Strike Top Up
USJE has been receiving many inquiries about supplementary strike pay. Every USJE local has the capacity to make its own decision in regards to the “topping up” of PSAC’s regular strike pay.
PSAC strike pay is based on your region of the country (generally $75 except for remote locations).
Payment of additional sums (“top-up”) over and above PSAC’s regular strike pay is determined by each USJE Local, based on their financial capacity, and subject to requirements under their Bylaws, or decided by a vote of the general membership if the Bylaws are silent.
You can find the contact information for your USJE local here in order to confirm if they have established a local fund and the criteria to access those funds.
Additionally, it is important to note that the only other funds that can be accessed during a strike are PSAC’s Regional Hardship Funds. The purpose of these Hardship Funds is to provide assistance of an emergency nature, including but not restricted to urgent matters of food and shelter, where members are incurring/have incurred significant financial hardship due to being on strike and/or participating in a picket line.
To be clear, this fund is not intended to be a source of supplementary strike pay. If you are experiencing significant financial hardship, please immediately contact your PSAC regional office.
Strike and Compressed Days Off
Do I need to participate in strike activities during my compressed days off (CDOs) or days of rest?
You are no longer earning a CDO therefore this doesn’t apply.
If you are a Code 1 essential worker, you are not required to picket on your days of rest or your EDO of a compressed schedule.
If you are not an essential worker, your Compressed Schedule is paused during the strike period – you are not working your hours to earn your days off, so you would be expected to report to the picket line as usual.
If you are Code 2 or Code 3 essential worker, but have not been called in all of the time, you are in the same situation as non-essential workers. If you have been called in full-time since the start of the strike, you would follow the same protocol as a Code 1 employee.
No Bar Code? No Problem!
If you haven’t received your bar code, you can still receive strike pay by going on the picket line for 4 hours and providing your PSAC ID and Local #.
Throughout this strike, please contact either your local or your RVP or reply directly to this email with any questions or concerns you have. We are with you every step of the way!
In Solidarity!
David Neufeld
National President