Protecting the Career You Worked So Hard to Build
Sgt. Neal Machek — NPF Board of Directors Candidate
Please make MACHEK the #1 choice on the ballot. Ranking matters, and I am asking for this because I will protect the career you worked so hard to build.
Every election, candidates promise a better CBA and competitive pay raises. I support those priorities. Like you, I want our compensation to reflect the current policing demands. We must also ask: What good are better paycheques if your career ends before you can earn a full pension or if you aren't healthy enough to enjoy it?
Negotiating the next contract is vital and protecting the career you have worked so hard to build is just as important. That is why I am seeking your support for election to the NPF Board of Directors. I am running on a track record of operational experience and specialized expertise. I understand where the systems are currently failing our members.
A System Under Strain
Our current system is under immense strain. In British Columbia, a mere handful of Occupational Health Services physicians support approximately 7,000 Members. This bottleneck leads to devastating delays in reviewing medical information and advancing return-to-work planning.
The statistics are clear: Research shows that once a member has been away from work for one year, the likelihood of a successful return to work drops to 20%. We see far too many members forced into medical retirement after only 5, 10, or 15 years of service. These are not just statistics; they are careers cut short, experience lost, and families whose futures are permanently altered.
While our policies are national, the application of disability management and accommodation differs wildly across divisions. We cannot accept a system where a member's career depends on their postal code. You deserve consistency, fairness, and equal treatment regardless of where you serve.
Real People. Real Stakes.
I currently serve as the NCO i/c for the Duty to Accommodate (DTA) Unit in E and M Divisions. Every day, I work with members facing the most difficult moments of their lives: serious injuries, chronic illnesses, medical employment limitations, and the prospect of medical retirement.
These are not abstract policy discussions. They are real people, our colleagues, whose financial security and families are directly impacted by the decisions made at the board level.
"Will I be able to keep my career?
"How will I provide for my family?
"Will I ever return to operational policing?
I have an in-depth understanding of disability management, medical retirement pathways, and the legislation governing them.
Grounded in Real Experience
My perspective is grounded in the reality of our work. Throughout my 15-year RCMP career, I have also served in frontline policing of isolated northern communities and Federal Policing major investigations. I spent five years in the Northwest Territories, serving in Inuvik, Deline, and twelve fly-in communities, including as Acting Detachment Commander. I later spent six years in Federal Policing, leading major investigations and managing emergency deployments.
These experiences represent a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by members in every environment. I know what it's like to work without backup in the North, and I know the pressure of high-stakes federal files. I understand the physical and mental toll this job takes, and I know that when the system fails, it's the member on the ground who pays the price.
I have believed in independent member representation from the beginning. Before the NPF existed, I supported the court challenge that secured our right to unionize and joined the NPF immediately upon creation. I have served as a Local Area Representative and AGM Delegate because I believe our strength starts in our union.
If Elected, I Will Focus On:
National Standards for Disability Management Processes
We must establish a uniform, transparent framework for medical accommodation and return-to-work processes across all divisions.
Proactive Advocacy in Transitions
During the Surrey police transition, I designed the accommodation placement pathway for affected members. The NPF must be involved before major organizational changes occur, not after.
Occupational Health Services
We must advocate for enhancements or changes to eliminate the backlogs that keep members in limbo and officers on the streets shorthanded.
Evidence-Based Leadership
I will bring a practical, and collaborative, data-driven approach to the Board, ensuring our advocacy is grounded in the real-world needs of the membership.
Unwavering Collective Bargaining
I will fight for a contract that recognizes your value, improves your quality of life, and secures your financial future.
You deserve competitive pay, a strong CBA, and most importantly, to finish the career you work so hard to build.
If elected, this will be my focus. I understand your work and have the experience to fix the systems that should be supporting you. Please give me the opportunity to stand up for you and rank me as your #1 choice.
Sgt. Neal Machek
Ready to make your voice heard? Rank Machek #1.
Vote Now