Posted on

Local Presidents’ Conference – That’s a Wrap

The UNE would like to thank all 180 members who came out for this years’ UNE Local Presidents’ Conference.

Over the weekend, participants heard from an impressive lineup of guest speakers, engaged in panel discussions and gathered together in employer and regional caucuses.

On Friday, Maple Creek Saskatchewan’s Omar Murray gave a powerful review of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. CLC’s Larry Rousseau then fired the group up even more before they headed out in bus loads to the Prime Minister’s Office with messages of support for our bargaining teams, dismay at the Phoenix debacle and solidarity with Indigenous Canadians cheering on Bill C-262.

Upon return from the rally, the crowd heard from NDP Member of Parliament, Ms. Ruth Ellen Brosseau who spoke of her rise in politics and how she challenges the current Liberal government. Then it was off to workshops within employer groups before ending a busy first full day.

Saturday kicked off with regional caucuses and then a presentation by Mr. Alexandre St-Jean from the Office of the Ombudsman, Ethics and Conflict Resolution at Treasury Board. A panel discussion on Duty to Accommodate with UNE National Labour Relations Officers then capped off the morning.

In the afternoon, participants worked in smaller groups to learn about challenges, experiences and tools available to them as Local Presidents.

Sunday morning, attendees heard from the five National Equity Representatives for Human Rights on their personal experiences and the importance of inclusion at the local, regional and national levels.

UNE National President Kevin King closed out the conference.

Resources from the Conference are available on the UNE website at www.une-sen.org/events/conferences.

The component now turns its event focus to a series of Regional Seminars and the upcoming Women’s Conference scheduled for September 10-12, 2019.

 

Resources:

Winnipeg General Strike CBC Documentary (English only)
https://youtu.be/V1_oKcXn8vs

E-Petition for Parks Canada Historical Artifacts – https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2048

Ms. Ruth Ellen Brosseau,  MP for Berthier-Maskinongé (Quebec)
https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Ruth-Ellen-Brosseau(71357)

Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President, CLC
http://canadianlabour.ca/about-clc/our-officers/larry-rousseau-executive-vice-president

Photos from the Conference are available on the UNE Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Union.NE.Syndicat.EN/

And Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/une.sen/

Posted on

E-Petition to the Federal Government – Parks Canada and Historical and Cultural Artifacts

E-2048 (Canadian Heritage)

The Petition is open for signature until June 25, 2019, at 4:56 p.m. (EDT)

Whereas:

  • Parks Canada holds in stewardship a large collection of historical and cultural artifacts created by diverse communities across Canada;
  • Understanding these traditions is a key part of celebrating and continuing unique cultural, regional and ethnic identities, such as the Metis;
  • These collections have been maintained in regional centers (e.g. Winnipeg) so that they can be accessed by researchers, members of their originating communities, and local historic sites;
  • Plans to centralize all Parks Canada collections in Gatineau will prevent local scholars and community members from accessing, studying, or understanding their own past;
  • The removal of local history will irrevocably damage the diverse regional and cultural traditions that have created a multicultural Canada; and
  • The forcible removal of cultural property from the reach of Indigenous communities is an act of colonization which is wholly incompatible with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada and Kildonan-St Paul, call upon the Government of Canada to (a) commit to keeping all historical objects in their context so that they may be readily available to scholars, scientists, and the members of their originating communities; (b) cancel plans to centralize the historical artifacts and resources held by Parks Canada in one facility in Gatineau; and (c) commit to maintaining regional facilities for artifact storage and curation in Manitoba.

SIGN THE PETITION

 

Posted on

Budget 2019: Phoenix funding improves, but falls short of ending pay nightmares and compensating workers

PSAC welcomes the new funding commitments made in today’s budget to address the Phoenix pay disaster, but they fall significantly short of what is required to end the pay nightmares of Canada’s federal public service workers.

The over 200,000 workers that have been impacted by Phoenix need long-term funding dedicated to: eliminating the backlog of pay problems; stabilizing Phoenix; compensating workers for their many hardships; and providing enough resources to properly develop, test and launch a new pay system. The amounts budgeted for the next 4 years will not be sufficient to meet those objectives, and over 70% of that funding is earmarked for this fiscal year, leaving little for future needs.

Budget 2019 also does not tie any funding to a timeline for the resolution of Phoenix problems, nor does it commit to a permanent increase in staffing required to stabilize the system for good. It also allocates nothing for the development and launch of a new pay system.

“Our continued mobilization for action on Phoenix has convinced the government to take greater action, but Mr. Trudeau’s wait-and-see approach is not the long-term plan our members need,” said PSAC President Chris Aylward.

“We know we will have to work on stabilizing Phoenix for years to come, and there are hundreds of thousands of cases to still work through. The budget doesn’t even put funding aside for developing and deploying a new pay system or compensating our members. This budget just won’t cut it.”

“Every single day our members show up to work and deliver the critical services Canadians depend on. They deserve for their employer, this government, to pay them correctly, on time – and to compensate them for all the damage done to their lives.”

Source: PSAC

Posted on

Racial Discrimination: a Deadly Poison

By Ralph Daguilh

Hello fellow activists!

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. These past few days, I could not help but think about what March 21 means to racialized people. I thought about the xenophobic comments and policies of the President of USA – I reflected on the ways African French soccer players were discriminated and undervalued during last year’s World Cup. I even thought about the backlash that Naomi Osaka suffered when she won against Serena Williams – Anyway, my list is endless….

Racial discrimination is very much alive in our communities and workplaces. I am frustrated that racial discrimination is very subtle and can’t always be proven. The victim suffers in silence! Racial discrimination destroys the victim’s wellbeing and empowers the perpetrator – it is a silent killer and can have long lasting impacts on the victim and entourage!

In 2014, I witnessed with agony and tears my dear friend, John, a racialized person, experiencing racial discrimination. He was well trained to do the job shortly after he started working in his department. John successfully competed for a position; therefore, he should have gotten the job. Surprisingly, it never happened. The position was given to somebody else and John was left with no true explanation! Our local got involved with no success because management had already made their decision. John filed a grievance but lost because it was said “there is no evidence to prove that he was racially discriminated against”. I am still puzzled until today! Did my friend not get the position because of his skin colour? his accent? Or his religion? Even though the case happened a while ago, I still think of the emotional impacts the whole situation had on John, his family and friends. John must work two jobs to support his family. Therefore, not only has he less time to spent with his family, but he also must share his energy and skills between two Jobs.

It hurts a lot to be discriminated against – I am sure my friend John is not the only one to experience that.

The worst part is the victims of discrimination still have to find the courage and the energy, 5 days a week, to smile at their coworkers, and continue to provide the highest possible quality of service.

Racial discrimination is a poison: it diminishes individuals, perpetuates inequality, feeds anger, hatred, bitterness and violence. It can also lead to all kind of sickness and mental illness.

For my friend, after 5 years of patiently waiting for an opportunity to arise in his department, he decided to create his own. Slowly but surely, he took online courses to better himself and his education. Today he has his degree and more!

However, this is not the best way of dealing with racial discrimination, my friend chose that way because he has a very young family to feed and a mortgage to pay. When face with racial discrimination, stay focused, gather strength from your family, friends and allies and fight back!

I know, together, we can do it! The road to win a fight against racial discrimination is not an easy one. It is like climbing a tall mountain. The top seems unreachable. However, never give up, never give in and never stay silent!

Survey shows that racialized people are hired for entry level positions despite their qualifications and education; 80% of them remain at that entry level until they retire. They are underused. Racialized members represent numbers or quota to be filled by the employer.

My friends, racial discrimination will not disappear overnight. In my opinion, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination should be an every day talk. The fight against racism and all forms of discrimination is a mainstay of peace and social cohesion, especially in our increasingly diverse communities and workplaces. Let’s learn to live and work together!

Ralph Daguilh
Alternate to the UNE National Equity Representative for Racially Visible People

Sources:

http://www.un.org/en/events/racialdiscriminationday/background.shtml

https://gryphlife.uoguelph.ca/event/87491

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247565_eng

Posted on

International Francophonie Day – #MyMarch20

By the Francophone Committee

On International Francophonie Day, the Francophone members of the Union of National Employees (UNE) want to tell you how the permanent Francophone Committee was created within our Union.

It was in 2008 at the National Component Convention in Toronto—today UNE—that this initiative began to take root in the minds of some Francophone members of our Union, following the bad treatment of one of Canada’s two officials languages. Two years went by before concrete actions were taken.

On Saturday, August 14, 2010 at the Human Rights Conference held in Saskatoon, further to the dissatisfaction of Francophone participants, it was agreed to gather some 15 members of the Union to address problematic situations and try to find fair and equitable solutions to them. Daniel Kinsella, the National President at the time, was invited to attend this meeting. This is how the first Francophone Committee meeting took place.

Some situations that occurred during this conference were deemed unacceptable and drove Francophones to act. Here are some examples:

– Once the French electronic registration to the Convention was completed, the computer program always redirected us to the English site;
– The Saskatoon Coop travel agency offered neither bilingual nor French services;
– The names of some Francophone participants were badly written on the pass identifier;
– The workshop facilitators were not bilingual. The supporting documents were only available in English;
– During workshops, non-bilingual Francophones had to share the services of one single interpreter;
– The lack of simultaneous interpretation at the caucuses and elections;
– The journalist in charge of press was a unilingual Anglophone. When the person he would interview would answer in French, he would cut the conversation short and say “Sorry, I don’t speak French.”

Faced with these numerous findings, the first objective of the committee was to become a permanent committee that was an integral part of the Union’s structure. The National President gave his approval to this initiative.

This is how, during the 2011 National Convention in Saint-John, with the support of a resolution received from the floor of the Convention and adopted by the members present, the creation of UNE’s first permanent Francophone committee took place.

Since its creation, this committee has continued to promote and defend the use of the French language in the operations, activities and events of our Union, as well as everyday society. The major presence of UNE at the various demonstrations supporting Franco-Ontarians last fall—protesting the cuts in French services in Ontario by the Ford Government—illustrates this commitment.

The Committee ensures the representation of a Francophone member in the steering committees of every national conference and convention. A Montreal-based firm is also responsible for translating documents and makes sure that the translators are Francophones. The W.E. Travel, whose services have now been retained by UNE, offers its services in both official languages.

The Francophone Committee wants to thank the people who took the decision to create a Canada-wide Francophone Committee: Louise Patrice, Jean-Pierre Ouellet and Daniel Toutant, as well as the precious contribution of Georges St-Jean, Technical Advisor, and Nicole Clermont, for her administrative support, as well as the entire UNE team for the support and efforts made to make sure that services provided by our Union are done in both official languages of our country.

Happy Francophonie Day!

The Francophone Committee

Posted on

Phoenix: PSAC escalates pressure on government with buildings shutdown

This morning, over 500 PSAC members rallied and blocked entry into two major federal government buildings in Ottawa as they expressed their mounting frustrations with Phoenix and urged the Trudeau government for more action.

“We have told this government that if they do not make more progress in paying our members correctly, and compensate them for the massive impacts of this disaster, that we would escalate our actions. That’s why we’re here today.” said PSAC President Chris Aylward.

“Federal Public Service workers have been showing up to work every day, delivering the services Canadians rely on, despite the mess Phoenix has created in their lives. Our members have been paying for the government’s mistakes for years. It’s time for the government to start paying them back.”

The union is calling on the government to remedy the situation by:

  • Paying damages to all public service workers for the great financial and emotional hardship they have endured
  • Providing the additional staffing and training needed to:
  • assist members at the Client Contact Centre and the Public Service Pay Centre;
  • reduce Phoenix cases by ensuring HR data is entered on time;
  • eliminate the backlog of Phoenix cases, including implementing collective agreements and delivering retroactive pay
  • Delivering a clear and accountable timeline to stabilize Phoenix, eliminate the backlog, and transition to a new pay system

Damning figures from the recent Public Service Employee Survey provided overwhelming support for the union’s demands.

“To add insult to injury, while our members continue to wait to be paid correct, this government has also delayed delivering a fair deal for over 100,000 PSAC members at the bargaining table. We won’t allow this government to keep taking our members for granted.”

Source: PSAC

Posted on

SSO victory: Arbitration panel awards 4% market adjustment

On 15 February 2019, an Arbitration Board issued its final, binding decision on outstanding issues pertaining to negotiations for the Regional Offices (RO) and Field Interviewers (FI) bargaining units of Statistical Survey Operations (SSO).

Two important gains were awarded by the Board:

  1. New language in Article 2 (Definitions) requiring the employer to provide, in a letter to employees, an explanation for changes to an employee’s Average Work Week (AWW); and
  2. In addition to the 1.25% annual economic increase for the four year collective agreement, there is now a 4% market adjustment applicable to all rates of pay, effective December 1, 2016, and applied prior to the 1.25% economic increase for that year.

The Board granted the employer 120 days—i.e., until June 16—to implement the retroactive pay and 4% market adjustment for all members of both bargaining units.

The arbitration award lists all items settled by the parties prior to the hearing under Annex A. The award states that “all items, whether agreed to by the parties or awarded by the board, are effective the date of the award unless specified otherwise.” In other words, the terms of new collective agreement are in full effect as of February 15, 2019.

PSAC is now working with the employer to proofread all changes in the new agreement prior to signing and distributing it to members.

Download the arbitration decision ⬇

Background

After two years of negotiations with SSO, the union and employer reached impasse and filed for arbitration. On January 29-30, 2019, an arbitration hearing was held in Ottawa and on February 15, 2019, the Board issued its award.

As this new agreement is retroactive to a four year period that ended on November 30, 2018, PSAC is already in the process of initiating a new round of bargaining. More information on this will be provided soon; please sign up for SSO bargaining updates here.

Source: PSAC 

Posted on

The Legacy of a Woman: Viola Desmond

By Céline Ahodékon

February is Black History Month (BHM) in Canada. Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in BHM festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as BHM in Canada following a motion introduced by Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.

People of African descent have been part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter, whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s. Many Loyalists who came to Canada from the States in the early 1800s were also Black people and most of them settled in Africville, Nova Scotia. As Canadian soldiers, Black Canadians made many sacrifices in wartime as far back as the War of 1812.

People of African descent contributed fully to the development of the Canadian society. Lawyers, doctors, politicians, teachers, hair dressers, barbers, just to name a few, were Black people. However, life wasn’t always easy for them. Black communities faced discrimination, racism, hatred and racial segregation.

In 1846, Viola Desmond took a stand for what she believed in, social justice: “Viola Irene Desmond was a Canadian businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946 she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refusing to leave a whites-only area of the Roseland Theatre. For this she was convicted of a minor tax violation for the one-cent tax difference between the seat she had paid for and the seat she used. Desmond’s case is one of the most publicized incidents of racial discrimination in Canadian history. Her case helped start the modern civil rights movement in Canada”.

Viola Desmond’s courageous refusal to accept racial discrimination that day has shaped Canada’s history. In 2018, the Bank of Canada issued a new $10 bill featuring her likeness. This is the very first time ever in Canadian history that a Canadian woman, a racialized woman, and her story are featured on the money we all carry every day.

Viola Desmond is teaching all of us to do what is right! Stand up for those who face discrimination and unjust treatment. Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Her story is also a rich proof that Black Canadians, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, inclusive, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today.

Brothers, Sisters and fellow activists, I hope that when you see the $10 bill you will reflect on Viola’s story and stand up, and fight injustice and systemic discrimination. Let’s fight for human rights and social justice, and equality. These are paramount in the advancement of a healthy society and we all need to do our part. Please take time to celebrate and learn more about people of African descent and their contributions to society. There are many activities organized across the country to celebrate BHM.

Happy Black History Month!

Céline Ahodékon is the UNE National Equity Representative for Racially Visible People.

Posted on

Treasury Board bargaining resumes February 12 — PSAC demands new mandate from Trudeau

PSAC will be resuming face-to-face bargaining sessions from February 12 to14 on behalf of the 90,000 federal public service workers covered by Treasury Board bargaining. The union’s top priority is to obtain a fair wage settlement, and improvements in areas such as work-life balance, workload, leave provisions, and the use of temporary workers.

After many months of frustrating talks with the government, PSAC members are still waiting for a proper response to the union’s bargaining proposals. In December, the government insulted federal public service workers by coming to the table with a proposal for a two-year wage freeze.

“We will mobilize members to pressure Prime Minister Trudeau to live up to his promise of a new relationship with public service workers – one of respect,” said PSAC National President, Chris Aylward. “His Government is betraying our members and Canadians who depend on high quality public service.”

“New Treasury Board President, Jane Philpott must get a new mandate from the Prime Minister – one that will allow a fair deal. Our members have been waiting three years to get paid correctly under Phoenix – they shouldn’t also have to wait for the decent working conditions they deserve.”

Next week’s sessions will cover four bargaining units under Treasury Board: Program & Administrative Services (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operations Services (SV), and Education & Library Science (EB).

Source: PSAC’s website

Posted on

We Don’t Say…

The UNE Human Rights Committee is proud to launch its series of “We Don’t Say” photos with messages from members highlighting language that marginalizes the five UNE equity groups: LGBTQ2+ people, women, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and racialized persons. The committee was inspired by the Duke University students’ “You Don’t Say” campaign that gained popularity on Twitter. Since its debut in 2015, other university student associations have also jumped on board.

Kate Hart, UNE Assistant National Vice-President for Human Rights, brought the project to the attention of the UNE Human Rights Committee. “This campaign is great for UNE members because it is so inclusive,” said Hart. “Our proud union members have taken the opportunity to be featured in this project and we were pleasantly surprised by how many people wanted to participate. We also learned a great deal about each other because many voiced issues that were dear to them – issues such as suicide, racism and mental health. There are words related to these that feed stigmas or offend us or hurt us emotionally. Our hope is that the photos and their messages will help us educate one another.”

The photos will be posted on social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook every month. We encourage you to share them with your family, friends and colleagues.

For more information, contact the UNE Human Rights Committee.