Publications

The new GSU National Council

The following Officers were elected at the 4th GSU Triennial National Convention on October 27, 2011 in Toronto. Congratulations to all!
Donna Lackie - National President
Daniel Charron - National Vice-president - Equity
Jack Gale - National Vice-president
Bob Cameron - National Vice-president
Regional Vice-presidents, NCR
Mathew Robillard, Isabelle Gendron, Robert Spencer, Nicole Rousseau
Regional Vice-presidents, Atlantic
Bill Walsh, Lori Walton, Michelle Little
Regional Vice-president, Quebec
Mélanie Hamel
Regional Vice-presidents, Ontario
Dave Cunning, Dave Thomson
Regional Vice-presidents, Western
Martine Babcook, Don Wilkie
Regional Vice-presidents, Pacific
Reni Stein, Michelle Simard

Check what's new on the Convention Page!

There is a link to both items on the Click here to go to the Convention page

Attention Convention Delegates!

Convention Bulletin 3 will be mailed this week, as well as your finalized Delegate Credential.

Bulletin 3 provides instructions for on-line registration, hotel and travel arrangements, expenses and special needs. We will post Bulletin 3 as usual on our web site. Please review it there and follow the instructions to complete the registration form on line. There is a link to both items on the Convention page.

Your deadline to complete the registration form is August 12, 2011.

GSU Locals at the Mint ratify new contract

We are pleased to announce PSAC has ratified its collective agreement, with a majority of members voting in favour.

This was a very important achievement - the bargaining team made a significant breakthrough in achieving a top-up for compassionate care leave.

The negotiator will meet with Locals soon to discuss implementation of the new contract.
For ongoing updates, visit: www.psac-afpc.com/mint

Thank you for your solidarity and support!

Your bargaining team,
Roger Chartrand, Ottawa
Suzanne Lambert, Ottawa
Andrew Ellsworth, Winnipeg
Alain Courcelles, Winnipeg
Tom Milne, PSAC Negotiator

Looking for Severance pay information?

Click this link to go to the PSAC web page.

Convention 2011

All Convention Bulletins will be posted on the GSU web site as they are mailed to Locals. Click here to go to the Convention page.

Convention 2011 - Important Dates

You will want to put these dates into your calendars! Click here to go to the Convention page.

April 25, 2011
Convention Call will be distributed to all GSU Locals and the National Council
May 2011
the number of Delegates each Local can send to convention is calculated using this month’s membership list
June 25, 2011
deadline for Locals to submit Delegate nomination forms and the deadline for Locals to submit Resolutions to the GSU National Office
mid-June 2011
GSU National Council will meet – St John’s, Newfoundland
August 25, 2011
registered delegates will receive Convention Resolution Book
September 13, 2011
Convention Delegates will be notified if they are appointed to a Convention Committee
October 18, 2011
deadline for receipt of late resolutions in the National Office
October 21, 2011
GSU National Council Meeting, Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
October, 22 to 24, 2011
three Convention Resolutions Committees will meet, Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
October 25, 26, 27, 2011
GSU 4th Triennial National Convention, Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

Treasury Board Bargaining

PSAC reached a tentative deal today for new collective agreements for three of its five bargaining units with Treasury Board.
For more information, please click here to go to the PSAC Web site.

GSU and PSAC force postponement of Parking Policy changes!

Treasury Board has directed departments to postpone the revised Custodial Parking Policy for persons with disabilities, pending further review!

For our members with disabilities, the policy is postponed until December 31, 2010. GSU and PSAC will be at the table during this process and we will continue to fight to maintain paid parking for our members with disabilities.

This is only a temporary delay, so I need everyone to continue to fight the parking issues facing members with disabilities. GSU and PSAC maintain that this is a disrespectful way to treat our members with disabilities. These members face ever increasing financial hardships and the new Parking Policy could have forced some of our members to either seek employment elsewhere or consider quitting.

I know that you all support us in this fight… you have told me so. We will continue to make sure this matter is resolved once and for all. We are considering some additional strategies that we will share with you shortly.

Thank you all for your continued support.

In solidarity,
Donna Lackie,
GSU National Equity Officer

Registration for Local Presidents' Council 2010

The 2010 GSU Local Presidents’ Council will be held at the Empress Hotel in Victoria B.C. on September 20, 21 and 22, 2010.

To register on-line please click on this link to Register
Or call us at 613 560 4395 (or 613 226 5983) and we will fax a registration form to you.

All participants (National Council Officers, official Local Representatives, and Local observers) must register for this meeting no later than July 30, 2010.

Take action to protect your pension

• Sign our online petition calling for retirement security for all and to preserve federal public service pension plans


• Follow us on Twitter


• Join our Facebook Fan page


• Forward this URL via email to co-workers, friends and family who share your concerns about federal public service pensions and retirement security.

GSU is moving back home!

The GSU National Office was renovated this summer and fall and we’re now ready to move back home! Our office will be closed on December 17, 18 and 21. We will be open for business as usual on Tuesday, December 22, 2009.

Effective December 22, 2009 you can contact us at the following address:

705 - 233 Gilmour Street,
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0P2

Our phone number will be 613 560 4395 and our fax number will be 613 230 6774.

First steps on the long road to a collective agreement

The two GSU Locals at the Royal Canadian Mint have taken their first steps on the long road to renegotiating a collective agreement. Their current agreement expires on Dec 31, 2010.

On November 13 (Local 70024 Ottawa) and November 14 (Local 50057 Winnipeg) the Locals held their Annual General Meetings and elected representatives to their Negotiating Team. For the Winnipeg Local, the team members are Alain Courcelles, Local President, and Andrew Ellsworth. For the Ottawa Local, the team members are Roger Chartrand, Local President, and Suzanne Lambert.

Here is a schedule of Mint bargaining events.(Note: all dates are approximate):
November 2009

• Bargaining team members were elected at each Local’s Annual General Meeting

• PSAC will issue Bargaining Input Call (about February)


• GSU will forward Bargaining Input Call to both Mint Locals (about March)

• Each Local will issue a call for bargaining demands from their members


• Each Local will appoint a Bargaining Committee to review demands received and make recommendations on the Local Bargaining Demand Package to a Local General Membership meeting.


• Each Local will hold a General Membership meeting to finalize the Local’s Demand Package.


• Each Local will forward their demands to the GSU national office.

• GSU National President will appoint a Mint Bargaining Committee (with representatives from both Locals) to work with the demand packages from both Locals to create one package.


• GSU will sign the Demand Package and forward it to the PSAC

• The PSAC will issue the Notice to Bargain to the Royal Canadian Mint
• PSAC Negotiating Team will meet to finalize the package that will be given to the employer and begin the process of prioritizing the demands.

Local Presidents' Council Participant Evaluation

The survey is now closed.

The participant Evaluation for the GSU Local Presidents’ Council that was held last week at the Delta Hotel is now available for you to complete “on-line.”

You can get to the online questionnaire in a couple of ways. If you are reading this message on your computer screen, click on this link - it will take you directly to the questionnaire.

If you cannot complete the questionnaire on-line, please call the national office and we will email you a version which you can print, complete and mail back to us.

Please be sure to give us your comments on this meeting. We need your feedback to make it an informative experience. We value your opinions.

GSU responds to Heating Plant Proposal

Daniel Charron, GSU National Vice-president told the media "We are concerned that the government intends to turn over the operation of the central plant to the private sector with taxpayers footing the bill for the private sector’s profits.”

To read the complete press release, click here.

GSU Office Relocation

As you may be aware, the GSU National Office will be undergoing renovations this summer and fall. Accordingly, the GSU National Office has been temporarily relocated to:

1770 Woodward Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K2C 0P8

Our new phone number is 613 226 5983. Please note that the regular phone number 613 560 4395 will be “call-forwarded” to this line.

In addition, each GSU Staff member has a direct line as follows:

• Mark Brunell - 613-226-3351


• Monique Boyer - 613-226-4097


• Maria G.-Thomas - 613-226-6624


• Laura Griffin - 613-226-5697


• Danielle Laprade - 613-226-4993


• Paulette Michon-Hamelin - 613-226-5449


• Gail Peck - 613-226-5433


• Craig Spencer - 613-226-5421

Upcoming Events

GSU Standing Committee Meetings
- Sunday, October 18, 2009, Delta Hotel, Ottawa
GSU Local Presidents' Council
- Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20, 2009, Delta Hotel, Ottawa
GSU National Council
- Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22, 2009, Delta Hotel, Ottawa

The GSU Review

...a record of GSU events and activities in April and May 2009
April 15, 2009
The GSU National Council held a teleconference meeting. Council members approved Toronto as the site for the 2011 GSU Triennial Convention and created the new Local 60009 in Moncton, N.B. Members of the new Local Executive are Russel Carter, Therese Dupuis-Bourque, Allain Roy and Carole Boudreau. Please contact Brother Carter for information on the new Local or contact your RVP for further information on the meeting.

April 16, 2009
Local 70068 in the national capital region held its Annual General meeting. Bernard Cossais was re-elected as Local President. Please contact Brother Cossais for more information.

April 22, 2009
The Real Property Branch Advisory Committee (RPBAC) met in Ottawa. Some of the issues discussed included; Real Property Modernization, the Accelerated Infrastructure Program, Human Resources update, Management Union Efficiency Initiative, an update on SIGMA, Engineering Assets, and an update on the Parliamentary Precinct transfer. Please contact Randy Ford, National Vice-president for more information.

April 23, 2009
A GSU / PWGSC joint training session was held in Gatineau, Quebec. About 50 GSU National Council Officers and PWGSC Labour Relations Staff participated in sessions on “Having a difficult conversation,” Informal Conflict Resolution, and Mental Health issues in the workplace.

April 24, 2009
The GSU / PWGSC National Labour Management Consultation Seminar was held in Ottawa. This is the first Seminar held since 2002. The agenda included a discussion of the PWGSC and GSU Governance Structures and the challenges of effective consultation. Participants developed a list of key issues on which the Committee should focus. A sub-committee will review the issues and report to the next NUMCC meeting with their recommendations.

April 26 to May 1, 2009
Almost 800 delegates and observers attended the PSAC 15th Triennial National Convention in Vancouver. We are pleased to advise you that John Gordon, a GSU Life Member was re-elected as PSAC National President. Twenty-six GSU delegates and observers participated.

May 7 and 8, 2009
The Regional Vice-presidents in Quebec held a meeting of all their Local Presidents. They examined what it means to be a Union Representative. Contact the RVPs for further information.

May 28, 2009
The Joint Committee on Employment Equity will meet in Gatineau. Contact GSU National Equity Officer Donna Lackie for information.

The GSU Review

…a record of GSU events and activities in April 2009
April 6, 2009
Western Region’s Occupational Health and Safety Committee met in Edmonton. The committee decided to seek input on its Terms of Reference and reviewed a draft document on Violence in the Workplace. For more information contact Regional Vice-president Mitch Sylvestre.
April 6 to 8, 2009
Donna Lackie, GSU National Equity Officer attended the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee meeting in Ottawa. The agenda included guest speakers, reports from equity representatives and updates on equity resolutions going to the PSAC Triennial Convention at the end of this month.
Guest speakers discussed employer equity plans, human trafficking, and the role of labour, and transsexual issues.
The next meeting of the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee is scheduled for fall 2009. For more information please contact Sister Lackie.
April 7 2009
The Western region Union Management Consultation Committee discussed workload related to Accelerated Infrastructure Programme, confirming that PWGSC will support the government’s stimulus programmed by sharing workloads between offices and relying on contracting out.
Issues at the next RUMCC will include job descriptions and non-advertised acting positions. For additional information please contact Regional Vice-president Mitch Sylvestre.
April 14, 2009
Eight representatives from the Ottawa Mint Local 70024, two GSU Staff, and three PSAC staff received classification training. The Royal Canadian Mint uses the Hay Classification System. The training is appropriate as the timeframes related to the classification process were recently amended at the negotiations table. As well, several new Shop Stewards at the Ottawa Mint require training. Members at the Winnipeg Mint have already been trained. For more information, please contact Ottawa Mint Local President, Roger Chartrand.
April 15, 2009
The GSU National Council held its monthly Conference Call. Agenda items included an update on the meetings during the week of April (RPBAC, NC Training, the NUMCC Seminar,) establishing a new Local in Moncton, N.B. and the location of the 2011 GSU Convention. Contact your Regional Vice-president for more information.
April 17, 2009
Three Local representatives and a member of the Communications Committee participated in a pilot course for the GSU Web site. Locals may now choose to maintain their own Local pages on the GSU Site (gsu-ssg.ca.) Further information will be available once the pilot course has been evaluated. Contact the GSU Communications Committee for further information.

Convention Photos

Be sure to see the convention photos in the web site Photo Album.

Make Parliament Work

Rally for a coalition government

• Where - Parliament Hill


• When - December 4, noon


• More info - 613.560.5457

What you can do

Convention 2008 in Calgary

GSU has completed its third triennial national convention at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary. By many accounts the convention was the “best ever!” With support from the Calgary Regional Office and PSAC members in the Calgary area, GSU delegates marched from the Palliser Hotel to the Harry Hayes building to protest the slow pace of collective bargaining and to support the “Think Public” campaign.

Mark Brunell was re-elected GSU National President.

Daniel Charron, Alex Sauvé, and Randy Ford were re-elected National Vice-presidents.

Donna Lackie was acclaimed National Equity Officer and Dana Bailey was acclaimed alternate National Equity Officer. Please refer to this page to see the entire GSU National Council.

After convention, President Brunell noted that only six of 20 GSU National Council Officers are in the same positions they held three years ago and twenty-two Locals have changed Presidents over the same period. GSU will hold a National Council Retreat in January 2009 to plan for the next three years.

The GSU Convention Delegates unanimously supported a mobilization fund for the current round of collective bargaining; approved the purchase of “Unionware,” (an internet-based system to track GSU grievances and complaints); and supported a structure review of the National Council, including a larger role for Local Presidents in the governance of GSU.

For further information, contact your Local President.