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PSAC Members Ratify New Agreement With Treasury Board

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada working for Treasury Board have accepted new collective agreements that contain no concessions for four bargaining units representing more than 100,000 workers.

The majority of members in the Program and Administrative (PA), Technical Services (TC), Operational Services (SV), and Education and Library Science (EB) bargaining units voted in favour of the new agreements.

“I am proud of our negotiating teams for standing strong during these two long, difficult years at the table,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “It is through the hard work and commitment of the members of our bargaining teams, along with the support and solidarity from the bargaining unit members, that we were able to reach these agreements.”

Significant breakthroughs

With these agreements, PSAC achieved some significant breakthroughs:

  • Sick leave: The sick leave articles of our collective agreements will remain unchanged. The parties have negotiated a Memorandum of Agreement to establish a Task Force to develop recommendations on measures to improve employee wellness.
  • Workforce adjustment: the most significant improvements to the Workforce Adjustment agreement since it was first signed as an appendix into PSAC collective agreements in 1998.
  • Helping workers meet family demands: It has been agreed that a committee will be established to look at childcare needs. Better family leave, including provisions for extended family, have also been negotiated.
  • Mental health task force: the memorandum that established the task force is also contained in this agreement. The MOU was agreed to earlier in the bargaining process, in 2015, and the task force has already been hard at work ever since

Monetary gains

The four-year collective agreements, which expire in 2018, provide for across-the-board annual wage increases of 1.25 per cent for each year, plus other wage adjustments made for specific bargaining units and classifications.

FB group

The Border Services (FB) group was unable to conclude a tentative agreement and is proceeding to a Public Interest Commission.

More information

For more information on the agreements:

For more information about what’s next:

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Managers who worked on Phoenix get bonuses while system is still broken

A recent media article noted that 340 executives at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the department responsible for Phoenix, got performance pay. On April 5, the government gave another update on the troubled Phoenix system and had to deal with questions from the media on the bonus payments.

“Words don’t even describe how shocked we are. The government is basically saying to our members that it doesn’t matter if they get paid or not, they are not important,” said Robyn Benson, PSAC National President. “If you are a manager and you’re not doing your job, you should not get paid bonuses.”

While Deputy Minister Lemay said that only some of the mid-level executives who received the payments worked on Phoenix, PSAC maintains that any payments like this should be put on hold until the system is fixed.

Update on Phoenix progress

The government gave its latest monthly update on the Phoenix numbers. Although some progress has been made since the last update, the number of cases overall has not changed. The government said that 285,000 late transactions are still waiting to be dealt with.

The good news for some public service employees: Lemay says that the pay centre has reached “steady state” for maternity and parental leave cases and is on track to do so for disability leave cases by the end of the month. “Steady state” is when 95% of transactions are dealt with within the 20-day service standard.

Phoenix and taxes

The government has said that all T4s have been issued, but revised T4s may still be coming. Public service employees must still file their taxes by the deadline.

For public service employees whose 2016 taxes have been impacted by Phoenix and have questions, there is help available:

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PSAC Award of Merit for Members

At the Union of National Employees, and at the Public Service Alliance of Canada, much of what we do would not be possible without the tireless work of our many volunteers. That is why I am proud to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thanks to those members.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Award of Merit for members was established as an acceptable method to recognize members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada who have rendered service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence in any field of endeavour, benefiting the PSAC or its members.

Applications for the Award of Merit may be sponsored by a Local, a Component or a member of the National Board of Directors.  Please complete the application carefully. The eligibility criteria and application form can be found on the PSAC website at http://psacunion.ca/eform/submit/psac-award-of-merit-for-members

The deadline for the submission of applications to be considered in any one calendar year is November 30th.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees, PSAC

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Reminder – PSAC Pins and Certificates for Years of Service

At the Union of National Employees, and at the Public Service Alliance of Canada, much of what we do would not be possible without the tireless work of our many volunteers. That is why I am proud to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thanks to those members.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Award of Merit for members was established as an acceptable method to recognize members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada who have rendered service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence in any field of endeavour, benefiting the PSAC or its members.

Applications for the Award of Merit may be sponsored by a Local, a Component or a member of the National Board of Directors.  Please complete the application carefully. The eligibility criteria and application form can be found on the PSAC website at http://psacunion.ca/eform/submit/psac-award-of-merit-for-members

The deadline for the submission of applications to be considered in any one calendar year is November 30th.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees, PSAC

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PSAC Pins and Certificates for Years of Service

At the Union of National Employees, and at the Public Service Alliance of Canada, much of what we do would not be possible without the tireless work of our many volunteers. That is why I am proud to take this opportunity to extend a sincere thanks to those members who have made significant contributions through union activism.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has a tradition of honouring long-term officers of the PSAC with service pins and certificates. These pins and certificates can be awarded to those with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service.

If your Local wishes to nominate a member, please complete the application form and enclose a complete service history of the individual. Please pay careful attention when completing the period of service section of the form. The eligibility criteria and application forms can be found on the PSAC website.

Nominations must arrive at the UNE office no later than April 28, 2017.

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Centre of expertise on mental health in the workplace launches web site

In 2015, the Government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada established a Joint Task Force to address mental health in the workplace. Together, they identified key areas of focus with the overarching need for the federal public service to create a culture that enshrines psychological health, safety and well-being in all aspects of the workplace through collaboration, inclusivity and respect.

One of the recommendations stemming from the Technical Committee Report was the creation of a single, enterprise-wide, Centre of Expertise on mental health in the workplace.

The Centre of Expertise’s web presence aims to facilitate easy access to resources and tools for organizations, managers and employees. It is intended to help guide organization efforts to build a healthy, respectful and supportive federal public service, provide access to documents and tools and collect and share best practices.

Source: www.psacununion.ca

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Tentative Agreement Reached with Canadian Museum of History

Just before 2:00 am on Thursday morning, after 12 months of negotiations, our Bargaining Team reached a Tentative Agreement with the Canadian Museum of History. Our Bargaining Team unanimously recommends ratification of our new agreement. The agreement is a four-year collective agreement with an expiration date of March 31, 2020.

Wages

  • Market adjustments taking effect on April 1, 2016, to be applied to maximum of salary scale of $1,500.00 for E3, E4, E5 and E6, $1000.00 for E7 and E8 and $500.00 for E1, E2 (amounts pro-rated for 40-hour employees)
  • Increase in annual service pay to 2.5%.
  • Annual economic increases amounting to 5% over 4 years (1.25% per year).

Market adjustments and service pay increases implemented before annual increase.

  • All increases retroactive to April 1, 2016.
  • One-time, lump-sum signing bonus of $650.00 for all full-time employees on date of ratification, pro-rated for part time employees.
  • A joint committee to examine introduction of new wage grids for next round of negotiations.

Permanent Positions

  • Our agreement provides for the creation of 10 new permanent positions in Client Services, to be offered by seniority consistent with collective agreement.
  • Additionally, our agreement provides for the conversion of 6 part-time Client Services positions to permanent full-time
  • Temporary employees will now have the opportunity to achieve permanency after working equivalent of 2 years with museum. Employer has agreed to no artificial break in service for employees seeking to achieve permanency.

Leave

  • One-time week of vacation for all employees with 2 years of service.
  • Employees access 4 weeks’ annual vacation at 5 years of service instead of 6 years of service.
  • Employer to reimburse costs for medical certificates.
  • All time spent in public service and with other crown corporations to count towards vacation accrual.

Job Security

  • Significant new protections against layoff, including employer must make every effort to avoid layoff, as well as seniority options for voluntary departures.
  • Longer recall list, enhanced rights for employees receiving notice.

Scheduling

  • Client Services staff to now have option of working a 40-hour week, as well as many new protections with respect to how hours are scheduled.
  • New protections against permanent reduction in regularly scheduled hours for full-time employees.

Staffing

  • All vacant jobs of more than 6 months in duration that are being filled must be publicized so that union members might apply.

Classification

  • The union must now be notified in the event that a job is being modified, re-evaluated or reclassified.

For more information about our new contract and ratification, contact a member of our Bargaining Team – Patrice Remillard, Cathy Mitchell, Eric Pallotta. A full explanation of the new agreement, and a copy of the new language, will be provided at the ratification meeting. We’ll be sure to provide an update once we have a date and location confirmed for the vote.

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Departments have flexibility to issue emergency pay to employees affected by Phoenix

Treasury Board has reminded Deputy Heads of their discretionary authority to support employees whose pay has been affected by Phoenix.

This applies to employees who are owed money because of delays in the processing of their acting, their allowances, overtime and extra duty payments, as well as salary increases related to a promotion or pay increments.

Deputy Heads and their delegated managers have the discretion to make a priority payment for money owed to employees, particularly when the outstanding payments have been accumulating over an extended period of time and the amount owed is creating financial hardship.

Members should contact their union representative if they face difficulties with accessing this support.

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Ratification votes for members in the TC, PA, SV and EB bargaining units

PA Group: Ratification kit

EB Group: Ratification kit

TC Group: Ratification kit

SV Group: Ratification kit

PSAC’s tentative agreements with Treasury Board covering the TC, SV, PA and EB  bargaining units will only take effect if they are ratified in a vote by the members. Every member covered by these agreements has a right to vote in the ratification process.

You must be a PSAC member in good standing to vote. Membership application forms will be available at the ratification meetings.

Ratification meetings

Ratification meetings that include information sessions will take place across the country from February 20 to April 13. Information about the ratification meetings is being posted on PSAC’s regional websites which will be updated frequently as meetings are scheduled. Please check them regularly.

If you are not sure where to vote, please contact your local representative. Or, if you cannot reach a local union representative, contact the PSAC regional office closest to you.

Where to vote if you’re not close to a ratification meeting

If you work more than 60 kilometers from the closest ratification meeting location, you are entitled to a mail-in ballot. Contact the PSAC regional office closest to you for more information.

If you live and work overseas outside of Canada, contact your local for information on how to vote. If you do not know which local you belong to, contact your PSAC Regional Office.

⇒FAQ about the ratification process

Source: http://psacunion.ca/ratification-votes-members-tc-pa-sv-and-eb

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PSAC Regional Conventions 2017

Here is the schedule of upcoming PSAC Regional Conventions:

Prairies

http://prairies.psac.com/

 April 21-23, 2017 Winnipeg, MB
Québec

http://www.afpcquebec.com/

 April 21-23, 2017 Saint-Sauveur, QC
National Capital

http://psac-ncr.com/events/2017-triennial-regional-convention

 May 5-7, 2017 Ottawa, ON

 
Ontario

http://ontario.psac.com/

 May 26-28, 2017 Mississauga, ON
British Columbia

http://www.psacbc.com/

 June16-18, 2017 Vancouver, BC
North

http://psacnorth.com/events/2017-psac-north-regional-triennial-convention

 June16-18, 2017 Yellowknife, NT

 
Atlantic

http://psacatlantic.ca/

 June 23-25, 2017 Saint John, NB

These PSAC regional conventions are very important events; the Union of National Employees believes it’s essential that all Locals are present to represent their members. Delegates make many decisions at these conventions – decisions that affect the direction of our union. We also elect regional executive vice-presidents, who are part of the highest level of leadership within our union.

Because of the importance of these events, the Union of National Employees fully funds our delegates to these conventions. Most PSAC regions have some form of subsidy for locals that allow them to send delegates to conventions. However, it doesn’t cover the entire cost. That’s why the Union of National Employees will top up all funding provided by the PSAC regions in order to ensure our delegates’ attendance.

What the Union of National Employees will pay for:

  • Any registration fees;
  • Loss of salary;
  • Travel;
  • Accommodation;
  • Per diems; and
  • Other reasonable costs associated with attendance as a delegate.

Child care costs are normally paid by the PSAC region.

Unfortunately, the Union of National Employees is unable to fund local observers to these conventions, but we encourage Locals to do so.

To receive funding, Union of National Employees delegates need to complete a Union of National Employees claim forms after convention. PSAC regional subsidies will be subtracted from these claims, as appropriate. Delegates who require an advance may request them. Please allow enough time to process your request.

The Union of National Employees can also help with travel arrangements through our official travel agent, who bills us directly.

Union of National Employees caucuses and hospitality suites:

Please stay tuned for news regarding Union of National Employees caucuses during your convention. Hospitality suites will also be organized for each convention.

 For more information:

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nicole Clermont, the Union of National Employees administrative assistant assigned to PSAC Regional Conventions. She can be reached at 1-800-663-6685 or 613-560-4377. You may also e-mail her at Nicole.Clermont@une-sen.org