National Board of Directors - On-Line

World Peace: PSAC Resolution

Introduction

In January 2003 the PSAC National Board of Directors approved a Motion that resolved that the PSAC "work with the Labour Movement in all countries to foster peace and lower tensions that can lead to military action and the loss of life that accompanies it".

When adopting this Motion, members of the NBoD were fully aware of the concerns expressed by UNDE and particularly the fact that if demonstrations—including demonstrations against the impending war in Iraq—take place outside Department of National Defense bases across the country, they may be viewed as PSAC members demonstrating against PSAC/UNDE members. Subsequent to the adoption of the January 2003 Motion, a number of UNDE members have expressed this same view to members of the Alliance Executive Committee.  In a February 10, 2003 open letter to PSAC/UNDE Local Presidents, PSAC National President Turmel assured UNDE members that it is not our intention to pit member against member and that we will work to ensure that our UNDE members are treated with respect.

At the January NBoD meeting, a significant number of Board members expressed a concern that the PSAC not support or promote protest activities that include demonstrations outside DND bases. Many of the NBoD members who took this position voted for the resolution. They did so out of respect for UNDE and UNDE members.

As a result, while the PSAC nationally, regionally or locally may endorse and support peace marches and protests that are against Canadian involvement in the impending war in Iraq, in support of continued United Nations inspection and disarmament activity within Iraq, and against unilateral U.S. action, we do not believe that a formal PSAC presence is appropriate when the demonstrations take place outside Department of Defence bases.

In a letter to Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti, PSAC National President Nycole Turmel stated that:

"As I am sure you will appreciate, our Union of National Defence Employees members who work for the Department of National Defence are not the decision makers. As a result, and while we remain committed to working with the CLC, affiliates and coalition partners to promote peace in the world, we are equally committed to ensuring that our members do not feel victimized for performing the work that they were hired to do.

In the light of these concerns, I am requesting that when affiliates, Federations of Labour, District Labour Councils, and coalition partners are advising the CLC of upcoming plans for demonstrations that you advise them of our concern and urge them to demonstrate against the decision makers and not at Department of National Defence bases where our members work."

What does this mean in terms of PSAC and PSAC member involvement in peace marches?

First of all, all PSAC members have a right to participate in any peace demonstration regardless of where it is held. That said, and out of respect for PSAC UNDE members, we are asking that you not carry PSAC signs or banners if you are involved in a demonstration that takes place outside a Department of National Defence base where our UNDE members work.

Second, the Alliance Executive Committee has decided that it will not, at the national or regional level, endorse demonstrations that are planned, if the demonstration is scheduled to take place outside a Department of Defence facility where our members work. We are asking that our Locals consider doing the same thing. This does not prevent our officers, members or staff from individually participating, but simply that they not carry PSAC flags or banners when demonstrating in front of Department of Defence bases.

Third, the Alliance Executive Committee has decided that any links on PSAC national and regional web sites that lead to information on peace marches and the peace movement hosted by the CLC, Federations of Labour, affiliates and coalition partners will, as well, provide a link to this page and the PSAC January 2003 NBoD Peace Motion. 

PEACE MOTION – JANUARY 2003 NBoD MEETING  

WHEREAS Individual Nation States have a right to protect their sovereignty; and 

WHEREAS the United Nations has a right to protect the collective sovereignty of all nations, and ensure that Individual Nation States do not infringe on the rights of any other country; and  

WHEREAS conflicts between countries that escalate into military action have the potential to undermine collective security; and

WHEREAS peaceful solutions to conflicts between countries protect lives, advance economic development and is in the best interest of workers world wide:   

WHEREAS the PSAC supports Canada having the necessary defence resources to defend Canadian sovereignty and assist the United Nations:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the PSAC work with the Labour Movement in all countries to foster peace and lower tensions that can lead to military action and the loss of life that accompanies it.