Quick Intro
My name is Nathaniel Cziranka-Crooks and I’ll be your Communication Coordinator for the foreseeable future. I hope to try and release a newsletter once per month going forward. I’m hoping by the next issue we’ll have a fancy new PIPSC website that can potentially serve as another channel for improved communication. I’m also open to all sorts of other ideas, a Discord server, an Instagram page, a Facebook group, Mastodon, Bluesky, if you believe any of them would be beneficial just give me the word (nczicro@gmail.com) and I’ll see what can be done.
NR Executive Roles
After the conclusion of the 2025 election during the first meeting of the 2026 executive held in January, the roles of the executive were decided. The positions of President and Vice-President will continue to be held by Gary Corbett and Mike Pauley until the NR AGM later this year where per the updated bylaws there will be an election held for these two positions. The remaining roles are as follows.
- Secretary - Thuc Van (T.V.) Quan
- Treasurer - John Eng
- Chief Steward - Luc Thibodeau
- Communications Coordinator - Nathaniel Cziranka-Crooks
- Sub-Group Coordinator - David Young
- Delegate Selection Coordinator - Sana Abou-Shaaban
- Membership Coordinator - Yves Cousineau
- By-Laws and Policy Coordinator - Hugo Buttau
- 2026 Elections Committee Chair - Aaron Thompson
- Member - Rong (Sunny) Wang
- Member - Jamie GoodMurphy
Please note Jamie GoodMurphy is replacing Glen Schjerning as Glen has decided to step down from the executive. Jamie will be fulfilling the final year of the 2 year term. We’d like to thank Glen for his contribution to the executive and welcome Jamie to the group.
Workforce Adjustment (WFA)
Workforce adjustment continues to be rolled out in phases. To date 255 NR members (~5%) have received affected letters.
- EN-02 : 13
- EN-03 : 55
- EN-04 : 110
- EN-05 : 48
- EN-06 : 13
- AR-05 : 10
- AR-06 : 5
- AR-07 : 1
Please be sure to check the PIPSC site for more information regarding WFA. Additionally there is an alternation platform provided by the union that members are encouraged to use if they are interested.
RTO4
In an announcement that came as a surprise to few having been rumoured for months the government made the decision to continue down the road of presence without a purpose and announce the “intention” to have all employees working onsite 4 days a week as of July 6, 2026. RTO3 as a blanket policy made little sense and RTO4 is no different in that regard. The language being used by TBS now “working together onsite is an essential foundation of the strong teams, collaboration and culture needed during this pivotal moment and beyond” is a far cry from the language that they used in the past that they’ve since updated and changed.
As an executive we’d like to hear from members how RTO4 will personally impact your day to day life. It’s sadly been made abundantly clear that we aren’t going to win this battle with a data-driven approach alone. What we need to continue to do is build a narrative around the personal impact these one-size-fits-all decisions have on individuals. If you have a story that you’re willing to share please let me know. I can trade you an NR logo travel mug to use on your commute into the office to talk to your coworkers on Teams.
New Stewards
Since our previous newsletter, we’ve had a few dedicated members decide to undertake the responsibility of becoming stewards within our union.
- Francis Vaillancourt
- Ian Royle
- Darian Vyriotes
Stewards play an important role in the functioning of the union. Their role is multifaceted and supports many of the union’s activities. They are the first contact with the union for members and in large part that first interaction shapes member’s opinion of the union. If ever you're interested in becoming more involved in your union becoming a steward is one of the best places to start. Becoming a Steward
Meet Your Bargaining Team
This will be the first iteration of what will be a routine feature of the newsletter going forward until we’ve been introduced to all ten members of the bargaining team. We’ll ask all the members three simple questions in order to better know them and how they hope to achieve the best deal for our members. Our first feature will be with Kimberly Hradecky our Bargaining Team Coordinator.
What made you want to join the bargaining team?
I joined the Bargaining Team because I am committed to making a meaningful difference for members on issues that matter the most to them. To positively influence and improve working conditions, pay and benefits. My vision is to strengthen communication, member engagement and participation in the bargaining process so that every voice is represented at the table.
What unique insight or skill do you hope to bring to the table?
I have extensive experience developing and administering Canadian regulations across multiple sectors while working with multidisciplinary teams. I have implemented international agreements with other partner countries requiring technical analysis, research and expertise. These roles require active listening, great communication skills, empathy, patience, and emotional regulation. These qualities are essential for effective negotiation and collaboration.
How best do you think the membership can support bargaining?
Strong bargaining outcomes depend on strong member engagement. Members can best support bargaining by completing the NR Bargaining Survey and getting involved in your local PIPSC Sub-Group, Region, and Branch. The survey results are essential for gathering input and shaping our strategy for the next round of negotiations. Together, through active participation and strong representation, we can achieve better outcomes for all members.
Signing Off
Thanks for taking the time to read through the newsletter. I’m hoping you have already taken the time to fill out the bargaining survey like Kim asked. If not, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for! Otherwise, if there’s anything else we as an executive can do to improve or help don’t hesitate to let us know. You’ll be hearing from me next month!
Download the pdf version.
In Solidarity,
Nathaniel