The countdown is officially on! In just a few months, UNE delegates from across the country will gather in Montréal for the 2026 UNE Triennial Convention, taking place August 24–28, 2026, at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

Convention is where members come together, exchange ideas, and help chart the direction of our union for the years ahead. This is your opportunity to bring forward your experiences, your vision, and your voice.

When Convention returns, it brings with it renewed energy, long‑awaited discussions, and the chance to collectively set priorities for the future.

Delegates from locals across the country will debate and vote on resolutions, strengthen our internal democracy, and build solidarity by connecting with fellow members.

Your Local’s Role Starts Now

1. Make Sure Your Local Is in Conformance

To send delegates to Convention, locals must be in conformance by submitting the required financial documents.

2. Electing Delegates and Alternates

Delegates and alternates must be elected at a general Local meeting. The number of delegates your local can send depends on the number of members in good standing. Larger locals may send up to five delegates.

3. Observers — A Great Opportunity to Participate

Locals in conformance may also send observers at the Local’s expense, not at the member’s personal expense. Observers can attend Convention, follow the debates, and be part of the experience, but they do not participate in voting.

Not sure if your local is sending observers?
Ask your local representative — you might be pleasantly surprised!
Many locals welcome the opportunity to include more members in Convention activities.

Submit Your Resolutions — Your Ideas Matter

Locals are encouraged to form a resolutions committee (often 3–5 members) to review and prepare proposals from the membership. Locals may also create theme‑specific committees, such as for constitution & bylaws or finance. After debate and adoption at a general membership meeting, resolutions can be submitted online through the UNE website and must be accompanied by signed minutes.

Montréal Awaits — Be Part of This Moment

The 2026 Convention will bring together hundreds of UNE members in one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. This is our moment to reconnect, recharge, and re‑ignite our shared purpose.

We’re excited to welcome you to Montréal this summer.
Let’s build the next chapter of our union — together and in solidarity.

For more information about convention requirements and timelines, visit the official page.

Today has started Regional Seminar – BC-YT and AB-NWT-NU, please click below to access the agenda and more information:

CLICK HERE

If you have any questions regarding the event organization, please contact us at events@une-sen.org

Dear Members of the UNE Family,

The 2025 UNE Local Presidents’ Conference is just a few short weeks away!

This three-day event will be packed with presentations, workshops and training that will enhance your leadership skills, give you the knowledge and tools to help you and your members.  It is also an opportunity for all Local Presidents, or their designates, to come together, engage in activism, and gain a deeper understanding of our Union’s structure and operations.

We ask that UNE Local Presidents register online here.

Save the dates!

📅 When: April 10-13, 2025
📍 Where: Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina, Saskatchewan

Each UNE Local is invited to send a Local President or designate to attend.

Apply online by Friday, March 7, 2025!

All Expenses Covered!

UNE is proud to fully cover the costs of your participation, including:

✅ Flights and transportation
✅ Accommodation and meals
✅ Loss of salary reimbursement
✅ Childcare support

Travel & Expense Details:

✈️ Your travel to the airport is covered! If you drive, track your kilometers and provide a google map of your trip. If you take a taxi, keep your receipt. (Please note: Unionized taxi companies are preferred over services like Uber.) 🚗 If you plan to drive to the Conference, pre-approval from UNE Events is required.

💰 Upon registration, an advance cheque will be provided to cover your per diem covering meals that are not provided.
👶 On-site childcare is available, or UNE will cover childcare expenses at home while you attend the conference.

Apply Today!
We ask that UNE Local Presidents register online here.

For assistance with the registration process or any other questions, please contact our Events Team at events@une-sen.org.

In solidarity,

The Local Presidents’ Conference Steering Committee

As we take time this month to honour and recognize Black legacies and leadership, CAPE and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists also wanted to carve out time to have an important discussion on how Black members can build and take power in our current unions, as well as how to defend ourselves with the union as our vehicle.

Black, Indigenous, and racialized members are encouraged to attend and be prepared to ask questions on this theme. 

We hope that you can join for this important discussion on concrete actions we can take. We’ll be joined by Chris Wilson from the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and Alisha Kang, the president of the PSAC component Union of National Employees. 

Some key questions we’d like panelists and participants to discuss:

• How do you succeed in developing Black union leadership? What do we mean by leadership (rank and file, elected officials, staff, etc.)?
• How do you succeed in organizing other Black members? What are some strategies to connect?
• How do you stay connected and involved with other Black leaders and activists in the labour movement?
• How can Black trade unionism influence electoral outcomes?

Wednesday, February 26
5 to 7 pm ET
Hybrid – at the CAPE national office and online 

First come first served for in-person attendance.  
For people attending in person, a light dinner will be served.
If you selected to attend in person but our capacity has been reached, you will receive a Zoom link to attend online instead.

Interpretation will be provided.

Register Now

Guidelines – Online interpreted meetings
 

Bios:

Alisha Kang is president of the Union of National Employees with over 27,000 members coast to coast and 80 collective agreements as well as holding a lead role in the Federal Black Employee Caucus. A published author, Alisha is a single parent and is most proud of her 22-year-old son Kael, a budding activist studying Law, and her 26-year-old daughter Kyrro, a scientist on the autism spectrum.

Christopher Wilson (he/him) is a workers’ rights advocate, community activist and lawyer with over 25 years experience in the labour movement. Christopher is a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists where he led the Green is Not White Research project that has engaged over 3,000 labour and community activists in participatory workshops to confront Environmental Racism.

Register Now

Your UNE regions invite you to participate in the National Capital Region’s Combined Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Chateau Cartier Hotel in Gatineau, QC from February 27 to March 2, 2025.

As a UNE member, your participation is fully funded and there is zero cost to you.

This seminar is for participants from the four NCR-based regions:

• National Capital Region – Separate Employers
• Ottawa – Treasury Board
• Gatineau – Treasury Board
• Outside Canada

Regional Seminars are packed with presentations, workshops and training that will give you the knowledge and tools to help you and your members. They are also a wonderful place to meet other activists and forge long-lasting friendships. 

UNE will fund two (2) participants and an additional (1) youth participant per Local. Preference will be given to:

• The Local President or designate
• A member who has not previously attended a seminar should be given priority
• A youth member (age 35 or younger as of December 31, 2026).

Locals should also encourage the participation of equity members and may send additional members at the Local’s expense.

Youth Delegates to Convention

At each seminar, regions will elect two (2) Youth Delegates and alternates to the 2026 Convention. To be eligible, Youth members must be 35 or under in the year of the Triennial Convention (2026, in Montreal, QC). UNE encourages your participation, so you don’t miss out on these delegate seats at the Triennial.

Travel, Accommodations and Meals paid by UNE

Participants will be expected to arrive for on-site registration at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening, February 27, 2025. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend three nights at the hotel for the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, March 2 at 12:00p.m. 

Your travel to and from the Seminar is paid for by UNE. If you are driving, track your kilometres and provide a google map of your trip. Your stay at the hotel is also paid by UNE, with no upfront cost to you. You will also receive a per diem covering meals that are not provided. 

Union Leave and Leave Letters

UNE will reimburse your loss of salary while you are attending the Seminar. Some employers (Treasury Board, Parks Canada) require you to submit a Union Leave Letter. UNE encourages you to advise your employer of your intent to participate upon receiving this communication.  Once the final selection has been made,  UNE will issue the leave letters.  Your pay will not be interrupted. (For example, if you are scheduled to work on the Friday, you submit a Leave Request and provide your supervisor with the UNE-issued Leave Letter).

Other employers will request you to take leave without pay. In this case, you will be reimbursed your loss of salary directly by UNE. Either way, we want to be sure you don’t miss a beat and that your salary and expenses for attending the event are taken care of.

Apply today!

You must apply by Friday, January 17, 2025. Applications are then sent to the regional team for final selection. Unfortunately, we will not consider late applications. 

Click here to register online.

Should you have any questions about the Seminar please contact events@une-sen.org.

In solidarity, 

Your UNE regional teams:

• National Capital Region – Separate Employers
• Ottawa – Treasury Board
• Gatineau – Treasury Board
• Outside Canada