Romanow Report: Keeping Up the Pressure

The PSAC is actively involved in the campaign to adopt the Romanow Report on the Future of Health Care in Canada. On Dec. 9, 2002, John Gordon, National Executive Vice-President of the PSAC, spent an hour with Government House Leader Don Boudria in an attempt to convince him to support the Romanow Report.

Gordon asked the government to show leadership on this issue by adopting all the recommendations of the Romanow Report and quickly implementing all the necessary measures. He reminded Boudria that 77% of Canadians agree with the contents of the Romanow Report and that the time has come for the government to recognize that it must reinvest large sums of money in health care.

At this meeting with Boudria, Gordon was accompanied by a delegation of union and community group representatives, including Canadian of Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti, United Steelworkers of America National Director Lawrence McBrearty, and Saskatchewan Union of Nurses representative Rosalee Longmore.

Across the country, more than 350 Canadians participated in similar delegations, as part of a campaign organized by the Canadian Health Coalition. For more information on this campaign, visit the Political Action section of the PSAC web site.

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Head of the Public Service Award 2002

The Joint Career Transition Committee (JCTC), on which PSAC plays a predominant role, has been awarded the Head of the Public Service Award 2002. This award is given in recognition of excellence in service delivery, specifically in the area of collaborative working relationships.

JCTC is a national joint labour/management initiative to assist employees with career transitions. It was established in 1998 by 14 bargaining agents representing federal public sector workers and the Government of Canada as the employer. It operates on a principle of consensus decision-making and all parties must be in agreement for any aspect of the work to proceed.

Union activists involved in the JCTC hope to assist the federal public sector workers and employers to proactively address workplace changes and adjustments, develop a more skilled, healthy, adaptive and representative workforce and contribute to the positive transformation of federal public service. They also promote programs on learning and develepment, inter-organizational mobility and placement and long term employability.

JCTC national co-chair, Tony White, indicated that funding challenges have so far impeded the effectiveness of the JCTC. He hopes that this award will convince the government to provide JCTC with consistent and adequate funding for the next three years. For Tony, the Head of the Public Service Award 2002 demonstrates the quality of the work accomplished by the committee and the commitment of its members. He also hopes the award will convince federal government regional offices to take a more active part in JCTC.

"There is still a lot of work ahead of us to ensure the JCTC serves the needs of all workers in the public sectors" White said. "This is just the beginning ".

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Slow progress in separate employers' pay equity case

In November 2000, the PSAC filed a Statement of Claim on behalf of our current and former members working for seven separate employers under Part II of the Public Service Staff Relations Act, arguing that the federal pay equity adjustments should apply to these employers as well.

Here are some key actions which are scheduled for next year:

- The parties need to serve affidavits of documents by February 28, 2003.

- The parties are to file any motions regarding the production of documents no later than March 31, 2003.

- Examinations for Discovery are to be completed by June 30, 2003.

- The parties must file any motions regarding issues which have arisen as a result of the Discoveries no later than October 31, 2003.

- If the union wants a pre-trial conference, it must request it by November 30, 2003.

While this timetable has been agreed to, either of the parties can request that it be altered by applying to the Case Management Judge.

The government has indicated that it may try to have the case stayed without a hearing until a human rights complaint on the same issue has been heard. The union filed the complaint to ensure that every possible avenue was being explored to achieve pay equity. The PSAC's position is that the Statement of Claim should be heard first and the human rights complaint held in abeyance because the Charter issues raised in the Federal Court will form an important basis for the resolution of the complaint.

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House of Commons not exempt from Human Rights Act

The PSAC and other unions have won their case in the Federal Court of Appeal concerning the application of the Human Rights Act within the House of Commons.

Satnam Vaid, chauffeur for the Speaker of the House of Commons, accused his employer of discrimination based on race, colour and ethnic or national origin. His employer argued that the Human Rights Act does not apply to the House of Commons because of parliamentary immunity granted to Members of Parliament and Ministers.

The PSAC was granted permission to intervene in Federal Court because of the effects this case has on its members who are employees of the Speaker of the House. The case was first sent to the Human Rights Tribunal, where Satnam Vaid was to present his arguments. The Speaker immediately claimed parliamentary immunity, but the Tribunal rejected his claim. This decision was appealed in Federal Court, which also determined that parliamentary immunity is not applicable in this case.

The employer then appealed this judgement to the Federal Court of Appeal, which recently determined that employees of the House of Commons are also protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act and that the Human Rights Tribunal can hear Satnam Vaid's complaint. The parties representing the House of Commons could decide to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

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Bargaining Update

Bosco Homes Trailcross Treatment Centre Fort Smith NT

This unit of 15 employees was certified in April and served a notice to bargain in May. Negotiations began on Sept. 23, following bargaining committee meetings on Sept. 21 and 22. Little was accomplished during a subsequent bargaining session on Nov. 4 and 5. The employer had no responses prepared for the package that had been tabled and explained on Sept. 23. With prompting, the employer was able to respond to some proposals over the two days and agreed to meet again on Nov. 18 and 19. However, the employer refused leave for the team members to attend negotiations. As a result, the session was cancelled, and the PSAC applied for conciliation on Nov. 29. The members are still anxious to resume discussions, and meetings are now scheduled for Jan. 14 and 15. We are awaiting the appointment of a conciliator.

Village of Fort Simpson

Negotiations with the employer ended on Dec. 5 with no progress towards a first collective agreement. After meeting with the employer for two days in September, the parties were gradually resolving issues. The employer's last response to the union failed, however, to provide a basis for further exchanges. On the major issue of leave for union business, the employer steadfastly refused to provide for any leave with pay, a standard in collective agreements. They also tabled a pay grid which would effectively freeze the salaries of six of the 15 employees in the bargaining unit. An application for conciliation was filed on Dec. 10.

International Academy of Design and Technology

We wish to welcome new members to our Union. PSAC has been certified as the union representing employees of the International Academy of Design and Technology, in Montreal. These 90 men and women teach fashion, design, marketing, and multimedia techniques at the Academy in Montreal West. The PSAC bargaining team has already had a first meeting with the executive of the new local, to start preparing bargaining demands. Another meeting is planned for the week of Jan. 13, 2003.

Deninoo Community Council Fort Resolution NT

Three days of negotiations are scheduled to start Jan. 22, 2003 in an attempt to reach a first collective agreement with the Deninoo Community Council. There have been a number of delays, the most recent being the hiring of a new Senior Administrative Officer to manage the affairs of the community. The 15 members of the bargaining unit are looking forward to the process.

Government of the Yukon

Proposals were exchanged on Dec. 18 for the renewal of the agreement which will expire on Dec. 31. Two separate weeks of negotiations have been scheduled beginning with the week of Jan. 27, 2003, and continuing during the week of Feb. 10.

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Dues Rates

Please note that the following Components adopted a change to their dues rates, at their triennial conventions:

- Union of Canadian Transport Employees: increase in the percentage rate effective January 1st, 2003.

- Union of Solicitor General Employees: increase in the percentage rate effective January 1st, 2003.

- Agriculture Union: increase in the percentage rate effective January 1st, 2003.

- Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees: change from a fixed rate to a percentage rate effective 009; 009; November 1st, 2002.

- Union of Northern Workers: decrease in the percentage rate effective January 1st, 2003.

- Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise: increase in the percentage rate effective November 1st, 2002.

- Environment Component: decrease in the fixed rate effective January 1st, 2003.

If you have any questions on these changes, please communicate directly with your Component.

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Disability Insurance Premiums will increase

Treasury Board has announced a 49% increase in disability insurance premiums for employees covered by collective agreements.

Previously set at $1.08 per $1,000 of insured revenue, the Disability Insurance premiums will increase to $1.61. As in the past, employees will pay 15% of the premium, or $0.24 per $1,000 of insured revenue, and the employer will continue to pay 85%, or $1.36.

The increase will be effective starting Jan. 1, 2003.

If you have any questions, contact Human Resources in your workplace.

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