Appel des mises en candidature

C’est officiel : nous venons de lancer l’appel des mises en candidature!

Pour tous les détails, veuillez consulter la lettre portant sur les mises en candidature : http://bit.ly/SEN_cand

Le formulaire de mise en candidature peut être téléchargé ici; la politique FIN 9 est également disponible en cliquant ici.

Nominations call

It’s official: the call for nominations is out!

For all the details, please consult the nomination letter: http://bit.ly/UNE_nom

The nomination form can be downloaded here; Policy FIN 9 can be downloaded here.

Ontario Provincial Election

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

June 12, 2014 is election day and PSAC members across Ontario will have a say in who their next provincial government will be. This will be an especially important election given the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party platform and its proposed drastic changes to our province.

Ontario workers and their families need to be aware of the PC platform, the so called “Million Jobs Plan”, and the actions Tim Hudak, leader of the PC Party is promising, which include:

· Slashing 100,000 good public sector jobs in 2 years

· Increasing classroom size by 2-3 students

· Increase the ratio for full-day kindergarten to one teacher for every 20 students, from the current ratio of two teachers per 26 students

· Freeze the Ontario child benefit at $1,200.

· Eliminate the $1,500 Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit.

· Ending a 30% tuition grant for post-secondary students

· Lowering corporate taxes even further to 8% from the current 11.5%

· Eliminating the Local Health Integration Networks

Ontario already spends the least per capita on public services than any other province or territory in Canada. Tim Hudak’s plan of cuts across the board will leave our communities even further behind.

Please listen to our province-wide telephone town-hall recording to find out more about the election here: http://youtu.be/NjLUro3couY

We Are All Affected by the austerity agenda, so on June 12 please vote for public services!

In Solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa,

Message from PSAC REVP Ontario Re: Ontario Provincial Election Contributions

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Ontario is in the midst of an important general election campaign that could have far reaching and long-term consequences for PSAC members not only in Ontario, but also across Canada. We encourage all Locals and Components to get involved in the campaign by ensuring that members are aware of the different Party platforms, and that they get out and vote.

PSAC will engage in the campaign in a number of ways to ensure that anti-worker and anti-public services platforms are opposed. Your union has dedicated resources to join with the greater labour movement and defend our members and communities across this province.

However, our political action must abide by Elections Ontario guidelines and we are therefore taking precautions to ensure that our activities are in line with those guidelines. To comply with all guidelines we have to be aware of financial contributions planned by Locals, Area Councils, Regional Council, Components, and DCL's to a Party, riding or candidate.

Please review the FAQ's on contributions and third party activities from Elections Ontario for a complete detailed account of the guidelines: http://www.elections.on.ca/en-CA/FAQs/ElectionFinances.htm#ThirdParty

Any financial contribution that PSAC structures (Regions, Components, Locals, Committees, including Area Councils) would like to make to a political party, candidate or riding association, must have the written authorization of the PSAC National President. This will ensure that PSAC as a whole does not exceed contribution limits.

In Solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa,
PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President - Ontario

Ordre du jour de la réunion de l'exécutif national

ORDRE DU JOUR DE LA RÉUNION DE L'EXÉCUTIF NATIONAL

Du 29 au 31 mai 2014

Hôtel Minto Suites, 433, avenue Laurier Ouest

*Il convient de souligner qu'il s'agit d'un événement sans parfum.

1. OUVERTURE DE LA SÉANCE

2. MOT DU PRÉSIDENT

3. HORAIRE DE LA SÉANCE

Le jeudi 29 mai 2014 De 9 h à 11 h 45
De 11 h 45 à 13 h

(réunion des
coprésidents du Comité du congrès)
De 13 h à 17 h

Le vendredi 30 mai 2014 De 9 h à 11 h 45
De 13 h à 17 h

Le samedi 31 mai 2014 De 9 h à 11 h 45
De 13 h à 16 h 30

4. ADOPTION DE L'ORDRE DU JOUR

5. DÉBUT DE LA TABLE RONDE – EXÉCUTIF NATIONAL

6. MOMENT DE SILENCE
Joe Quinn, section locale 70401
Tammy Uganecz, section locale 30116
Jeanine D 'Antonio, section locale 30115

7. SERMENT PROFESSIONNEL
Gloria Pfeiffer, vice-présidente régionale adjointe récemment élue – Saskatchewan
Yann Boudreau, vice-président régional adjoint récemment élu – Québec

8. PROCÈS-VERBAUX DES RÉUNIONS PRÉCÉDENTES

Réunion de l'Exécutif national – du 30 septembre au 2 octobre 2013
Réunion de l'Exécutif national – du 21 au 23 janvier 2014
Téléconférence de l'Exécutif national – le 3 avril 2014

9. RAPPORTS DE L'EXÉCUTIF
A) Président national – D. Marshall 2
B) Vice-président exécutif national – E. Kennedy
C) Vice-présidente nationale aux droits de la personne – K. Klüg
D) Rapports annuels des vice-présidents régionaux et vice-présidentes régionales et des vice-présidents régionaux adjoints et vice-présidentes régionales adjointes
E) Rapports des vice-présidents régionaux et vice-présidentes régionales sur les sections locales inactives

10. ACTIVITÉS EN COURS
A) Campagne de cartes d'adhésion – D. Marshall

B) Réaménagement des effectifs – D. Marshall
i) AADNC
ii) Patrimoine canadien
iii) Passeport Canada

C) Agent négociateur – D. Marshall
i) Conseil du Trésor
ii) Parcs Canada
iii) OSP
iv) Autres
- Organigramme fonctionnel du cycle de négociation du Conseil national mixte

D) Mise à jour sur les séminaires régionaux – D. Marshall

E) Congrès triennal de 2014 du SEN – D. Marshall
i) Rapport du Comité organisateur du congrès
ii) Ébauche de l'ordre du jour du congrès
iii) Rapports des délégués et déléguées par région
iv) Résolutions du congrès
v) Coordonnateurs de la prévention du harcèlement
vi) Règles du congrès – À titre d'information seulement
vii) Motions de procédure – affectations

– Acceptation des délégués et déléguées retardataires
– Adoption des règles
– Adoption de l'ordre du jour du congrès
– Ratification du Syndicat des employées et employés nationaux, politiques et
– Décisions de l'Exécutif national
– Nomination aux comités du congrès
- Renvoi des résolutions et des recommandations– Tarifs journaliers
– Rapport du président national
– Dossiers en suspens
– Lieu du prochain congrès
– Levée de la séance

viii) Tarif journalier et tarif au kilométrage du congrès – motion
ix) Participation au congrès – politique CC 2
x) Lignes directrices à l'intention du personnel et des bénévoles concernant la fermeture des portes
xi) Procédure d'élection
xii) Procédure de vote électronique
xiii) Présidents des élections du caucus régional et liste du personnel de soutien
xiv) Scénarios d'élections du caucus régional
xv) Comité de mise en candidature
xvi) Règles applicables aux réunions générales des candidats et candidates
xvii) Conférenciers et conférencières du congrès
xviii) Renseignements à l'intention des nouveaux délégués et nouvelles déléguées
xix) Rapports écrits – Responsabilité des représentants syndicaux et représentantes syndicales
xx) Insignes nominatifs
xxi) Salles de réception (indemnité, liste de vérification et emplacement)
xxii) Assignation des sièges pendant le congrès
xxiii) Affectations au comité des justificatifs d'identité
xxiv) Réunion du nouvel Exécutif national – le 15 août 2014 (de 17 h à 18 h)

F) Congrès régionaux de l'AFPC – D. Marshall et autres

G) Compte rendu de l'Assemblée du Congrès du travail du Canada – D. Marshall et autres
11. NOUVEAUX POINTS A) Réunion de l'Exécutif national – Séance de planification et d'étude – D. Marshall
- Date proposée : Du 6 au 10 octobre 2014
B) Voyages en avion – K. King
C) Avis de motion. Réf. : Section locale X0305 – K. King
D) Règlements internes normalisés des sections locales – H. Brooker
12. RAPPORTS DES COMITÉS A) Rapport du Comité des règlements internes et politiques
B) Rapport du Comité de négociation collective
C) Rapport du Comité des communications
D) Rapport du Comité des finances et des ressources humaines
E) Rapport du Comité des Francophones
F) Rapport du Comité des sections locales et des adhésions
G) Rapport du Comité de mobilisation des membres
H) Rapport du Comité disciplinaire de l'exécutif national
13. CLÔTURE DU TOUR DE TABLE

14. LEVÉE DE LA SÉANCE

National Executive Meeting Agenda

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING AGENDA

May 29-31, 2014

Minto Suites Hotel, 433 Laurier Avenue West

*Please note this is a scent-free event*

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS

3. HOURS OF SITTING

Thursday, May 29, 2014 - 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
- 11: 45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

(Convention Committee Co-Chairs
Meeting)
- 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, May 30, 2014 - 9:00 a.m. – 11: 45 a.m
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 31, 2014 - 9: 00 a.m. – 11: 45 p.m.
-1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

5. ROUND TABLE CHECK-IN – NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

6. MOMENT OF SILENCE

Joe Quinn, Local 70401
Tammy Uganecz, Local 30116
Jeanine D 'Antonio, Local 30115

7. OATHS OF OFFICE

Gloria Pfeiffer, Newly elected Assistant Regional Vice-President - Saskatchewan
Yann Boudreau, Newly elected Assistant Regional Vice-President – Quebec

8. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

National Executive Meeting – September 30-October 2, 2013
National Executive Meeting – January 21-23, 2014
National Executive Conference Call – April 3, 2014

9. REPORTS OF THE EXECUTIVE

A) National President – D. Marshall 2
B) National Executive Vice-President – E. Kennedy
C) National Vice-President for Human Rights – K. Klüg
D) Annual Regional Vice-Presidents and Assistant Regional Vice-Presidents Reports
E) Regional Vice-Presidents Reports on Inactive Locals

10. ONGOING BUSINESS

A) Pledge Card Campaign – D. Marshall

B) Workforce Adjustment – D. Marshall
i) AANDC
ii) Heritage Canada
iii) Passport Canada

C) Bargaining - D. Marshall
i) Treasury Board
ii) Parks Canada
iii) SSO
iv) Others
- Flow Chart for the NJC Bargaining Cycle

D) Regional Seminars Update – D. Marshall

E) 2014 UNE Triennial Convention - D. Marshall
i) Convention Organizing Committee – Report
ii) Draft Convention Agenda
iii) Delegates Report by Region
iv) Convention Resolutions
v) Harassment Prevention Coordinators
vi) Convention Rules of Order – For information only
vii) Procedural Motions – assignments
- Acceptance of Late Delegates
- Adoption of the Rules of Order
- Adoption of the Convention Agenda
- Ratification of Union of National Employees, Policies &
- National Executive Decisions
- Appointment to Convention Committees
- Referral of Resolutions and Recommendations
- Per Diem Rates
- National President’s Report
- Outstanding Business
- Next Convention Site

- Adjournment 3
　
viii) Convention Per diem and Mileage Rate - Motion
ix) Convention Attendance - Policy CC 2
x) Tiling Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers
xi) Election Procedures
xii) Electronic Voting Procedures
xiii) Regional Caucus Elections Chairs & Support Staff List
xiv) Regional Caucus Elections Scripts
xv) Nominations Committee
xvi) All-Candidates Meeting Rules
xvii) Guest Speakers at Convention
xviii) New Delegates Information
xix) Written Reports - Accountability of Union Officers
xx) Name Tags
xxi) Hospitality Suites (Allowance, Checklist and location)
xxii) Seating Selections at Convention
xxiii) Credentials Committee assignments
xxiv) Incoming National Executive Meeting – August 15, 2014 (5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

F) PSAC Regional Conventions – D. Marshall and all

G) CLC Convention Debrief – D. Marshall and all

11. NEW BUSINESS

A) National Executive Meeting, Planning and Study Session - D. Marshall
- Proposed date: October 6 – 10, 2014
B) Air travel – K. King
C) Notice of Motion RE: Local X0305 – K. King
D) Standard Local Bylaws – H. Brooker

12. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A) Bylaws and Policy Committee – Report
B) Collective Bargaining Committee - Report
C) Communications Committee - Report
D) Finance and Human Resources Committee - Report
E) Francophone Committee – Report
F) Locals and Membership Committee – Report 4 G) Membership Engagement Committee – Report
H) NE Disciplinary Committee - Report

13. ROUND TABLE CHECK-OUT

14. ADJOURNMENT

Telephone Town-hall - May 26 at 7pm - Provincial Election

Sisters and Brothers,

The Ontario Provincial Election has been called for June 12, 2014 and the stakes have never been higher.

Please join us for a special province-wide telephone town-hall this Monday, May 26, 2014 at 7pm to discuss the election.

The Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, led by Tim Hudak, has made its platform clear with their unbelievable Million Jobs Plan.

The plan begins with a devastating slashing of the public service, with 100,000 workers being laid-off in 2 years!

PSAC members have seen first-hand the devastation slashing the public sector has; with nearly 30,000 members affected through Harper's austerity program. Imagine the damage Hudak's plan would cause.

On Sunday May 25th you will receive a notification call . If you do not receive a call, please call in directly on May 26 at 7pm using the toll free number 1-877-519-6647 and using the pin: 674464#

Join us in this important discussion, which will impact every community in this province.

In Solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa,
PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President - Ontario

The reality behind Hudak’s 100,000 job cut promise

At a campaign stop on Friday morning, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak pledged to cut 100,000 jobs from the public service in Ontario in order to balance the budget.

According to the Globe and Mail’s description of the announcement, “Mr. Hudak did not say exactly which jobs would be cut, but promised not to touch doctors, nurses or police officers. He suggested instead that he would mostly look to eliminate administrative positions and to privatize some services. The Tories have, in the past, talked about privatizing gambling and the LCBO, among other things.”

It’s easy for politicians to attack the public service and pledge to cut “government waste” to pay for other promises; however, delivering is much harder. As Alex and Jordan Himelfarb recently noted, “there’s never enough gravy”. Therefore, any assessment of Hudak’s pledge to cut the public service should start with the question: “Is this promise realistic?”

To answer that question, first consider the size of the Ontario public service: The so-called “core public service” in Ontario employs approximately 60,000 people – these are the public servants who would work in the departmental structure and are likely what you think about when Hudak promises to ‘eliminate administrative positions’ – although many would work in front-line services, implementation or policy development.

Including agencies, boards and commissions (such as Metrolinx, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the Niagara Falls Bridge authority and several hundred other organizations) and provincial police and judicial employees, Statistics Canada numbers from 2012 place the number of Ontario public servants in the general government category as 88,483[i]. The OPP, which Hudak said he would not touch, consists of 9,000 of these positions. Hudak confirmed at his press conference that he would eliminate some of these agencies, including the Ontario Power Authority, Local Health Integration Networks and the College of Trades.

Since Hudak says some of the job cuts would come from privatization, some of the 100,000 could come from the 39,712 people – including part-timers – employed by ‘government enterprises’ such as the LCBO, the OLG and provincial parks. Of course, many of these government enterprises are revenue-generating, so privatizing them might decrease government revenues more than they cut costs.

Now here’s a scary number: If Hudak’s job cuts were to come entirely from eliminated “administrative positions” and privatization, it would represent a devastating 78% reduction in this pool of workers.

The truth is that most public sector workers in Ontario work in the MUSH sector (Municipalities, Universities, Schools and Health). The health and social services sector in Ontario employs 238,555 people and, while Hudak said he wouldn’t cut “doctors [or] nurses” specifically, it is possible that some of the staff cuts would come from this sector. Indeed, in 2012, Hudak promised to close Ontario’s LHINs and Community Care Access Centres, which he estimated would cut 2,000 health administration positions.

The largest government employers in Ontario are actually the local school boards, which employ teachers, support staff and educational administrators. Together, Ontario’s school boards employ 285,623 people. A PC white paper on education released in January 2013 suggested cutting 10,000 “non-teaching positions” and delaying full-day junior kindergarten until the budget is balanced. The white paper’s conclusion said: “Education is vitally important, but we can’t pay for it with borrowed funds. As Don Drummond recommended, that means increasing class sizes a bit, eliminating some non-teaching jobs and controlling the cost of full-day kindergarten while we see if it really works [ii].” At his press conference, Hudak confirmed that teachers would be on the cutting block saying: “Will it mean fewer teachers? It does.”

The postsecondary education sector and municipalities also employ a large number of Ontarians, but it’s likely that these areas would be harder for Hudak to cut. The government could starve funding to municipalities or universities, but it wouldn’t guarantee job cuts since they have independent budgeting processes and other non-provincial revenue streams.

If Hudak’s cuts to the public service are going to come from core government, government enterprises as well as health and education sectors, then firing 100,000 workers would represent a 15.3% cut in these areas. Excluding “doctors, nurses or police officers” from this group, the cuts would represent 18.9% of the remaining public sector[i].

To put these promised cuts in perspective, according to a recent report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the total federal public service cuts since March 2010 have amounted to about 20,000 FTE positions, with an additional 8,900 positions scheduled to be eliminated by 2016-17.

I’ll leave it to readers to determine if they think this a realistic promise, however, if such cuts were implemented it would be unrealistic to think services would be unaffected and it would ultimately mean 100,000 fewer good paying middle-class jobs in Ontario. And, with the economic multiplier effect, firing these public servants would decrease economic growth and hurt jobs in the private sector.

Kayle Hatt is a Research Associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ National Office and was the CCPA’s 2013 Andrew Jackson Progressive Economics Intern.

---

[i] Statistics Canada, “Public sector employment”, CANSIM, table 183-0002. Average from January to March 2012.

[ii] Paths to Prosperity: Preparing Students for the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century, Page 20.

[iii] See note 1.

[iv] Roughly estimated based on the OPP staff compliment and the membership of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and Ontario Medical Association

Better relationship between government, PS, should be destination - Ottawa Citizen Editorial Board

After years of battles between federal public servants and the Conservative government led by Stephen Harper, the road to Destination 2020 will require some bridge building. It would also be helpful if public service unions and, to a greater extent, Treasury Board President Tony Clement, would refrain from occasionally throwing bundles of dynamite under said bridges.

 

To that end, the Destination 2020 report compiled by Canada’s top bureaucrat, Wayne Wouters, which seeks to implement a cultural transformation of the public service, includes in its five priorities the goal of getting back to the fundamentals of public service that are rooted in the organization’s values and ethics code. Professional, non-partisan advice and stewardship of public resources are at the heart of it. Ministers’ responsibilities under the same code include “preserving public trust and confidence in the integrity of public sector organizations” and “upholding the tradition and practice of a professional non-partisan federal public sector. Furthermore, ministers play a critical role in supporting public servants’ responsibility to provide professional and frank advice.”

From rallies featuring “Stephen Harper Hates me” buttons to Clement’s not-so-subtle suggestions that a higher percentage of workers should be getting fired and that they’re gaming the sick leave system (not to mention the government’s outright hostility toward watchdogs and independent officials), the current climate couldn’t be further from non-partisanship.

Dumping on federal bureaucrats is, of course, catnip to the conservative base, and Clement knows this. That’s why it was refreshing to hear him not only endorse the Wouters report, but actually express some affection for the quality and timeliness of the information public servants provide. While government workers will never be thrilled about Harper’s Conservatives due to recent job cuts, it doesn’t help when they’re heading off in the morning to a job that’s constantly being framed as a burden, not a benefit, to Canadian citizens.
Maintaining the focus on how the public service can improve is key here. If both sides can find a way to work together, Wouters’ other four priorities – fostering innovation, cutting red tape, improving technology and giving workers useful learning tools – will be much easier to achieve.
 

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen By Ottawa Citizen Editorial Board, May 13, 2014

SEN – Calendrier des droits de la personne est de retour!

Oui, le calendrier est de retour et nous avons besoin de votre aide.

Les membres du comité des droits de la personne ont décidé de créer un calendrier aux couleurs de notre syndicat pour l’année 2015. Nous sommes à la recherché de photographies qui représentent notre syndicat, notre environnement de travail, notre diversité. Nous vous demandons de regarder dans vos tiroirs, d’épousseter vos cartes mémoire afin de trouver de merveilleuses photos pleines de couleurs. Ou tout simplement sortez et prenez en des originales dont vous serez fiers et fières d’afficher dans notre Calendrier des droits de la personne – 2015.

Nous avons beaucoup de talent et d’imagination au sein du SEN donc n’hésitez pas et cliquer. Les photographies gagnantes feront partie du Calendrier des droits de la personne – 2015. Soyez fiers et fières faites nous parvenir des montagnes de photos. Quelle meilleure façon de nous faire cadeau que celui de fierté et solidarité pour 2015. Le calendrier sera un succès assuré avec votre généreuse participation. Votre aide en fera un coup sûr. Date limite pour soumettre vos photos – 20 juin 2014.

Poster votre photo papier à :

Ateau Zola

Union of National Employees/Syndicat des employées et employés nationaux P.S.A.C. / A.F.P.C.

9th floor, 150 rue Isabella Street

Ottawa ON K1S 1V7

Envoyer par courriel photo digital à Ateau Zola: ateau.zola@une-sen.org

Prière d’inclure la phrase suivante pour chaque personne qui est dans la photographie. Si nous n’avons pas l’autorisation chacune des personnes, la photo sera rejetée.

Je (noms)

autorise le SEN à afficher ma photo dans le Calendrier des droits de la personne – 2015.

Si vous avez des questions, adressez un courriel à Suzanne Cadieux – cadieuxsuzanne@sympatico.ca

Le Calendrier des droits de la personne – 2015 sera présenté au Congrès triennal (août 2014).

UNE - Human Rights Calendar is back!

Yes, the calendar is back and we need your help.

The Human Rights Committee decided to create a 2015 calendar to the colours of our union. We are looking for pictures which represent our union, our workplace, our diversity. We ask that you look deep in your drawers, you dust off those memory cards to find wonderful and colourful pictures or go out and take original ones that you would be proud to display in our 2015 – Human Rights Calendar.

We have talent and imagination in UNE so please don’t hesitate and click, click away. Winning photos will be part of our 2015 – Human Rights Calendar. Be proud and send in mountains of pictures. What better gift can we give ourselves then one of pride and solidarity for 2015. The calendar will only be a success if we get participation from all of you. We need your help to make it a HIT. Deadline to submit your pictures - June 20, 2014.

Mail print copy to:

Ateau Zola

Union of National Employees/Syndicat des employées et employés nationaux P.S.A.C. / A.F.P.C.

9th floor, 150 rue Isabella Street

Ottawa ON K1S 1V7

E-mail digital copy to Ateau Zola at ateau.zola@une-sen.org

Kindly include the following sentence with your entry for each person in your picture. If we do not get the authorization of everyone on the picture, we will not be able to use it.

I, (Names)

, authorize UNE to use my picture in the 2015 – Human Rights Calendar.

If you have any questions, send an e-mail to Suzanne Cadieux at cadieuxsuzanne@sympatico.ca.

The 2015 – Human Rights Calendar will be unveiled at the Triennial Convention (August 2014).

OFL Labour Post-Secondary Scholarships - Application deadline June 16, 2014

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will award two scholarships worth $2,000 each to a member or the child of a member of a local union affiliated to the OFL, which includes all PSAC members.

Eligible scholarship recipients must be entering, in September 2014, the first year of a full-time course of study (leading to a diploma or certificate) at a public Ontario community college or the first year of an undergraduate program (leading to a degree) at a publicly-funded Ontario university.

Scholarships are only available to candidates who have no prior post-secondary studies. The criteria for selection of the scholarship winners are the following:

1. A brief résumé outlining non-academic interests and activities, such as community or political involvement as well as goals for the future.

2. Evidence of understanding of the role and significance of the Canadian labour movement.

In order to satisfy point (2) above, applicants will be required to submit an essay of not more than 1,000 words. This year’s topic is:

“Our generation is widely expected to be the first in years to face a lower standard of living than our parents. Young people are also experiencing high levels of unemployment and underemployment. In this context, what advice would you give to the labour movement for engaging youth and young workers?”

The application form and information can be viewed online here: http://ofl.ca/index.php/deadline-ofls-labour-post-secondary-scholarships-june-6-2014/

The winners will be announced in July 2014.

Stop Hudak and Fairness for Young Workers

Join us at the Rally for Fairness for Young Workers on May 14!

Young workers are feeling the squeeze of low-wage, part-time and contract work, high tuition fees, unpaid internships, rising costs and a minimum wage that leaves us below the poverty line. As smaller events are organized across the province, a central action will take place in Toronto.

Where: College & University (Northwest Corner)
When: Wednesday, May 14 at noon (12pm)
What: Rally for Fairness for Young Workers & test your survival skills in the Young Worker Obstacle Course featuring the unpaid bills balancing act, childcare juggle, never-ending student debt challenge and more!
RSVP here or visit us on Facebook here.

On May 14, join young workers, students, parents, teachers and others to demand a $14 minimum wage and decent jobs for all workers!

2014 Pride Celebrations

Greetings,

Sisters and Brothers, people should not live in fear or be tormented for who they love or how they express themselves. Our Union and the entire Labour movement has fought for decades to extend equality protections for our members and every person in society.

Pride offers a safe space to express gender and sexual diversity for members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans (GLBT) communities. It also acts as a political statement, which allows allies to join their GLBT Brothers and Sisters and take a stand against discrimination and oppression.

The GLBT umbrella continues to grow in inclusiveness of the range of diversity of gender and sexual identities. The expansion of inclusion is one of the reasons Toronto will host World Pride this year. As the first city in North America to host World Pride, members are encouraged to attend this global event that is expected to draw over 3 million people.

In Solidarity,

Karen Church,
Ontario Council GLBT Representative

And

Sharon DeSousa,
PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President Ontario

May Day: PSAC pledges to protect public services and fight for better working conditions

On May 1, 1886 a general strike was called in the United States at a time when the right to organize and strike did not exist.

A peaceful mass meeting at Haymarket Square in Chicago that followed was broken up by the police and led to the hanging of four labour leaders.

All these events sparked the declaration of May 1 as an international day to commemorate workers’ struggles.

 

One hundred and twenty eight years later, workers are still fighting for the right to organize, to bargain collectively and to strike. The recent attacks on workers by federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as other employers tell us that we must stand our ground.

Workers across the country are facing a wave of anti-labour reforms, laws and initiatives that aim to lower wages, take away pensions, and weaken health and safety protections.

These measures put our constitutional rights in jeopardy. Ongoing and unprecedented cuts to public services are eliminating thousands of unionized public service jobs and taking away vital supports to citizens. The impact on communities is devastating.

 

On May 1, 2014 the PSAC pledges to redouble our efforts to expand public services for the benefit of all Canadians, and to continue to fight for better working conditions for our members and all workers.