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We are Canada' largest federal public sector union.
And we have made many remarkable achievements in our history.
When the government refused to extend health and safety provisions to our members, we fought
back and won.
When it refused paid maternity leave, we fought back and won.
When same sex couples weren't recognized, we brought it to the bargaining table and won.
When women earned less than men for work of equal value, we fought and won.
When the government was firing workers with disabilities rather than accommodating them, we fought back and won.
When the government refused to accommodate workers with family obligations, we fought
back and won.
And we are still fighting...
We built our collective agreements together, democratically through our union, and as a
member you benefit from these agreements and are protected by them.
But today the government is undermining and attacking public sector workers and trying
to roll back the gains we've made.
On a range of issues, government politicians are not interested in listening to your advice
and analysis; they don't want your expertise.
They are cutting front line jobs, making it harder for Canadians to access public services.
And they are concentrating power in ministerial offices filled with political staffers...while
spending millions on misleading advertising.
But they are also going further. They are attacking our collective agreements; our hard-fought
gains like sick leave and pay equity.
For example, did you know that in 2009 the government passed a law to prevent women in
the public service from filing pay equity complaints? And that under this law the PSAC
would be fined $50,000 if it helps a member file a complaint?
Government politicians say that we should not engage in the kind of political action
that helped us advance our rights and defend our members in the past.
They want to cut quality public services--whether it be food inspection or environmental regulation--and
use the money saved to give their corporate friends billions of dollars in tax breaks.
And they know that an union that does not engage in political action will make
it easier for them to this.
But it's our job to stop them. To keep them in check. To not let political agendas undermine
quality public services.
In fact, back in 1991, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that unions have the right to
engage in political action in order to protect members' interests.
The benefits we have as PSAC members are unique; we should not take them for granted.
Join us and together we'll continue advancing our rights, defending public services, and
making Canada a more just and fair place.