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In March 2022, USJE released the report, The Mental Health and Well-being of Detachment Services Assistants in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: A Qualitative Investigation, conducted by public safety expert Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli. We spoke with DSAs across Canada and this is what they had to say about the report’s recommendations.

A highlight of the conversation was the USJE Presumptive Injury Campaign that aims to extend coverage for operational stress injuries to first responders. Creamer described the challenges of working in Corrections, and how these have an impact on the mental health of public safety employees.

We are in the second year of the government’s aggressive and heavy-handed plan to recover overpayments caused by Phoenix. Over the next few months, we expect more than 37,000 more current and former public service workers will receive an overpayment letter, asking for repayments for the year 2017.

RVP Heather McKinnon met with Niki Ashton, New Democratic Member of Parliament for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski in Manitoba.

RVP Osborne along with Local President, Annie Thériault held a meeting with members at the Fredericton Parole Office, one of the sites within Local 60074 (NB/PEI Parole).

Keeping Canadians safe is what USJE members do, behind the scenes, without the recognition and support that they deserve. Endeavoring to bring light to the critical work undertaken by our members has been adopted as one of USJE’s primary goals, in order to achieve positive change.

USJE representatives clearly stated the union’s position that the hybrid work environment must remain flexible. The COVID-19 pandemic brought irrevocable changes to the workplace and to work culture that members quickly adapted to while maintaining high productivity levels thanks to telework. Any post-pandemic interpretation of telework must necessarily benefit from a nuanced approach.

Regional Vice President Heather McKinnon was in Saskatchewan again last month for a packed two-day program that aimed to oversee union business, provide updates on recent activities and promote current campaigns.