Regina RCMP members were pleased to have a visit from National President David Neufeld and Regional Vice-President Heather McKinnon in December. Ten members of Local 40008 attended the meeting, along with PSAC Regional Representative Diane White.
RVP McKinnon updated members on the ongoing work of USJE and the recent Prairie Regional Conference in November. The issue of membership engagement was also discussed, focusing on the importance of engaging members on the issues and interests that matter most to them.
RVP McKinnon also shared with the membership her disappointment with a recent bilateral meeting USJE had with CHRO Nadine Huggins in Ottawa. She identified that many issues were brought to this Senior Executive Committee table but virtually no issues were resolved. The issues raised centred around: unequal treatment between categories of employees, pay equity issues in the RCMP, problems with staffing processes, and concerns around USJE members being put on leave without pay when facing a suspension from work.
McKinnon also spoke to the barriers members face when taking on active union roles in the RCMP. Elected RVPs are currently not guaranteed their substantive position when they return to the workforce and are put on a priority list for one year if their substantive position has been backfilled. This is a clear deterrent for members to take on these elected roles and is a barrier that does not sit well with USJE. USJE will continue to fight the RCMP’s position on this in the future.
President Neufeld and PSAC Representative White spoke to the members about bargaining and strike preparation training. President Neufeld also provided an update on three ongoing USJE campaigns: Keep the RCMP in Alberta, the “New Normal” campaign and the Presumptive Injury campaign.
Congratulations to Tyler Monteith on being elected Local Vice-President, and to the delegates and alternates elected to attend USJE’s Triennial Convention in Whistler this July. Members also chose delegates, alternates, and an observer for the PSAC Prairie Regional Convention happening this June in Regina.