PSAC Union Update for the period November 27 - December 8, 2000
The National Bargaining Conference for
PSAC members employed with the Parks Canada Agency, was held in Cornwall, Ont., from
December 1 to 4. The negotiating team, member representatives from the PSAC National
Component and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), reviewed all the
bargaining proposals recommended by the eastern and western Regional Bargaining
Conferences. The team has developed a package of proposals in preparation for negotiations
with the employer. The PSAC is well positioned and prepared to commence negotiations once
the Public Service Staff Relations Board (PSSRB) resolves the recertification issue as it
affects the bargaining unit structure at the Parks Canada Agency. We expect more
information on this issue shortly and encourage all Parks Canada members to check our
website at www.psac-afpc.com
Attending the conference were: (back row) Ron Johnston (National), Jack Norris (UCTE), David Orfald, PSAC Research Officer, Mike McNamara, PSAC Negotiator; (2nd row) Tony White, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, Atlantic, Eva Guthrie (National), Cliff Schmidt (National); (1st row) André Paul (Observer, National), Lesley Humber (UCTE), Peter G. Marenick (National), Elizabeth Crook (Observer, National), Barbara Wilson (National); (kneeling) Abdelkader Elkak (National), Eric Guay (National), Byrun Shandler (National).
The PSAC National Board of Directors (NBoD) and the Alliance Executive Committee (AEC) have endorsed the PSAC Equal Opportunities Committee's (EOC) recommendation that:
The PSAC as a stakeholder under the Employment Equity Act and as a committed leader in human rights, adopt December 3 as a recognized equity day for Persons with Disabilities. This day is recognized as the United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons; and the PSAC promote this day in our equity work with employers and in our communication strategies.
The United Nations proclaimed that December 3 be observed every year as the International Day of Disabled Persons based on a recognition that persons with disabilities, continue to face tremendous challenges with respect to access to health services, employment, housing, political and social rights. The day was originally proclaimed to promote understanding about disability issues. But there is growing recognition that concerted efforts by world leaders are required to provide full rights to persons with disabilities. Accordingly, a long-term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons was developed in accordance with United Nations General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions.
The PSAC continues to work to increase equality rights for persons with disabilities by:
* calling attention to the representation gaps for this
group in the federal public service and the federally regulated sector;
* working towards the implementation of the duty to
accommodate in the workplaces of our members;
* organizing triennial conferences for our members with
disabilities;
* providing support to our PSAC Regional Members with
Disabilities Committees;
* working with employers in order to develop and implement
effective workplace employment equity strategies.
Negotiations on behalf of PSAC members in the Multi-Group bargaining unit at Nav Canada commenced November 27 and continued through to November 29. Although negotiations were originally scheduled to continue until December 1, they ended early because the employer had no further mandate to deal with the 190 issues that were raised by members from the bargaining unit.
The PSAC negotiating team commented that they found the employer's approach condescending, dismissive and patronizing and advised them to go back and get a new mandate. The next bargaining session is scheduled for January 15 to 19. In the meantime, the PSAC team will be working with their Locals, Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) Regional Vice-Presidents and the PSAC Regional Offices to commence mobilization of the membership.
Negotiations on behalf of PSAC members at Red Bank First Nation will continue on December 14 through to December 16 in an attempt to finalize a collective agreement.
Negotiations will resume on December 20 and 21 on behalf of PSAC members at the Halifax Airport who are working towards their first collective agreement with their new employer. Bargaining sessions were held in October and November which resulted in approximately 20% of the agreement being negotiated and signed off. Further sessions are scheduled for January 3 to 5 and February 5 to 9th.
Bargaining proposals on behalf of PSAC members working at CFB Gagetown Non-Public Funds were exchanged with the employer on October 19 in Ottawa. The union's negotiating team caucused on November 10 to review the employer's proposals. Attempts are currently being made to secure dates for the commencement of face-to-face negotiations with the employer.
The parties are awaiting the conclusion of the classification plan prior to scheduling further negotiations for PSAC members at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
During the November 6 through 8 negotiations on behalf of PSAC members at the Saint John, N.B. Airport, the parties were successful in signing off some additional articles. Further negotiations are scheduled for December 12 and 13.
The PSAC negotiating team met with members of the Local to discuss the employer's lack of progress in negotiations that have been held to date and in preparation for the next session to be held from December 17 to 20. In this session the union will be attempting to reach a tentative agreement with the employer.
The Nunavut Employees Union (NEU) have asked that a mediator be appointed in an attempt to reach a fair and equitable collective agreement for its members who work for the Government of Nunavut.
Talks broke off on November 14 when it became clear to the negotiating team that the employer was not willing to compensate the workers in a fair manner for the high cost of living in Nunavut.
"The offer tabled by the employer is still far behind what is paid to federal government employees working in Nunavut," emphasized Doug Workman, NEU president. "We feel that with the assistance of a mediator, the employer will get a clearer understanding of our position and come back with an offer that will address the needs of our members."
The 1,300 NEU members have given their negotiating team a strong strike mandate.
Treasury Board has advised the PSAC that about 5% of pay equity recipients will be subject to a recalculation. Some of these recipients received less than they were owed, some received more.
Anyone who is owed more money will receive it. Any overpayments will be collected through the interest cheques. According to Treasury Board, there are no cases where the overpayment is greater than the interest cheque.
Treasury Board could have and should have warned employees when the first cheque was issued that overpayments were a possibility. If you relied on the payments received to make financial decisions which now mean that recovery would be an undue hardship; or you believe that the overpayment recalculation is inaccurate; or if you have been notified that your salary step is being changed, you should contact your Component or PSAC regional office to discuss a possible grievance. Additional information can also be found on the PSAC's web site.
The pay equity interest cheques have been printed and were sent to departments the week of November 27th. They will not be released until they are verified and release dates will vary by department.
Correctional Officer members of the PSAC will start voting on December 11 to ratify the tentative agreement reached at Treasury Board's Table 4 on November 16.
The ratification vote will be held from December 11, 2000 to January 17, 2001. This period is slightly longer than normal because of the holiday season.
The two-year tentative agreement provides for increment and salary increases of a minimum of 6% and 6.5% for each year of the collective agreement, as well as protective reassignment for pregnant and nursing Correctional Officers who are in regular contact with offenders, a clothing allowance for non-uniformed correctional officers and other considerable improvements. The PSAC negotiating team is recommending this agreement unanimously. The results will be announced on January 18, 2001.
In addition, the Public Service Staff Relations Board (PSSRB) ordered that a representation vote be held between January 8 to February 16, 2001.
In the November 13-24 issue of Union Update, Vol. 12 No. 21, (Court Action on pay equity for six federal agencies ...) should have read: (Court Action on pay equity for seven federal agencies ...). The name of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) was inadvertently left out. We apologize for this omission.
High levels of asbestos fibres in the air handling systems of
the Wellington Building and in the West Block of the Parliament Buildings are placing the
workers' health and safety in jeopardy, said the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers
Union (CEP) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada at a news conference on November 30.
The two unions represent some 400 workers at these sites.
In a statement at the conference, John Baglow, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region called for the closing down of these workplaces and the workers relocated until this situation is cleared up. "We have been dealing with this situation since the 1980s and are not prepared to sit back and let it continue any longer," he added.
"In addition, it is absolutely imperative that the federal government hire a third-party environmental consultant to test the work areas," said Dave Batho, president of CEP Local 102-0 and a worker in one of the affected buildings. "We are also calling on the federal government to work with the unions to develop a screening and medical surveillance program for those workers who have been exposed to the deadly fibres," Batho continued.
Recent results prepared by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) have revealed the presence of high levels of asbestos fibres in areas where these workers spend much of their workday. One CEP member has already been clinically diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease that may be linked to work on Parliament Hill.
This is not the first study confirming the presence of asbestos on the Hill. In 1988 a West Block Asbestos Survey made recommendations to correct the situation. In 1990, a report obtained by Greenpeace showed asbestos was present in ventilation ducts. However, despite repeated assurances by the employer that the Wellington Building is safe, clearly the problem continues to exist. Symptoms of asbestos exposure, such as lung cancer, can take more than 10 years to appear in a worker.
Baglow also stated that the PSAC will, once again, put pressure on the government to proclaim Part III of the Parliament Employment Staff Relations Act (PESRA) which would give these workers the right to refuse to work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. "This legislation has been passed in the House but has never been proclaimed," he said. "Enough is enough. These workers deserve the same rights as all other federal workers."
The unions are also reminding the newly-elected Parliament that they too will be exposed to this dangerous workplace. "Anyone frequenting these buildings is likely breathing in dangerous levels of asbestos. Although we have been demanding that the federal government take immediate action to close down these work areas it has been to no avail."
"We do not accept the employer's assurances that the asbestos is not harmful unless disturbed," continued Batho, noting that most of the testing was done late at night when the ventilation system was shut down and when few workers were present. "To us, there is no such thing as an acceptable minimum level of exposure to asbestos."