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UNE Joins the National Day of Action

Last Saturday, union members across the country got together to have their message heard: we’re all affected by these cuts. Thousands of our members have had their jobs eliminated – with many more job cuts to come.

Doug Marshall, the national president of the Union of National Employees, attended the event in Ottawa, where he shared his thoughts on these massive cuts.

“The government says these are just back office jobs. Well first of all, the back office is very important. The people who have contact with Canadians, that’s where they get their support. We’re not only losing those support workers, but we are losing people who directly affect the lives of Canadians in a very immediate way,” said Marshall.

The UNE, Marshall said, is very concerned about the loss of a number of crucial jobs that could put members of the public at risk, including lifeguards at Tofino Beach in B.C., fire protection officers across the country, water inspectors who keep drinking water safe for First Nations people living on reserves – and those are just a few examples.

Events all across Canada

Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, PSAC members gathered at Memorial Park with PSAC President Robyn Benson. “The crowd was electrified by Robyn Benson’s speech,” said Chris Little-Gagné, the assistant vice-president of the UNE’s Manitoba region. “We had face-painting and juice for the kids – and the grownups wrote messages to Harper on a large banner.”

In an interview with Global Winnipeg, Benson touched on how these cuts are affecting morale in the public service.

“It is really disconcerting to be sitting at your desk day in and day out proudly serving Canadians and not knowing if tomorrow a [layoff] letter will show up on your desk,” said Benson.

A moment of solidarity

In Kitchener, Ontario, PSAC members rallied in Victoria Park. “In Kitchener, we have members from FedDev Ontario, Passport Canada and Parks Canada,” said Mary Anne Walker, assistant vice-president of the UNE’s Ontario region.

One affected member from Parks Canada gave an interview. Kathleen LeFaive told CTV Kitchener that she’s passionate about the work she does at Parks Canada.

“I didn’t work for money,” LeFaive told CTV. “I work in heritage because of the love history and the love of teaching.”

PSAC members in Kitchener were joined by public education teachers, who are standing up to the Ontario provincial government after the legislature passed a controversial anti-strike bill.

We have pictures of the rallies in Ottawa, Kitchener and Winnipeg. Got photos from your event? Send them to communications@une-sen.org.

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Join us on September 15!

On Saturday, September 15, stand with us for public services.

It’s time to tell Harper that our work is important to Canadians. Public services are important to their health, to their safety, to their opportunities and to their well-being. We’re proud of the work we do, and we’re ready to stand up for quality public services!

Harper isn’t being honest with Canadians, so it’s time we tell our friends, families and neighbours what’s really going on.

We have to talk about how the Harper is taking risks with the lives of Canadians. When the prime minister cuts lifeguards, fire safety officers and water quality inspectors, he’s gambling with our lives.

We have to talk about the impact on local economies. When this government cuts the tourism season for our National Parks, they threaten the livelihood of the bed and breakfast, the souvenir shop and the corner diner.

Let’s talk about the impact of the cuts at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Our country’s aboriginal communities can’t afford to be neglected anymore by their government.

Let’s talk about how the cuts at Library and Archives and several national historic sites and museums are robbing us of our history – of our heritage. These are national treasures that make history come alive; they ought to be maintained for future generations.

There are countless other examples. On Saturday, September 15, I invite you to talk about how these cuts affect the work you do and how they affect all of us.

To find an event near you, please click here (this link will direct you to the PSAC website).

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees

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National Executive Meeting – September 2012

The National Executive will meet in Ottawa from September 11 to 13. 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.

If you would like an issue to be brought up during the next meeting, please contact your Regional Vice-President.

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International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

August 9 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The United Nations created this day 18 years ago “to strengthen international cooperation for solving problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health.”

In honour of the 18th anniversary of day, Survival International, a non-profit organization working for tribal peoples’ rights worldwide, has created the following photographic gallery featuring 18 images of tribal and indigenous communities and their land.

Survival International is perhaps best known for their work to protect the lands of uncontacted tribes. Oil industries and illegal logging are encroaching on their land. They also pose a serious threat to these tribes; contact with outsiders could expose them to infectious diseases and wipe them out. To survive, uncontacted tribes must be left alone and their lands ought to be protected.

We encourage you to visit Survival International’s website to find out more and to get involved. You can start by sending a letter asking Brazil’s Minister of Justice to stop the loggers who are invading the uncontacted Awá’s land.

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Multiculturalism Day at the UNE

August 14 is Multiculturalism Day at the Union of National Employees.

Last summer, our members passed a resolution to celebrate our union’s diversity each year on August 14. This year will be our first ever Multiculturalism Day.

We hope you take the opportunity to find out more about the rich cultural mosaic in which we live.

There are many ways to celebrate our diversity! Members of our Human Rights Committee have proposed the following activities:

  • Games
  • Barbecues
  • A potluck where each person brings a traditional dish from their country of origin

As part of the festivities, the Union of National Employees is holding a drawing competition. The theme is “Multiculturalism in the Union of National Employees”. For more details, click here to download the contest rules and entry form.

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Nelson Mandela International Day

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” [1]

–      Nelson Mandela

July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day – a day when we’re urged to think of ways to be of service to others. This year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation is asking all citizens of the world to devote 67 minutes to community service in honour of the 67 years Mandela spent helping others.

Nelson Mandela led the resistance against apartheid in South Africa after 1948. In 1964, Mandela and other leaders of the African National Congress were brought to stand trial for plotting to overthrow the government by violence; acts that were designed to overthrow the apartheid system. Mandela was sentenced to life in prison, effectively becoming a prisoner of conscience.

Nelson Mandela’s time in prison, which amounted to just over 27 and a half years’, was marked by many small and large events which played a crucial part in shaping the personality and attitudes of the man who was to become the first President of a democratic South Africa. Many fellow prisoners and warders influenced him and he, in his turn, influenced them. While he was in jail his mother and son died, his wife was banned and subjected to continuous arrest and harassment, and the liberation movement was reduced to isolated groups of activists. [2]

After his release, Mandela represented the African National Congress in negotiations that finally led to South Africa’s first multi-racial elections. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the country’s first black president during the nation’s first democratic elections.

“We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom. We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world. Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign.” [3]

The 1993 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela (along with Frederik Willem de Klerk) “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.” [4]

[1] http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/inhiswords.shtml
[2] http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography
[3] http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Inaugural_Speech_17984.html
[4] http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/presentation-speech.html

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The UNE is going green!

Say goodbye to paper cuts; our union is about to get a little greener!

In the past, we’ve sent you countless letters and documents that were so large, they often gave the phonebook a complex. As of September 1, 2012, our communications will be going green.

In essence, most information will be sent to you via email – important documents will be attached in PDF format. By going paperless, we can help the environment and save money on printing and shipping… not to mention, spare you the clutter!

Don’t forget that email is only one of the many ways we communicate with our members; be sure to visit our website often and “Like” our Facebook page to stay up-to-date.

Finally, if going paperless isn’t realistic for your Local, please contact Yvonne Gauthier at 613-560-5672 or 1-800-663-6685. We appreciate that this may not be feasible for everyone.

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A gag order from the Harper government

Edith Bramwell, legal counsel for the Public Service Alliance of Canada, was recently interviewed by CBC Radio’s Carol Off. During the show, Bramwell spoke about a recent letter that Parks Canada sent to their employees about their duty of loyalty, calling it “something in the nature of a gag order.”

The letter, sent late last month, asks Parks Canada employees to refrain from public criticisms of the Government of Canada.

Bramwell says the letter gives the impression that any criticism of the government would violate the duty of loyalty. “That is a gross restraint on people’s political rights and their rights to freedom of expression,” she added.

The same sentiments were echoed by Eddie Kennedy, National Executive Vice-President of the UNE, in a recent interview with the CBC:

“If you’re in a coffee shop and you’re criticizing the Harper government and there’s someone sitting beside you and they know you work for a government department, technically you’re in violation of the code of ethics.”

Bramwell added that, given the current job cuts, some employees may fear that they could lose their job for speaking out. “That’s simply not appropriate. That’s simply not what the duty of loyalty is meant to say.”

The PSAC is currently working on a guide for members on the code of ethics and their right to speak out. We’ll let you know the minute it comes out! In the meantime, if you’re asked to take part in a media interview, please contact the UNE’s communications officer or your assigned labour relations officer.

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Another somber week

Dear brothers and sisters,

It’s been a somber week for many of our members and indeed for Canadians who will undoubtedly notice fewer services.

Yesterday, 3,889 members of the PSAC, across 13 departments, were told that they could lose their jobs.

Among these are 1,964 PSAC members at HRSDC, 22 of whom are UNE members in the Labour Program. Nine other UNE members at Infrastructure Canada received the same news.

This week, we also found out that 23 positions were being eliminated at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research. Three other members were told they were losing their jobs this week; these members work at the National Arts Centre, the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

A complete breakdown of workforce adjustment notices can be found on the PSAC website.

We will have more details to share with you next week. In the meantime, let’s take care of our members and each other.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees

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Bargaining continues for interviewers at SSO

The bargaining team for Statistical Survey Operations Regional Office was hard at work last week during three consecutive days of negotiation. Members of this group work as regional office interviewers in Statistics Canada offices around the country.

“We spent the greater part of the three days talking about seniority,” said Réjean Amyotte, a UNE member on the bargaining team and an Assistant Regional Vice-President for our union’s Ontario region.

Brother Amyotte explained that seniority was the overall theme of this round of negotiations. The bargaining team’s proposals regarding scheduling and increased job security are mostly centred on seniority rights.

“I would say that I’m more than cautiously optimistic that we can reach a negotiated settlement,” said Amyotte.

The bargaining team is scheduled to resume negotiations on July 11 in Ottawa, where they will present their wage demands.

To find out more, consult the SSO Bargaining section of the PSAC website.