and march with us! We will have a truck that needs to be decorated and we need your help. If you’re interested in walking with us, can help us decorate, or require more information, please contact NCRpride_fierteRCN@psac-afpc.com.

Volunteers will meet at 233 Gilmour at 10am to prepare. PIPSC will provide a small breakfast.

If you are just marching with us, based on last year’s experience, we should be located on Bank Street between Argyle and McLeod. The parade starts at 1:30pm so join us at 1pm. Look for PSAC and PIPSC flags to find us!

Event Details: August 26, 2018, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Ottawa, ON