The UNE held its Ontario Regional Seminar this past weekend and we were delighted to host so many energized members in a jam-packed three day event in Niagara Falls.

“This year’s Ontario Regional Seminar saw a high percentage of first-time attendees, many of whom were young women,” said Diane Levola, Deputy Trustee for Ontario. “I’m pleased that the seminar learning modules elicited encouraging levels of participant engagement and enthusiasm.  I believe this is an indicator of a positive future for UNE.”

On Friday, the group heard from UNE Trustee and PSAC National Vice-President Sharon DeSousa, who shared an update on the trusteeship and answered questions about the coming months leading to the Triennial Convention. Then, it was time to get to work with sessions on Local Finance Training and Grievance Handling.

In the afternoon, Suzanne Boucher and Andria Meskauskas gave a presentation and answered questions about Convention and how to submit resolutions. Following that session, union veterans Michael Freeman and Phyllis Allen provided an update on current collective bargaining issues.

To cap the day off, Morgan Oddie, from the Ontario PSAC Regional Office, led an energetic presentation on mobilization and how members can prepare for possible strike mandates this year.

Saturday was all about “empowering the future of UNE” as members heard from former PSAC staffer Joanne Labine, who kept the team engaged for the entire day, speaking and discussing topics such as member engagement, education and many topics in the evolving landscape of human rights. You can download her presentation notes here.

On Sunday, it was back to training on Local Finances and Grievance Handling, followed by a discussion on human rights reconciliation.

Finally, congratulations to Lin Xi Yu, Local 00394 and Desiree Hickens, Local 00128, who were elected as Youth Delegates to Convention in Toronto this August.

Click here to check out all the photos on our UNE Instagram and Facebook.

The 2023 lineup of UNE Regional Seminars is coming up fast! Are you registered? UNE Regional Seminars are an ideal place to learn about our union and the things we do.

These events are jam-packed with lectures and workshops to help you gain the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to represent our members. Regional seminars are also a great place to meet members just like you and forge long-lasting friendships.

We currently have five seminars scheduled over the next two months:

• The Ontario seminar will be held in Niagara Falls February 9-12.
• The NCR Combined seminar is for members of Ottawa-TB, Gatineau-TB, NCR-SE and Outside Canada. This seminar will be held February 16-19 in Gatineau.
• If you are in the BC & Yukon Region, your seminar is scheduled for March 2-5 in Victoria.
• The Manitoba seminar will be March 16-19 in Winnipeg.
• Finally, the Alberta, NWT & Nunavut Region is holding its seminar in Yellowknife March 23-26.

Click here to register online for your Regional Seminar today!

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

Your Regional Team invites you to participate in the Saskatchewan Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Hilton DoubleTree September 16-18, 2022.

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

UNE will fund two (2) participants and an additional (1) youth participant per Local:

• 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, 2023).

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

Participants will be expected to arrive for on-site registration at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, September 16, 2022. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend two nights at the hotel for the Friday and Saturday night of the Seminar as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, September 18 at 12:00p.m.

You must apply by Friday, August 26, 2022. 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 Regional Team:

Gloria Pfeifer
Regional Vice-President, Saskatchewan

Joyce Romanchuk
Assistant Regional Vice-President, Saskatchewan

Sandra Ahenakew
Assistant Regional Vice-President, Saskatchewan

Janette Husak
Regional Representative for Human Rights, Saskatchewan

Your Regional Team invites you to participate in the Quebec Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Delta Trois-Rivières September 9-11, 2022.

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

UNE will fund two (2) participants and an additional (1) youth participant per Local:

• 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, 2023).

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

Participants will be expected to arrive for on-site registration at 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, September 9, 2022. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend two nights at the hHotel for the Friday and Saturday night of the Seminar as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, September 11 at 12:00p.m.

You must apply by Friday, August 5, 2022. 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 Regional Team:

Yann Boudreau
Regional Vice-President, Quebec

Yvon Beaudoin
Assistant Regional Vice-President, Quebec

Étienne Mathieu
Assistant Regional Vice-President, Quebec

Carole Maillet
Regional Representative for Human Rights, Quebec

Members of the UNE Family,    

The UNE 2022 Local Presidents’ Conference is just a few short months away! This event will bring presidents from every UNE Local to Gatineau, QC, August 11-14 for our first in-person event in over two years. Participants will attend educational sessions, hear from guest speakers and network with other union activists.    

We ask that UNE Local Presidents register online by Friday, July 8, 2022.

While this conference is geared toward Local President training, there will be a secondary theme of health and safety as our members have had to navigate both mental and physical challenges in workplaces and at home during the pandemic.     

Your Local’s participation is very important. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to designate another member of your Local Executive to attend the Conference, with preference given to your Local’s Health & Safety Representative. 

Locals may also send observers at the Local’s expense.   

If you are unable to register, please contact Suzanne Boucher at 613-560-4359 or at events@une-sen.org.   

We look forward to meeting once again, in person, for the first time in over two years. But times have changed, and provincial health regulations have been extremely fluid. Participants will be expected to follow regulations put in place at the event venue and public travel hubs such as airports and railway stations.    

As per PSAC’s current COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Guidelines, participants must attest to being fully vaccinated during online registration and have their proof of vaccination verified at the Conference. 

Again, this is our first in-person event in over two years. The state of the pandemic is constantly evolving and regulations could change. We appreciate your understanding and patience while we navigate this together.

There will be more information circulated as the Conference date approaches, but don’t hesitate to check the UNE website for the latest updates.   

In Solidarity,    

Kevin King 
National President
Union of National Employees 

Elections took place on September 16 and 17, 2021.