The Canadian Public Service Alliance (PSAC)

Introduction:

The Public Service alliance of Canada is one of Canada's largest unions. The Public Service alliance is also known as the "PSAC" in short-form. The PSAC represents over 170,000 workers across Canada, and also in other parts of the world. The PSAC's desires are to ensure that there are fair wages, along with fair employment operations, and much more. The PSSO originated back in 1966. The PSAC's headquarters is located in Ottawa, Ontario and currently has 23 regional offices across Canada. The PSAC's current president is, Robyn Benson.

History:

The PSAC has come a long way from when they first began, and from then until now they are still working on expanding and becoming Canada's largest Union. The PSAC merged together with

"The Civil Federation of Canada (Including the railway mail clerks) and the Civil Service Association of Canada" back in July 9th, 1966 where the PSAC was created (Public Services alliance of Canada). In 1966, PSAC leaders adopted a "consultative, harmonious approach to staff relations, organizing the newly formed union to reflect the federal civil services structure and practice" (Warskett. R). The class and gender divisions started to expand in the Canadian federal state. According to Waskett's journal article, there was an increase of Women in administrative supportive roles, and also had more of a say in the collective bargains. Additionally, the PSAC started to improve changes on Human Rights, Pay-Equity, the right to strike, and collective bargains. The PSAC had six previous presidents. The first one was, Claude Edwards, who was elected as the first National President of the PSAC. Followed by Edwards was, Andrew I(Andy) Stewart, Pierre Samson Daryl Bean, Nycole Turmel, and lastly, John Gordon, who was the most recently elected president back in May 5th, 2006 at the 14th National Triennial Convention. In April 1963, The PSAC managed to get their first collective bargaining for federal workers. They did this by "Asking all political parties if they supported collective bargaining for federal workers" (Public Service alliance of Canada). As a result of that, The PSAC managed to get its first collective agreements with the federal government. In 1991, "PSAC members held the largest national strike by a single union in Canada" (Public Service alliance of Canada). As a result of the strike, the PSAC was able to develop improvements on job security, paid maternity leave, health and safety, benefits, pay-equity, and much more. The PSAC officers are all elected by/from the membership, at national and regional conventions.
How the Union is governed:
The PSAC is governed by the Federal government.

With the new 'paid sick-leave' the PSAC has put together, government officials, and treasury board negotiators have been holding onto the proposal plan, this also includes the short-term disability plan. In a news article, written by CBC, "The government, however, said it was seeking a fairer system for all of its employees". They rule out three examples, from different situations, 'The Pheonix pay-system', and the '15 million sick days' (Pedwell. T). "PSAC's activities and statements are governed by policies" (Public service alliance of Canada). The PSAC also adds that "Both policies and the Union's constitution and regulations are decided by delegates elected by their local or component to attend PSAC national convention" (Public service alliance of Canada). Their bargains, decision making, electing leadership, are all set out by their PSAC constitutions and regulations. All members of the Public Service alliance of Canada are given a membership card as evidence that they are a part of the PSAC. (The PSAC is also looking at growing diversity inside of its union, such as "hiring through events that promote the human rights of our Aboriginals, racialized, LGBT, disabled, and women workers" (Public Service alliance of

Canada).
Sectors organized by PSAC:
The PSAC covers a variety of different sectors, such as, Federal government departments and agencies, Crown Corporations, Universities, Casinos, Community service agencies, Aboriginal communities, Airports, and security sectors among others.

A few of many examples for these departments are, Agriculture Union, Canada Employment and Immigration union, Customs and Immigration union, Union of Canadian transportation employees, postal communication employees, Taxation employees, and much more, full-list is available on Public Service alliance of Canada's website. "PSAC continues to evolve, expanding its membership to include, among others, workers in post-secondary institutions, territorial governments, and northern municipalities and hospitals, women's shelters, among others" (Public Service alliance of Canada). Through collective bargains, the PSAC has managed to get their unions "strong sick-leave provisions, paid prenatal-leave, equal pay, protection for workers with disabilities, and accommodation for family obligations, also the public services that all Canadians depend on" (Public Service alliance of

Canada).
Current challenges:
There are always going to be challenges that unions will come across. Currently, TPSA is working on bringing an end to the "TPP", otherwise known as 'The Trans-specific partnership'. The TPP do things such as, grant an immense number of foreign workers prior to looking for Canadian workers first, and also do not enforce working conditions, and wages of the workers. The TPP also gives power to the corporations to sue the governments as 'trade barriers' (Canadian Labour Congress).
Additionally, TPSA is working on improving the Indigenous people of Canada and giving them their rights and freedom back. The Indigenous people are being forced off of their own lands and are having their own rights revoked from them. These people are being forced onto the reserves, in order to give more land for settlers, mining, oil, etc. Women would lose their identities by doing things such as, going to University, marrying a non-aboriginal person, and men would lose their identities if they were to serve in the armed forces. Aboriginals have shorter life expectancy, higher levels of poverty, one in four aboriginal children live in poverty, higher rates of suicide, and also have three times more of a chance to get diabetes compared to the Nationals rate (N.D). The PSAC's goal is to "strengthen the labour movements commitment to aboriginal rights through research, education, awareness raising and advocacy" (Public Service Alliance of Canada). On December 6, 2017 the PSAC had their annual meeting where the discussed the issues for Indigenous rights. Afterwards, they all came down to an agreement/goal for 2018. "They included the next steps for the Public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the drinking water crisis in First Nation communities (Public service alliance of Canada). The PSAC also wants to get all the "private members' bill that calls on the federal government to harmonize Canada's laws with the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people" (Public service alliance of Canada). There are many more issues that the PSAC currently faces such as, Human Rights, Disability issues, and much more, these are all available on the PSAC website. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the PSAC currently faces a challenge with the Federal government, leaving the government with the decision of "Make-it-or-break-it". This is an on-going issue, about the changes the PSAC wants to do with the wage equity, paid-sick leave, and much more.