Leaders in gender equality from across the globe gathered in Vancouver to attend the 2019 Women Deliver conference, including 12 PIPSC representatives from the Board of Directors, Human Rights Committee and staff team. Joined by a host of other Canadian union activists, the Canadian Labour Congress kicked off the conference with the Union Deliver pre-event.

The theme for this year's Women Deliver conference was Power. Progress. Change. A fitting theme for PIPSC, as we are committed to focusing our power on progressing policies that deliver meaningful change in the lives of all our members.

President Debi Daviau and Vice President Norma Domey were two of PIPSC's representatives at the event. This conference was an opportunity for our leadership to reflect on how gender equality can strengthen our union and the labour movement.   

“We have made significant progress to support women’s rights in the workforce; from leading the way on policies for family leave, to paid leave for victims and survivors of domestic violence — gender equality is a top priority,” Debi Daviau, PIPSC President, said.

Throughout the conference, PIPSC delegates heard from global leaders including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, and the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore.

The event was educational and inspired delegates to ignite greater participation and engagement of women in all unions. The experience will be vital to VP Domey's work contributing to the Committee on Human Rights and Diversity and the Women in Science project.

“The Women Deliver Conference re-energized our PIPSC delegates and women globally to keep fighting to end gender-based violence, increase women’s economic empowerment, and ensure gender responsive health systems and services,” Domey said.

Our latest bargaining update highlights historic wins:

• enhanced family-leave
• 10 days of paid leave to survivors and victims of domestic violence
• the first-ever harassment free workplace language in our collective agreement

These wins will help to support and empower women ensuring equal opportunities for everyone across the public sector.

There is still more work to do:

“We are committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment in Canada,” Daviau said. “We will ensure that the door for progress on these issues continues to remain open and that PIPSC is at the forefront of change.”

Canada’s unions are expressing solidarity with advocates in the United States who are fighting to protect reproductive rights.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) commits to protecting our own hard-won gains and to fill the gaps in access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada, including abortion.

We can’t take abortion rights in Canada for granted. There is an alarming and well-funded effort by anti-choice groups in Canada to elect politicians who support restrictions on reproductive health services and rights. As members of the CLC, we will resist any attempt to take us backwards and support the efforts to improve access.

Canada’s unions have a deep and longstanding commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Unions and labour activists joined the call to decriminalize birth control and abortion in the 60s and 70s. Since the 1988 Morgentaler decision, the labour movement has worked with feminist organizations and other allies to resist attempts to introduce new restrictions to abortion rights and access.

Canada’s unions have long called for public coverage of medical procedures and medication to allow people to decide whether and when to have children, promote maternal health, affirm their gender identity, and meet other sexual and reproductive health care needs. They have also called for better access to abortion services in regions where it remains difficult to obtain sexual and reproductive health care. Unions continue to support comprehensive sexuality education, access to health care for trans people, and protections for pregnant people in unsafe working conditions.

Access to abortion services remains a problem, especially in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, for young people, for those with precarious immigration status or who don’t have the means to travel. In some provinces, like New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island such services are virtually non-existent on account of provincial policies that restrict access or impose limits on funding. The lack of access to sexual and reproductive health care and rights has disproportionate impacts on people who experience various forms of marginalization, such as Indigenous women, Black and racialized women, women with disabilities, trans and non-binary folk, immigrant, migrant and refugee women.

Canada’s unions will not tolerate any attempt to roll back abortion rights.

This Indigenous History Month marks the release of Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Over three years the National Inquiry held Truth Gatherings where families and survivors shared their experiences with violence, their recommendations and their art in 1,484 testimonies. The commissioners also gathered information on institutionalized violence along with testimony from experts, Elders and knowledge keepers.

We, along with the Canadian Labour Congress, call for immediate action to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

We insist upon the implementation of the National Inquiry’s recommendations.

We continue our call for the federal legislature to pass Bill C-262 this session and ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

And, we ask our members to take action now on the Calls for Justice for All Canadians, to learn the true history of Canada and to become informed and active allies to Indigenous Peoples.

Suggested Resources for Learning:

• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Our Women and Girls Are Sacred: The Interim Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls.
• National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Their Voices Will Guide Us: Student and Youth Engagement Guide.
• Transcripts, testimonies, and public statements offered during the Truth-Gathering Process, available at http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/transcripts/ and http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/part-ii-and-part-iii-knowledge-keeper-expert-and-institutional-hearing-transcripts/.
• Canadian Labour Congress. Indigenous Lobby Guide.

Suggested Resources for Allyship:

• Amnesty International. 10 Ways to Be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities.
• Dr. Lynn Gehl. Ally Bill of Responsibilities.
• Indigenous Perspectives Society. How to Be an Ally to Indigenous People.
• Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network. Indigenous Ally Toolkit.

National Indigenous History Month is an opportunity to honour Indigenous heritage and celebrate Indigenous contributions and cultures across this land.

PIPSC President Debi Daviau, BC/Yukon Regional Director Rob MacDonald and CLC Indigenous Representative Greg Scriver will be participating in the Whitehorse APTN Indigenous Day Live event on Saturday June 22, 2019.

WATCH LIVE

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is also hosting live events in Whitehorse, Winnipeg and Calgary.

We encourage all members to take action in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples:

• read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
• send a letter to your Senator supporting Bill C-262, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• learn about the efforts of the Canadian labour movement to work as allies to Indigenous people
• educate yourself on Canada’s history and how to become an ally.

The Ontario Government held consultations with public sector employers and bargaining agents in early May. We attended to represent our members in the Ontario Provincial Group, and also submitted our comments in writing to the government.

While not stated explicitly, it was clear that the Ontario government was seeking feedback on possible wage constraints or wage caps for public service workers. We, along with our sister unions, made very clear that any wage adjustment would be considered unacceptable and would be vigorously opposed. Changes to wages must be negotiated at the bargaining table and our contracts must be respected.

The consultation also sought to identify additional cost cutting tools. We were able to unequivocally advise against outsourcing as an option. Based on our disastrous experience with Phoenix federally, we know how wasteful and ineffective outsourcing can be.

We will fight any wage cuts to Ontario public servants. We know that public servants provide high quality essential public services to Ontarians. These services must be maintained, and qualified, experienced public servants are required to do this work.

It is Pride Month and we are ready to celebrate!

The labour movement has an important role to play in continuing to fight for the rights of LGBTQ2+ people. From ending the blood ban and ensuring healthcare for transgender people to establishing Pharmacare and negotiating collective agreement language that includes everyone ­— there is still work to do.

PIPSC marches in solidarity with LGBTQ2+ communities across the world. Members will be out marching in cities across the country throughout the Pride season.

You can join us in:

• Regina
• Hamilton
• Victoria
• Charlottetown
• Montreal
• Ottawa
• Calgary

If you’d like to organize a group of PIPSC members to march in your community, please let us know! We can provide support and promote your event.

ORGANIZE A PRIDE EVENT

Take this opportunity, as folks in the LGBTQ2+ community and as allies, to celebrate and keep fighting!

Learn more about our Human Rights and Diversity Committee.

President Debi Daviau signed the agreement with Treasury Board that provides compensation to all PIPSC members paid by Phoenix. The agreement details were announced earlier this month.

This agreement provides each member paid by Phoenix with five days of paid leave in compensation. Members will have a claims process to receive every dollar that they’ve lost due to Phoenix, as well as a mechanism to be compensated for its damages.

Days of leave and the updated claims process will come into effect 150 days after signing, November 12, 2019.

The Treasury Board and 15 public service unions finalized this joint agreement that will compensate 146,000 current and former employees who were paid by Phoenix.

READ THE NEWS RELEASE

The agreement applies to employees, retired employees, former employees and the estates of deceased employees. Separate agencies are expected to duplicate this agreement shortly.

Answers to your frequently asked questions on this Phoenix compensation agreement are available now.

PHOENIX FAQs

Despite not getting paid properly, our members have come to work each and every day to give their best in service of the public. We can't erase the loss and suffering that Phoenix has caused for these dedicated public service professionals. But with the commitments and the compensation enshrined in this settlement, the Treasury Board has taken important steps forward.

For support in dealing with your individual Phoenix case please contact our PIPSC Phoenix Team.

Fellow members,

Each day you go to work to protect and serve Canadians in a hundred different ways: you save lives, protect the environment and grow the economy.

You make important contributions as both public servants and union members.

Together we continue to accomplish great things. Every day, PIPSC stewards and members work together to protect your rights and ensure a workplace that supports your excellence.

Our recent wins at the central bargaining table will improve the lives of PIPSC members for years to come. Our fight to replace Phoenix continues to move forward and members are getting compensated for the hardships created by Phoenix. I hope you'll join me on June 12 for a union-wide telephone townhall to discuss these important issues.

Our solidarity is what makes us strong. We are better together.

PIPSC membership is focused, knowledgeable and engaged – that’s how we get results.

Congratulations on your excellent work, your immeasurable contribution to Canadian society and your commitment to our union.
Happy National Public Service Week!

In solidarity,

Debi Daviau
President, PIPSC

The Ontario government has introduced legislation to cap public sector wage increases at an average of 1% annually for the next three years.

We are appalled by this legislation and any form of legislated wag caps. Legislating wages interferes with the right to free collective bargaining.

Our members, as all workers, deserve wages that reflect the real cost of living. A 1% annual increase means your wages will be worth less each year. Collective bargaining has allowed the employer and our members to jointly determine sustainable levels of compensation for decades.

The new wage cap would include teachers and staff at post-secondary institutions and hospitals. It will affect both unionized and non-unionized workers.

In addition to some 240 Information Technology professionals at the University of Ottawa, the Institute represents over 400 professional workers in the Ontario health sector including:

• Ontario Medical Physicists employed by the Regional Cancer Centres Employers Association (MP);
• Mechanical and Electronic Technologists employed by Sunnybrook Hospital (SUN-MET);
• Radiation Therapists employed by Sunnybrook Hospital (SUN-RT);
• Radiation Therapists  employed by the Juravinski Cancer Centre (JCC-RT);
• Radiation Therapists employed by Thunder Bay Regional Hospital (TBH-RT);
• Radiation Therapists employed by Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH-RT).

Over the last month we have seen our hard work pay off! Join one of three telephone town halls with President Debi Daviau for updates on both Phoenix damages and the central bargaining wins. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Date: 
Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Time: 
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET (English)
7:45 PM – 8:45 PM ET (French)
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM ET (English)

How to participate:
You will receive a phone call on June 11 inviting you to join the call or the details will be left as a voicemail.

You may also dial directly into the call at the appropriate time on June 12:

English
Number: 1-877-229-8493
Passcode: 112851

French
Number:1-877-255-5810
Passcode: 112851

Or you may stream the audio of the call online through your computer or mobile device: https://video.teleforumonline.com/video/streaming.php?client=12851

We look forward to connecting with you soon.