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TB bargaining: Government squanders mediation opportunity

Last week, mediation between Treasury Board and PSAC ended without a tentative agreement as government representatives refused to make progress on PSAC’s key demands. The session covered both common issues as well as those specific to the PA unit – 90,000 federal public service workers in Program & Administrative Services.

After four years of Phoenix problems, the employer didn’t come to the table ready to get to a deal, instead they arrived with the same proposals PSAC has been rejecting for months. 

PSAC is standing firm on our core demands, including fair wage increases, Phoenix-related demands, and the working conditions that make balancing family and work possible.

Unfair wages

The government is proposing wage increases of about 7% for the 2018-2021 period. This is below inflation, which is projected at about 8% for the same period. In order to meet inflation, the government wants us to forgo an additional 1% market adjustment meant to raise earnings for specific groups that are below industry averages, and instead use that 1% to increase the overall wage offer. It’s not fair for the Employer to ask all PSAC members to pay for market adjustments. It should be their responsibility.

To be clear, we won’t accept any offer that doesn’t keep up with the rising cost of living while also addressing group specific market adjustments.

Phoenix-related demands

The impact of the Phoenix pay system is a central issue on the bargaining table for each of PSAC’s federal public service bargaining units. To mitigate ongoing pay problems and avoid such debacle in the future, PSAC is asking for key provisions to be put into our collective agreements.

PSAC is demanding a penalty clause in the collective agreement so that members are properly compensated when they are not paid properly or on time. Also, we want an end to the recovery of overpayments before an employee’s pay issues are completely resolved. Although PSAC has secured a temporary agreement to halt this practice, we want this protection permanently included in our collective agreements.

PSAC is also seeking reimbursement for members who are forced to seek accounting and financial management counselling due to pay problems cause by the Employer.

Finally, to avoid future disasters, we are asking for more and proper consultation before any technological changes are put in place affecting our members.

Extended parental leave

PSAC has proposed that members choosing the newly extended 18-month parental leave option receive a 93% top-up for the entirety of the leave period (i.e., combined maternity and parental leave lasting 18 months). Currently, members opting for the extended parental leave option receive a 93% top-up for the first twelve months (i.e., combined and maternity and parental leave), followed by an Employment Insurance payment of 33% of their salary for the next six months of parental leave.

However, the government is insisting on a new formula that would provide members taking the extended parental leave with only a 55.8% top-up for the parental leave period. This is a major concession and a stunning proposal from a “feminist” government that claims to support improved work-life balance.

Workforce Adjustment

PSAC is proposing to recognize years of service in a WFA situation, so that those with seniority are prioritized for alternate positions. Besides, our proposal seeks to ensure that when an employee is deemed to be in surplus, a guaranteed reasonable job offer will be made within a 40-kilometer radius.

In contrast, the government wants to open the door wide to relocating workers in the event of a workforce adjustment. This would create situations where workers would have to either uproot and move their families or lose their jobs without access to the WFA options.

What’s next

PSAC’s answer to this latest insult by Treasury Board is simple: while the report from the Public Interest Commission should be tabled anytime soon, we’re moving forward towards workplace action and a strike mandate until a fair settlement is reached.

Keep an eye out in your workplaces for upcoming information sessions and strike training. And make sure you’re getting bargaining updates by email.

Source: psacunion.ca

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B.C. & Yukon Regional Seminar

Click here to register online.

The B.C. and Yukon Regional Team invites you to participate in their Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, Vancouver, B.C. on March 13 – 15, 2020.

This event will offer presentations and workshop training that will give you the knowledge and confidence to help your members. It’s also a great place to meet active members just like you and forge long-lasting friendships.
For a sneak-peek at what else we have in store for you, check out the Seminar agenda.

UNE will fund the following delegates per Local:

  • A Local President or designate should be one of the delegates;
  • A member who has not previously attended a seminar should be given priority;
  • Locals will elect a youth delegate to attend the Regional Seminar (age 35 or younger as of December 31, 2020).

Locals are required to encourage the participation of equity members. Locals may send additional members at their own expense.
You must register by Friday, February 7. Unfortunately, we will not consider late registrations.

Should you have any questions about the Seminar please contact Suzanne Boucher at events@une-sen.org.

Delegates to the Regional Seminar should arrive for registration at 7pm Friday, March 13. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend two nights at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront for the Friday and Saturday night of the Seminar as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, March 15 at 12:30pm.

In solidarity,

Shirley Torres, Regional Vice-President, British Columbia and Yukon
Brian Bakker, Assistant Regional Vice-President, British Columbia and Yukon
Linda Woods, Assistant Regional Vice-President, British Columbia and Yukon
Chelsea Cameron, Regional Representative for Human Rights, British Columbia and Yukon

Click here to register online.

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The UNE Regional Teams from the National Capital Region are getting together!

The NCR Separate Employers, Outside Canada, Ottawa-Treasury Board and Gatineau-Treasury Board Regional Teams invite you to participate in their combined Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel, in Gatineau on February 21 – 23, 2020.

This event offers presentations and workshop training that will give you the knowledge and confidence to help your members. It’s also a great place to meet active members just like you and forge long-lasting friendships.
For a sneak-peek at what we have in store for you, check out the Seminar agenda.

In the NCR, UNE will fund the following delegates per Local:

  • A Local President or designate should be one of the delegates;
  • A member who has not previously attended a seminar should be given priority;
  • Locals will elect a youth delegate to attend the Regional Seminar (age 35 or younger as of December 31, 2020).

In the Outside Canada region, UNE will fund the following delegates per Local:

  • Ten (10) members from each Local, of which one (1) must be a Youth (age 35 or younger as of December 31, 2020);
  • A member who has not previously attended a seminar should be given priority.

Locals are required to encourage the participation of equity members. Locals may send additional members at their own expense.

You must register by Friday, January 17, 2020. Unfortunately, we will not consider late registrations.

Should you have any questions about the Seminar please contact Suzanne Boucher at events@une-sen.org.

Delegates to the Regional Seminar should arrive for registration at 7 pm on Friday, February 21, 2020. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend two nights at the Hilton Lac Leamy Hotel for the Friday and Saturday night of the Seminar as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, February 23 at 12:30 pm.

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

Rose Touhey, Regional Vice-President, Outside Canada
Isabelle Beaudoin, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Outside Canada
Archie Campbell, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Outside Canada
Behiye Cinkilic, Regional Representative for Human Rights, Outside Canada

Cindy D’Alessio, Regional Vice-President, Gatineau -Treasury Board
Steve Racicot, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Gatineau – Treasury Board
Éric Poitras, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Gatineau – Treasury Board
Elizabeth Guerrero, Regional Representative for Human Rights, Gatineau – Treasury Board

Virginia Noble, Regional Vice-President, Ottawa – Treasury Board
Carla Ross, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Ottawa – Treasury Board
Janet Eileen Connor, Regional Representative for Human Rights, Ottawa – Treasury Board

Click here to register online.

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UNE Triennial Convention 2020 – ADVANCE NOTICE

The UNE’s 18th Triennial Convention will be held in Montreal, Quebec in August 2020. Now is the time to start thinking about electing delegates, preparing resolutions and ensuring your local is in conformance.

A) Convention Location & Dates

August 24-28, 2020

Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth

900 René-Lévesque Blvd W, Montreal (QC) H3B 4A5

B) Delegate Status

The deadline for submitting Delegate application forms will be April 24, 2020. Delegates must be elected at a general meeting of the local members.

C) Convention Resolutions

The deadline for UNE Convention Resolutions will be April 24, 2020.  Remember, resolutions from your Local must be approved at a general meeting of the local members.

Detailed information on Convention will be provided in the formal Convention and Resolutions callout letter in January.

If you have any questions or comments regarding Convention, I encourage you to visit www.une-sen.org/events/convention or contact your Regional Team.

In solidarity,

Kevin King
National President
UNE

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SSO Bargaining Conference Readies the Issues for Intense Round of Bargaining

Ottawa, ON – The Statistical Survey Operations (SSO) Regional Office and Field Interviewer teams met for three days to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly as they prepare to head to the bargaining table in (MONTH). Their current agreement expired in 2018 and UNE members are eager to get back to the table and negotiate a fair deal.

UNE National President Kevin King addressed the members:

“Our members at SSO do important, not-for-profit work that is a benefit to all Canadians. And yet, they remain underappreciated by the employer. This needs to change. We are proud to support these two bargaining units and hope that UNE can enforce a fair and just agreement.”

The SSO National Bargaining Conference was an opportunity for members to discuss the intent and prioritize demands submitted by workers from across the country.

Congratulations to the following delegates, elected to the SSO (RO & FI) Bargaining Teams:

Regional Offices
Edmonton Yun-Csang Ghimn
Winnipeg Donna Fidelak
Sturgeon Falls Michelle Rivet
Sherbrooke Alice Vallée
Halifax Neville David
 
Alternate #1 Anna Goldfeld
Alternate #2 Imane Meddah
Alternate #3 Helen Anderson

Field Interviewers
At Large #1 Phyllis Allen
At Large #2 Elyse Jones
Western Linda Woods
Central (ON & NCR) Shelly Daudlin
Eastern (QC & ATL) Claude-André Leduc
 
Alternate #1 Kelly Marshall
Alternate #2 Joanne Bekker
Alternate #3 Nilesh Patel

 

 

 

 

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Labour Board sides with Parks Canada workers, moves forward with Public Interest Commission

The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Board has upheld PSAC’s decision to declare impasse in Parks Canada bargaining. In August, the employer disputed PSAC’s determination that both parties had reached an impasse in bargaining. They sent a request to the Labour Board arguing that declaring impasse was “premature” and that both parties had not sufficiently bargained.

The Labour Board disagreed with the employer and denied their request to delay the establishment of a Public Interest Commission (PIC). In a letter outlining the verdict, the Labour Board stated that PSAC’s Parks Canada bargaining team had “negotiated sufficiently and seriously” and therefore they would be recommending the establishment of a PIC.

Employer backs out of mediation

Both PSAC and the employer indicated that they would be open to mediation. Therefore, in August, the Labour Board assigned a federal labour mediator so that both parties could engage in mediation while waiting for the establishment of the PIC. PSAC told the Labour Board that it expected the employer to come to mediation with a complete monetary proposal and with a response to the union’s pay and workforce adjustment (WFA) proposals. In September, the employer responded that they were no longer willing to move forward with scheduled mediation because they have no mandate, despite initially requesting continued negotiations and mediation.

The Labour Board has scheduled a Public Interest Commission for Parks Canada bargaining January 27 to 30, 2020.

What is a Public Interest Commission (PIC)?

Under the law that governs contract negotiations in the federal public service, once impasse is reached, a PIC is established to help the parties reach an agreement. The PIC is a panel of three people – a chairperson appointed by the Labour Board and nominees appointed by the union and the employer. The union and the employer submit briefs and explain their positions on the outstanding issues at a hearing with the PIC. The PIC then issues a report with recommendations for settlement. The recommendations are not binding.

Once the PIC releases its report on Parks bargaining, PSAC’s bargaining team will meet to discuss the recommendations. Traditionally, following this, PSAC’s negotiating team and government representatives return to the table to resume negotiations.

Will we strike?

Regardless of which party forms government after the fall federal election, PSAC will continue pressing for a fair deal that addresses Parks members’ demands. However, if PSAC and the government are still unable to reach an agreement after the PIC report is issued, Parks members will have the legal right to strike. All members impacted will have the opportunity to vote in favour or against strike action. In preparation for this possible situation, PSAC will ensure that strike training is offered to members in the coming months.

Source: PSAC

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October 4, Sisters in Spirit

Sisters in Spirit Vigils celebrate, honour and support Indigenous women, girls and their families. The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has been shared online.

Indigenous women and girls suffer higher rates of violence and homicide than non-Indigenous women and girls. There are many personal and systemic changes we need to make in this country. Can we join the Native Women’s Association of Canada to enhance, promote and foster the well-being of Indigenous women?

I am grateful for the recent learnings I have received from Colleen Hele-Cardinal, in Algonquin territory, and Hummingbirds Rising Consulting, in Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil waututh territory. I am encouraged by my worker union’s initiation of a Reconciliation paper. There is much to learn.

All my relations,

Ruby Langan
UNE National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples

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Join the Global Climate Strike!

 

People around the world will be hitting the streets on September 27 to draw attention to the growing climate crisis. PSAC encourages any members who are able, to show support for and join the Global Climate Strike.

Download the PSAC For Climate Justice poster!

With the environment emerging as a top concern for Canadians in the upcoming federal election, this strike provides us with an opportunity to drive home the call for urgent action to all political party leaders. Visit the Global Climate Strike website to find out when and where your city’s demonstration or march is taking place.

What is the Global Climate Strike?

Young people around the word have been leading the fight against climate change. They are now asking everyone to join them in the fight for their future. The strikes have been set to bookend the meeting of global leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit taking place September 23. Actions have been planned in 150 countries around the globe and everyone is encouraged to participate. A worldwide show of solidarity will make it clear to all leaders that we expect ambitious action against climate change, and we expect it now.

I can’t skip work, but I want to support the movement. What can I do?

We understand that not everyone has the ability to take a day off of work to join the strike, but it doesn’t mean you can’t participate and make your voice heard. Here are some ideas of how you can support the movement while on the job:

  • Share the Global Climate Strike messages on social media on your breaks. You can post selfies or group photos using the #ClimateStrike hashtag.
  • Host a presentation or lunchtime discussion to share information about the Global Climate Strike.
  • Put forward a proposal to your employer outlining how and why your workplace should join the Global Climate Strike.
  • If you have a number of colleagues who want to participate, organize a workplace action.
  • If you are able to request formal leave at your workplace, let your employer know why you are taking leave to ensure that your action builds awareness. Encourage other employees to do the same.

Visit the Global Climate Strike website to get other ideas on how you can support the movement.

Attachments:

PDF icon psac-climate-justice-lettersize.pdf

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UNE Human Rights Conference

UNE Human Rights Conference
November 14 – 17, 2019
Hilton Lac Leamy Hotel

Dear members,

The UNE Human Rights Conference is quickly approaching. We invite you to submit your application to join us in Gatineau, QC from November 14 – 17, 2019 for an exciting chance to meet with fellow Human Rights activists and discuss the many issues facing our union.

The Conference, held every three years, will feature guest speakers, educational sessions and networking opportunities for those in attendance.

In addition, elections will be held for the following:

  • National Equity Representative for Aboriginal Peoples
  • National Equity Representative for Persons with Disabilities
  • National Equity Representative for Racially Visible People
  • National Equity Representative for LGBTQ2+
  • National Equity Representative for Women
  • Four (4) Equity Group Delegates to the 2020 Triennial Convention from each group

Members must self-identify during the application process and will not be able to change or modify their equity group status at the Conference.

For a sneak-peek at what else we have in store for you, check out the Conference agenda.

During online registration, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Your answers will be used in the Conference selection process. Here are the questions so that you can prepare and then copy/paste your answers during registration.

Describe your experiences as a human rights activist within the union, your community and/or share your personal story (use the following guidelines as a basis for your description):

  1. How will your participation impact your Local, your Union and your community?
  2. Have you had any formal training or exposure to Human Rights issues?
  3. Describe community organization, Local or any other experience you feel is pertinent (e.g. community activism in Human Rights or social justice, Union positions held, etc.)
  4. Why are Human Rights important to you?

We ask that you register by Friday, October 4th, 2019.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE

If you are unable to register please contact our UNE events staff at events@une-sen.org.

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Ontario Regional Seminar

The Ontario Regional Team invites you to participate in their Regional Seminar scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, Ontario on October 25-27, 2019.

This event will offer presentations and workshop training that will give you the knowledge and confidence to help your members. It’s also a great place to meet active members just like you and forge long-lasting friendships.

For a sneak-peek at what else we have in store for you, check out the Seminar agenda.

The UNE will fund the following delegates per Local:

  • A Local President or designate should be one of the delegates;
  • A member who has not previously attended a seminar should be given priority;
  • Locals will elect a youth delegate to attend the Regional Seminar (age 35 or younger as of December 31, 2020).

Locals are required to encourage the participation of equity members. Locals may send additional members at their own expense.

You must register by Friday, September 27, 2019. Unfortunately, we will not consider late registrations.

Should you have any questions about the Seminar please contact Suzanne Boucher at events@une-sen.org.

Delegates to the Regional Seminar should arrive for registration at 7:00p.m. Friday evening, October 25, 2019. Accommodations will be arranged for delegates to spend two nights at the Sheraton Hotel for the Friday and Saturday night of the Seminar as activities are scheduled to take place into the evenings. The Seminar ends on Sunday, October 27 at 12:00p.m.

In solidarity,

Diane Levola, Regional Vice-President, Ontario
Craig Reynolds, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Ontario
Sandy Bello, Assistant Regional Vice-President, Ontario
Prabir Roy, Regional Representative for Human Rights, Ontario

Click here to register online.