Tuesday, May 28th – PSAC’s National Triennial Convention enters its second day today at the Shaw Center downtown Ottawa.
Magali Picard, President of Québec’s Federation of Labour launched this second day by addressing the delegates. Picard, one of the four leaders of the Front Commun that ran a weeks-long strike action in Québec during the fall of 2023, stated that regardless of personal inconveniences, Quebeckers remained overwhelmingly on the side of the front throughout the strike. Schools in the province were closed for several weeks because of the conflict with Québec’s CAQ government creating disruptions in the lives of all parents with young children. Yet, the popular support did not waver. Picard echoed the worries of Chris Aylward by stating that a Conservative victory in the next general election would mean the eventual abolition of the RAND formula which could deal a lethal blow to unions across Canada. Picard received a standing ovation, proving that her popularity reaches far beyond her native Québec.
The Convention reached its cruising speed on this second full day of proceedings that saw many resolutions come up for a vote. The budget was adopted in its original form, a referral having been dismissed. The budget is a no dues increase budget.
All the resolutions adopted on day 2:
CS-016A NATIONAL DCL COMMITTEE
CS-053 INCREASE IN DIVERSITY (creates $0.02 dues increase per member/per month)
CS-071A INCREASING PSAC’S STRIKE FUND TO ADDRESS INFLATION AND REBUILDING SUPPORT (creates $1.20 dues increase per member/per month)
CS-032 REPLACEMENT OF THE WORD ‘REGIONAL’ BY ‘DISTRICT’ IN FRENCH LANGUAGE TEXTS
CS-003A PSAC MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING STATUS ON MATERNITY LEAVE
CS-040 YOUNG WORKER DELEGATES AT THE TRIENNIAL PSAC REGIONAL CONVENTIONS (creates $0.02 dues increase per member/per month)
GEN-025 SEARCH THE LANDFILL (creates $0.03 dues increase per member/per month)
GEN-078 PSAC CONFERENCE OF THE NORTH (creates $0.02 dues increase per member/per month)
GEN-060 NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CONFERENCE (creates $0.03 dues increase per member/per month)
GEN-013 AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE FOR SHIFT AND PRECARIOUS WORKERS (creates dues increase of $0.06 per member/per month)
GEN-058 AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RENT CONTROL
GEN-054 PSAC ANTI-PRIVATIZATION OF HEALTHCARE CAMPAIGN (creates $0.08 dues increase per member/per month)
GEN-092 PHOENIX INQUIRY AND DAMAGES
A solidarity demonstration took place during the lunch hour in support of Québec’s Non-Public Funds workers who have now been on strike for 135 days. USJE pledged $5,000 in support.
