Category: National Executive

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.

During the Union of National Employees (UNE) National Executive (NE) meeting which took place last week, information was shared with respect to Amazon making plans to close all seven of its warehouses in Quebec.  The Amazon warehouse closures will result in 1,700 permanent staff layoffs.

It has been less than a year since Amazon’s distribution centre in Laval, QC was unionized. While the company claims the shutdowns are not related, we believe this is an obvious case of union busting.

As a result, the National Executive unanimously passed a motion to boycott Amazon. UNE will no longer be reimbursing any union related expenses for goods purchased at Amazon.

Standing together, we amplify our strength. We encourage all UNE members to support Amazon workers by boycotting their employer.

Please note that the next National Executive meeting will be held November 25-28, 2024 at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday. The first day will start with a training session on social justice from the Joint Learning Program (PSAC). In the afternoon, members will hear from UNE’s Director of Member Representation & Labour Relations, Douglas Hill, on how to meet the union’s duty of fair representation.

In accordance with UNE Bylaw 2, Sec 7: “Locals may send observers to executive meetings, at the expense of the Local”.

Should your Local have any item to be placed on the agenda for this meeting, please contact your Regional Vice-President and provide them with the necessary information in order that they could be in a position to place this matter before the Executive. 

About the National Executive: The National Executive is responsible for the policies, programs and direction of the Union of National Employees. Between conventions, it makes important decisions and creates policies that help look after our union. The executive also carries out resolutions adopted by the members during the last convention. Its members meet at least three times per year to review the union’s activities and ensure that they reflect the will of the membership.

[Editor’s note: There was an error in the e-newsletter that pointed to this article. To be clear, it was Garry Larouche and not Gary Sparvier who attended the last meeting of Local 00381.]

During the last meeting of the executive, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to two of our Locals. In the Northwest Territories, Local X0305 saw its functions transferred to the territorial government; in Toronto, all the members of Local 00381 were laid off.

Sandy Bello, an assistant regional vice-president in Ontario, was there for Local 00381’s final meeting – a rather solemn occasion.

“The entire facility – offices and warehouse, was stripped of furnishings, records and shelving,” explained Bello. “There was a ‘for sale’ sign on the lawn, outside the front door.”

Remarking on the photographs they shot that day, Bello added, “If you think the walls are bare – they were!”

The Local was made up of Library and Archives Canada employees who were responsible for storing government records. Since the department removed that function from its mandate, four regional records centres were nixed.

“The decision was made to shut down the centres that don’t have archival offices attached to them,” explained Andy Yung, an assistant regional vice-president in British Columbia. “Library and Archives doesn’t consider records with no archival value worth keeping.”

In the past, all government publications and documents were stored by Library and Archives Canada. The government’s policy will likely lead to a decrease in transparency, since there’s a risk that important documents that shaped Canadian history will be lost forever.

Since each department will be responsible for housing their own dormant records,   researchers will undoubtedly see their work become more difficult. The Canadian public is already grappling with less access to our heritage; and there are fewer services being provided by the department.

If you think these changes are being made in the name of saving taxpayers money, you’d be wrong. Most functions have been contracted out to a private company; we’re paying more for less access.

It’s these changes that led to about 15 members in Toronto having to find work elsewhere in the federal government or retire. Among these members was Jerome Varney, who had been president of his Local for over 25 years.

During the meeting, Varney was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a UNE hoodie. Joyce Hendy, a UNE life member and a recipient of our human rights award, and Garry Larouche, regional vice-president, were also in attendance.

Local 00381 was officially dissolved during our recent national executive meeting. The motion was put forward by Regional Vice-President Garry Larouche, who provided some background about the members who were affected.

“The members of that Local did their job well and they were very proud of the work they did,” said Larouche.

Remarking on the final meeting, the regional vice-president characterised it as being “a very sad day – an emotional day.”

Photos of the last meeting of Local 00381 are on our Flickr page.