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Government delaying signing of new collective agreements

PSAC has been pushing the government to sign four collective agreements by the end of May, but the employer is insisting they won’t be ready until mid-June at the earliest.  These agreements, covering over 100,000 workers, were ratified by the membership in votes that concluded in April.

PSAC still waiting for drafts of agreements

At this time, the final drafts of the agreement for the Program and Administrative Services (PA) Group and the agreement for the Education and Library Science (EB) Group are just about finalized.

PSAC has yet to receive the draft agreements covering the Technical Services (TC) and Operational Services (SV) Groups, even though the employer has had months to get the drafts ready.

We are committed to reviewing the draft agreements and replying to the employer in less than three days.

Members have waited long enough

These agreements, which took over two and a half years to negotiate, do not go into effect until they are signed. PSAC believes our members, who have also spent the last year dealing with the Phoenix pay system debacle, have waited long enough.

We are continuing to pressure the employer to make this a priority and sign these agreements signed as soon as possible.

Source: psacunion.ca

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Bargaining session with SSO in June cancelled

At the request of the employer, the SSO bargaining session scheduled from June 13 to 15, 2017, has been cancelled due to changes on the employer’s bargaining team. The next bargaining session will be scheduled for the fall. In the meantime, we will continue to organize actions and hold events to remind our employer that we are Federal Public Servants and we deserve respect. Please join us. Your support helps us all to achieve gains at the bargaining table!

We want to keep you up-to-date on negotiations with SSO. Please sign up for email updates from PSAC. Make sure you check the box for Statistical Survey Operations.

You can also visit the UNE SSO news section at http://www.une-sen.org/press/?cat=18 and the PSAC website at psacunion.ca/sso-oes. 

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May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

May 17, 2017 is a day to reflect on what makes us unique, what makes us proud, and where there is still work to be done. On international day against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, we remember the successes we have had in achieving human rights for LGBT people, as well as the struggles that remain.

The International Day Against Homophobia on May 17th is a reminder to challenge the stigma when we see it. This action helps to build solidarity with our LGBT clients, but also with coworkers, family, and friends who deserve a safe space. In an international climate of conservatism and right-wing extremism, it is now more important than ever to support those most marginalized within our communities. As employees of the federal public service, we are uniquely poised to serve as an example of inclusivity and tolerance. By fostering an environment that is accepting of sexual and gender diversity, we can demonstrate the value that a diverse population has for our Canadian heritage.

Despite inclusion in workplace protections and human rights legislation, homophobia still persists. As public servants, we must represent Canadian values in the work that we do. By serving as an example of tolerance, and refusing to be silent in the face of stigma and injustice, we can do our part to ensure that Canada continues to be a beacon of diversity for the LGBT and all communities.

For more information, visit http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/

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May is Asian Heritage Month

By Shirley Torres

Xie Xie ( see see) – Mandarin,  Gamsahabnida ( gam-samnda) – Korean , Domo  arigatou ( doh-mo-ah-ree-gah-toh – Japanese, Camanba (gahm-un-ban)- Vietnamese, Dhanyabad ( dhan-naii-bat) Nepali, these are only a few of the numerous ways of saying Thank you in Asia.

In  Filipino, we say Salamat. In whatever Asian language we say it, we express the same gratitude  for having  an  Asian Heritage Month, an opportune time to  acknowledge and recognize the contribution of Asians to Canadian Society and to celebrate and appreciate their  culture.

A large percentage of immigrants like me are from Asia and we have made Canada our home. When we came to Canada, we were determined to strive and work hard to achieve our goals and realize our dreams and in our own little ways, we believe that we contributing to the growth and development of our workplace, our community, the society and the country. We also brought along with us our rich culture which we will always be proud of but at the same time we are also learning and appreciating the many diverse cultures in Canada.

There are many Canadians of Asian descent who have excelled in the fields of politics, economics, science, arts and service . One of them is Senator Vivienne Poy, the first senator of Asian descent. She proposed the observance of Asian Heritage Month and it was adopted by the Senate in 2001. The government of Canada signed a declaration designating May as Asian Heritage Month in May, 2002.

This month of May, I invite everyone to celebrate with us, have a taste of our various cultures and enjoy an Asian experience. Check out the various activities and festivities that have been organized by Asian Heritage Societies in your communities. This is a great opportunity to learn more and appreciate Asian culture.

Happy Asian Heritage Month!

Shirley Torres is the UNE Human Rights Representative for the B.C. and Yukon region.

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UNE Honourary Membership Award

Greetings,

At the Union of National Employees 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 a significant contribution through union activism.

Honourary memberships are awarded to individuals who would otherwise not be eligible for a membership in the Union of National Employees. This can include individuals outside the organization who have contributed outstanding service through devoted efforts in the affairs of our union or members who have retired.

If your Local wishes to nominate a member, please refer to the criteria on the UNE website at  The application form can also be found on the UNE website. Please ensure that you follow the criteria carefully and complete the application form correctly.

The deadline for receipt of application is July 31, 2017. Should the recipient wish to receive his or her award at a UNE National function, please indicate clearly.

In solidarity,

Doug Marshall
National President
Union of National Employees, PSAC

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Ratified Treasury Board agreements: What happens now?

Following the recent ratification of new agreements by the PA, SV, TC and EB Treasury Board groups, the following steps will be taken:

  • Signing of new collective agreements
  • Retro pay and implementation of wage and special monetary increases
  • Implementation of collective agreement provisions

Signing of new collective agreements

In the coming weeks, PSAC will meet with the employer to sign the new collective agreements. With the exception of wages, which are retroactive, the new negotiated provisions come into effect on date of signing, unless otherwise specified.

When will back pay (retroactive pay) be paid out to employees?

The employer has 150 days from the date of signing to adjust rates of pay and issue retroactive pay.

Who will get back pay for the negotiated economic increases?

PA: The new collective agreement is retroactive to June 21, 2014, expiring June 20, 2018. This means that you are entitled to back pay for the period of time you were employed and a PA member from June 21, 2014.

EB: The new collective agreement is retroactive to July 1st, 2014, expiring June 30, 2018. This means that you are entitled to back pay for the period of time you were employed and a EB member from July 1st, 2014.

TC: The new collective agreement is retroactive to June 22, 2014, expiring June 21, 2018. This means that you are entitled to back pay for the period of time you were employed and a TC member from June 22, 2014.

SV: The new collective agreement is retroactive to August 5, 2014, expiring August 4, 2018. This means that you are entitled to back pay for the period of time you were employed and an SV member from August 5, 2014.

Are increases to allowances retroactive?

Increases to allowances are not retroactive. The employer has 150 days after the date of signing to implement the changes and issue payment of the allowances.

When will the other provisions come into effect?

The employer has 150 days from the date of signing to implement the provisions of the new collective agreement.

Will the Phoenix pay system cause delays and problems with retro pay and wage adjustments?

Public Services and Procurement Canada has said they are prepared to implement retro pay and wage adjustments. Since the employer has 150 days from signing to pay out the retro, there should be time to address other Phoenix problems so that compensation staff can be freed up for this work. PSAC will also be working closely with government officials to help solve any problems that arise. We will keep you updated on any developments related to Phoenix and the implementation of wage increases.

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Phoenix: Union meets with Minister Brison, senior government officials; PSAC members rally in Quebec

On May 1, PSAC National President Robyn Benson and National Executive Vice President Chris Aylward, along with other union leaders, attended a meeting with senior government officials regarding Phoenix. Benson and Aylward have been attending these regular meetings for months, in order to address the problems caused by the Phoenix pay system.

The President of the Treasury Board, Minister Scott Brison, briefly attended the meeting to hear directly from PSAC and the other unions. Minister Brison spoke about the new Phoenix working group of MPs and Ministers.

“If the task force of Ministers and MPs can ensure there are more resources put in place to fix this broken system and support employees who’ve been hurt, we’ll know that the government’s commitment to a solution is real,” said Benson after the meeting. “This debacle has gone on far too long, and our members need to see concrete action.”

Action needed

This meeting provided another opportunity for PSAC to reiterate its demands that the government follow up last week’s announcement with concrete action.

To get closer to a permanent fix, PSAC demands that the government:

  • Hire more staff at the pay centre in Miramichi and make sure this is stable.
  • Hire permanent, not temporary, staff at the call centres who have the training and support to help our members.
  • Make a commitment to keep the satellite pay centres open permanently.

Members rally

This past weekend, thousands of PSAC members across Quebec rallied in front of MP offices to protest the on-going problems with the Phoenix pay system.

“I am proud of our members for continuing to keep the pressure on the federal government to fix Phoenix,” said Benson.

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Emergency pay available to employees on maternity, parental or disability leave and experiencing Phoenix pay problems

 

Following the court action taken by PSAC, along with 12 other unions, the court obliged the government to provide better access to help for Phoenix affected employees on disability, maternity, and parental leave.

As a result, federal public service workers who are transitioning to maternity, parental or disability leave, and are not receiving benefit payments due to Phoenix, are entitled to a priority payment if normal wait times for processing these payments have been exceeded.

These workers are entitled to 66% of the total income they would otherwise receive, not only the top up portion.

If you are in this situation, send the following letter with the appropriate information included in an email to your manager and copy us at info@psacunion.ca.

Template email
 Click here to email your manager

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Dental Care Plan Negotiations

After an extensive survey of all members covered by the PSAC Public Service Dental Plan, we are going to the table to negotiate improvements to our Dental Plan. We have tabled our initial proposals and will be back at the table in May.

We expect for the Plan to be improved and updated to reflect your needs going forward.

This is a separate negotiations process from the one that we are using for our collective agreement.  If we are unable to get to an agreement, we have access to binding arbitration.

Click here to see the complete list of improvements tabled

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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: