Good news, UNE members!
Registration for the 2026 UNE Triennial Convention has been extended until July 15, 2026.
We’ve extended registration to give you the time and support you need to participate.
Local representatives, Deputy Trustees and UNE staff are here to support you. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Click here to see how to get to convention.
Click here to register online now!
If you have any questions about 2026 Triennial Convention contact us at events@une-sen.org.
Convention is the highest decision‑making body of our union. Every three years, delegates from across the country come together to review our By‑Laws and Policies, debate resolutions, and approve the budget that guides UNE’s work. In a regular cycle, Convention is also when delegates elect the National Executive.
This year, delegates will carry out the same important Convention work. Because UNE is currently placed under Trusteeship, the election for the National Executive may take place at a later date. If that happens, only members who are accredited as delegates for the 2026 Convention will be able to vote — even if the vote occurs on a different day. This Convention is especially important. The decisions we make in August 2026 will help set the foundation for how we rebuild and move forward as a strong, member‑focused union. Your involvement — whether as a delegate, a resolution writer, or an engaged member — truly makes a difference.
We represent over 23,000 members working in 73 different workplaces, with as many collective agreements. Our members work in the public sector, the private sector, and the non‑profit sector. They work in every region of this country — and even around the world.
This diversity is one of our greatest strengths. But it also means that democracy is essential to how we function. We need voices from every workplace, every region, and every type of job to help shape the decisions that affect all of us.
That’s why your participation matters so much.
And that’s also why we extended the registration deadline — because not all Locals have sent someone yet, and we don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to take part in the Convention that represents you.
What Happens at Convention
In August, delegates work together to make decisions that guide UNE for the next three years. They will:
These decisions shape how we support members, how we grow, and how we continue building a strong, inclusive union.
Resolutions are one of the most important tools members have to influence the direction of UNE.
A resolution is simply an idea or proposal for change. It can be something you want to improve, something you want to add, or something you want the union to do differently.
Every resolution submitted is reviewed by the appropriate Convention Committee before the Convention:
Each resolution is evaluated, discussed, and prioritized for debate at Convention.
If you have ideas for improving our union, this is your moment to share them.
Click here to learn how to write and submit a resolution.
You haven’t registered yet — you still can.
You haven’t sent a resolution yet – you still can.
We want you there. Your voice, your experience, and your perspective matter.
Convention is stronger when all members are represented, and we want every Local to have the chance to participate.
Click here to see the requirements for a Local to send at least two members to Convention.
You can register until May 29th 2026.
Thank You for Being Part of This Journey
Convention is where we come together to make decisions that shape the future of UNE, and an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow activists and build lasting relationships. Whether you’re attending as a delegate, submitting a resolution, or simply learning more about the process, your involvement strengthens our union.
On May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, we reflect on what we have won together and on the power of collective action to create change in our workplaces and communities.
We mark May Day to honour the roots of our movement. On this day in 1886, in Chicago, Illinois, workers took to the streets in a general strike to fight for an eight-hour workday. Their protest was met with violence from anti-union forces determined to stop these protections from becoming reality.
But when workers stand together, we are powerful. And when we stay united in the face of backlash, we can win lasting change.
One hundred and forty years later, the eight-hour workday is the standard for many workers, and the labour movement continues to fight to protect these rights and expand them for everyone.
The eight-hour workday is just one example of what workers have won through organizing. Workers are who secured weekends, maternity and parental leave, health and safety laws, employment standards, and so many other protected rights that we benefit from today.
PSAC has a long and proud history of helping raise the bar for workers across the country.
In 1980, over 10,000 PSAC members in clerical and regulatory jobs, positions primarily held by women, organized and took action for equal pay. They won wage increases for themselves and their coworkers and helped spark broader demands for pay equity across the public service.
In 2026, we carry that struggle forward. We are working to protect the public services that make our country strong. We’re fighting for flexible work arrangements. We are pushing back against the misuse of risky AI technologies that threaten good union jobs. And we’re demanding safe and healthy workplaces for all.
Today, we recommit ourselves to the solidarity that anchors our movement. Together, we can create change in our workplaces and strengthen our communities and our country.
We do that by growing our movement and staying united.
Want to join the campaign to protect public services and workers’ rights? Visit ForYouCanada.ca to sign up and take action.
Print PSAC’s 2026 May Day poster!
Source: PSAC
On April 28, workers across Canada mark the National Day of Mourning. We remember those who have been injured, made ill, or killed because of their work, and we recommit to fighting for the living.
This year, we are highlighting an important truth: psychological health and safety is a core part of occupational health and safety. Work-related stress, burnout, harassment, violence, and exposure to trauma are still too often treated as just part of the job. These are real workplace hazards that can cause serious psychological harm, and they must be prevented like any other occupational health and safety risk.
We also know that physical injuries can lead to psychological harm. Living with pain, trauma, long recoveries, or dealing with drawn-out workers’ compensation cases can take a significant toll on mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, or depression. That’s why physical and psychological health must be addressed together.
PSAC and UNE join the Canadian Labour Congress in urging all levels of government to treat psychological health with the same seriousness as physical health under occupational health and safety and workers’ compensation legislation. That means addressing psychological hazards in the workplace through prevention, risk assessment, enforcement, and stronger protections for workers.
PSAC and UNE are committed to fighting for safer workplaces where both physical and psychological health are protected. To find out how to take action in your workplace, contact your local, check out PSAC’s health and safety toolkit, or learn more about the work PSAC members do at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
Day of Mourning ceremonies are happening across the country. Visit the Canadian Labour Congress’ website to find one near you.
Source: PSAC
Good news, UNE members.
The registration deadline for the 2026 UNE Triennial Convention has been extended.
New registration deadline: May 29, 2026
This extension gives more UNE members the opportunity to vote for their delegates. Delegates will register and take part in the Convention, where important discussions and decisions about the future of our union will take place.
Click here to register online now!
Click here to see how to get to convention.
If you have any questions about 2026 Triennial Convention contact us at events@une-sen.org.
The 2026 PSAC National Young Workers Conference will be held November 7-9, 2026, in Ottawa under the theme Young Workers: Taking Power, Challenging Norms.
PSAC members in good standing who are 35 and under are invited to register. During the conference, delegates will take part in workshops, debate resolutions, and participate in elections. The conference is an opportunity for young workers to continue the important work of building union militancy and activism and strengthening the fight to improve the working conditions of all PSAC members.
Young workers interested in attending the conference as delegates or observers must apply by Friday, May 29, 2026. Selected delegates will be notified by email by September 1, 2026.
All resolutions must be submitted by Friday, June 19, 2026.
If you have any questions about applying or attending the conference, call (613) 560- 2597 or contact us by email at conferences@psac-afpc.com.
UNE young workers: don’t miss your chance to be part of this national conversation. Register today and help drive the change you want to see.
Source: PSAC
This week, UNE delegates from locals in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are gathering in Winnipeg for the 2026 Regional Seminar. Over three days, participants will explore practical tools, share experiences from their workplaces, and strengthen the connections that support effective representation.
The seminar is designed to help delegates build confidence in their roles, deepen their understanding of key issues, and leave with what they need to move forward:
We’re looking forward to a productive and energizing week together in Winnipeg — and to seeing the ideas, relationships, and momentum that delegates will carry back to their locals.
Every year on March 8, UNE joins a global movement that began more than a century ago — rooted in labour activism, collective struggle, and the fight for equality. International Women’s Day has never been only a celebration. It has always been a call to action.
In 2026, that call still matters.
Across UNE, women continue to shape our union through their leadership, their advocacy, and their everyday contributions. We are proud of the women who strengthen our movement — but pride alone isn’t enough. Equity requires action, solidarity, and honest conversations about where we are and where we still need to go.
Women remain an equity‑seeking group in workplaces across Canada, including within our own union structures. Progress is real, but so are the gaps. And while representation has improved, representation alone doesn’t guarantee equity. The work continues — on the shop floor, in leadership spaces, and in the everyday interactions that shape our workplaces and communities.
What Has Changed — and What Hasn’t
Across UNE, we’ve seen meaningful steps forward:
But we also see the ongoing challenges:
These realities remind us that equity isn’t a milestone — it’s a practice.
Equity is a union issue.
When any group faces systemic barriers, the entire labour movement is weakened. When we remove those barriers, we strengthen our collective power.
At UNE, solidarity means showing up for each other — not only when it’s easy, but when it requires reflection, learning, and change. It means listening to women’s experiences, believing them, and acting on what we hear. It means recognizing that gender equity intersects with race, class, disability, sexuality, and culture.
A Conversation Worth Having
This year, we’re inviting UNE members to reflect with us:
These aren’t rhetorical questions. They’re an invitation to shape the future of our movement together.
Moving Forward, Together
International Women’s Day is a reminder that equity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through collective action, shared responsibility, and the courage to keep pushing for better.
We’re proud of the women in UNE. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made.
We move forward when we move together.
Further Reading
The countdown is officially on! In just a few months, UNE delegates from across the country will gather in Montréal for the 2026 UNE Triennial Convention, taking place August 24–28, 2026, at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
Convention is where members come together, exchange ideas, and help chart the direction of our union for the years ahead. This is your opportunity to bring forward your experiences, your vision, and your voice.
When Convention returns, it brings with it renewed energy, long‑awaited discussions, and the chance to collectively set priorities for the future.
Delegates from locals across the country will debate and vote on resolutions, strengthen our internal democracy, and build solidarity by connecting with fellow members.
To send delegates to Convention, locals must be in conformance by submitting the required financial documents.
Delegates and alternates must be elected at a general Local meeting. The number of delegates your local can send depends on the number of members in good standing. Larger locals may send up to five delegates.
Locals in conformance may also send observers at the Local’s expense, not at the member’s personal expense. Observers can attend Convention, follow the debates, and be part of the experience, but they do not participate in voting.
Not sure if your local is sending observers?
Ask your local representative — you might be pleasantly surprised!
Many locals welcome the opportunity to include more members in Convention activities.
Locals are encouraged to form a resolutions committee (often 3–5 members) to review and prepare proposals from the membership. Locals may also create theme‑specific committees, such as for constitution & bylaws or finance. After debate and adoption at a general membership meeting, resolutions can be submitted online through the UNE website and must be accompanied by signed minutes.
The 2026 Convention will bring together hundreds of UNE members in one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. This is our moment to reconnect, recharge, and re‑ignite our shared purpose.
We’re excited to welcome you to Montréal this summer.
Let’s build the next chapter of our union — together and in solidarity.
For more information about convention requirements and timelines, visit the official page.
Today has started Regional Seminar – BC-YT and AB-NWT-NU, please click below to access the agenda and more information:
If you have any questions regarding the event organization, please contact us at events@une-sen.org