2023 President Year End Message

Dear PEA members,

As 2023 begins to wind down, I wanted to reach out to share some positive news about the union and recap some of the significant events from the past year.

Please join me in welcoming our new Labour Relations Officer, Laura Kate Jeffreys, to the PEA. Laura Kate will be applying her extensive labour relations experience to support our members in the GLP alongside Melissa Moroz. She will also be supporting our new SGS AXYS members and negotiating their first collective agreement. Before joining the PEA, Laura Kate spent 12 years with the Civic Service Union 52 in Edmonton as a Labour Relations Officer.

Congratulations to Senior Communication Officer, Jordana Whetter, who won six International Labour Communication Association awards for the PEA in 2023, including three first-place awards for best infographic (FMA), best advocacy video (GLP), and best use of earned media for the GLP strike notice. It’s great to see the work of these campaigns being recognized.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent inclusion survey. The results will help shape the direction of the PEA in helping to foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. Look for more information about the union’s work on this important topic in the new year.

During our recent strategic planning session with the entire Executive, organizing and the future growth of the PEA was a hot topic. Growth enables the PEA to leverage economies of scale, add more specialized resources to support members, and increase the PEA’s public presence and influence. My thanks to Organizer Duncan Pike and Labour Relations Officer Brett Harper for all the dedication and work that has gone into bringing our new members from the Law Society, Pearson College and SGS AXYS into our union. And to these new members, as well as to the Government Lawyers, I extend the warmest of welcomes.

It’s an exciting time in the labour movement and this past year it’s been great to see so many members get involved with the PEA. Thank you to all our volunteers who have supported the union and our members, your work is much appreciated and the heart of who we are.

I look forward to connecting with many of you at our convention in 2024. Until then, I wish you all the best this holiday season.

Shawna LaRade
President