One of the largest components of the Public Service Alliance of Canada is the Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE). We represent more than 14,000 civilian employees working in the Department of National Defence. This number includes members at the Communications Security Establishment, a number of employees of the Staff of the Personnel Support Programs (CANEX) and a growing number of private sector employers including Serco, Aramark, SunLite Cleaners, IMP, ATCO-Frontec.

The Union of National Defence Employees was formed in 1966 by a merger of National Defence Employees Association (NDEA) and those members of the Civil Service Association of Canada (CSAC) employed by the Department of National Defence. UNDE held its first triennial convention in July 1969. The Thirteenth UNDE Triennial Convention was held in Halifax, in August 2005.

The UNDE Bylaws, Regulations and Policy Guidelines as well as the Resolutions of Record are reviewed and updated at each convention.

Most UNDE members work at headquarters in Ottawa or at national defence bases located across Canada.

The two largest groups of employees represented by the component are the 2,800-member Clerical and Regulatory (CR) group and the 2,500-member General Labour (GL) group.

The GL employees are involved in many types of maintenance work and various skilled trades, such as electricity and carpentry. The group also includes machine drivers and operators, mechanics and labourers.

The CRs provide administrative services in the National Capital Region and at defence installations across the country.

UNDE has set up union-management consultation committees (UMCC) to provide a forum for the exchange of information and the solving of problems at the local level and at the national level.

The national executive of UNDE is composed of the full-time national president, a full-time executive vice-president, 10 vice-presidents and an employment equity advisor. Each vice-president is responsible for a specific geographical region.