Author Archives: Jayson Roy

Honouring Trans Day of Remembrance: Standing Together Against Hate

On November 20, we mark Trans Day of Remembrance, an occasion to honour the lives of trans people around the world, and those we have lost to violence and discrimination.

Although Canada has legal protections for gender identity and expression, transphobia is on the rise. Trans people face greater rates of violence, as well as greater barriers to employment and healthcare, which is now made worse by anti-trans laws in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta.

Not only do these laws harm trans people by limiting their ability to actively participate in society, they embolden people to act in discriminatory and violent ways, which has a very serious impact on the safety, mental health and well-being of trans people. In fact, a recent study found that transgender people in Canada are three times more likely to experience depression, anxiety and other mental disorders compared to cisgender people. Even worse, they are six times more likely to have attempted suicide in their life. We must fight against transphobia and anti-trans legislation to ensure that all trans people have access to mental and health care services so they can have full, thriving lives.

These anti-trans laws also fuel misinformation. Harmful myths about trans people — whether it be about sports or accessing gender affirming care — are often spread without evidence or care for the impact this has on trans people.

What you can do

On this Trans Day of Remembrance, let’s honour the lives lost, while recommitting ourselves to building a world where trans people can live safely and authentically.

Let’s take time to fact-check information, seek credible sources, and amplify voices from the trans community who can speak on their realities. Let’s create a more inclusive society, rooted in respect and understanding.

Like every year, vigils will be held across Canada. Attending these events is a powerful way to show your support and connect with others to help end anti-trans violence.

Together, we can create a future where trans rights are not only protected but celebrated. Let’s ensure that the lives we lost inspire meaningful action.

Here are just some of the locations hosting vigils happening across the country:

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Treasury Board National Bargaining Conference: members of equity groups, women and young worker encouraged to apply

The Treasury Board PA, TC, SV and EB collective agreements will expire in 2025.

Program and Administrative (PA) group expiry date: June 20, 2025

Technical Services (TC) group expiry date: June 21, 2025

Operational Services (SV) group expiry date: August 04, 2025

Education and Library (EB) group expiry date: June 30, 2025

In preparation for the next round of bargaining, PSAC will host a bargaining conference for PA, TC, SV, and EB group members on February 19-23, 2025, in Montréal.

The conference will bring members together to review, discuss, and prioritize issues for bargaining with Treasury Board. Conference delegates will also be electing their bargaining team.

PSAC is issuing a call-out for equity group members to attend the Treasury Board national bargaining conference.

The participation of all groups in collective bargaining is critical and we encourage equity group members – Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Access (members with disabilities), women and young workers (35 years old or younger) – to participate.

Applicants must be a member of the PA, TC, SV, or EB bargaining unit as well as hold union office and demonstrate evidence of union activism.

Please submit your application before December 16 to be considered for the upcoming bargaining conference.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

“An incredibly misguided decision”: Union calls on CBSA to reverse service hours cuts at land border ports of entry across Canada

Ottawa, November 19, 2024 – The Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), which represents Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers and personnel across the country, is calling upon CBSA to immediately reverse its misguided decision to reduce hours of service at land ports of entry in New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

On November 18, 2024, CBSA announced that it was reducing hours of service for more than a quarter of its land ports of entry, allegedly to boost security and align with United States border crossings operational hours. “This is an incredibly misguided decision” said CIU National President Mark Weber in response to the Agency’s announcement, which came with little advanced notice to the union and CBSA employees. “At a time when all eyes are on the border, given the potential impact of the recent American presidential election, it is beyond shortsighted for the Agency to proceed with this reduction of service. To claim that the border is more secure with ports closed more often is like saying that up is down — it’s nonsense” added the union president.

The union is disappointed to see that the Agency is once again making changes without consulting the frontline officers who work at the affected border crossings. Worse, CBSA does not appear to have consulted border communities at all, despite the significant impact of this reduction in hours of service on families and local businesses.

“Affected ports will see their operational hours slashed as of January 6, 2025, in some cases going from operating around the clock to only being opened for 12 hours,” said the CIU National President. For communities that straddle the border — many of them rural — such changes can be far-reaching, as both the Canadian and American sides are dependent on each other for critical services, employment, and industry.

With ports closing earlier, residents and commercial operators will have to travel further early in the morning, in the evening and at night — sometimes over long distances. Industrial sectors such as agriculture and forestry will certainly be impacted. Some of the affected ports also play an important role in connecting Canada to large U.S. metropolitan areas, such as Boston and Denver.

“This is not the first time that the Agency has sought to reduce hours of service at land ports,” said Mark Weber, “and the end result is that it makes the border both less secure and less functional. We really need the government to properly invest in the border to ensure it is adequately staffed, so our members can continue to serve Canadians and protect our communities. Reducing hours of service certainly does not help to achieve this.”

Solidarity with Canada Post workers at CUPW: A message from the PSAC National President

Canada Post workers from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) need your solidarity.

Fair wages, improved health and safety, sound pensions, and increased staffing are on the bargaining table. But their employer hasn’t offered real solutions.

On Tuesday, CUPW served a 72-hour strike notice to Canada Post. Canada Post workers at CUPW will be in a position to strike this Friday, November 15, 2024.

As a PSAC member, you are not in a legal strike position, and you must continue to report for duty. Here’s what to do in the event of a CUPW strike:

Continue showing up to work. You will still have access to your workplace even if you’re in areas where CUPW has established picket lines.
During your lunch breaks, and before or after your work day, join the picket lines to express solidarity with CUPW members.
If you feel it is unsafe to cross the picket line, contact your supervisor and union representative.
Make note of the entry points at your workplace for PSAC members. A CUPW picket captain will specify.

When PSAC members were on strike against Treasury Board, our CUPW colleagues joined us on the line. Now it’s our turn to show solidarity.

In solidarity,

Sharon DeSousa
PSAC National President

Canada’s public services at risk: PSAC pushes back against cuts

PSAC has serious concerns about the federal government’s plans to reduce government spending by cutting public service jobs.

Without prior consultation, the government unilaterally announced their plans to cut costs across the federal public service during a briefing with unions on the Refocusing Government Spending Initiative November 7.

The 2023 budget outlined $15 billion in cuts to programs and services over the next four years, with another $3 billion in spending reductions announced in last year’s Fall Economic Statement.

When cuts were first announced in 2022, Mona Fortier, Treasury Board President at the time, said the government would find $6 billion in savings by increasing remote work and selling off real estate.

Last year, Treasury Board President Anita Anand promised workers wouldn’t be asked to do more with less and that there would be no job losses. Then we heard that 5,000 jobs would be reduced through natural attrition.

Today, we heard a very different story. The government is now widening the net, looking to cut term and casual employees, and opening the door for departments to slash permanent employees through Workforce Adjustment.

Federal departments have been assigned specific budget reduction targets in salary line items. PSAC is insisting that unions must be consulted while these targets are reviewed. These targets, protected under Cabinet privilege, will remain confidential until they are made public in June 2025.

Workers and Canadians are waiting in limbo. Families who benefit from critical programs won’t know if the services they depend on will be cut. Public service workers won’t know if they’ll have jobs by next summer – if they can renew their mortgage, start a family or pay their student loans.

Government savings should not fall on the backs of workers and the services they deliver to Canadians.

The government should instead go after the billions they’re wasting on contracting out public services and the massive savings remote work offers for Canada’s public service.

PSAC will be fighting back against these cuts and protecting workers caught in the crossfire.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

What you can do

British-Columbia

North

Prairies

Ontario

Quebec

Atlantic