General Resolutions As Submitted

The Union of National Employees will increase the number of delegates for the Local Presidents’ conference from one (1) to three (3) fully funded delegates per local. That this conference takes place once in a three-year cycle.

Because succession planning is crucial to the development of the local so this increase will allow locals to plan for the future; and

Because the topics offered at the sessions vary at each conference so the increase in delegates will bring a more diverse perspective and subject matter experts.

The Union of National Employees will include wildland Firefighters in provincial and territorial presumptive disability and cancer legislation;

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will include wildland Firefighters in provincial and territorial presumptive disability and cancer legislation.

Because The international Agency for research of cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organisation has reclassified the occupational of firefighting including wildland firefighting to the highest hazard category group carcinogenic to humans;

Because recent research findings conclude that wildland firefighters are at increased risk of lung cancer (up to 43%) and mortality from cardiovascular disease cup to 30%); and

Because the UNE and the PSAC support the inclusion of the wildland firefighting occupation in the provincial and territorial presumptive disability and cancer legislation.

THE PSAC NATIONAL PRESIDENT RULED THIS RESOLUTION OUT OF ORDER. Neither PSAC nor UNE can include anyone in provincial or territorial legislation. We can lobby, we can work to have these members included, but we cannot do as the first two paragraphs describe. There is likely a word (lobby, work, etc.) missing in both paragraphs. As currently worded the resolution is out of order. Title is also missing the word ‘legislation’.

The Union of National Employees will hold a youth conference, on an ongoing basis, commencing in the 2023-2026 cycle, with the same regional allocation as the existing UNE National Conferences.

Because youth are and will continue to be one of UNE’s greatest assets who are recently engaged in our current and future workplaces.

The Union of National Employees will increase the frequency of regional seminars from Triennial to once every 18 months.

Because regional seminars are the venue to train new activists and to network broadly across the UNE structure in order to strengthen our ability to mobilize and engage the membership;

Because every third year does not keep activists engaged and represents a very long period for locals to struggle through in house training and mentorship of stewards and local executives; and

Because PSAC education is frequently cancelled or unavailable.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will increase strike pay to 100 dollars a day, from the current $75 locations south of the 60th parallel, outside of bargaining members in isolated posts; and

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will also  increase strike pay for members in isolated post locations south of the 60 parallel, to the same methodology to all federal union members with PSAC north of the 60th parallel.

The Union of National Employees must provide representation of National Labour Relations Officers in both official languages, in accordance with the member’s choice, and for every employer represented.

Because members must be represented in the official language of their choice.

Because Canada has two official languages, UNE must be able to provide this service in English or French, in accordance with the member’s language of correspondence.

Because UNE must comply with the Official Languages Act, as do federal institutions.

THE PSAC NATIONAL PRESIDENT RULED THIS RESOLUTION OUT OF ORDER. UNE Bylaw 2, Section 5 mandates that full-time staff are employed by the UNE through the National Executive; therefore, responsibility for staff oversight and representation is the responsibility of the UNE National Executive. The intent of this resolution should be considered by the UNE National Executive.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will increase the strike pay by $25 per day for all members.

Because in the current rates outlined in the PSAC’s Constitution under Regulation 6 has not been increased for members outside of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut in many years; and

Because members faced with the rising costs of everything from fuel to food and everything in between and the current amount is just not sufficient.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada will remove this section from the childcare policy: The FCP shall not cover cost for care provided by a spouse/partner, former spouse/partner with custody rights or a relative in the household.

Because we’ve made improvements to childcare in Canada but there’s still a shortage of childcare especially in rural areas. Many of our union activities occur over the weekend where care is even more difficult to find.

Because in order to become more active in the union, parents/caregivers need to be assured that the children in their care are provided with the best care available and we need to remove all barriers to make it possible for our members to participate in the union. 

The Union of National Employees will immediately coordinate and develop a strike fund, at the National level, for the members of the Union of National Employees, to pay employees a top up of $50/day for each day of picket duty.  This top up pay will be in addition to any strike pay paid by PSAC (Public Service Alliance of Canada) if the members of UNE are on strike.

Because we, as a Union, must stand together and support our bargaining teams in the collective bargaining process;

Because we should position ourselves to be aligned with other National Components of the PSAC that offer top-up pay to their members; and

Because employees are more likely to confidently vote in favour of a strike if they know there is additional financial support.

The Union of National Employees will establish a strike fund to better support members who participate in strike actions and activities.

Because a strike fund will enable UNE to provide financial support to members on strike.

The Union of National Employees will pay a top up of $75 per day to each member on strike and receiving strike pay from the PSAC.

Because the funding will provide financial support to members on strike.

The Union of National Employees will pay an amount of $75 for each Saturday and/or Sunday and/or outside of working hours a member of UNE is in attendance at a PSAC and any Canadian Labour Congress sanctioned education event, provided the education event was completed regardless of what PSAC and Canadian Labour Congress pays. This is irrespective of loss of salary.

Because this will encourage members to attend union education;

Because this is already a resolution of record supported by UNE and should be part of our bylaws and regulations; and

Because this increase from $50 to $75 is due to the rising costs during these difficult economic times.

The Union of National Employees will compensate members attending a weekend PSAC course up to an amount equivalent to their daily rate of pay for each day in attendance on their scheduled day of rest.

Because in these current economic times, UNE providing this compensation will encourage members participation in PSAC Education.

The Union of National Employees will provide on an annual basis, $250 in UNE promotional merchandise to promote our union.

Because providing UNE promotional merchandise will enable the union to be more visible in the workplace and will serve to engage and educate the membership on the union.