SP Group Newsletter #5
Greetings from the SP Group Executive! We hope that our SP members were engaged with the recent PIPSC National AGM where we were successful in ensuring the voice of the SP members were heard. We have a new PIPSC President, Sean O’Reilly, and we look forward to working with our recently elected leadership.
SP Group Representatives at the PIPSC National AGM
We would like to extend a congratulations to the stewards of the year, who have been working hard to serve our members:
https://pipsc.ca/about/governance/agm/2024/honouring-stewards-year
Report of the President for 2024 may be found here: https://pipsc.ca/about/governance/agm/2024/presidents-evaluation-report-2024
Profile of SP Group Negotiator Yvonne James, Ph.D
Yvonne is your PIPSC SP Group Negotiator. Yvonne first began her work with PIPSC as the Women in Science Research Officer, where she supported member-led projects on advancing gender equity in federal public sector science. She joined the Negotiations team in 2022 and has since worked with several Groups in the federal public sector, including both the SP and RE Groups as well as the PIPSC Central Table. She has a strong background in labour relations, dispute resolution, and workforce issues and is excited to continue to work with the SP Group as a Negotiator. When she isn't working to improve collective agreements and fight labour relations battles, she can be found playing hockey, enjoying the Ottawa valley, or trying to wrangle her three kids and black lab.
Event: Institute of Ocean Science, Pacific Geoscience Centre, Canadian Coast Guard Open House
Submitted by Kaz Shimamura, SP Steward
Nestled in the tranquil setting of Patricia Bay in North Saanich on Vancouver Island, our facility is home to a dedicated team engaged in geoscience research, ocean science, essential marine navigation, and Coast Guard operations.
On Saturday, June 8th, 2024, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, we hosted an Open House at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). This event provided a fantastic opportunity for the public to explore our facilities, delve into the world of science, and meet the dedicated teams behind our work. Attendees enjoyed exploring our science exhibits, attending groundbreaking seminars and children’s activities, and touring the Coast Guard ship, the Sir Wilfrid Grenfell.
Over 2,000 visitors attended, and many of our staff, including members from PIPSC, engaged with the public as Ambassadors, easily identified by their blue t-shirts. PIPSC and PSAC played a vital supporting role, ensuring our Ambassadors stayed hydrated and energized with cold drinks and snacks on this hot day. The public expressed great interest in another Open House next year. However, due to the significant effort required to plan and prepare, we anticipate the next event in a few years. Our last Open House in 2017 also saw a similar turnout.
Exercising Your Democratic Right
Submitted by Bryan Van Wilgenburg, SP Group President
Politics affects us all, whether we are interested in it or not. Historically, most Canadians have enjoyed an era of incremental progress and relative peace—perhaps to the point of taking it for granted. Today, countless things compete for our attention: friends and family, endless entertainment, social media, and, of course, the ongoing rebuild of the Montreal Canadiens.
While the media often urges us to worry or be afraid, we may perceive that things generally work out, more or less (rebuild excluded). This sense of stability may have led some to lose interest in politics, becoming apathetic or cynical. Yet history reminds us that political decisions can have far-reaching and dramatic consequences. Small changes may deeply affect individuals, while under certain conditions, they can trigger significant socioeconomic upheaval or even war. Given the number of variables, and the amplifying power of media, the butterfly effect is in play.
Politics in neighboring countries will undoubtedly impact us, but we have little control over their outcomes. What we can influence, however, are the decisions made within our own country. We should not let this opportunity slip through our fingers, and we should not underestimate the difference we can make.
For public servants, there is room to be politically active within defined boundaries. As outlined in Section 113(1) of the Public Service Employment Act (SC 2003, c. 22, ss. 12, 13):
“An employee may engage in any political activity so long as it does not impair, or is not perceived as impairing, the employee’s ability to perform his or her duties in a politically impartial manner.”
Let’s continue to talk about what this means and embrace our ability to influence change where it matters most.
Provision of Weather Warnings by Meteorologists
Submitted by David Neil, Warning Preparedness Meteorologist
My name is David, and I am honoured to share with my fellow PIPSC SP members my role as a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist (WPM) with the Meteorological Service of Canada. As the title suggests, much of my work revolves around preparedness during significant weather events. One of my main tasks within this role is working with emergency management and critical infrastructure partners in Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure that they are kept well informed on hazardous weather which could negatively impact the Province. This entails communicating weather information to these groups well in advance of weather events which are expected to produce weather warnings. Additionally, for the most significant storms, I will hold virtual weather briefings for these groups, as well as for municipal governments in areas to be most impacted, to ensure that these individuals have as much information as possible for decision-making and preparations. My work with emergency managers isn’t limited to current or inclement weather. I also provide pre-season briefings in advance of the Winter and Summer seasons, and I have provided weather scenarios for emergency management exercises. This has given me great perspective on the day-to-day operations of my partners and has given me further appreciation on the impact of weather in emergency management and for the public at large.
Also in this role, I am responsible for responding to media requests concerning the weather. These are mainly for weather events impacting Newfoundland and Labrador, but I have responded to requests for nearly every other province in Canada, in both English and French. Most of these requests are for a specific storm or weather event and, depending on the potential severity of the event, media interest can start to pick up several days in advance of its expected onset time. For tropical systems in particular, the number of requests can be quite overwhelming. But I am fortunate to work with a very dedicated team of WPMs and operational meteorologists in the Atlantic region, and across the country, to ensure that we respond to these requests and get critical weather information to as many Canadians as possible.
One of the most rewarding accomplishments in my WPM career was co-organizing the lone Canadian stop on the 2017 East Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT) in Gander with some of my fellow meteorologists in the Atlantic region. On this tour, the public were invited inside two aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to observe and measure hurricanes.
The WPM job has given me so many great opportunities over the past number of years to connect with people from so many different backgrounds on weather and its impact, which is what makes this role so fulfilling.
SP nomination form
Are you aware of an SP member that has gone above and beyond to provide information or engage members? If so, please consider submitting a nomination for them to be recognized here:
https://pipsc.ca/groups/sp/sp-group-recognition-award-program-0
Outreach to RAND members
Submitted by Tanya Evans, SP Group Communications
Right now it is more important than ever to ensure employees are signed up as members of PIPSC to ensure everyone receives timely information about bargaining and all the issues that affect us such as Phoenix and RTO.
This is how you can find your PIPSC membership number:
https://pipsc.ca/member-tools/application
If you are not currently signed up as a PIPSC member, or perhaps you know a new employee in the workplace that may not be signed up, please go to this website:
https://pipsc.ca/member-tools/application
Membership to PIPSC has so many benefits! PIPSC works for you to negotiate better working conditions, and advocate for you when needed.
You get these advantages, with union membership!
- News releases and advisories for issues affecting public servants
- Steward and Employment Relations Officer (ERO) assistance for information and issues of concern
- Invitation to national, regional, group, branch and sub-group outreach, learning and social activities
- Voting privileges in union affairs
- Access to the Institute’s Learning Centre http://www.pipsc.ca/member-tools/education
- PIPSC Legacy Foundation Scholarship Program
Also, you are provided with access to Service Plus, a special purchasing group for preferential rates and savings on a wide variety of goods and services such as hotels, flights, phone plans, retail and insurance products. More information about Service Plus can be found here:
https://pipsc.ca/member-tools/member-benefits
Reminder to Active Members to join the SP Active Chat
Are you interested in becoming more involved with the SP Group and PIPSC as a whole? We encourage members to create a PIPSC email address and join the conversation. You can request an email address here:
https://pipsc.ca/member-tools/email
When you have your unique PIPSC email address, send us an email at Ask_sp@pipsc.ca and we will connect you with the group chat.
Also, you can communicate directly with the SP Group Executive by sending an email to us, we welcome your questions and comments: Ask_sp@pipsc.ca
Downloadable 2024-2025 PIPSC Calendar
Some members have been asking for the PIPSC desk calendars, a copy can be downloaded and printed from the PIPSC website:
https://pipsc.ca/member-tools/downloadable-calendar
Reading Corner – Pensions continue to be top of mind, and debate on the public service pension surplus has begun. What do you think should be done with the pension surplus? Check out the debate here: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/november-2024/public-service-pension-surplus-options/
Have a story about the work SP Members are doing that you would like to share? Please send an email to Tanya: tanya@pipsc.ca
We look forward to engaging with you in the months to come!
Tanya Evans,
Communications Coordinator
for the SP Group Executive Committee