psac atlantic january 20, 2015 day of...
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PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
Members of USGE 90001 in St. John’s, NL begin the new
year with their first Day of Action!
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Why the 19?
The next federal election will be held on October 19, 2015, IF Harper follows his own law. On the 19th of every month, we are asking our members to be creative in highlighting the number 19 such as: standing outside your workplace for 19 minutes, wearing a piece of clothing with the number 19 or coming up with the 19 best ways of getting rid of the Harper Conservative government.
Support healthy workplaces - sign
the pledge at psac.com
DAY OF ACTION On the 19, let’s take action!
St. John’s: Members of USGE 90001 organized an information kiosk and gathered messages/
signatures in support of their bargaining team.
PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
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Schedule of activities for the 19th of the month
2015:
Thursday, February 19
Thursday, March 19
Friday, April 17
Tuesday, May 19
Friday, June 19
Friday, July 17
Wednesday, August 19
Friday, September 18
Monday, October 19
To see more pictures and videos, please visit our website:
psacatlantic.ca
Miramichi: Cake and coffee by members of
USGE 60001
Goose Bay: Members of CEIU 90107 standing with
CUPE members locked out by
their employer. #solidarity
Fredericton: Members of
STUSAU held a strike alert
information picket.
PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
New Brunswick
Fredericton: Members of STUSAU 60701 held a strike alert information picket during the morning. They were joined by members of: FAUST, PTSU, UCLC, NBFL, FDLC and UGSW.
Miramichi: Members of USGE 60001 had cake and coffee while displaying the number 19 everywhere they could.
Newfoundland
St. John’s: Members of CEIU 90113 organized a demo of 19 minutes during their lunch break. Their 9th rally!
St. John’s: Members of USGE 90001 organized an information kiosk to gather signatures/messages demonstrating support to the bargaining team.
Goose Bay: Members of CEIU 90107 demonstrated solidarity with CUPE local 2019 who have been locked out by their employer.
Nova Scotia
Bridgewater: Members of CEIU 80215 held a demo for 19 minutes to demonstrate support to their bargaining team.
Sydney: Members of CEIU 80226 held a demo for 19 minutes during their lunch break.
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Our ad on the digital billboard in Sydney, NS that reaches 25,000 cars
a day.
PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
19 activity ideas to do on the 19th
1. Organize a demo for 19 minutes
2. Organize a plant gate to share information (bargaining info, local information, etc.)
3. Wear a piece of clothing with the number 19
4. Create a video of 19 reasons to defeat the Conservative government
5. Send 19 messages of support to the bargaining team or 19 things you are not ready to lose from your collective agreement
6. Wear a Union shirt on the 19th
7. Wear a PSAC bracelet on the 19th
8. Organize a health break (walk, jog, etc.) for 19 minutes
9. Hand out information to the general public
10.Send a letter to your local MP or Senator about a specific bill
11.Lobby your local MP
12.Volunteer at a local food bank or other non-profit organization
13.Organize a BBQ for the membership
14.Organize a flash mob
15.Organize a desk drop, information candies with the number 19 stickers on them, etc.
16.Organize a coffee break with cake and coffee/tea
17.Challenge 19 locals from your component or 19 DCL’s to send a message to the bargaining team
18.Send 19 greeting cards/valentine cards/thank you cards to the bargaining team
19.Talk to 19 members of your family, friends and neighbours to secure 19 votes to defeat the Conservative government.
Remember to take pictures of whatever you decide to do!
We can provide you with stickers mentioning the 19th and other supporting material.
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PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
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Are you tired of making a snowman or a fort using snow? Want to be creative and win something?! Here’s your chance! Create a snow or ice
sculpture incorporating the number 19 to win a prize!
Three categories
XLarge locals (200 members or more—includes Area Councils, RWCs and HR Committee’s) Prize: $500 to a local charity of the local’s choice
YSmall locals (199 members or less) Prize: $250 in gift certificates* or PSAC swag
ZIndividual PSAC members Prize: $100 in gift certificates* or PSAC swag
Please send a picture of the snow/ice sculpture to [email protected]
Deadline to enter the contest is February 18th and the winners will be announced on February 20th.
*Gift certificates to locally owned businesses or Canadian companies. We will not give away gift certificates to be used at Wal-Mart or other Corporations who spend their resources on union busting or use sweatshops.
PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
Negotiations in our Region
STUSAU Local 60701 - St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB
The members held a vote on January 7, 2015 and rejected the final offer made by the employer on Dec. 29, 2014 and gave their negotiating team a strong strike mandate.
UCTE Local 80829 - Halifax International Airport Authority, Halifax, NS
A ratification vote was held on December 12, 2014 and the tentative agreement was ratified by the membership.
PSAC Local 80024 - Chrysalis House, Kentville, NS
A ratification vote was held on December 16, 2014 and the tentative agreement was ratified by the membership.
To obtain updates on treasury board, national bargaining units and other regional bargaining units, please visit the PSAC National website at: psacunion.ca/ct
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Regardless if you are part of a Component or a Directly Chartered Local, it is important to demonstrate support to your bargaining team.
PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
PSAC National Convention The Seventeenth National Triennial Convention of the Public Service Alliance of Canada will be held at the Québec City Convention Centre in Québec City, Québec beginning Sunday, April 26 and concluding Friday, May 1, 2015. Questions? Phone 613.560.2597 or email [email protected]
Veterans Campaign Update January 31st will mark one year that the veterans affairs offices closed in 9 communities. We have updated our postcard asking the new minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, Erin O’Toole, to re-open those offices immediately. We are also working closely with citizens in the Sydney area to organize an event on January 31st to highlight this sad day and put pressure on this government to treat our veterans with dignity, respect and provide them with the services they rely on.
CLC Election Preparation Conference Workshops on the issues that matter & the skills you need to talk about them.
Nova Scotia: Holiday Inn, Dartmouth, January 30-31, 2015
New Brunswick: Delta Beausejour, Moncton, February 20-21, 2015 (Bilingual)
Prince Edward Island: Loyalist Lakeview Resort, Summerside, March 9-10, 2015
Newfoundland and Labrador: Was held on November 23-25, 2014
Have your say Would you like to see something specific in the newsletter? Comments, ideas or suggestions to share? Send them to [email protected] We thank you in advance!
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PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
Did you know… Over 31,000 signatures supporting our commitment to sick leave
No one should go to work sick, period. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment to add your signature to PSAC’s pledge supporting healthy workplaces for all Canadians using the following link: http://psacunion.ca/support-healthy-workplaces
New rules for workplace ‘desk drops’
We encourage you to communicate with your members in person and by using home email addresses. The long-standing practice of dropping union flyers on people’s desks at work has become trickier.
A recent Public Service Relations Board decision means that stewards must now ask permission from their employer before doing a “desk drop.” A PLSRB panel ruled that PSAC does not have an “unfettered and free-standing right to communicate with its members regardless of the employer’s property rights.”
This decision was taken in response to a complaint filed by PSAC against Canada Border Services Agency, alleging that CBSA violated the Public Service Relations Act (sections 106 and 107) by preventing the union from distributing an invitation to a union meeting in the workplace. PSAC argued that the employer interfered with its right to communicate with its members.
The union argued desk-drops were a long-standing practice that enabled the union to communicate with its members.
The CBSA argued it had previously established that prior approval was necessary for the union to drop flyers on desks and that the union had personal contact information for its members and could communicate with them by other means.
PSAC stewards should heed this decision and assure that management approves any desk drops.
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PSAC Atlantic January 20, 2015
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