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Union Update
June 5 to June 16, 2006
Acrobat format
In this issue:
PSAC settles pay equity complaint against Edmonton Airport
The PSAC has signed a pay equity settlement agreement with the Edmonton Regional Airport Authority, resolving a complaint filed in March 2000. The settlement applies to about 19 current and former members in female-dominated jobs for the period January 1, 1997, to December 31, 1999, and is worth an estimated $135,000. Overtime, pension and maternity benefits for the period will be adjusted accordingly.
Simple interest on the pay equity payments will also be paid. It is being calculated from the date of the findings of the Canadian Human Rights Investigator, January 9, 2003, to December 31, 2005. Entitled members will have two years to claim the payment from the date of the formal notice of the settlement. The settlement agreement has been sent to the Canadian Human Rights Commission for final approval, which the union expects will be given some time in June.
Individual appeals on taxation of pay equity interest not likely to succeed
Many of our members have received tax assessments which indicate that the interest which they received as part of the 1999 pay equity settlement with Treasury Board will now be subject to taxation. Included with this information is a form stating that the member may appeal if they so choose.
The taxability of these interest payments was the subject of a PSAC appeal to the Tax Court. The decision in this matter was received in late 2005. Unfortunately, the Tax Court did not accept our arguments, and a Supreme Court of Canada case (decided after our arguments were submitted) precluded the possibility of a further appeal.
We cannot make a general recommendation that our members file appeals. It is always possible for an individual to file his or her own appeal with respect to personal tax circumstances, at his or her own cost. Because the law has now been decided by the Tax Court, we can offer little hope of success for an appeal which simply attempts to re-litigate the PSAC's case. The union does not accept that the taxation of interest on pay equity awards is either just or fair, but, sadly, the law does not reflect this view.
PSAC launches campaign to boycott Ekati dirty diamonds
The PSAC has launched a "Dirty Diamonds" campaign to force BHP Billiton, the owner of the Ekati mine, to negotiate a first collective agreement in good faith with its 400 workers. It started on June 13 with ads in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal (see the ad on this page) and will continue with consumer boycott pressure and a cross-Canada tour by Ekati diamond workers to inform the public of BHP Billiton's deplorable attitude. Union members from all over the world are also invited to participate in an e-mail campaign on the www.labourstart.orgwebsite.
"We are going to show BHP Billiton that its conduct is being unanimously condemned by the Canadian union and the public," stated PSAC President John Gordon. "The company's attitude toward these workers who enable it to gain enormous profits is unacceptable. By refusing to negotiate in good faith and by going back on its word given at the bargaining table, BHP Billiton wants to break the union. We must boycott the tainted diamonds produced by strikebreakers in order to send the company a clear message."
Bargaining Update
PSAC members working at MDS Nordion in Ottawa ratified a collective agreement. The three-year contract is retroactive to April 2005 and will expire on March 31, 2008. It provides pay increases of 2.75% each year of the contract and a $500 signing bonus. Other improvements to the collective agreement include better dental and health care. The negotiations lasted over nine months with nine days of conciliation. Notices to bargain were sent to the Staff of the Non-Public Funds at the Canadian Forces Bases in Petawawa, Ontario, and in St-Jean, Quebec; the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa; the I.M.P. Group Limited in Comox, Trenton and Gander; the Inuvik Housing Association and the Tuktoyaktuk Housing Association. PSAC members ratified collective agreements with the town of Moosonee, the Yarmouth Airport Commission Association, the Hamlet of Baker Lake and the Hamlet of Chesterfield Inlet. The negotiation team representing PSAC members working for the Town of Clyde River reached a tentative agreement with the employer on May 29, 2006.
Aboriginal Solidarity Day
June 21
First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are making important contributions in the struggle for social justice, equality and workers' and human rights. Their particular struggle is a response to colonialism, domination and the policy of assimilation pursued by the Canadian government.
The fight for access to employment, housing, education, health care and other basic social services continues on a daily basis for many Aboriginal people. While the United Nations Human Development Index rates the majority of Canadian society as having one of the highest quality-of-life scores, Aboriginal peoples in Canada would place 48th among the world's nations in the same index.
The Kelowna Accord reached between the Prime Minister, the Provincial Premiers, the Territorial Leaders and Aboriginal Leaders in November was an important first step towards improving socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples and communities. The Conservative government, by not committing the funds agreed to by the previous government in the federal budget, has effectively turned its back on Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
For Canada to remain credible internationally on human rights issues it can no longer ignore the issues of concern for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) joins our Aboriginal brothers and sisters in continuing to press the federal government to live up to its obligations with regards to treaty rights and self-determination.
As part of its expression of solidarity, the PSAC has taken the following initiatives:
The establishment of the Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis (NAIM) Network, which provides a unified voice for the diverse community of Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members of the PSAC. NAIM builds on the achievements of the Unity Conferences and the Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC) to press for the advancement of Aboriginal Peoples' issues within our union, workplaces and communities. The establishment of a fully funded Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Workers National Conference that will be held in 2008. The adoption of a collective bargaining vision that is committed to membership involvement and representation with a goal that includes ensuring all members have workplaces that are barrier-free, without discrimination and harassment and promote diversity through employment equity.
In every region of Canada, PSAC members commemorate Aboriginal Solidarity Day by organizing events with Aboriginal members of the union. PSAC members are invited to forward report of activities on Aboriginal Solidarity Day to the PSAC's Programs Section by calling (613) 560-4229 or by e-mail at: programs@psac-afpc.com.
New PSAC members
The officers of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) in Northern Ontario voted in favour of joining the PSAC. The officers join 20 civilian employees of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Services Board who are already PSAC members.
NAPS is the largest First Nation Police Service in North America with almost 100 members. Its mission is to provide a culturally appropriate service to all the people of the Nishnawbe-Aski.
According to Gerry Halabecki, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President, Ontario, one of the reasons the NAPS officers have joined PSAC is to deal with their unacceptable working conditions. Officers are expected to work in detachments that are in deplorable shape. They are on call 24 hours a day, with frequent expectations to work extended hours due to the shortage of officers. Some officers work alone in remote communities without back-up. They have no communication centre to filter calls and, like many in their communities, don't even have access to safe drinking water.
The PSAC is uniquely suited to represent NAPS officers as the union represents a large number of First Nation workers in the North, as well as in other communities such as Burnt Church. Several years ago, the union established a network of its Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis members. The National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis (NAIM) circle works to raise issues of concern to Aboriginal workers and communities both in and outside the union.
Summer of Pride
The PSAC, along with our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers invite you to celebrate the various "Pride" events happening in cities and communities across Canada in June or August.
"Pride Week" marks the anniversary of the "Stonewall Riots" which occurred in New York City in June of 1969. The Riots were the turning point in the increased resistance to oppression and harassment caused by police and by government officials. A strong, diverse community of "Pride" has evolved since the riots and the PSAC is proud to be part of the continuing struggle.
Those celebrations underscore the social, political and legal gains made by the Pride community during the last few decades in Canada.
The PSAC has made several gains at the bargaining table to ensure that all negotiated benefits are available to same-sex couples. More recently, the PSAC National Board of Directors adopted a recommendation to permanently place the National Day against Homophobia (May 17) on the PSAC National Calendar as an officially recognized and celebrated day, along with other equity days.
The PSAC also stands firmly with the labour movement across Canada in continuing to uphold the Charter rights for gays, lesbians, and bisexual and transgender people. This includes supporting a same-sex marriage law that respects freedom of religion while allowing all Canadians the freedom to marry the person they choose regardless of sexual orientation. In July 2005, the PSAC stood proud alongside the majority of Canadians when Parliament proclaimed that same-sex couples are equal in value and equal in law. This meant that after years of debate and unanimous rulings by courts in eight provinces and the Yukon, equal marriage became the law of the land.
This right is now being threatened. Prime Minister Harper's Conservative government insists there will be a free vote this fall in the House of Commons to challenge the right to same-sex marriage.
The PSAC will continue to fully support the Canadians for Equal Marriage (CEM) campaign. The PSAC strongly encourages members to visit the CEM website (www.equal-marriage.ca) and get involved in the actions to make a difference in the upcoming vote in Parliament.
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