National Union of Public and General Employees

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good.

Premiers support inquiry into Stolen Sisters

Jul 292013

Canadian politics

Provincial leaders endorse Aboriginal call for investigating 600 disappearances.

from BC Government and Service Employees’ Union

VANCOUVER. July 29, 2013 — The Canadian Premiers’ endorsement of an Aboriginal delegation’s call for a federal enquiry into missing aboriginal women represents a growing consensus among Canadians on the issue, says the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).

“The Premiers’ statement provides a welcome new voice in the campaign to seek justice for these missing and murdered women,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “Today we renew our call for the federal government to heed the growing chorus of Canadian voices and go forward with a national enquiry.”

The BCGEU/NUPGE has supported the initiative for the past seven years, and has been working with Aboriginal organizations for more than a decade to advocate for a national enquiry. However, the federal Conservative government has so far dismissed calls for an enquiry, saying that it has taken steps to improve the justice system.

Canada’s Premiers issued their statement of support on July 25 after meeting with an Aboriginal People’s delegation, including representation from the Native Women’s Association of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, the Metis National Council, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

The delegation presented a report that focuses on six key priorities, including:

education
economic development
ending violence against indigenous women and girls
housing
and a national disaster mitigation strategy.

Labatt’s strike hurts workers — literally

Jul 222013

Take action!

Use of replacement workers at Labatt leads to injuries and accidents.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

ST JOHN'S, July 17, 2013 — The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is sounding the alarm on the potential for dangerous workplace situations associated with the use of replacement workers after recent incidents at the Labatt Brewing Company plant in St John’s.

“There are reports of workplace injuries, accidents, and potential violations of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation involving replacement workers at the Labatt plant,” said NAPE President Carol Furlong. “We have a situation at the plant where ill-trained and inexperienced workers are crossing a picket line to operate complex equipment and deal with potentially dangerous chemicals and caustic materials. This is a recipe for disaster.”

Alberta health care ‘in chaos’ — NUPGE

Jun 242013

Public Values

Alberta Health Services board dismissed.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

The recent dismissal of the provincial health services board is "just the latest in a long history of mismanagement and bungling," said Elisabeth Ballermann, president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta.

British unions fight privatization of probation services

Jun 172013

Public Values

Up to 70 percent to be tendered.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

Public sector unions in the United Kingdom are gearing up to fight the government's attempt to privatize most of the country's probation and parole services.

“According to UNISON, the largest public sector union in the UK, “the government has not taken heed of the overwhelming opposition to its plans to privatize 70 percent of probation and create a small national probation agency of what is left.”

In May, the Ministry of Justice published "Transforming Rehabilitation: A Strategy for Reform" which sets out plans to radically reform the way in which probation services are delivered in England and Wales.

New policies include:

abolishing all of the 35 local probation trusts
privatizing 70 percent of the work in 21 new contract areas
creating a small national probation agency to carry out public protection work involving the most dangerous offenders.

According to UNISON, the largest public sector union in the UK, "the government has not taken heed of the overwhelming opposition to its plans to privatize 70 percent of probation and create a small national probation agency of what is left."

Probation works

"UNISON will now be gearing up to protect members' interests in the months ahead, as the government tries to implement its plans. More information on this will be made available shortly, once we have fully digested the government's final proposals."

UNISON has launched a petition against the government's proposals.

Source

Canadian money in tax havens at an all-time high

May 272013

News blog

$170 billion stashed overseas.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

Canadian money stashed in the top 12 global tax havens has topped $170 billion, according to data on foreign direct investment released recently by Statistics Canada.

Parliament sets four days for hearings into income inequality

Apr 152013

Public Values

NUPGE calls for budgetary fairness test.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Almost a year after the motion was passed, Parliament's finance committee will finally hold meetings to discuss the issue of rising income inequality in Canada.

Union summit tackles inequality

Apr 042013

Public Values

Unions a part of solution.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

More than 350 labour leaders met for a one-day summit March 22 in Toronto to talk about how their members can advocate for greater fairness for all Canadians.

Canada slides in UN standings

Mar 182013

Features

Decreased incomes, rights restrictions, drop Canada's score below developing countries' scores.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

OTTAWA, March 18, 2013 – Canada has dropped out of the top ten on the United Nations (UN) human development index.

The UN report entitled The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World now ranks Canada as 11th, a disappointing drop from its formerly held first place in the 1990s.

Canada did improve over last years ranking but not nearly as much as some other countries. With this year's addition of two new indexes to the report — the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and the gender inequality index (GII) — Canada falls further to 18th position.

Unions celebrate International Women’s Day

Mar 072013

Features

Women still earn less than men and balance more of the household, childcare and family responsibilities.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

OTTAWA, March 8, 2013 – On March 8, International Women’s Day, people will join across the globe to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and their contributions to a better world and a better society.

This year, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is celebrating the work of women activists in the campaign to tackle the income inequality crisis. Through the All Together Now! campaign, Women 4 Change have been sharing personal stories about the struggles women have been facing since the start of the economic recession in 2008. And celebrating the fact that since then, women have been at the forefront focusing on social and economic change.

Quebec P3 raided by anti-corruption squad

Jan 172013

Public Values

Latest in a series of scandals at McGill University Health Centre.

from the National Union of Public and General Employees

The recent raid of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) by police investigating concerns about the public-private partnership project to build a hospital is a reminder of the seamy side of privatization.

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