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Events News

June 27: Canada’s Multiculturalism Day






Canadian
Multiculturalism
Day

On June 27, we recognize and celebrate Canada’s Multiculturalism Day—an opportunity to honour the cultural diversity that strengthens not only our society, but our labour movement as well. As members of PSAC, we know that the fight for fairness, dignity, and equity must include a commitment to defending and uplifting the voices of all workers, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, language, or cultural background.

Canada was the first country to pass a national multiculturalism law—the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988—affirming the right of individuals to preserve and share their cultural heritage, and mandating the federal government to promote inclusion and equal participation. But these rights are not always realized equally. Racialized workers still face systemic barriers in hiring, career advancement, and workplace representation.

Our union continues to push back against racism and discrimination in all its forms. We do this through our collective agreements, by representing members in grievance processes, and through education and advocacy that center anti-oppression and intersectional equity.

Multiculturalism means more than co-existence—it means recognizing the inherent value that diverse backgrounds bring to the table, and demanding that our workplaces and institutions reflect the communities they serve. It’s about building solidarity across differences, knowing that none of us are free until all of us are included, protected, and empowered.

On this day, let’s recommit to fostering safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces—where everyone’s voice is heard, and where cultural identity is embraced, not erased. Together, we can build a more just and equitable future for all workers.

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News

UHEW Environment Month – June 2025

As part of UHEW’s Environment Month initiative in June 2025, Local 70713 is actively participating in activities aimed at reducing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainability in the workplace and community.

The poster outlines a variety of environmentally conscious actions Locals are encouraged to take, including:

  • Planting trees or a garden
  • Recycling and using less plastic
  • Reusing rainwater
  • Riding a bike to work
  • Cleaning a park or beach
  • Hosting awareness activities

We will be documenting and sharing our efforts by submitting photographs of our Local’s participation to the UHEW Environment Committee at enviro@uhew-stse.ca for a chance to win prizes, including:

  • Two $200 random draw prizes
  • One $100 Environment Committee prize

This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate leadership, encourage member engagement, and support sustainable practices across our workplaces.

Let’s do our part—every action counts!

UHEW Environment Month Poster
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Respect, Equity and Inclusion

National Indigenous History Month: we must go the distance for reconciliation

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to honour the diverse histories, cultures and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. This month culminates in National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 — a day to celebrate Indigenous knowledge, contributions and resilience.

As union members, we have a collective responsibility to learn from Indigenous perspectives and advocate for equity and reconciliation in our workplaces and communities. Indigenous members play an invaluable role in our union, shaping discussions, strengthening solidarity and driving meaningful change.

Indigenous Peoples have lived on these lands since time immemorial, shaping the country we share today. Advancing reconciliation requires a commitment to truth, understanding and respect — an effort that belongs to all of us.

As the Honourable Murray Sinclair once said, “The road we travel is equal in importance to the destination we seek. There are no shortcuts. When it comes to truth and reconciliation, we are forced to go the distance.”

Let’s move forward together, ensuring that justice, fairness and reconciliation remain at the heart of our union’s values.

We invite you to act by: 


Together, as Local 70713 members, let’s reaffirm our commitment to reconciliation by fostering a culture of learning, solidarity and celebration in honour of Indigenous Peoples. Each step forward must be guided by humility, respect and a genuine commitment to understanding.

Thank you to all 70713 UHEW members for your unwavering dedication to reconciliation and for ensuring that equity, justice and inclusion remain at the heart of our union’s work.Thank you / Wela’lin / Ekosani / Miigwech / Meegwetch / Marsee / Mahseecho / Mutna / Wopida / Gunałchéesh / Hei Hei / Marci Cho / ᖁᐊᓇᖅᑯᑎᑦ / Quanaqqutit / Nakurmik / Kukwstsétsemc / Tiawenhk / Woliwon

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Respect, Equity and Inclusion

Celebrating Asian Heritage Month – Honouring Diversity and Standing Together

Each May, we recognize Asian Heritage Month—a time to honour the many contributions that people of Asian descent have made and continue to make in building Canada’s social, cultural, and economic fabric.

This year’s theme, “Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future,” reminds us of the rich histories and traditions within Asian communities across the country, and the need to continue fostering inclusion and respect in our workplaces and unions.

UHEW stands firmly against anti-Asian racism, discrimination, and xenophobia in all its forms. We know that equity and inclusion are not just values for one month—they must be reflected in how we support each other, speak out against injustice, and create safe and respectful environments for all.

We encourage all members to take time this month to:

  • Learn about the diverse histories and cultures of Asian Canadians;
  • Attend events and discussions (virtual or in-person) highlighting Asian heritage and voices;
  • Support and uplift Asian members in your workplaces and communities.

To our members of Asian descent: your experiences, leadership, and perspectives strengthen our union. We invite you to get involved with our Human Rights Committee or equity networks—your voice matters and deserves to be heard.

Together, let’s celebrate the richness of Asian cultures and commit to equity and solidarity all year long.

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Respect, Equity and Inclusion

Pride Season

June marks the beginning of Pride Season—a time to celebrate the diversity, strength, and resilience of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across the country. It is also a time to reflect on the ongoing fight for equality, safety, and dignity for all.

UHEW proudly stands with our 2SLGBTQIA+ members and allies. We honour the activists—past and present—who have pushed for justice and visibility, often in the face of violence and exclusion. Pride began as protest, and while we celebrate progress, we know the fight is not over.In recent years, we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in hate and targeted protests across Canada. Now more than ever, we must speak out and stand together. There is no place for hate in our union, our communities, or our country.

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Community Resources Hot Topics – workplace issues Mental Health

That Side of Depression

Why do people never talk about the part of depression when you just don’t want anything anymore? Everybody talks about when it hurts like hell, when you cry, when you cut, when you take drugs, when you break down. But no one ever talks about when you just lay down in your room, with a hole inside of you that you don’t know how to fill, and you don’t want to do anything even things you usually like. So, you just spend your day kinda waiting for it to end and it’s horrible because you feel empty and guilty for that at the same time.

Depression_8 Warning Signs You_eng

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Member Resources

Fact Sheet: Anxiety Disorders

Everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety, but they are generally occasional and short-lived, and do not cause problems. But when the cognitive, physical and behavioural symptoms of anxiety are persistent and severe, and anxiety causes distress in a person’s life to the point that it negatively affects his or her ability to work or study, socialize and manage daily tasks, it may be beyond the normal range. People with anxiety disorders have excessive levels of anxiety that significantly interfere with day to day to living.

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Member Resources

Mental Health Passport

Think about your mental health. What do you do to take care of it? Dedicating even a short amount of time every day to taking care of your mental health will rejuvenate you and give  you confidence. It can also prevent the onset or relapse of a physical or mental illness.

This passport presents articles on more than 20 topics that mental health care professionals have found influence people’s health and happiness. The passport offers tools to help you identify and reflect on areas you may want to improve in your life. Developing positive mental health habits that work for you will stand you in good stead.

The Mental Health Passport was conceived, written and produced by Statistics Canada’s Mental Health Working Group, which is part of the Workplace Wellness Committee.  Although originally created for the employees of Statistics Canada, this version has been modified to suit a wider audience. Feel free to share the passport to encourage habits that foster well-being and better mental health.

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Member Resources News

Operational requirements

As a Local President, I often hear members say that their leave was denied for operational reasons (requirements).  There are circumstances when operational requirements are legitimate reasons for decisions made by management but those special circumstances are not encountered often.

http://psac-ncr.com/shop-stewards/operational-requirements

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Member Resources

Violence in the Workplace – The Definition May Surprise You

My message to everyone who reads this message is “Spread the word”.  Our membership is not huge but the number of cases that we manage and that meet the criteria is shocking.

People suffering abuse through the day go home at night incredibly stressed and they lose precious family time because their quality of life is compromised by a situation that they feel is out of their control.  Some people attempt to avoid confrontation through sick leave but eventually they return or they lose their jobs and – worse yet – the situation hasn’t changed one iota.  Some may think that it’s not a reasonable response, but it is very difficult to reason with fear.

Consultations with the union are 100% confidential and nothing happens unless you say it needs to happen.

Most remedies do not involve grievances.

At least learn what your options are.  You may be surprised.