1. ORIENTATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Agriculture Union
ORIENTATION FOR NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the Agriculture Union.
During this presentation I wish to present you with an overview of your union.
Each of you have a package. During this presentation we will go through the info kit and hopefully fill in any gaps and answer any questions that you might have.

2. Overview Who are our members Your Union Your Local Structure
Welcome to the Agriculture Union’s overview of your union’s core activities.
Who are our members
Your Union
Your Local Structure
Local Roles and Responsibilities
National Union Structure
Agriculture Union Roles and Responsibilities
PSAC Roles and Responsibilities
Union Membership and Dues
Collective Agreements
Your Rights
Our Union’s Position
Useful Links

3. Members of Agriculture Union work for:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal
Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Canadian Grain Commission
Canadian Dairy Commission
Public Service Commission
Department of National Defence (language training)
Canada School of Public Service  

4. Your Union
You are a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
You are a member of the Agriculture Union a component of PSAC
You are a member of your Local
You are the Union as we are worker driven

5. Your Local Structure President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer
Executive Responsible for Health & Safety ___________
Stewards______
Executive Responsible for Human Rights
Regional Vice-President___________________
all local positions elected at local annual general meeting

6. Union Structure In your kit you will find this diagram;
Get participants to get this out.
Go through this box by box.
Explain the relationships as they pertain to the member.
Brief overview more detail in the subsequent slides.

7. Roles and Responsibilities of Your Local
General Membership Meetings
Union Education
Communication
Grievances
Negotiations (bargaining demands, essential services, ratification vote, strike, etc.)
Health & Safety
Union Management Consultation Committee (UMC) meetings
In your kit you will find a form with these headings.
These are the people who the members (you) elect to look after your interests.
Their names should be posted on the Union notice board at your worksite.
This is the member’s first point of contact.
Explain the roles of each within the Local.
Each worksite should have one or more Steward(s) who is/are elected by their peers. Depending on the Local, the Steward may or may not be a member of the Local Executive. Some Locals may also have Directors (an example of a director would be Director of Equal Opportunities).

8. Roles and responsibilities of the Agriculture Union (National)
Consultation with the Employer
Grievances - Final level Presentation
National Union-Management Consultation Committee (NUMC)
National Policy Committee on Health & Safety (NOSH)
Political Action
Collective Bargaining
Communications
Human Rights
Employment Equity
National Council
Conventions and Conferences
Essential Services / Exclusions
For more information, please visit
Briefly explain each point.

9. Roles and responsibilities of the Public Service Alliance of Canada
Collective Bargaining
Education
Political Action
Communication
Representation (at Public Service Labour Relations Board)
Job Classification
Human Rights
Social Justice Fund
Health and Safety
Organizing
For more information, please visit
Briefly explain each point and the difference in role from that of the Agriculture Union.

10. Union Membership and Dues
Dues are compulsory as everyone benefits from services (Rand decision)
PSAC, AU, and Local dues
Deducted from Pay – Tax deductible
Rates set at conventions every 3 years
Local rates sets at Annual General Meeting
Must sign a card to hold union office
**your membership card will be mailed to you**

11. Collective Agreement
Contract negotiated between the union and the employer
Obligations on both parties
Rights for members
Salary rates and applications for members
Terms and Conditions of Employment
Copies available from employer

12. Your Rights Right to participate in Union activities
Right to representation before management on employment issues
Right to participate in OHS and safe workplace
Right to strike when notified by PSAC
Right to current job description
Right to harassment/violence free workplace

13. Union Position
Union has a zero tolerance for harassment or bullying in all workplaces and in the union
Notify your supervisor of any incident and contact your Union representative
Report any observations of others to your Supervisor
Take Leadership for a Respectful workplace

14. Useful Links
Agriculture Union :
PSAC:
PSAC Regional Offices:
Atlantic:
British Columbia:
National Capital Region:
Ontario:
Prairies:
Québec:
Agriculture Union By Laws:
Treasury Board:
National Joint Council:
Public Service Labour Relations Board:
Collective agreements:
Treasury Board - Program and Administrative Services
(AS, CM, CR, DA, IS, OE, PM, ST, WP)
Treasury Board - Operational Services
(FR, HP, HS, GL, GS, LI, SC, PR-S)
Treasury Board - Technical Services
(DD, EG, GT, PI, PY, TI)
Treasury Board - Education and Library Science
(ED, EU, LS)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Have the participants take the appropriate sheet from their kit. Explain that the Agriculture Union represents both Treasury Board members and CFIA members.

15. Thank You