PSAC Union Update for the period July 16 - August 3, 2001
On August 27 the Canadian public in many cities across the country will be able to find out first-hand what the dispute between PSAC members in the federal public sector and the federal government is all about.
That's the day transit shelters in major cities, except Vancouver, will start carrying this brief, but eye-catching message for a four-week period: "We don't expect a 20% raise like the MPs, but federal workers deserve respect and a fair raise". In Vancouver, because of the transit strike, this message will appear in similar size free-standing ads.
The objective of the pre-strike campaign, being launched on the eve of Labour Day, is three fold:
Commencing on September 3rd, when many Canadians turn on their radio, they will hear at different times of the day, a 30-second message telling them about our dispute with the federal government and warning them of upcoming disruptions to services.
The transit ads and radio messages are just one aspect of the on-going strike-related activities currently being carried out by PSAC members in the workplace. Your participation in these activities is support for your negotiating team. Since Treasury Board needs to be pushed to improve their offers, your action and support will send a message to Treasury Board to come back to the table with fair offers.
You should already be working no more than your regular hours - no unpaid overtime, taking all breaks and lunch periods, writing and visiting Members of Parliament and helping make sure your Local has a strike committee and is ready for strike action. Members in a legal strike position should also be participating in activities planned by their regional strike coordinating committees.
Numerous activities will be taking place across the country around Labour Day. Get involved. Contact your Local, your Regional office and/or your District Labour Council.
Remember: in solidarity there is strength. It's time to give Treasury Board a real demonstration.
The Table 1 Conciliation Board submitted a report without recommendations to the Chairperson of the Public Service Staff Relations Board. The Conciliation Board did not feel they could make recommendations on the outstanding issues. This can be linked directly to Treasury Board's refusal to move on the issues.
Table 1 members were in a legal strike position as of July 22. However, that does not mean that a strike will take place immediately. From the beginning, your PSAC negotiating teams have been committed to working together to achieve the best possible settlements for all four Tables. The PSAC National Strike Coordinating Committee has decided that all Tables will be involved jointly in any future negotiating sessions. This commitment also includes taking unified action to achieve those settlements.
The Conciliation Board process has been completed for Table 2 (Operational) and a report is expected by the end of July. The Table 5 (Education and Library Services) Conciliation Board was at the end of July, and Table 3 (Technical) will appear before the Conciliation Board in mid-August.
The PSAC reminds all former members of PIPSC, SSEA, APSFA and IBEW working at the Parks Canada Agency that the deadline for input for bargaining is August 15. Once the input is received, a working group comprising of the new members will review it and integrate it with the existing demands to be presented to the employer at the first bargaining session the week of September 10.
The PSAC is currently in the process of adding two members from the former unions to the current bargaining team of 10 members who will represent their interests.
A recent meeting with the Winnipeg Airport Authority to deal with the conversion to the new classification plan and negotiated rates of pay proved unsuccessful. The PSAC will now take the issue to arbitration.
The PSAC negotiating team representing the SSO Field Interviewers held their first meeting with the employer from June 26 to 28, where they exchanged their bargaining demands and provided explanations of the various points.
The union's package of demands, which is a true reflection of the members' dissatisfaction with numerous aspects of the current terms and conditions of employment, includes many key issues. These issues include: pay equity, health and safety, and, overtime.
Further negotiations for a first collective agreement for these newly-certified members, will be held August 27 to 31 inclusive. Further dates have been scheduled for September 24 to 28. Where possible, the parties have agreed to meet monthly for negotiations because of the significant amount of work required to finalize language for a first collective agreement.
The SSO negotiating team members are: Evelyn Beckert, Monica Edwards, Randi Kocher, Patricia LeBlanc, Carol Lowe, Johanne Racine, and, PSAC Negotiator Susan Jones.
The PSAC filed for arbitration on July 19 on behalf of its members in the Operations Bargaining Unit at the House of Commons.
During the May 23 and 24 negotiation sessions with the assistance of Conciliation Officer Gilles Grenier, a number of articles and/or clauses were signed off. However, the employer informed the PSAC negotiating team that they did not have a mandate to address any further monetary issues and maintained their wage position of 2% in the first year and 3% in the second year of a two-year agreement. A number of issues remain outstanding, including the majority of the monetary issues.
The PSAC negotiating committee representing Commissionaires Union of B.C., Victoria Local 05/20500 (Victoria, The Island and Yukon) met July 3 to 6 to put together their package of demands for their first collective agreement since becoming certified with the PSAC.
Negotiations for the B.C. members, who fall under the B.C. Labour Relations Code, will be held August 22 and 23 when bargaining demands will be exchanged. Attempts are currently under way to secure dates for negotiations for the Yukon group of Commissionaires, who are governed by the Canada Labour Code.
During a visit to Parc Forillon in Gaspé, Quebec on July 18, Treasury Board President Lucienne Robillard had an opportunity to hear the concerns and problems Parks Canada members are experiencing in their workplace. PSAC members took advantage of a visit by Robillard to show her a first-hand account of their work, the Agency and the problems facing the newly-created Agency. The workers were more than happy to comply with her request for information and let her know that some of their concerns include:
As the meeting was wrapping up, the members reminded her that if she is truly concerned about their problems, she should show this openness during the upcoming round of negotiations commencing this fall.
After a lock-out and a strike which lasted more than three months, the 80 PSAC members who work for the City of Iqaluit in Nunavut ratified, on July 14, the tentative agreement reached the day before by their negotiating team. The workers returned to work on July 17.
The new four-year agreement, which will expire on June 30, 2003, resolves some major outstanding issues important to the members. As a result, a new classification plan will come into effect and the disputes surrounding job classification may be referred to arbitration at the request of the aggrieved employees. The employer also agrees to form a union-management committee to review the provisions of its Inuit's Employment Strategy.
All the workers will see their positions incorporated in a new pay grid retroactive to July 1, 1999. Workers who will be at the maximum of their salary range will receive a 2% increase retroactive to July 1, 1999, and another 2% on July 1, 2000. Full-time employees will receive a $2,275.00 signing bonus, which will be prorated to the hours worked for part-time employees. The settlement allowance will be increased by $400 effective July 1, 2001 and by a further $400 effective July1, 2002.
According to PSAC Nunavut Employees Union Local 5 President, Gordon McIntosh, the ratified agreement represents the best offer members were able to obtain from the town after this long dispute. "We were finally able to resolve some major issues like classification and retroactive increases. After such a long battle, our members are happy to return to work. The public was fantastic and provided constant support. For the majority of members, this lock-out and this strike have been an initial meaningful experience, although a trying one, and I am convinced the union democracy will be reinforced by the solidarity which inspired us."
A majority of
the 200 PSAC members at the National Gallery
of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography ratified, on July 13,
the tentative agreement reached on their behalf by their negotiating team. The members
returned to work on July 16, ending their strike which began on May 10.
"Because we stood up and we were united throughout this strike, we succeeded in obtaining some decent wage increases from the Gallery," stated Jim Prowse, President of Gallery Local 70397. "It is unfortunate that the Gallery took so much time to table reasonable increases, but we are happy to be returning to work. I think I can say without any pretence that our strike has touched the hearts and the minds of the public in the Ottawa area and elsewhere. I invite those who have not yet viewed the Klimt exhibition to come and admire these magnificent paintings."
The new three-year collective agreement, which will expire on June 30, 2003, provides for an average increase of up to 10.25% for the duration of the collective agreement. This includes a 2.25% wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2000, as well as an additional increment at all levels and the elimination of an increment at the bottom level (this represents a 2% increase); a 2.5% increase on July 1, 2001 and the addition of a partial increment (a 0.5% increase) at all levels; and, a 3% increase on July 1, 2002. A $500 signing bonus will be paid to all workers.
The Gallery agreed to withdraw all civil suits launched against its staff during the strike and a return to work protocol was negotiated to the satisfaction of the parties. This assured that an inclusive, respectful and supportive work environment awaited the workers upon their return. In addition, the employer committed to the provision of a letter to the PSAC indicating that there will be no reorganization during the life of the collective agreement.
"The faultless solidarity of these members, as well as the great originality they demonstrated during those nine weeks, contributed significantly to this major victory," commented John Baglow, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. "When I am asked what is the Public Service Alliance of Canada and what are our accomplishments, I like to refer to this exceptional group of workers. I am convinced that their battle will inspire many of our members."