Posted November 26, 2022, 4:51pm
UPSE's Executive and NUPGE's Secretary Treasurer celebrating the historic 6oth Annual Convention of the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees!|| L-R: Jim Ryan (UPSE 3rd Vice President), Kevin Gotell (UPSE Secretary Treasurer), Karen Jackson (UPSE President), Jason MacLean (NUPGE Secretary Treasurer), Doug Ferguson (UPSE 1st Vice President) and Mark Arsenault (UPSE 2nd Vice President)||
Posted November 26, 2022, 4:28pm
Congratulations to UPSE's Member of the Year ... Arlene Bowness! Arlene has always made the time to answer any and all questions that members have for her. She takes great pride in what she does and treats everyone equally. She has great knowledge about the union and she believes that the workplace can be improved through attention and effort. She has assisted countless members with their questions and has helped them understand their rights under the collective agreement. She is a great grass roots activist and has been Director of Local 3 for many years as well as a Steward and Chief Steward.
Arlene is well respected by UPSE members, management and her fellow union activists both on the Board and as a Steward. Arlene ensures new Stewards are mentored and understands the important role they play representing the membership.
She wholeheartedly deserves to be named UPSE's Member of the Year for 2022!
Posted November 26, 2022, 4:01pm
Thank you to UPSE's fraternals who are attending Convention. Our sister Unions and their members are of great help to us as we often work together sharing information, expertise and resources. The labour movement works together. UPSE Proud!|| L-R: Laurie Nancekivell (OPSEU 1st Vice President and Treasurer), Karen Jackson (UPSE President), Susie Proulx-Daigle (NBU president), Jason MacLean (NUPGE Secretary Treasurer), Peter Perry (NSGEU 3rd Vice President), Sandra Mullen (NSGEU President), Jerry Toews (HSAA Executive Liaison), and Terry Richard (NBU 2nd Vice President).||
Posted November 26, 2022, 1:00pm
Jason MacLean, NUPGE's Secretary Treasurer, addressed Convention this morning in Charlottetown. Jason was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the 425,000 members National Union of Public and General Employees after serving 2 terms as President of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU), Nova Scotia’s largest public sector union.
Jason spoke on a number of issues facing the national union and the affiliates. Advocating for a stronger public health care system is a key issue that has strong support. NUPGE will be initiating a national pole on health care to help inform and kick off a national campaign which received unanimous support from the national executive board.
Jason spoke about the importance of unions joining in the fight to combat climate change. Hurricane Fiona was the latest example of the devastation that climate change is bringing to the world and now to our own shores. The national union donated $50,000 via the Red Cross to the maritime pro...
Posted November 26, 2022, 11:14am
Delegates at Convention are debating resolutions brought forward for consideration by the membership. Some of the resolutions carried thus far include:
- lobbying government to take a more active role to provide accessible, affordable, subsidized publicly built and operated housing in PEI
- lobbying government to enact in legislation a program that ensures all Islanders have a guaranteed livable income
- lobby government to compensate seniors to help them offset the high cost of living
- lobby government to raise the minimum wage to reflect the consumer price index
- lobby government to decrease the cost of the dental and health plan for members
- work with employers to educate their managers on proper treatment of employees without harassment and bullying
- the integration of electronic voting in Local Director elections
- continuing to work toward establishing equality, pay equity, adequate child care, and social support in PEI to benefit all ...
Posted November 26, 2022, 9:31am
Chief Junior Gould provided a greeting at UPSE's Annual Convention. Chief Gould is a strong Mi’kmaq leader who commenced his second term as Chief in June of 2019. Since 2019, in his dual role as Chief and Band Administrator, Chief Gould has led the community through a robust period of growth. He spoke about the importance of labour and that workers have always been the backbone of any society.
He strives to make improvements for his community, with focuses on economic development, job creation, housing, health and wellness, and government-to-government reconciliation.
Chief Gould emphasized the importance of culture and language and recognizing the traditions of his people who have been here for more than 10,000 years.
He also spoke about prejudice and how these attitudes affect his people. He believes in education, hard work, and equal treatment for all. However, prejudice and narrow minded thinking does not promote fairness or understanding. Chief Gould wants to see...
Posted November 25, 2022, 8:05pm
UPSE opened the floor at Convention for nominations for the positions of Second Vice President and Secretary Treasurer. After first call, no nominations were received.|| Candidates nominated by the deadline include Mark Arsenault, Second Vice President (reoffering for Second Vice President) and Kevin Gotell, UPSE’s Secretary Treasurer (reoffering for Secretary Treasurer).|| These are two-year terms of office. In order to run, members must be in good standing for at least one year.||
Posted November 25, 2022, 7:37pm
Karen Jackson delivers her President's Report to delegates at UPSE's 6oth Annual Convention.
"It is an honour to stand here as your President as our Union celebrates it’s 60th Anniversary of fighting for the rights of the membership and all workers across this great province."
Jackson said UPSE members are suffering from stress, mental fatigue and burnout in record numbers, and despite this they continue to deliver the essential services in health care, justice and public safety, group homes, public infrastructure and social programming ... in both the public and private sectors.
Jackson has been lobbying the government to implement recruitment and retention programs, increase funding, and ensure Islanders are receiving the vital services they rely on every day.
Posted November 25, 2022, 7:34pm
UPSE delegates are sadly missing Steve Mollins (Local 5 Director) at this year’s Annual Convention. Steve was UPSE’s longest serving board member (Director Local 5) and an expert on UPSE’s Constitution. His calm, cool and reasonable demeanor could always be counted on especially at Convention. Steve was a true union activist and he will long be missed by the membership, executive, board of directors and staff.|| The delegation voted to name this year's 60th Annual Convention in honour of Steve. UPSE Proud!||
Posted November 25, 2022, 11:41am
(November 25) Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.|| We must eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, calling for global action to increase awareness, promote advocacy and create opportunities for discussion on challenges and solutions.||