Author Archives: Pierre St-Jacques

2023 Branch Elections — Nominations and Elections Committees (NEC)

Each CIU Branch has a Nominations and Elections Committee (NEC) responsible for overseeing the elections throughout the Branch. The Chair and Secretary of the NEC are appointed by the outgoing Branch Executive.

If need be, the NEC can also appoint additional Returning Officers to oversee the electoral process in specific locations. Please contact your NEC for more information on this and on your Branch’s elections in general. You can contact the Chair or the Secretary of your Branch’s NEC using the information provided in the table below (which will be updated regularly).

You can also review electoral documents and forms here.

If you cannot contact your NEC, please contact the National Office at elections@ciu-sdi.ca.

Note: If necessary, use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the table.

Branch	NEC Chair Last & First Name	NEC Chair Work Number	NEC Secretary Last & First Name	NEC Secretary Work Number
90001 NL	Lane, Rhonda	709.256.1951	Walsh, Alex
80002 NS	Ernst, Jonathan	902.873.1335
60004 NB	Jamieson, Michael	506.325.3287	Schwarz, Nicholas	506.465.2280
10010 Québec	Lamontagne, Patrick		Proteau, Jonathan
10008 Eastern Townships	Tavara, Chantale		Samson, Vicky
10011 Lacolle	Smith, Mélanie
10007 Montréal	Khoury, Claude		Jean-Pierre, Fabienne
70066 HQ	Stille, Stephen		Williams, Paula
70027 Eastern Ontario	Cheung, Jonathan		Curran, Sean
00024 Toronto	Eccleston, Suzette	416.735.9019	Palma, Kimberly
00020 Hamilton	Jones, Marsha		Kott, Judy
00016 Niagara Falls	Kerr, Adam		Rezaei, Sajjad
00023 Fort Erie	McCaffrey, Zac	905.994.6330	Marriott, Tom	905.994.6330
00019 Sarnia	Theriault, Jasmine		Bailey, Liz
00017 London/Kitchener	Klassen, John		Blonde, Sarah
00018 Windsor	Dowler, Kevin		Vanloo, Bradley
00026 Northern Ontario	Stubinsky, Carole	705.941.3045	Oswin-McLarty, Norren	705.941.3045
50030 Manitoba	Steinthorson, Jessica	204.373.2474	Pitre, Derek	204.373.2474
40031 Saskatchewan	Hamid, Ummar	306.926.6285	Steffins, Noreen	306.483.5111
30036 AB	Hendrickson, Halle	587.337.0359	Laja, Michael	780.495.5373
20045 BC Southern	Schachtel, Spencer	250.447.9418	Phipps, Frank	250.447.9418
20040 Vancouver	Marasa, Amelia	604.666.0538	Cheng, Colin	604.666.0538
20042 BC Coastal	Dabrowski, Rita		Stoker, Astrid

PSAC challenges caps on damages in Canadian Human Rights Act

PSAC has filed a challenge with the Federal Court of Canada, calling for the removal of caps on human rights damages in the Canadian Human Rights Act, on the basis that these caps violate constitutional equality rights.

When a federal worker who has experienced discrimination in the workplace is awarded financial compensation for damages under the Canadian Human Rights Act there is a limit on the amount of damages they can receive. Since 1998, this limit has been capped at $20,000 for pain and suffering; and an additional $20,000 may be awarded where it is found that the employer discriminated in a wilful or reckless manner.

While there are limits on damages for discrimination, the amount of compensation a court can order for any other wrongful act on the part of the employer is not subject to the same limits. When a worker experiences discrimination based on sexism, racism, disability, or other human rights grounds, the impacts on their work, their life, and their health can be monumental. A global cap of $40,000 cannot meaningfully compensate a worker for pain and suffering and willful discrimination engaged in by an employer. This is especially the case given that these caps have not been adjusted for inflation since they were introduced 25 years ago.

Limiting damages under the CHRA is an added act of discrimination against individuals who have already experienced harm from discriminatory treatment on the part of their employer.

PSAC has filed a challenge to the limits on damages, on the basis that these limits violate equality rights guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. PSAC has filed its Statement of Claim* and evidentiary record, including expert affidavits. The government has filed its Statement of Defence** and is expected to file its evidentiary record in due course. A hearing date has not yet been confirmed.

For more information

Read PSAC’s statement of claim
*Unfortunately, the statement of claim is only available in English at this time.

Read the government statement of defence
**Unfortunately, the statement of defence is only available in English at this time.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Show your support at a Labour Day event near you

Each year on Labour Day, we recognize the contributions of workers and reflect on the rights we have fought for over the years, including fair wages, safer working conditions, and the right to organize collectively.

This year, we’re celebrating Labour Day on the heels of one of the largest strikes in Canadian history. Thanks to over 100,000 PSAC members who came together on picket lines to demand better, we secured the strongest collective agreement in the federal public service that raises the bar for our members and all workers in Canada.

In Nunavut, PSAC members at the Iqaluit Housing Authority picketed for 136 days to secure wages that lift workers who are struggling with one of the highest costs of living in the country.

These victories — and many more by PSAC members this year — are a reminder that when workers unite, we can build lasting change.

Labour Day celebrations and marches are being organized across the country. Show your support at an event near you.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Public Service Health Care Plan: Canada Life transition update

Earlier this year, PSAC announced that we successfully negotiated key improvements to the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) for federal public service workers, and the new plan came into effect on July 1, 2023.

On the same date, the employer transferred the PSHCP provider contract from Sun Life to Canada Life as part of a separate procurement process, resulting in changes for nearly 1.5 million federal public service workers, retirees, and their dependents. This change was initiated and operationalized by the employer and was not part of PSAC and other unions’ negotiations on a new health care plan.

This transition has caused frustrating challenges for plan members and their dependents. Unfortunately, Canada Life has not been able to keep up with the influx of new members, retirees, and dependents that they now administer, and it is having a significant impact on people who depend on these benefits for their health and drug coverage.

Before the move to Canada Life, PSAC provided the government with recommendations for a smooth transition for plan members, including for Canada Life to hire additional staff and increase its call centre capacity.

Nearly two months later, tens of thousands of federal workers are still experiencing issues with their new health care coverage. Many have been unable to register or log into their accounts and face long claim processing delays. These problems are compounded by members’ inability to reach a Canada Life customer service agent to help them.

Since July, Canada Life has made some improvements, including expanding their call centre hours to seven days a week and hiring additional staff to assist plan members.

As of August 25, Canada Life has reported that 99% of plan members have been successfully enrolled under the new benefits plan. But customer service wait times remain too long, and too many calls remain unanswered. This poorly managed transition prevents our members from fully taking advantage of their benefits.

The Government of Canada made the decision to transition to Canada Life and it is their responsibility to hold Canada Life accountable for the many problems that members are facing.

PSAC has requested a meeting with Treasury Board President Anita Anand to discuss how the delivery of benefits can be improved for plan members as soon as possible.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

Alternative Federal Budget sets roadmap for stronger public services

Read the 2024 Alternative Federal Budget

This year’s AFB focuses on investing in our public health care system, affordable community housing, anti-poverty and food insecurity initiatives, a green transition to combat climate change, stronger labour legislation, and a tax system that ensures the wealthy pay their fair share.

To achieve these goals, AFB 2024 recognizes the federal public service must be well-equipped to meet these ongoing challenges and deliver the services Canadians depend on. These recommendations include:

Adequate funding to rectify pay problems caused by the Phoenix pay system to ensure workers are paid accurately and on time every time;
A full review of staffing levels based on the needs of Canadians;
The creation of an independent consultation body to reduce the government’s reliance on private consultants;
A comprehensive review and amendment of the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act that improves the way unions like PSAC negotiate new contracts with the government;
Full funding for settlements of class action lawsuits, including the Black Class Action and the Indigenous Class Action, and more efforts to address oppression and discrimination;
Stronger whistleblowing legislation to protect workers;
Transparency and consultation in the use of AI and other automated decision-making tools;
An ongoing commitment to build a more inclusive federal public service.

The public service recommendations of AFB 2024 are reflective of the recommendations that PSAC made to the Finance Committee of the House of Commons (FINA), in preparation for their pre-budget consultation process.

“Public service workers are on the frontlines of program delivery to people in Canada. Our members see every day what works, and what can be improved,” said PSAC National President Chris Aylward. “We’ve made suggestions to FINA, and through them to the Minister of Finance, for a 2024 budget that will build robust programs and services that will put the needs of people first, creating the resiliency to see Canada through these difficult economic, social, and environmental times.”

By addressing these issues, Canada’s public service can remain a robust and flexible institution capable of serving Canadians effectively now and into the future.

Read the 2024 Alternative Federal Budget

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.