Join the PSAC

These are but a few reasons why workers choose to unionize. As a PSAC member you can play an active role in changing your work life for the better!

• fairness in the workplace
• enhanced benefits
• treated with respect
• expanded leave entitlements
• negotiated pay
• the power of numbers

Read more ...

• A National Alliance of Workers
• An Alliance of Diverse Workers
• Your tool for democracy in your workplace
• Strives for democracy in itself as well
• An evolving union with a new direction from a new leader
• What your dues $$$ do for you
• Want to experience Fairness @ Work? Here’s how it happens

Fairness @ Work is more than a slogan: unionized workers fare better!

The most recent statistics from Statistics Canada indicate the following:

• 1 in 3 full time employees and 1 in 5 part time employees are union members
• about 30% of all workers in Canada belong to unions
• almost half of union members are women
• unionized women make 90% as much as male counterparts; non-unionized women make 77%
• only about 12% of youth are union members

PSAC - A National Alliance of Workers

The PSAC is a large national union representing 155,000 workers in many sectors from coast to coast to coast. Originally PSAC membership was 100% federal government workers, but not any longer. Workers at casinos, universities, airports, transportation companies, parliament hill, defence bases, galleries, hospitals, First Nations band councils, RCMP training facilities, national parks, not-for-profit agencies and federal government departments and agencies are all represented by the PSAC. 

PSAC - An Alliance of Diverse Workers

The make-up of PSAC’s membership is very diverse. Women and men from every ethnic background and every geographic region of this country are members of the PSAC family. The PSAC proudly promotes diversity in all its work - from equal opportunity committees  they don’t want to have to negotiate with their employees, they’d rather tell them what they deserve - whether it’s fair or not - than negotiate what is fair. For Fairness at Work, workers need unions!

PSAC - Your tool for democracy in your workplace

A Canadian labour academic out of Harvard, Elaine Barnard, has been known to say that democracy ends when non-unionized workers enter the doors of their workplaces. Management can make unilateral and arbitrary decisions regarding non unionized workers’ work - the number of hours, the rates of pay, the leave entitlements, etc. Forming a union brings a balancing of power to this relationship. That’s why employers fight aggressively to keep their places union-free; they don’t want to have to negotiate with their employees, they’d rather tell them what they deserve - whether it’s fair or not - than negotiate what is fair. For Fairness at Work, workers need unions!

PSAC - Strives for democracy in itself as well

The PSAC membership is 150,000 strong - a dynamic membership that sets the course for the union. The PSAC is run by elected officials from the grassroots local level right up to the national leader level. Members from all walks of life with all sorts of experiences become leaders in the PSAC. Whether at the local, regional or national level, members have a role to play in selecting those who they think will most appropriately represent them. At the national and regional levels elections are held every three years at conventions attended by delegates who’ve been chosen at the local level. It is at these fora where policies are adopted and leadership is given their direction.

PSAC - an evolving union with a new direction from a new leader

At Convention 2000 a new national president was chosen to lead the PSAC into the millennium. She was then re-elected for another term in 2003. Nycole Turmel, who comes from the ranks of the PSAC - initially a clerk with the Public Service, spent many years as a union activist becoming a national vice president and then the national president. A strong leader with a vision of taking the PSAC to new places, Nycole is an advocate for working people. She strongly believes in the right of all workers to become union members. Her vision is for a diverse membership with a strong national presence binding them. Hers is a winning strategy!

PSAC - what your dues $$$ do for you…

The average PSAC dues - including local and Component deductions - is approximately 1.31 % of gross salary. Union dues are tax deductible - up to about 40% depending on the income level. Other union benefits  - including $5000 of free life insurance, low fee credit cards, discounted insurance programs, discounted car rental programs - when taken advantage of - mitigate the "cost" of dues through the savings these programs offer.

PSAC member dues ensure that members receive union services that are second to none:

• representation through 23 regional offices 

• collective bargaining  led by a seasoned professional team

• a proven grievance and adjudication team 

• union education which meets regionally specific needs

• health and safety  professionals who are at the fore on workplace issues

• regional organizers working to assist workers in their effort to unionize

Want to experience Fairness @ Work ? Here’s how it happens…

• if you want more information about the benefits of unionizing contact us, we’ll discuss the possibilities of forming a union at your workplace and the improvements forming a union can bring you and your coworkers

• once all your questions are answered and you’ve decided to pursue joining the PSAC you will work with a PSAC Organizer to develop a plan of action - including getting others involved and having them sign union membership cards

• together with the Organizer a team will work to organize the workplace

• once a majority of your co-workers have signed membership cards, application will be made to the appropriate labour body - federal or provincial labour board - for the PSAC to be certified as the bargaining agent

• once certified, the local structure will be formalized, bylaws adopted, a collective bargaining team established and notice to bargain given to the employer. For the first time you will have a role to play in determining your pay and benefits and working conditions!

By forming a union workers have realized many gains over the years. While some of these gains have been matched by employers to keep their workplaces union free, workers at those places are guaranteed only the minimal rights under the labour code. Unionized workers, however, are guaranteed additional rights as enshrined in their negotiated collective agreements (legally binding contracts outlining terms and conditions of employment). And unionized workers continue to set the standard for all workers by introducing new and stronger rights and benefits through the collective bargaining process.

Forming a Union at your workplace

Achieving union certification involves a number of steps.  While each campaign to unionize will be unique, there are common elements in the process.  The following list will inform you of the process, the role of the workers and the PSAC, the challenges, and how to achieve success.

The catalyst to act Making the call Meeting the PSAC Moving the campaign forward

Achieving majority support  Certification On the way to collective bargaining A new contract for the workers

Read more about forming a Union at your jobsite.

Become a PSAC Member Organizer

Campaigns to unionize workers are labour intensive.  They require the commitment and effort of the employees from the workplace, PSAC staff and officers and, many times, trained PSAC Member Organizers.

• What role do PSAC Member Organizers play?
• What type of person makes the best Member Organizer?
• What does PSAC Member Organizer training involve?
• How do I get involved?

Read more about PSAC Organizers.