SSO arbitration decisions a significant victory

SSOMoreDetails

Finally, after three-and-a-half years, we received the arbitration awards for interviewers (belonging to the RO and FI classifications) who conduct surveys for Statistics Canada.

There are a number of significant victories in the decisions:

We achieved wage increases totaling 9.6% over the life of the contract, with full retroactivity – significantly more than what management had proposed in negotiations.
We achieved new protections and rights for employees in the context of work assignments.
We got new job security rights.
There are increases in premiums.
There is new language concerning AWW’s, with the parties directed to meet and negotiate further on the issue concerning the union’s proposals.

While we did not achieve everything we asked for, we made real progress in areas that our bargaining teams indicated were critical for this round of bargaining.

We won these because of the hard work and determination of our bargaining teams and the solidarity of PSAC members at SSO.

Since the fall of 2011, PSAC has been engaged in a fight with SSO to improve working conditions for interviewers and SIs at Statistics Canada.

We held months of negotiations with the employer
We organized information pickets at SSO workplaces across the country
We organized a rally held outside Stats Can headquarters in Ottawa.
We filed legal challenges, and had jurisdictional hearings at the Labour Board
We even took both the Labour Board and SSO to Federal Court.
And we got a member of Parliament to question the government about SSO’s refusal to negotiate a fair contract with us.

We should all be proud of the work we did to achieve these victories, despite it being a difficult and lengthy round of bargaining.

The next round will begin shortly, and given the position taken by the government with other PSAC bargaining units, we can also expect it to be tough. Now is the time for members to not only take the time to learn about and understand the rights provisions under our new contracts, but also to prepare for the coming round. We will provide a more detailed list of all the changes in the new collective agreements very soon.

Source: www.psacunion.ca

2015/03/312015/04/20

SSO arbitration decision finally released

The long-awaited arbitration decisions for both the Regional Officer and the Field Interviewer bargaining units were finally released late on Monday, March 30, 2015.

PSAC will be analyzing the arbitral awards for both the RO and FI units and will be posting this analysis, along with previously signed-off language, on the PSAC website as soon as possible.

In the interim, we can share with you the following:

Both Collective Agreements are effective December 1, 2011, which means wage increases will be paid retroactively to this date.
Both Collective Agreements expired effective on November 30, 2014.
Notice to Bargain for renewal agreements will be sent to the employer immediately.
The input call for proposals will be sent to all locals immediately.
A bargaining conference to elect the bargaining teams and prioritize bargaining proposals will be held later this year. We will provide notice of the dates of that conference as soon as possible.

Please continue to check this website for news of the provisions of your collective agreements and of developments as we move forward.

2015/03/222015/04/09

World Water Day – March 22

WaterDay

Last Friday, water rights were top of the agenda at the human rights committee meeting. Creative juices were flowing as the members around the boardroom table offered their ideas for a campaign aimed at promoting awareness of water as a human right.

During our 2014 convention, delegates voted in favour of a resolution to “fund the continuation of the water rights campaign adopted at the 2013 human rights conference.”

And when it comes to water, there are a ton of worrisome issues; there are countless communities in our own country who don’t have access to clean water, water is increasingly being privatized, major cities are seeing boil advisories…. And that doesn’t even include issues in the developing world.

“There was a lot of interest and discussion around the table,” said Geoff Ryan, national vice-president for human rights. “People felt very passionate about the issue; it’s a topic that’s very important to us.”

And for some, the issue hit particularly close to home. Jacqueline Nanali, who is a regional human rights representative in Manitoba, shared her experience with the boil advisory that affected all of Winnipeg, late last January.

“Everyone was running to the stores to pick up bottled water,” said Nanali. “Some chiefs, from nearby First Nations communities came back and said ‘well, this is what happens in our communities; this is how we live.’”

“I think it’s important for us to realize just how important water is. For me, losing basic access to water and having to boil water all day just for a simple glass of water to drink or a cup of tea… or just to brush my teeth; it really opened my eyes.”

The city of Winnipeg issued the boil advisory January 27 when the presence of E. coli was detected in the water supply; it was lifted 48 hours later. For two days, Winnipeggers were forced to boil water each time they needed to drink, cook meals, or make infant formula.

This incident garnered national attention from the media, but there are over a thousand boil advisories across Canada at this very moment. For many communities, what Winnipeg experienced is a daily reality.

After some fruitful discussions, the human rights committee members agreed that more light needs to be shed on how political decisions impact accessible clean water for Canadian communities. They dedicated a great portion of the day towards fleshing out a campaign.

“We’re very much in the beginning stages, but I’m excited to see what this will look like,” said Ryan. “We’re hoping to reach a broad swath of the Canadian public; I think many of the great ideas I heard around the table will help us accomplish just that.”

2015/03/202015/04/09

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – March 21

By Jennifer Chieh Ho

In 1966, the United Nations designated March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It was meant to commemorate the 1960 massacre that took place in Sharpeville, South Africa, where a demonstration that started off as peaceful, ended with shots fired by police. That day, 69 South Africans were killed and over 180 were injured. The demonstrators took to the street to protest; they called on the apartheid government to abolish laws that required all black men and women to carry reference books containing their personal information. If someone was found without their book in a public place, they would be arrested and detained in prison.

Canada was among the first countries to support the UN resolution designating March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Our nation first observed the day in 1989.

However, 49 years later, there is still much work to be done to wipe out racism. Every day, people are subjected to racist comments and stereotypes in the media, schools, public spaces and workplaces.

Continually putting the spotlight on race, ethnic background and skin colour creates an atmosphere where racial discrimination can thrive. Whether intentional or not, actions towards people based on their race, ethnic backgrounds or skin colour can have a negative impact on the day-to-day lives of racialized members of society.

I am often asked:

“Where are you from?”

“What is your background?”

“Where did you learn English?”

I am often subjected to unsolicited comments such as:

“You don’t look Chinese.”

“You speak good English.”

I recognize that questions are often asked out of curiosity, but it’s the manner in which questions are asked that is key! If the questions are asked as a means to get to know me and are asked in a respectful way, then, in the spirit of open dialogue, they are welcomed. If questions or comments pander to racial stereotypes, then please do not ask them or state them.

I am ethnic Chinese, but I am not from China (yet I have been told to “go back to China!”). This is a common remark made to racially-visible persons.

I am a Canadian with three children, two of whom were born in Canada; imagine how you would feel if your children were told to go back to a country they were not born in! Would you feel that your children were welcome and respected in their birthplace?

We live in a country of great diversity – one where everyone should be treated equally and with respect. So why do some of us have to work so hard to get people to look beyond our ethnic backgrounds, our places of origin or our skin colour? Why can’t people look at our skill sets, our abilities, our education, our experiences, and, most importantly, at our worth as individuals, instead? It’s sad to see that racial discrimination still exists. The only thing that will make a difference is when each and every individual is treated with respect and dignity – when we are all accepted on the basis of our own unique merits. In order to actively eliminate racial discrimination, we have to continue to educate and speak up. And we must actively work on racism, both on a personal and institutional level, for our children and for future generations.

Jennifer Chieh Ho is the regional vice-president for the British Columbia and Yukon region. This article was written as part of our union’s member journalism program. If you’d like to find out more, click here – to pitch a story or for any questions, please send an email to communications@une-sen.org.

2015/03/192015/03/24

International Day of the Francophonie

JourneeDeLaFrancophonie

By Karl Lafrenière

Each year, my grandmother spends the greater part of the winter in Florida. For a few years now, I’ve been driving her car there so that she has the ability to run errands once she’s there. The first time I did that long drive to the Sunshine State, I travelled with my brother.

We stopped pretty regularly, picking up snacks for the road. One stop I’ll never forget was in South Carolina. It was late at night and we needed to get fresh supplies for the road ahead. When we entered the corner store, my brother and I were speaking French while we discussed what we intended to purchase. Once we made our way to the cash register, the cashier greeted us with a “Bonjour” and asked us, in French, if we had found everything we had been looking for.

My brother and I were surprised to hear this person speaking French to us, with a strong accent; we replied in English, as a means of accommodation.

The cashier was quick to tell us, once again in French: “No, please speak to me in French. I never have the chance to practice this great language, so when I have the opportunity, I take advantage of it.”

We happily finished our conversation in French.

Once we arrived in Florida, my brother and I decided to recount our corner store adventure to our grandmother. We were soon even more enthralled to learn that my grandmother’s friend had recently made a presentation to a conference held by the Alliance Française de Sarasota.

I’m proud to know that my language is sprinkled around the world; in the most unexpected places.

There is even an organization that represents Francophones across the world: the International Organization of La Francophonie. Created in 1970, its mission is to “embody the active solidarity between its 80 member states and governments (57 members and 23 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population of over 890 million people, including 220 million French speakers.”

Its members share the use of the French language and the values of “La Francophonie”, which includes working in solidarity to promote the French language, as well as cultural and linguistic diversity, democracy, human rights and education.

But even if someone doesn’t identify as Francophone, this doesn’t mean they’re not genuinely interested in our language. And it’s up to us, as Francophones, to foster that interest.

So, if I may, in conclusion, propose some friendly advice to my fellow Francophones: when someone attempts to speak with you in French – even if they struggle – don’t switch to English. We too often do this to be helpful, but I believe this isn’t helpful at all. We should embrace their efforts and provide them with a unique opportunity to practice our cherished language.

Karl Lafrenière is the regional vice-president for the Outside Canada region and a member of our francophone committee. This article was written as part of our union’s member journalism program. If you’d like to find out more, click here – to pitch a story or for any questions, please send an email to communications@une-sen.org.

2015/03/162015/03/31

SSO members: still waiting…

SSO Members Still Waiting

Our members at Statistical Survey Operations are still waiting on news of their new collective agreement. Unfortunately, we don’t have any news to share right now. We’re, quite simply, still waiting with you.

When we last reported on the arbitration process in January, we told you that a decision should be rendered within three to five weeks. Unfortunately, the arbitration board is taking more time than was originally expected.

Since we presented our submissions, we have had no control over the process. We appreciate that this is a lot for us to ask from members who have been waiting four years for a decision.

Members of SSO have done a lot of waiting throughout this bargaining process. It’s been a tough one; negotiations first reached impasse in 2012. After filing for arbitration, the process was greatly delayed by an employer that challenged our ability to negotiate some of our bargaining proposals before the arbitration board.

What’s next:

Once the decision of the arbitration board is issued, PSAC will inform members at SSO of the decision. We also know that this delay has led to speculation among some members. All we can tell you is that any rumours you may hear are completely unfounded because no report has been published. No one, including our own bargaining team, has been informed of any decisions rendered so far.

How to get the news immediately:

The minute the news is published on our website, we’ll disseminate it on Facebook and Twitter. If you’d prefer to be emailed the minute the news is released, we can commit to that too: just send an email to communications@une-sen.org and tell us that you’d like to be informed as soon as the news becomes available.

Once again, we can’t express how much we appreciate our members’ patience throughout this process. We know it’s been a long and arduous road; we look forward to seeing you at the finish line.

2014/11/12

UNE – Human Rights Calendar is back!

HRCalendar

The UNE Human Rights Calendar that debuted at Convention in August, is now available to all members.

The Human Rights Committee decided to create a 2015 calendar to showcase the colours of our union. The pictures represent our union, our workplace and our diversity. We also wish to thank everyone who submitted wonderful and colourful pictures we are so proud to display in our 2015 – Human Rights Calendar.

What better gift can we give ourselves than one of pride and solidarity for 2015. Calendars are still available in the component office on a first come first serve basis. Please contact your Regional Human Rights Representative if you would like to receive more.

2014/10/31

Support healthy workplaces

Healthy-workplaceshighres-E

Do you support paid sick leave for federal government works – and for all workers across Canada? No one should face a choice between going to work sick or losing pay.

Treasury Board has proposed a “Go to work sick” plan that would encourage people to come to work sick, passing the germs onto their co-workers or the public they serve.

Click here to visit the PSAC website and sign the pledge – support the union’s efforts to negotiate provisions that will result in a healthier workplace.

2014/10/242014/10/24

A message to UNE members following the Ottawa Shootings

OttawaShootings

The incidents that shook the nation on Wednesday remind us all of what is important – family, friends and loved ones. As union members, we have always recognized these fundamental principles.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo.

We are proud of the work of all first responders during this chaotic day, and every day. It reminds all Canadians that the work they do, whether seen or unseen, is to serve and safeguard all Canadians.

In the coming weeks and months, we will work with all our employers to review and enhance workplace safety practices and procedures in order to ensure that members – and members of the public alike – can access the services we provide without fear.

We understand that these events were traumatic for many. We would like to remind you that Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselling services are available to discuss how the events this week affected you, either in groups or on an individual basis. For more information, please contact your human resources department.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees – PSAC

2013/12/17

Update on Passport Canada

Thanks to the Harper government slicing and dicing Passport Canada, we have a few updates for the members who now work for the passport program at Employment and Social Development Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Transitions, transitions…

The transition is now progressing through the first phase, which saw Passport Canada’s responsibilities transferred to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and service-delivery become the domain of Employment and Social Development Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

Starting in April 2014, phase one will progress to the stage where members working in internal services who directly support passport operations will be divvied up proportionally between the two departments; in other words, this transition will see some members who are now with Citizenship and Immigration Canada get transferred to Service Canada.

“Right now, I might be dealing with a single person in labour relations who can address issues affecting all former passport members, whether they now belong to Service Canada or Citizenship and Immigration Canada,” explained Rose Touhey, an assistant regional vice-president for the Outside Canada region and President of Local 70130. “After April 1, nobody will be intermingling anymore.”

The final step is really separating the operations of what’s left of Passport Canada. The Union of National Employees is concerned that this step might lead to some job cuts.

“The employer recently told us that some of the internal services positions allocated to the passport program at Citizenship and Immigration Canada are likely to be abolished,” explained National President Doug Marshall.

The employer plans to achieve these reductions by eliminating vacant positions and through attrition – but we haven’t been provided with specific numbers.

“They originally told us everything would stay the same – but that was in phase one.”

Then there’s that huge grievance…

This all started when some employers decided to hit the pause button on the Treasury Board directive that sees term employees become indeterminate after three years of service.

“Term employees filed grievances at all major passport offices across Canada,” said Marshall.

After a brief discussion with the employer on November 6, the parties agreed to combine these grievances into one group grievance.

“The employer and the union also agreed that these grievances would go directly to the third level,” added Marshall.

This ensures that any response we get comes from the person at the right decision-making level.

The outcome of these grievances will apply to all term employees who were formerly employed by Passport Canada, and who continue to be term employees of the passport program as of August 2, 2013 – even those who didn’t sign the initial group grievances.

“The really mind-boggling issue here is that Passport Canada was never affected by the freeze that affected so many terms across Treasury Board,” said Marshall. “It didn’t affect them because Passport Canada is self-funded; the program continues to be self-funded. So, there’s simply no reason why the freeze should suddenly apply to these term employees.”