NCR

2012/05/01

Solidarity Against Austerity

Today, members of the Union of National Employees took part in a rally against austerity in Ottawa. The rally drew more than 1500 of activists; many of whom were UNE members from all over Canada who were in Ottawa attending the PSAC National Triennial Convention.

“We are here to give a clear message,” said Larry Rousseau, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President of the National Capital Region, “when you mess with public services – when you destroy public services – you destroy Canada.

One thing is for sure: our members were very energized by the rally. “I thought it was great,” said Mike LeBlanc, the Assistant Regional Vice-President for the Atlantic (N.B.). “We need more and more of these and all over the country.”

Many other social justice activist groups attended. Among the organizations, there were activists from ACORN Canada, a group that seeks to empower low and moderate income families. Also spotted among the crowd were Bridget Tolley and Kristen Gilchrist who are volunteers for Families of Sisters and Spirit; an organization that seeks justice for murdered and missing native women in Canada.

We have TONS of pictures of the rally. Go check them out on our Flickr page!

2012/02/16

PSAC Members at CSTMC – United for a fair contract

PSAC Members at CSTMC - United for a fair contract

Our members employed by Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation want better job security. They also want protections against their work being contracted out. Canada Post, the Museum of Nature and the National Arts Centre have agreed to superior protections for PSAC members – but the CSTMC won’t budge.

We are determined to achieve better protections for our members’ jobs; they deserve nothing less.

Because the parties are deadlocked, the bargaining team has applied to the Labour Board for third-party mediation. Conciliation (or mediation) is not arbitration; in this case, a third party is assigned by the Labour Board and works with both parties to come to an agreement. The conciliator doesn’t have the power to impose a decision.

For more information, download this bilingual poster from the PSAC. Better yet, print some off and share them with your members!

The Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation oversees the Canada Agriculture Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

2012/01/10

Help save our museums!

Our members gathered outside the Canada Museum of Science and Technology on Thursday and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on Friday to fight back against cuts to public services. Just two weeks before Christmas, the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation decided to lay off 17 employees.

UNE National President Doug Marshall had a message for the corporation: “We need to keep the craziness in the crazy kitchen and out of management and out of the federal government!” Marshall was of course referring to the Canada Science and Technology Museum’s most popular exhibit; a kitchen in which visitors experience spatial distortion.

There are signs that the craziness may have escaped the kitchen. The corporation says budget pressures were the reason for the layoffs. Nonetheless, 15 senior management positions were kept (one senior manager for every 13 employees) and their annual bonuses were paid out.

“When you destroy quality public services, you’re destroying Canada,” said Larry Rousseau, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. “That is what this institution has always represented for me, for my family and for people throughout Ottawa and Canada.”

The UNE Separate Employers regional team also came to show their support and reach out to museum patrons. Museum workers distributed factsheets explaining how these cuts will negatively impact future exhibits and the preservation of artifacts, among other services.

“We just want to do our job and take care of our great collection, not only for the people here today, but for future generations,” said a museum employee. “We want people to bring their kids and have their kids come back with their children – and experience the same great collection we’ve always had.”

What you can do: Contact Denise Amyot, President and CEO of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, at damyot@technomuses.ca or at 613-993-0775 or on Twitter at @damyot. Urge her to respect both the Canada Museums Act and our collective agreement.

2011/10/26

We're occupying Canada!

“Change is coming!” said one of the activists at the Occupy Ottawa protest.

Recently, the Occupy Wall Street movement spread to major Canadian cities. Members of the Union of National Employees and the PSAC have been there to show their support for the protest and collect signatures for the petition to protect public services. Our union members were also on-site to distribute raincoats to those occupying Confederation Park.

The protesters are tired of how the financial system treats them. They call themselves the 99 percenters: those who don’t have the money to influence elections, affect public policy or buy a politician. The 99 percenters are seeking fairness; they want their government to work on behalf of voters instead of large corporations and millionaires.

In a recent live interview from Wall Street, MSNBC television journalist Dylan Ratigan observed that the U.S. has “an auction-based democracy.” Bringing the point home, Ratigan explained that 94 per cent of the time, the winning presidential candidate is the one who raises the most money. Meanwhile, the Conservatives in this country have abolished the per-vote subsidy. By the next federal election, political parties will be entirely dependent on donations. Are we also heading for an auction-based democracy?

While the troublesome relationship between corporations and government is a key concern, protesters are also concerned about workers’ rights and corporate greed. The first collective statement of Occupy Wall Street reads in part:

They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. […]

They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions. […]

They have consistently outsourced labour and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.

To find out more about Occupy Canada locations, please visit this website.

If you haven’t already, please sign the PSAC petition to protect public services!

2011/10/05

A message for Tony Clement

Public servants working in Ottawa’s east got to enjoy some delicious food on Wednesday at a Barbeque organized by the PSAC NCR regional office. But burgers weren’t the only thing drawing these federal employees to the event.

“We’re trying to send a message to Tony Clement: enough is enough” said a local PSAC activist.

Treasury Board President Tony Clement is on a mission to cut $4 billion from public services.

What Tony Clement does not understand is that when you cut and destroy public services, you are destroying Canada,” said Larry Rousseau, Regional Executive Vice-President of the National Capital Region. “The PSAC is adamantly opposed to cutting public services to balance the books. The economic crisis was caused by the banking industry – not public service employees,” he added.

In June, Clement said that more public sector layoffs would come. Despite the still fragile state of the economy, the Conservative government seems to think that sending more people to the unemployment line is the way to foster economic growth.

In his June 8 speech, Clement said: “We’ll all need to ask fundamental questions about the programs and services we provide…. Should we still be doing this — and doing it in this way? Does this have to be delivered by this organization? Why does it cost as much as it does? Can we find savings?”

A few months later, the Canadian Press revealed that the Harper government hired Deloitte, an American-based professional organization, to help find $4 billion in cuts. Taxpayers are paying Deloitte $90,000 per day for this service.

And Tony Clement says he wants to find savings….

Please sign PSAC’s the petition to Tony Clement. Let him know that public services matter!

2011/10/042014/09/02

A guest of honour

On the eve of the annual vigil for missing and murdered native women, Susan Martin promised to bring a guest of honour to the event. Yesterday, she stood on the steps of Parliament Hill, holding her daughter’s urn.

Martin is a member of Families of Sisters in Spirit, a grassroots organization led by families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

“Today will be the last time I ever get to touch my child’s remains,” she told the group gathered yesterday for the sixth annual vigil to demand justice for their stolen loved ones.

Nine years ago, Martin’s 24-year-old daughter, Terrie Ann Dauphinais, was murdered in her home in Calgary. Her case remains unsolved.

Through Families of Sisters in Spirit, and the annual vigils they hold, Martin began to talk publicly about her daughter. This year, Martin invited supporters to a sacred ceremony on Victoria Island, where Algonquin elder Annie Smith-St-Georges of Kitigan Zibi First Nations would prepare the urn for burial by sealing it in a cedar box.

“I represent the victims, the mothers that don’t have their voice yet,” said Martin. “It’s not an easy task, so I do that for all of us because we are a family.”

Families of Sisters in Spirit has identified more than 500 aboriginal women who are missing or have been murdered. A 2009 report by Statistics Canada found that aboriginal women are almost three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report being a victim of a violent crime. Like others touched by these tragedies, Martin feels the federal government should be doing more.

“I get very angry when I see a new family member because they should not be going through what we’re going through – and we seem to be falling on deaf ears.”

Martin and other members of the group met with members of Parliament on Monday to speak about her experience.

“When [MPs] meet the families, they don’t forget them,” said Jennifer Lord of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “And then that’s a connection that the families can hold on to.”

However, no one from the governing Conservatives showed up at the meeting, said Kristen Gilchrist, a volunteer for Families of Sisters in Spirit.

Irkar Beljaars, a volunteer who helped organize a similar vigil in Montreal, called on the government to create a national task force for missing and murdered native women. “We need our government to look at itself in the mirror and decide what’s right and what’s wrong,” Beljaars said. “What’s wrong is fighter jets and prisons. What’s right is taking care of women in this country.”

As for Martin, her resolve remains strong. “I’m letting go,” she said while holding her daughter’s urn for the final time. “But I’m going to stay positive. I’m still going to fight for justice. I’m still going to take this journey to stop other mothers and family members from feeling what we feel.”

What you can do:
Write to Stephen Harper and your Member of Parliament. Tell them that aboriginal women are loved and valued. Demand a national task force on missing and murdered aboriginal women.

Follow Families of Sisters in Spirit on their Facebook page. You can keep up-to-date on missing women in Canada and help bring them home safely.

Many photos of the vigil can be seen on the Union of National Employees’ Flickr site

2011/09/25

Remembering their sacrifice

The sullen buzz of bagpipes reverberated in Ottawa’s downtown, last Sunday, as police and peace officers gathered on Parliament Hill to remember their fallen comrades.

The memorial service drew hundreds of officers from across the nation, and an equally large number of onlookers who came to show their support. Governor General David Johnston was among those in attendance.

“By ensuring our safety, at times risking your own lives to do so, the members of the extended law enforcement family are helping to maintain harmony in our communities and contributing to Canada’s enviable reputation as a peaceful nation,” Johnston said.

Doug Marshall and Karoline Klüg came to support nine union members who work at Parks Canada as Peace Officers. “Most Canadians probably aren’t aware that four Park Wardens have died in the line of duty since 1980,” said Marshall. “Park Wardens, like all members of the vast law enforcement community, put their lives at risk to protect their fellow Canadian citizens. It’s great that they are being honoured here today,” he added.

Also spotted among the crowd were Jennifer Ho (RVP-BC & Yukon), Marc Danis (HR-Rep-Manitoba), Yvon Beaudoin (A/RVP-Quebec), Angela Decker (RVP-Atlantic), Geoff Ryan (ARVP-AB, NT & Nunavut) and Sandra Bello (ARVP-Ontario) who were in town for a planning committee. Several union staff members also were present: Suzanne Boucher, Susan Phillips, Franco Picciano, and Ben René.

A number of memorials were also held across Canada.

For more pictures from Sunday’s memorial, please visit our Flickr site.

2011/09/19

A national tragedy: our stolen sisters

September 19, 2011 – A march that started in Vancouver on June 21 reached Parliament Hill where activists demanded that the Harper government address a national tragedy. Walk for Justice has marched throughout the country to call attention to the approximately 4200 missing and murdered women. Walk for Justice activists were hosted by Families of Sisters in Spirit, a group that aims to inform the public about the impact of violence against native women.

Theresa Ducharme, formerly of Sisters in Spirit, noted that the number of missing and murdered women has only increased since she became involved with the group five years ago. In fact, since the march started in June, 36 more native women have gone missing.

“Rona Ambrose, a few weeks ago, said that she’s with us in spirit…. Well that’s nice! As our numbers grow of missing and murdered native women across this country, that’s all that’s going to be left if nothing is done,” said Irkar Beljaars of the Montreal Families of Sisters in Spirit. Beljarrs says their commitment to this issue is unwavering and called on Harper and his government to create a national task force on missing and murdered native women.

Several family members of missing and murdered women took part in the march. Gilbert Gauthier, of Winnipeg, was walking on behalf of Claudette Osborne-Tyo who has been missing since July 2008. Gauthier said the situation is especially hard on Claudette’s mother who wakes up every morning not knowing what has happened to her daughter. “[The police] say that just because she was a streetwalker or a prostitute that she decided to leave and go on her own – but that’s not true. She would always keep in touch with us every day,” he added.

Alaya McIvor of Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation (200 km northwest of Winnipeg, MB) took part in the rally to seek justice for the murder of her cousin, Roberta McIvor. “She was murdered 47 days ago on July 30th. She was decapitated on the reserve,” McIvor said. A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested, but McIvor and his family believes there are more individuals involved in the murder. Despite the demonstrably violent nature of the crime, the individuals arrested were only charged with manslaughter.

Walking for her younger sister was Sharon Johnson of Thunder Bay. Sandra K. Johnson was raped and murdered in 1992; her case remains unsolved. “We just had our seventh annual memorial walk in Thunder Bay,” Sharon said. She has received much support from local media and Lakehead University students; however there still are no leads on her sister’s case.

Families of Sisters in Spirit will be holding vigils across Canada on October 4th. For more information on how you can get involved, please visit the vigil’s Facebook event page. Families of Sisters in Spirit also issue alerts of missing women on their Facebook page.

To view pictures from the walk, please visit our Flickr site.

2011/06/16

Two rallies – One union

June 16, 2011 – PSAC members, including National Component members, joined CAW members on the picket line in support of their strike. They were thrilled to see us there – together, we marched through the terminal and yelled “Shame, shame, shame!” to scabs working the Air Canada counter. While we were making noise in the Ottawa airport, we got news that a tentative agreement had been reached. Cheers of joy and chants of solidarity filled the terminal. We got back on the bus (and took a few CAW members with us!) and went to support members at CUPW, in the hopes we could help them accomplish the same!

The CUPW members locked out of the Ottawa sorting facility were surprised and overjoyed to see our solidarity bus arrive. One CUPW member was even overheard saying: “You brought the big guns!”

Unions standing in solidarity together: now those are big guns indeed!

Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site!

2011/06/15

Fighting with Heart for the Arts

June 15, 2011 – National Component members at the National Gallery of Canada came out to show support for their bargaining team. Local 70397 has been bargaining since last year – so far, the employer is still insisting on wage concessions. This government’s history of cutting funding for the arts has made it clear that they are not a friend of the arts. The National Component supports its members in the arts and culture sector and will continue to fight on their behalf.

If you have a moment, write to your Member of Parliament. Let them know arts and culture are important to you and that you won’t stand for reduced access to Canadian culture.

Many photos of the rally can be seen on the National Component’s Flickr site!