PSAC Union Update for the period October 1 - 12, 2001
With voting under way in PSAC Locals across the country and in countries outside Canada, the question as to whether scabs have the right to vote on the tentative agreements and the employer's proposed terms of settlement, continues to be raised. In addition, questions on the suspension of strike activity during the voting process as well as the intention of Locals to raise their dues were also raised.
PSAC National President Nycole Turmel answered the questions in XO/30/01 to the union's National Board of Directors (NBoD). On the issue of scabs voting she stated that "the section of Regulation 15 (11.6.3) raised at the September 2001 NBoD meeting relates to strike and/or strike vote authorization for national, regional and Local bargaining units. The section has no impact whatsoever on ratification votes for national, regional and Local bargaining units as per Section 11.5 of Regulation 15."
At the September meeting, a proposed amendment to Regulation 15, which would have prevented people who allegedly crossed picket lines during the recent strike from voting during ratification meetings, was ruled out of order by the National President as it violates Section 5 of the PSAC Constitution.
In her directive to the Board, Turmel
reiterates that "all members in good standing are entitled to vote on the tentative
agreements at Tables 2 and 5 and the employer's proposed terms of settlement at Tables 1
and 3". "While it is undoubtedly true that a number of non-designated members
crossed picket lines during the recent PSAC/Treasury Board strike, they remain members in
good standing until such time as they are expelled from the union or have their membership
suspended by the National Board of Directors", she continues.
Turmel adds that before the NBoD can consider membership expulsion and suspension, Locals need to identify people they believe to have scabbed and establish an investigative committee. "I recognize that this process will allow people who scabbed to vote, but our Constitution provides for due process, and however repugnant, it must be upheld."
On the issue of the suspension of strike activity, Turmel confirmed that she suspended strike activity during the voting process but underscored that the suspension is not intended to provide the employer with an opportunity to abuse our members. "We remain in a legal strike position until the vote is completed, and should resist employer actions such as forced overtime that are designed to nullify the impact of our strike. Should the employer act to the detriment of our members, we will revisit the decision to suspend strike activities".
Responding to intentions by Locals to increase their Local dues as a result of the strike, Turmel pointed out that the PSAC had a policy limiting Local dues increases to $5 but it was rescinded following input from the NBoD. "As a result, Locals can submit requests that their Local dues be increased by a greater amount."
Locals should identify reasons, such as rebuilding Local emergency funds (for strike pay top-up) and hardship funds.
On October 1, the PSAC applied for the appointment of a conciliation officer following 10 days of negotiations between the PSAC/Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE) and the Canada Post Corporation. Negotiations on behalf of the PSAC/UPCE members took place between September 18 and 28.
During these negotiations, the parties made progress on a number of mostly non-monetary items. The Employer tabled a position on a Job Evaluation Plan and once the Employer has provided all the data related to the plan, the union will be in a position to prepare a response.
A weekend conference, attended by representatives of UPCE Locals across Canada, immediately followed the 10-day negotiation session. A bargaining update was provided during the conference and further work was done on Local and regional membership mobilization.
The negotiating team representing members from the Nunavut Power Corporation is currently seeking input from its membership for the upcoming round of bargaining. The deadline for the input is November 1. From December 13 to 16 the bargaining committee will meet in Iqaluit to formalize the package of bargaining proposals for the first collective agreement to be negotiated for these workers with the Nunavut Power Corporation. The current collective agreement expired December 31, 2000.
Negotiations on behalf of PSAC members at the Parks Canada Agency will resume October 15 and continue through to October 19.
PSAC Parks Canada bargaining team
The PSAC bargaining
team's proposal package, presented to the employer on September 19, seeks improvements to
existing terms and conditions of employment and has been posted on the PSAC website
In addition, the team presented proposals for the consolidation of the existing 11
contracts into a single collective agreement for the unit.
The employer, in its very brief document, outlined in general terms areas in which they are seeking changes, including the amalgamation of leave articles; conversion of leave into hours; hours of work and overtime; union leave; acting pay; prorating of benefits for seasonal and term employees; and, rationalization of the Work Force Adjustment.
Nav Canada has asked all of its unions to agree to extending the existing collective agreements, without changes, until August 31, 2002. In the same breath, it is also asking for more "operational flexibility" and the suspension of job security clauses during that period.
According to Nav Canada, as a result of the September 11 attack on New York and Washington, the solvency of major North American airlines is at risk. Several airlines have announced a reduction in the number of their flights by as much as 20%. Because of this reduction, Nav Canada thinks this should convince the unions and their members to accept this period of freeze.
However, Nav Canada failed to add that it had reduced its airline air navigation services, the amount paid by airlines to Nav Canada, from 5.9% to 14.6% since 1999. According to the company, the reduction in fees represented savings of more than $255 million annually.
In a letter to Nav Canada, the PSAC reminded the company of these facts and said that "a wage freeze does not reflect the financial reality of NAV Canada prior to September 11, 2001."
"Secondly, given the enormity of your request we would have thought that you would have provided us with the hard data that would have supported your request. You provided nothing but conjecture. Thirdly, when asked what the company was prepared to offer in return for such an agreement, you provided us with no answers."
PSAC members at Nav Canada have been without a collective agreement for nearly 16 months. Their current collective agreement expired on June 30, 2000. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than a year but so slowly that the PSAC requested the assistance of a conciliation officer. "If Nav Canada had decided to negotiate in good faith and with a willingness to settle, our members would have ratified a new collective agreement long ago," said Stephen Dunsmore, UCTE RVP for the Pacific Region. While a conciliation officer has been named, no dates have been scheduled yet.
Members of the House of Commons, Operational Group, voted in favour of their tentative agreement by a large majority on September 28. The new agreement was signed on that date.
NWT Power Corporation
Bargaining Committee meeting
A four-day bargaining committee meeting will be held in Yellowknife commencing on November 21 to finalize bargaining proposals for the upcoming round of negotiations for PSAC members at the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. The current contract expired on December 31, 2000 and negotiations should commence early in the new year.
The PSAC reaffirms its solidarity to all who have suffered as a result of the shocking September 11th attacks and underscores the important contribution of all public sector workers who have provided critical front line services and support in this time of crisis. However, the PSAC is concerned about the recent rise of acts of racism and violence against our brothers and sisters from racially visible communities - in and outside of the workplace.
The PSAC stands against racism and xenophobia as a matter of fundamental principle - it undermines our union struggle for equality, inclusiveness and social justice. Hatred, intolerance and discrimination can lead to the denial of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, endanger peace and economic and social security. Soon after the events, PSAC National President Nycole Turmel and the PSAC staff unions issued a united letter to PSAC staff stating that we "must stand together during this difficult time to oppose violence and hatred whatever its source."
The PSAC has been critical when there have been attempts to undermine basic human rights and fundamental freedoms in Canada. In a recent letter to the Editor of the Ottawa Citizen, Turmel responded to an article in the Citizen in which former Canadian security officials were asserting that hiring of "third world" peoples in the federal sector were increased security risks. She stated: "To use the current conflict to raise the spectre of a security risk associated with hiring an increased number of visible minority citizens and permanent residents in the federal Public Sector is morally wrong. This is particularly the case, since you fail to even acknowledge that the government hiring goals for visible minorities is an attempt to respond to the systemic discrimination experienced by this group and desire to have a representative public service. In short it shows a complete disregard for this country's stated human rights commitment."
In another letter to the Editor of the same newspaper, John Baglow, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region, was critical of the Canadian Museum of Civilization's initial decision to postpone a show by Arab-Canadian artists. He stated: "This move labels as "others" all Arab-Canadians, and clearly suggests a connection between them and the Sept. 11 event in the U.S. ...Racism consists entirely of this "othering" and making specious connections between the "other" and evil."
More than ever, we must urge all of you to provide continued support for human rights, for the right to freedom of association and the right to peaceful forms of dissent. For other related statements and messages, please visit our website.
Revised Meal Rates
