A personal message from the President

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

After a great deal of reflection, I have made the difficult decision to conclude my tenure as President & CEO, effective at the end of 2026.

Putting those words on paper, and saying them aloud, weighs heavily on me. Leading this great organization and standing alongside tens of thousands of professional public servants over the past 12 years has been a profound responsibility and an extraordinary privilege.

When I assumed the role of President, I did so with a vision to build upon the strong foundation I had the good fortune to inherit and to honour the trust you placed in me.

Together, we have made remarkable progress and transformed our union in ways once beyond our reach.

Together, we:

• Grew our collective voice from 11,000 to 18,000 members and from 6 to 12 bargaining units—with more to come soon.
• Stood united in the long, hard battle needed to successfully overturn Bill 124, secure strong remedies for members, and restore respect for public service.
• Negotiated cumulative compensation increases exceeding 30 percent over the past decade and created and expanded Healthcare Spending Account benefits to support you and your families.
• Twice defended our right to flexible work in bargaining—and for four years made hybrid work the norm for our members and thousands of other public servants. The fight continues. 
• Tripled our financial reserves to $100 million and modernized our governance structure to ensure greater democratic representation and increase member and leader engagement.
• Doubled our staff complement and significantly expanded our capabilities in labour relations, engagement, education, and communications, delivering service levels that are now the envy of our peers and allies.
• Strengthened our reputation, provincially and nationally, as a modern, progressive union committed to defending public services and protecting the professionals who deliver them.

I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident that the organization we have built and the progress we’ve achieved will continue. 

Unions matter. They are, in every sense, our common shield—and the bedrock of our job security and financial livelihoods. Beyond our health and our families, few things are more important than the value of our work and the dignity that comes with fair compensation and respectful treatment. The opportunities and protections we enjoy today did not happen by accident. They were earned through the determination, sacrifice, and leadership of union activists and members who came before us.

I have also long believed that leadership should evolve with each generation to best reflect the people it serves and the challenges of its time.

After twelve years, I believe our union is best served by a change in perspective. Just as past transitions have reinvigorated and strengthened the union, a brand new generation of leadership can bring fresh energy, innovative ideas, and a renewed connection to the evolving needs of our members.

Whether in the ongoing fight to preserve flexible work against government overreach, or in meeting the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, I encourage our next leader to draw strength from what previous generations have built and to have the confidence to chart their own course. Our union's future success will depend, as it always has, on respecting our past while embracing the future.

To members, I say, do not rely solely on the goodwill of governments or employers. Do not rely exclusively on your elected leaders or professional staff. And do not take for granted the commitment of the workplace activists who carry the union's work forward every day. If you value your livelihood and all that it affords you, your family, and your community—I encourage you to shoulder some weight, knowing that the strength of our union has always rested not in any one leader, but in the collective commitment of its members.

I know you’ll keep pushing our movement forward, because we are, and always will be, stronger together.

Finally, to those who stood beside me, championed the cause, embraced a shared vision, or simply cheered from the sidelines, you have my deepest gratitude.

When all is said and done, when positions have changed and accomplishments have faded into history, my humble hope is that you felt well represented. I hope that you felt heard. I hope that you felt more resilient and more secure because of the work we undertook together. And above all, I hope you felt proud of your union.

Serving as your President has been a great honour. To have done so with the confidence, trust, and support of 18,000 members is a privilege for which I will remain forever grateful.

Stronger together!