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National Executive Meeting – May 29–31

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The National Executive will meet in Ottawa from May 29 to 31, before convention committee meetings. The first session will start at 9 a.m. at the Minto Suites Hotel.

If your Local wishes to place an item on the agenda, please contact your Regional Vice-President and provide him or her with clear and concise information. He or she will gladly bring your item before the executive.

About the National Executive:
The National Executive is responsible for the policies, programs and direction of the Union of National Employees. Between conventions, it makes important decisions and creates policies that help look after our union. The executive also carries out resolutions adopted by the members during the last convention. Its members meets three times per year to review the union’s activities and ensure that they reflect the will of the membership.

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National Executive – update

A pretty jam-packed national executive meeting was held last month in Ottawa. While the city was caught in the deadly grip of a deep freeze, our union leaders were fired up and ready to get to the important business of running our union.

“I found it rather intense,” admitted Hayley Millington, who was just recently elected the national equity representative for women.

Understandably, it was particularly intense for Millington because this was her first time attending a meeting of the National Executive.

“There’s a lot of information to process,” Millington added. “But I also found it really impressive. There were so many different characters around the table, but they were able to work together to get the job done.”

“Everyone is different but everyone’s goal is the same.”

And, certainly one of the key goals, as of late, is engaging our membership­­­. During the meeting, the National Executive recommitted itself to reach out to as many members as possible as part of the pledge card campaign.

Related: Watch Robyn Benson’s video about the pledge card campaign

Like many, Millington fears that union leaders at all levels have to contend with a certain level of apathy. That’s why she feels engagement is so crucial.

“I’m trying to be active in my Local,” she said proudly. “When it’s time for those pledge cards, I speak to members in the lobby. I call them over and do my best to engage them.”

“For those of us who are active, sometimes it’s hard to bridge that gap to reach them,” explained Millington. “Sometimes we can become sort of uneasy about approaching because we’re unsure about how they’ll respond. But now is a good time to engage.”

The National Executive also gave the thumbs up to an improved bargaining process aimed at single bargaining units. Unlike Treasury Board and Parks Canada bargaining units, single-bargaining units have to draft bargaining demands without the help of a program of demands.

“Locals shouldn’t be left on their own to figure out what changes should be brought to their collective agreement,” explained National President Doug Marshall.

“From now on, we’ll play a much more active role in helping these locals craft bargaining demands,” he added.”

For example, if a particular issue keeps being grieved, the UNE may suggest bringing a bargaining demand to address that issue. Since each workplace has its own culture (and its hiccups), this tailored approach at dealing with bargaining should help win stronger collective agreements.

“We’ve gotten some really great feedback on this,” added Marshall. “We’re looking forward to providing more support and working a lot more closely with local leaders.”

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National Executive Meeting

The National Executive will meet in Ottawa from January 21 to 23. The first session will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Union of National Employees’ boardroom.

If your Local wishes to place an item on the agenda, please contact your Regional Vice-President and provide him or her with clear and concise information. He or she will gladly bring your item before the executive.

About the National Executive:
The National Executive is responsible for the policies, programs and direction of the Union of National Employees. Between conventions, it makes important decisions and creates policies that help look after our union. The executive also carries out resolutions adopted by the members during the last convention. Its members meets three times per year to review the union’s activities and ensure that they reflect the will of the membership.

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Let's talk about mental health

December 3 is the International Day of Disabled Persons. Since its proclamation in 1992, the Day has aimed to “promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.”

The United Nations adds that it’s also an opportunity to “increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.”

In recent years, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of National Employees have worked to de-stigmatize issues around mental health and equip our activists with tools to assist members with mental health issues. In fact, mental health was at the forefront of the PSAC’s 2013 National Health and Safety Conference, which bore the tagline “mental health in the workplace”.

While the union is trying to address this issue, I see no effort on the part of Treasury Board to equip managers and human resources specialists with similar tools. Too often, when faced with an employee coping with mental health issues, the employer predictably reacts by assessing their fitness to work – hoping, of course, that the employee will be found unfit to work. The employer is quite simply saying: if the employee is no longer in the workplace, then the problem is no longer their concern.

This attitude must change.

Persons with disabilities should have the right to work in an environment that accepts and recognizes them as equal. According to the United Nations:

“The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognizes in Article 27 the rights of persons with disabilities to work and employment on an equal basis with others. It stresses the right of persons with disabilities to earn a living from freely chosen work, and to work in an environment that is both accessible and accepting.”

Isn’t it time for Treasury Board to provide the right tools to managers and human resources specialists? It’s what’s needed to build work environments that are both accessible and accepting.

This article was written by Geoff Ryan, the Union of National Employees’ national equity representative for disabled persons, as part of our union’s member journalism program. If you’d like to find out more, click here – to pitch a story or for any questions, please send an email to communications@une-sen.org.

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Giving back

Every year, the Union of National Employees selects a charity to support around the holidays. This year, the National Executive chose to focus on the Atlantic region, because it hadn’t been chosen in some time. On Sunday, a $1,000 donation will be presented to Christmas Daddies.

It’s one of the longest-running telethons in North America – and it’s entirely a volunteer effort! Since its debut in 1964, it has helped to raise $27 million to help children from economically-disadvantaged families. The funds go towards the purchase of Christmas gifts, such as toys and clothing – but also towards providing basic necessities such as food, heating and other forms of financial assistance.

The telethons will be broadcast live from Sydney, Halifax, Moncton and Charlottetown this Sunday, December 1.

“It’s not just a Christmas telethon,” explained National Executive Vice-President Eddie Kennedy, who will attend the Sydney telethon. “The money raised will go towards helping anyone who finds themselves in financial need, no matter their religious beliefs.”

While Canada gained over 13,000 jobs last month, many provinces are still struggling with a high unemployment rate. Nova Scotia’s unemployment rate recently climbed to 9.1%. In the past year, only British Columbia and Nova Scotia have seen their unemployment rates rise.

“Cape Breton in particular has been struggling through hard economical times,” said Kennedy, who is also a denizen of the island. “The unemployment rate is above 15% and many families have at least one person who has to travel away just to send money home to support their family.”

The Union of National Employees has been making holiday donations for over a decade now, ever since the union chose to support worthy causes instead of sending holiday cards to members. Last year, the Union of National Employees made a donation to the Inuvik Food Bank.

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Meeting of the national executive

The National Executive will meet in Winnipeg from September 30 to October 2, 2013. The first session will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel.

If your Local wishes to place an item on the agenda, please contact your Regional Vice-President and provide him or her with clear and concise information. He or she will gladly bring your item before the executive.

About the National Executive:
The National Executive is responsible for the policies, programs and direction of the Union of National Employees. Between conventions, it makes important decisions and creates policies that help look after our union. The executive also carries out resolutions adopted by the members during the last convention. Its members meets three times per year to review the union’s activities and ensure that they reflect the will of the membership.

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Update from the National Executive

The National Executive met last week, immediately following the All Presidents Conference. That’s a long time to be living out of a suitcase! But, despite a rather busy (but nonetheless enjoyable!) weekend, our leaders didn’t waste any time getting right to work.

“It really was a busy weekend,” said Assistant Regional Vice-President Paulette Gaudet of Saskatchewan, who volunteered her help wherever she could: the registration desk, the swag table and the hospitality suite. From working the registration desk alone, Gaudet said she got to meet 90% of the members attending the conference.

“It was awesome to see so many faces and being able to put names to faces!”

The national executive meeting was also the occasion to give a warm welcome to our union’s newest assistant regional vice-president, Bill Bennett.

“If I sound nervous, it’s because I am nervous,” joked Bennett during the introductions. Bennett will be the Atlantic’s assistant regional vice-president in charge of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has been working at Parks Canada since 1988.

One of the first items on the agenda was the attack on the Rand formula. If the Conservatives succeed at eliminating the formula, employees in a unionized workplace would have the option to decide whether or not they wish to pay union dues. We’re not sure of any other service that gives you the option to decide “you know, I don’t feel like paying for this today!”

“Why should only some of the people in a workplace pay for something everyone in that workplace benefits from?” asked PSAC National President Robyn Benson, recently, in the Financial Post.

Members of the national executive agreed that the union needs to engage members. During the meeting, they voted in favour of setting a goal asking local, regional and national leaders to engage with every member, one on one, by the end of 2013. The motion also allocates $40,000 to the regions to support this activity.

Unfortunately, workforce adjustment has become a regular item on the agenda. As previously reported, the National Capital Commission and the National Gallery were two organizations where members were recently told that they’d be out of a job. And with the recent announcement of the Canadian International Development Agency being folded into the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, our members working in development are worried about their future.

Sadly, workforce adjustment is the reason why Regional Assistant Vice-President Benoit Dubeau will no longer be part of the Union of National Employees. Dubeau just recently found a new job.

“Benoit was a very great assistant. He had a lot of potential,” said Regional Vice-President Jean Pierre Naud.

Despite the sad news, Naud says he’s encouraged by the fact that many members are interested in stepping up to the plate.

“I was worried I would have to convince people to step into the position, but it seems like we’ll be having elections shortly,” said Naud.

At the end of a 3-day national executive meeting, the standard item before the adjournment is a roundtable goodbye. By the end of the meeting, we’re pretty sure that Bill Bennett had gotten over his initial nervousness.

“It’s been a busy week and I’ve learned a lot,” he concluded.

“He’s quick on the uptake so he’ll get the hang of it quickly,” joked his fellow regional team member, Angela Decker.

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Meeting of the National Executive

The National Executive will meet in Ottawa from April 8 to 10. The first session will start at 9:00 a.m. in the Union of National Employees boardroom.

If your Local wishes to place an item on the agenda, please contact your Regional Vice-President and provide him or her with clear and concise information. He or she will gladly bring your item before the executive.

About the National Executive:
The National Executive is responsible for the policies, programs and direction of the Union of National Employees. Between conventions, it makes important decisions and creates policies that help look after our union. The executive also carries out resolutions adopted by the members during the last convention. Its members meets three times per year to review the union’s activities and ensure that they reflect the will of the membership.

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Update from the National Executive

It’s a big (and somewhat formal) boardroom. There’s a huge table that barely fits everyone. And there are a bunch of union officials from all over the country packed into one room.

It’s the national executive meeting and, at first glance, it’s an intimidating place.

“When I first sat down I felt overwhelmed,” admitted Melody Raabe, UNE’s newest assistant regional vice-president for Manitoba.

Raabe came to Ottawa last month to officially get sworn-in and to attend her first ever national executive meeting.

Very quickly, Raabe started to feel comfortable. “As discussions began, I quickly felt as though I was sitting around the table with family,” she added.

During the meeting, the national executive reviewed ongoing business, including actions being taken in regards to workforce adjustment. It was also the chance to hear about collective bargaining from members who are on the bargaining teams.

Later, the executive was given an update on upcoming conferences: the All Presidents’ Conference (in April! Register now!), the Human Rights Conference and the 2014 Convention.

The national executive also decided to establish a committee to examine how best to engage members.

Finally, PSAC President Robyn Benson stopped by for a meet-and-greet and to share a few thoughts. Benson was especially outraged about Bill C-377; a bill that demands “transparency and accountability” from unions.

“It’s a way to attack unions, because it’s specifically directed to trade unions,” said Benson. “We’ve been encouraging our members to go find the financial statements [on our website] and to look at them. We are open and transparent; our budget is passed by convention – the spending is appropriate.”

After all that, Raabe said she felt really lucky to be part of such a dedicated group of union activists.

“I soaked up every word,” she added.

“These individuals give so much of their own time, away from their families, to strengthen our union – and to help to fight injustice and inequality. It’s exciting for me because I think I was born ‘all about justice’. It’s why I’m so proud to be a part of our union and the UNE team.”

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The PIC report is in!

The highly-anticipated Public Interest Commission report came in last month. As you may recall, the TC group was hoping the commission’s recommendations would lead to a fair tentative agreement to present to the membership. We caught up with one UNE bargaining team member to get the whole scoop!

“The report is favourable,” said Garry Larouche, Regional Vice-President for the Ontario. “It’s favourable in the sense that a number of our issues were recognized, including our economic demands.”

The report, in fact, points directly to UNE members in one paragraph, where it reads:

“The union’s brief is compelling in that it discloses that Labour Affairs Officers (LAOs) are paid less than their provincial counterparts for work of a similar and, in some cases, identical nature.”

The report also recognizes that Measurement Canada is having difficulty in “retaining both TI-03 recruits and [their] more experienced TI-04 staff.” In other words, Larouche explained, “we can’t hire – and when we do finally have them, they leave to the private sector.”

As a solution to both situations, the report recommended monthly terminable allowances. These allowances enable the employer to increase the salary of a particular group of employees without affecting the entire classification.

However, the employer doesn’t seem eager to accept these recommendations. A partial letter of dissent was written by the employer and included in the report.

“It gives us an idea of where Treasury Board is on the issue,” explained Larouche. “We’re not sure we’re going to get everything in the report.”

Larouche feels there’s still a lot of work to do. The next step will include mobilizing on the issue and putting pressure on the employer.

Soon, members of the TC bargaining team will start to hold town halls to provide more information on the road ahead. Locals who are holding annual general meetings should also consider inviting a member of the bargaining to speak with members.

“We want to explain where we are and where we want to go – but more importantly, we want to hear from the members,” said Larouche.