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Mr. Brison, Passport Canada is NOT Amazon.

Dear Mr. Brison,

Recently you were a speaker at the 2017 Inaugural FWD50 Conference, to discuss digitization amongst all levels of government, the private sector, NGOs and academia. You spoke about making a difference and having an impact that provides “better” services to Canadians.

Notably, you stated that “Canadians don’t understand why they can’t receive the same level of service from their government when they renew a passport that they receive from Amazon when they buy something.”

The comparison of Amazon an online shopping website, to the Canadian Passport is concerning for multiple reasons.

First, Amazon currently has numerous allegations of unscrupulous working conditions and wages. It has been reported that employees are subjected to impossible targets, timed toilet breaks, and unsafe and filthy workplaces.

Secondly, Canadians may value convenience, but it is evident that they also value their security. They value workers’ legislated rights and they value our country’s excellent relations and reputation within the international community. They value having a universally accepted travel and identification document considered to be one of the most secure and most respected in the world.

Seeking accessibility of world-class government digital services may be the desired future. Before that can be done, the government must ensure that security is at the forefront. In terms of the Passport Program, it is necessary to explore the outstanding issues which have been under-reported since the Passport Services were transferred to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Service Canada in 2013.

Along the same lines of digital services, one of the arguments provided for dissolving Passport Canada was to modernize the issuance platform and replace the existing processing system which would improve the passport application process for Canadians. The immigration Global Case Management System (GCMS) was intended to be the basis for significant improvements to e-services for Canadians.

From 2013 to 2016, a great deal of time and tremendous resources were spent unsuccessfully trying to accomplish this GCMS goal. The GCMS system could not handle the volume and speed necessary to process the 5.1 million passports being produced annually, a quantity that has been steadily increasing. The program failed to take security precautions into consideration during live system implementation and as a result was suspended and audited.

Furthermore, in April 2017, the departments enabled the downgrading from Secret security clearances to the basic reliability for all employees across Canada. This was done without advising the public and without consultation with the Union of National Employees. This appears to contradict government security policies and agreements and an Auditor General report from 2005.

Passport Program employees take pride in creating the most valuable Canadian identification that serves as the proof of holder’s identity and nationality status outside Canada. Presumably, Canadians want to ensure their personal information is safeguarded and that issuance of Passports is not placed in the hands of adversary interests.

I ask for your attention to the issues raised in my letter. I also ask for a public apology and recognition of the tremendous work the Passport Program employees do in serving the Canadian Public each and every day.

Respectfully yours,

Kevin King
National President
Union of National Employees

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Discrimination in the federal public service; one member’s story.

A Union of National Employees member shares a personal experience of discrimination as a member of the LGBT community and its lasting impact.

Greetings,

In light of the Prime Minister of Canada’s apology on November 28th regarding the federal government’s discriminatory practices toward the LGBT community, I wish to share my own personal experience with you and encourage other federal government employees to get on board with the class action.

At the end of the 70s, I applied to a competition open to university graduates at Foreign Affairs for foreign assignments. During the ensuing RCMP security investigations, I declared, in good faith, that I was homosexual.  Following the investigation, they refused to add me to the list of candidates for a position in the department. Through the Access to Information Office, I put in a request to have access to the investigation report. The entire report was essentially positive, but certain portions were struck out.  I then communicated with people who had been contacted during the investigation only to realize that the struck-out information was linked to confirmation of my sexual orientation. I called upon the Human Rights Commission and it rendered a positive decision against this discriminatory situation. Thereafter, the Department of Foreign Affairs accepted to put me on the list of candidates, but a few months later the list was eliminated. I never got the chance to work there.

On the strength of my master’s degree in International Relations, I resolved to work with various community organizations — the only positions available to me at the time. It wasn’t until 2000, at the age of 45, that I finally attempted once again to enter the federal public service. I then obtained a position at Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Six years later, in 2006, I got the opportunity to transfer to the Canadian International Development Agency and, thereafter, to Global Affairs Canada during the amalgamation of the two departments.

Such a long road travelled… from the initial competitive process when I was discriminated against to my entry at Global Affairs Canada. Thirty-three years have gone by!  Due to the missed opportunity of getting into my department at the end of my university studies, here I am, in my early 60s, having to work until I’m 65 years old to obtain a decent pension and this despite my 24 years of seniority. I can’t complain as life has nonetheless been good to me. However, I simply wanted to state what impact these discriminatory decisions have had on my life’s course.

I am convinced that many of you have also had a career path made more difficult due to the prevalence in the past of discriminatory policies within the federal government. Therefore, I encourage you to do the same thing as me and take part in the class action.  This obviously will not be a solution to everything. However, it will provide some compensation for the difficulties we have encountered.

I thank you for hearing out my testimony!

 

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Update: PSAC Taking Pay Equity Dispute with SSO to an Independent Third Party

This summer the PSAC became aware that SSO’s pay equity settlement calculations failed to include paid leaves, overtimes rates, full compensation for designated paid holidays and other forms of compensation.  After numerous members filed appeals stating that they believed there was an error in the calculations of their payments, the PSAC and SSO began discussions in an effort to resolve this dispute.  Unfortunately, these discussions have not been able to resolve the pay equity dispute affecting between 20,000 and 25,000 current and former members who worked for SSO between 1985 and 2013.

While the purpose of the pay equity settlement was to remedy a long-standing discriminatory wage rate, SSO is unwilling to pay their female dominated workforce what the PSAC feels they are entitled to in the settlement. Rest assured, the PSAC will continue to fight for pay equity and is committed to standing up for members and former members.  As a result, the PSAC will be taking this dispute to an independent 3rd party for a final and binding decision.   Our members and former members have waited long enough for their discriminatory wage rate to be adjusted and deserve to be appropriately compensated.

In the meantime, Statistics Canada will continue to gather information and process payments. Once a decision has been reached, we will communicate the outcome to all those affected.

 

 

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2017 Convention Election Results

Elections took place today, on this fourth day of the UNE 2017 convention. Here are the results of those elections:

National Positions
National President  Kevin King
National Executive Vice-President  Andrew Shaver
National Vice-President for Human Rights  Daniel Toutant
Assistant National Vice-President for Human Rights  Kate Hart

 

Alberta, N.W.T. and Nunavut
Regional Vice-President  Jaison Van Tine
Assistant Regional Vice-President  Geoff Ryan
Assistant Regional Vice-President  Drew Davidson
Regional Representative for Human Rights  Danielle Palmer

 

Atlantic
Regional Vice-President  Mike Leblanc
Assistant Regional Vice-President (NB-PEI)  Brian Morrissey
Assistant Regional Vice-President (NL) Angela Decker
Assistant Regional Vice-President (NS) Matthew Cook
Regional Representative for Human Rights Helen Zebedee

 

British Columbia and Yukon
Regional Vice-President Shirley Torres
Assistant Regional Vice-President Brian Bakker
Assistant Regional Vice-President Linda Woods
Regional Representative for Human Rights Jennifer Chieh Ho

 

Manitoba
Regional Vice-President Christopher Little-Gagné
Assistant Regional Vice-President Loretta Moar
Assistant Regional Vice-President Martin Kaminski
Regional Representative for Human Rights Jacqueline Nanali

 

NCR-Separate Employers
Regional Vice-President Patrice Rémillard
Assistant Regional Vice-President André Miller
Assistant Regional Vice-President Mylène Séguin
Regional Representative for Human Rights Evelyn Beckert

 

NCR-Treasury Board-Gatineau
Regional Vice-President Cindy D’Alessio
Assistant Regional Vice-President Steve Racicot
Assistant Regional Vice-President Éric Poitras
Regional Representative for Human Rights Sandrine Oka
NCR-Treasury Board-Ottawa
Regional Vice-President June Dale
Assistant Regional Vice-President Clara Noble
Assistant Regional Vice-President Carla Ross
Regional Representative for Human Rights Janet Connor
Ontario
Regional Vice-President Mary Anne Walker
Assistant Regional Vice-President Diane Levola
Assistant Regional Vice-President Craig Reynolds
Assistant Regional Vice-President Sandy Bello
Regional Representative for Human Rights Navnita Richardson

 

Outside Canada
Regional Vice-President Karl Lafrenière
Assistant Regional Vice-President Rose Touhey
Assistant Regional Vice-President Isabelle Beaudoin
Regional Representative for Human Rights Behiye Cinkilic

 

Quebec
Regional Vice-President Yvon Beaudoin
Assistant Regional Vice-President Yann Boudreau
Assistant Regional Vice-President Étienne Mathieu
Regional Representative for Human Rights Carole Maillet

 

Saskatchewan
Regional Vice-President Sandra Ahenakew
Assistant Regional Vice-President Janette Husak
Assistant Regional Vice-President Gloria Pfeifer
Regional Representative for Human Rights Joyce Romanchuk
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Update on SSO pay equity settlement

It has recently come to the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s attention that Statistical Survey Operation (SSO)’s pay equity settlement calculations fail to include paid leaves, overtime rates, full compensation for designated paid holidays and other forms of compensation. Rest assured, PSAC will be challenging SSO’s application of the Memorandum of Agreement, as we do not believe it is in keeping with the pay equity agreement reached between the PSAC and SSO.

We recommend that members and former members affected file an appeal as soon as possible in order to adhere to the 120-day timeline specified in the settlement. PSAC is not able to file these appeals on your behalf. Each member or former member must file an individual appeal.

PSAC’s legal counsel has recommended using the following template language for appeals:

“I believe there has been an error in the calculation of my payment pursuant to the settlement agreement between PSAC and SSO. In particular, the calculation fails to include paid leave, overtime rates, full compensation for designated paid holidays, and other forms of compensation during the relevant period of time.”

PSAC recommends that members and former members affected adhere to the timelines and process specified in the appeals process outlined in the attached letter. Please pass this message along to members and former members who could be affected.

Your appeal should be sent to statcan.ssopayequityoesequitesalariale.statcan@canada.ca, with a copy to classification@psac-afpc.com

If you have questions please contact classification@psac-afpc.com.

 

Source: http://psacunion.ca/revised-update-sso-pay-equity-settlement

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National Aboriginal Day

June 21 is the day set aside to celebrate the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This year, 2017, marks the country’s 150th birthday. The birthday celebration conversation has non-Indigenous celebrants voicing pride in good fortune gained through hard work. This Indigenous non-celebrant voices sorrow that generations of my ancestors have been brutalized for 150 years by this country’s laws. Today. Still. Many Indigenous communities have no safe water to drink nor bathe in. Our Indigenous schools are not funded to the same level as provincial schools. Our families are still being destroyed and our children are still living in poverty. Facts. Many self-medicate to manage the painful legacy inflicted upon them. I am not celebrating 150 years of this.

It hurts to learn the facts and the history and how it impacts us and our children. We need to find the way forward, in a good way. Do you know the facts and history and impacts? Do you want this country to be celebrated, for its equality, honour, human rights? Would you learn and share your knowledge? Would you change laws? Would you create better laws? Would you change attitudes? Would you support making National Aboriginal Day a national holiday? It would be one amazing step to honouring the original inhabitants of this land.

 

All my relations,

Ruby Langan

National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples

 

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PSAC and Treasury Board sign collective agreements for PA, EB, TC and SV

After much delay on the part of the employer, Treasury Board and PSAC have finally signed collective agreements for the PA, EB, TC and SV bargaining units on June 14, 2017. This is the result of significant pressure from our union.

These agreements, which cover over 85,000 workers in the federal public service, were ratified by the membership in April. Since then, PSAC had been pushing the employer to sign the agreements.

Letter sent to Trudeau; ULP complaint threatened

Last week, due to the excessive delay, PSAC National President Robyn Benson sent a letter to the Prime Minister. She expressed her disappointment and urged him to compel Treasury Board to set a date for signing.

PSAC also told Treasury Board that further delays would result in an unfair labour practice (ULP) complaint being filed with the labour board.

 

Source: www.psacunion.ca

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PSAC takes Treasury Board collective agreement signing delays to the Prime Minister

Robyn Benson, National President of PSAC, has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking him to address the delay on the government’s part in signing four collective agreements.

“I believe that your promise to treat public servants with respect must be demonstrated beyond simple words,” said Benson in her letter to the Prime Minister. “I urge you to compel Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to set a fixed date for the signing of all the ratified agreements within the coming weeks.”

These agreements cover the working conditions of over 85,000 PSAC members who work in the federal public services.

The complete text of the letter can be found here.

 

Source: http://psacunion.ca/psac-takes-treasury-board-collective-agreement

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Federal Court Upholds UNE Members’ Salary Protection Grievance Win

On May 24, 2017, a judicial review of the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board’s (PSLREB)  decision  on salary protection was rejected before a Federal Court of Appeal.  The decision of the adjudicator stands and affected employees are officially entitled to full salary protection under the PSAC and Treasury board collective agreements.

A long-awaited decision was handed down by the PSLREB on July 4, 2016. It upheld the right to salary protection for members who transferred to the Department of Canadian Heritage from the National Capital Commission (NCC) in September 2013.

“We are very pleased that the Federal Court of Appeal has decided in favour of our members,” said UNE national president Doug Marshall. “Our members waited a long time for the PSLREB’s decision and now that the appeal is out of the way, employees have closure on this grievance.”

The policy grievance, filed by the PSAC on December 12, 2013, involved 44 members who were transferred by government order.  Although the collective agreement provided that their wage rates would be protected upon transfer, the employer instituted a pay system that froze wages for up to three years, capped at $12,000 over the reclassified salary. After the three years, all employees faced a drop in salary.

For more information, you can read our previous articles on the grievance.