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Parks Canada: Almost a year since bargaining kicked off, team declares impasse

The Parks Canada bargaining team had more than 5,000 members across the country top of mind when they made the tough decision to declare an impasse late last week. This decision follows nearly a year of bargaining with the employer, who has come to the table with no mandate to bargain, no monetary proposal, and no serious engagement on important issues our team has at the table. While the Parks Canada continues to stall, we continue to fight for a fair contract.

Parks Canada workers are tired of waiting

We have key issues on the table to improve the day-to-day lives and working conditions of Parks members, but the only response we’ve received from the employer has been about grammar and acronyms in the collective agreement. The employer gave no response to our team’s monetary package that would raise the bar for Parks workers from forestry technicians and park wardens to workers in physical sciences and architecture and general labourers. Parks Canada members deserve better.  

Declaring impasse means our bargaining decided that we’ve gone as far as we can in the bargaining process with no resolution in sight. We have been working hard to secure a deal, but without a counter-proposal on the table from the employer, we are forced to take action.  

We expect the employer to take our proposals seriously and engage in meaningful negotiations.

Our team is looking for a fair contract that provides wage increases that keep up with inflation as members try to balance household budgets and recognizes workers never stopped coming into the workplace throughout the pandemic. Parks members in term and seasonal contracts have been hit especially hard. 
 
What’s next? 

Already, tens of thousands of PSAC members have registered for strike votes that will start this month for federal public service workers. We know that our union’s real power lies with workers, including Parks Canada members.  
 
Our Parks Canada bargaining team will be ramping up plans to mobilize members for upcoming actions and events in the months ahead. 

We will keep you updated when we have more information from the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment about our declaration of impasse.  

Stay involved  

  • Make sure you receive all the latest news about bargaining with the Parks Canada Agency by keeping your contact information up to date 
  • Have you filled out our mobilization survey? Tell how you want to help reach a fair contract for members across the country  
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BC & Yukon Territory Regional Seminar: Experienced and New Activists Coming Together

March 7, 2023

A diverse group of UNE Local activists gathered in Victoria from March 2-5 for their annual Regional Seminar. Shirley Torres, UNE Deputy Trustee for the BC & Yukon Territory Region opened the event with a powerful message for all the delegates : ‘’Your commitment to the union is a commitment to yourself’’. UNE Trustee Sharon De Souza gave an update on the ongoing trusteeship and answered questions.

It was the first time attending a UNE event for many members and learning about Local finances and the grievance process provided by UNE staff was the perfect opportunity for them to dig into what a UNE Local representative does as a volunteer. Denis St-Onge (Local 20088) explained the basics of bargaining and gave a brief update on the Parks Canada ongoing negotiations. James Little, from the BC PSAC Regional Office, went through strike mobilization.

During the second day of the event, Johanne Labine, from PSAC, held an interactive and energetic session on governance. The all-day session called UNE: Empowering our Future was the opportunity for the delegates to brainstorm, engage and learn about good union governance and sound leadership.

Youth Delegates Elections for Convention also took place. Congratulations to Sterling James (Local 20278, Delegate), Jonathan Shivam Jeet (Local 20278, Delegate), Oscar Rodriguez, (Local 20214 , 1st Alternate), Alexandra Lausanne (Local 20280, 2nd Alternate), and Carina McDonald (Local 29266, 3rd Alternate)!

The last day, Ann Birnie (Local 20278) gave a practical presentation on how to engage with members at the Local level, with plenty of useful examples for the delegates to take back to their respective Locals.

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NCR Combined Regional Seminar: a productive Weekend for UNE Members

February 27, 2023

With four UNE Regions coming together at the Hilton Lac-Leamy from February 16-19 (NCR-Separate Employers, Gatineau-TB, Ottawa-TB, and Outside Canada), it was a great opportunity for activists to come together to discuss, learn and share ideas.

“The pandemic has changed the way people work and how we, as a Union, engage with the membership. An event like this is the perfect opportunity to reconnect, meet new activists and learn new tools to assist our members in the workplace through an intersectional lens,” said UNE Deputy Trustee Chris Little-Gagné.

Throughout the seminar, members had a refresher on Local finances and grievance handling. Chris gave a great presentation on pronouns and the importance of language. February is Black History Month, and  an excellent presentation was given by Gwen Madiba, founder of Equal Chance.

Jesus Adrian Napoles, PSAC Regional Education Officer, gave an inspiring training session called UNE: Empowering our Future. Members had a chance to dig into governance and the importance of interaction in a respectful and constructive manner in a Union context where workplace issues can be overwhelming for the member and for the Local executive.

Youth elections for the upcoming Convention were held. Congratulations to the elected Youth delegates!

Fae Johnstone, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A), provided the delegates basic and concrete tools to engage with members in a digital world.

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We want to hear from you!

Greetings,

The Union of National Employees (UNE), in partnership with Environics Research, is conducting a short online survey in order to gauge the opinions of activists such as yourself on a variety of issues including the internal structure of UNE and the support activists receive from their Component.

For the purposes of this survey, the term internal structure refers to the National Executive, Regional Representatives and Human Rights Representatives.

In the coming days you should be receiving an invitation to complete the survey. The invitation will come from UNESurvey@environics.ca and will have the subject line “UNE wants your opinion/Le SEN veut connaître votre opinion”. If you do not receive the survey invitation, please check your junk or spam mail folder. Your opinion is important to us, so we hope you will complete the survey.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mark Pecek, UNE Trusteeship Assistant Administrator, at Mark.Pecek@une-sen.org.

In Solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa

Trustee, UNE
National Executive Vice-President PSAC

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Ontario Regional Seminar – That’s a Wrap!

The UNE held its Ontario Regional Seminar this past weekend and we were delighted to host so many energized members in a jam-packed three day event in Niagara Falls.

“This year’s Ontario Regional Seminar saw a high percentage of first-time attendees, many of whom were young women,” said Diane Levola, Deputy Trustee for Ontario. “I’m pleased that the seminar learning modules elicited encouraging levels of participant engagement and enthusiasm.  I believe this is an indicator of a positive future for UNE.”

On Friday, the group heard from UNE Trustee and PSAC National Vice-President Sharon DeSousa, who shared an update on the trusteeship and answered questions about the coming months leading to the Triennial Convention. Then, it was time to get to work with sessions on Local Finance Training and Grievance Handling.

In the afternoon, Suzanne Boucher and Andria Meskauskas gave a presentation and answered questions about Convention and how to submit resolutions. Following that session, union veterans Michael Freeman and Phyllis Allen provided an update on current collective bargaining issues.

To cap the day off, Morgan Oddie, from the Ontario PSAC Regional Office, led an energetic presentation on mobilization and how members can prepare for possible strike mandates this year.

Saturday was all about “empowering the future of UNE” as members heard from former PSAC staffer Joanne Labine, who kept the team engaged for the entire day, speaking and discussing topics such as member engagement, education and many topics in the evolving landscape of human rights. You can download her presentation notes here.

On Sunday, it was back to training on Local Finances and Grievance Handling, followed by a discussion on human rights reconciliation.

Finally, congratulations to Lin Xi Yu, Local 00394 and Desiree Hickens, Local 00128, who were elected as Youth Delegates to Convention in Toronto this August.

Click here to check out all the photos on our UNE Instagram and Facebook.

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Negotiations set to resume with federal government as strike votes continue

As strike votes continue for more than 120,000 federal public service workers across the country, PSAC and the federal government have agreed to resume negotiations with the assistance of a third-party mediatior to reach a fair contract for workers. The Common Issues bargaining team will continue talks April 2-6, followed by the PA, SV, TC, EB teams April 11-14. 

“For nearly two years, the government has dragged their feet and refused to sit down and meaningfully negotiate,” said PSAC National President Chris Aylward. “That’s why we declared impasse at the table and launched strike votes – to give workers the power to put pressure on this government to reach a fair contract.” 

Register to vote 

PSAC launched strike votes in January after the government stalled talks for more than 18 months, and refused to negotiate decent wages that keep up with the rising cost of living and address other key issues, including better work-life balance, good, secure jobs and more inclusive workplaces. 

Already, 30,000 PSAC members have registered for strike votes that are being held from February 22 to April 19.  

“We expect Treasury Board to come back to the bargaining table with a real mandate that makes sure workers don’t continue to fall behind,” said Aylward. “There’s no doubt our goal is to reach a fair contract at the bargaining table, but this government has made it clear the way we’ll reach an agreement that supports workers is with a strong strike mandate from our members.” 

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EB members: PIC report advances bargaining to next step

PSAC has received the Public Interest Commission (PIC) report for the Education and Library Science (EB) group following hearings that wrapped up on December 13. Following the same pattern as the TC PIC report and the SV PIC report, the report unfortunately does not provide clear recommendations other than a return to the bargaining table.

Read the PIC report

What’s next?

Common issues affecting all tables are being considered jointly with the PA group. We expect the PA Public Interest Commission (PIC) report to be released soon.

In the meantime, strike votes continue across the country for more than 120,000 Treasury Board workers. We have seen how the government has dragged their feet at the table for more than 18 months, refusing to address any of our key issues while workers continue to fall behind the cost of living. A strong strike mandate from our membership is the best way to pressure the government to come back to the table with a real mandate to negotiate a fair collective agreement.

Your support is so important to our success as we fight for fair wages, better work-life balance, good, secure jobs and more inclusive workplaces.

Stay informed and engaged

Be prepared, get mobilized, stay engaged, and take action: 

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Celebrating Black labour leadership, creating better workplaces for all

Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black leaders, workers, cultures and communities across Canada. Our labour movement has been shaped and fortified by the leadership of people of African and Caribbean descent, and we are proud to build and grow in solidarity together toward a more equitable future. 

This Black History Month, PSAC invites you to register for a national virtual panel discussion on February 20, 2023 with Black leaders in Canada’s labour movement. 

Register Now 

“Black History Month is about honouring Black excellence and the continued perseverance of leadership within our communities,” said Craig Reynolds, PSAC Ontario Regional Executive Vice-President, who will moderate the event.  

“We have been at the forefront of the fight to end racism and discrimination, rallying for workers’ rights and transforming our labour movement into a powerful avenue for social change. Our accomplishments must be recognized, and our achievements celebrated.”    

Join us to celebrate Black labour leaders in Canada. Learn about the victories and challenges faced by Black labour leaders, how they bring a more inclusive approach to labour’s agenda and are shifting the landscape towards a more equitable workplace and society for everyone. 

“Black labour leaders are keeping the movement accountable to end discrimination and remove systemic barriers to make our workplaces more inclusive for everyone,” added Jan Simpson, President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, who will be part of the panel.  

  • What: A virtual panel discussion to celebrate Black leadership in the Canadian labour movement 
  • Who:  
    • Craig Reynolds, Regional Executive Vice President for PSAC Ontario (moderator) 
    • Jan Simpson, President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers
    • Jason MacLean, Secretary-Treasurer, National Union of Public and General Employees 
    • Marc-Édouard Joubert, President, Regional Council, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec 
  • When: Monday, February 20, 6 p.m. EST 

Register Now 

The panel will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more details about joining the panel. 

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Parks Canada: Wages and working conditions remain top concerns

The Parks Canada bargaining team met with the employer on January 17-19 to discuss non-monetary items and to table monetary proposals to improve working conditions for more than 5,000 Parks Canada members across the country.  

Read the full PSAC Monetary Package 

The bargaining team reiterated key issues that matter to members – wages that keep up with soaring inflation, exploitation of workers through part-time and seasonal contracts, and an acknowledgement of the unique positions of park wardens as peace officers. 

We need wages that keep up, because members are already falling behind 

The current collective agreement that covers Parks Canada members expired in August 2021. This means that while inflation has skyrocketed, Parks Canada members have been struggling to keep up. 

If you haven’t already, use our inflation calculator to assess the value of your real wage when adjusted for changes in consumer prices to understand why we’re fighting for fair wages that keep up with rising costs.  

Highlights of the Parks monetary demands 

  • Three years of increases that reflect real inflationary pressures on members in the hardest hit regions and the uncertainty of the year ahead 
    • 2021: 5.5% 
    • 2022: 8.5% 
    • 2023: 8% 
  • Market Adjustments and Restructuring based on internal and external comparators (see Monetary Package for full details) 
  • New allowances and improvements to existing allowances 
    • A new physical fitness allowance of $600/year 
    • A new term and seasonal employee housing allowance 
    • A new proposal tying increases for existing allowances to future economic increases 

Overuse of seasonal and part-time contracts is unacceptable  

From coast to coast to coast, thousands of Parks Canada frontline workers contribute to the wellbeing of communities, natural spaces, waterways, and countless other environments that we all benefit from. Parks Canada is the only known federal law enforcement department or agency that employs peace officers on a seasonal basis.  

Your bargaining team is fighting for fair contracts for more than half of Parks Canada workers who do not have full-time positions even when they’re required year-round. These workers deserve a fair contract. 

Show your support online for your bargaining team 

Get involved! 

  • Member engagement is more important than ever. Fill out this survey and get involved at this critical time.  
  • Have questions about the bargaining process? Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and get informed.  

What’s next? 

The Parks Canada bargaining team will be meeting with the employer February 7-9 for the next bargaining session where we hope to make some progress on advancing the members’ demands. The team continues to show up for members at the table with comprehensive proposals while the employer, unfortunately, continues to drag their feet. 

For questions about the bargaining process, contact your local PSAC regional office or Union of National Employees local.

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UNE Members at Treasury Board: Have questions about PSAC’s strike vote announcement?

Following PSAC’s announcement, UNE wants to ensure that our members have the following information around strike training, strike action, as well as strike pay.

What was announced?

It’s important to know that we are not yet at strike action. What was announced today is a strike vote. This means that all UNE members who are covered by the Treasury Board collective agreements, will be able to vote on taking strike action in the coming months. This vote is crucially important and demonstrates to the employer that we are ready to fight for what we deserve.

Register now to take part in the strike vote. Once you’ve attended an info session, you have the whole voting period to submit your vote!

Where can I get more information about a potential strike?

We have been receiving many questions about strike action in the past weeks, and while we love hearing from you, we recognize that everyone is looking for information and the PSAC has put together an online strike course that answers most of your questions! Register here.

PSAC also has a strike manual that you can find here.

Furthermore, the PSAC has organized town halls that you can register to attend. Find the list here.

How much is strike pay?

PSAC pays members 75$ per day for each member who takes part in strike action.

Who do I contact for more information around strike?

Seeing as the entity responsible for bargaining is the PSAC, they are best placed to be able to answer your specific questions. The best course of action if you have outstanding questions if to contact your PSAC Regional Office.