OLG Refuses to Withdraw Ultimatum, Shows No Movement at Bargaining Table

Ottawa — Workers at the Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots (RCRS) in Ottawa met with Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) management on Friday, January 29 for the first time since they were locked out on December 16, 2015. The workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), were hopeful that OLG would show some flexibility at the bargaining table. However, they were quickly disappointed to learn that OLG remains unwilling to change its last position, insisting that the union concede to its demands on wages and pensions—the two key issues in the dispute—before it will negotiate in any meaningful way:

Back in December, OLG insisted on freezing wages for the first two years of any new contract, and then providing a 1.75% increase for the third year. Workers had rejected this given that they had not received a raise since 2009, even though the cost of living in Ottawa has increased by about 9% in that period. Moreover, the locked out workers are currently paid around 8% less than workers doing comparable work at other sites, such as OLG Casino Brantford. At Friday’s meeting, however, OLG continued to insist that the total wage increase for the new three year contract will still be 1.75%.
Prior to the lockout, OLG insisted that workers agree to the removal of pension language from their current contracts. The workers had rejected this then, but on Friday, OLG continued to insist that workers agree to the complete removal of existing pension language.

“It is reprehensible that OLG would ask to meet with the workers again just to try to force the same substandard contract onto them once more,” said Doug Marshall, President of the Union of National Employees, a component union of the PSAC. “The workers already voted by 96% to reject OLG’s attempts to freeze their wages and remove pension language.”

“I want to be clear with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne: we will bring this battle to Queen’s Park if her government does not end this shameful attack on OLG workers here in Ottawa,” added Larry Rousseau, Regional Executive Vice President of the PSAC in the National Capital Region. “And we will not stop until her government treats these workers with the fairness and respect they deserve.”

OLG management at the RCRS locked out 124 of its workers on December 16. The workers served in a variety of roles, including as parking attendants, housekeepers, slot attendants, slot technicians, cashiers and money room clerks.

2015/12/142016/02/08

Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots Workers Facing Lockout During Holiday Season

Workers at the OLG-Rideau Carleton Raceway Slots (RCRS) facility in Ottawa are facing a lockout as early as 12:01am on December 16.

The 124 affected workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), have been negotiating to reach a fair contract since May 2014 but have so far been unsuccessful. Key outstanding issues are reasonable wage increases and the future of the pension plan. Workers at the RCRS have not received a raise since 2008, and now earn significantly less than workers in comparable positions at other OLG facilities.

Workers will once again return to the bargaining table on December 14 in an attempt to reach a negotiated agreement that is fair and equitable.

On December 10, Slots management notified workers that if there was a labour dispute they would be denied access to health and dental benefits. PSAC has assured its members that should the RCRS not agree to the continuation of benefits, the union will provide health and dental coverage to all those involved in the labour disruption.

“We believe it’s only fair that after not receiving raises since 2008, the RCRS’s management should come to table with a reasonable offer that reflects the good work that our members do,” said Larry Rousseau, Regional Executive Vice-President for the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“As we enter the busiest part of the holiday season, we really hope that this can be resolved at the bargaining table, without disruption to the RCRS’s operations, as we are sensitive to how many banquets and events have been booked at this location,” added Doug Marshall, President of the Union of National Employees, a component union of PSAC.

The 124 workers at the RCRS serve in a variety of roles, including as parking attendants, housekeepers, slot attendants, slot technicians, cashiers and money room clerks.

2015/12/07

PSAC Takes Position with Labour Board

Union takes position that work of Constables and work of Scanner Operators are different, with specific bargaining issues.

The new employer for security services on Parliament Hill has made a proposal to the Public Service Labour Relations Board to merge both Constables bargaining units and the Scanners bargaining unit into one – meaning that there would be one contract for both Constables and Scanner Operators.

Constables and Scanners both play a role in ensuring the safety and security of the public, parliamentarians and their staff. But the work that each performs is substantially different, as are the issues and operational-settings, from scheduling to uniforms to firearms. As a union that represents thousands of law enforcement officers in the federal public service, PSAC has a great deal of first-hand knowledge about collective bargaining in a law-enforcement environment. In the case of PPS, the fact of the matter is that constables and scanners don’t do the same work.

As a result, PSAC is taking the position that Constables and Scanners should each have the ability to negotiate their own collective agreements. Regardless of the union that represents these groups, PSAC believes that the two groups should be separate in terms of their collective agreements. Just as the PSAC has taken the position that – despite the fact that both groups are represented by the PSAC – postal workers and editorial workers should each have their own collective agreements. The PSAC currently represents eight different, separate groups on Parliament Hill, each with its own collective agreement.

Also resolving this issue would ensure that PSAC can get back to the bargaining table in a more timely fashion and resolve issues related to the work of Scanner Operators.

We’ll be sure to update as things progress. If you have any questions or wish to see a copy of our proposals contact a member of our Bargaining Team.

2015/11/19

No significant movement from Senate administration in negotiations on Monday

On Monday November 16^th our Bargaining Team met with Senate Administration to continue negotiations for a new collective agreement.

In negotiations we again re-iterated that we seeking the same protections and rights that already exist for other workers on Parliament Hill, and that the PSAC has successfully negotiated with other federal employers.

This includes fair access to training and career advancement opportunities, family-related responsibility leave, access of union representatives to the workplace, provision of clothing and uniforms.

In our session last week, the Senate indicated that “there have been no problems” with respect to clothing provision at the Senate, and instead proposed to remove certain items from the collective agreement.

On Monday, we saw no movement on any of the issues outstanding between the parties, with the exception of family-related responsibility leave, where the Senate continues to insist that we agree to less than what the PSAC has negotiated for tens of thousands of other federal workers. We will not agree to less.

We are scheduled to meet again in December. Our hope is that the Senate will return to finally bargain with our team. If you have any questions or concerns, contact a member of our Bargaining Team. We’ll be sure to update as things progress.

Source: PSAC

2015/10/282015/10/28

In case you missed it – SSO National Bargaining Conference

SSOBargaining

The collective agreements for SSO regional office interviewers and field survey interviewers expired November 30, 2014 and PSAC served notice to bargain on March 31st, 2015. In preparation for bargaining, PSAC will hold a national Bargaining Conference in Ottawa. The Conference provides and important opportunity to discuss bargaining demands and strategy for the coming round of negotiations.

Key Details about the Conference

Date: January 9-10, 2016

1 delegate per local for locals with fewer than 50 members.
2 delegates per local for locals with 50 or more members.
3 delegates per local for locals with 100 or more members.

For a copy of the callout letter, please click here. Notwithstanding this letter, the following applies:

The list of delegates’ names and contact information must be received by the UNE National Office no later than November 19, 2015. Please send your list by email to Emily.Gault-Due@une-sen.org.

For a copy of the callout letter, please click here. Notwithstanding this letter, the following applies:

Delegates to the bargaining conference must be elected at a Local meeting, held in accordance with UNE bylaws and policies. Because of the short notice that was received for the conference, I realize that it may be difficult to provide the required 30 days’ notice to members. Therefore, on an exceptional basis, Locals must provide members at least 21 days’ notice of the meeting.

There is also a separate process for equity members to apply individually. For more information, please click here. http://psacunion.ca/psac-equity-activists-women-and-young-workers

Thank you for your cooperation.

Doug Marshall
National President

2015/10/202015/12/03

Harper Stopped

After ten years of cuts to government services, lies about security and climate change, disrespect to indigenous people and deception to Canadians on so many other levels, voters stormed the polls and finally put a stop to Stephen Harper and his conservative regime. Canada has voted to stop the cuts.

“It has been obvious to our members and it became obvious to Canadians during this election that parliament was broken, ruled by a secretive and dishonest government,” said UNE national president Doug Marshall. “We hope to work with the incoming government to establish positive labour relations and hold the Liberals to the promises they outlined in their party’s platform.”

Some of those promises we will watch closely include:

Restoring a public service where employees are respected and valued
Increasing taxes for our country’s highest earners
Increasing the funding for needed infrastructure projects
Establishing an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women
Repealing various anti-worker and anti-union laws

The Union of National Employees is prepared to work with the new government in order to achieve positive change for Canadians and a strong and effective public service.

2015/10/202015/10/28

Canadians voted for change

PSACPostElection

PSAC calls on new Parliament to restore public services and repair relations with federal public service employees

OTTAWA –Canadians rejected the Harper Conservatives and voted for change on October 19 and that is good news for Canada, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“The new Liberal government has a strong mandate for change,” said PSAC National President Robyn Benson. “That change needs to include restoring public services and building a positive relationship with the federal public service. We call on the Liberals to practice a new kind of politics and to work collaboratively with the NDP and other progressives in Parliament to put Canada back together again.”

Before and during the election, the PSAC carried out a public information campaign to convince Canadians to vote to stop the cuts made by the previous Conservative government. A poll carried out just before polling day found that a large percentage of Canadians believed the cuts would affect the election outcome.

“We know from our own campaign work that voters were fed up with the Harper Conservatives’ attacks on the public service. As the largest public service union, we look forward to sitting down with the new government as soon as possible to discuss how to repair the damage done including how to improve labour relations in the federal public service,” said Benson.

The Harper Conservative government passed successive omnibus bills in its last four years fundamentally changing collective bargaining laws, as well as health and safety protections for federal workers. During the campaign the Liberal Party of Canada promised to restore the bargaining rights of federal government employees and to repeal the anti-union legislation passed by the Conservatives.

“We call on the new government to act on these promises without delay,” concluded Benson.

PSAC is calling on the new Parliament to:

Restore and strengthen federal public services, including the re-opening of Veterans Affairs offices closed by the Conservatives in 2014.
Repeal the parts of budget implementation bills (C-4, C-10, C-59) that changed labour laws, imposed wage reductions, took away pay equity rights, weakened workplace health and safety protections, and gave the Government the unilateral right to remove the sick leave provisions in negotiated collective agreements.
Restore the right of unions to represent members with respect to pay equity claims.
Repeal Bill C-525, which makes it harder for workers in the federal sector to organize, and Bill C-377, which is both unconstitutional and a violation of privacy rights.

Source: www.psacunion.ca

2015/10/02

Liberal youth job creation‎ will lead to unfair working conditions

LibUnfair

The Liberal party’s promise to promote and protect Canada’s national parks falls short of what is needed particularly because it encompasses a proposal to create 5,000 youth jobs at the expense of secure and stable employment at Parks Canada.

The Liberals have indicated that they will address staff shortages by hiring young workers as guides, interpreters and in other positions at Parks Canada instead of creating regular employment opportunities.

“We are concerned that this approach will lead to unfair working conditions for younger workers, and it does not constitute real and meaningful reinvestment in our national parks,” said Doug Marshall, president of the Union of National Employees, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Students who are employed by Parks Canada are paid separate and inferior wages under the Federal Student Work Experience Program. In the name of gaining work experience they are paid less than the workers they replace yet they perform the same work as regular employees.

Job creation is not about trading one type of job for another. Good jobs for young workers should not be created at the expense of workers already employed.

PSAC calls on the Liberal Party to create good jobs for young workers that are stable, paid a fair rate and provide career opportunities but not at the expense of the current workforce at Parks Canada.

2015/09/232015/09/24

Harper Conservatives target pensions again

The Federal Government is in the process of drafting legislation representing an unprecedented attack on the retirement security of all Canadians. If the Conservatives are re-elected and push through this legislation, the defined benefit pension plans of federally-regulated workers will be at risk of being converted to target plans with lower pension benefits for both retirees and active employees.

Significant incentives would be provided to employers to get rid of the much better defined benefit plans and convert these to targeted pension plans. This will be at the expense of stable retirement income that workers have already paid for through their pension contributions.

What are target pension plans?

Reduce pension benefits for both contributing employees and pensioners
No guarantee the promised benefit will be maintained in retirement
Risk is completely shifted from governments and corporations to vulnerable employees

Background

In 2014, the government announced a rushed consultation process on target benefit pension plans for federally-regulated workers
In the 2015, the government tabled a budget saying they are “assessing” voluntary target benefit options” for Crown Corporations.
Any proposed change would require the amendment of federal pension laws.

What has the PSAC done?

The PSAC presented a submission during the consultation process opposing this type of these types of pension arrangements.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) initiatives

Emergency resolution

At the CLC Triennial Convention in 2014, an emergency resolution was tabled calling unions to defend workers and pensioners against any and all attacks to pensions,

“Retirement Security for Everyone” Campaign

PSAC continues to support the CLC “Retirement Security for Everyone” campaign as the most effective means of securing the future retirement incomes of working Canadians.

A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist

Current federal pension legislation and regulations already protect the pension benefits of plan members and retirees from being reduced. The funding status of defined benefit pension plans is improving significantly with improving investment returns and gradual increases in long-term interest rates.
For example, the defined benefit pension plan for Air Canada reported for 2013 a solvency deficiency of $3.7 billion. However, in January of 2014, Air Canada had announced the complete elimination of the pension solvency deficiency.

Is the Federal Public Service Pension Plan the next “target”?

The introduction of target pension plans in the federal sector opens the door to other legislative changes and puts all defined benefit pension plans at risk.

2015/08/072015/08/07

Library Seeking Major Concessions in Negotiations

PSAC bargaining team pushing for improvements to working conditions.

On Wednesday, August 5th our Bargaining Team for the AS and LT groups met with the Library of Parliament to commence negotiations for a new collective agreement. When presenting our package of proposals we told the Library that we are seeking new rights and protections for PSAC members at the Library in this round of bargaining, and that we are seeking improvements in a number of areas based on what our union has successfully negotiated with other federal employers.

Some of the improvements that we’ve proposed include increased leave provisions, enhanced job security and expanded union rights in the workplace. We also indicated to the employer that we will want to have discussion concerning hours of work and vacation scheduling when the parties next meet.

The Library proposed some very serious concessions in bargaining on Wednesday. These include the elimination of the job security provisions in our collective agreement as well as the elimination of all protections in the context of the introduction of technological change. The Library is also proposing to water down its obligations with respect to following the Public Service Health and Dental plans and the payment of associated premiums.

While we will meet our obligation to bargain in good faith with the employer, our objective in this round of bargaining is to achieve improvements for PSAC members at the Library of Parliament, not take steps backwards. We will also need to seek clarification on a number of the Library’s proposals when the parties next meet.

Also our Team has submitted a request for payroll and other financial information so that we may begin preparation on economic proposals this fall.

PSAC members at the Library should be aware that federal law prohibits unilateral changes to any terms and condition of employment subject to negotiation while the parties are in the process of bargaining a new contract.
If you have any questions, or are interested in seeing the proposals that we’ve tabled in bargaining, and those of management, contact a member of our Bargaining Team – Jean-Michel Lavergne, Caroline Dionne, Nadine Langevin or alternate Team Member Marcel Leonard.

The parties are next scheduled to meet in October. We’ll be sure to update as things progress.