Updates

While USJE is glad to see that the Treasury Board has recognized the value of a hybrid work environment, USJE strongly objects to the lack of consultation with federal public service unions in regards to the development of this policy. Further, USJE is deeply concerned about a lack of flexibility in the application of this policy, regardless of the particular work circumstances or capacities of individual employees.  

As part of the union’s overall response to the tragic situation, USJE has been reaching out to members at the Correctional Service of Canada, the Parole Board of Canada and the RCMP to ensure that they are aware of the support and assistance that is available to them (through the union) to deal with this tragedy.

Regional Vice-president Heather McKinnon’s schedule for the month of November was packed with a series of annual general meetings with locals in the Prairies region.

USJE has selected five great community projects from across the country to receive a total of $100,000 in Community Investment Initiative grants this year.

In his role as Chair of the House Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, Jim had built a fruitful working relationship with USJE. Jim Carr understood clearly the importance of the work our members perform on behalf of Canadians, a knowledge he longed to bring to the Standing Committee.

National President, David Neufeld, had the incredible opportunity to visit three very remote detachments in the Northwest Territories alongside Local President (X0149 Yellowknife RCMP/Justice/PPSC) Samuel Bourget. Both Neufeld and Bourget were extremely grateful for this opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Detachment Services Assistants who have not experienced a personal visit from USJE representatives due to the remoteness of their locations.

In April 2021, the RCMP retained the services of a third-party environmental consultant to perform an analysis and assessment of potential health and safety hazards associated with the Kemptville training facility that was used by RCMP from the late 1980s until 2005.
While the BluMetric report concludes that the risks associated with the exposure to each hazardous material ranged from no anticipated risk to low risk, the report does not eliminate the possibility that illnesses and injuries could potentially be linked to past exposures and conditions at this site.

USJE members from seven Locals in Québec showed up in droves to take part in PSAC’s National Day of Action on November 28.

National President David Neufeld and Regional Vice-Presidents Valda Behrens and Jeff Sandelli visited the Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alberta, a world-class facility. The visit provided the opportunity to meet with a number of USJE members, and to better understand the important work they do in helping to keep Canadians safe.

When Shauna Burns joined Correctional Service Canada, she noticed her peers struggling, and many were burning out. Shauna’s background in mental health enabled her to see that the workplace was having a significant impact on the mental health of employees; this was especially noticeable during the COVID pandemic. When an opportunity became available to take on the EAP and CISM lead position, Shauna decided to step up.