March 13, 2007

Important information from PSAC National President John Gordon to PSAC Members Working at Service Canada

Script for video on Service Canada Membership Vote - Feb. 28, 2007

I am John Gordon, the National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. In this short video message I want to do two things.

I want to thank you for viewing this video or for coming out to a meeting.

I also want to tell you that this is a critically important vote. That's why it's important that you gain an appreciation of both Components and form an impression on what kind of representation that each can provide.

Service Canada is a reality, and that reality means that we have to change if we are to ensure that you are fully represented at the workplace.

With four PSAC Components currently representing the overwhelming majority of PSAC members at Service Canada, the employer has an advantage, an advantage that it will surely use to undermine your workplace rights.

That's why we are conducting this vote to determine whether the National Health and Welfare Union or the Canada Employment and Immigration Union, both Components of the PSAC, will represent you at the workplace. It's that simple.

The choice is yours, but let me say this. Whichever PSAC Component you choose, you will remain a member of the PSAC. That means that your collective agreement will be the same and your access to representation at adjudication will not change. In addition, you will continue to have access to PSAC Regional Office services such as education, local development, bargaining mobilization, political action campaigns and the like.

What will change is that you will be represented at the workplace by one Component on critically important issues like union-management consultation, and local assistance with grievances and representation.

That's particularly important when you work, as you do, for a very large federal department or agency, particularly one as decentralized as Service Canada.

With 467 work locations and counting, Service Canada represents a significant challenge for the PSAC Component which will represent you at the workplace. 467 locations where local management is making decisions that impact on your working life. So when you cast your ballot, you owe it to yourself to make a determination as to which Component you think is in the best position to provide the protection and representation that you deserve.

I also want to say that the decision to allocate all PSAC Service Canada members to a single PSAC Component was made in good faith in order to ensure the best possible representation delivered in the most consistent way.

As the National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, I want to assure you that once the ballots have been cast and counted, I am committed to working with both Components to ensure a smooth transition.

That means that the transfer will not take place until I am satisfied that the receiving Component has the ability to ensure that you are represented at the workplace, that grievances that are in the system are handled seamlessly and so on.

In closing, let me assure you that the PSAC and our leadership at the Alliance Executive Committee and the National Board of Directors level are committed to making this internal reorganization work to your advantage.