July 12, 1933 — The Screen Actors Guild holds its first meeting. Among those attending: future horror movie star (Frankenstein’s Monster) and union activist, Boris Karloff. (via our friends at the AFL-CIO and unionist.com)
Happy Canada Day!
Wishing everyone a joyous Canada Day!
While Diefenbaker’s most memorable quote is probably “Everyone is against me — except for the people!”, his remarks when presenting the Canadian Bill of Rights are especially poignant during this most patriotic day:
“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
Save Our Rescue Centre!
June 27, 2011 – Members attending the PSAC Atlantic Regional Convention, including members of the National Component, took part in a rally in St. John’s to save the Newfoundland and Labrador maritime rescue facility. A crowd of over two thousand rallied to show their support.
Provincial Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones said: “We rely on search and rescue every single day to save the people that we love at a time of distress, […] We’re asking Stephen Harper to not put a price on the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
The rescue centre has been designated for closure as of June 2012.
In her speech to the crowd, Jeannie Baldwin, PSAC’s REVP for the Atlantic Region, called the Conservatives’ decision to close the centre “nothing short of reckless.” She added: “We know how ruthless, and how dangerous, and how fatal the North Atlantic can be. And Stephen Harper is playing around with lives here. He is ignoring the public will, the public good, and the public safety. Three hundred and fifty members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada are here to support the Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans who brave these dangerous waters every day. At the end of the day, they deserve to come home to their family safe and sound.”
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Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site! |
Canadian Multiculturalism Day
Canadian Multiculturalism Day was established by Royal Proclamation in 2002. It recognizes that our country has been shaped by contributions of Canadians of various multicultural groups and communities. The Proclamation reads in part:
Whereas multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage;
Whereas Canadians of all backgrounds have made and continue to make valuable contributions to Canadian society;
Whereas it is considered appropriate that there be, in each year, a day to mark and celebrate those contributions and to recognize Canadian diversity; […]
Now know you that We, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada, do by this Our Proclamation declare June 27 of each year as “Canadian Multiculturalism Day”, a celebration of the contributions of Canada’s diverse people to Canadian society.
Take a moment today to celebrate the rich fabric of Canadian society; diversity in our country, as in our union, makes us stronger!
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is the National Holiday of Quebec and part of the 11 days of Celebrate Canada. It was first celebrated in Lower Canada in 1636, when the colony mainly operated as a fur-trading venture. Today, the national holiday is a celebration of French culture within Canada. In many cities and towns in Quebec and other francophone communities across the country, parades and parties are held and fireworks light the sky.
When asked what Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day means to them, Louise Patrice and Jean-Pierre Nault, co-presidents of the Francophone Committee, pointed to the following words drawn from fetenationale.info:
An occasion to meet again
Around a joyous fire, a large table or before scenes in which our artists sing, let us take advantage of these worthwhile occasions offered by Quebec’s National Holiday to tell stories, as have people done here for centuries, from the moment they first gathered. Let us do it in total friendship and in complete solidarity, because these are features of our community, which, throughout literature, have often been made clear. Let us therefore tell each other stories… and let us sing them too, because many of them have been brilliantly made into music.
Bonne Saint-Jean tout le monde!
National Aboriginal Day
This National Aboriginal Day, celebrate the rich contributions Aboriginal peoples have made to Canada!
From Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada:
In co-operation with national Aboriginal organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21 for National Aboriginal Day because it is also the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For generations, many Aboriginal peoples have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day. Today, Canada is proud to recognize the unique achievements of Aboriginal peoples – in fields a diverse as agriculture and the environment, to nation-building and the arts – with a national day of celebration.
National Aboriginal Day kicks off an 11-day celebration of Canadian culture and heritage: National Aboriginal Day (June 21), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and Canada Day (July 1).
Two rallies – One union
June 16, 2011 – PSAC members, including National Component members, joined CAW members on the picket line in support of their strike. They were thrilled to see us there – together, we marched through the terminal and yelled “Shame, shame, shame!” to scabs working the Air Canada counter. While we were making noise in the Ottawa airport, we got news that a tentative agreement had been reached. Cheers of joy and chants of solidarity filled the terminal. We got back on the bus (and took a few CAW members with us!) and went to support members at CUPW, in the hopes we could help them accomplish the same!
The CUPW members locked out of the Ottawa sorting facility were surprised and overjoyed to see our solidarity bus arrive. One CUPW member was even overheard saying: “You brought the big guns!”
Unions standing in solidarity together: now those are big guns indeed!
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Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site! |
Fighting with Heart for the Arts
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.
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Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site! |
Air Canada Strike
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.
Union Pride – Prairie-Wide!
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.
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Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site! |