Dear members,
The tail end of summer has arrived, and the days here in the National Capital Region are already getting noticeably shorter. For those of you still on the move this posting season, I wish you safe and uneventful travels, and for those newly arrived at post, I hope the settling-in is going smoothly for you and your families. Let me catch you up on what’s been happening.
Collective Bargaining: dates are set
I’m pleased to report that PAFSO and the Employer will begin the next round of collective bargaining on October 6, with the first three days at the table scheduled for October 6, 7, and 8. Our Collective Bargaining Committee met this past Wednesday, August 19, to plan and strategize ahead of those sessions, and will meet again in September to continue that work. When we exchanged proposals in June, we knew we were heading into some difficult bargaining, and much of what happens at the table must remain confidential while negotiations are under way. I ask for your continued patience and trust in the process as we advance the priorities you’ve identified. We will keep you informed at every appropriate opportunity.
PAFSO Breakfasts: we want your ideas
This fall our PAFSO Breakfast webinar series will be returning from its summer hiatus, and we’re putting together the lineup now. Is there a topic you’d like to see covered? A speaker you’d love to hear from? An issue affecting your work or your life abroad that deserves a deeper conversation? Send your suggestions to info@pafso.com — we read every one, and some of our best sessions have come directly from member ideas.
Annual General Meeting
A reminder that the 61st PAFSO Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 19, at 1600, Ottawa time. The meeting will be held virtually so that as many members as possible can be there. If you would like to participate, please let us know by sending an email to agm-aga@pafso-apase.com with your name and department. A formal meeting invitation with the full agenda and all related documents will be sent to registered participants at a date closer to the event.
Nominations for ExCom close next Friday, August 28
If you’ve been thinking about putting your name forward for the Executive Committee, this is the moment: nominations close in one week, on Friday, August 28, at 1700, Ottawa time. There are four positions to be filled this year — one each for Trade, Political, International Assistance, and Member at Large — with elections held in accordance with Section 7 of the PAFSO Constitution.
Nominations must be in writing, supported on the form by at least three regular members, and must reach the Secretary before the deadline. (Please note that while your nominators don’t need to sign the form, it is a good idea to copy them when you send it in. If they are not copied, our office will reach out to them to verify the nomination.) You can find the full details and the nomination form in our July 16th email. The commitment is a manageable one: ExCom meets virtually one Thursday a month from 1200–1400 Ottawa time, and each member also works with at least one committee — about 6–8 hours per month in all. If you’d like a better sense of what the role entails, our YouTube video on the subject explains it all. [Production note: swap this for the direct link to the ExCom explainer video used in the July 17 post.] At a moment like this one for the Foreign Service, ExCom is where you can turn your views into action, I hope you’ll consider it.
One week left to nominate someone for the Randy Orr Memorial Award
The Randy Orr Memorial Award honours the memory of our long-serving Executive Committee colleague, who passed away in September 2021. It recognizes exceptional volunteer service to the foreign service community — the people who, outside the framework of their paid employment, have made life better for those who serve Canada abroad. Nominations are open to anyone, including PAFSO members, their families, and other colleagues.
If someone comes to mind, you have until Friday, August 28 to nominate them. Send an email to info@pafso.com telling us who they are, what they’ve done, and why it has made a difference, along with the written support of three people — at least one of whom must be a current regular PAFSO member. The award will be presented at a virtual ceremony immediately following our AGM on October 19.
PAFSO in the news
Last week, The Hill Times published a front-page article, “Canada will lose influence if diplomacy transformed to singular focus on trade, say former envoys,” in which several former ambassadors raised concerns about narrowing Canada’s diplomacy to a single commercial track. I provided a statement on PAFSO’s behalf, making the case that effective economic diplomacy involves far more than trade promotion — it depends on the expert knowledge and long-standing networks that you, our members, build over entire careers, and it requires proper support, resources, and infrastructure for the foreign service officers who deliver on the government’s priorities at home and abroad. Rest assured that we will keep making this case to decision makers and the public alike.
As always, should you have any other concerns at work, do not hesitate to reach out to us. That’s what we’re here for. Are you having issues with your pay? Do you feel harassed or discriminated against? Do you have a grievance or a staffing complaint? Or do you just want some clarifications on our collective agreement or the FSDs? Whatever the case, PAFSO is here for you. Just send us an email with your name, department and a detailed description of your concerns. You can click here to learn more about all the member services PAFSO has to offer. For anything and everything else, please send us an email at info@pafso.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
My next message to you will arrive on September 4. Until then, please take care of yourselves and each other.
Pamela Isfeld
President of PAFSO