A gag order from the Harper government

Edith Bramwell, legal counsel for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, was recently interviewed by CBC Radio’s Carol Off. During the show, Bramwell spoke about a recent letter that Parks Canada sent to their employees about their duty of loyalty, calling it “something in the nature of a gag order.”

The letter, sent late last month, asks Parks Canada employees to refrain from public criticisms of the Government of Canada.

Bramwell says the letter gives the impression that any criticism of the government would violate the duty of loyalty. “That is a gross restraint on people’s political rights and their rights to freedom of expression,” she added.

The same sentiments were echoed by Eddie Kennedy, National Executive Vice-President of the UNE, in a recent interview with the CBC:

“If you’re in a coffee shop and you’re criticizing the Harper government and there’s someone sitting beside you and they know you work for a government department, technically you’re in violation of the code of ethics.”

Bramwell added that, given the current job cuts, some employees may fear that they could lose their job for speaking out. “That’s simply not appropriate. That’s simply not what the duty of loyalty is meant to say.”

The PSAC is currently working on a guide for members on the code of ethics and their right to speak out. We’ll let you know the minute it comes out! In the meantime, if you’re asked to take part in a media interview, please contact the UNE’s communications officer or your assigned labour relations officer.

2012/06/28

Another somber week

Dear brothers and sisters,

It’s been a somber week for many of our members and indeed for Canadians who will undoubtedly notice fewer services.

Yesterday, 3,889 members of the PSAC, across 13 departments, were told that they could lose their jobs.

Among these are 1,964 PSAC members at HRSDC, 22 of whom are UNE members in the Labour Program. Nine other UNE members at Infrastructure Canada received the same news.

This week, we also found out that 23 positions were being eliminated at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research. Three other members were told they were losing their jobs this week; these members work at the National Arts Centre, the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

A complete breakdown of workforce adjustment notices can be found on the PSAC website.

We will have more details to share with you next week. In the meantime, let’s take care of our members and each other.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees

2012/06/21

Bargaining continues for interviewers at SSO

The bargaining team for Statistical Survey Operations Regional Office was hard at work last week during three consecutive days of negotiation. Members of this group work as regional office interviewers in Statistics Canada offices around the country.

“We spent the greater part of the three days talking about seniority,” said Réjean Amyotte, a UNE member on the bargaining team and an Assistant Regional Vice-President for our union’s Ontario region.

Brother Amyotte explained that seniority was the overall theme of this round of negotiations. The bargaining team’s proposals regarding scheduling and increased job security are mostly centred on seniority rights.

“I would say that I’m more than cautiously optimistic that we can reach a negotiated settlement,” said Amyotte.

The bargaining team is scheduled to resume negotiations on July 11 in Ottawa, where they will present their wage demands.

To find out more, consult the SSO Bargaining section of the PSAC website.

2012/06/13

The Quebec regional seminar: a great success

UNE members from Quebec met in Chicoutimi last weekend to take part in a regional seminar. Among the participants were employees of Parks Canada, Statistical Survey Operations, Passport Canada Measurement Canada, the Translation Bureau and others.

Public service layoffs were a hot topic during the weekend. Participants were able to hear about how the cuts were affecting our members and the services that Canadians receive. Those whose workplaces have not been affected by workforce adjustment are nonetheless experiencing difficulties. “If someone retires, goes on extended sick leave or maternity leave, our employer isn’t filling those positions,” said one employee of Passport Canada.

Our members also took part in employer caucuses to discuss how the union can protect our members affected by workforce adjustment. Nathalie Bouchard, a young worker from Parks Local 10269, thought the discussions at her employer caucus were great for hashing out a plan of action. “We’re all on the same page now,” said Bouchard.

Participants also learned a lot about human rights, pensions and the union structure, among many other topics.

“It was a great seminar,” said Quebec Regional Vice-President Jean Pierre Naud. “I think that the communication between members was exceptional.”

Naud says the seminar was a great opportunity for our members to learn, network and share what’s been going on in their workplace. He was also quite pleased with the large participation by new activists and young workers.

We got a few pictures of the seminar on our Flickr page. Go check them out! For more information about regional seminars – or to find out when your regional seminar will be held – consult the events section of our website.

2012/06/07

Surviving being declared surplus

May 19, 2005 – Declared surplus (guaranteed reasonable job offer)
November 14, 2005 – Indeterminate Position found within own department
April 16, 2007 – Declared surplus (no guaranteed job offer)
July 27, 2007 – Indeterminate position found within own department –
February 21, 2011 – Declared surplus – (guaranteed reasonable job offer)

March 8, 2012 – Still no indeterminate position (on assignment in underfill position within department)

If you think this is about more than one person, you couldn’t be more wrong. Let me introduce myself: my name is Connie Gress and I started working for the federal government — in particular, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada — in 1987.

In 1991, I became active within my Local and on the Regional Women’s Committees. In the early 90s, I also sat on a workforce adjustment committee for my department…. (Yes, job cuts in the federal government are nothing new.) And boy did I learn a lot! Who could have guessed that that information would come in handy for me later on?

In 2000, I advanced from a CR4 to a PM2 position and became a policy research officer in intergovernmental relations. I thought: “Wow! This is it. I am set now.”

I learned a lot and liked my job. Five years later, I was told that I was being declared surplus with a guaranteed job offer. Our unit was decimated: 15 positions became three. I was hardly alone. Continue reading “Surviving being declared surplus”

2012/06/06

Welcome, members of Local 71201

We’ve got exciting news!

The UNE is proud to welcome a new Local (and a whole new employer group!) under its wing. Local 71201 represents brothers and sisters working at the Rideau Carleton Raceway, a racetrack and slots facility in Ottawa.

At the Union of National Employees, we believe our diversity is what makes us stronger. That’s why we’re extremely happy that these gaming industry employees chose to join our membership.

This new Local is now part of the NCR-Separate Employers region. If you would like to find out more about Local 71201, they already have blog! Click here to check it out.

2012/06/05

Thanks, but no thanks

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you may have read on the PSAC website, PSAC President Robyn Benson has invited us to boycott Public Service Week – and with good reason!

We’ve seen our brothers and sisters in tears after getting surplus letters. We’ve seen entire programs – programs that are important to Canadians – shut down. We’ve had our hard work called “redundant”.

I think we speak for most public service employees when we say: Thanks, but no thanks. We’re in no mood to celebrate!

This National Public Service Week, ditch the employer barbecue and join PSAC in protest of the government’s actions.

As a Local, there are many things you can do to take part in this event. Some events being organized include: solidarity gatherings, meetings, barbecues and letter-writing campaigns.

Be sure to check your regional PSAC website for more information on what’s happening in your region!

In Solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President

	English poster
	French poster

2012/05/30

Solidarity with Quebec Students

Last night, in Ottawa, tons of UNE and PSAC members came to stand in solidarity with striking Quebec students. The strike movement began more than 100 days ago over rising tuition fees. It has grown dramatically ever since the provincial government attempted to quell the protests by adopting Bill 78. The new law, which imposes strict regulations on demonstrations and levies heavy fines for students, has only galvanized support for the movement.

Protesters gathered at Confederation Park in Ottawa’s downtown, where a number of activists spoke to the importance of the movement. Among the speakers was PSAC President Robyn Benson.

“The Public Service Alliance of Canada stands proudly in solidarity with the student movement in Quebec and speaks out strongly against Bill 78,” said Benson

The rally invaded the streets of Ottawa, winding through the heart of downtown Ottawa, made its way into the famous Byward Market before crossing the bridge into Gatineau, Quebec. A number of apartment and condo dwellers took to their balconies, waving red blankets and banging on pots and pans to show their support.

“A thousand people walking from one side of the river to the other, in solidarity with Quebec students, for me, it’s an inspiring demonstration of the power of our voices and of our joint action,” said Sophie Tremblay-Morissette, a UNE member and communications officer for the PSAC-NCR’s Young Workers Committee.

“Let’s do it every night if we have to!”

We caught tons of amazing pictures last night. Go to our Flickr page to see them.

2012/05/29

A loss of our heritage

UNE members, archivists and concerned citizens gathered at the Library and Archives Canada main building yesterday to mourn the loss of our documentary heritage.

“On behalf of over 68,000 academic staff from universities and colleges across Canada, we proudly join all of the archivists and allies who are gathering here in Ottawa today to mourn the loss of the National Archival Development Program,” said Angela Regnier, communications officer for the Canadian Association of University Teachers.

The National Archival Development Program is a grant program that helped support provincial, territorial and municipal archives. The program is being eliminated. According to the Canadian Historical Association, the program’s small annual budget of $ 1.7 million supported over 800 local archives during the past 26 years.

Regnier says the National Archival Program is just the latest victim of this government’s attacks on access to research, knowledge and cultural heritage.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers also condemned changes to Library and Archives Canada’s mandate and the loss of many knowledgeable employees. Last month, 235 of the 544 UNE members who work at Library and Archives in Ottawa received notices. The department says 105 positions will be eliminated.

What you can do:

Write a letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages James Moore and to Librarian and Archivist of Canada Dr. Daniel Caron. For key points to write about, click here.
Go to the Save Library and Archives Canada website and sign up for updates.

There are photos of the rally on our Flickr page!

2012/05/19

In memoriam – Laurel Gladu

The following was written by Kevin King, Regional Vice-President for the Alberta, NWT and Nunavut region and a friend of Laurel Gladu.

I wish to write on the sudden and unexpected passing of Sister Laurel Gladu, Assistant Regional Vice President of the Union of National Employees’ Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut region.

Laurel passed away on May 15th, 2012. She had just completed steering committee work for the upcoming UNE Health and Safety Conference in Montreal in October.

Laurel has been an activist within PSAC at her workplace of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada since the early 1980s. Her union involvement started as a steward in Inuvik (Local X0305), then in Yellowknife (Local X0304). In the late 1980s, Laurel moved to Edmonton where she became a continuous member of her Local Executive (Local 30067) until this early Spring.

Laurel was a well intended activist who worked hard – often with direct representation as a skilled chief shop steward. She worked tirelessly, with a wonderful dose of common sense, towards the steadfast advancement of women’s issues, the promotion of Aboriginal Peoples’ rights, and the raising of awareness of occupational health and safety matters.

Laurel was my confidante on the regional team of UNE. This region is an extremely difficult region to administer, but Laurel took on the labour issues, offering dignity and respect to members who worked in difficult workplaces, and, at times, with less than cooperative managers.

Her friends were many in the labour movement; her passing leaves a void among all activists within the Prairies and the PSAC Prairie Region of PSAC.

Regionally, Laurel was a Human Rights Representative for Equal Opportunities from 1990 to 1993. She was also Assistant Regional Vice-President at the UNE during from 2008 until just recently. Laurel also represented members at all but one triennial convention of the UNE since 1990.

Most importantly, Laurel was my friend.

She cherished the love of her family, her children and grandchildren, golfing and the memories of her favourite vacation destinations: Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach.

I am so deeply saddened by her passing, and cannot imagine the grief of her loved ones and friends.

Laurel’s family has shared the following information regarding her funeral service:

May 23, 2012
2 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time)
Evergreen Memorial Gardens
Edmonton, Alberta

There will be a service to pay your respects to Laurel’s family at 1:30 p.m.

Sincerely and in solidarity,

Kevin King
Regional Vice-President
Union of National Employees, PSAC