Canada Employment and Immigration Union

Labour Day

Labour Day is fast approaching on Monday, September 6^th, 2010: where has the summer gone? This upcoming Fall our members will be mobilizing for fair collective agreements in a climate of proposed austerity measures being introduced by both Federal and Provincial governments. Our members negotiating with Regionally based employers such as Airports and Universities are also gearing up to seek improvements in an economic climate of hard bargaining. Labour Day provides us with an opportunity to: join together in communities across the Region, celebrate our achievements as a movement and send a message that PSAC members provide valuable public services.

I will be marching in the Toronto Labour Day parade. I encourage all members to check our regional website at www.psac.com/ontario for details of events in your community and to get involved.

Labour Day is a time to celebrate the Union’s contribution to Canadian society, but also to network, educate and organize, to face our challenges. Come out to your community events, meet other PSAC members, and talk to other unions, have some fun and let’s remember why Labour Day began.

Labour Day has been celebrated the first Monday of September since the 1880's. In Canada the history of Labour Day is linked to 1872 when a parade in Toronto was organized to support the Toronto Typographical Union's strike for a 58 hour work week. There were 27 unions who demonstrated in support of these striking workers. Twenty-four Leaders of the Typographical union were arrested as the laws criminalizing union activity were outdated but still existed on the Canadian Books.

On September 3, Labour Leaders called for another demonstration in protest of those arrested. Seven Unions marched in Ottawa prompting Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald to repel the anti-union law.

On June 14, 1873 Canadian Parliament passed the Trade Union Act and soon all unions were demonstrating for a 54 hour work week.

On July 23, 1894 Prime Minister John Thompson and his Government made Labour Day an official holiday.

Join in the Labour Day activities in your community.

In Solidarity,

Gerry Halabecki,

Regional Executive Vice-President, Ontario

PSAC London Area Council Labour Day Celebration BBQ

September 2^nd 12:00PM - 1:00PM

451 Talbot St (Court Yard)

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=138620159511940

Kitchener Waterloo Labour Day Celebrations

September 6^nd 12:00PM

Waterloo Park, Westmount Entrance

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/event.php?eid=152036428144327

Windsor Labour Day Parade

06 September · 09:00 AM – 4:00 PM

CAW 444 Hall, 1855 Turner Road

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=138858369483643

Chatham Labour Day Celebrations

06 September · 11:00 AM -  3:00 PM

CAW Hall, 280 Merritt Ave

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=events#!/event.php?eid=105132252877936

Human Rights Tribunal Defends Family Values

Decision supports freedom of Canadians  to be parents without
discrimination

Ottawa - In a groundbreaking decision today, the Canadian Human Rights
Tribunal found that employers cannot discriminate against their
employees should they choose to become parents.  Fiona Johnstone, a
Canadian Border Services Officer and a member of the Public Service
Alliance of Canada, convinced the Tribunal that she was a victim of
discrimination based on family status. 

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) refused to accommodate her
request for more regular hours so she could arrange for proper child
care.  The CBSA told her that the only way that she could care for her
kids was to work part time. Fiona Johnstone was unable to obtain child
care because she and her husband both worked rotating shift schedules at
Pearson International Airport. 

The Tribunal found that the conduct of the CBSA was willful and
reckless in depriving Mrs. Johnstone of her employment opportunities.
The Tribunal ordered the CBSA to pay Mrs. Johnstone for lost wages and
pension benefits, as well as damages totaling $35,000.

“This is a victory for all working Canadian parents who want to give
their children the care they need and at the same time progress in their
careers,” said John Gordon, President of the Public Service Alliance
of Canada.  “Employers have the obligation to find workable solutions
on a case-by-case basis so that workers like Fiona Johnstone can balance
work and family.”

The Tribunal criticised the CBSA for maintaining systemic policies and
practices that deprived Mrs. Johnstone and other similar individuals of
employment opportunities due to their family status.  As a result, the
Tribunal ordered the CBSA to develop a plan to prevent further incidents
of discrimination based on family status and develop policies to address
family status accommodation requests.

“I am happy and relieved by the decision of the Canadian Human Rights
Tribunal,” said Fiona Johnstone. “I can now move on with my career
and with raising my family.”

In 2004, Fiona Johnstone filed a complaint against the CBSA arguing
that its policy violates the Canadian Human Rights Act by discriminating
against her based on her family status.  While not every childcare need
gives rise to an employer obligation to accommodate, Johnstone argued
that her complicated and unpredictable schedule made it impossible to
care for her children.  She said that the employer had not proven that
accommodating her with a more suitable shift would amount to undue
hardship.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada represents 9000 workers at the
Canadian Border Services Agency.  The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
decision can be read at:
http://chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=1021&lg=_e&isruling=0



For more information and to book interviews:
Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications, 613-293-9210 (cell)




POUR DIFFUSION
IMMÉDIATE                        6
août 2010

Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne :
Pas de discrimination contre les parents

Ottawa - Le Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne a rendu une
décision sans précédent aujourd’hui selon laquelle les employeurs
ne peuvent faire de discrimination à l’endroit de leurs employés qui
choisissent d’être parents. Fiona Johnstone, une inspectrice des
douanes à l’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada et membre de
l’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada, a convaincu le
Tribunal qu’elle était victime de discrimination en raison de sa
situation fa
miliale.

Madame Johnstone avait demandé à l’Agence des services frontaliers du
Canada (ASFC) de lui attribuer un horaire régulier, ce qui lui aurait
permis de trouver des services de garde adéquats pour ses enfants.
L’ASFC a refusé. Selon l’employeur, pour avoir droit à des quarts
fixes elle devait travailler à temps partiel. En raison de leur horaire
de travail irrégulier à l’Aéroport international Pearson, Fiona
Johnstone et son conjoint ne pouvaient pas trouver de services de garde
adéquats.

Le Tribunal a conclu qu’en refusant d’accommoder madame Johnstone
l’ASFC a agi de façon délibérée et inconsidérée. Le Tribunal a ordonné
à l’employeur d’indemniser la victime pour le salaire et les
avantages perdus et de lui verser des dommages-intérêts d’un montant
de 35 000 $.

« C’est une victoire pour tous les parents canadiens qui ont à cœur
le bien-être de leurs enfants sans compromettre leur carrière », a
déclaré John Gordon, président de l’Alliance de la Fonction
publique du Canada. « Les employeurs doivent trouver des solutions
viables qui répondent aux besoins particuliers des travailleuses et
travailleurs qui, comme Fiona Johnstone, veulent concilier le travail et
la vie personnelle. »

Le Tribunal dénonce les politiques et les pratiques systémiques de
l’ASFC, qui privent les travailleuses et travailleurs, comme Fiona
Johnstone, de chances d’avancement en raison de leur situation
familiale. Le Tribunal a donc ordonné à l’employeur de mettre en œuvre
un plan afin de prévenir tout autre incident de discrimination fondée
sur la situation familiale. L’ASFC devra aussi adopter des lignes
directrices pour répondre aux besoins des parents.

« Je suis soulagée par la décision du Tribunal canadien des droits de
la personne, a dit Fiona Johnstone, et je suis très heureuse parce que
je peux enfin me consacrer à ma carrière et à ma famille. »

En 2004, Fiona Johnstone dépose une plainte alléguant que la politique
de l’ASFC enfreint la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne en
faisant preuve de discrimination à son endroit en raison de sa situation
familiale. Bien que tous les besoins en matière de garde d’enfants
n’entraînent pas nécessairement une obligation d’adaptation pour
l’employeur, madame Johnstone soutient que son horaire compliqué et
imprévisible l’empêchait de prendre soin de ses enfants. Elle souligne
que l’employeur n’a pas prouvé que les mesures d’adaptation
demandées, soit un quart de travail plus convenable, entraîneraient
des contraintes excessives.
L’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada représente 9 000
travailleuses et travailleurs à l’Agence des services frontaliers du
Canada. La décision du Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne est
affichée, en anglais seulement, au
http://chrt-tcdp.gc.ca/aspinc/search/vhtml-eng.asp?doid=1021&lg=_e&isruling=0


Renseignements et entrevues :
Alain Cossette, Communications, AFPC, 613-293-9210 (cell.)