Marion Gillespie is an IT project team lead at the Department of National Defence's Dockyards location in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has been with the department since 2004, and in her current role since 2017. Working with a team of seven project managers, Marion is responsible for overseeing IT projects that support the Canadian Armed Forces.

Although working in IT is a far cry from what she wanted to be as a child – a singer – Marion loves what she does today. Her six years of vocal training in high school and university helped prepare her for her role at the “centre stage” of her team. For her, presenting in meetings and leading other project managers comes second-nature.

Marion grew up in Dartmouth, and went to both Mount St. Vincent University and Mount Allison University. She spent three years as an au pair in Bermuda before returning to Canada to complete a college diploma in public relations. Later on, she transitioned into IT leadership. Her favourite part of the job is the colourful people she gets to work with every day.

“There are a multitude of personalities in DND,” she says. “It's the people – the environment that we're in – that really makes the job.”

The IT Project department within Base Information Services (BIS), supports the Canadian Forces, Navy, Army and Air Force in a multitude of IT projects that provide and support communications to their units throughout Canada and other parts of the world.

“We provide IT services and support to our national defence members in SMC Halifax. You have air force, you have navy, you have army. And there is always something IT-related that they may need, which in turn supports Canadians world wide,” she says.

Information technology teams play a pivotal role in ensuring that the Canadian Forces have the tools and information they need to do their job effectively.

“Having strong IT is essential for navy ships, communications and planning. They need to be able to communicate and have the desired networks that they require to perform their duties,” Marion says.

Our IT professionals are working hard to support our military. Marion Gillespie and her team are just one example of the many IT professionals who contribute to keeping our country safe. Marion is proud to be able to support those who serve our country.

She is also a proud member of PIPSC.

“Why I'm proud to be a PIPSC member is the solidarity with team members,” Marion concludes. “You always feel like you're not alone.”

As a wife and mother of twins, Marion values the work-life balance that PIPSC helps to provide. “It's been so important, especially as we return to work in a post-pandemic world,” she says.

One summer, Marion had to take time off to look after her children full-time. Being able to take family leave, which ensured Marion continued to receive a portion of her salary, and protected her job until she returned to work, meant everything to her.

“The family-related leave has been so important as a working mom over the years,” she says. “PIPSC has been huge in allowing me to feel that I am secure in the work that I do, and I will be given the time that I need to help with my children. Especially leave with income averaging.”

Without the wins that PIPSC has ensured through collective bargaining over the years, Marion says she’s not sure where her workplace would be. “Without the strength of PIPSC, we wouldn’t be where we are today in regards to leave, health care, and other important benefits,” she says.

As the world begins to recover from the pandemic, Marion is worried about the economic repercussions it could have, like budget cuts and supply-chain issues that would prevent their department from getting the equipment and tools they need.

“Professionally, I worry that we have to pay for this pandemic at some point. But we know that we would have PIPSC backing us if we ever had to face budget cuts or layoffs.”

Now that her children have grown up, they too have entered into promising careers in the public service, where Marion knows their jobs and rights, with the help of a tireless union, will always be protected.

In solidarity with the PSAC strike, PIPSC President Jennifer Carr has suspended consultations with the federal government. 

Carr sent the following letter to PIPSC’s Consultation Presidents: 

Dear Consultation Presidents,

At the request of the Public Service Alliance of Canada in support of their upcoming general strike, effective April 19th, 2023, PIPSC will be suspending our participation in consultation with Federal Government Employers which will include all TBS Departments, Federal Crown Corporations, Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, until such time as the PSAC strike has concluded. PIPSC representatives are not to attend consultation meetings of any kind (in-person and/or virtual) with the exception of meetings related to Occupational Health & Safety.

PIPSC has committed to unwavering support to the Public Service Alliance of Canada and our 155,000 PSAC brothers and sisters employed by Canada Revenue Agency and Treasury Board who will be going on strike if a tentative agreement is not reached by tonight, April 18^th, 2023 at 9:00pm EST.    

The decision to suspend our consultation activities was not easy. We know that you are involved in many important discussions with the employer, on behalf of our members, and that the suspension of these discussions is not ideal but it is necessary for us to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

I thank you for your support and commitment to our members!

Jennifer Carr

We are greatly saddened to announce that our colleague and friend, Terry Sing, passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 10, 2023. 

Terry was a passionate and collegial person with a friendly disposition and helpful nature. He served PIPSC members in many Executive positions including Commerce & Purchasing (CP) Group before his retirement and continued serving after his retirement. He was currently serving as Vice President of the Retired Members Guild, and an active member of the National Capital Region, where he often volunteered to help organize events for PIPSC members. He was and was a friend and mentor to many in this Region, and was recognized by PIPSC for his significant contributions, on several occasions.

To offer final respects, friends and colleagues can visit the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 150 Woodroffe Avenue (at Richmond Road) Ottawa, on Sunday, April 16th from 1-3pm and 6-8pm and on Monday, April 17th after 9:30am until the Funeral Service in the Chapel at 11am. More information is available at Terry Sing|Hulse, Playfair & McGarry Funeral Homes.  The Funeral Service will also be LiveStreamed.

Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to his spouse, Cleo, and the rest of his family and friends. May his soul rest in eternal peace! 

PSAC members at Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency are voting on a strike mandate in their fight for a better deal. In the coming days, PSAC will announce the results of these votes.

We stand in solidarity with PSAC members and call on the employer to return to the table with our PSAC colleagues to present an offer that meets their demands for fair wage increases in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

In this round of bargaining, PIPSC's Treasury Board groups have chosen the arbitration route as their strategy for resolving a potential stalemate at the bargaining table. Our AFS group, representing members at CRA, is on a strike route in case of a stalemate. However, the AFS group's bargaining process is not as far advanced as PSAC's, whose contract expired a year before our members' contract.

Regardless of the timing and strategy, one thing is clear: PIPSC and PSAC stand in solidarity together. If our PSAC colleagues choose to take collective action, we will inform our members about actions they can take to show their support for their PSAC colleagues.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS:

You might be asking yourself: What do I do if the building where I work has a picket line of workers from another union?

PIPSC members are required to respect the provisions of their own collective agreements and to report to work even if it is being picketed by workers from a sister union. However, under no circumstances should members place themselves at risk.

Upon arrival at a worksite where there is a picket line, you should immediately contact your supervisors and seek instructions on how to enter safely.

If it is unsafe to cross a picket line, you should exercise your right to refuse work and contact your supervisor and union representative.

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, we at PIPSC would like to extend our warmest wishes to all our Muslim members. 

Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion for Muslims around the world. At PIPSC, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that respects the beliefs and practices of all our members.

To facilitate the participation of all our members in PIPSC events and activities, we will be accommodating dietary restrictions based on religious beliefs, including those related to fasting during Ramadan. If you will be fasting and attending a PIPSC event or activity, please inform the organizer in advance that you will not require meals and refreshments at the meeting.

In lieu of the meals and refreshments at the meeting, PIPSC will provide you with a per diem reimbursement. This reimbursement can be used towards your sehri and iftar meals, allowing you to observe your religious practices while still being an active member of our union.

As an inclusive organization, PIPSC is dedicated to ensuring that all members feel welcomed, valued, and supported. Your contributions to our community are invaluable, and we are proud to stand by your side as you observe this important time of the year.

We wish you a peaceful Ramadan.

To mark Mental Illness Awareness Week PIPSC teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association for a workshop on mental illness in the workplace. Unlike mental health, mental illnesses are diagnosed conditions that affect the way we think about ourselves, relate to others, and interact with the world around us. Host, Alexandra Petrisano, BASc, PGCert, will provides training on many topics, including:

• Overview of common mental illnesses
• How mental illness impacts employees
• Supporting colleagues and teammates
• How to respond with compassion and empathy

Email bettertogheter@pipsc.ca to get a link to watch the webinar!

Approximately every 6 days, right here in this country, a woman is killed by her intimate partner.

The pandemic has led to an increase in crisis calls and demands for shelter. Sexual assault is the only violent crime in Canada that isn’t declining – and hasn’t since 1999.

We could spend all day talking about the stats but taking action is what’s going to change things. 

We’ve partnered with internationally recognized women’s rights advocate and public educator, Julie Lalonde to bring you 2 workshops on taking action to end gender-based violence:

• Bystander intervention to build community care
  • Teaches you how to step-in when you see inappropriate or aggressive behavior, including in the workplace, and how you can step in to support others who may be dealing with intimate partner violence.
• Creating consent culture with your youth
  • Learn how to discuss the important topics of consent, party culture and harassment with the young people in our lives, and help turn the tide for the next generation.

 Watch the workshop: Bystander intervention to build community care 

Watch the workshop: Creating consent culture with your youth 

This was the last straw for Patent Medicine Price Review Board member Mathew Herder. 

Recently, he and several high profile staffers resigned after the government's U-turn on its repeated promises to properly regulate drug prices in Canada. 

In 2016, in response to big pharma's twenty year failure to deliver on domestic research and development spending commitments, the government adopted legislation to reform the decades old drug pricing model which artificially inflated new drug prices. These evidence-based reforms were to put an end to price-gouging on new medications and bring prices in line with peer countries. They were also meant to introduce pharmacoeconomic analysis – where a drug's maximum price is based on its effectiveness when compared to existing medications.  Independent evidence demonstrates that this would have no negative impact on access to new drugs or drug supplies.  

Lobbyist and industry front groups came out in force, bumping into PIPSC representatives and Canadian Labour Congress advocates at public consultations.  Slowly but surely, the government caved – first when it failed to appeal pharma's court challenges against the reforms, and again when it issued a never ending stream of postponements.  We called on the government to do better. 

These challenges have left the law as a shadow of its former self which, in turn, sets Canada even further behind in achieving the long promised public pharmacare system.  Pharmacare and reasonable drug pricing is not just fair – it is effective public policy that improves health outcomes and saves money long term.  

PIPSC continues to urge the government to stay true to its word and recommit itself to drug pricing reform and public pharmacare.  Covid has proven this is more essential now than ever. 

For the last 3 years, PIPSC members have worked hard to get Canadians through a global pandemic. Now our employer has the opportunity to show up for us the way we have shown up for them.

But we know it won’t be easy. 

The experience of other federal public service unions at the table shows that this government will continue to try to short-change us.

We need to come to the table united – and ready to fight for a better deal: the leave we need, the pay we deserve and the flexibility to keep giving our best.

Here are some core issues for the employer to tangibly demonstrate the recognition and respect public servants deserve. For specific demands we’re making at the table, please refer to your group bargaining team.

Pay

It is crucial that our members are paid at a rate that reflects both the value of their work and the skyrocketing costs of living. Otherwise, we are essentially taking a cut in pay. Strong salaries are also a key pillar in recruitment and retention efforts we need to build a strong public service. PIPSC will continue to fight for competitive pay that keeps up with inflation and keeps top talent like you.

Telework

Some of our members are needed on the frontlines to provide essential services, but others are now able to do their best work from their own homes. Forcing employees back to workplaces without rhyme or reason shows a lack of trust and respect. PIPSC will continue to fight for a return-to-office plan that is safe, flexible, and based on the “presence with a purpose” principle – and we’ll continue to push to negotiate telework at the table, where it belongs.

Right to disconnect

PIPSC members regularly go above and beyond during their work days, and they shouldn’t have to field work-related emails, phone calls, and meeting requests once that day is over. This is a recipe for burnout and resentment. PIPSC will continue to fight for work-life balance for employees, complete with rest periods that are essential to wellness, health and safety. If Doug Ford’s government can offer its employees the right to disconnect, so can this one.

Leave

Employees are human people with their own lives. Sometimes those lives come with individual or family challenges that require workers to take time away from their jobs. When these challenges arise, you should be able to count on the support of your employer. PIPSC will continue to fight for leave policies that recognize the variety of valid reasons our members might require time off.

Solidarity and belonging

Everyone deserves conditions that allow us to give our best. For some this means working from home, for others, this means being able to show up as our true selves – without having to worry about harassment or social exclusion. In fact, our employer should be celebrating and accommodating our differences in ways that enable us to do our best work. PIPSC will continue to fight for modern and progressive employment policies that ensure no workers are left behind.