Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter.
Martin Luther King Jr
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS REPORT FOR MAY 2009
The Loss of Programs to the Province of British Columbia
Posted June 8, 2009
2009 has emerged as being very busy for our union both locally and regionally.The loss of our many members to the Province has been extremely emotional.Many of these members had become our workaday family built over many years with the sharing of our mutual commitment and energy.Thus, the feeling of loss has been tremendous.Moreover, in many of our locals our program members were predominant and their experience and efforts are not easily replaced.Our work continues on this problem and we are most appreciative to all those members who have committed to take on the responsibilities of the local positions.
Investigation to look into skyrocketing use of contractual employees
Posted May 19,2009
By Kathryn May, The Ottawa Citizen
OTTAWA
— Canada’s staffing watchdog is investigating the federal government’s
growing use of temporary workers, consultants and contractors placed
through personnel agencies to work in departments.
Public Service
Commission of Canada president Maria Barrados is planning a study into
the government’s use of “private firms” to hire temporary employees as
part of the Commons government operations committee’s probe into the
massive turnover of workers in the public service. (More here)
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT FOR SPRING 2009
Posted May 19, 2009
INTRODUCTION
Spring is
that time of year that brings forth renewal and the hope that at least some of
our dreams and expectations might be realized.
This particular spring follows a tough winter not only in the sense of the
unusual weather we endured but as we reflect on the loss of over 200 sisters
and brothers that transferred to the Province of British Columbia and continue
their public service from there. They
were a significant portion of our union family and like any family members who
have moved on they will be sincerely missed.
Many were experienced and passionate union activists who cannot be
readily replaced. Thus we have lost them
not only as family, co-workers and friends, but as a critical union resource. On a more positive note some of the expected
transferees remain with the federal government after they had their requests
for deployments to other business lines approved. Indeed, we are grateful to our employer for
this reconsideration.
Unsafe buildings threaten government workers’ health and safety, says PSAC
Posted May 19, 2009
OTTAWA --The federal government is failing to ensure the safety of thousands of workers and the public by not properly enforcing fire safety rules and regulations, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the union representing more than 100,000 federal public sector workers.
PSAC is sounding the alarm in response to the release of the 2009 Spring Report of the Auditor General. The report highlights the government’s widespread failure to comply with key requirements of the Treasury Board’s Standard for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Emergency Organization.
“The Auditor General has issued a very troublesome report,” says Patty Ducharme, PSAC’s National Executive Vice-President.
Auditor General Sheila Fraser points out that less than 20 per cent of government buildings’ fire safety plans comply with Treasury Board’s fire safety requirements. This means that more than 80 per cent of federal government workplaces have either no fire safety plans or are relying on plans that have not been approved by Labour Canada – putting thousands of PSAC members and the public at risk.
In addition, Fraser notes that although all federal departments are required to conduct annual fire drills, one-third of the 54 buildings that were examined for her report did not comply with this basic requirement.
Fraser is also critical of the lack of enforcement and the government’s reliance on voluntary compliance: “In our view, this is not sufficient to administer and enforce the Standard,” says Fraser.
“PSAC agrees with the Auditor General’s assertion that voluntary compliance doesn’t work when it comes to protecting the safety of people working in and accessing government buildings,” says Ducharme. “We demand that the federal government take action now and not wait for a major catastrophe or loss of life before it starts enforcing its own rules and regulations regarding the safety of its employees and members of the public.”
Pension Surplus Litigation - Update February 2009
Posted March 6th, 2009
PSAC has recently been receiving enquiries from members concerning the status of the litigation initiated against the Federal Government over the $30.2-billion pension surplus appropriation legislation of 1999. (More)
Defend Pay Equity - Fight Bill C-10
Posted March 5th, 2009 - From the PSAC national site
On February 6, the government tabled legislation that will radically change the rules governing pay equity in the federal public sector. The Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act will remove the right of public sector workers to file pay equity complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission and transform it into an issue that can be traded away at the bargaining table. This Act must be removed from Bill C-10, the Budget Implementation Act. (More)
2009 PSAC National Triennial Convention
The PSAC 2009 National Triennial Convention will be held at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, BC, beginning Sunday, April 26th and concluding Friday, May 1, 2009.
As the number of Canadians seeking Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
grows, claimants face bad news on two fronts. Many find they do not
meet the stiff eligibility requirements while those who qualify
encounter delays in payment. For EI staff working in-person with the
public, these problems boost claimants’ frustration levels and can lead
to angry outbursts. (More)
Negotiation of the Labour Market Development (LMDA) and Employee Transfer Agreements (ETA) and the intentional exclusion of union involvement
Regional Union Management Consultation Committee meeting (RUMCC) for the new region of British Columbia, Alberta and Territories (BAT)
New Restructuring of the BC/YT Region
Regional Health and Safety Committee
Membership and the Locals
Election of Alternate National Vice President and National Vice
Convention 2008
Gratitude
Letter from John Gordon (Pres of PSAC) to Phil Charko, Pensions & Benefits, Treasury Board
January 30, 2009 Phil Charko Assistant Secretary Pensions and Benefits Division Treasury Board of Canada 222 Nepean Street Ottawa, ON K1A OR5
Dear Mr. Charko:
As you are aware, effective February 2, 2009, approximately 250 members of the PSAC employed with Service Canada are to be transferred to the Government of the Province of British Columbia pursuant to the Canada- British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA). In conjunction with this initiative, the PSAC has concerns over forthcoming administrative procedures associated with the transfer of the accrued federal Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA) pensionable service under the existing Pension Transfer Agreements (PTA) with the B.C. Public Service Pension Board of Trustees.
By Kathryn May , The Ottawa Citizen January 23, 2009 Post January 25, 2009
The 100,000 members of Canada’s largest federal union have
voted to accept the Harper government’s wage ‘restraint’ giving them
raises of 6.8 per cent over the four years.
The Public
Service Alliance of Canada is one of the few unions to have actually
negotiated a deal with the government after it imposed a final
‘take-it-or-leave-it’ offer in November and later threatened to force
it by legislation. It offered wage increases of 2.3 per cent in 2008
and 1.5 per cent in each of the next three years.
The union put the deal to a vote of its members, which was conducted over the past month.
Other
federal unions, however, are waiting to see whether next week’s budget
resurrects plans to use legislation to force the deal and possible wage
roll-backs on their members.
PSAC hails the deal as a
major victory because it also managed to win significant concessions —
on top of the final wage offer — on several longstanding issues the
union has fought over for years.
The deal gave 85,000
members an additional $4,000 in lump-sum payments, in exchange for
dropping two outstanding pay equity complaints. Border guards jobs were
reclassified, giving them a hike worth about 19 per cent, and
tradespeople scored a victory in their 4-year battle for national rates
of pay.
“Our union is proud of achieving these
agreements which contain some significant gains and no concessions,”
says PSAC national president John Gordon.
“A clear
majority of our members have voted to accept the tentative agreements,”
says Mr. Gordon. “We see this as a vote of confidence for?the
bargaining teams and the union. We will now be focusing our attention
on ensuring that the occupational group and classification review
reflects the workplace and needs of our members.”
Statement - Treasury Board President Welcomes Ratification of Four New Collective Agreements by Public Service Alliance of Canada Members
OTTAWA, Jan. 24 /CNW Telbec/ - From CNW Group
The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today released the following statement after the ratification of collective agreements concluded with the Public Service Alliance of Canada for the Program and Administrative Services (PA), the Education and Library Science (EB), the Operational Services (SV) and the Border Services (FB) groups. "This is welcome news. After reaching four agreements with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, I am very pleased that its members have voted in favour of these new collective agreements. The agreements we have reached with the Public Service Alliance of Canada provide for a total cumulative economic increase of 6.8 per cent over four years, that is to say, 2.3 per cent in 2007-08, 1.5 per cent in 2008-09, 1.5 per cent in 2009-10 and 1.5 per cent in 2010-11. These settlements are fair to employees and affordable for Canadians. Responsible management of compensation is critical and I would like to acknowledge the understanding and cooperation shown by many groups as we all do our share in these difficult economic times."
Regular updates on collective bargaining are posted on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Web site at: www.tbs-sct.gc.ca.
Members ratify new contract
January 23, 2009
From CEIU National Site
Members ratify new contract
PSAC members of the PA group have ratified the proposed collective
agreement. The four year contract includes a $4000 lump sum payment and
salary increases of 2.3% in the first year and 1.5% in each of the
following three.
The agreement also contains improvements to the Workforce Adjustment
provisions as well as a memorandum of understanding on the issue of
classification reform in the PA group.
“Our union is proud of achieving these agreements which contain some
significant gains and no concessions,” says PSAC national president
John Gordon. “We were able to make these breakthroughs because of the
18 months of hard work put in by our bargaining teams and the
collective actions of our members, especially under a challenging
bargaining environment.”
PSAC members ratify new agreements with Treasury Board
January 23, 2009
News release
PSAC members ratify new agreements with Treasury Board
Ottawa – 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. (More)
Happy holiday, unless you work for the feds
By The Canadian Press
Posted Jan 18th, 20099
CHARLOTTETOWN Not everybody on Prince Edward Island will be celebrating Islander Day on Feb. 9 as Premier Robert Ghiz had hoped.
Last fall, the P.E.I. premier created the statutory holiday in an effort to give Islanders a mid-winter break. He said it would be a day off, to spend with family, for everybody on P.E.I. including the public and private sector as well as those who work for the provincial and federal governments. (More)
Labour unions threaten government with lawsuit
Kathryn May,
Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, January 18, 2009
OTTAWA
-- Federal labour leaders say they will take the Harper government to
court if the Jan. 27 budget resurrects a call for legislation to freeze
salaries or to roll back wages in Canada's public service. (More)
Fond Farewell
Posted January 12, 2009
CEIU National Vice-President, BC/YT
The transfer of federal programs staff to the province of BC is just around the corner. On January 30th, our colleagues and friends will start a new working life with a new employer and a new union.
CEIU in BC was fortunate over the years to have many members from programs take an active part in their union. As elected officers and shop stewards, they gave of their time and energy to local activism. In doing so they made significant contributions to the building of better workplaces and in defence of their members rights under the collective agreement.
For all the times when you helped someone in a bind, or you took on the employer, or you got the union’s news out or organized a meeting, or you made gains on health and safety, or you rallied the members to fight for a new contract, or …….. we all know the list could go on for pages.
On behalf of the members and CEIU - THANK YOU!
Pat Wakefield
National Vice-President, BC/YT
Polygamy charges in Bountiful
ROBERT MATAS AND WENDY STUECK
Globe and Mail Update and The Canadian Press
January 7, 2009 at 4:15 PM EST
VANCOUVER
— Leaders of the two factions in the polygamous community of Bountiful
have been charged under the Criminal Code with practising polygamy.
In a sensational turn in a 20-year-old debate over the issue of
polygamy in Canada, police have charged Jim Oler and Winston Blackmore.
The two men were charged each with one count on Tuesday and have not
yet appeared in court. Mr. Oler is charged with “practising polygamy”
with two women. Mr. Blackmore's charge relates to 20 women. (More)
Union Update - December 2008
From PSAC national site - December 27th, 2008
Union Update
Special PSAC Spotlight on PSAC and Human Rights December 2008
2009 BC PSAC Regional Triennial Health and Safety Conference
On behalf of the BC Regional H&S Organizing Committee I am pleased to inform you of the upcoming 2009 BC PSAC Regional Triennial Health and Safety Conference. We would like to encourage members active in Health and Safety and members who share an interest in Health and Safety issues to attend.
We hope to have 55 participants representing all areas of the region and all aspects of our union. I am sending you this application form to be completed by members wishing to attend the 2009 H&S Conference.
Please note that a registration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) is required from all conference participants.
If Locals have difficulties sending members because of financial constraints, please contact the PSAC Victoria Regional Office as we may be able to assist you.
The theme of this years conference, *Participation And Workplace Prevention* is intended to be of interest to those who wish to contribute to improving Health and Safety in their workplaces.
In Solidarity,
James Little Regional Representative Health and Safety Public Service Alliance of Canada Victoria Regional Office littlej@psac.com (250) 953-1050 or toll free 1-866-953-1050 1-250-953-1066 (fax)
PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB)
Posted Dec 1, 2008 - PSAC National Site
PSAC Bargaining Units with Treasury Board (PA, SV, TC, EB, FB)
A tentative agreement was reached on November 23, 2008, on behalf of
PSAC members who work for Treasury Board in the Program and
Administration Services (PA) bargaining unit. The tentative agreement,
if ratified, will have an expiry date of June 20, 2011 (4 year
agreement).
Ottawa - The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Treasury
Board have reached tentative agreements for more than 100,000 members
in the main bargaining units governed by the Public Service Labour Relations Act.
“The members can be proud of gains the union has achieved in a very
challenging collective bargaining environment,” says PSAC national
president John Gordon.
Negotiation of the Labour Market Development (LMDA) and Employee Transfer Agreements (ETA) and the intentional exclusion of union involvement
The spring found this region in Federal to Provincial negotiations on the LMDA for British Columbia. We later discovered that our employer met secretly with the Province and intentionally negotiated the Employee Transfer Agreement without the participation of CEIU (Canada Employment and Immigration Union). The employer only went to the extent prescribed by the Workforce Adjustment Agreement (WFA) by forming a Work Force Adjustment Committee. The union had previously advised the employer of a number of areas of concern for our membership.
See the British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement Site
Deputy Minister's Welcome
I would like to welcome you to the BC Public Service and the Ministry of Housing and Social Development.
The key element for the successful implementation of the Labour
Market Development Agreement is the experience and expertise of Service
Canada staff. We recognise the key relationships you have developed
with clients and stakeholders in your communities and appreciate the
importance of these contributions. (More)
Thank you from Dianne Mitchell, Alternate NVP BC/YT
Thank you to all those members who took
time out of their busy days to vote in the last regional election. To all those
members who voted for me, my sincere thanks.Your vote of confidence is deeply appreciated.To have been re- elected to the position as
Alternate NVP BC/YT region for a second term affords me the opportunity to
continue on with the work of the union on your behalf.
With gratitude,
Dianne Mitchell
Email letter from Pat Wakefield to Andy Netzel asking for his support during the Employee Transfer Agreement
(By Email)
Dear Mr. Netzel:
Despite commitments from the federal employer to meaningful consultation with the union on the Employee Transfer Agreement (ETA) in BC, this process has been a disappointment and frustration. I am bringing my concerns directly to you in the expectation that you will bring to bear your influence and authority to find positive solutions for my members.
