The Union of National Employees (UNE) has received an update from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) regarding their intended implementation of the Foreign Services – International Assistance Initiative (FS-IA).
The staffing initiative is primarily directed to PM employees, with developmental assignments abroad “at post”; an internal staffing process at Global Affairs Canada involving Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members with UNE, along with some EC members of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), and additional members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).
Global Affairs Canada intends to staff all positions at post at the FS classification, which is stated to be as many as about 150 people, with an additional 150 positions tethered at GAC headquarters locations. The Employer has launched its new assignment cycle and shared its Broadcast Message and Q&A with the Bargaining Agents. It is also available for employees on the GAC Intranet.
The FS classification would mean:
- Employees willing to change their term and conditions of employment to reflect “rotationality” a term describing the necessity to be transplanted from post to post depending on the operational necessities of the employer;
- “Rotationality” would last for the remainder of the employee’s career, an assignment to post, followed by a brief repatriation to Canada, and then awaiting assignment to other posts, or a direct transfer from post to post, depending on specific operational circumstances. These employees would also have post priority as “Group 1 employees” that can bid on post at the 177 missions abroad, during a Post selection period;
- Employees would be compelled to complete a linguistic profile of CCC within 2 years of rotational assignment, as a term and condition of employment;
- Employees would be subject to a the Treasury Board rules regarding promotion-transfer, should they be found qualified based on the premise of a “best fit” to serve in a rotational pool of FS members at Global Affairs Canada;
- Any current employees changing classifications to “FS” would also be subject to a change of bargaining agents; namely, the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO).
UNE has several concerns that remain outstanding following the latest update:
- Career progression for employees that prefer mobility to post on a “single assignment” basis and being able to choose; based on personal preference and family status during a post selection period, as compared to a permanent commitment to working abroad for the remainder of their public service career;
- The UNE is still waiting for the employer to share its findings of the gender- based demographics associated with the developmental community;
- A potential career-limiting path within the Public Service, should developmental employees choose not to become rotational, or worse, not be qualified for a rotational posting, yet still wish to be considered for a limited number of posts after all FS employees have picked over the preferential postings;
- Employees that are not able to meet the linguistic profile or the Security Clearance of the FS positions, should be permitted to return to their existing operational cadres, without halt or detriment to their career progression, and to their respective bargaining agents;
- The Union of National Employees remains committed to our members and will engage as-necessary through fulsome consultations on the Foreign Service International Assistance file;
- UNE continues to request that a sub-committee study the impact of its implementation, on all FS employees in rotation, versus those employees filling gaps in rotationality by their continued commitment to serve abroad for the benefit of the international community and the Government of Canada.
Respectfully submitted,
Kevin King
National President,
Union of National Employees
*Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=678814