OTTAWA, Nov. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Post Corporation (CPC) is trying to use the government's Employment Insurance program to reduce its own costs, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) - the union that represents about 2,400 CPC employees. (More)
BC/YT Women’s Training & Conference AB/NWT/NU Committee Training & Conference June 2008
Bargaining Update:
Provided by our bargaining Team Member Megan Adams. Megan
outlined some of the current challenges of bargaining and the items that are
now off the table and the items that have not been resolved to any degree.
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)
Impact of a federal election on Treasury Board and Agency bargaining
What happens to our negotiations if a federal election is called?
From the PSAC national site - posted September 2, 2008
PSAC currently has two weeks of negotiations scheduled for our PA, EB,
SV and FB bargaining units; one week in September, one in October. The
TC group is in the process of establishing dates for mediation this
fall. (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.
In pursuit of work-life balance, Canadians are downing BlackBerries, declining overtime and daring to do less.
"Work-life balance is a concern for our members, there's no question
about that,'' says Patty Ducharme, national executive vice-president of
the Public Service Alliance of Canada. (More here)
A noble calling?
Few Canadians think Public Service is an 'honourable' place to work
Kathryn May,
The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
The
days of being drawn to the public service as a noble calling may be
over. Twice as many Canadians believe it's more "honourable" to work in
the private sector than for government, says a poll by Angus Reid
Strategies. (more here)
CEIU proposes joint approach to introduction of new work descriptions
From the CEIU national site
August 5, 2008
CEIU has proposed that the new generic work descriptions at Service
Canada be reviewed by joint union-management committees. The work
descriptions are extremely broad in nature and members are
understandably concerned that their work be fully reflected and valued
in them. (More here)
Post-ETA in the BC Region
From the CEIU national site:
August 5, 2008
The ETA was a disappointment in many ways for programs staff in BC and
the union is still debating the fallout with both employers. We would
have hoped that on the federal side when Mr. Leonidas was negotiating
the ETA, Ms. Jackson was managing this transition and Mr. Netzel was
signing off the agreement that the practical issues the union was
raising would resonate. (More here)
Federal workers slam 'insulting' offer
MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL ST. STEPHEN
Published/posted August 2nd, 2008
The long line of vehicles snaking through the streets of
St. Stephen on their way out of the province for the long weekend were
greeted at the border crossing Friday by a large group of federal
government workers waving their union flag and handing out brochures. (More here)
LMDA ETA Bulletin #6
IMPORTANT
LMDA ETA Bulletin #6
Post-ETA in the BC Region
Posted August 1st, 2008 The ETA was a disappointment in many ways for programs staff in BC and the union is still debating the fallout with both employers.We would have hoped that on the federal side when Mr. Leonidas was negotiating the ETA, Ms. Jackson was managing this transition and Mr. Netzel was signing off the agreement that the practical issues the union was raising would resonate. They had the clout to make the province reconsider and work towards the ETA that your management told you would be “equal to or better than Ontario”.
We are all federal government workers and we are also elected members of PSAC negotiating teams that bargain with our employer, Treasury Board. For over a year now we have been sitting through a great many bargaining sessions but so far we have made virtually no progress. This lack of progress is due to Treasury Board's refusal to address the major concerns that we've raised at the bargaining table.
PSAC wants say in how members' contributions are managed
Glen McGregor,
The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008
The
largest union representing federal public servants wants a voice in how
its members' pension fund is run after government-appointed pension
fund managers gave up on more than $900 million in investments rocked
by the U.S. credit crisis. (More here)
PSAC Statement of Solidarity
Posted July 18th, 2008
From the PSAC national site:
PSAC stands in solidarity with the Professional Institute of the Public
Service of Canada (PIPSC) and their member Luc Pomerleau, who was fired
from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for performing his
responsibilities as a union steward. Pomerleau's firing came after he
alerted his union about upcoming changes that will significantly affect
his workplace, the work of PSAC members, and potentially damage public
safety. (More here)
PM Harper makes more changes to public service
The Hill Times, June 30th, 2008 NEWS STORY By Cynthia Mόnster
Simon Kennedy is new deputy secretary to Cabinet for plans and consultations in the Privy Council Office, effective Aug. 1.
There was a significant flurry of both high and low-profile
appointments last week, culminating with changes to the senior ranks of
the federal public service on Friday. It's estimated the government
made a total of 57 appointments last week.
(More here)
CEIU members speak up for a fair contract
June 23rd, 2008
From the CEIU national site
CEIU members responded to the PSAC’s call for a day of action on June
19 aimed at pushing the employer to bargain seriously. Members of the
PA group have been without a contract for a year and recently received
an insulting pay offer from the Treasury Board. (More here)
Service Canada’s Newfoundland Workers Accuse Management of Manipulating Local Employment Insurance Claims to Inflate Stats for Ottawa
Posted June 23rd, 2008
From CEIU national site
Understaffing sees older EI claims pushed to back burner
ST. JOHN’S The federal government union representing employment
insurance staff at Service Canada is accusing St. John’s managers of
showing more interest in producing good statistics for their Ottawa
bosses than for people in need in Newfoundland and Labrador. (More here)
Negotiating Essential Services with Treasury Board: What PSAC members need to know
From the PSAC national site June 23rd, 2008
The PSAC would have liked nothing better than to take on Treasury
Board’s insulting wage offer at the table in June. But we need to plan
for what happens in the bargaining process after the talking is done if
we can’t reach a settlement. (More here)
Federal government resorts to heavy-handed tactics to stop union activity
OTTAWA, June 19, 2008/CNW Telbec
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) says the federal government has crossd the line in its attempts to discourage protests against the government's recent wage officer (more here).
Updated pension information for BC members moving to province
Posted June 18th, 2008
From CEIU (national site)
Members transferring to the BC government as a result of the Labour
Market Agreement now have updated pension information available to them. (More here)
Employer’s offer won’t pay the bills June 19: members to send message to Treasury Board
Posted June 18th, 2008
From CEIU National Site
Members will send the Treasury Board a message on June 19 to get
serious about a fair agreement. After a year without a new contract and
an insulting pay offer, members are fed up with the performance of the
employer at the bargaining table.
Public service union officials say an internal memo issued by the
Treasury Board Secretariat to its staff outlining possible disciplinary
actions in anticipation of an upcoming rally is "overkill."
