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Henriette Pollon marks an amazing four decades as union officer,
45 years as federal employee
Reminder - CFIA bargaining proposals due
in Agriculture Union National Office by July 28
PI Review Update - Major employer staff vacancies delaying process
Henriette
Pollon marks an amazing four decades as union officer, 45 years
as federal employee
(Posted
July 25, 2006)
The
name Henriette Pollon is instantly recognizable to almost anyone
who has been active in the Agriculture Union over the past four
decades.
This
year, Henriette marks two awesome anniversaries: 40 years as
a union officer, and 45 years as an employee of the federal
government. Her achievement has challenged everyone –
union and management alike – to find ways to suitably
mark these virtually unprecedented feats.
The
above photo was taken last May, when Henriette’s own Local
50073 paid tribute to her many achievements.
While the term ‘living legend’ is often overused,
the description is most apt in Henriette’s case. Her involvement
in union activities began in 1966, preceding the following year’s
formal founding of the Agriculture Union and the arrival of
limited collective bargaining in the federal public service.
She
went on to hold almost every conceivable union office, culminating
with her election in 1993 as the first-ever woman to hold the
position of National Vice-President. Not for nothing did last
year’s Convention honour her with a Life Membership in
our Union.
Henriette
joined the federal public service in 1961, working as a seed
analyst in the Winnipeg laboratory of what is now the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency. Her personal contribution to this area
of work was recognized by the Manitoba Branch of The Canadian
Seed Growers Association, which made Henriette a Honourary Life
Member of that organization.
After
‘only’ 24 years in the seed analyst position, Henriette
traded the focused indoors for the great outdoors in becoming
an agriculture inputs inspector. She has held this ‘new’
job for a mere 21 years!
Typically,
Henriette celebrated her anniversary date as a government worker
tramping through the timothy fields of Manitoba, doing what
she has done for 45 years – diligently and competently
serving the Canadian public.
Reminder
– CFIA bargaining proposals due in Agriculture Union National
Office by July 28
(posted
July 21, 2006)
As
previously noted, bargaining proposals from our Canadian Food
Inspection Agency membership for the upcoming round of negotiations
with the employer must arrive in the Agriculture Union National
Office no later than July 28.
An
explanation of the process and a blank bargaining proposal form
were posted on our Web site on June 28. Please note that this
is a new form now being used by our bargaining agent, the Public
Service Alliance. While the content is identical to an older
PSAC form, Locals are asked to use the new form.
As
a further assistance to Locals, a sample of a completed bargaining
proposal form is attached for downloading in your choice of
RTF or PDF format:
Sample
Completed Bargaining Proposal Form 
PI
Review Update – Major employer staff vacancies delaying
process
(posted
July 20, 2006)
The
National Office shares the frustration of our Canadian Food
Inspection Agency members with management's slowness in
dealing with grievances flowing from the PI Review.
In
fact, the employer's handling of the PI Review grievances
has practically ground to a halt. The reason is that
the key CFIA HR staff have been stampeding for the exit
signs, leaving the branch decimated.
As
the cliché goes, it takes two to tangle…and
to deal with grievances. Unfortunately, it is difficult
to see matters improving until CFIA has 'staffed up'.
We keep swinging…but at thin air!
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AGRICULTURE UNION - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | 
