ARCHIVES

Tragic death of a PSAC member in Ottawa

It is with great sadness that we learned of the tragic death of our brother Peter Kennedy following a workplace accident at the Cliff Street Steam Plant in Ottawa on Monday, October 19, 2009. Read the letter from the REVP.

Job Opportunity Advertisement - Joint Learning Program
AS-05 - Acting, Assignment, Secondment

The PSAC-TBS Joint Learning program has an opportunity for a 2 year secondment or acting opportunity to a “PSAC” Regional Field Coordinator position in the National Capital Region (position description available at www.jlp-pam.ca ). This opportunity is open to bilingual PSAC activists who are part of the PA, TC, SV, EB or FB groups and who reside in the National Capital Region. The position is located in the JLP office at 233 Gilmour Street in Ottawa. If you are interested, please submit your application through the Publiservice web site before October 23rd. If you have any questions regarding this position please do not hesitate to contact Mark Pecek, Co-director (PSAC) JLP, at pecekm@psac-afpc.com .

A former PSAC employee receives an award from the Ottawa and Distrct Labour Council

Deirdre Gallagher, former Director of  PSAC Finance and Administration Branch received a pioneer award from the Ottawa & District Labour Council at the Labour Day Parade. The pioneer awards are given by the ODLC to people with a long history of contribution and involvement in the labour movement.

Ottawa Labour Day Parade

PSAC members were part of the celebrations. Photos

Union vows to fight lay-offs at the National Gallery of Canada

The union representing workers at the National Gallery of Canada plans to fight the lay-offs announced this week at the gallery. Read the press release.

Fall 2009 Education

Grievance handling, health and safety, popular economics, women at work and human rights...interested?

Check out the NCR Fall 2009 schedule and full course descriptions.

1,200 PSAC members met at two barbecues held in Gatineau and Ottawa

Two events organized by the PSAC in Ottawa on July 7 and Gatineau on July 9 were a great success. More than 1,200 PSAC members shared hot-dogs and hamburgers and showed their opposition to Bill C-10 legislation that is a direct attack to the Charter rights of unions representing employees in the broad federal public service.

While it was sunny in Gatineau on July 9 where more than 700 meals were served, in spite of the weather, 500 members showed up on Sparks Street on July 7. They all wanted to show their opposition to Bill C-10, while celebrating the summer and preparing the next federal election.

On July 9, PSAC members at the Gatineau event give $540 that will be given to Notre-Dame Scholl in Gatineau for its Breakfast Club.

The event was reported at CBC, CTV, Radio-Canada, Le Droit (en français) and Tag Radio.

For more information on C-10 and its impact on our members, visit our special page. Published on July 10, 2009.

The Canadian government reneges once again on signed agreements. Roll backs at the National Gallery of Canada and at the Canada Council for the Arts

PSAC members at the National Gallery of Canada and at the Canada Council of the arts were victims of the Collective Bargaining Restraint Act on Canada Day. They got hit with a roll back on July 1st, losing 1% of the pay increast that was part of their collective agreements. Members at the National Arts Centre and the Museum of Nature were hit earlier this year.

• For more information on C-10 and its impact on our members, visit our special page. Published on July 2, 2009.

House of Commons employees denounce their working conditions

Earlier today , House of Commons employees went to the office of the House Leader, Peter Miliken, to submit a petition signed by some 300 House employees after he had refused to meet with them and hear their concerns about their deplorable working conditions. Press release. Published on June 18, 2009.

The Canadian government reneges on signed agreements. Roll backs at the Museum of Nature

PSAC members at the Museum of Nature are the most recent victims of the Collective Bargaining Restraint Act. They got hit by a roll back on June 16, losing 0.5% of the pay increase that was part of their collective agreement.

• For more information on C-10 and its impact on our members, visit our special page.
• During the debates on C-10, some MPs have committed themselves. Check who said what and who voted in favour of reneging the collective agreements. Published on June 18, 2009.

New agreement at Nav Canada

PSAC members at Nav Canada have ratified a new multi-year collective agreement. Details. Published on June 17, 2009.

The Communications Security Establishment Canada is putting Canadians' security at risk

Canada’s Communications Security Establishment and the Harper Government are putting Canadians security at risk for the sake of profit! Read the press release. Published on June 9, 2009.

Unsafe buildings threaten government...

Please find attached a PSAC Press release in reaction to the publication of the last report of the Office of the Auditor General. We suggest that to take the time to read both the Press Release and the report.We believe that it would be appropriate to ask your co-chairperson’s representative on the workplace health and safety committee to include this issue at the next meeting of your joint committee. Details

Bill C-10 is unjust and unfair

The consequences of Bill C-10, an "Act to implement certain provision of the budget" are starting to be felt by members. We are going to publish a special section of this site to inform you on what you can do against this nasty piece of legislation. Soon on this website.

International Workers' Day is over, celebrations continue!

May Day is over, but in Ottawa, the celebrations will last until the end of May. Check the schedule and join other activists from various unions during Mayworks. And celebrate!

In addition, the PSAC has published in the Ottawa Sun the following ad on the attack by the government of the rights of our members for pay equity and the rollbacks of their wage increases. Click on the image to see the ad.

 

Canada's Quiet Bargain

The majority of Canadian households enjoy a higher quality of life because the public services their taxes fund come at a solid bargain, according to a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). More details on the PSAC press release.

Read Canada’s Quiet Bargain: The Benefits of Public Spending (PDF)

PPP: We should be Pondering Privatizing Profits at the Guertin Arena

The late Robert Guertin must be turning in his grave with the construction saga surrounding the new arena in Gatineau, apprehensive that the new building could be named the PPP Arena – Plentiful Privatized Profits. Read the letter by Maria Fitzpatrick, published in Le Droit on April 3, 2009.

Case of excommunication in Brazil

The Conseil régional des femmes de l'Outaouais reacted to the case of excommunication in Brazil and published a letter in the newspaper Le Droit on March 30. Read the letter (in French).

PSAC members in the Outaouais support Breakfast Clubs

On March 15, 2009 the Breakfast Club at Notre-Dame school in Gatineau (Hull) received a $1000.00 donation. The donation came from two sources: half of it came from members of the PSAC working in the Outaouais and the other half from the PSAC members working at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). More details.  

Senate has adopted Bill C-10

Bill C-10 has been adopted at the Senate. You can read the information on the PSAC national website

Summary of key elements of PSAC's tentative agreements with Treasury Board.

Information on the proposed settlements for members of Border Services (FB), Program and Administration Services (PA), Operational Services (SV), and Education and Library Science (EB) groups is currently available.

Bargaining update for all members of the Technical Services (TC) Group. Posted November 26.

PSAC response to the government's economic statement

The government's intention to suspend the right to strike over wage increases and roll back signed collective agreements in the public sector is an affront to the PSAC and its members. 

The tentative agreements signed by the PSAC this week, including those for PSAC members in the PA, EB, SV, FB, CFIA, Parks and a number of other bargaining units, are not affected by the measures announced in the economic statement. More details.

PSAC, Parks Canada Agency reach tentative agreement

The PSAC reached a tentative agreement with Parks Canada Agency on Tuesday, November 25. The proposed collective agreement covers the 3000 – 4500 PSAC members who work for Parks Canada in a variety of fields and occupations. Details to be announced.  Parks Canada Agency is a separate employer under the Public Service Labour Relations Act. Bargaining began in May, 2007. Posted November 26.

New Steward Factsheet now available

Income Gap widens between Canada's rich and poor

The gap between the rich and poor in Canada widened significantly in a recent 10-year period partly because Ottawa spent less on cash benefits than many other developed countries, the OECD says. Details.

PSAC Local Officers’ Handbook now available online!

Are you a Local Officer looking for tools that will help you carry out your union work?  Visit our "Tools" page and check out the new PSAC Local Officers’ Handbook.

Are You Looking for Dental Services?

Steelworker's Dental Offices is now available to all PSAC members, their families and friends. We guarantee a 15% courtesy discount on the previous year fee guide on everything with the exception of lab cost. The office is located at 2285 St Laurent Blvd, unit D-9, 613-731-2111. Demand your union rebate. Read the brochure.
Posted January 2, 2008

The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Good news: The Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations - part XIX (Prevention Program) was finally amended to include additional requirements regarding the employer's obligation to consider ergonomics considerations when developing their prevention program.  Details
Posted December 12, 2007 

Call Out for the PSAC National Conference for Racially Visible Members.

PSAC National Conference for Racially Visible Members will be held March 7 to 9, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, under the theme “Be the Change:  Create a Better World!” Please note the deadline of January 16th, 2008 for applications and submission of resolutions.
Call Out, Nomination, Resolutions, Application
Posted December 12, 2007 

Canada Post Employees:
Help Us Prepare your Bargaining

Your contract with Canada Post expires next year. In an effort to help your Bargaining Team determine what issues are critical for this coming round of negotiations, and in order to guide the Team in terms of the prioritizing of demands, we ask that you print and complete the following survey.
Posted December 4, 2007

Winners of the 2007 Scholarships

Winners of the PSAC 2007 Scholarships have been selected and two are living in the NCR: Mathieu Oudin (son of Anne Parsons, UCTE Local 707010), Ottawa, $1,000; and Nicholas D'Aoust (son of Ginette Brassard, AGR Local 70139), Gatineau, $3,000. Congratulations!
Nicholas D'Aoust Essay (french only)
Photos
Posted December 6, 2007

Fairness At the House of Commons Update

Making progress on the Health and Safety Challenge. Arbitration dates have been confirmed for the OPS Bargaining Team. See details.
Posted December 9, 2007

Negotiations with Treasury Board. Sign up for e-mail news

PSAC will be negotiating with Treasury Board from November 6 to 9 for our Technical Services (TC), Education and Library Science (EB) and Frontière/Border Services (FB) bargaining units. Sign up now to receive the information bulletins that will be issued by the PSAC negotiating teams as bargaining progresses.
Posted November 6, 2007

Regional Women’s Conference Photos

View the photos from the conference which was held September 14th, 2007 at the Ottawa Congress Centre. Part 1 of the Conference consisted of a one-day Resolutions Conference. Part 2, where we will hold workshops and hear from guest speakers, will be held in the Spring of 2008.
Posted October 15, 2007

Victoria's Quilts Canada

Victoria's Quilts Canada is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide hand-made quilts at no cost to people with cancer. To date they have made and distributed over 5,000 quilts. Read how you can help.

Check out the photos from recent happenings in the region

In August: “Phantom” members at the National Arts Centre marked the end of their collective agreement. The Commissionaires at Health Canada picket for a fair deal.

In September: Labour Day and the bus tour, Rideau Canal 175 “A Tribute to workers past and present”.

PSAC members are cool!

Dozens of PSAC members were seen this summer handing out leaflets in various parts of Ottawa and Gatineau, from Tunney's Pasture to the Promenade du Portage and in front of the National Arts Centre. Read more.

Add union events to the new Web calendar - go ahead and try it!