Union Update

October 31 to November 25, 2005

Acrobat format 

In this issue:

• A huge anti-privatization victory in Fort Simpson, NWT
• PSAC makes a historic breakthrough at the Bank of Canada
• Bargaining Update
• NEU Convention postponed
• Laurie Butterworth elected YEU President
• Todd Parsons re-elected as UNW President
• A new President for UPCE
• Public sector workers showing solidarity

A huge anti-privatization victory in Fort Simpson, NWT

Newly organized PSAC members working at the Liard River Ferry in Fort Simpson scored an important victory against privatization, by forcing the Government of Northwest Territories to replace their private-sector employer.

After a 14-day strike/lock-out and intense lobbying by union members, the GNWT fired the private company, Rowe Construction that was contracted by the territorial government to operate the ferry.  The government then offered the strikers indeterminate seasonal positions to run the ferry service under the new GNWT - UNW contract, which also provided the workers with better salaries and benefits than what they had initially demanded from the contractor during collective bargaining. 

The strike started on October 12 and initially took the employer by surprise.  The ferry remained docked for two days until Rowe's Construction, which was working with a Winnipeg lawyer known for his union-busting tactics, managed to find scabs from outside the area to sail the ship.  On Friday October 14, the employer locked-out the members and a crew of scabs took over the operation.

The scab captain lasted one day and quit in the middle of his shift on Saturday when he witnessed the huge rally/BBQ of local supporters taking place near the ferry landing.  He left town after the PSAC wrote to the Marine Merchant Guild to denounce him.

Another scab captain was found and the service was resumed, with short hours, on Sunday.  The PSAC members held a large protest at the NWT Legislature on October 21 and aggressively lobbied the MLAs.  Then the scab engineer quit which left the contractor “high and dry”.  As a result the GNWT fired the contractor on October 25.

Throughout the strike/lock-out, the residents of Fort Simpson gave strong support to the union members, even though the labour dispute affected the supply of food and other essentials to the area.

PSAC makes a historic breakthrough at the Bank of Canada

Just over three weeks after the 28 security workers at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa had contacted PSAC about the possibility of unionizing, the Canada Industrial Relations Board confirmed on Wednesday, October 12 that this group had been officially certified.

These new members, who are working at the building on Wellington Street in Ottawa , are currently determining how the local will operate and are preparing training for members on the rights and obligations of the employees and the employer under the Canada Labour Code. In addition, a bargaining committee has been readied to present a draft of the first collective bargaining agreement to the Bank of Canada this fall.

Back on October 19, union members elected their new Executive - Bernard Rioux, President; Gino Côté, Vice-President; Mike Carrier, secretary-treasurer; Hassan Hajjar, grievance officer; and Rhéal Charron, bargaining agent – and their Bargaining Committee. Réal Charron and Jean McMillan sit on the Bargaining Committee, which is completed by Bernard Rioux as alternate.

Bargaining Update

• Notice to bargain was served to Communications Security Establishment (Department of National Defence) and to the Bank of Canada in Ottawa .
• The PSAC requested the appointment of a conciliation officer for its negotiations with BHP Billiton Diamonds in Yellowknife .
• The PSAC members working at IMP Gander reached a tentative agreement with their employer on October 20, 2005 . The agreement takes effect on December 8, 2004 and will expire on June 30, 2006 . It provides for a 9.2% wage increase and improvements on various leaves, overtime, health and safety and others benefits. The negotiation team recommended the acceptance of the tentative agreement.

NEU Convention postponed

The Nunavut Employees Union's convention which was to be held in Baker Lake , Nunavut from October 21 to 24, 2005 , has been rescheduled for February 21 to 23, 2006 , in Iqaluit.

More than one thousand Nunavut Employees Union members participated in the NEU delegate election process earlier this fall. Members from the Kivalliq, Kitikmeot , Baffin North and Baffin South regions were elected as delegates to the NEU Convention. Alternates were also elected in the event that delegates are unable to attend. The deadline for resolutions was November 25, 2005 .

Laurie Butterworth Elected YEU President

Laurie Butterworth has been elected President of the Yukon Employees' Union at the 2005 Convention held in Whitehorse October 21 to 23. Butterworth won the majority of the votes on the first ballot to secure the position, with Mike Travill finishing second and Craig Battaglia third.

This is the first change at the top for the Yukon Employees' Union in a quarter century. Past President Dave Hobbis did not seek re-election.

Loralee Kesler was elected 1st Vice-President. The full composition of YEU's newly elected Executive includes: Laurie Butterworth , President, Loralee Kesler , 1st Vice-President, Steve Geick , 2nd Vice-President, Jo-Anne Smith , Secretary, Mike Travill , Treasurer, Brent Mekelburg , Youth Director, Diane Allen , Director, Sue Christianson , Director, Richard Gordon , Director, Naresh Prasad , Director, Russ Carpenter , Director, Mark Bowers , Director.

The new position of Equal Opportunity Director was also established. This position will be elected from the Equity Group representatives who were delegates at the YEU Convention.

Todd Parsons re-elected as UNW President

Delegates to the Union of Northern Workers' 13th Triennial Convention acclaimed President Todd Parsons for another three year term. The first Vice-President of the Union , Gayla Wick was also acclaimed. This position is now a full time paid position with the Union .

With 53 elected delegates, this Convention is the largest in the Union 's history. The Convention gladly welcomed the delegates from the recently formed Diamond Workers Local.

The 53 delegates to the 13th Triennial Convention voted on numerous bylaws and regulations. O ver 70 resolutions were debated and all convention business was completed. This was a first in over eight conventions (24 Years). Convention decisions will now set the Union 's direction for the next three years.

At Convention the results of the elections for Regional Vice Presidents were announced. Alison Barr will represent the Sombe k'e region, Donald Robert will represent the Inuvik region, Roy Courtoreille in the Hay River region, Candy Brown in the Deh Cho region, Paul McAdams was re-elected to represent the Fort Smith region and the newest region, Kimberlite region, has yet to elect a Regional Vice-President.

In addition, members in attendance elected 9 delegates to attend and represent the UNW at the PSAC Convention taking place next spring.

A new President for UPCE

Richard Des Lauriers was elected president of the Union of Postal Communications Employees during the convention that was held in Halifax , Nova Scotia from October 23 to 25.

The Regional Vice-Presidents are Marilyn Adlam for Ontario , Michael Moeller for Atlantic , Ginette Chartrand for Quebec and Janet May for the West.

Delegates approved a title change from Directors to Regional Vice Presidents and maintained the four regions Atlantic , Quebec , Ontario and West. The delegates also approved a dues increase. For the newly elected President, Richard Des Lauriers, this increase will help the UPCE to organize new members over the next three years to maintain a strong union.

The guest speakers at the convention were Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President and Chris Jones. Turmel congratulated the UPCE/PSAC members for their determination in their struggle for pay equity. She denounced Canada Post's confrontational approach and obstructive strategy and she said that the PSAC will do what it takes to bring an end to this long legal battle.

Public sector workers showing solidarity

The Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) is heading for another record breaking campaign. The GCWCC is the largest and most successful United Way workplace campaign in Canada . This year's goal is $14.2 million and so far 80% of that target has been met. Last year in the National Capital Region alone, public sector workers and retirees raised over $13.8 million. In excess of $26 million was raised nationally.

Recent demographic studies indicate that a growing number of public sector workers are retiring. The number of retirees will soon outnumber those who are joining the federal public service annually. With that in mind, the GCWCC is placing more emphasis on ways of involving retirees prior to their departure from the workplace. Another area that is currently being developed is the area of under 40 age group employees, commonly referred to as the “Next Generation”. Here again, the GCWCC is currently looking at ways of involving this group of workers in this very important campaign.

This campaign is just another example of how federal public sector workers and retirees make an incredible impact by building healthier and safer communities in which to live, work and raise their families.