February is Black History Month – And Yes, it is still meaningful

By Hayley Millington

As recently as January 20^th, 2016, during a conversation about the 2016 Oscars, U.S. actress Stacy Dash said on Fox News that she wants to eliminate Black History Month (BHM). According to Ms. Dash as she addressed the ongoing outrage over the lack of minority nominees in major categories;

“I think it’s ludicrous,” Dash, 49, said about the response to the lack of diversity surrounding the Oscar nominations. “We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration. If we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the [NAACP] Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black.”

Ms. Dash went a step further by saying “there shouldn’t be a Black History Month. We’re Americans, period.”

In 2005, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman said that having a Black History month was “ridiculous” and that the best way to end racism today is to “stop talking about it”. When questioned as to why, Mr. Freeman stated “You’re going to relegate my history to a month”.

The statements quoted here are a set of widely used, tried and tested propaganda used in America daily. The ideas themselves are used at any given time in discussions with other proponents who would like to remove Black History Month from the calendar with the premise that it hinders us (black folks) more than it helps us in achieving the American dream, not as a black person in America but as an American.

On this side of the border, attitudes towards BHM differ. All Canadians are invited to participate in BHM festivities as the legacy of black Canadians are remembered and celebrated. Canadians take the time to celebrate what Canadian people of colour have brought to the cultural mosaic that is Canada’s multicultural diversity.

It is important to recognize and not lose sight of the fact that Black History Month carries a significance that far outweighs the negativity as it allows people of colour to showcase their past and their present.

So while some to the south of us continue to devalue and misconstrue the importance of Black History Month, my point of view is that it certainly has a role to play in educating Canadians about its historical context and perspective.

For the next 29 days I am engaging my colleagues and friends with a BHM quiz that has been ongoing for the past 13 years in my place of work. When it opens up and creates a space for dialog about black history, the conversation becomes an opportunity to share my experiences openly and proudly with all who are interested.

Hayley Millington is the UNE’s National Equity Representative for Women.

2015/12/092015/12/09

Register today for the NCR-SE Regional Seminar

The NCR – Separate Employer regional seminar is fast approaching and it’s the best place to learn about our union and the many things we do.

Join us February 26-28, 2016 for an event jam-packed with lectures and workshops to help you gain the knowledge and confidence you’ll need to help our members. It’s also a great place to meet active members just like you and forge long-lasting friendships.

During the seminar, youth delegates will elect two of their peers to represent them as delegates to our 2017 convention.

You must register by Friday, January 22, 2016.

Visit the events page for more information and register today.

2015/12/07

PSAC Takes Position with Labour Board

Union takes position that work of Constables and work of Scanner Operators are different, with specific bargaining issues.

The new employer for security services on Parliament Hill has made a proposal to the Public Service Labour Relations Board to merge both Constables bargaining units and the Scanners bargaining unit into one – meaning that there would be one contract for both Constables and Scanner Operators.

Constables and Scanners both play a role in ensuring the safety and security of the public, parliamentarians and their staff. But the work that each performs is substantially different, as are the issues and operational-settings, from scheduling to uniforms to firearms. As a union that represents thousands of law enforcement officers in the federal public service, PSAC has a great deal of first-hand knowledge about collective bargaining in a law-enforcement environment. In the case of PPS, the fact of the matter is that constables and scanners don’t do the same work.

As a result, PSAC is taking the position that Constables and Scanners should each have the ability to negotiate their own collective agreements. Regardless of the union that represents these groups, PSAC believes that the two groups should be separate in terms of their collective agreements. Just as the PSAC has taken the position that – despite the fact that both groups are represented by the PSAC – postal workers and editorial workers should each have their own collective agreements. The PSAC currently represents eight different, separate groups on Parliament Hill, each with its own collective agreement.

Also resolving this issue would ensure that PSAC can get back to the bargaining table in a more timely fashion and resolve issues related to the work of Scanner Operators.

We’ll be sure to update as things progress. If you have any questions or wish to see a copy of our proposals contact a member of our Bargaining Team.

2015/12/04

December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Being tasked to write this article presented me with a challenge. I wasn’t sure of the best way to approach the topic of violence against women in order to deliver a piece that was insightful to the reader and meaningful to me. In my brainstorming sessions, I kept thinking of the 14 women who were killed on December 6th, 1989 simply for the fact that they were women. Images and thoughts from that horrific day resonated so strongly within me and kept repeating like a song on a continuous loop.

A chance conversation with one of my closest and dearest friends provided me with a “eureka” moment that gave me focus and reminded me of the enormity and severity of violence against women and how some of our sisters are continually living this reality – this perpetual motion. When you think about it, everyone knows someone or about someone who has been the victim of violence. As I sat there listening and bearing witness to the experience of a domestic abuse survivor, I was reminded about that continuous loop. And I was reminded that this wasn’t the first time I’d been privy to such tales of violence and triumph. The importance of being there to listen and lend support is integral to the victim’s support network.

(Thank you, Stacy, for bringing into focus the direction I needed as inspiration for this article.)

According to Status of Women in Canada, these are the facts:

FACT: Women are 11 times more likely than men to be victims of sexual offences
FACT: Women are 4 times more likely than men to experience intimate partner violence
FACT: Women with disabilities are at 4 times greater risk of experiencing sexual assault
FACT: The RCMP reports that nearly 1,200 Aboriginal women and girls have been murdered or gone missing in Canada
FACT: Young women between the ages of 15 and 24 experience the highest rates of violence
FACT: Since 1980, the number of non-Aboriginal female victims of homicide has been declining while the number of Aboriginal female victims has remained relatively constant
FACT: 8 out of 10 victims of intimate partner violence are women
FACT: Data suggests that one quarter of female students in college or university have experienced sexual assault or attempted sexual assault; 90% of these students knew their attacker
FACT: Women are 3 times more likely than men to experience criminal harassment
FACT: Aboriginal women are 3 times more likely to report experiencing violence than non-Aboriginal women
FACT: Aboriginal women are over-represented among Canada’s murdered women; they make up 4% of the female population but represent 16% of all murdered women
FACT: Sexual offences are 8 times more likely to be committed against girls ages 12-17 than male youth
FACT: 90% of Sexual assaults against women by a non-spousal accused are never reported to police
FACT: Women know their sexual attacker in three quarters of incidents

The facts here speak for themselves – women are targets simply because of their gender. So on this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada I strongly urge you to acknowledge without pride or prejudice, as an individual and a society, that gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue, it’s an everybody issue. Ignoring and sweeping it under the carpet is no longer an option or an alternative.

Instead, we must address the issue; face the FACTs head-on.

Together, we can root out this malignancy that has us hobbled and look towards engendering a society where respect for women is the new norm rather than the exception. It is left to us to facilitate spaces where victims feel free to express their experiences and lend support where we must to enable the healing of all those who have been affected by gender-based acts of violence.
In closing, I would like to share this poem with you…

Victim

VICTIMS, each and every one of us
In one way or another – Victim
The unknowingly conscious recipient of some or other crime against
humanity – Victim

VICTIMS, each and every one of us
Properly thrashed and subjected, to some or another of society’s ills
Dissected and Rejected, ready to occupy another space on humanity’s
landfill – Victim

VICTIMS, each and every one of us
Pillaged and Plundered, left falling, failing, floundering for – just give me
just one more chance, come on give me just one more chance, ready for
another option outside of that of – Victim

VICTIMS, each and every one of us
Desperate for movement, anywhere else but between a rock and its hardest
place
Rendered incapable, unable to gasp for breath as life holds us each
immobilized, comatose and in a state of suspended animation – Victim

VICTIMS, each and every one of us

Hayley Millington is the UNE’s National Equity Representative for Women.

2015/11/19

No significant movement from Senate administration in negotiations on Monday

On Monday November 16^th our Bargaining Team met with Senate Administration to continue negotiations for a new collective agreement.

In negotiations we again re-iterated that we seeking the same protections and rights that already exist for other workers on Parliament Hill, and that the PSAC has successfully negotiated with other federal employers.

This includes fair access to training and career advancement opportunities, family-related responsibility leave, access of union representatives to the workplace, provision of clothing and uniforms.

In our session last week, the Senate indicated that “there have been no problems” with respect to clothing provision at the Senate, and instead proposed to remove certain items from the collective agreement.

On Monday, we saw no movement on any of the issues outstanding between the parties, with the exception of family-related responsibility leave, where the Senate continues to insist that we agree to less than what the PSAC has negotiated for tens of thousands of other federal workers. We will not agree to less.

We are scheduled to meet again in December. Our hope is that the Senate will return to finally bargain with our team. If you have any questions or concerns, contact a member of our Bargaining Team. We’ll be sure to update as things progress.

Source: PSAC

2015/10/282015/10/28

In case you missed it – SSO National Bargaining Conference

SSOBargaining

The collective agreements for SSO regional office interviewers and field survey interviewers expired November 30, 2014 and PSAC served notice to bargain on March 31st, 2015. In preparation for bargaining, PSAC will hold a national Bargaining Conference in Ottawa. The Conference provides and important opportunity to discuss bargaining demands and strategy for the coming round of negotiations.

Key Details about the Conference

Date: January 9-10, 2016

1 delegate per local for locals with fewer than 50 members.
2 delegates per local for locals with 50 or more members.
3 delegates per local for locals with 100 or more members.

For a copy of the callout letter, please click here. Notwithstanding this letter, the following applies:

The list of delegates’ names and contact information must be received by the UNE National Office no later than November 19, 2015. Please send your list by email to Emily.Gault-Due@une-sen.org.

For a copy of the callout letter, please click here. Notwithstanding this letter, the following applies:

Delegates to the bargaining conference must be elected at a Local meeting, held in accordance with UNE bylaws and policies. Because of the short notice that was received for the conference, I realize that it may be difficult to provide the required 30 days’ notice to members. Therefore, on an exceptional basis, Locals must provide members at least 21 days’ notice of the meeting.

There is also a separate process for equity members to apply individually. For more information, please click here. http://psacunion.ca/psac-equity-activists-women-and-young-workers

Thank you for your cooperation.

Doug Marshall
National President

2015/10/02

Liberal youth job creation‎ will lead to unfair working conditions

LibUnfair

The Liberal party’s promise to promote and protect Canada’s national parks falls short of what is needed particularly because it encompasses a proposal to create 5,000 youth jobs at the expense of secure and stable employment at Parks Canada.

The Liberals have indicated that they will address staff shortages by hiring young workers as guides, interpreters and in other positions at Parks Canada instead of creating regular employment opportunities.

“We are concerned that this approach will lead to unfair working conditions for younger workers, and it does not constitute real and meaningful reinvestment in our national parks,” said Doug Marshall, president of the Union of National Employees, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Students who are employed by Parks Canada are paid separate and inferior wages under the Federal Student Work Experience Program. In the name of gaining work experience they are paid less than the workers they replace yet they perform the same work as regular employees.

Job creation is not about trading one type of job for another. Good jobs for young workers should not be created at the expense of workers already employed.

PSAC calls on the Liberal Party to create good jobs for young workers that are stable, paid a fair rate and provide career opportunities but not at the expense of the current workforce at Parks Canada.

2015/09/302015/10/01

CCPA Study Tells Canadians What the Union Has Been Saying All Along About Health & Safety

CCPAStudy

A new study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives entitled Waiting to Happen: Why we need major changes to the health and safety regime in federally regulated workplaces reveals that the health and safety of over a million workers in the federal government and other federally-regulated workplaces is at risk.

“This study confirms that our members – and the Canadians to whom they provide services – are at risk,” said UNE President Doug Marshall. “There are several recommendations, including repealing the 2013 changes to the Canadian Labour Code that the government snuck into their omnibus bill C-4. These are changes that need to happen and on October 19^th, we need to make sure the government we elect will follow the recommendations in order to improve the health and safety of workers and the well-being of Canadians.”

The study reveals some disturbing numbers about health and safety in workplaces:

In 10 years the number of health and safety inspectors on the job has dropped by over 50 per cent.
From 151 inspectors in 2005, figures obtained by PSAC show no more than 67 working as of April, 2015.
Between 2002 and 2013, 684 employees died as a result of workplace injury.
There were nearly 21,000 disabling injuries in the federally regulated sector in 2012 alone.

The study concludes with several recommendations to restore and improve the health and safety regulation of businesses and employers under federal jurisdiction, including:

Repealing the 2013 changes to the Canada Labour Code and increasing inspector staffing levels;
Conducting regular field inspections, particularly in high-risk workplaces;
Improving data collecting and making it more transparent;
Developing a strategy for workplace safety on First Nations reserves;
Reinstating fire inspectors; and
Covering all Parliament Hill employees under federal health and safety regulation.

Click here to download and share a copy of the full CCPA report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/waiting-happen

With files from www.psacunion.ca

2015/09/292015/10/01

Honouring our heroes

Last Sunday, hundreds gathered on Parliament Hill to pay their respect to the men and women of law enforcement who lost their lives during the course of duty.

The memorial serves as an opportunity to say thanks to the countless police and peace officers who regularly put their lives at risk in the name of public safety.

In our national parks, that responsibility falls on park wardens.

“Our national parks are breathtaking places,” said Eddie Kennedy, national advisor on Parks Canada. “But they come with their share of hazards. Our visitors owe a great debt to the wardens who keep our parks safe.”

Kennedy was in Ottawa last Sunday to represent our union during the ceremony and was accompanied by UNE national president Doug Marshall and national vice-president Kevin King.

Each year, the Union of National Employees and the Parks Canada Enforcement Branch collaborate to send park wardens to represent their comrades during the memorial. This year, the participants were David Pemberton, Jay Leopkey, Jonathan Jansen, Lucas Burnside, Michael Misskey, Nathan Byington, Patrick Latreille and Sharon Woods.

The Union of National Employees wishes to recognize all our brave park wardens for their important public service.

2015/09/282015/09/28

PSAC launches second phase of Vote to Stop the Cuts campaign

VTSTCP2

The Public Service Alliance of Canada is today launching the second phase of its Vote to Stop the Cuts campaign.

The campaign provides key information about the Harper Conservatives’ cuts to public services and encourages Canadians to take this into account when voting on October 19^th.

Vote to Stop the Cuts phase two will include a new video encouraging Canadians to vote on October 19, transit and newspaper ads as well as web and social media content.

Since coming into power, the Harper Conservatives have cut more than $14.5 billion a year from public services.

Phase 1 of the Vote to Stop the Cuts campaign garnered widespread media attention as well as engagement on social media. The first campaign video was viewed over 4.1 million times across social media platforms, the campaign content was liked, shared or commented on 226,000 times on Facebook and the campaign website received 436,000 hits.

“We believe our message is resonating with Canadians as we provide facts about the many essential public services that have been threatened by the reckless cuts made by the Harper Conservative government, without regard for the safety and welfare of millions of Canadians,” said Robyn Benson, National President of PSAC.

“Our members are on the front lines and see how frustrated Canadians are – waiting weeks to receive Employment Insurance cheques, or finding they can’t qualify. They are trying to ensure that Canada’s food is safe, that veterans are cared for and that our borders are secure,” said Benson. “But government departments have been stripped bare and workers are struggling to maintain crucial services under very difficult circumstances,” concluded Benson.

For more information on the campaign, visit votetostopthecuts.ca.