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World Autism Awareness Day 2021

By Michael Freeman

People with autism find aspects of everyday life challenging. Interaction and communication with people, even people that are closest, may be difficult. These situations can be confusing to others and stress inducing to the person with autism.

Restricted interests, repetitive behaviours and difficulty with interactions and communications all affect a person with autism’s ability to function effectively in everyday life.

World Autism Awareness Day was established in December of 2007 to bring awareness of Autism to the fore and to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in 2013.

Autism can be diagnosed at any age but is referred to as a “developmental disorder” because signs and symptoms typically appear before the age of two.  Statistics show that autism is 4.3 times more prevalent in boys than girls.

Autism continues to be a focus of study, creating new developments in understanding aspects of the “disorder”.

Please take a few minutes to read or research about autism. Increase your knowledge. Develop your understanding. Discuss with friends and colleagues; some of whom may be living with autism or have family members that do.

Michael Freeman is the UNE National Equity Representative for People with Disabilities.

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National Indigenous Languages Day, March 31

March 31, 2021

The Indigenous peoples in Canada have celebrated March 31st to honour the strength and endurance of our languages. There are thousands of Indigenous Language Champions creating and delivering Indigenous languages programs every day.

I celebrate the work of our Indigenous Language Champions who are revitalizing and are seeking ways to sustain the survival of our languages. I acknowledge the difficult burden they are carrying to reverse more than a century of attempts to erase our languages and identity, mostly through residential schools.

Our communities now have opportunities to live and learn our Mother tongues through Language Nests, Immersion Programs, Language and Cultural Camps, and to offer Master-Apprentice Programs as well as degree programs for our Teachers and those who want to become fluent speakers and Language Teachers. Across the country we have asserted greater determination to use our languages, our identities, and to seek equitable recognition and support to that which is provided to the official languages in this country.

At this time I wish to acknowledge the importance of language and culture for the well-being and resilience of Indigenous communities around the world. It’s also a day to lift up our hands to the many language champions working to address the language crisis facing Indigenous peoples.

Lenora Maracle
UNE National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples

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Retro pay and economic increase schedule announced for Parks members

March 26, 2021

The Parks Canada Agency has announced the payment schedule for the implementation of monetary provisions in the recently signed collective agreement. 

Signature Economic increase and adjustments paycheque dateRetro paycheque   $500 lump sum paycheque 
Parks Canada Workers  January 14, 2021  April 14, 2021 May 12, 2021  May 26, 2021  

This schedule is tentative, and Parks Canada may still make changes. Note that Phoenix damages payments were made on March 3. 

Please keep your contact information up to date via the member portal to continue receiving information about the implementation of collective agreements and the Phoenix settlement. 

Help us prepare for the next round of bargaining 

PSAC is getting ready to negotiate your next collective agreement with Parks Canada. This next round of talks will be all about the future of work in the federal public service and you can help decide what your union bargaining team brings to the table by completing our member survey.  

Please take 15 minutes to fill out the Parks Canada survey to make sure we address your workplace concerns at the table. Your input is essential. We need to hear directly from you about what has changed over the last year. And we need to know more about you so that we can make the case for a contract that equitably addresses our members’ diverse needs. The survey will be open until April 9, 2021. 

Source: Retro pay and economic increase schedule announced for Parks members | Public Service Alliance of Canada (psacunion.ca)

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UPDATE – Passport Program Job Content and Classification Exercise at PSAC

March 23, 2021

PSAC has finally had the ability to assign this matter to a job content and classification analyst and had its most recent meeting regarding the Passport Officer job description on March 9, 2021.

PSAC had invited Passport Program employees, selected within UNE, to participate:

  • Rose Touhey, in-person Passport Officer (NCR)
  • Kate Hart, in-person Passport Officer (AB)
  • Nathalie Lynda, mail-in Passport Officer (QC)
  • Jonathan McMullen, in-person Passport Officer (QC)
  • Fred Kelih, in-person Passport Officer (BC)
  • Vanny Del Bianco, in-person Passport Officer (BC)

PSAC is planning on having additional meetings with Passport members selected by UNE between now and end of April 2021.

PSAC also had the chance to discuss with the Employer representative in Classification on Feb 12, 2021 , who confirmed that they are currently working on a workplace review.  

If their review is in PSAC’s favour, the Passport Officer position’s classification may be adjusted through that process by the Employer. 

If their review is not in PSAC’s favour, PSAC will establish its position regarding the representation of this matter.

PSAC is not putting the process on any hold while the Employer is working on their review as the classification section will be working with the members – as suggested and assigned by UNE – to prepare for a potential representation and gather as much information as possible to determine defensible arguments to support an upward classification.

The project is expected to conclude around the end of April 2021, and by then, PSAC will be able to analyse its ability to represent this matter.

We await a fulsome analysis from PSAC, and hope for positive news and will communicate further on this classification project.

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International Francophonie Day

March 18, 2021

To celebrate the International Francophonie Day taking place on March 20, 2021, the Committee members of the Francophone Committee of the Union of National Employees (UNE), part of PSAC, wish to underscore the exceptional contribution of the allies of its component regarding the respect of the official languages.

To safeguard your rights, we recommend that you take action in your workplaces.

For more information on the activities taking place in your region, click here: https://rvf.ca/en

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Parks & CFIA survey: You can shape the future of work in the public service

March 15, 2021

The pandemic has radically changed the way many PSAC members work. We have experienced the challenges of working remotely from home or having to work onsite with new protection measures; the impact of technological changes; the effect of an uncertain economy on job security; and the major inequalities that remain for women, racialized workers, and many other marginalized groups. These are some of the key issues that can be addressed in the next round of bargaining that begins this summer. 

This next round of talks will be all about the future of work in the federal public service and you can help decide what your union bargaining team brings to the table by completing our member surveys. 

Each survey is for PSAC members in the Parks Canada Agency and Canada Food Inspection Agency groups. They will be open until April 9th, 2021. 

Take 15 minutes to fill out our Parks Canada survey or CFIA survey to make sure we address your workplace concerns at the table. Your input is essential. We need to hear directly from you about what has changed over the last year. And we need to know more about you so that we can make the case for a contract that equitably addresses our members’ diverse needs. 

Your participation in the Parks Canada survey or CFIA survey and the broader bargaining process is key to our success in the next round of talks. 

Your component union and PSAC will review your proposals and they, along with the survey’s results, will be discussed at a bargaining conference of member delegates from across the country who will decide the bargaining priorities. 

The current collective agreements expire on the following dates: 

Parks: August 4, 2021 
CFIA: December 31, 2021 

Please keep your contact information up to date via the member portal to receive more updates as we prepare to negotiate your next contract. 

Source: Parks & CFIA survey: You can shape the future of work in the public service | Public Service Alliance of Canada (psacunion.ca)

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Statement by UNE National President following the Radio-Canada Article on Racism and Discrimination within CIRNAC, ISC and CanNor

March 15, 2021

The Radio-Canada investigation about racism and discrimination within departments dedicated to services towards First Nations, Inuit and Métis is not news to UNE.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNAC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) still operate on a postcolonial-based approach.

The dramatic staffing situations and the abject lack of career progression opportunities that our Indigenous members are facing, while working in these departments, and regional development agencies, illustrate a disconnect with realities of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s public service and lack of recognition of their work.

We are encouraged to see that upper management is fully aware of the situation and plans to address it.

UNE will always be there to defend their members against racism, discrimination and any form of harassment within these federal workplaces.

Promoting Indigenous voices to deliver services in Indigenous communities across the country will be a breath of fresh air within the federal public service and UNE offers to be involved in the planning process to make it happen, at all of these work locations throughout Canada; from coast to coast, to coast.

Kevin King
UNE National President

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International Women’s Day 2021

March 8, 2021

COVID-19 is the most serious public health crisis that Canada has faced. It is showing us where there are fundamental gaps in our society and shown us where it is impacting our already vulnerable and struggling populations. They are hurting and in need, many of those impacted are women and children. Women have been in the front line of this crisis, many facing job losses and many taking on more extra family responsibilities. More women are in essential jobs in this crisis, exposing them to infection and high stress. This pandemic is not over and what we need right now is just a little kindness and a little help while we see the inequality.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

I would like to challenge us all at UNE to commit to calling out inequality when we see it. Standing up for what is right. Maya Angelou said ‘’Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” It all starts with one step and we can make a difference. If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it has shown that there is still a long way to go with fighting against gender bias and promoting equality.

As the Twister Sister song We’re Not Gonna Take It says:

We’re not gonna take it
No, we ain’t gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it anymore!

Diana Walker
UNE National Equity Representative for Women

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Phoenix general damages for retired and former PSAC members

March 2, 2021

Now that current PSAC members will be receiving Phoenix general damages on March 3, retired and former PSAC members may be wondering when they will receive their portion.

Retired or former employees who meet the eligibility criteria will receive financial compensation for each fiscal year in which they are eligible. However, you will not receive compensation automatically. To receive Phoenix general damages, retired or former employees will have to file a separate claim form through Treasury Board. This will include the estates of deceased employees.

Despite numerous requests by PSAC, Treasury Board has yet to set up this claims process. We are continuing to press them for information on the implementation plan and will post the information on our website and social media accounts once the form is available.

Late last year, some members were misdirected to fill out a form titled “Claim for general compensation for former employees: Payment equivalent to additional leave”, however this is not the correct form for PSAC members. This form is to request the financial equivalent of up to 5 days of leave, which was the settlement signed by other federal bargaining agents, not PSAC.

To find out if you are eligible for Phoenix damages as a retired or former PSAC member, check out our FAQs under “Who is eligible for Phoenix compensation?”

Source: Phoenix general damages for retired and former PSAC members | Public Service Alliance of Canada (psacunion.ca)

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Phoenix general damages: Did you receive the correct amount?

March 1, 2021

PSAC members will receive their Phoenix general damages in one lump sum payment on March 3 with their regular pay and it will be taxed at source. PSAC is deeply disappointed with the government’s decision to move ahead without a decision from CRA on taxability and continue to pursue the issue with CRA directly. We have also raised the recurring issue of not separating special payments from regular pay – as was recently the case with retro payments.

Individual details about your Phoenix general compensation payment will be available in MyGCPay (only available on the Government of Canada’s internal network).

If you have any questions about your Phoenix damages payment amount, please first contact your Human Resources specialist for the payment breakdown.  If members still have concerns, they can reach out to the Client Contact Centre. For other information about Phoenix general damages, please visit our frequently asked questions.

Current PSAC members who were granted compensatory time under another union’s Phoenix settlement agreement may not receive the full amount ($2,500) on March 3 and may receive additional payments at a later date. Consult the federal government’s webpage for more information on how your Phoenix damages payment may be calculated if you were under multiple bargaining agents or an excluded employee during any of the fiscal years of the Phoenix agreement.

PSAC will monitor the situation closely to ensure that all our members receive complete and detailed information about the settlement implementation.

Source: Phoenix general damages: Did you receive the correct amount? | Public Service Alliance of Canada (psacunion.ca)