Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

More than ever, mental health matters

a photo of three people with the words "mental health matters"

Today, like in previous years at this time, social media is filled with discussions seeking to raise awareness about mental health issues and initiatives. Unlike previous years, however, challenges brought about by COVID-19 to both physical and mental health, on a scale rarely seen before, make it all the more important to reflect on the state of mental health support within the Canadian government and public service.

More so than usual, frontline and essential workers have spent the past months being confronted with exceedingly taxing situations, and the need for a robust and accessible service infrastructure cannot be understated if we wish to care for the mental well-being of Canadians everywhere – including in the workplace. Last year, the Mental Health Commission of Canada published a study showing that nearly 9 in 10 Canadians want increased funding for mental health. This year, from a law enforcement perspective, Statistics Canada released a report making it clear that the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental well-being of the Canadian population, with some police services reporting a 13% increase in well-being checks calls, and a 12% increase in mental health-related calls.

Beyond the concerns caused by COVID-19, and in addition to the need for general access to care, workplace culture also needs to foster mental well-being and not hinder it. Within CBSA, past employee surveys have shown a high level of dissatisfaction due to a psychologically unhealthy workplace. As a union, we’ve been vocal about the need for CBSA to address the many problems that plague the Agency when it comes to abuse of authority and harassment by managers.

You are not alone

When facing a difficult situation at work or at home, remember that you are not alone. People around you can be a source of support, and your union is there to assist you and help you find the resources you need. As CBSA employees, you can also contact Homewood Health for confidential assistance – be it for advice, counselling or treatment (for more information about Homewood Health and other resources, see our Mental Health page). PSAC has also published a list of resources to assist you if you feel overwhelmed, are struggling with stress, or are facing mental health difficulties.

Just like physical well-being, mental health matters, in any setting.

UPDATED – FB group: Register now for national town hall meetings

Image discussion FB PSAC-AFPC

PSAC-CIU is holding virtual town hall meetings to give FB members the latest updates on bargaining and outline our next steps as we ramp up to mobilize for a fair contract.

During the town hall, you’ll hear from CIU National President Jean-Pierre Fortin and PSAC negotiator Morgan Gay who will provide important information and insight into the bargaining process and our key demands at the table. You’ll be able to ask questions or raise concerns at the end of the meeting.

You deserve a contract that recognizes your incredible dedication to Canadians and brings your salary and benefits fully in line with law enforcement agencies across Canada. This is your opportunity to learn how your bargaining team is fighting to make that happen.

French FB town hall 

English FB town hall 

Supplementary FB town hall (in English)

NEW

Supplementary FB town hall (in French)

Regional town halls are also being organized and will take place after the national town halls. We’ll send out dates and details shortly.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PSAC recommits to eliminating all forms of gender-based violence

Drawing of two women wearing masks

On National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, PSAC remembers the fourteen young women who were killed at l’École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989, because they were women, and today, PSAC also recommits to ending all forms of gender-based violence.

On this day, we remember

Geneviève Bergeron

Hélène Colgan

Nathalie Croteau

Barbara Daigneault

Anne-Marie Edward

Maud Haviernick

Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz

Maryse Laganière

Maryse Leclair

Anne-Marie Lemay

Sonia Pelletier

Michèle Richard

Annie St-Arneault

Annie Turcotte

In Canada today:

75,000 women and children seek shelter from violence and abuse each year;
Homicide rates are seven times higher for Indigenous women and girls than amongst non-Indigenous women and girls;
Immigrant women are more vulnerable due to economic dependence, language barriers and a lack of knowledge about community resources;
Trans women are almost twice as likely as cisgender women to experience gender-based violence in their lifetime;
Women with physical and cognitive impairments experience violence two to three times more often than women living without impairments.

COVID-19 makes it harder to fight gender-based violence. Job loss, food insecurity or the fear of contracting the virus can trigger domestic violence. Social isolation and quarantines make it harder to access shelters or sexual assault centres. Those living in rural, remote and northern regions, immigrants and refugees and Indigenous women continue to be the most vulnerable populations, and the pandemic is isolating them more than ever before.

The heightened risks caused by the pandemic require immediate action. PSAC calls on all levels of government to:

  • Provide increased emergency funding to women’s shelters and sexual assault support centres, and identify ways to make services accessible in the context of physical distancing measures;
  • Work with health facilities and community organizations to quickly identify available local resources;
  • Include essential services to address violence against women in their response plan for COVID-19.

PSAC’s work to prevent violence against women continues. Our union is proud to have negotiated 10 days of paid domestic violence leave in all new federal government collective agreements to ensure those facing domestic violence begin to get the support they need. We also continue to pressure governments to implement all recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report, and to eliminate barriers to accessing legal and counselling support for women experiencing violence.

PSAC is calling all members to participate in Canada’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, from November 25 to December 10, by taking action to eliminate its root causes.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.

How to request the Phoenix damages settlement for retired or former employees

Fix Phoenix Pay System Logo

It has been brought to our attention that some retired or former PSAC members have been misdirected to fill out a form titled Claim for general compensation for former employees: Payment equivalent to additional leave to request their portion of the Phoenix damages settlement.

This is not the correct form to request PSAC’s Phoenix settlement of up to $2500.

This form is to request the financial equivalent of up to 5 days of leave, which was the settlement signed by all other federal bargaining agents, except PSAC.

Retired or former PSAC members who meet the eligibility criteria will receive financial compensation for Phoenix damages for each fiscal year for which they are eligible.

To receive compensation, retired or former employees will have to file a similar claim through Treasury Board. However, the details and the link to the claim form have not been made available by the federal government yet. We will share the link to the form once it becomes available.

Looking for more information on the Phoenix damages settlement? Check out our most frequently asked questions. Please keep your contact information up to date via the member portal to continue receiving information about the Phoenix settlement.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.