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Callout for PSAC Awards

At the Union of National Employees, and at the Public Service Alliance of Canada, 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.

PSAC LIFE MEMBERSHIP

The Public Service Alliance of Canada Life Membership award is the highest recognition that can be given to a member for outstanding service to the members of the PSAC.

Nominations may be made by the National Executive of this component or by the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s National Board of Directors. Please complete the application form and enclose a complete service history of the individual. Please pay careful attention when completing the work history, union activities and include dates on the application form. The eligibility criteria and application form can be found on the PSAC website. The deadline for the submission of applications to be considered in any one calendar year is November 30th.

PSAC AWARD OF MERIT FOR MEMBERS

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Award of Merit for members was established as an acceptable method to recognize members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada who have rendered service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence in any field of endeavour, benefiting the PSAC or its members.

Applications for the Award of Merit may be sponsored by a Local, a Component or a member of the National Board of Directors. Please complete the application carefully. The eligibility criteria and application form can be found on the PSAC website. The deadline for the submission of applications to be considered in any one calendar year is November 30th.

PSAC PINS AND CERTIFICATES FOR YEARS OF SERVICE

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 application form and enclose a complete service history of the individual. Please pay careful attention when completing the period of service section of the form. The eligibility criteria and application forms can be found on the PSAC website.

Nominations must be submitted no later than January 25, 2019.

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PSAC National President and UNE National President to visit the Passport processing Centre in Gatineau

UNE Local 70130 has invited PSAC National President Chris Aylward and UNE National President Kevin King to visit the Passport processing centre in Gatineau on December 20, 2018. 

They will be provided a tour of the workplace of approximately 500 UNE Passport Program members.

Since the Harper Government abolished Passport Canada, the Passport Program now falls under Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

‘’Our Local is excited to welcome our leaders to see the important and distinct workthat our Passport members do ’’ says Local 70130 President Rose Touhey, who is also Assistant Regional Vice-President for Outside Canada.

UNE is proud of the incredible work performed by its dedicated Passport Program members!

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2019 Local Presidents’ Conference

Members of the UNE Family,

The UNE 2019 Local Presidents’ Conference is just a few short months away! Local Presidents are invited to join us in Gatineau, QC, from March 21 – 24 for an exciting chance to gather with other Union activists and discuss current issues facing our Union.

We ask that UNE Local Presidents register online by Friday, February 8, 2019.

Your Local’s participation is very important. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to designate another member of your Local Executive to attend the Conference.

If you are unable to register, please contact Suzanne Boucher at 613-560-4359 or at suzanne.boucher@une-sen.org.

There will be more information circulated in the New Year, but don’t hesitate to check the UNE website over the next few months for the latest updates.

In solidarity,

Kevin King
UNE National President

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Treasury Board bargaining resumes amid delays and growing frustration

In the continued wake of the Phoenix pay system disaster, bargaining teams representing nearly 90,000 federal public service workers are back at the bargaining table with Treasury Board this week and next.

PSAC’s bargaining teams have been repeatedly disappointed by the continued lack of response and meaningful engagement by Treasury Board. In July, PSAC came to the table with clear proposals and a strong mandate to move forward. Unfortunately, the Government has yet to engage substantially with PSAC’s various proposals, and have not offered counter proposals.

“​It’s outrageous that our members have been waiting three years to get paid correctly under Phoenix—they shouldn’t have to also wait to get the fair working conditions they deserve,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President. “They’re very frustrated at the lack of movement in almost six months since we first sat down to bargain with the Liberal government.”

From November 27 to 29 the negotiations will cover table-specific proposals for the four bargaining groups: Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV), and Education & Library Science (EB); and issues common to all teams will be covered December 4 to 6.

“For these upcoming meetings, we’re demanding the government come to the table ready to make significant progress,” concluded Aylward.

 

Source: www.psacunion.ca

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An attack against Franco-Ontarians is an attack against all Francophones throughout the country

Despite stating the contrary during the electoral campaign, Doug Ford’s Conservative government has brushed aside the few, hard-won governmental services for which Franco-Ontarians struggled. The situation is shameful.

He seems annoyed and not the least ashamed of the outcry caused by the cutbacks. The best stance he has found is to blatantly state that he was misunderstood. All the while, he is disregarding the two fundamental objectives of the Official Languages Act, which are:

1. ‘’enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and
2. fostering full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society.’’

The UNE, through its Francophone Committee, denounces this act which constitutes an attack on Francophones.

Long live French in Canada!

The UNE Francophone Committee

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Phoenix: Government To Correct Membership Dues Errors This Week

The Phoenix pay system will apply membership dues adjustments this fall. Letters to members with details about their specific dues’ situation are being sent out this month. On November 14, 2018 PSAC members will see the correct membership dues amount on their paycheques, and then they will find themselves in one of two categories:

You have overpaid membership dues and are owed a refund. PSAC will refund the total amount owed to you. You will receive the refund over 1 to 2 paycheques. Beginning in January 2019, your membership dues should be updated to the corrected rate.

You have been underpaying membership dues and are in arrears. PSAC will only recover up to 1 years’ worth of union dues and will not collect this in one large lump sum. The rate of recovery is always equal to the monthly amount of union dues a member would normally pay. These recovery payments will take place over several pay periods. For most of our members who owe less than $300, this shouldn’t take more than 2 to 3 months.

If you have concerns regarding arrears owed, please fill in this form to request additional information.

In solidarity,

The UNE National Office

 

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Health and Safety Challenges in Sick Buildings for ISC and CIRNAC

On October 31, 2018, UNE National President Kevin King attended a labour management meeting with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) along with other unions whose members work at Les Terrasses de la Chaudière in Gatineau, QC.

They discussed some pressing health and safety issues:

1. Floor related infractions (fire codes, water fountains); as outlined by ESDC’s Labour Program
2. Compliance with the Canada Labour Code – qualification of the person to report air quality;
3. Employer failed to provide information on a timely basis to the local Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Committee.

On the 19th floor, there are currently 178 workspaces where the capacity for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is only 105. The employer is moving some employees to the 6th floor where there is a new HVAC system. Priority will be given to pregnant women and those with respiratory issues,

On the 6th floor of 15/25 Eddy, there are issues with windows, air quality and mold resulting in the need to move approximately 230 employees. There is also work needed to identify the root causes of headaches, nausea and other symptoms that a lot of employees on the same floor are experiencing. Investigations are underway to determine the cause.

The department is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions (BGIS) on a massive action plan and OHS inspection.

At the meeting, Kevin King voiced his extreme displeasure with the lack of plain language communication between the employer and its employees. He is very concerned about the available swing space compliance and proposed improved consultation with unions and employees to find solutions together.

“We are pushing for more consultation with building OHS committees involving several departments. The issue of sick buildings isn’t limited to these departments,” said King. “These workplaces should be safe enough not only to employ our members, but also house government daycare programs for children. We hope to schedule town hall meetings for all occupants of the building as well as their bargaining agents.”

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Response to Statistics Canada on Banking Information Data Collection

SSO Interviewers deserve better from Statistics Canada!

Following concerns expressed by the public over a pilot project run by Statistics Canada on banking information data collection, Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora made a statement yesterday responding to demands that the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to “take a deeper dive” into data mining of financial information.

The UNE/PSAC represents Statistical Survey Interviewers (SSO) who are responsible largely for telephone and field interviews that collect the raw data that is subsequently used to provide statistics on everything from literacy to consumer expenditures.

No amount of electronic mining of personal algorithms with respect to data collection can replace compassionate and professional skill sets that our members possess.

SSO Interviewers have been battling for months at the bargaining table with the employer to get a collective agreement that addresses long standing concerns of our hard-working members, including the acknowledgement of both modernization of the interviewer workforce and the effects of technological change.

Chief Statistician of Canada Anil Arora is claiming that his agency is “going above and beyond” when it comes to addressing privacy concerns by Canadians.

Mr. Arora should also consider “going above and beyond” in recognition of its dedicated workforce, amongst the regional office and field interviewers.

Interviewers provide a critical service for Canadians and that service needs to be both modernized and respected, both at work and at the bargaining table.

Kevin King

UNE National President

 

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2018 PSAC National Young Worker Forum

The Alliance Executive Committee (AEC) has approved a one-time National Young Worker Forum to be held in Ottawa from December 7 to 9, 2018.

This forum is an opportunity for a limited number of young workers (age 35 or under) to participate in a dynamic weekend of networking and planning for the 2019-2021 cycle. The goal is to focus on building more young worker committees, strengthening those that exist and having a plan for their ongoing success.

The objectives of the Forum are to:

  • Discuss, strategize and plan to grow strong and vibrant regional young worker committees;
  •  Network and share experiences and successes;
  • ldentify ways in which young workers can engage in PSAC issues and
    campaigns in the next cycle;
  • Build a network the supports young worker initiatives across the country;
  • ldentify tools and resources that will ensure success; and
  • Engage in workshops that challenge and inspire.

Young workers who are interested in attending the PSAC Young Workers Forum should contact their respective PSAC REVP’s office for more information on the selection process and deadline to apply.

In solidarity,

Chris Aylward
National President, PSAC

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CUPW Issues Strike Notices to Canada Post

Tuesday October 16 2018

If deals cannot be reached over the weekend, service will be disrupted as of next Monday

For Immediate Release

Ottawa – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) today gave notices to Canada Post that job action will begin next week if agreements cannot be reached for the Urban Postal Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) bargaining units.

If job action is necessary, rotating strikes will begin at 12:01 am, Monday, October 22. Locations have yet to be determined.

“Our members gave us a clear mandate to take job action if Canada Post refused to address our major issues – health and safety, gender equality and preserving full-time, middle class jobs,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Our goal is still negotiated settlements with no postal disruption. This week is Canada Post’s chance to make that happen.”

Key demands for postal workers during this round of bargaining are job security, an end to forced overtime and overburdening, better health and safety measures, service expansion and equality for RSMCs.

The working conditions of postal workers have deteriorated over the last decade in part because Canada Post has failed to properly address the massive increase in parcel volumes and the burden it has placed on members.

Canada Post also needs to address workplace injuries, which over the last two years, have increased by 43 percent. Today, the disabling injury rate for a letter carrier is eight times the average of the rest of the federal sector, which includes longshoring, mining, road transport and railways.

“A Crown Corporation should do better and can do better. Our members deserve better,” says Palecek.

Source: https://www.cupw.ca/en/cupw-issues-strike-notices-canada-post