June 15, 2011 – National Component members at the National Gallery of Canada came out to show support for their bargaining team. Local 70397 has been bargaining since last year – so far, the employer is still insisting on wage concessions. This government’s history of cutting funding for the arts has made it clear that they are not a friend of the arts. The National Component supports its members in the arts and culture sector and will continue to fight on their behalf.
If you have a moment, write to your Member of Parliament. Let them know arts and culture are important to you and that you won’t stand for reduced access to Canadian culture.
The National Component is standing in solidarity with ticketing agents, counter staff and administrative workers of the Canadian Auto Workers’ union (CAW) who are on strike against Air Canada.
CAW is asking for our support in respecting their picket lines. If you have an existing reservation with Air Canada, please cancel it. Tell the company to negotiate a fair agreement with their workers.
Supporters are asked to make alternate travel arrangements until the labour dispute is settled. If travel can be rescheduled using the train, bus or personal vehicle, we encourage you to do so.
National Component members attending the Triennial Convention in August are asked to register and book their travel now. We will keep our members updated, as the strike unfolds, should there be an impact on the 2011 Convention.
For more information on how to support your brothers and sisters at CAW, please visit the PSAC’s web page on this topic.
June 10, 2011 – Delegates, observers and guests at the PSAC Prairies Regional Convention took to the streets to stand in solidarity with members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers who are still holding rotating strikes across the country. The rally in Winnipeg drew members from the PSAC, CUPW, CUPE, and others. Together, labour activists sent a strong message that when postal services are under attack, we will fight back.
CUPW members are fighting for safer work conditions and to keep a sick-leave plan they have had since 1988. They are also resisting the introduction of a “two-tier” wage and benefits system.
Many National Component members from the Prairies region were present and took great joy in standing in solidarity with their sisters and brothers of CUPW.
The National Component wishes to extend its warmest congratulations to Brother Larry Rousseau. On June 5, 2011, Larry was elected, after the first round of voting, PSAC’s Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP) for the National Capital Region. Larry has always been a passionate and dedicated member of the National Component for many years; we know he will bring the same level of enthusiasm at the PSAC and wish him the best of luck in his new position.
In 2008, Larry Rousseau was elected as National Component Regional Vice President of the NCR-TB region. Prior to assuming this position, Larry occupied the role of first Vice President of Local 70059, which represents members at Statistics Canada. As a National Executive member, Larry lent his talents to several committees: the By-laws & Policies Committee, the Communications Committee, the Francophone Committee and the Education, Honours and Awards Committee. As part of the labour movement, he has worked for the Canadian Labour Congress, been a delegate at the Ottawa & District Labour Council, and participated in the PSAC’s Union Development Program. He is also an activist within the LGBT Community and NOWAR/PAIX. Larry has been committed to values such as social justice, equity, equality and human rights – values we also hold dear at the National Component.
Solidarity is the cornerstone of the labour movement. National Component members, along with other PSAC members, attended a rally in Ottawa to show support to their brothers and sisters of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Many speakers took to the mike and engaged the crowd, including PSAC National President, John Gordon. A sea of PSAC flags filled the corner of Sparks St. and Elgin St., where the Canada Post Central Post Office in downtown Ottawa is located. Solidarity forever!
Within the next few weeks, the employer will inform all employees about the payment process. It is possible that your employer has already contacted you. For more information about the payments in lieu of severance pay, please consult the PSAC’s update by clicking here.
The elections are fast approaching and we, at the National Component, wish to encourage our members to get out and vote on May 2! Please participate in the democratic process and make your voice heard!
As a public service employee, this is your chance to vote for your employer. You have the power to vote for the person who will have a direct impact on the important work you do for Canadians. You deserve an employer who respects the work you do on behalf of our nation.
Get informed. Read each party’s platform. Exercise an informed vote.
The National Component is very pleased that four of its members have been selected to participate in this year’s Canadian Labour Congress Canadian Labour College. The first session is taking place in Port Elgin, Ontario from April 8-21. The four members are (left to right):
Michèle Milotte is President of Local 70080 in the National Capital Region. Michèle works for the National Capital Commission and is also the Assistant Regional Vice-President for the National Component in the NCR (Separate Employer) Region, among many other union activities.
Jennifer Ho is Vice-President of Local 20088 in Vancouver. Jennifer works for Passport Canada, and is also the National Representative for Racialized Members on the National Component Human Rights Committee. She is very active in her community and within the labour movement.
Layne Carr-Wyatt, Occupational Health & Safety Representative for Local X0150 in Iqaluit. Layne works for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and is very involved in the Iqaluit Regional Women’s Committee and Area Council, among many other union activities.
Sandra Bello is President of Local 00394 in Hamilton. Sandy works for the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. She is also the Assistant Regional Vice-President for the Ontario Region and very active in the labour movement.
Geoff Ryan, ARVP for AB, NWT and NU taking part in an anti-racism protest
March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. This day reminds us that racism still exists in our society – and that is unfortunate.
On March 18 and 19, the National Component was holding a regional seminar in Calgary. For the past few years, a white supremacist group called Blood and Honour has held “white pride” rallies to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Racism in Calgary.
That morning, when I read the article in the Globe and Mail describing the white pride rally and the leader of Blood and Honour, I became angry – angry that there are people who feel that they are better than everyone else because of their skin colour or their religion. I was angry that these people felt they could go march the streets to spread their message of racial supremacy.
I had to do something; I could not let this go. I asked members at the western seminar if they would join me in protesting the white supremacist rally. I was happy have about 30 National Component members join this anti-racism protest. We met up with about 170 other like-minded folks who shouted slogans towards the Blood and Honour group for about an hour. At least I felt like we had done something positive.
Racism in any form is just wrong. We all have a responsibility to help eliminate racism, whether it is taking part in an anti-racism protest, speaking up against inappropriate jokes, or just accepting people as individuals and getting to know them a bit better. Talk to someone who is different than you and you will learn about that person – you will also be helping to make our society a better place for the next generation.
– Geoff Ryan
Assistant Regional Vice-President for the Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Region.
More photos are available on our new FlickR site! Please click here!
