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News - August 2008

The headlines for news items published during this month are listed below.

Click on the headline of your choice to see the entire text of the article.

• NHU members can visit our 'Virtual Convention'!

• Convention materials - Don't leave home without them!

• Convention delegates: Take advantage of union discount on car rentals

• PSAC negotiation team members send 'open letter' to NHU members

NHU members can visit our 'Virtual Convention'!

Posted August 15, 2008

The National Health Union's First Triennial Convention kicks off this Monday, August 18, in St. John's. Our Locals have each elected delegates to this, the most important event on our union calendar.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the rest of our members can’t follow Convention activities and decisions. We’ll be posting a daily update with photos and capsule comments on this Web site for all three days.

So, check them out and stay up-to-date as our National Convention unfolds!

Convention materials - Don't leave home without them!

Posted August 13, 2008

Less than one week remains to the opening of our 1st Triennial National Convention. Delegates are reminded to bring all material forwarded to them over the last several weeks. This convention is the result of 18 months of work by NHU members, your National Council and the National Office.

On behalf of Nation President Tony Tilley and the members of the National Council, we wish all our delegates, observers and guests a save journey and a productive and enjoyable visit to Newfoundland and Labrador!

Convention delegates: Take advantage of union discount on car rentals

Posted August 6, 2008

Many of the delegates to this month’s Triennial National Convention in St. John’s will be visiting Newfoundland and Labrador for the first time.  Logically enough, some will be taking advantage of this trip to add on a few days of sightseeing in this distinctly beautiful and welcoming province.

Thanks to the NHU’s affiliation to the Public Service Alliance of Canada, we can take advantage of a special discount at Avis Rent-a-Car.

Simply call Avis or visit their Web site at www.avis.ca, identify yourself as a PSAC member and state that you wish to take advantage of the following Avis Worldwide Discount Number (AWD): C835975.

Please remember that this AWD is essential if you wish to access the special program and privileges offered by Avis to PSAC members.  So, when making your reservation or picking up your rental, ensure you cite the Discount Number

PSAC negotiation team members send 'open letter' to NHU members

Posted August 5, 2008

Highly frustrated with the employer’s position at the bargaining table, members of the PSAC negotiations teams have sent the following ‘open letter’ to NHU members:

Dear co-workers:

          We are all federal government workers and we are also elected members of PSAC negotiating teams that bargain with our employer, Treasury Board. For over a year now, we have been sitting through a great many bargaining sessions, but so far we have made virtually no progress.

          This lack of progress is due to Treasury Board’s refusal to address the major concerns that we’ve raised at the bargaining table. Our union has negotiated provisions in our collective agreements that lead the way among unionized workers in this country in many areas. But there are still areas that need improvement.

          Some of the key demands that we are proposing have already been established elsewhere. For example, protections against contracting-out can be found in collective agreements with municipal and other public sector employers across Canada. With respect to wages, over the three-and-a-half years since our last settlement, federal workers who negotiate with Treasury Board have fallen behind wage rates currently being paid to other unionized workers doing similar or the same work. It is clear that our employer wants us to have wages and working conditions that are inferior to those found in other unionized workplaces across the country.

          We strongly disagree. We are not second class workers. All of us negotiating with Treasury Board provide vital and high quality public services. We work hard and we take pride in the work we do. The public services we provide need to be protected. And, our wages and working conditions should meet standards that are in place for other unionized workers.

          This fall we will be returning to the bargaining table. We are determined to achieve contracts that protect the services we deliver and that ensure fair wages for the work that we do. We will be calling on you, our co-workers, to help us in our efforts to make this a reality. By working together, we know we can achieve the kind of collective agreements that we deserve.

          Look for our information and update bulletins as negotiations progress.

                                                                        In solidarity,

The members of your PSAC negotiating teams for the Education and Library Science, Operational Services, Program and Administrative Services and Technical Services bargaining units.