http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#Two The latest news and updates from the Agriculture Union http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Jitbit RSS Feed Creator Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:54:10 -0400 Thanks in part to financial support from the Agriculture Union Human Rights Committee, three First Nations students will be in New York later this month to witness deliberations of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#SixFri, 19 Mar 2010 06:54:10 -0400 It's not like they didn't have a chance to act!http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#FiveThurs, 18 Mar 2010 08:16:33 -0400 New food safety issues, pressure from south of the border and delayed staffing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are threatening to push this country's already over-stretched food safety regime to the breaking point.http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#FourWed, 17 Mar 2010 12:16:22 -0400 Congratulations to Hélène Mayer! Helene is the latest monthly winner in our 2010 contest to sign up 'Rands', dues-paying co-workers who, for one reason or another, have yet to sign a union card.http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#ThreeWed, 10 Mar 2010 10:45:07 -0500 Have you ever considered applying to be a delegate to one of the PSAC Equity conferences?http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#TwoTue, 02 Mar 2010 04:55:33 -0500 If you're working, you're paying for it with nearly 10 per cent of your wages. If you're about to retire, you're depending on it for a secure living into your old age. But that could change for the worse if we all don't act now! http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#OneMon, 01 Mar 2010 13:48:49 -0500 Cameron Richard turned three on February 5. For parents Melissa Hackett and Greg Richard, their daughter's birthday was more than special. It was in many ways miraculous. For some had feared that 'Cammie' might not survive to reach it.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-february2010.html#SixMon, 22 Feb 2010 09:16:13 -0500 The Agriculture Union's Social Justice Fund enters 2010 with a solid record of achievement over the past year.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-february2010.html#FiveThu, 18 Feb 2010 10:58:13 -0500 The Agriculture Union's 'Great 2010 Rand Sign-Up Contest' is off to an excellent start!http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-february2010.html#FourWed, 17 Feb 2010 08:32:38 -0500 Our Social Justice Fund has received an on-the-ground report of the progress being done on a major two-year community development initiative in the east-African nation of Mozambique. The project is sponsored by Marianne Hladun, a member of Local 22 in Saskatoon.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-february2010.html#ThreeMon, 08 Feb 2010 12:38:54 -0500 Our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, has issued its official call for the 2010 National Access Conference for members with disabilities.http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#TwoFri, 05 Feb 2010 12:24:56 -0500 The Agriculture Union has formally adopted our own 'green policy'.http://www.agrunion.com/en/newscurrentmonth.html#OneMon, 01 Feb 2010 14.37:00 -0500 It has recently come to our attention that our GL members at AAFC have received a questionnaire to fill out as part of the GL Review. This unilateral initiative was launched without consultation with the Agriculture Union GL Review working group.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#SixFri, 29 Jan 2010 14:46:43 -0500 The latest issue of the Agriculture Union's Health and Safety bulletin has now been sent to our Locals for distribution to the membership.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#FiveThu, 28 Jan 2010 19:18:28 -0500 The Agriculture Union and Canada's largest consumer organization, Option Consommateurs, have given the Harper government a near-failing grade on efforts to ensure there will be no repeat of the infamous Maple Leaf Foods listeriosis outbreak.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#FourThu, 28 Jan 2010 10:16:20 -0500 Get out your pencils or get on your computer because the Agriculture Union Human Rights Committee is looking for a logo and all members in good standing are invited to submit their ideas.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#ThreeMon, 25 Jan 2010 08:21:59 -0500 Members who have been required to perform health and safety duties (outside of volunteering for workplace Health and Safety Committees) have now received their Health and Safety Addendums. These will become part of the work description for their positions.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#TwoFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:20:02 -0500 Our union's Social Justice Fund has made a $10,000 donation for badly-needed Haitian relief.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-january2010.html#OneWed, 20 Jan 2010 12:18:09 -0500 The next PSAC National Pride Conference will be held March 26-28/09 in Toronto. The registration deadline for delegates and observers is 4 p.m. EST, Friday, January 15.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#SixWed, 23 Dec 2009 15:40:34 -0500 Ever get that weird feeling that you've already lived through an unfolding event? If so, you can well understand our frustration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada when it comes to the GL Review!http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#FiveFri, 18 Dec 2009 10:32:39 -0500 Three years ago, we launched a highly-successful workplace campaign to sign up 'Rands' – co-workers who for a variety of reasons had yet to formally join the Agriculture Union - Public Service Alliance of Canada.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#FourTue, 15 Dec 2009 11:31:22 -0500 The Agriculture Union's Social Justice Fund supports a wide range of projects. Some are within Canada; others are overseas. Some are limited in time; some are ongoing.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#ThreeThu, 10 Dec 2009 16:54:04 -0500 It turns out that our last Web story, posted November 17, on the Agriculture Union's fight for a gender-neutral classification system at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency inadvertently caused some confusion.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#TwoMon, 07 Dec 2009 10:19:44 -0500 Hundreds of deserving African orphans will have a happier holiday season thanks to the strong support of our Nova Scotia members.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-december2009.html#OneFri, 04 Dec 2009 14:46:33 -0500 "Put your grievances in abeyance." That's the message the Agriculture Union is sending to our members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as CFIA has agreed to consider a new classification system.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-november2009.html#FourTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:35 -0500 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is now in the process of fine-tuning the mapping-to-job descriptions. Some steps may have been missed during the process; therefore, some on-site visits are being scheduled in order to evaluate a number of the identified discrepancies.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-november2009.html#FourMon, 16 Nov 2009 14:53:16 -0500 Around this time of year, many members are looking to receive the popular annual calendar produced by our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-november2009.html#TwoFri, 13 Nov 2009 07:26:53 -0500 The Agriculture Union on September 30 met with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for a regular meeting of the joint National Occupational Safety and Health Policy Committee.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-november2009.html#OneTue, 10 Nov 2009 11:51:31 -0500 The Agriculture Union today takes the wraps off a completely new Web site. You’ll find all the content from our old site, along with new features and additional information. And it’s all presented in a simpler, cleaner ‘look’ that improves usability.http://agrunion.com/en/news-october2009.html#ThreeThurs, 22 Oct 2009 07:09:16 -0400 Congratulations to Marie-Josée Cardinal and Brent Puchalski. These two young people are the latest recipients of the Agriculture Union’s ROP Bursary.http://agrunion.com/en/news-october2009.html#TwoFri,16 Oct 2009 011:02:29-0400 Congratulations to Wendy Hooisma, who submitted the winning design for a new logo for our Social Justice Fund.http://agrunion.com/en/news-october2009.html#OneTues, 6 Oct 2009 14:38:22 -0400 The Agriculture Union has welcomed the Conservative government’s decision to implement the recommendations of the ‘Weatherill Report’ into the August 2008 listeriosis outbreak at Maple Leaf Foods. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement September 11.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-september2009.html#TwoMon, 14 Sept 2009 09:12:38 -0400 Late last month, we reported our concerns over the Conservative government’s move to devolve the AgriStability program managed by the Farm Income Programs Directorate (FIPD) to provincial governments of Saskatchewan and British Columbia.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-august2009.html#ThreeFri, 28 Aug 2009 06:53:01 -0400 Conservative members of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee have successfully - and, seemingly sneakily - torpedoed opposition attempts to launch a public inquiry into last year’s deadly listeriosis crisis.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-august2009.html#TwoThu, 27 Aug 2009 10:51:44 -0400 Community development work by the Zambo ni Zambo Team in the east-African country of Mozambique is but one of the projects currently supported by the Agriculture Union’s Social Justice Fund.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-august2009.html#OneSun, 02 Aug 2009 12:24:15 -0400 The Agriculture Union is skeptical about the merits of the federal government’s plan to offload the delivery of the AgriStability program from the federal jurisdiction to provincial jurisdictions in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-july2009.html#ThreeSat, 01 Aug 2009 12:42:35 -0400 The Agriculture Union and its members at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have been working hard to force the employer to implement a gender-neutral classification system.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-july2009.html#TwoSat, 18 Jul 2009 07:03:24 -0400 The National Office has only recently received the official signed-off version of the new collective agreement covering Agriculture Union members employed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-july2009.html#OneFri, 03 Jul 2009 14:26:11 -0400 The National Office is currently attempting to cope with an extraordinary backlog of grievances.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#SevenTue, 23 Jun 2009 12:05:45 -0400 Chalk up another victory for food safety and the influence of the Agriculture Union with federal politicians.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#SixFri, 19 Jun 2009 08:23:23 -0400 The Public Service Commission and the Agriculture Union met, on June 11, 2009, for the bi-annual National Union Management Consultative Committee meeting.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#FiveFri, 19 Jun 2009 07:51:58 -0400 Members Harmesh Sidher and Sid Wong from British Columbia report that good progress is being made on the building of a new schoolhouse in the remote Indian village Musepur, near the Nepalese border. The project is being partially supported by the Agriculture Union’s Social Justice Fund.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#FourWed, 17 Jun 2009 13:24:09 -0400 Agriculture Union members appreciate that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will likely never win an Olympic medal for public openness.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#ThreeFri, 12 Jun 2009 14:55:40 -0400 Kami Swanson is a Feed Specialist Inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. A member of Local 74 in Red Deer, Alberta, she recently returned from a rather unique business trip.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-june2009.html#OneMon, 01 Jun 2009 07:35:04 -0400 Late this afternoon, National President Bob Kingston presented the position of the Agriculture Union regarding the shortcomings of Canada's food inspection program before the Food Safety Sub-committee of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#SixMon, 25 May 2009 19:55:05 -0400 For the third consecutive year, Local 4 has set the scene – and the table – for a happier Easter for many of Prince Edward Island’s less fortunate families.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#FiveThu, 21 May 2009 10:39:34 -0400 The vast majority of Canadians want government to step in and play a much more active role to ensure food safety because they don’t trust industry to do the job, according to a new Nanos survey commissioned by the Agriculture Union.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#FourThu, 21 May 2009 10:36:56 -0400 National President Bob Kingston will be airing the Agriculture Union’s concerns over the effectiveness of Canada’s food inspection system before a high-profile inquiry into the safety of Canada’s food supply.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#ThreeWed, 13 May 2009 15:04:01 -0400 There was a full agenda on the table this week as the Agriculture Union sat down with Canada School of Public Service management at one of our regular National Labour Management Consultation Committee meetings.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#TwoFri, 08 May 2009 12:57:48 -0400 Necessary steps to safeguard your union membership when on an extended leave without pay are now clearly set out in the Constitution of our bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-may2009.html#OneThu, 07 May 2009 16:30:22 -0400 The National Office disappears next week…for renovations.http://www.agrunion.com/en/currentmonthsnews.html#ThreeFri, 10 Apr 2009 14:32:20 -0400 While he couldn’t come right out and say it, the CEO of the Canadian Grain Commission has all but confirmed in a message to staff what we reported last Thursday – that the government’s proposed legislation attacking the CGC is on shaky ground.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-april2009.html#TwoWed, 08 Apr 2009 06:40:05 -0400 National President Bob Kingston has congratulated the Parliamentary opposition parties for having united to reject Bill C-13, Conservative government legislation attacking the historic role and operations of the Canadian Grain Commission.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicatagricultureunion-news-april2009.html#OneThu, 02 Apr 2009 20:01:09 -0400 We need your help to stop the latest attempt by the Harper government to avoid public and Parliamentary scrutiny of their policies and activities.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#SixFri, 27 Mar 2009 10:12:45 -0400 Harassment is a true workplace cancer, assaulting the worth of individuals and poisoning entire job sites.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#FiveMon, 23 Mar 2009 13:20:45 -0400 Scarcely two months since the official launch of our Social Justice Fund (SJF), the Committee charged with vetting funding requests has given the green light to three projects put forward by Agriculture Union members.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#FourWed, 18 Mar 2009 13:18:40 -0400 Our congratulations to Deborah Young, Local 2 activist and, now, the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour’s ‘Woman of the Year’!http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#ThreeTue, 12 Mar 2009 13:14:57 -0400 Local 22 members in Saskatoon have put their own ‘stamp’ on a campaign to ‘lick’ federal legislation attacking both free collective bargaining and hard-won pay equity payouts.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#TwoThu, 05 Mar 2009 11:14:42 -0500 The idea was great. The timing was less than ideal.http://www.agrunion.com/en/syndicateagricultureunion-news-march2009.html#OneThu, 05 Mar 2009 11:12:25 -0500 A news release issued today by National President Bob Kingston has attacked the Harper government for once again placing legislation amending the Canada Grain Act before the House of Commons.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-february2009.html#ThreeTue, 24 Feb 2009 16:50:06 -0500 In the latest enhancement to our Web site, the Agriculture Union is now pleased to offer members the opportunity to subscribe to our Instant News service.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-february2009.html#TwoTue, 10 Feb 2009 09:24:03 -0500 Haggis at a Chinese New Year’s eve banquet? You bet! The Scottish uh 'delicacy 'was being served up at the ‘Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns and Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner’ in Vancouver on January 25. The annual event is organized by Todd Wong - a fifth-generation Chinese-Canadian, librarian and member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees – as a fun way to recognize the pioneering role played by the two cultural communities.http://www.agrunion.com/en/news-february2009.html#OneTue, 10 Feb 2009 09:23:54 -0500