BC/YT Region
Regional Union
Management Consultation Committee (
Record of Discussions
for
Participants
|
Pat Wakefield |
NVP CEIU, Co-chair |
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Grant McGregor |
Representative, PIPSC |
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Dave Stemler |
Representative, APSFA |
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Heather Middlemass |
Representative, |
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Christine Dockman |
RVP, NHWU |
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Management: |
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Bill Ross |
A/Regional Executive Head,
Co-chair |
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Bob McMorine |
Director, Human Resources |
|
Jeanine Arseneault |
Regional Manager, Human Resources |
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Absent: |
|
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Claudine Philippe Derek Brackley |
RVP, National Component |
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Support to the Committee |
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Jill Mullis |
Regional Executive Office |
MANAGEMENT ITEMS
Managing For
Results – Bob McMorine
Managing
for Results is slowly making progress. Originally
the intent was to achieve 75% having completed the goal and expectation setting stage by end of March 2004. However we
anticipate we will reach 75% or higher by end of summer.
At
this time Core Competencies is the primary focus of discussion.
For
CEIC in terms of Insurance it has been difficult meeting targets as getting the
claim load down has been the priority for team leaders and managers vs. numbers
and developing plans. It was agreed that
although work pressures and clients come first at some point we do need to meet
our Managing for Results obligations
With
regard to the use of the term “Performance and Learning agreement”, Pat
Wakefield advised that only the PSAC can sign “agreements” on behalf of the
members. She asked if management would agree to employees crossing out the word
“Agreement” and substitute the word “plan”.
Management
advised that the Region has no concern if the Manager and Employee want to
cross out the word Agreement and use Plan.
Verbally
Communicating Decisions – Bill Ross
Bill
Ross provided a handout from Charles Nixon, ADM Insurance entitled “Verbally
Communicating Decisions Evaluation Report”.
The document was released in June and shared with the national Policy
Health and Safety Committee. It will be
tabled in the next meeting of the Regional health and Safety Committee.
Bill
Ross stated that although some additional funding has been provided by NHQ
(7.96 FTE’s) which has been distributed to the field, it may not be noticed as
a result of it being off-set by other national budget reductions.
Bob
McFarland, Regional Manager Insurance Services for BC/Yukon Region continues to
monitor the results in the region, relative to the national findings.
Universal
Agent – Bill Ross
In
March 2004 Charles Nixon, ADM Insurance wrote to REHs introducing the use of
the national work description for the Universal Agent position. The Benefits
Leadership Team (BLT) and the BLT Human Resources Working Group have developed
a proposal for implementation of the Universal Agent work description.
Bill
Ross advised that the proposal includes an invitation to the CEIU to provide
input on the proposed implementation strategy and to obtain thoughts on staff
concerns that should be anticipated or any other associated issues. A formal
invitation will be forwarded to CEIU early fall. CEIU agreed to review the process proposal
and implementation schedule upon receipt of the invitation.
Action: Human Resources to ensure that CEIU receives a copy of the
new work description.
Implementation
will be very slow. The BC/Yukon Region
will show support to the concept by asking for volunteers in the 3rd
quarter with 0 - 15% uptake in the fourth quarter.
Pat
Wakefield asked when the SDR and Adjudicator positions will be taken over by
the Universal Agent. Management
confirmed that it is anticipated that much of the clerical aspects will be
taken over by technology. However, it is a work in progress – we need to
identify problems of the past. SDRs can
take advantage of the Universal Agent opportunities.
Designation
Notices – Jeanine Arseneault
Form
13 Designation notices are out in the offices and are in the process of being distributed. The deadline for distribution of notices is
August 9th, 2004.There are a few issues around distribution to NHWU members
as union representatives are not available in all the local sites to witness
the distribution. Christine Dockman advised that Julie Brussiers will witness
the distribution in the lower mainland.
Action: Christine will contact the local executive to determine a
process and get back to Jeanine to make arrangements for witnessing next
week.
New Service
Ron
Stewart is the National lead with Shannon Baggott as the regional lead for this
activity. There are seven SCAC sites
within the BC/Yukon Region.
An
SDR in Smithers has recently been trained in
Christine
Dockman asked how the Service Canada Access Centres will impact employees. Bill
Ross responded that Service Canada jobs have helped some employees who have not
enjoyed claims calculation but rather prefer the tasks of reviewing documents
and responding to public enquiries.
Bill
Ross advised that current HRSDC/SDC employees will get first option at the
Service Canada jobs. The SCAC role will
be incremental work for the seven locations. There has been no formal
assessment evaluation to date.
Passport Pilot
Project – Bill Ross
Currently
there are three Passport pilot project sites (BC,
PWGSC Client
Satisfaction Survey – Bill Ross
Every
two years PWGSC conducts a client satisfaction survey with employees in various
buildings across the country under their responsibility with populations
greater than 100. The purpose is to
identify both levels of satisfaction and concerns regarding facilities. Stats
Bill
Ross has agreed that we need to participate.
The last survey identified the top 3 improvements that tenants like to
see as 1) air circulation, 1) office space and 3) temperature.
Pat
Wakefield asked about the plans for the
Action: Miles Brown to follow up with Public Works regarding the
proposed sale of the building where the Nanaimo HRCC is located.
Departmental
Transition – Bill Ross
Bill
Ross advised since the split of the Department into HRSDC and SDC we now have 5
ministers. (Minister Joseph Volpe -
HRSDC, Minister of State Claudette Bradshaw - HRSDC, Minister Fontana – Labour
and Housing - HRSDC).
Minister
Dryden – SDC, Minister of State, Ianno – SDC.
CMHC
has been placed into the HRSD fold via Minister Fontana’s connection between
the two departments.
Some
of the changes as a result of the split include; the Call Centre is now
experiencing a centrally managed reporting relationship through Judy
Risebrough, to Donna Atchimov, DG Call Centre Operations; Overpayment Recovery
reports to Bernie St. Martin, DG Accounting Operations at NHQ; Labour reports
to Ajit Mehat, DG Labour Operations, NHQ; Corporate Services reports to both
Bill Merlinger (Finance) and Serge Rainville, (Systems) NHQ; Human Resources
reports to Gina Rallis, NHQ.
Other
Departmental Updates
Budget – Bill Ross
After
receiving their budget allocations, HRCCs have felt a sense of relief more than
last year. Caution is although there may be more dollars the responsibility to
fund other things is a reality. Examples include:
·
translation is
being charged back to the HRCC vs., being centrally funded @ RHQ.
·
We are now being
funded by business line therefore we cannot transfer dollars to correct
shortfalls in other business lines.
Part Time
Employment Benefits – Impact on Superannuation – Pat Wakefield
Pat Wakefield raised concerns and provided examples of
conflicting information related to the pension calculation formula (best 5
years and years of service) used for individuals who have worked a combination
of part time and full time with the Federal Government throughout their
careers. It appears as though pensions
for these employees are not being calculated the same way as those who only
worked full time hours. As a result of the different calculation formulas used (for
those having worked both part time and full time vs. those who have only worked
full time) pensions results are different even though they may have had the
same dollar amount in the best five years and the number of years worked. Unfortunately
repeated queries have resulted in a variety of responses that are also
inconsistent.
Action: Pat Wakefield will
advise one of the affected PSAC members to provide Bob McMorine with all the
particulars of her case to use as an example to determine if there is a
difference in the calculation formulas and outcome. To date employee member has
received four different pension amounts/formulas/and explanations from
different sources.
The union brought forward a suggestion that if there is a
difference in the way the calculations are performed based on full time/part
time hours then employees should be advised in writing of the impact of reducing
their hours of work at the time they are
making their decision work part time.
RUMCC Mandate
– NHWU – Christine Dockman
Christine Dockman asked a variety of questions related to
why HRDC split into two separate departments (HRSDC & SDC) and the impact. Bill Ross advised that the Privy Council
Office or the Prime Minister’s Office would be best to respond to that
question. Christine’s other questions
included:
Q. What parts of ISP
would best be dealt with at the RUMCC table?
A. For the purposes of
administration and grievances, ISP Processing reports to the Regional Executive
Head BC/YT Region. For ISP Processing
Centre issues, the first level of grievance takes place at the local level in
The Call Centres are nationally managed and report through
Judy Risebrough to Donna Atchimov at National Headquarters. The EI/ISP Call Centre has one local manager
(Wanda Hartry) who reports to Judy Riseborough @ NHQ. With regard to Call Centres the first level
of grievance takes place at the local level via Wanda Hartry and the 2nd
level takes place via Judy Riseborough @ NHQ.
The RUMCC is a good discussion platform at the Regional
level for Walk-in Centres and Processing Centres.
Safety and Health issues are to be addressed by the Safety
and Health Committees which are location based.
Safety and Health Committees are per building vs. the organization
chart. The Safety and Health Committee continues to have jurisdiction for all
employees in the building throughout the transition.
With regard to the clarity of roles – Bill Ross reiterated
that the administrative systems still need to catch up with the reorganization.
Bill Ross further advised that a 280 page Departmental Transition
document outlines the mandates of the two departments and will be sent to all
RUMCC members. Staff will have access to this document through their Responsibility
Centre Managers.
Action: Jeanine Arseneault to forward the Departmental Transition
document to union representatives.
Posting of
Competitions – CEIU – Pat Wakefield
Pat Wakefield asked if it were possible to have competitions
posted on the internet given that many employees work on their applications from
home.
Bill Ross and Grant McGregor both confirmed that the security
systems are not yet in place to accommodate such a request – similar to why we
do not do business via hotmail. Bill Ross advised that for access to be
provided via a RAS token it would result in costs in excess of $200.00 per
employee. Once NHQ makes the decision
and implements (minimum two years down the road) we could have some of our
private websites accessible from the outside.
Perhaps once technology catches up we can look at this suggestion again.
Harassment
Prevention Workshop – NHWU – Christine Dockman
Christine Dockman suggested having a joint Union Management Harassment
Prevention workshop similar to the 1.5 day session put on @ Health
Bill Ross advised that the appropriate forum for the
discussion of this topic would be at the Regional Joint Employment Equity Consultation
Committee (RJEECC) which has jurisdiction on this issue. Management agreed to have this topic tabled
at a future RJEECC meeting. Bill Ross also
clarified that the Joint RJEECC does not report to the RUMCC.
Action: Jeanine Arseneault to forward the potential agenda item to
the RJEECC.
Grants &
Contributions – CEIU – Pat Wakefield
Pat
Wakefield advised that PSAC members have raised concerns that many employees
are in a position where they could be severely affected by some of the current
administration of Grants and Contributions within the region.
Pat advised that as a result of the concerns raised by
CEIU members a committee was struck to identify the risks and come up with
suggestions. Pat Wakefield along with
representatives from the HRCCs met as a group to discuss and get the issues
out. Pat advised those on the committee
that she would only deal with issues that were supported by facts not
opinions. As a result of the committee
discussions a document was developed with specific facts to be presented to the
REH BC/Yukon Region.
Pat provided general information to the RUMCC members
articulating the concerns raised a) conflict of interest b) the need for
training) c) Communication mechanisms (some Project Officers do not have direct
access to the POC and SDM other than via
the Team leader).
Based on the sensitivity of the issues raised Pat
handed the document directly to Bill Ross, BC/YT A/REH for his review. Bill Ross received the document and confirmed
that he takes these types of issues very seriously and where appropriate will
review them with the Director Programs Services for further consideration.
Bill
Ross emphasized that when it comes to conflict of interest and Values and
Ethics the systems do not work if people do not stand up for what they believe
in. POCs need to be able to put the blocks on the conflict of interest
issues. Grants and Contributions is very
complex. The review committee and
segregations of duties were put into place to protect them.
Action: Bill Ross to review the document of concerns presented by
the union.
Pat Wakefield further expressed the concerns
of Service Delivery Assistants in Corporate Services relative to the impacts of
changing technology. Bill Ross responded
saying that all aspects of the business are affected when technology takes
place. Our future will be radically different and these changes will be driven
by technology. People need to understand
that what they are doing today will not be here tomorrow. Although technology will impact the SDAs
first they are not more vulnerable than the others. Looking into the future all
will be affected over time. Unfortunately
the SDA’s are just the first ones initially affected.
YMCA Workers –
CEIU – Pat Wakefield
Pat
Wakefield raised concerns of the potential for exploitation of Youth @ Risk who
are paid minimum wage by the YMCA and placed with organizations to gain work
experience, structured work habits etc. necessary to enter the world of
work.
Pat advised she had received information of an HRSDC
casual employee who was not extended due to a YMCA Youth @ Risk placement.
Pat voiced her concerns that Youth at Risk workers may
be displacing casual HRSDC/SDC employees which is contrary to the YMCA
agreement. Her understanding is that YMCA placements are to be incremental. She
provided an example of a YMCA agreement where a Youth at Risk was placed at an
HRCC for a period of 8 months. Part way
through the YMCA 8 month agreement a casual employee (who had been performing
the same work along side the Youth at Risk Worker) was not extended. The perception being the YMCA Youth at Risk
Worker had displaced the casual employee.
Pat asked how many YMCA Youth @ Risk employees are
currently working @ HRSDC/SDC.
Bob
McMorine and Bill Ross were not aware of exact number of placements however,
they both emphasized that HRSDC/SDC puts far more into the mentorship than what
the Youth @ Risk placement is putting out.
They did not see where there would be exploitation given the intent of
the program and the target group. They are not aware of any situations where
offices have taken on these individuals as a mechanism to save salary
dollars.
Round Table
Grant
McGregor requested permission to use the e-mail system to send out a reminder
to his fellow members that in the event of a PSAC strike they are expected to
report to work in the case of any picketing around the workplace. Members would be reminded they need to have their
union card in their possession so they can identify to any picketers their union
status. Should members they have any
problems gaining access to the building where they work they would also be
advised to contact their manager.
Bill
Ross concurred.
Next Meeting –
Future
items - Review of RUMCC Terms of Reference