Jackie Oswald wins Building Futures Award
By Joan Janzen
Jackie Oswald was the recent recipient of the Sheilagh Hanson Building Futures Award for Mentorship. Jackie is the Regional Vice President (RVP) for Saskatchewan and Manitoba and is the longest-serving RVP, having been involved since 1993. The Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE) congratulated her on her achievement.
Jackie has worked all of her career to build up members, particularly women, spending time talking with them and encouraging them to maximize their education in the workplace and the union. Her mission is to keep everyone informed and not hold on to information.
The award was previously called the “Building Futures Award” but was changed because the award spoke loudly about what Sheilagh stood for. This award is presented to a member who mentors others in their workplace or union - someone with a kind heart that recognizes the value of mentorship and invests time into the success of others. Someone who teaches, encourages and guides others in their development and involvement.
“I was doing the labour relations end of things and being a problem solver. We solve things without grievances and work to find a solution. They trained me to be a mediator,” Jackie explained. The process involves a lot of meetings and interest-based negotiation. “Everyone is heard, and everyone feels valuable to the team. And then you bring them together to find a solution.”
Jackie’s role also involved getting the ear of Members of Parliament by telling them how they keep both their RCMP members and Canadians safe. “People don’t often see the work we do,” Jackie said. That work includes handling difficult calls that deal with domestic violence, sexual abuse and post traumatic stress caused by work related experiences.
“My goal is to get these union reps to speak up. I’m talking to MPs, looking for extra mental help. In the correctional centre, they can retire sooner because of mental exhaustion. These are things they’re looking for,” she explained.
Sheilagh Hanson was an activist who shared the same vision and loved her work. She believed in people’s rights, and she made sure people had a voice. She wanted to make a difference for people so they could be treated fairly. This award acknowledges that Jackie has done precisely that throughout her career with USJE.
Jack Oswald (centre front) wins Sheilagh Hanson building Futures Award for Mentorship.
