PSAC North: Who we are and what we do.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada - the PSAC - is one of Canada's largest unions. The PSAC is truly a national union with members from coast to coast, in every province and territory. We even have an international face with members working abroad in embassies and consulates. Our 150,000 members work in a wide range of occupations. Traditionally our members do jobs like issue pension and employment insurance cheques, forecast the weather, operate airports and inspect meat plants. Our newer members work in places like women's shelters, casinos, and universities. As the members' bargaining agent, the PSAC works to help them obtain fair treatment and respect in the workplace, employment security, better pay and safe working conditions.
The PSAC exists to help its members have a voice in their workplace and in their community.
Contract negotiations: Members and staff participate in the process of sitting down with the employer and negotiating terms and conditions of work.
Organizing: On average, unionized workers enjoy better wages, benefits and pensions than unorganized workers. The PSAC has full-time organizers working to bring more Canadian workers into the union family.
Union education: Members have access to introductory and advanced courses, held on evenings, weekends and in-residence conducted by our staff. And, members are trained to deliver union educationals, often at the worksite.
Health and safety: Staff work with Local Health and Safety Committees, lobby for better health and safety laws and negotiate health and safety clauses.
Grievances and arbitration: Members receive training in how to represent their co-workers using a grievance procedure to resolve complaints. Experienced staff represent members in the arbitration process when grievances are referred to an independent third party for resolution.
Classification and equal pay: Specialized staff help members make sure their classification systems are free of bias and that members are properly classified and paid for the work they do.
Communications: We keep members informed about the union's activities through the web site (http://www.psac-afpc.com), a bi-weekly newsletter, "Union Update" and bulletins on specific topics such as collective bargaining, pay equity and Universal Classification Standard. And we work to promote the union's goals and activities in the media.
Political action: Because governments create policies and pass laws that have a direct impact on workers' lives, our members make their concerns known and work together to influence politicians through the PSAC's political action committees. Members also work with other progressive groups and coalitions to promote alternative policies which benefit workers, their families and communities.
Equity: The PSAC has been a leader in the fight to promote equal opportunities and to abolish discrimination. Staff act as a resource to anti-discrimination, human rights and women's committees within the union to eliminate discrimination in the workplace through negotiations and ensure a discrimination-free union.
Strike fund: While 95% of all negotiations are concluded without a strike, the PSAC is ready if the need arises. A portion of every member's dues is invested in the PSAC's substantial strike fund. When any Local goes on strike, it has access to the fund.
Group benefits: Our size allows us to negotiate good rates on home, vehicle, and group life insurance, hotel, moving and car rental discounts and a special reduced-interest rate MasterCard for our members and their immediate families.
