PSAC Union Update for the period September 17-28, 2001
PSAC negotiating team members for Table 2 (Operational Services Group) and Table 5 (Education and Library Science Group) are recommending acceptance of tentative agreements reached with Treasury Board during the weekend of September 15th.
The PSAC negotiating teams for Table 1 (Program and Administrative Services Group) and Table 3 (Technical Services Group) are recommending rejection of the "employer's proposed terms of settlement".
"Our negotiating teams were exceedingly frustrated, as I was, with the government's refusal to improve the general economic increases that it tabled in late August," PSAC National President Nycole Turmel said. "The economic increases simply do not do enough to restore the purchasing power our members lost during the 1990s. However, the general and strategic strike action which our members took for two more weeks has added an additional $114-million to the package, as well as some breakthroughs negotiated exclusively for PSAC members."
"We know that conditions changed as a result of September 11," added Turmel. "Canadians rely on our members in difficult times and our members in turn are committed to providing services in these circumstances."
Some of the new benefits included in the proposed settlement for Tables 2 and 5 and the employer's proposed terms of settlement for Tables 1 and 3 are:
- The rates of pay for Table 1 members in the Administrative Services (AS), Programme Administration (PM), and Information Services (IS) groups will be harmonized after the application of the first year increase. This provides an additional average increase of 1.7%. The new top step within each level will be a minimum of $375 higher than the current highest top step. In many cases it will be higher than $375. The new bottom step within each level will be a minimum of $375 higher than the lowest current bottom step. In many cases it will be higher than $375. An explanation of the harmonization and the new harmonized rates of pay are available on the PSAC website and will be included in the voting kit.
- The number of zones for Table 2 (Operational Services Group) members in the General Labour and Trades (GL), General Services (GS) and Hospital Services (HS) is reduced from the current seven to three, retroactively to the first day of the agreement, resulting in an additional $10-million for the members affected.
- For all employees in the Table 2 bargaining unit on the date of signing, a lump sum payment of up to $1,000, depending on how much the member is affected by the reduction in Zones. Full-time employees receiving no benefit from the Zone collapse will receive the full $1,000.
- For Ships' Crews members (Table 2) placed on the scheduling system known as 10-2-1, an improvement in the 'lay-day factor'. As a result of determination at the bargaining table and through concerted strike action by SC members, an increase has been negotiated in the lay day factor to 1.36 lay-days for each day worked, for employees working on the 10-2-1 system.
- the addition of two salary increments on the top of the Welfare Programmes (WP) scale (Table 1);
- the expansion of, and increase in terminable allowances at Table 3 (Technical Services);
- the breakthrough on captive time provisions, negotiated at Table 3 that will be part of all four collective agreements, affecting members who travel;
- the introduction of new allowances and increases in others; and
- vacation leave improvements.
Firstly, each team is autonomous. They represent different members and the priorities are different. Secondly, the packages are different in some respects at each Table, and the provisions reflect the priorities more at two of the Tables than the other two.
Table 2 has been fighting for the elimination of regional rates of pay, for protection for Ships' Crews income - the Lay Day system- and an allowance for Firefighters who work in particularly hazardous environments. The Table 2 negotiating team made significant improvements in these areas and think the package is worth recommending as a tentative agreement.
Table 5 corrected some operational issues and secured an extra day for everyone to compensate for the day that some members lost during the last round. They too are recommending acceptance.
Table 3 had the best Conciliation Board report of all the Tables and believe that the government should have done more to acknowledge what the Conciliation Board said, so they are recommending rejection.
Table 1 is also recommending rejection. Among other issues, the economic increase falls short and the increments that Table 1 members demanded as a priority are not there for everyone. They do not feel that the package is good enough.
The bottom line is that all Tables are putting the package out to the membership and you will decide.
No, strike action has been suspended pending a vote of the members in all four Groups on either the settlement or the employer's proposed terms of settlement, depending on the Group. Based on the uncertainty on the world stage because of the September 11th attacks in the United States, security at federal institutions and buildings across the country has been heightened. In light of the world events and the voting process, the PSAC has decided to suspend all strike activity, including work to rule, until the vote results are released.
This voting process will take approximately six weeks and will commence the first week in October. When it has been completed, members in each Group will either have a new collective agreement or remain without an agreement and be in a legal position to continue strike action. Announcement of the vote results will take place on November 6.
PSAC members in the Operational Group at the House of Commons are voting on their new three-year tentative agreement.
If ratified, the agreement would expire April 20, 2003, and would provide economic increases of 2.5% effective April 21, 2000; one-half increment added to the top of all levels effective April 21, 2001; 3% increase effective April 21, 2001; and, effective April 21, 2002, a 2.5% increase. If ratified, effective on the date of ratification, two steps will be added to the PRE-1 and PRE-2 classification levels in the Printing Services sub-groups.
The tentative agreement also provides for leave without pay for the long-term care of a parent; election leave; as well as improvements in the grievance procedure, meal allowances, shift and weekend premiums and uniform entitlements, to name a few.
The National Bargaining Conference for the Statistical Survey Operations (SSO) Regional Interviewers will be held in Ottawa from October 12 to 14, to finalize their bargaining demands and elect their bargaining team for the upcoming round of negotiations.
During the three days, the PSAC/National Component members will review the bargaining demands, discuss mobilization and outline their timeline for the upcoming negotiations. Two delegates per Local are entitled to attend the conference. For further information members should contact the PSAC National Component.
The current collective agreement will expire November 30, 2001.
The arbitration hearing on behalf of PSAC members in the Reporting and Text Processing Bargaining Unit at the House of Commons will be held October 24 and 25. The issues in dispute include Rates of Pay, Vacation Leave, Hours of Work and Overtime, Health and Safety, and the Bilingual Bonus.
Negotiations continued from September 24 to 28 on behalf of Statistical Survey Operations Field Interviewers. Additional dates in November and December have been scheduled for the continuation of negotiations on behalf of these PSAC/National Component members.
Updates from the negotiating team on the outcome of the negotiation sessions will be posted on the PSAC website at the end of each session.
Bargaining demands on behalf of PSAC members at the Parks Canada Agency were exchanged with the employer on September 19. Negotiations continued on September 20 and will resume October 15 through to the 19th. Prior to the exchange of demands, PSAC members met in caucus on September 16, 17 and 18.
Following the tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on September 11, PSAC National President Nycole Turmel on behalf of the membership, extended the union's deepest condolences to all unions in the United States whose members were touched by this tragedy.
In her letter she said "there are no words that can convey the sentiment of profound shock that public sector workers in Canada have been feeling over the last three days. We are mourning all those who died, be it on the airplanes, at their jobs in the World Trade Centre and at the Pentagon, as well as the rescue workers, the firefighters, the police, the medical personnel, the pilots, the flight attendants and all the public sector workers who became the targets in this catastrophe."
"We offer our support and solidarity to you, our Sisters and Brothers, in your time of need and know that without a doubt, you will overcome."
Since the September 11 tragic events, the PSAC has been experiencing feelings of shock and disbelief, along with a desire to lend assistance. Many PSAC members have contacted Nycole Turmel's office to find out what action their union is taking to provide some measure of comfort to those in need.
The PSAC has a blood donor clinic scheduled for late October in the National Capital Region and members are encouraged to participate in it. As well, anyone wishing to send a message of condolence may do so through the PSAC website.
The union's Alliance Executive Committee (AEC) has also made a $5,000 donation on behalf of its membership to the fund established by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Anyone wishing to add to this fund should make cheques payable to: the International Activities Fund, c/o Public Service Alliance of Canada, 233 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 0P1 and we will forward them to the CLC.
PSAC members are encouraged to reach out to our brothers and sisters affected by this tragedy and provide assistance in any way you can. It may be as simple as sending a note to a co-worker who lost a relative, helping to shield our neighbours and friends from discrimination stemming from panic, and, informing our children without creating fear.
